Primary Source Documents

Ooh, I haven't blogged in a very long while! For all my followers out there (of which I think there are probably 2), I thought I would do a quick post to highlight some work I've been doing with Villanova University's Falvey Library.

Over the past several months, I have been working in the Digital and Special Collections library to create a teachers' guide that highlights some primary documents we have been digitizing and transcribing on behalf of the Independence Seaport Museum. The guide is designed for high school english/language arts courses. Check it out:

Teachers' Guide

Primary source documents are, in my opinion, underutilized, but are a great way to learn about history and writing because they provide content that hasn't been interpreted by authors writing about these documents. This guide gives historical context and information about writing practices at the time to allow teachers and students to come to understand the document for themselves.

Enjoy!

Last Blog

Well this is my last blog...no, not forever, just for this class. Really, overall, the class was fun and useful. Except for the past three hours. And also when I was doing the Eprints3 project. Have a lovely summer, and I'll start posting again in September!

WORST THING EVVVER

So remember all those wonderful comments I made about KompoZer and FileZilla? Well they're untrue. KompoZer is the worst tool EVER IN THE WORLD. Three hours ago, I thought I was done this project. I had cracked my beer in celebration. Just a few edits, throw it in FileZilla, and bingo. DONE. Except that KompoZer saved all of my files and links and images just wherever the hell it wanted to. Well that minor buzz died instantly as I spent the next three hours FINDING my files and putting them where they needed to be, and then changing the html code to find them all again. Lost a few pages along the way, but in the end, well, I guess all I can say is I'm done. No amount of beer will make me EVER use KompoZer again. I will be investing in Adobe products from now on. Oh, and by the way, all of those open source programs that I downloaded? Well now I have spyware all OVER the place. RAAAHHHHHHHH.

OMG I'M DONE

I know I already posted something similar, but seriously I'm done. Well not really. I'm actually ALMOST done. I'm putting the finishing touches on my website.

I must say, as apprehensive I was about creating this website portfolio (and may I say totally reluctant?), I am really enjoying it! Now, that could have something to do with the fact that I'm relaxing on my couch and drinking a Sam Adams Summer Ale, but still, I am finally feeling my creative juices flowing!

And I'm really diggin' KompoZer. I know a lot of people chose to use Amaya, but from what I've hear from those people, I think I like KompoZer better.

Is it really over?

It's hard to believe we are so close to completing the semester. It wasn't easy, and I can't say it flew by, but I do feel a great sense of accomplishment in completing the first of 6 semesters of the program. Of course I shouldn't speak too soon. I still have to finish the last two assignments, and given the struggles I had the first time around with launching my website, I can't say I'm feeling terribly confident. Regardless, on Friday, it's all over!

A list of things I'm going to do with my spare time:
1. Clean the house (sorry, Chuck, it's been a mess I know).
2. Weed the garden (thanks, Chuck, for filling in)
3. Watch TV without a computer in front of my face
4. Cook dinner without feeling incredibly pressed for time. I usually love to cook!
5. Guilt-free Quizzo on Thursday nights!

I wanna be a librarian!

I've been reading job descriptions for librarians just so I can get a sense for what kinds of things might be in store for me when I complete this program, and I'm realizing how much I've learned already in this program! I now fully understand what it entails to add a book to the online catalog. I know how to make a web demo to show a user how to access a program or database (thanks, Jing!). I can not only edit a website, but I can make one. I have ideas on how to attract patrons, and understand that the purpose of library is shifting as physical books and journals are being replaced with online counterparts.

By no means am I fully qualified to run a library, but I feel like I'm well on my way! Even more encouraging, I actually think I will enjoy fulfilling the tasks required for these library positions. Whew. I made a good decision.

Copyright and Craziness

I've been listening to and reading all of these IP and Copyright law details and am realizing that, at least in the case of copyright, it seems to be too complicated to be useful. The many addendums to the law (sorry, my law vocabulary is relatively non-existant) seem to only close loopholes in favor to the copyright holders, rather than the creators.

I have been helping my brother in law to write a book, and we have often tried to figure out how we can use some non-fiction material as the basis of his novel. I can certainly see firsthand how the murkiness of this law is supressing creativity. The book is amazing, but is it worth publishing with the fear of infringing on copyright law? If the law confuses lawyers, how is it effective for creators? I am no expert (and apparently no one else is either), but this law no longer seems to serve its primary purpose.

I shall read on, and maybe someone can change my mind!