Copyright

Reading Assignment #4 (July 25, 2009)

Source:

Horava, Tony. (2009). Ebooks licensing and Canadian copyright legislation: a few considerations. Partnership: the Canadian Journal of library and Information Practice and Research, vol. 4, no. 1. Retrieved on July 24, 2009 from http://journal.lib.uoguelph.ca/index.php/perj/article/view/929/1474

Abstract:

In the success of ejournals, libraries are now examining the idea of implementing ebooks in collection development strategy particularly in academic libraries. Acquiring ebooks rely heavily on license agreements. Libraries have been adept in the processes of acquiring ebooks that the interplay between licensing as a contractual arrangement and the statutory rights available under Canadian copyright law have not given much attention. Questions were raised on how these licensing agreements will affect on how ebooks can be used for teaching, learning, and research. The article examine areas in the provision of copyright that have importance in the libraries such as interlibrary loans, access to persons with disabilities and in preservation of ebooks. The article analyzes these issues and proposes strategies that libraries can adopt to ensure that fair dealing in Canadian copyright is not eroded by licensing agreements.

Lessons learned:

1. As a librarian, it is a must to know the copyright legislation and jurrispudence. In order to balance access and privacy, one must to understand the provisions of the law. This may not only protect user's rights but also protects the welfare of the creator in using and disseminating information.

2. It is important that the provisions of the law is clearly stated and guidelines are specifically address user needs.

3. Use every opportunity to educate the publisher or vendor and also the library users about the library's interest in incorporating user rights found in copyright legislation. This will signal that we are aware of our statutory rights and their central importance for research, learning, and teaching.

Reflection:

Legislation is a set of binding principles and rule stipulated through formal mechanisms to grant power, confer rights and specify limits that regulate the conduct and behavior of the society. The copyright law under the intellectual property right provides the mandate under in what conditions information could be made available.

In saying so, as a librarian, it is important that we know clearly what are the provisions stated in the copyright law in order to know until where we would extend our rights to fair use and the limitations of extending service to users. This is our guiding principles in providing access, support to the exchange of knowledge, encouragement of learning, and the provision of materials to a wide range of patrons. It is the responsibility of a librarian to also protect the right of the author and they are given due credit in doing so.

Whatever traditions and experience we have, we all have the same need for clear, updated legislation to protect and provide access.

Web 2.0: New Methods for Libraries

Reading Assignment #3 (July 18, 2009)

Source:
Manness, Jack M. "Library 2.0 Theory: Web 2.0 and Its Implication for libraries".Webology, 3(2), June, 2006. available at http://www.webology.ir/2006/v3n2/a25.html

Abstract:
The article discusses "Library 2.0". The definition, theory and the implications of integrating Web 2.0 technologies in the practice of librarianship. Library 2.0 theory poses four essential elements: it is user-centered; a multi-media experience; socially rich; and communally innovative. It recognizes implications that will change the course of history and mission of libraries especially in access and control of information. The article introduces Web 2.0 technologies such as synchronous messaging and streaming media, blogs, wikis, social networks, tagging, RSS feeds and mashups.

Three Things I have learned:
1. With Web2.0, you reach more users and a stimulus for information sharing.
2. With Web 2.0 exchange of information is more innovative, more interactive and much faster.
3. Libraries can now extend services virtually thus expands user community. Utilization of information is maximized and most importantly Web 2.0 fosters new opportunities for learning.

Implications:
Web 2.0 opened new doors for libraries. These technologies greatly influenced library activities without us knowing it. It penetrated library realms and what we must do is embraced it willingly for it brings promising and substantial developments in improving our services and in reaching out library users. In the end we will able to say thanks for these innovative technologies for improving our lives.
Now that i know full well the concepts of Web 2.0 technologies, i am eager to explore what it can do to my library and how it can benefit me in expanding my library's horizon.

Information Ethics: Combating Information Age

Reading Assignment #2 (July 11, 2009)


Source:
Carbo, Toni and Stephen Almagno. "Information Ethics: The Duty, Priviledge and Challenge of Educating Information Professionals". Library Trends 49, no. 3(2001). Retrieved on July 10, 2009 from
http://www.ideals.uiuc.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/8351/librarytrendsv49i3j_opt.pdf?sequence=1


Abstract

This article describes the history and evolution of information ethics at the University of Pittsburgh. It addresses the need for an information ethics program designed for information professionals for them to understand what ethics is and how to make sound ethical decisions in their professional lives and in the workplace. It describes the course and the course's three components: 1) addressing the reason and need for moral instruction and ethical reflection; 2) the necessary steps for facing up to and resolving a moral dilemma; and 3) ethical issues in librarianship, information technology, and management. Integrating four components into the program: a course, lecture series, web site and fellow professionals.

Lesson learned:

• Information professionals must first learn to develop and hone their own individual sense of ethics, live an ethical life and be educated about ethical issues in the workplace.
• Knowing how to create, find, manage, access, preserve, and use information effectively gives a sense of power or control to information professional.
• Courses on information ethics must be part of the education of information professionals. These should provide an understanding of ethical theories and how they apply to concrete practical cases and should also make explicit connection between information ethics and the mission of the library professional.
  

REFLECTION
Everyday we are confronted with issues related to information access and use that may involve balancing individual and societal needs. Issues like protecting both an individual's privacy and public's right to know. As a librarian, it is important to know what are the issues and concerns of the library in order for us to know how to deal and resolve issues without compromising our values and beliefs. We have to stand our grounds and not to be easily swayed with cultural differences and with existing traditions in the workplace and conflicts in our own individual values with issues related to libraries. And we should have good working knowledge of information ethics in order to deal with ethical issues effectively.

Information to People: Information Seeking Behavior

Reading assignment #1 (July 4, 2009)


Source Article:

Johnstone, David, Mary Tate.Bringing human information behavior into information systems research: an application of systems modelling. Information Research, vol. 9, n0. 4, July 2004. Retrieved July 2, 2009, from http://informationr.net/ir/9-4/paper191.html.


"Information seeking", "information use" and "information searching" are terms modernly use to describe ways of how people acquire and interact with information. This is the focus of David Johnstone and Mary Tate as they introduce Human Information Behavior, a new perspective in Library and Information Science that encompasses all forms of information seeking and use, including social networks, group dynamics and activities that accurately describe how people relate to information. Basically it discusses the process of how people behave and interact with received information. This is in response to the issues raised by Dervin and Dilan (1986) that the paradigm that is human-centered, situational, constructivist and holistic is essential for studying the process by which people interact with the information in their environment is incompatible with traditional approaches in Information Systems. Systems modelling were proposed to develop a research framework for different approaches and that addressed the points raised by Dervin and Dilan.

In reading this article, i have learned that:

• In seeking information, making decisions and forming opinions, people tend to process information in their personal context, according to the relevance of retrieved information to their needs.
• Information seeking as a complex, holistic process in which researchers have to coordinate a diverse set of techniques to locate, retrieve and process information
• Information processes are best explained in a group context as appeared to examinations of the storage and its retrieval by individuals.

In the midst of fast growing technology and in the advent of the Internet, as an information manager, i come to realize that getting precise and relevant information greatly influence our attitude towards information as indicated by Johnstone and Tate. It gives me confidence on how i understand, process and use information. This is far from what i am supposed to read but for me it has some significant aspect in library service. We know that the end-users perspective is always our first consideration in formulating IS and we devise our plans according to the needs of our clients. Lifting from the text, i just want to state that:

"...how individuals approach and handle information. This includes searching for it, using it, modifying it, sharing it, hoarding it, even ignoring it. Consequently, when we manage information behavior, we're attempting to improve the overall effectiveness of an organization's information environment through concerted action." (Davenport, 1997: 83-84)