Webstractor citation

Last class we discussed such applications as SnagIt and SnapzPro. Here's an interesting option for Mac OSX users. I'm busy trying to find a similar product for Windows machines. "Maximize Your Web productivity: Everyone knows the web is full of useful information, but all that research can soon get out of control. Webstractor helps you find exactly what you need online and then lets you edit out all the things you don’t need offline, creating stunningly effective documents using standard word processing tools. Try it once and you’ll wonder how you managed without it." For Library Media Teachers and other information professionals this type of application will be a real time saver. I don't ever recommend purchases but I do suggest you check this item out.

Saving all or part(s) of a webpage

In an early chapter of our text we'll be covering the concept of saving parts or all of a webpage. While the textbook is thorough and helpful I strongly suggest you use SnagIt 7.2 (at the moment)from www.softwarecasa.com if you use the Windows OS or SnapzProX2 from Ambrosia at www.ambrosiasw.com. For casual users the textbook examples are just fine; however, for professional library/media professionals I believe you'll need a more robust application. In any case be sure to check them out when you have time.

IMAP, POP, SMTP & HTTP

As we study email you will come across a number of acronyms about email protocols. This article explains them as well as any site I've found. These terms could well be on the final for this class and more importantly be vital in your day to day work.

SLA report of note

At the just concluded Special Libraries Association (SLA) conference the following PowerPoint presentation was made and furthermore made available on the web. I highly recommend you view it before taking the Internet Searching class. Designed as speaker notes (essentially) but lots can be learned from just viewing it. See you all on the 8th at 5 pm. Point your browser to http://www.batesinfo.com/sla-2005-60-tips.pdf.

Firewalls and Port Numbers revisited

I noticed a few furrowed brows during the discussion of ports and hacking and firewalls last Saturday. Here, thanks to CNET, is a another way of describing that environment and the important issue of internet security. Point your browser to http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-10149-0.html?forumID=7&thread
ID=107024&messageID=1221546&tag=nl.e497.

FoxFire & IEEE 802.22

The July issues of Technology Review and PC World brought news that FireFox was named "Product of the Year" for 2005" and that a new wireless network standard using unused television channels will compete with WiMax in some rural areas. Interesting concept for rural schools. http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/07/issue/forward_spectrum.asp?p=1
I highly recommend a subscription to Technology Review, MIT's Magazine of Innovation for high school libraries and up. I'll bring copies of both of these articles to class for those who don't have access.

School Librarians/Networks DO make a difference!

Well, that's not exactly news, but here's a great report from Colorado that documents the relationship in some clearly written ways. "Last month, site-based management teams at 11 elementary schools in Kalamazoo, Michigan, chose to cut their budgets for the 2000-2001 school year by eliminating the position of school librarian. Did they make the right decision? A new study indicates that what they made was a big mistake!" To learn more about this study and its results Point your browser to http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin178.shtml

Blogs will change your (Profession)!

Blogs Will Change Your Business
Business Week, May 2, 2005
Go ahead and bellyache about blogs. But you cannot afford to close your eyes to them, because they're simply the most explosive outbreak in the information world since the Internet itself. And they're going to shake up just about every business -- including yours. It doesn't matter whether you're shipping paper clips, pork bellies, or videos of Britney in a bikini, blogs are a phenomenon that you cannot ignore, postpone, or delegate.

My Thanks to Northern Light's Market Intelligence Centers for pointing me to this article.

A word about our textbook

At first glance some may feel the text is more than we need to get a good handle on networking for school library media centers. Well, it is. However, in reviewing over 50 potential networking textbooks over the past four years of this class I've yet to see anything that comes close to a combination class textbook and reference work for ongoing education in this critical field. As networks move from distant and large-scale operations, to day-to-day elements in our personal and professional lives, understanding where we are now and where things will be in the next few months or years is critical to everyone...librarian, teacher, administrator, et al. There are many sections of the book we will only touch on or cite for future reference. Please stay tuned to our class website to be sure you're spending your reading time on things we're going to actually use this term. For example we're not going to spend more than a minute or two on chapter one and only a few minutes on the whole OSI concept. I do want everyone to know where to find such information if they need it later and in good measure that's why I choose this textbook. More during our class sessions.

Welcome!

I'll try to put up as much information on this site as possible. Most questions I get from students will be answered here so that everyone benefits from the interchange. Please feel free to respond to the my postings if you wish. Enjoy the class!