http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Database
Databases:
Database- collection of related records, or files consolidated into a similar place that provides data for many applications.
This reading covers databases, their organization, strategies, components, characteristics, and functions. The article also reviews the different types of databases- operational, analytical, data warehouse, distributed, end-user, external, web hypermedia, navigational, in-memory, document orientated, and real time. This is intended to be an overview, and does a good job of outlining the information is simple and understandable terms. It is supposed to be a general guide for people unfamiliar, and includes many functions of databases in modern society. Databases are a lot more complex than I had previously realized, but I really like the locking section because it did a good job of connecting databases to the basic functions of my computer so I could understand more clearly.
Setting the Stage -Anne J. Gilliland
Metadata- data about data
- Another way to say it- “information object at any level of aggregation”
Gilliland’s article reviews metadata and its characteristics. Metadata, like other things, has shifted from physical working the numbers to electronically formulating them. It is no longer just for information professionals, this data is now available for everyone to analyze in different ways. For example, many people can now use web-site data to classify if it is a reliable source or not. Humans are able to manipulate the information object, and these objects can be either singular or a whole database of objects. The text describes the 3 features- content, context and structure and what they mean. Different charts and graphs are also used to help understanding of the subject matter. It relates back to Information Science because if you work in this field you need to use the metadata to help users work and research more comfortably and effectively. Metadata is a key component to digitalization and helping users and professionals use the information available in effective ways.
Eric J. Miller. An Overview of the Dublin Core Data Model
http://dublincore.org/1999/06/06-overview/
The Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI) is an international effort designed to foster consensus across disciplines for the discovery-oriented description of diverse resources in an electronic environment.
This is a review of the work of Miller on the Dublin Core Data Model, and gives an example of a database. The focus of the project is stated, and with that the functions and requirements of the model. This is very detailed, and honestly somewhat confusing for me, as I am no where near an expert in databases or how to understand them. I do like the articles tone, and the author makes a point to be direct in his statements, which is helpful.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree about how metadata is important for the 21st Century librarian. With more and more information being created, the connections metadata allows for will only be more necessary. Otherwise we risk having all this information and it being useless by not have the tools to look at it in relation to other data.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the first article, I never knew there were that many databases. The article was a good overview of the different types.
ReplyDelete