I’m still alive, I have just been lost in term paper land. One week from today and I will be turning it in and be free for a few weeks. Wee! Lots of interesting reading for my paper, at least I think so, and some hands-on stuff too. I’m writing on personal digital libraries and also sampling software marketed as such. But I am studying the issues in relation to a vision of personal digital libraries put forth back in 1945 by Vannevar Bush. His digital library is called a Memex and we have yet to fully achieve what he dreamed. It’s not just about the technology though. Other issues involved are preservation, collaboration, copyright, and information organization.
Without a librarian and an institution keeping of track of everything for you, things become sticky. But while we have reams and reams of studies on how people search for and organize information in institutional settings, we have next to nothing on how people keep track of information on a personal level. Lots of people over the last few years have talked about how we need to study personal information management but few have actually taken the step to get the funding to do it. This hasn’t stopped others from getting up projects to create personal digital library software and while so many of them begin in hope, most of them are left hanging and unfinished for no discernible reason. Too bad too because I can see how if one was able to combine the interface of this one, the architecture of that one, the cool agent-based search of the other one, and pieces from various other attempts as well as ones that are actually functioning, we’d have ourselves a most awesome Memex.
I have managed to read two books in relation to my term paper both of which some of you might find interesting and about which I will post eventually. I have also been collecting a stack of books to binge on after I turn in the paper. Don’t worry, I will make a nice list soon.
My bruise from my bus encounter is healing up. It isn’t as dark as it was two weeks ago and my foot isn’t swollen anymore. Did you know when you have a huge bruise on your leg gravity pulls everything down? I had confirmation on this from a nurse on the 24/7 hotline at the Mayo Clinic provided by my health plan. My Bookman has been saying I have “Zombie foot” so you can imagine what my foot looked like even though it sustained no injury. I still have a walnut-sized bump on my shin but I expect that will eventually shrink and disappear, that is, if the cats stop stepping on it when I have my legs stretched out or rubbing up against it when I am standing.
So I haven’t disappeared and I have been missing blogging something fierce but school has to come first at the moment as much as I would rather it be different. I just keep reminding myself, one more week, one more week.
I’ll be interested to hear more of what you’ve found out about personal information management. I use OneNote for some things, but also print out things that are important in case they disappear from the web. OneNote is shareable to some extent, and I’ve seen web applications that can create annotated trails others can follow, but that depends on the information staying there. Still lots of dots that need connecting, eh? Might be a PhD project in it…
Does the personal information management bump up against archive studies? Because often the personal or family memory store contains more material things, or at least material things as a way of retaining data.
Anyway, the best of luck with the term paper! We miss you, but the work has to get done, I know.
Well, you’re out of paper land and I’m entering it. My midterms are a couple of weeks away and I’m starting to feel the pressure.
Glad to know your injury is healing up.
Hi You! Glad to see you back. I actually think you’re lucky to be working on a term paper. I loved school, and my favorite bit was researching and then writing papers. What a dork, I know. Wishing you tons of inspiration in the process – and a big, fat A. Also looking forward to your book list. You’re usually spot on with the things you suggest, so I can’t wait.
I’m just getting caught up on the bus incident. Oh how awful. I am glad to hear it’s healing up though and of course best of luck finishing up the term paper!
Wondered where you were! So glad things are wrapping up nicely. And that your leg is healing!! I wish I had a personal digital library just to keep track of all the books i want to read!
The future book binge list sounds promising and the personal information organization sounds intriguing.
good luck on the studies!
Sylvia, I am currently in love with Zotero. There will eventually be an entire post about how much it rocks
As for a Ph.D, I don’t think I have the stamina
Litlove, oh yes, it sure does involve archive studies. But I am focusing more on the use of personal libraries/archives for study and research rather than personal memory/family collections. I’ve come across several articles on the subject that I have had to bypass. Perhaps another day.
Hazra, thank you and good luck on your approaching midterms!
Grad, I love all the research and I like the writing too, if only it didn’t have a deadline or a grade then I could relax and really enjoy it! Thanks for the good wishes!
Iliana, you’ve been having fun traveling and your photos have kept up my spirits
Thanks for the good wishes!
Daphne, I expect when you go back to school you too will become familiar with term paper land again. The writing is easier but it is so much harder to stay up late and not be wiped out the next day!
Carrie, the future book binge is the carrot that keeps me going
Good luck on the paper, and I hope that bruise heals quickly! You’ve got a great break ahead of you, and I look forward to hearing about what books you plan to read.
Hi. Happy you’re back. Good luck with the paper. Here’s hoping for an A
It is always so neat to see what kind of things you have to do, Stefanie, in this realm of Advanced Librarianism.
Really, it is a world unto itself, and I’m not being sarcastic.
I wish I was IN it, vocationally speaking.
Good luck with your recovery, Stefanie. Sorry to hear about your bus mishap. I hope that the pain has also reduced when the foot swelling subsided.
It is very interesting to read about Vannevar Bush and memex. The only other thing I knew about Bush is that he mentored the legendary Claude Shannon, the father of information theory. Shannon is one of the great heroes in my area of research.
I started back to school this week and was really upset at myself because I didn’t have time to login and and look over any assignments until today (I’m online at VA Tech). I’m glad you’re healing!
I nominated you for a Zombie Chicken Award for Most Agreeable Blogs: http://www.danahuff.net/?p=1140.
Well, it’s now one week later. I hope your paper is done and you’re turning it in and can sigh a huge sigh of relief this afternoon! Hope the bruise has healed, too! You deserve a break after all this–I hope they give you a few weeks in between semester!
I imagine this is all ancient history to you at this point, and it’s way too late for me to say, “Good luck with the paper.”