Week Ten:

REQUIRED READING NOTES

An Introduction to the Extensible Markup Language (XML)
by Martin Bryan
http://www.is-thought.co.uk/xmlintro.htm

• This site explains XML as a subset of the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) defined in ISO standard.
• it makes it easy to interchange structured documents over the Internet.
• XML always clearly mark where the start and the end of a logical part [element] of an interchanged document occurs.
• XML defines how the Internet Uniform Resource Locators can be used to identify component parts of the XML data streams.
• This definition allows a Document Type Definition (DTD) to be defined in a formal model.
• Users can check each component of document occurrances in a valid place within the interchanged data stream.
•  Unlike SGML, XML doesn't require the presence of the DTD.
• XML allows users to bring multiple files together to form compound documents. It also:
• indentifies the location for illustrations to be incorporated into text files.
• provide processing control info for supporting programs
• add editorial comments to a file
• XML is not a predefined set of tags and is not a standardized template for production of particular types of documents.
• Basic components of XML include objects, elements, and attributes. the term XML refers to a documents composed of entities, so it differs from other markup languages in that it does not simply indicate where a change occurs.
• Systems that understand XML allow users to provide a list of elements that are valid at each point in the document. 
• elements and their attributes are entered between matched pairs of angled brackets, while entity references starts with an ampersand and end with semicolon.
•  Definition of personal tag sets and attributes of elements are described - with examples of the markup text.
• XML is capable of providing techniques for handling non-standard document elements. the coding of a scheme such as an illustration is different from the normal text contents.
• Data stored using non-XML notations need appropriate application software to process it, however the XML-coded file will correctly identify where each piece of data belongs in the completed document and where it has been stored to use previously.

Extending you Markup: a XML tutorial
by Andre Bergholz
http://xml.coverpages.org/BergholzTutorial.pdf

• This is an introduction to XML written for more general audiences rather than Bryan's article, which was geared towards an individual with a base knowledge.
• Bergholz offers a simple way of remembering DTD, XSL, RDF, and DOM when considering XML markup. 
• A well-formed XML document begins with a prolog and ends with one element.
• Stylesheets, XML Schema, and namespaces are examined and exemplified throughout the PDF.
• DTD's define the structure of xml documents - it allows users to specify the set of tags, the order of tags, and the attributes of each. ---> well formed is called valid.
• elements are either nonterminal or terminal in DTD. 
• terminal elements are declared as parsed character data or EMPTY.
• nonterminal contain sublements, grouped as sequences or choice. 
• sequence defines the order in which the subelements must appear.
• Explanation of the terms SGML and HTML to understand the influence and develpoment of XML - a semantic language that allows meaningful annotation of text.
• meaningful annotation is the essence of XML 

"XML Schema Tutorial"
http://www.w3schools.com/Schema/default.asp

• This tutorial, like the one on CSS and HTML, offers definitions, examples, quiz, and information on the XML markup in a web document.
• The introduction offers what it is, how it works, and a basic understanding refresher of HTML and DTD.
• There are examples and definitions of complex types, simple types, and data types for a user to better understand the components of XML.

Thoughts 

As I have stated previously, the W3schools tutorials do a good job of explaining each term, showing examples, and highlight key parts to each concept for people like me who have had little to none experience on the subject. Each topic has a variety of information and ways to practice, something I take into consideration when completing the assignments/labs. I have referred to these websites for information outside of these blog posts, I'm thankful they exist!

Muddy Point 10/31

For assignment 4, is there a way to copy a permalink for submission so that when you access my digital bookshelf, you do not require a log-in? Or is it okay that the URL I will have on my submission is a log-in required link?

Week Nine:

REQUIRED READING NOTES

W3 School Cascading Style Sheet Tutorial
http://www.w3schools.com/css/

• This website provided good examples on CSS and how to control the style and layout of Web pages all at once.
• CSS - defined as how to display HTML elements on a Web page.
• Stands for Cascading Style Sheets
• Styles were added to HTML 4.0 to solve problems.
• External Style Sheets save work and are stored in CSS files.
• All browsers support CSS today. --> It defines how HTML elements are meant to be displayed.
• Much like the HTML page, the quiz was a helpful tool also for remembering various components of CSS and its' defining characteristics.
• The most helpful page on this site was the CSS Examples tab

CSS Tutorial: starting with HTML + CSS
http://www.w3.org/Style/Examples/011/firstcss

• This tutorial is aimed for individuals looking to start using CSS, but have not written a CSS style sheet before.
• while it does not explain the components of CSS, it does explain how to create an HTML file, a CSS file, and how to make them work together.

•  This page takes the user through a series of steps that ultimately create an HTML page with the CSS style sheet. It walks you through step by step, adding colors, fonts, navigation tools, styling links, and external CSS.
• It was fun to create my first webpage through the tutorial!

"CSS"
Chapter 2 of Cascading Style Sheets, designing for the Web by Hakon Wium Lie and Bert Bos
http://www.w3.org/Style/LieBos2e/enter/

• This chapter in this book is also an introduction to CSS as it is an HTML element that enables Web page designers to mark up a document as to its structure.
• CSS puts the designer in the driver's seat. This chapter introduces the basics of how to write CSS and HTML work together.
• Two ways to create CSS are described:
• a normal text editor and writing the style sheets "by hand"
• a dedicated tool that supports CSS writing.
• It is recommended to write the CSS by hand so that the developer of a dedicated tool does not interfere with the style you intend for a page.
• A rule is a statement about one stylistic aspect of one or more elements.
• consists of two parts: selector and declaration 
• selector is the part before the left curly brace. selector { ... } - link between HTML and the style. it specifies the elements affected by the declaration.
• declaration is the part within the curly braces { declaration } - part of the rule that sets forth what the effect will be.
• has two parts separated by a colon: property - { color: green } COLOR is the property. value - { color: green } GREEN is the value.
• The selector is based on the type of the element. 
• A style sheet is a set of one or more rules that apply to an HTML document.
• There are many definitions provided within this chapter that give a good base knowledge of the CSS and HTML elements needed.
• It becomes very technical, describing common tasks, properties, and perspectives on the information provided.

Thoughts 

I found this information very useful, especially after reviewing the terms with the W3 School tutorials. CSS and HTML are very in-depth, but this website provides a great basic coverage and examples for someone like myself to understand. I can see this information being utilized in my future as an academic librarian because I will need to create webpages for students and faculty to access. I enjoyed learning so much about these correlating topics.

Muddy Point 10/24

I have no muddy point for this week actually, I feel pretty confident in what we are discussing because I have gotten a chance to work in HTML coding previously.

Week Eight:

REQUIRED READING NOTES

HTML Tutorial
http://www.w3schools.com/HTML/

• This website provided good examples on HTML and how to create my own webpage. 
• HTML - defined as the markup language for describing web documents.
• Stands for Hyper Text Markup Language -> a set of markup tags.
• HTML documents are described by HTML tags
• There were many easy to understand explanations and descriptions of HTML tags and the text that appears in webpage content.
• There have been many versions of HTML since 1991.
• The quiz was a helpful tool also for remembering various parts of the HTML process.
• many components such as how to italicize, how to break, how to create links, etc. were featured in the quiz
• The most helpful page on this site was the HTML Examples tab

HTML Cheatsheet
http://www.webmonkey.com/2010/02/html_cheatsheet/

• This webpage is definitely very handy as it contains the most common HTML tags available as well as the proper syntax to create them.
• I have printed this source out and plan to refer to it whenever I am in need of creating HTML.
• This information is also pertinent for when I will utilize libguides as a librarian.

Web Development with SAS by Example (3rd Ed.)
Chapter 2 - Introduction to HTML
books.google.com

• This chapter in this book is also an introduction to the hypertext markup language as well as formatting using style sheets.
• All markup languages use tags to annotate the document content.
• In HTML, there is a short list of standard tags that must be learned.
• Writing HTML can be tedious, as there is a lot repetition.
• The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is the standard body responsible for using a stricter and cleaner reformulation known as Extensible Hypertext Markup Language (XHTML)
• XHTML is a family of current and future document types and modules that reproduce, subset, and extend HTML 4. 
• It must also conform to a Document Type Definition (DTD) for XML-based Webpages.
• Web browsers use the markup tags to determine how to display the document.
• This chapter examines the use of style sheets to create a uniform appearance for a Web site by separating the page content from the presentation.
• it also simplifies Web page maintenance.

"Beyond HTML: Developing and Re-Imagining Library Web Guides in a Content Management System"
by Doug Goans, Guy Leach, and Teri M.Vogel
http://escholarship.org/uc/item/2234d9w2

• This is a case study that developed to report on the content management system designed to manage 30 web-based research guides developed by the subject liaison librarians at the Georgia State University Library
• Web development librarians with assistance from the web programmer designed a system using MySQL and ASP.
• liaison team gave input on the system through rigorous testing and assisted with the design of the templates that control the layout of the content on the guides.
• This paper as intended to contribute to a small, but growing collection of CMS (content management system) case studies.
• covers technical, functional, and managerial developments of a CMS while addressing the practical user factors that might get lost in the process.
• Web guides were diverse on visual levels. 
• each librarian used different colors, fonts, and layout designs.
• there was a lack of training among the librarians to address various web page and site-building skills
• A survey was conducted to note observations on web development, particularly to shift away from a static HTML content delivery system.
• In a CMS, the content is disconnected from the layout and design elements of the page.
• content may be defined variously in however the organization chooses.

• Some libraries adopt CMS technology because they want to reduce the 'gatekeeper' effect by eliminating barriers that limit library staff from contributing to the website.
• The continuation of this case study becomes a little foreign to me, as I continued to read, I wasn't sure what the most important aspects of the paper were pertinent to me as as student.

Thoughts 

All of the readings for this week provide very detailed information on HTML. This information seems useful as librarians are going to be expected to have new technological skills as the Library 2.0 continues to expand. I know that personally, in my placement this semester, I am required to learn the inner-workings of LibGuides. My classmate Mychele and I are required to learn how to edit and access HTML and other web-based information in order to correctly submit Libguides. HTML is definitely one of the most important aspects of Technology and information technologies.

Muddy Point 10/17

How specific are we able to get with the terms "library services" for the first essay? Do you mean technology-specific of just a service from the library and its staff?

Week Seven:

REQUIRED READING NOTES

"How Internet Infrastructure Works" by Jeff Tyson
 http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/internet-infrastructure.htm

• The Internet is a global collection of networks, big and small. they connect in different ways to form the single entity known by interconnected networks.
• The Internet Society is a non-profit group est. in 1992 to oversee the formation of the policies and protocols of the Internet (how we use and interact)
• This article looks to define the basic underlying structure of the Internet [domain serves, network access points]
• Computers are connected to a network, via a modem - dials local number to connect to the Internet Service Provider (ISP). 
• work usually uses Local Area Networks (LANs) to connect to the ISP.
• Many large companies have their own Point of Presence (POP) to place local users to a company's network. 
• there is no existing overall controlling network, instead there are several networks connecting through the Network Access Points (NAPs)
• provides example of internet networking
• All networks rely on NAP, routers, etc to communicate. routers determine where to send information from one computer to another. they are specialized computers. there are two jobs for routers:
• it ensures information does not go where it its not needed. 
• makes sure that information does make it to intended destination.
• The National Science Foundation created the first high-speed backbone in 1987.
• NSFNET - T1 line connected to 170 smaller networks and was developed by IBM
• backbones are the most important feature of network communication
• All machines on the Internet has a unique identification #, IP Address. (internet protocol)
• IP addresses are normally expressed in decimal format. this is translated via binary code in the actual network.
• Any server machine makes its services available using number ports.

"Dismantling Integrated Library Systems" by Andrew K. Pace
 http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2004/02/ljarchives/dismantling-integrated-library-systems/

• Author claims the integrated library system has been dismantled since its evolution in the early 1990s. 
• "the old technology of the ILS clashed with new web technologies"
• Web creates opportunities and challenges that are fueling the changes in the ILS. -> new modules out of frustration are being built from the dismantling of the integrated systems.
• Much issue resides in the vendor's own modules and with a library's homegrown solutions.
• Maintaining a competitive advantage takes much work, such as continuing ILS software upgrades and fierce competition for new name sales.
• It is unrealistic to create a completely new ILS.
• Librarians are motivated for solutions because of healthy competition with peers. Libraries are forced to look at new technology to purchase a standalone product.
• "Innovation will have to come via integration with new technology"
• Libraries can benefit from new solutions in vendor markets.
• Vendors have two choices: continue to maintain large systems that use proprietary methods of interoperability and promise tight integration of services OR choose to dismantle their modules in a way that librarians can reintegrate their systems through web services and standards, combining new with old.

TED Talk: The Genesis of Google (Inside the Google machine) by Sergey Brin and Larry Page
http://www.ted.com/talks/sergey_brin_and_larry_page_on_google

• I really liked the behind the scenes look at how Google has morphed into this large system of integrated users. The dot process of when someone on Google conducting searches is pretty crazy, I am sure it is constantly on. 
• There was a lot of interesting information in this TED talk because Google has perfected that algorithm of networks and its related searches.

Thoughts 

Tyson's article was easier to read than I expected it to be, I enjoyed the lexicon and know this information will help me in my career as a librarian. Dismantling the library integrated system is complicated, but nonetheless an extremely important aspect of the changing library sciences.