Thoreau Fragment and Fetch

I just uploaded my Thoreau HTML page to the Pitt server, after fighting with it for a few minutes. I had to download Fetch (a program for FTPing) instead of Filezilla. Apparently Filezilla doesn't like my Macbook, and refused to install correctly (I tried several times). I believe my OS might be outdated, so I'll have to check on that later. In any case, Fetch worked quite nicely. I changed the file upload to SFTP, and just dragged my HTML file from my desktop to my Pitt public folder. After reading Tim's posts online, I finally realized that I need to create another folder within the public folder for the link to work correctly. So, I created an "HTML" folder and dragged my file into that. Presto! I could finally view my Pitt webpage. I hope Dr. Tomer can see it, as well!

Web Design in Two Minutes

I just watched the "Web Design in Two Minutes" video and found it pretty entertaining. Time lapse photography makes everything seem easy, but it really takes significant time, planning, and patience to create a website of that caliber. I'm not too certain, but I think the designer was using PhotoShop and Dreamweaver. I'd love to see someone create this website using only HTML and JavaScript. I suspect the video's title would then change to "Web Design in 30 Minutes."

GIS Assignment - Close Call!

In my last post, I mentioned how relieved I was that the due date for my GIS assignment had been pushed back by one day. After I posted this news, I checked just to make sure I was right, and apparently the due date was only pushed back for people who had submitted the assignment incorrectly at an earlier time. I'm just glad I discovered my error in time! I was able to complete and submit the assignment before the stroke of midnight. Crisis averted!

Koha Assignment

I just completed the Koha assignment for this class. It was a simple assignment--Dr. Tomer's video was straightforward and easy to follow. Like the other assignments, though, the work was tedious. It took me about two hours to add all 25 Battle of Gettysburg items to the virtual bookshelf I created (Puzak). I'm assuming that real library work won't be as mundane, but I haven't had the benefit of library co-op experience. I do volunteer at the Joseph T. Simpson Public Library in Mechanicsburg, PA, but I am just a lowly shelver. I'll have to find out if the librarians there are utilizing any of the citation/reference programs that we have addressed in class. To be honest, I usually see the librarians dealing with administrative issues (i.e., intra-library book transfers and setting up meeting rooms for local reading groups), so I'm not very familiar with the demand for reference services at J.T. Simpson.

In other news, I am somewhat concerned about my next GIS assignment. Thankfully we've been given another day to complete it, but I have a feeling I'll be spending several hours just trying to understand it. I wish I had a longer weekend!

Okay, I'm a Moron...

I was browsing the class bulletin board and noticed that several classmates had questions regarding the ePrints assignment. I'm very glad I read Tim's instructions to move our "deposits" to live storage, because they'd still be sitting in my account with an "under review" status! I just moved all 25 sources live, so hopefully they appear when Dr. Tomer reviews the assignment.

ePrints3 Assignment

Well, after a good two hours, I managed to find and post 25 references to my ePrints3 account. Honestly, I think 25 references was way too many--I understood what I needed to do after the second or third reference was complete. I realized just how time consuming compiling citations really is. I'm in the reference services specialization, and I'm starting to regret it (ha, ha)!

If I Fail my GIS Midterm, I'm Blaming Michael Jackson

This week has been fairly hectic for me. Right now, in fact, I'm visiting my grandmother in Johnstown (in beautiful Cambria County!), so I had to duck into her bedroom quickly to use her computer before she spends her usual two or three hours entering online contests.

It's amazing that senior citizens can learn to use the latest technology. My grandmother is 84 years old, but she manuevers through webpages like a pro. I definitely believe that all libraries (with enough resources, of course), should have computer classes for senior citizens during the week. At the very least, there should be one course every week that introduces new patrons to the library's online catalog and how to perform simple searches.

I'll be working on this class's latest assignment tomorrow, when I return home. I spent Thursday night and Friday morning completing an assignment and a midterm exam for my GIS class. It wouldn't have taken so long, but my roommate's sister was watching all of the Michael Jackson news and video marathons she could get her hands on that night. Trust me, trying to explain the difference between vector and raster models is a bit difficult when the Thriller music video is being shown every ten minutes.

Well, my grandmother wants to use her computer, so I guess I'll have to "Beat It."