Building and Using
the Universal Library
Student Evaluation
08March2000
I enrolled in Building and Using the Universal Library because of my interest
in pursuing a degree in Library Science after I leave Evergreen. Having worked
in the Reference section of the Evergreen library, I was intent on broadening
my knowledge of other aspects of the library, cataloging and networking to name
two. I also expected to enhance my working knowledge of web-based publishing through
the use of Dreamweaver, a site management program from Macromedia.
One of the major issues we discussed in the program was the library of the future,
principally how the library of today is in the crosshairs between various social
issues. Much of the rhetoric in my response papers revolved around how money and
the capitalist system are at odds with the technologies making the library of
the future possible. Where once there was a book on a shelf to be loaned out to
one individual, now there are unlimited digital copies available for any patron
at any time. That is, until the publishing industry demands their compensation
for intellectual property - forcing us to once again work within the economy of
scarcity.
My collaborative work this quarter included a project surveying several local
libraries, comparing and contrasting architecture, atmosphere, light, and air
quality. Another group project revolved around issues of technology and computer
literacy. In this group I provided support for students unfamiliar with on-line
publishing, while I worked to enhance my own abilities in this area through the
use of new publishing software.
Overall I am pleased with my work this quarter, even though I encountered extraneous
difficulties relating to my previous program. I enjoyed the Plato lectures, which
were part of out class meetings, they served to focus the issues we were discussing
towards volunteerism and social action. I was particularly impressed with Jamie
McClelland from Paper Tiger and Media Jumpstart. He was incredibly erudite and
witty, while at the same time encouraging us as privileged students to use our
newly acquired knowledge a force for social change and amelioration in tomorrow's
libraries.