The LAN Wikipedia entry was pretty brief and only dedicated a paragraph or
so to any one topic, so I don't have a whole lot to say about it. I didn't
know Ethernet was created in the 70s. Really, the main thing discussed
here is the history of the LAN as it relates to the PC, and the many
competing types of cables and network cards. It sounds confusing and it
probably meant that it was hard to choose what to use when there are 40
types of cables.
Computer network entry: I actually thought the small section about LAN
here was better than the separate entry for LAN. It's short, but clearer
and more straightforward, in my opinion. It goes on to summarize various
types of computer networks and related devices. I was familiar with most
of the basic hardware components, though not so much with bridges.
YouTube video on computer networks: This video was very short and it was also pretty vague. He basically just went over the most common types of networks. I didn't find this very useful at all, to be honest. It barely even gave a description of the networks.
RFID Journal Article: I do wish they had covered more of the privacy issues, but this was more about the functions of it in general. I don't know what I think about self check-out yet. On one hand, I like it, but on the other-- well, I've used self check-out in grocery stores and I have annoying problems popping up maybe 1/4 of the time. An item gets stuck or won't scan or something. So obviously a library would have to have someone monitoring the stations. I agree with Karen Coyle's point that patrons may feel the "burden" is being shifted onto them.
I think I'd like to see both options available. I know that many patrons come to the library and end up chatting with the circ staff. It makes the library a friendlier place. Then again, there are some libraries that are so busy no one would have time to talk, the staff is overworked (and it may lead to repetitive stress injuries as mentioned in the journal article), and people become impatient. Anyway, I think having both options as much as possible is the way to go, at least for now.
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3 comments:
I felt the same about the LAN article. It was mostly links with a little text bridging them. I usually like to explore links but this one got tedious. Still, network concepts are complex and you really have to like it to get into it.
I was much more interested in the RFID information. Self-service is done well some places (Giant Eagle grocery stores have the best in my opinion), others not so well. However, those places I believe use the bar code not RFID at this point--concept is the same though. I agree, we need both. My husband will never do self-service unless we are with him!
I agree with you that the library needs both self-service and a circulation desk. Technology can't operate like a person, say if the machine just wont read the RFID, it is impossible to check it out, unless you have someone there to help you or do it through their computer. I find it hard to believe that someday self-service will replace workers at the circulation desk - I think the interaction with others and making a library feel "friendly" is one of the best things about the library.
I agree about the privacy issues for RFID. I am not sure what they are, or why it would invade someone's privacy to have these instead of barcodes. They repeated this concern many times, but they never gave a reason privacy would have been invaded. I thought that in general, the RFID would be a good idea from what the article said.
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