Reading Report 5

Privacy is a large concern in today’s society, almost every electronic device we use records our location and personal information.  From smartphones to tablets, you cannot escape technology and its ability to control your surroundings.  Younger users tend to have the mindset that they do not care if they are being “tracked”.  I will admit my beliefs are not too far from this.  Social media is not the only intrusion of privacy that we experience on a daily basis, the government has the ability to place traces on our phone calls, credit cards and passports.  I support this ability by the government in limited situations granted the there is just cause (i.e. tracking a criminal).  The problem we run into with this power is when to use it and when not, for all anyone knows they could be placed on lists by the government to be monitored and never even know it. 

            “Facebook & Your Privacy” an article extracted from Consumer Reports elaborates on the sheer number of users that have never used privacy settings on facebook or other social media networks, almost 13 million users.  The article starts by presenting raw numbers to gain credibility as a source and continues to back its points with hard evidence.  Facebook is credited with “collecting more data than necessary” and sharing personal information with independent businesses.  Some people think if they lie about their personal information on their profile, they will be safe but this is not the case.  Facebook receives notifications when an ip address visits a site linked to facebook, which is almost every popular media site. Have you ever seen ads for material you recently looked at on facebook? It’s due to their ability to monitor what users interests are.  Sites now target younger audiences due to their gullibility and likeliness to discuss matters with their parents.  The article later goes on to discuss various ways facebook apps can gather your personal information even if you do not click on anything.  Another topic addressed is nine basic ways you can protect yourself from online marketers.  Consumer Reports article “Facebook & Your Privacy” is a very informative piece that raises many concerns with publishing personal information online and ways to protect yourself.

News Report 5

Smith, Sonia. "Big-Box Store Has New Life as an Airy Public Library." New York Times. The New York Times, 1 2012. Web. 19 Nov 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/02/us/former-walmart-in-mcallen-is-now-an-airy-public-library.html?ref=librariesandlibrarians&_r=0>.

            In McAllen Texas, a local Walmart was transformed into a public library when it moved to a larger location.  Instead of tearing down the building, the city decided to buy the 123,000 square foot building and transform it into a library everyone can use.  The city quickly jumped on the old building and spent 24 million gutting and transforming the building into one of the largest single floor libraries.  With tall ceilings and a very spacious floor plan the building is now a modern establishment the community can use.  The building now has a computer lab, meeting spaces, and a 180-seat auditorium.  This is a large step up from the old 40,000 square foot cramped library. 

           Not only is this library one of a kind, experts think it will soon be very advanced in technology.  It is anticipated that in the near future books will be a thing of the past and computers and e-books are the future.  Libraries are advancing almost every year, where they used to be quiet dark building with irritated elder ladies shh’ing everyone libraries have quickly transformed into a place to check the internet, and get job help.  The McAllen library was voted overall winner of the 2012 library interior design award.  With more and more “big box stores” upgrading or going out of business these buildings will remain and be great spaces for community centers or technology labs.  I believe this is a great use of available space, if the building is already standing and not being used why should these building not be transformed into usable space.

News Report 4

"Library Technology." American Library Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. <http://www.ala.org/news/mediapresscenter/americaslibraries/librariestechnology>

The advancement of library technology is growing more and more by the day, with times like these libraries are needed more than ever.  Many predictions were that libraries would be outdated but they have quickly adapted from just books to Internet access and so much more.  Electronic books are quickly circulating public and school libraries.  Twelve percent of academic libraries have multiple e-books in their collections, and five percent of public libraries circulate e-books.

HarperCollins a large publishing company released in early march that their e-books would have to be repurchased after 26 check outs to ensure book companies continue to make money.  This is a rising concern considering libraries are already struggling for money.  Even though libraries have very few e-books at this time, they are the quickest growing resource at libraries. 

The government has awarded 756 million in grants and loans to help spread high speed Internet to underprivileged areas that cannot afford internet on their own.  Providing a community with Internet can make the difference in a students failing and doing well in school, many families do not get access and end up suffering because of it.