OpenURL Technology

OpenURL technology offers an efficiently seamless way to determine exactly how an article or other information resource is available to a specific user. For this exercise, I used Google Scholar to find an article related to global warming:

Root, T. L., Price, J. T., Hall, K. R., Schneider, S. H., Rosenzweig,
     C., & Pounds, J. A. (2003). Fingerprints of global warming on
     wild animals and plants. Nature, 421(6918): 57-60.

The Pollak Library's "Citation Finder" feature allowed for easy access to this article. After purposely changing the page number in the "Citation Finder" window and then clicking on the "Go" button, I was still able to get to the full text of the article on Academic Search Premier. I was curious and decided to try
again--this time changing the volume number. After clicking "Go," the "Find It!" window apparently recognized that the article resides in Academic Search Premier; however, after clicking on the appropriate link, I received an EBSCO page that explains that the article could not be found.

My first thought is that the other citation elements present in the "Find It!" box are enough to "overpower" any one of the other elements that is incorrect. After experimenting with the volume number, now I think that the accuracy of each citation element is equally important in enabling the OpenURL link to work properly.

It was interesting not only to use the "More Options" feature in the "Find It!" box to create a link to the global warming article, but also to see that other types of OpenURL links have the capability to reach the same article. In this exercise, I noticed how an EBSCO database such as Academic Search Premier offers the user the opportunity to copy and paste a persistent link, or Permalink, as a means of gaining access to articles. For EBSCO's Permalinks, however, it seems that the accuracy of OpenURL focuses on the inclusion of an accession number, which apparently is key to identifying the relevant citation elements needed to get to any given article.

By having a variety of ways to create OpenURL links, the user increases the probability that one of the links will offer a connection back to an article, especially if one of the other OpenURL links is not functional for whatever reason. OpenURL technology--such as creating links using the "More Options" tool in the "Find It!" box or the Permalink feature available in an EBSCO database--provides instructors the opportunity to offer their students easy access to full-text articles by including the appropriate links on course websites or other course management systems. The OpenURL links provided by the instructors also help honor existing licensing agreements with vendors by having users authenticate before accessing an article.

The OpenURL link below will provide access to the following article:

Felkins, K., Leigh, H. P., & Jankovic, A. (1998). The royal mail ship
     Titanic: Did a metallurgical failure cause a night to remember?
     Journal of the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, 50(1):
     12-17.

Here is the complete OpenURL link as provided by the "More Options" feature of the Pollak Libary "Find It!" box:

http://sfx.calstate.edu:3013/fullerton?sid=google&auinit=K&aulast=Felkins&atitle=The%20royal%20mail%20ship%20Titanic%3A%20Did%20a%20metallurgical%20failure%20cause%20a%20night%20to%20remember%3F&id=doi%3A10.1007%2Fs11837-998-0062-7&title=JOM&volume=50&issue=1&date=1998&spage=12&issn=1047-4838

Thank you for the opportunity to explore OpenURL technology!

The Use of Wikis

Wikis can be meaningful collaborative tools in the workplace. They are easy to use and allow for access from any computer with an Internet connection. A wiki can be helpful for a group project within the library and also as a public resource containing information that is relevant to our users. For example, Pollak Library users who have research tips that may be helpful to others could post their strategies on a library-sponsored wiki.

While a library-based wiki may provide for local control of its content, the story seems to be different with sources such as Wikipedia. As we all know too well, Wikipedia has become the main source of information for many students, and this has presented challenges to all of us in the academic community for reasons such as information accuracy and authority.

Despite this negative impact, Wikipedia points to the need for ongoing efforts in information literacy so that students can determine the most appropriate resources to locate the information they need. From this point of view, therefore, Wikipedia has provided us with a useful platform from which we can address important issues associated with the promotion of information literacy. In addition, the use of wikis in general has highlighted the value of community-based efforts to make information easily accessible to all.

Cloud Computing and Google Docs

Google Docs is a convenient tool for collaboration. Please find my entry to our Google Doc by clicking here. Thank you!

Social Bookmarking and Tagging

I never knew how useful a social bookmarking and tagging tool like Delicious can be. I had heard of it before, but had never tried it. It was a lot of fun exploring its features!

It was easy importing the bookmarks from "Favorites" in Internet Explorer directly into Delicious. Some of the favorite bookmarks I have been saving in Internet Explorer are Web sites that could possibly help me when I am doing online reference. Now with Delicious, these sites are more easily accessible and identifiable. It's wonderful that a social bookmarking site like Delicious allows us to share resources.

With respect to library tools and services, tags can be very useful. They provide a supplementary means for the discovery of resources. While they may lack the authority control of more established systems, they can help users identify resources in ways that are directly meaningful to them. For this reason, I am glad to see that the library's many databases include tags supplied by a variety of members of the CSUF community.

Perhaps in the future, tags may even be incorporated into the library's online catalog. Tags can also be applied to other tools on our library's website, such as the broad array of Web resources available under the "Research" tab on the Pollak Library homepage.

To view some of my bookmarks on Delicious, please go to: http://delicious.com/csufap.

Beyond Internet Explorer: Exploring Firefox and Add-Ons

I think Mozilla Firefox definitely provides a user-friendly tool for searching the Internet. Admittedly, I am so used to using Internet Explorer that I stick with what I know. For this reason, I am glad to have had the experience to gain a better appreciation of Firefox.

The add-on I really liked playing around with is LibX because it provides a central source for searching a variety of information sources, from the Pollak Library catalog, to WorldCat.org, to Google Scholar. One thing I loved discovering was how easy it is to add search boxes to accommodate more terms. The SFX links are great for determining the availability of a specific resource.

I have Firefox on my office computer and have also downloaded LibX. It will not only help me personally to find information, but it will also provide another tool I can use when doing digital reference with our students. I'm also glad to know that we have LibX on the computers we use at the Reference Desk. LibX is an add-on I will gladly recommend to students for their personal use.

Thank you for introducing us to these great tools!

Using Jing

Jing is a powerful tool, and it's wonderful that it is freely available. Jing is a great option during virtual reference. By creating custom videos or screen captures, we can provide effective research assistance online and add a level of personalization to our reference sessions. Jing brings to life the old saying that "a picture is worth a thousand words."

I also played with making screen captures, similar to the one pictured above. These screen captures can even be embedded into Web pages as a way to illustrate important concepts. I have been practicing with this application as well.

For a more detailed view, please feel free to click on the image above, which reflects a sample search of EBSCO's PsycINFO database. This image is also is available at: http://screencast.com/t/cTifhHr5nw.

Thank you for introducing us to this great communication and teaching tool!

Images and the Pollak Library

I was very impressed with the Pollak Library's Flickr site, and it was a useful tool for me to get to know the library better during the time I applied to work at Cal State Fullerton.

Flickr is a great way to preserve and relive memories. I used Flickr to find the photo I am posting here. This photo shows the exact type of aircraft I flew in during the early 1970s--an experience which instilled in me a love of flight which has had a significant impact in my life, both professionally and personally.

I agree with other colleagues who have suggested using Flickr to highlight some of our special collection items. Flickr is also a useful medium to document important events taking place at the library. For example, I like how Mary Anne Lynn uploaded pictures of the damage caused by the earthquake in July of 2008.

Images can be powerful tools to convey a sense of who we are as a community at the Pollak Library. One idea that comes to mind is using the Pollak Library homepage to stream photos of our employees and patrons engaged in the work they do here at the library. Perhaps these images could be interspersed with the announcements that are found in the "Library Features" section of the homepage.

Image Source: Flickr account martin404 (Alan), a gentleman from Royal Palm Beach, Florida (downloaded 3/23/09).

RSS Feeds and the Pollak Library

The exercise for Thing #3 was very useful because it gave me the opportunity to understand more fully what a reader/aggregator does, and how one can import feeds from favorite information sources. Readers such as Google Reader really save time and allow for review of new material in one convenient, central location.

RSS feeds provide a perfect means for communicating with the Pollak Library community of users. For example, I like how community members are now able to subscribe to our library blog. As far as using RSS feeds collectively to serve our patrons better, I think the library blog provides an excellent forum for communicating new information on a variety of topics. What also comes to mind is perhaps providing a general RSS feed from the library website that would let subscribers know when changes have been made to content within the website itself (e.g., changes on relevant topics such as the recent policy change concerning group study rooms, the addition of new Web resources, and the availability of new floor maps).

Thank you for the opportunity to learn more about RSS feeds!

Initial Thoughts About Using "Library 2.0" Technology

It is amazing how we have reached a point where not only are we looking to provide the best possible service to our users, but also looking at ways we can make the experience a "two-way street," as was mentioned in the blogging video for week #2. It is great that our library is looking at ways to make our content and services accessible in a variety of formats, with the emphasis on creating a sense of ownership and participation among our community of users.

One thing, for example, that I am happy to see is how librarians are able to tag databases for the library's users. I look forward to the opportunity to allow our users to participate in this process by tagging databases themselves or letting us know which database tags best work for them.

Thank you for giving us this forum to share our thoughts and experiences about Library 2.0 technology!