READING WEEK #7

How Internet Infrastructure Works
by Jeff Tyson

Jeff Tyson's article gave information and details about the computer network hierarchy. I was amazed to know that the Internet is not really owned by anyone. I never stopped to think as to who owns the Internet? At my library branch, from time to time there are problems with the computers. I can relate to the interconnections of the computers in a smaller network in the article because of these experiences. An example would be: When there is a power failure and the computers are shut down. When starting the computers up again you must do so in sequence. If you don't start with the so called "mother computer" patrons will not be able to print out from the printer because the printer will be out of the loop. After reading this article I now know it is because of the relationships of the server "the mother computer" which provide the services to the other computers which are the clients.




Dismantling Integrated Library Systems. Library Journal, 129(2), p.34-36.
by Andrew K. Pace

"Dismantling Integrated Library Systems mentions that some of the best ideas in online library service have come not from vendors but from librarians themselves. Having worked with INNOPAC, DRA, and now SIRSI I have found when libraries acquire the new systems they sometimes fail to get suggestions from those who are using the systems daily. The systems are not tailored specifically for the individual institutions. An example would be: having the vendor of books do the processing and entering of the book into the system. All the staff has to do is check it in. This is suppose to help speed up the process of from the box to the patron. Not so. After checking in the book, you have to go to another screen to add location, genere, etc. It usually takes years to update the system to meet the needs of the library. By the time it works well for the librarians, staff, and patrons its time for a new system. As Roland Dietz, Endeavor's president and CEO, suggests that even "incremental functionality improvements (to existing systems) are more and more expensive." (pg. 1)



Talks Sergey Brin and Larry Page: Inside the Google machine

This video gave us a view of various projects going on at Google. Google has started a Google Foundation to expand the Internet in various parts of the world which do not have access to the Net. Even though it was mentioned from time to time about all over the world, when looking at the globe, Africa the world’s second-largest and second most-populous continent with 922 million people hardly has any access to the Internet.
Google has more than 100 projects going on at the same time. Some are Google Answers Research; Blogger Publishing (which we use); Global Company; and Adsense. A project call Orkut has over 100,000 members from around the world. Viewing the video showed me a human connection in relation to Google Search Engine.