Monica Jan - Future Librarian

  Looking Back It's crazy to go back to my very first post on here and remember how nervous I was to start blogging for this class. I think this blog and my professional website will be the largest online presence I have, since I've always tried to lay low online. If this whole project is one of the first things people find of me online, I would be completely okay with that! It's definitely better than my first search result being my address. Going back to my first blog post, I was hopeful for a good experience, and I must say it's been pretty great! Although I did not get to know my classmates in person, I felt like I was able to learn about my peers through their posts and comments, and I think that was one of the highlights of this experience. Our assignments also allowed me to reflect on each topic that was covered, providing me with a new level of self-awareness and a chance to grow! Then GIF Source: GIPHY Now GIF Source: GIPHY My Relationship With Technology Now ...

  What Do I Know About AI? Prior to researching artificial intelligence, my understanding of the rising technology was that it was a program that used its interactions with humans to learn and develop itself. For example, chatbots would use conversations they would have with their users to develop "speech" patterns and learn language. I also always think of shiny, white robots. I suppose this is still the case at the most basic level. The pattern of learning more about the user as the program is used is seen in almost all of social media now. Our cultivated "For You" pages and recommended media are a part of this type of AI, which I never thought about before learning about it. I simply consumed content.  GIF Source: GIPHY How Do I Use It? I've only recently started AI intentionally. At work, I like to use ChatGPT to help me come up with fun phrases and taglines for my children's program flyers. Ironically, the most recent time I used it was for my Creative...

  What is a Digital Tattoo? You may have heard of the term " digital footprint ". This term can be used similarly to "digital tattoo". These terms highlight the trail that is left behind online by its users. The use of the word tattoo in place of footprint is meant to emphasize the permanence of the mark people leave on the internet. While the use of technology may seem like second-nature at this point in society, the repercussions of this history  may not have been considered, especially to those who have grown up with this technology. Simple Google searches can bring up personal information, such as addresses, names of family members, and personal photos. Depending on the nature of the information, this may affect your professional image! Growing Up Online As someone who grew up with the internet, I have not always been conscious of the mark I would leave online. I think I was more focused on what cool flash game I could play on the web after school. It wasn't...

Access vs Accessibility One of the definitions of "access", provided by Merriam-Webster dictionary, is the "freedom or ability to obtain or make use of something". This definition encompasses the ideals of the library, where we strive to provide access to resources and information to the community. "Accessibility" is generally defined as, "the practice of making information, activities, and/or environments sensible, meaningful, and usable for as many people as possible", as stated by SeeHearWrite . These two terms go hand in hand, but it is important to highlight the necessity of accessibility in the library so that anyone who wants to utilize the resources provided by the library can regardless of their ability.  Accessibility in the Library Libraries provide resources to all of its patrons. Before this assignment, I have never really thought about the specific things they provide to ensure accessibility. Before doing more research all I could...