Popular Posts Gadget

Hi all!
I've added a gadget to this blog that lets us view our most popular posts on the right side of the page. I hope that this will encourage readers to view more of our posts, and increase the general number of viewers all our posts get!

Added a Gadget

Hello Readers,

I've added a new gadget to the blog.  The gadget I added is "Search this Blog."  This will help you search our past posts and find ones on a specific or written by a specific contributor.
Pretty neat, right?

-Eva Parrill

New Gadget

My choice for an additional Gadget to add to our blog on Teaching Others to Use Technology was the Additional Links widget. I included links to the other blogs created by my fellow classmates in the LT 130 course in order to allow the user to enjoy additional content and blogs related to these topics. In searching for the links, I was able to view the other blogs and was surprised to see the great content, gadgets, and the wealth of information that was built in by my peers. I am sure that anyone who visits our blog would find this information useful as well and will be happy to have such a convenient way to navigate between the various pages. Additionally, I feel that this widget could be useful for other links as the blog grows larger, to highlight some of the key websites and blogs that would provide the best amount of information to our visitors.

I added the "Follower" gadget, so that people that follow the blog can also connect with other people who follow the blog.

Added a New Gadget

Hello Everyone!

I added the "Follow by Email" gadget. I add this gadget so that people who follow the blog will get updates through there email. That way they can stay in touch and never miss out. 😊😊😊

Cloud Computing in Libraries

Cloud computing is the latest in a trend of the ever-increasing presence of new technologies in libraries that support and evolve the processes and services that have made libraries a cornerstone of many schools and communities. While having more technology can make some processes more efficient and increases the appeal to the public, as these technologies become more advanced, requiring high-level skills to manage, libraries struggle to keep their support and IT departments evolving at a pace strong enough to meet the demands (Breeding).  Many libraries have begun to move away from having these types of systems and networks managed by their own Systems teams and IT Departments and outsourcing some of this more advanced work to third parties, allowing the library to focus its budgets on the application end of these new technologies.



Several different types of cloud computing exist but the main kinds that are being used in libraries include those focused on infrastructure, platforms, applications, and services (Goldner, p.5). Cloud services can be free services such as Google Drive and other cloud storages used for file organization but can also include more complex systems such as cloud-based library management systems like Alma from Ex Libris.  These types of changes give rise to new roles for IT professionals in the library and increase the efficiency of support services that often left smaller libraries in difficult situations.

References:

Breeding, Marshall. “Managing Tech and the Impact of Cloud Computing on Libraries.” Computers in Libraries, vol. 39, no. 2, Mar. 2019, pp. 9–11. EBSCOhost, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=135486413&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Goldner, Matt. “Winds of Change: Libraries and Cloud Computing.” Oclc.org, 2010, www.oclc.org/content/dam/oclc/events/2011/files/IFLA-winds-of-change-paper.pdf.

Gordon-Murnane, Laura. “How Are Libraries Using Cloud Computing?” 2018 Short Cuts - Computers in Libraries, 2018, https://cil.brightcovegallery.com/detail/videos/2018-short-cuts/video/5793396057001/how-are-libraries-using-cloud-computing?autoStart=true.

Makerspaces

Makerspaces are a relatively new trend in libraries but are bringing much-needed resources and skills training to individuals and groups that would otherwise not have the same access and experiences as those in more affluent communities.  Makerspaces can include a wide range of services, tools, and resources depending on the availability of funding, skilled staff or volunteers, and on the interests of the surrounding community. Unlike the arts and crafts and other creative projects for which libraries have been used for decades, the Makerspace movement seeks to use more advanced tools, technologies, and resources to teach skills that can apply to various aspects of a user’s career or life (Loertscher).

In a school library setting, Makerspaces can assist in the quality and depth of instruction for a variety of subjects and can give students hands-on experiences with projects that they might have otherwise only read about in books (Loertscher). Even at the college level, Makerspaces have begun to influence the way instruction and learning occur and give students the resources to take on higher level projects and create things that would have been limited to the realm of imagination without these tools. A prime example of a makerspace which has been configured to give students access to resources is the Creat’r Lab located in the Orbach Library at UCR. This lab has tools such as 3-D printers, sewing machines, crafting supplies, cutting machines, electronic components, and so much more that are made available to current students of UCR with no additional cost. Students often

References:

Loertscher, David V., et al. “Makerspaces in the School Library Learning Commons and the UTEC Maker Model.” Teacher Librarian, vol. 41, no. 2, Dec. 2013, pp. 48–51. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=92991119&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

“Research Guides: Creat'R Lab: Overview.” Overview - Creat'R Lab - Research Guides at University of California, Riverside Libraries, https://guides.lib.ucr.edu/c.php?g=645451&p=4523510.