Reading Report

Reading Report #5
By: Paul S. Piper
“Web Hoaxes, Counterfeit Sites, and Other Spurious Information on the Internet.”

This article was all about misinformation on the web and the various forms this misinformation comes in, such as, counterfeit websites, suspicious websites, fictitious websites, spoofs/parodies and even news and media reports. Mr. Piper cites many examples of counterfeit websites including the well known “martinlutherking.org” as examples of misinformation. This site may look harmless to the untrained eye, but if evaluated, you notice that the site’s sponsor is a white nationalist group and the information claims all types of things about Dr. King, including his link to communism, and abuse. Piper goes on to explain about a number of other sites though in appearance look professional, sophisticated and reliable are really completely false or claiming to be something they are not. The World Trade Organization’s website was falsified to a point in which, an Austrian trade group invited one of the false members to speak at a conference. This counterfeiting websites is a serious hoax, that believe it or not many people fall for. There is not only counterfeit websites but just plain misleading websites that steer people in the wrong direction regarding, their health and business matters. Some of the most susceptible to this misinformation are elderly and young people.

This whole reading just confirms to me and hopefully everyone that knowing how to evaluate and confirm information found online is a skill that is a must nowadays. There is so much misinformation, disinformation, and false information out there on the World Wide Web, being able to critically evaluate what you find is essential to success in school and in life. I also think that this issue of misinformation is why most professors strictly limit what resources students use in papers. I know that I was required to use only peer reviewed and scholarly articles found in a database on most of my papers and such. I guess I know why now!

News Report #5

News Report #5
EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass., Nov 13, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE)
By: Rebecca Woelfel, Hunter Public Relations
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Hasbro-Donates-300000-Games-Public/story.aspx?guid=%7BED778EB3-D2BD-4D7A-BF29-39961CC5EDF7%7D
This article was about the Hasbro Company, who is a worldwide leader in producing family, and children’s entertainment products. Some of their most recognizable products include “GI Joe”, “Mr. Potato Head” and “transformers” to name a few, though Hasbro does not just stick to toys, but family games are a leading product. Their newest being PICTUREKA! which is a game of picture hunt. Hasbro is a supporter of local communities and libraries alike and has donated $300,000 in games to local libraries in honor of the First Annual National Gaming Day hosted by the American Library Association. By inviting communities to play PICTUREKA! and other games on National Gaming Day, Hasbro and the American Library Association are helping to raise awareness about the benefits of playing games to learn in libraries and incorporating games into educational programs with the philosophy that everyone should have access to learning and fun.
I think that the American Library Associations, National Gaming Day is a wonderful idea for children and families alike to get together, learn, play, and have fun. Hasbro’s donation of so many of their new and popular games is just a show, of not just a company but of people’s dedication to learning. Supporting public libraries is so important because some just do not have the funds for things like this. Hasbro really made this day possible at many community libraries due to their donation and caring. This news story should be emphasized to show that some people in this world still do care about others, and it’s not even Christmas yet. Ha/ha! 

Reading #4

Reading #4
“Can Wikipedia Ever Make the Grade?”
By: Brock Read
This article examines the reliability of Wikipedia (the online encyclopedia) and ways to make the encyclopedia more reliable and accurate. Alexander M.C. Halavais a professor of communications at Quinnipiac College, preformed a little self test on this encyclopedia which everyone and anyone can contribute to by placing incorrect information in a number of different articles online. Expecting these inaccurate facts to go unnoticed, he was surprised to find that of all 13 inaccuracies placed throughout the online articles every single one was found and corrected within three hours of publication. The editors of Wikipedia also sought Mr. Halavais out to ask him to refrain from writing inaccurate material. The debate within academia is whether or not Wikipedia could ever be a truly reliable resource due to the fact that anyone can contribute and professors and experts are not given priority in publishing accurate material. The answer for some is yes while others are still skeptics. A number of research studies have been conducted comparing well established encyclopedias such as Britannica with Wikipedia and the results were favorable to the online publication. While Britannica averaged about three mistakes per article Wikipedia averaged only four per article on the same topic. Supporters of Wikipedia admit that some areas such as humanities are not as extensive and detailed as others but that is why wikipedians are pushing for professors and scholars to publish and help right some wrongs.

I believe that Wikipedia can be a valuable resource if used correctly. I personally would not take everything in Wikipedia at face value due to the fact that anyone can publish. Someone with no more expertise than I can add and edit information on Wikipedia with no checkpoint before its put out into internet space. Even if the information is wrong and will be corrected in a few hours, what about the people that look up that information and find if during that time… Wikipedia can be a good starting place for research but I have to say always verify, verify, verify with other sources before you believe.

News Report #4

The News Report # 4
Schools, Libraries see hundreds of request to ban books
USA Today< http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-10-22-challengedbooks_N.htm?csp=34>
By: Ledyard King

American Library Association, school, public, and academic libraries receive request from parents public officials, and activists regularly about banning certain books they deem inappropriate. Inappropriate books range from books with vulgar language, sexual content or other themes which are viewed as unsuitable for reading lists. Many books have been banned from high school reading list due to complaints from parents and such and these books are not just current works but classic novels, such as John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. There has been thousands of requests to ban books from library selves, reading lists, and classrooms and numerous books have been banned due to such request. Times have changed recently, and communities have been rising up against the banning of material.

I think it is about time that there is some rising up over the banning of books. Individuals have the right to choose what they want to read and what they want their children to read. If individual parents, officials or activists deem something inappropriate for their own children then by all means the child in question should be excused from the assigned reading and given another option. But to deny all students the right to classic and important literature, that educational experts found important enough to include on a high school reading list is an unfair and unjust decision. That would be like banning Shakespeare from library shelves, there is death, violence, sexual content and more in the classic Romeo and Juliet and I know I was required to read the play in high school. Banning any form of literature is wrong, next angry parents will be burning books.

Reading #3

Reading #3
“The Infodiet: How Libraries can Offer an Appetizing Alternative to Google”
By: Steve Bell
This article touched on the fact that students are depending on search engines like Google for their research instead of the high quality material available in databases through academic libraries. The author mentioned the term “infobesity” as the average student’s research ability which entails low-quality information in large amounts. He says that infodieting is the way to solve the problem of low quality papers, get students to use aggregator databases which have tons of “nutritious” information. The question is how to get students who rely so heavily on the ease of Google type search engines to use these semi-complicated databases. Some have suggested why these databases aren’t more user friendly, why not give the people what they want, why not “google-ize” databases. Some are all for it and others are against it, why dumb down databases when research is suppose to be challenging. College in general is suppose to be challenging teach students how to be net-savvy and to evaluate and use the databases and the problem is solved, but how do you do that? That is the challenge facing the academic community and as suggested it’s the responsibility of not only librarians but professors and database developers to make navigating the quality information easier for students.

This article brings up many valid points especially why databases aren’t more Google-like. I think if they were more students would take advantage of peer reviewed and scholarly resources and therefore have higher quality papers. I was lucky enough to have teachers who were very active and involved with the library staff to make us as students aware of the online databases. Not only did we spend an entire class period in the library learning about how to navigate the resources available we were required on all of our papers in English and communication to use scholarly journals and nothing else. You know how they say “it takes a village to raise a child” well I think that it really “takes a campus community to raise a good student”. Infodieting is a system that must be learned and continuously stuck with to work just like any good diet.

News Report #3

News Report #3
Gender Change and the Federal Hiring Process
By: Susan Smith
http://www.fedsmith.com/article/1718/

The Library of Congress was found guilty of discrimination based on the sex or change of sex of an applicant, by the U.S. District court. Testimony has concluded that the applicant David Schroer was indeed discriminated against after applying for a job at the Library of Congress. Mr. Schroer applied for the terrorism specialist position with the Congressional Research Service and due to his extensive military experience and expertise was practically guaranteed the job. However when Mr. Schroer explained that he would be undergoing gender transition to become “Diane Schroer” the position was recanted and another applicant who was less qualified was selected. The District court judge stated that direct evidence made this a clear case of sex stereotyping and discrimination because of it.

I was a little shocked by this story. I actually read some more information about this case and this is pretty compelling stuff. Federal law states that you can not discriminate due to sex, gender, religion, age or race. When I think of discrimination due to sex I think maybe sexual orientation, being homosexual, or bisexual but I have never heard of a case were gender transition was the factor. I think this struck me because it is so unusual. This man who was is a retired Army Special Forces Colonel is being discriminated against. His/her credibility as a person is coming into jeopardy, her security clearance held as David Schroer is being called into question. I mean should your security clearance really change because your cloths do. I think that the Library of Congress should be an example to the rest of the libraries in the United States, this is just bad publicity. Hello! Library of Congress- democracy kind of goes hand in hand.

News Report #2

New Mozart piece of music found in French library
By: JOHN LEICESTER
Associated Press

A French library in Nantes found a peice of music written by Mozart while digging through their archives. The single sheet was hand written and being authenticated by the International Mozarteum Foundation in Salzburg Austraia. They are however absolutly sure that this sheet was written by Mozart himself due to the distinct handwriting and have confirmed that this sheet is a new discovery and a very important find. The peice of music they assumed was a draft and missing the harmony and the instumentation but clearly defined as a work in progress. The library received this sheet back in the 19th century and it was catalogued into the librarys collection and then forgotten for more than a century. As the library updated and re-catalogued its collection was the sheet rediscovered. This is an amazing and rare find.


I think that it is an absolutly jaw dropping event when something like this is discovered. I mean to find something from the 17th century hidden away in the stacks of a library. I guess library's really were the keepers of important information and art. I argued that museums and the internet have taken over the job of storing important information but this is a clear example of the importance and extensive collections that libraries were once responsible for. Libraries are the keepers of our history and this discovery remindes us of that fact. This single sheet of unfinished work by Mozart is worth unthinkable amounts of money plus the historical worth of such a find. I think we should take this find as a reminder of the past and maybe as some direction in the future. Libraries are important to society and they should be treated as such.