RA No. 11

Help the library go green
By Marian Cerderia
URL Source: http://www.nj.com/independentpress/index.ssf/2009/03/help_the _library_go_green.html

Abstract:

The article discussed about the greening of the library. It enumerates some tips on how to do it.

3 Things I Learned:

1. We can use natural light and solar energy as an option to save energy though that is too far from reality for our country as of today because it is too expensive.
2. We can donate used books that we no longer using, in that way we can eliminate possible trash if we would just throw it.
3. We can use recycled materials in our office.

Implications:

At first when I heard about greening of the library, I thought it is just merely putting green plants inside our library but I was all wrong when I read this article. When we say the library goes green, it is like saying save our Mother Earth. Actually some of the tips mentioned on the article were already being practice in our library. It is just that we don’t actually know that we are doing it already. At least now we know and we will keep practicing it.

RA No.10

PERSONAL COMPUTERS; Steps to Avoid Physical Strains of Computer Use
By Peter H. Lewis
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/12/science/personal-computers-steps-to-avoid%20-physical-strains-of-computer-use.html

Using computer can be a pain in a neck, the back, the arms, the wrists, the shoulders, the knees, the eyes and virtually every other part of the body. It doesn’t have to be that way. Suffolk County in New York enacted a tough law that address broader health concerns for most computer users. The Suffolk law is based on a premise that poor working conditions are common around computer terminals and that those working conditions contribute to health problems. For the casual PC user this law is useful as a guideline to minimize computer health risks.

Three (3) Things I learned:

1. Get away from computer from time to time.
2. I also learned that there are different steps/preventions to avoid or minimize computer health risks.
3. There should be a work provision especially for people who are more expose to computers.

Implications:

People who are exposed more with computers are more likely has the high risk of getting physical strains. Since we librarians are already exposed with computers most of our working days, we should take the initiative to prevent ourselves from those computer health risks. We should take responsibility with our health. Also with some companies whose field is exposed with computers, they should have some preventive measures for this kind of health risk.

RA No.9

“Top 10 risks during electronic evidence discovery in litigation”
Source: The CPA Journal 73.10 (Oct2003):17(1). InfoTrac Custom Periodicals 100.Gale.Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation.17 Sept.2009
http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/start.do?prodld=SPJ.SP00

According to FTI consulting, a consulting firm with expertise on computer forensics issues, majority of U.S. corporations have inadequate document retention policies and will likely incur inflated legal costs when faced with the restoration and review of computer and e-mail files during electronic evidence discovery. Electronic evidence discovery is a key component of most litigious or investigative proceedings and organizations should expect it to be a pivotal issue during an investigative proceedings and organizations should expect it to be a pivotal issue during an investigative process. FTI noted ten (10) key document retention issues that typically expose corporations to inflated litigation costs.

Three (3) Things That I Learned

1. There are 10 key document retention issues which are; lack of central corporate repository, lack of corporate document management policy, intermingling critical and less critical documents, intermingling business and private use, lack of distinction between disaster-recovery backup and business archiving, backup systems that cannot easily be restored, as hoc caches of backup or miscellaneous information, insufficient recognition of laptops, automated processes and lastly manual systems.
2. A well crafted policy can save a corporation significant costs in the near future.
3. Corporations should take proactive steps to avoid those problems.

Implications:

We are now in the technology age wherein computers and electronic things are continually gearing in. Lawmakers should also be equipped with the modern changes that would and actually is can also be a form of illegal actions or can be used in illegal purposes. There are actually laws that are now circulating for that kind of issues. Not only lawmakers should be alarmed but also those who are in the business sector because commonly there are affected by it. Before an investigation or litigation begins, they should have a clear action which means clearing out unnecessary information in responsible and legal manner and should also look out in saving important information.

RA No. 8

Fundamental Issues with Open Source Software
By Michelle Levesque
URL Source: http://www.citizenlab.org/opensource/

Abstract:

This paper discusses five fundamental problems with the current Open Source Software (OSS) development trend, explores why these issues are holding the movement back and offers solutions that might help overcome these problems. The lack of focus on user interface design causes users to prefer proprietary software’s more intuitive interface. Open Source Software tends to lack the complete and accessible documentation that retains users. Developers focus on features in their software rather than the general public. Lastly, there is a widely known stubbornness by Open Source programmers in refusing to learn from what lessons proprietary software has to offer. If Open source software wishes to become widely used and embraced by the general public, all five of these issues will have to be overcome.

Three things I learned:

1. There are five flaws with the Open Source Software (OSS) development such as user interface design, documentation, feature-centric development, programming for the self and religious blindness.
2. There should be a conscious decision and careful planning before deriving into a open source software.
3. Without adequate documentation Open Source projects are inherently at a disadvantage.

Implications:

Understanding Open Source Software is not an easy task more so being involved in its development. There are so many flaws that we would be encountering. As the article stated OSS are made for programmers, it would make a great deal for the general public to comprehend it due to lack of proper documentation and background. However if we would just be able to learn, avail, be accustom and overcome the different flaws cited above it would be of great advantage financially compared to the proprietary software.

RA No.7

FIELD TRIP EXPERIENCE IN IRR

Last August 26, 2009 we had a field trip in IRRI, this is my first visit to the place so as my other classmates. I am excited to see the place. We had been there one hour before the call time. While waiting for my other classmates, we got the chance to roam around and enjoy the view of the field. We had a good breakfast/merienda in the IRRI canteen before our tour goes on. They had prepared a good lecture for us to listen.

According to the lecture we had, IRRI was founded in 1961. It houses the world largest collection of rice literature. It doesn’t only serve one country but worldwide. Since most of our lessons is all about IRS. IRRI is said to have the best example of how information retrieval should be. Our main purpose of the activity is to observe the system that they are using which is the Millennium Integrated Library System. According to the lecturer it is the best system that they had so far. The system helps them to have a direct links to information. It has also a special feature of On-line renewal link. The lecturer even shares how to acquire good library system as we become more interested in it. According to her, we should consider system preference, its cost and usability. The other objective of our visit is to know their Ariel Document Delivery System Services. This is the first time I had heard such library service, it is good to know that library really finds ways to conveniently serve the public. Through this service even other countries can have physical access through IRRI document delivery.

I had learned so much through our field trip. I had learned that good IRS requires lots of patients and budget. Librarians should also be innovative, creative and resourceful in gaining and collecting other means of information. In the midst of crisis, library also suffers but it should not hinder us in providing quality services among our patrons.

RA No.6

The IFLA Internet Manifesto
URL Source: http://arhive.ifla.org/III/misc/im-e.htm

The IFLA ( International Federation of Library Association) asserts that intellectual freedom is the right of everybody, freedom of access to information is a central responsibility of the library and information profession, the provision of unhindered access to the Internet supports communities and individuals to attain freedom, prosperity and development, barriers to the information flow should be eradicated. IFLA also urges the library community and decision makers at national and local levels to develop strategies, policies and plans that implement the principles expressed in the Manifesto.

Three (3) things that I learned:

• Information is not only essential but a necessity so everyone should have access on it.
• Access to information should be fair and equal to all.
• Library professionals should be the one uncharged in screening right information to the right user.

Implications:

Information should be open, equal and fair for all. It is a good thing that IFLA is exerting effort to make this kind of manifesto adhering to the principles of giving information to everybody one of which is through the use of internet. IFLA has a very brave and bold mission and that is to support the development of Internet accessibility worldwide. For us being in the third world country, this principle is hard to achieve. It is hard but possible if we could just work hard and joined hand in creating this project into reality.

RA No.5

Open Access ( Publishing)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
URL Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_access_(publishing)

Abstract:

The low-cost distribution technology has fueled the open access movement and prompted the creation of open access journals. However access OA content requires internet access and this distributional consideration presents physical and sometimes financial barriers to access. But an OA article is more likely to be used than one behind subscription barriers. The more articles are used, cited, applied and built upon, the better for research as well as for the researcher’s career.

Three (3) things I learned:

• Open access model shifts the payment burden from users to publishers.
• Open access articles equal more citations.
• Open access articles limited copyright and licensing restrictions.

Implications:

If we would follow the definition of OA publishing it is a free online access to articles that have traditionally been published in scholarly articles. The word free rings a bell to me. We Filipino librarians should find and grab every opportunity in sharing resources to our client especially if it is for free. It is said that the only barrier would be the internet access so we librarian plays a big role to this since we are more exposed in information gathering. We should make these articles available for our other client without access to the internet. We should grab every chance of a lesser cost information for our clients’ benefits.