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Article 1

Agents of change

• This is an article aimed at revealing the various changes that are taking place in the library technologies and automation on online libraries. The article also discusses the library industry as a whole.
• There are new automation products available in the market and the vendors are trying legalizing them in their favor. This strategy is also used libraries to replace the products they were using in their library and to deal with competition.
• Ex Libris Alma, OCLC’s World Share Management Services, innovative interfaces Sierra and Serials Solutions Intota and the open source Kuali OLE project have chances to be more dominant and its product cycle will last out to the end of the next decade and will fight the evolutionary and open source products in this decade (Evergreen, Polaris).
• Adaptation of these technologies to libraries cannot be enforced. The vendors invest their energies between developing, maintaining and supporting of the existing products along with adaptation of new technologies. Legacy products can positively and adversely affect the credibility. The vendors are attempting to effectively integrate eBook management in to their discovery services and management.
• Threads of development are also led by mobile and social networking. The increased use of these gadgets has made the vendors to offer mobile products and other interfaces to please the customers. Its usage allows the vendors to engage the customers in this media. (Ex: SirsiDynix’s Library has a face book app for catalog search and patron services.
• The library automation economy’s total revenue was $750 million in United States and Canada. It also includes the estimation of the unidentified online library databases like OCLC and EBSCO. About $ 57.7 was derived from automation out of the total revenue of OCLC ($205.6 million).
• Library economies are striving to find growth opportunities and to tackle challenges. One of such ways is to operate with fewer resources. (Ex Software as a service (SaaS), will increase the revenue rates). Taking on weaker competitors is also an option.
• There is also an ongoing trend for integrated library systems (ILSs) that will shift the revenues. But the fault with these systems are that it cannot be easily determines if these implementations will result in true savings.
• State of the industry today is that smaller groups of larger firms are dominating the market today and are international, diversified and privately owned. They have absorbed weaker products and companies. One of the major trends that can be analyzed is business transactions concentrated into the hands of a number of ok companies. (Ex: Golden capital acquired Geac and folded into infor, Ex Libris group formed out of the combination of Ex Libris and Endeavour). The existing owners cash out their investments and these results in new ownership.
• OCLC is larger than any of the firms when it comes to library automation. Smaller firms also have ample opportunities.
• The number of business transitions that took place in 2011 is very high. (Example: OCLC acquisition of BOND that was valued at $5.9 million.
• Library services platforms are entirely different from the ILSs. New platforms are already appearing and targeting for bringing in a technological revolution with a distinct conceptual, functional and technical characteristics.
• The library automation industry used powerful personal computers and graphical interfaces for their transition. A large amount of support is given to service oriented architecture and web based technologies implemented through web based technologies and relies on cloud technologies.
• Availability if open and robust set of APIs is a key characteristic of library services platforms. One of the basic requirements in the libraries is also affinity for discovery tools. The demand for quality services from library including search operations and integrated articles are increasing. More development can be expected in the future.

Article 2

Mobile learning for 21st century librarian

• This is a paper that reviews mobile learning literature. The method adopted is literature review and addresses issues on the feasibility and future development of the library services with the help of the mobile technology and other applications. It is very difficult for online libraries to be separate from the parent organizations irrespective of it academic, special or the public nature.
• M-learning technology involves the modern gadgets like mp3 players, operating systems, applications and cell phones. This helps in enabling anywhere and anytime learning. This is also the requirement of the time. new technologies are inherited by the students before the vendors in most case

• Analyzing the usage rate of technologies mobile phone is the most rated technology. People in US find it harder to live with our mobile phones than with internet or email. Mobile is at the same time a technological, educational and commercial phenomenon. Learning can now be in just-in-time manner as people are using mobiles at all the times. Now e-books can even be created in one format that can be readable from all gadgets. Course management systems were designed by distance educators and are of high importance to mobile learners.
• One of the major drawbacks is the failure to link content with representation. Design decisions impact the mobile devices. Principles can be used for reformatting work and this known as adaptability. Some of the strategies include using XML, XSL, and DOM. Example: North Caroline State University has worked hard to provide its presence into various devices and services.
• Economics and special barriers to m-learning are hinged by fours interconnected issues of designs and models. They are subscription data plans, open source software, content/presentation logic and user needs. This is one of the reasons why the academic institutions are forced to increase access reduce unit costs; recognize the student difference, diversity and individuality.
• Vendors of cellular phones and cellular networks play a pivotal role in the future of the mobile learning. It is also important to have open source software’s and it helps people to place books into their gadgets. Separating content from representation will help in negating reformatting challenges. Technology emergence will also have a high influence on technologies.
• Mobile learning can be applied to service innovation, special libraries, workplace utilization of mobile technology, academic and school libraries and public libraries. Mobile devices can be loaded with application that will direct them in to the information seeking process. On doing this there will be increased accessibility of resources and increased contribution.
• Literature review remains an excellent platform for increasing the knowledge base and special application that sends email alert on release of mobile technologies can also be taken. M-learning increases the horizons of opportunity for libraries. Online libraries cannot be equated to the physical realm. But to asset existence in the face of non-existence is true courage.

Article 3

A survey of the application of Web 2.0 in Australasian university studies

• The aim of the paper is to provide an overall picture of Web 2.0 technologies and the approach taken to fulfill the aim is content analysis from Australasian university library sites.
• Web 2.0 is a second wave that covers web tools and services including the weblogs, wikis, Ajax, RSS and tagging and allows the users to generate, describe, post, harvest search, annotate and exchange online content in various forms that ranges from music, bookmarks, photographs and documents.
• Four major interactive web 2.0 technologies in the library are Wikis, blogs, RSS, instant messaging and podcasts. It can be used in library as a tool to improve information intimacy. Wikis can be used as a platform that is available to all types of libraries. The potential of Web 2.0 is very high in a library and has an important role in implementing harmony of communication. On analyzing the literature of application on Web 2.0 in libraries, it can be said that the new technology is only being implemented. There are gaps and hence there are gaps in this area.
• The research instrument was developed by the researcher himself and the checklists consists of two factors that are yes and no. data were collected twice in a period of two weeks. They accessed all the websites of the Australasian universities and checked for the availability of RSS, blogs, IM, podcasts and Wikis. The maximum application index in the case of each library was 100. The application index of the Australian university library is 12 points. 47 percent of the libraries had mean index or higher. And the one under mean 12 only one or two mean index.
• In the case of Australasian universities only four of Web 2.0 technologies were used. Popularity of RSS is higher and this may be because of it is a one stop shop of information. IM was least used in libraries because it requires a librarian to be online always for supporting the users. Blogs were second most commonly used interface in the case of Web 2.0. Wikis are not used in Australasian universities mainly because of the drawbacks it have. The reason is the adult content in wikis that includes commercial and pornographic sites. More protection is required because they require members to monitor them. Also blogs can serve as an alternative to Wikis.
  • RSS is mainly used for new book especially in the case of the new books in specific fields, subjects and branch libraries. Its application was limited in the case of general use and university news.
  • Blogs are used for two main purposes. It includes library services and library news and events. This is also the major purpose of the Web 2.0 application.
  • Podcasts can be used for three main purposes. They are advice in library skills, guidance with resources and library orientation tours.
  • IM’s can be used for the purpose of references, guidance with resources and advice on library services.
  • Features of Web 2.0
    • Features of RSS: the users will require adequate instruction on how to use RSS. It can also be subscribed by all types of users.
    • Blogs: the feature do the blogs depends on the nature of the design used by the libraries. Libraries can have various numbers of blogs. They can also be used for linking to the internet sources.
    • IM Services are timely in nature as it requires a fulltime operator. Libraries tend to use text based chat and not voice based chat.

Web 2.0 is now adapted by more than 2/3 rds of the Australasian libraries.

Article 4

The challenges of the digital age

The challenges of the digital age are many and it can be seen that many of the users are hypnotized by power to summon endless array of facts including information in a particular context.  This chapter discusses the various issues faced due to information technology. They are issues in relation manipulating various data with technology, security issues that are threatening to safeguarding computer and communication systems, quality of life and economic and political issues.

• Truth issues and manipulating digital data: today’s storage devises have given photographers the ability to manipulate data even at the pixel level. An image can be can now be manipulated into something else. there are now software’s that will now take a vocal sound and instantly nudge it onto the proper note and make it recorded in the right pitch. There is a high potential for abusing where the current scenario is concerned. These techniques have taken a massive jump and are now used in videos and television commercials.
  • The five limitations to be aware about when the databases are used are that there would be topics that are not included in the data base and hence can be foot in the door. It is not always possible that only accurate information is put on database. Data has to derive from various data bases as one will not offer the entire data. It is important to use the right word to browse in a data base. Databases have data from 1970’s. But it would be difficult if data before those periods is searched for.
  • Security Issues: security issues tend to go right into the workability of the computer and the communication systems. some of the threats include
    • Errors and Accidents: the various threats that are paused include human errors, procedural errors, software errors, electromechanical problems, and ‘Dirty data’ problems.
    • Natural Hazards and Computer crimes: the major threats that are paused include theft of hardware, theft of software, online music and movies, time and services, information. There are also chances for zombies, botnets, and blackmail and crimes of malice: crashing entire systems.
    • Computer criminals: individuals or small groups, employees, outside partners and suppliers, corporate spies, organized crime and  cyber war fighters,
    • Security: security system responsible for protecting information technology against disaster, system failures and unauthorised access that results damage or loss. The five components of security involve deterrents to computer crime, identification and access, encryption, protecting of software and data and disaster-recovery plans.
    • Quality of Life Issues: there are various issues that are in relation to the information technology. The major problems that are caused are environmental problems, mental health problems, protecting children against pornography, sexual predators and online bullies, workplace problems that are also impediments to productivity.
    • Economic and politic issues: there are some major issues that are faced due to the increased usage of information technology is killing jobs and is increasing the gap between the rich and the poor. 

                                                                     Career plan

Introduction

Career plan provides a step wise and organized framework of pursing future career actions. A careful and well defined career plan can enhance and provide new learning opportunities to an individual. It provides a clear set of directions enabling individual to proceed in a particular direction with clear knowledge of skills, resources and capabilities likely to be required in the coming time period. On the other hand, absence of career plan led the individuals to get easily influence and misguide their careers under various external influences. Besides, it also led in the wastage of time, resources and efforts (Rothwell 2005). In this regard, it is crucial to have a well defined career plan paving the path and future direction for individual. The career plan outlines and highlights necessary skills, abilities and resources likely to require for particular career advancement. There are primarily three milestones of career plan- understanding where the individual is, deciding where he or she likely wants to be in the coming time and recommending changes and adjustments in the existing functioning pattern to attain desired level. Career plan is prepared in accordance with the attitude, interest, approach, etc of an individual. It is due to reason that career plan prepared in accordance with the individual’s attitude, interest and approaches likely to yield more positive results and will prove more effective. Contrary to this, career plan prepared without gaining idea about the attitude and interest of respective individual will not yield any results and put all efforts in vain (Littlejohn 2005). In light of this, three indentified areas of interest resembling with my interests and attitudes are hair dressing teacher or hair stylist, fashion designer, and aerobics trainer. All these three areas relates to the lifestyle as well as with the proper upkeep and maintenance of health. The knowledge of these three areas is crucial in order to maintain an influencing lifestyle and physique.

Responsibilities and skills required under selected jobs

After selecting three desired areas of career advancing, it is pertinent to have an understanding about the skills and responsibilities entails under every selected job or work areas. The clear knowledge of the skills and responsibilities provides a complete idea and scope of successful discharge of duties and responsibilities falls under every job. The underlying section explains skills and responsibilities and as well the success criteria required under each selected job.

Hair dressing teacher or hair stylist

The task of hair dresser or stylist requires deep and in-depth knowledge of hair care phenomena. The individual has to undergo a prescribed hair stylist course and training or apprenticeship programs in order to become a skilled and qualified hair dresser and stylist. The respected programs make the individual a certified hair dresser and hair stylist. The application of such gained knowledge accumulated through respective training and apprenticeship programs demands various skills and entails lot of responsibilities for hair dresser and stylist. The first and foremost skill requires for hair dresser and stylist is to identify nature and texture of hair (Echaore-McDavid 2009). The nature and texture of hair enable the hair dresser to identify the treatment applicable on such hair. The skill of identifying particular hair texture and nature is very crucial as it determines the effectiveness of hair treatment. The effectiveness of hair treatment depends largely on the clear knowledge of the hair texture and nature by the hair stylist and dresser. The clear knowledge of hair nature and its texture improves the effectiveness of hair treatment. The hair stylist and dresser should also have the skill of managing and utilizing variety of tools like combs, razors, scissors, etc. The hair dresser should have the skill of making best possible use of hair tools in order to provide best possible results to the clients. The application of each tool should be made in such a manner that provides enhanced service experience to the customers. Proper knowledge and skills of utilizing various hair tools is also necessary as hair dresser assumes the ultimate responsibility of the result of the hair treatment applied on the client. The improper and misuse of hair styling tools can lead to hair damage and spoilage of entire hair treatment. The other set of skills and responsibilities of hair dresser and stylist involve the capability of understanding needs, taste and preference of customers (Field 2006). The clear knowledge of customers’ needs, taste and preference allow the hair dresser and stylist to meet customers’ expectations in more effective manner. In addition, skills of understanding customers’ needs, desires and expectations allow the hair dresser to modify and adjust hair treatment in accordance with such needs. This provides an opportunity to gain foothold in the hair care industry and earning good brand image. Last, but not the least, hair dresser and stylist should be able to identify and read fashion trends prevailing in the hair care industry. The hair dresser and stylist assume responsibility of providing creative and enhanced beauty look to their clients. The knowledge of the latest hair trends and styles and skills of applying such emerging trends and styles is critical in discharging the responsibilities of providing enhanced beauty look and appearance to the clients and customers.

Fashion designer

            The fashion industry is also one of the most demanding and growing industry across the globe. The growth and popularity of fashion industry led the various international colleges and universities to run and organize fashion diploma courses. The proportion of students taking participation in fashion diploma and other fashion oriented courses are regularly increasing. These factors have made the fashion industry a talent hub in recent years. The individuals with creative thinking and distinct approach seem desirous of advancing their career in fashion world (Jones 2007).

            The basic skills required in fashion world involve active listening and thinking ability. The fashion designer needs to pay proper attention to the speech, conferences and meetings organized by fashion personalities. Such speech, conferences and meeting provide an opportunity to understand every possible minute aspect of fashion industry and thereby nurturing their respective skills and abilities. The critical thinking capability is another skills required for fashion designers. The critical thinking capabilities allow the fashion designers to discover and offer innovative alternative solutions to the customers (Bridges 2012). The problems, queries, and doubts related to the fashion and lifestyles can be addressed in a unique and creative manner. The skill of delivering creative and innovative fashion solutions are one of the most demanding tasks in the fashion world. The individual capable of offering new, innovative, creative fashion solutions gains a distinct identity in the fashion industry. In light of this, it seems that active listening and critical thinking represent the utmost required skills for fashion designers.

            In addition, fashion designers should also pose the necessary decision making and judgment skills. The decision making and judgment skills enable the fashion designer to evaluate cost effectiveness of each individual fashion projects. The evaluation of cost effectiveness of every individual fashion projects is necessary to enhance the overall profitability of projects. The fashion designer should also have proactive abilities to assess the cost and benefits figures of proposed project in a feasible and practical manner. The approximate assessment of cost and benefit figures allow the fashion designers to gain confidence of clients (Kahaner 2008).

            Good communication and interactive skills is also represents another indispensable requirement of fashion industry. Fashion designer need to interact and communicate with various personalities of elite world. The fashion design needs to have some sound interaction and communication abilities to pave the path of career advancement. There is positive correlation among the sound communication abilities and career advancement opportunities. The better communication abilities, the higher will be the chance of career advancement.

Aerobics trainer

The health and fitness industry is also one of the growing industries in present scenario. The growth and popularity of health industry is also attributed to the increasing health awareness and consciousness among the general audience. The general audience has become more health consciousness and poses higher awareness about the well being and maintenance of their health.  This increasing awareness and consciousness among general audience about their health and maintenance of their well being coined the concept of gym and aerobics trainer in the health and fitness industry (Cpdd  2008).

The concept of gym and aerobics fosters new career opportunities to the youth ambitious of advancing their career in the health and well being of individuals. The gym and aerobics industry face huge demand of well qualified and professional aerobics trainers having a deep understanding of the health and well being of society members. Aerobics trainers need to have inner instinct or desire of fostering better and healthy life to the customers. This inner instinct and desire of offering a healthy and hygienic life to the customers is the basic requirement for becoming an effective aerobics trainer (Kahaner 2008).It is due to reason that this desire among the aerobics trainer motivates or encourages customers towards healthy and hygiene life styles.

The aerobics trainer should have sound observation and monitoring skills. The aerobics trainer needs to observe and monitor the participants during their exercises in order to inform and correct them as and when required. The aerobics trainer should have instant monitoring and evaluation skills in order to lead the participants to perform their exercises in a correct manner. The immediate corrective measures are necessary in the aerobics field as any incorrect measure can create negative impact on the health status of participants (Field 2006).

The aerobics trainer should also have the ability of providing accurate and real instructions to the participants in order to perform their exercise in an accurate manner. It is necessary to provide accurate instructions as it allow the participants to maintain appropriate exertion level in their exercises. The maintenance of proper exertion level during exercise is very crucial in order to gain maximum possible benefits from the exercises. The aerobics trainers also need to be aware of the other alternatives that can be offered during the exercises classes (Field 2006). The different alternatives allow the participants to retain their interests and encouragement in the regular exercises schedules. Such alternatives allow the participants to get rid of monotonous and boring occurred in the daily exercise schedules. Such extra alternatives should also accommodate different level of fitness to serve the ultimate exercise purpose.

The aerobics trainers also need to pose skill of managing and planning exercise schedules of their clients. The exercise schedules need to be planned in such a manner capable of providing enhanced health experience to the participants. The aerobics trainers should plan exercise schedules accommodating all the possible muscle movements in light of participants’ capabilities and limitations. The aerobics trainers should also have the necessary skills of learning and teaching breathing techniques to their participants (Field 2006).The breathing techniques should be taught to the participants in accordance with their abilities, needs, and interest in order to gain maximum possible acceptance of participants.

Conclusion

The overall discussion of the career plan led to the discussion that careful and systematic career plan is a first step towards career advancement. A well defined career plan throws light on the necessary skills and responsibilities required in an individual to gain foothold in the respective career fields. The discussion related to the three identified jobs along with their necessary skills and responsibilities led to the analysis that each and every job differs in terms of their nature and characteristics. The different nature and characteristics of each job entails varied set of skills and responsibilities. The capability of individual in acquiring defined set of capabilities and skills determines the comprehensiveness and cohesiveness in each job. The clearly defined set of skills and capabilities under each job category enable the individual to pursue future actions accordingly. The skills and responsibilities act as a guiding map for individuals to pursue and organize their future actions accordingly. In all, it can be said career plan with the clear knowledge and outlining of skills and responsibilities under selected job increases the chances of discharging or fulfilling obligations of job more effectively.

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