Wikipedia
The wikipedia provided a good overview on data compression for me because I did not know anything about it. The article says that compression is useful because "it helps reduce the consumption of expensive records, such as hard disk space or transmission bandwith" (pg 1). This article mentions lossless vs lossy compression. Lossless compression is when the senders data be compressed without loss of data. With lossy compression however the data once it has been compressed is not the same as the original data. The wiki also give examples of those kinds of compression. One example of lossless data compression is called run-length encoding. This is where "large runs of consecutive identical data values are replaced by a simple code with the data value and the length of the run" pg 2). I also did not know that lossy digital compression was used in digital cameras and found that interesting.
Youtbe and Libraries
I found this article to be very interesting. I have been using youtube for a while to watch videos and never saw the potential that it had in libraries. This article made some good points on how it an be used to benefit the library. If the library where to post instructional videos for patrons to watch it could prove useful. Patrons would be able to find out what they needed to know without bothering a librarian and the librarian would have the time to do other important tasks.
Imaging Pittsburgh
This article was a nice break from all the ones we read that are full of big technical terms I do not understand. I found this one quite easy to read and it was enjoyable to read. The project seemed like it was a big undertaking though because the article mentioned a minimum of 7,000 pictures and by the time it was done over 10,000.
The last article on data compression basics was long and confusing to read at parts. The author said we did not have to read the notes in the box if we did not want to and I figured I would because it could only help. reading those notes in the box though made it even more confusing. The article covered a lot of the basics that the wiki did such as the difference between lossless and lossy data compression, however, it went into a lot more detail on the topic. The article was very hard to keep up with because I know so little about computers and it was very technical. The article talked about run length encoding which replaces runs with a single character followed by the length of the run. Part two had a section on color space that was confusing. he mad a statement in the beginning stating that most of us should have seen certain terms and I have never seen them before making it harder for me.
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5 comments:
Susan,
I found the article on data compression at times confusing as well and mainly because of all the abreviations/acronyms that we got thrown at us. Just when I thought I had one set down pat, then suddenly here came more. Afte a while it felt everything began to merge into a pile of Alphabet soup.
I had to re-read parts of it so I could keep up with them, but overall I thought the article was pretty interesting.
While I do belive that You Tube may be a way to help patrons learn about the services of the library and some instruction about library uses, I wouldn't want it to be the first source. That is what librarians are for. You said in your blog: "Patrons would be able to find out what they needed to know without bothering a librarian and the librarian would have the time to do other important tasks." I would like to see you elaborate on this because I believe that the "important tasks" of a librarian is to help a patron find what they need. Many times the patron may need instruction on how to use the system as well as how to search for and retrieve the information.
Hi April, I have to agree with Susan even as i suggest that she may have spoken too loosely.
In order for a librarian to be able to help the patron, the library must be functioning. this entails a lot of really important, time-consuming tasks. While it is great job-security to have patrons who must ask for help with everything from signing up for a computer to logging on to the computer, to getting online, to navigating away from the library's homepage (and this is not even counting book reference or the patron's who come every day and just want to talk for the next forty-five minutes), I believe the primary job of a librarian is to promote/encourage/foster patron independence wherever possible. Thus, travel sections, Biography sections, and other layperson-friendly, pressure relieving library tricks.
In a perfect world, there would be a period each week when the library was not open and library staff could take care of routine administrative and beaurocratic junk, leaving the hours open totally free for patron help, which would then become the most important job. But monthly reports and time-sensitive administrative demands, plus regular ordering demands dictate that sometimes there are not just *other* important tasks, but actually *more* important tasks.
Of course, i think we all wish that weren't so. And the key, of course, is striking a fair balance, not to mention strict scheduling and discipline.
Susan,
I like your idea of using Youtube to free up the librarian. Unfortunately, in the public library I work in, the thing patrons most ask for help with is signing on the computers.
Also, I was glad to see someone else had problems with the data compression article. Reading others descriptions, I thought I was the only one. The language was okay, but I think the amount of detail was too much.
Liz G.
I just wanted to add my two cents about the "freeing up the librarian" comment. I think YouTube could be beneficial in both ways... I think YouTube should be used to allow patrons to find answers on their own, but also have the librarian available when the answer is still unclear. For example, on a university campus, the reference instruction librarian could implement these videos into her lectures and presentations... they could be there for whenever students needed to reference them... the librarian is also available for questions during a blocked time when questions are the top priority for him/her... students would basically have more options/opportunities to seek out help. While this would probably free up the librarian in terms of these types of questions being asked, perhaps it would also move students forward in their education and the questions asked would just be more in depth... which would be a good thing... the whole point of their education...
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