Despite the fact that I had provided web content, I was rather terrified of computers. I was, without doubt, an end user; I liked user-friendly software and panicked when it suddenly turned hostile. Thus, I assumed that I would not be drawn to the technological aspects of information science. I am pleased to say that I was 100 percent wrong. I realized that I loved working with technology during my first term. By the end of the second term, I was designing web pages during my leisure time and was replacing my hard drive without blinking an eye. I went from someone who was afraid to download the latest programs into someone who toys with new software for kicks. To me, this change has been one of the most noteworthy because it was so unexpected.

Web Page Design

As a web content provider, I had written articles that were later coded by an editor. Eventually, I learned three HTML tags: bold, italic, and center. This knowledge did not make me very web-savvy, and I entered the program as novice. I expected that I would be bored and frustrated by HTML, but I discovered that I love not only using HTML but also hand-coding web pages. No longer an end user, I generally prefer to hand-code my pages than to use a web editor.

This love of HMTL began when I created my first web site. On the advice of the instructor, I chose a topic of great interest to me: Harry Potter. My passion for those books led me to develop a Harry Potter website that far exceeded the requirements for the course by providing image maps, music files, animated .gifs, and a wealth of information. What was more amazing, though, is that I continued to create content and experiment with HTML long after the class ended. I found CSS to particularly useful when it came to web page design because it opened many design possibilities.

An antique wheel

My interest in creating web pages is not limited to Harry Potter, however. My interest in web site design led me to work with librarians at the University of Washington who were reworking some of the library's pages. I also created an original class page, and I developed another page on bibliographies that I used in library instruction. At this point, I feel more as comfortable with creating an original web page as I do when working with a word processing program. And, as I learn more about XML, I feel certain that my interest in this area will grow.

Because of my familiarity with HTML and CSS, I know how to design and develop websites, a skill that will become increasingly important to librarians. As patrons and students become technologically advanced, they will be more apt to look for information on websites, and libraries should put this new way to disseminate information to their best advantage. For instance, my skill in HTML allowed me to quickly create the site that helped students decode a bibliography in order to conduct independent research. This website has three distinct advantages: 1) it holds the students points; and 3) students can return to this site when conducting research. By mastering this form of the communication, I will be a more efficient and productive librarian.

Databases

I was hoping that I would discover a new passion for database design when taking a course on that subject. Sadly, I did not feel comfortable with many of the concepts in database design and constructing schema for a database. However, I did feel more comfortable when working with specific programs, such as Access or SQL. When I had the chance to move from the abstract ideas about computer languages to the concrete development of an original database, I felt far more productive.

By the end of the quarter, I designed and populated an original database, much to my own amazement. I created a database to reorganize a list of reference resource I had compiled during my studies. This list was put together haphazardly and had become quite cumbersome. I designed a database to reorganize that information so I could actually find what I needed without having to scan several pages. In addition, I drew up a summary and schema of the project to explain my design. By the end of the term, I developed queries that would allow a user to search by topic, genre, and format.

A microcomputer circuit

For instance, someone could use the queries I developed to look for print encyclopedias on art history or electronic dictionaries on music. They could search for only electronic indexes or they could look for any of my resources on women forms and output reports. In short, my collection of reference resources worked much like a library's database system on a much smaller and less detailed scale. So, while I may not feel entirely comfortable with planning a database, I have learned how to create and maintain one, which enables me to find new ways to organize information.

New Applications

When I started this program, I was familiar with a few, standard computer applications: MS Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook Express. When I loaded up a new program, I could often intuit how to use it, but I rarely tried anything new and was content with the familiar software that everyone seemed to use.

During the course of this program, I learned to work with several new applications, such as MS Producer, Access, and Visio. Because I had the chance to work with digital images, I also learned how to use PhotoShop and Image Composer. Moreover, I found my way around a UNIX system, and I learned the differences between POP, SMTP, and IMAP. Through classes at the iSchool, I worked with SQL, HTML, CSS, XML and much more, which made me more likely to understand how other applications function. For instance, my experiments with DreamWeaver and FrontPage are guided by my understanding of HTML and CSS.

More importantly, though, my attitude toward technology changed, and I found myself drawn to considering how to use technology to aid in communication. For instance, a cohort introduced me to wikis, which opened up a new realm of possibilities. I could easily see how a wiki could aid in collaborative assignments and projects. With that in mind, I created a wiki that students could use if they were assigned a group project. While people without any experience can use this application, I found that the page looks better when employing HTML codes. That I experimented with writing in code made me realize that I am a hand-coder, through and through.

With the proliferation of electronic research and the increased interest in online learning, I feel that librarians need to become familiar with the concepts in technology. End users simply understand how to use a program, but librarians need to understand the concepts that drive programs because the likelihood that they will encounter new software and new systems is quite high. My interests in discovering and exploring software will serve my ability to adapt to the technological change that is almost certain to take place during the course of my career.