Open Access Online Journals for Libraries

Title: Online Databases: Open Access Alternatives

Author: By Carol Tenopir -- Library Journal, 07/15/2004

URL: http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/technologyonlinedb/872414-299/story.csp

Open Access Journals define in the article as "journals that use a funding model that does not charge readers or their institutions for access." Advantages in using Open Access online journals are it can be easily access and read with sometime minimal “membership fee” or without anything all. Though these advantages can be grabbed by universities but still the issues of citation can be over look against the traditional. Many researchers who publish their works on the open access online journals are researchers funded by their institution or other organization.

Three things I learned:

I learned that open access online journals are really very helpful for students like me and other readers and researchers.

I learned that there is a big need for putting funds into researchers who place their works on the open access journals.

I learned that though they are free they can not be reliable source of information.

I am user of Open Access Online Journals. Most of the time I used these online journals in my assignments. Though sometimes, I have a doubt on the credibility of the author, still I find them very useful and most of the time, especially open acces online journals of big universities, I often suggest these journals to our students. I hope there are more people who will put their money in supporting this kind of endeavour.

What is cloud computing and How will it affect libraries?

Title: What is cloud computing and How will it affect libraries?

Author: Chris Peters

Publisher: techsoup for libraries

URL: http://techsoupforlibraries.org/blog/what-is-cloud-computing-and-how-will-it-affect-libraries

Most of the Web 2.0 applications are being hosted by online data centre, cloud computing. There are lots of shared online computing resources that are being offered. On this modern IT infrastructure libraries are one of the sector that will gain much advantage on this like; it is cost saving, flexibility and innovations, librarians will be push to be more interactive with their IT skills, Cloud OPAC and cloud ILS and many more.

Three things I learned

I learned that cloud computing can really cut of some our time and money expenditures.

There is no need to build up web infrastructure, we can use cloud computing as the platforms.

Librarians should also consider practical issues about privacy of sensitive information.

Personally, I never use any feature or applications on cloud computing. Though I am interested but I think I would really like to consider the certain privacy level that this software could offer. I still feel safer to be in the traditional than to take risk with this application. 

Free for All: Open Source Software

Title: Free for All: Open Source Software

Author: Karen Schneider

Publisher:  School Library Journal, 08/01/2008

URL: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6582321.html

Open Source Software is free in its essence. Free to download, view and use. Firefox, wordpress are examples of open source software. Linux programs is one of example of open source software were thousands of people collaborated and work to it.  One good thing about open source software is that it takes us to a level of completion and we can also rely on others. However  Open Source software is best of when time to time it be check against it counterparts the licence one.

Three things I learned

I learned that firefox is an Open source software. I learned that may of the software that I am using are open source software.

I understand that open source can really be of great help for librarians like me, if I needed tools or softwares for my libraries.

I don’t need to be burdensome because licence software is too much expensive, because there are lots of software that is almost the same with feature and I can use it for free.

Librarian should be aware of the softwares that are free. In my case, I need to download open source software because the school cannot afford to purchase software with licence. And this will be very helpful in our library.

Open Publishing

Title: Thinking about prestige, quality and open access 

Author: Peter Suber

Publisher: SPARC Open Access/Welcome to the SPARC Open Access Newsletter, issue #125 September 2, 2008 

URL: http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/newsletter/09-02-08.htm

Prestige and quality overlaps. Journals can equally gain prestige and receive equal promotion from their respective committee, most likely, researcher will focus on their research and doesn’t even care where it will be published. Prestige is growing in the Open Access Community and many authors are now attracted to publish their works on the open access. Though many OA journals are really new, but this is not a reason that it could be of quality like Toll Access Journals. Prestige could be a result of quality and quality is feed by prestige.

Three things I learned

I learned that though many researcher because they are new, they are publishing their works on Open publishing.

However, It doesn’t mean that even they are new, they cannot be good and reliable researcher.

I learned that even though works are being publish in an Open Access publishing, still they can be motivated by the challenge of gaining initial prestige and that prestige can be a motivation for quality.

I think as a librarian, I really have to consider the resources that the library is giving for their clients. However, there are already lots of available in the internet.  Maybe we can acquire for this kind of access for our library. To give way for new researcher and at the same time, learn from their thoughts.

COMPUTER RELATED HEALTH DISORDERS

Title: COMPUTER RELATED HEALTH DISORDERS

Author: Sumedha M Joshi

Publisher: Bombay Hospital Journal

URL: http://www.bhj.org/journal/2004_4505_jan/html/computer_37.htm

Computer is one of the most useful tools created on the modern times. People spend most of their times in front of a computer and being connected on line. This modern tool because of excessive use can also be a source of many illness like , CarpAl Tunnel Syndrome, Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI), Computer Vision Syndrome, Electromagnetic Radiation, Depression, Computer Addiction or Cyber addiction or Internet Addictive Disorders. These illnesses are proven to be the result of over spending time in front of a computer. These illnesses can be avoided by changing working habits and time spending in front of a computer.

Three things I learned:

I learned that computer can really be one of major cause of human modern type of illnesses, if we really don’t minimize and control computer use.

I learned that spending unreasonable time of our in the internet, especially social network can result to depression.

I learned that spending too much time using the mouse can really damage our hands and can really cause as a greater amount of money for medicine.

As a librarian, most of the 60 percent of my work is I spend in front of a computer, especially now that I am working on with the computerization of our system. I will take for considerations some precautionary measure to avoid really serious illnesses that cause by excessive use of computer.

Let “Green” creep: Ten steps to sustainable library operations

Title: Let “Green” creep: Ten steps to sustainable library operations

Author: Louise L. Schaper -- Library Journal, 05/15/2010

URL: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6727897.html?nid=2673&source=title&rid=17588642

Greening the library is like building an environmentally efficient library. Green library operations is how library give their client satisfying experience by maintaining a clean library. Libraries can maintain a clean library and being an effective steward for the environment. There are 10 steps to make your library greener, Nurture the champions, Transform cleaning, Deploy energy-savings lights and controls, Lighten IT energy use, Use sustainable materials and processes, Adopt alternative energy solutions, Continue commissioning, Invite community support, Educate and be a leader, Put it in writing.

Three things I learned

I learned that by considering even the smallest, unimportant things like the kind of cleaning materials you are using can really help improve the environment.

By considering the materials to be used are very important. The kind of paper, looking seriously about energy conservation, by considering what is the right time to clean the library can really help in decreasing energy consumption.

By implementing and linking the organizational value with the greening the library campaign.

Personally I think this is something I should be taking into consideration in my library policy. To consider the time I should be cleaning the library, use the energy saving computers for the library and conservation not just on the energy but also the small things like paper use, clips and other.

IRRI : A Reflection

Last October   4, 2011 we went to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) which is located at Los Baños Laguna . We visited their library and done some interviews and library tours.

The International Rice Research Institute Library collection is composed of special collection about rice and agriculture. Most of their clients are researchers from other Asian countries like India, Taiwan and other near- by countries. IRRI’s library system had a wide variety of articles and books to offer. The IRRI library is using the commercial library system Millenium. One of their special features in their library system is the IRRI Rice Thesaurus that I really find very interesting. When the librarians explained to us this feature, I thought that it would be better if we in our library would also have our own theological thesaurus in our library system. I think the students will be very delighted. Addition to the thesaurus, there are several kinds of journal and resources available for their researcher.

On the process of the information retrieval, researchers like farmers, scientist and other scholars like students from abroad or local can easily access the library system in their computer. In the case of researchers from abroad, they can send their request for documents and the staff or the librarians will send it to them thru courier, e-mail or fax.

They have a wide variety of books, research, articles, maps, journals, online  databases, E-Reference sources and theses that are made available for the clients. In the process of the retrieval system, if your search is too broad, the system will enable to give you an organize result and show other related subjects to your search. Their library system is made available in the internet. Even in the comfort of your home you can have a direct access of the the list of books, journals, articles, and other materials available in their collection.

The library system allows the clients to borrow and make reservation even outside the physical premise of the library. The system will only ask of the clients name and a barcode and the system will approve the transaction.

In my case in our library system, we are only using a very simple library system. The system cannot be uploaded in the internet and can only be access in the library. The system that the IRRI is using is really sophisticated compare to our system. There are lot of privileges and advantages that their system can offer to their clients.  The accessibility is one of the major factor, secondly is the number of their collection.

Personally, I really hope that our library system would be as sophisticated as the IRRI library system. Especially now that most of our students are living on the provinces, with that kind of system, it will really help them, save more time and access the materials instantly.

The two library tours, helped me to be more aware of the present development on library systems. It broadens my knowledge and experience as a librarian. Also, the learning process was made easy because of the joy of learning together. Thanks to my teacher and my classmates for the whole semester full of  joyful learning experience.

God bless you all.

Lopez Museum : A Reflection

Reflection and observations to digitization / Info Retrieval System of Lopez Library

The word ABS –CBN is the first thing that normally enters my mind when I hear the name Lopez. The Lopez  Museum is one of the contribution of the Lopez Family in the Philippines when it comes to information preservation. Mr. Eugenio H. Lopez Sr. dedicated the Lopez Museum to the memory of his parents, Presentacion and Benito last February 13, 1960. The Lopez Memorial Museum is located at Ground Floor of Benpres Building, Exchange Road corner Meralco Avenue Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Last September 20 , 2011, our class on LIS 260 went to the Lopez Museum to observe their digitization program. One of the things I did not expect is to see exhibits of headsets with different sounds playing on it and “electronic” sound conductor. What amazes me is that their collection of rare books materials dated from fifteen hundreds and collection of Rizal’s works.  Their specialize collection on Filipiniana materials, magazines, news paper, and articles about famous Filipino personality is really one of their strength as a library.

Personally, I am glad that there are such private institutions that spend their effort in building an information center like that. When Esmy and I arrived, I noticed that there are several foreign individuals who are doing their research.  Though the physical arrangements of their computer terminals is not that organize and there are only limited number of tables to be used, I believe this does not stop their clients to do their research in the Lopez Museum.

 The staff members at the Lopez Museum demonstrated on how they go about their digitization. There were specific person in-charge for a certain task and it seems though that they were able to establish an organized system in their digitization program.

Personally, it was my first time to see an actual digitization process, so it was very impressive in my part on how they go about it. From the selection of the materials,  up to scanning of the materials and preservation.

During the time we visited they are still on the transition from the old system to the new one. We try to make some searching using the alchemy system.  They have a wide range of topics and subjects about the Philippines.  The system was very easy to use and the functions are very easy to understand. An ordinary user will easily be familiar with the system.

If there is one thing I notice about the Lopez Museum is their printing cost. It was quite expensive. Probably because some of the clients they cater are foreigner or professional researchers, but with an average students the amount of 200 pesos (if me memory serves me correct) is really expensive.

What the Lopez Museum is doing, is really admirable, helping the nation in the preservation of its cultural heritage and by providing information to thousand of researchers. I hope someday there will be more like the Lopez Museum whose dedication to heritage advocacy is unfaltering.