Recommended U of A Computer Requirements

I am quickly realizing how quickly my computer is becoming obsolete. While it is only a few years old, it is hard to keep up with all the new programs that I need to stay current. I have the necessary requirements according to the SIRLS specifications, but I would be lacking if I were a law student. When taking a class which meets physically, I would say generally that a basic computer with the usual hardware would suffice as long as you had a current word processing and spreadsheet type software. You will need a quality ISP. Many of the classes I have taken have had required reading online as well as being able to do any applicable research. While the university library and SIRLS office have computers available, they are not always available when you need them, and investing in a computer makes sense since you will be able to take the work you’ve done in school into your career. With this in mind I would recommend that if you were going to invest, use the College of Law specifications. It will pay for itself in the longevity of use and reliability. Your computer will also more readily adapt to new technologies that may be introduced during your schooling. For those students who are taking classes virtually, the College of Law specifications are almost a necessity, especially if you are a distant student who can’t stop by the university for help. You want your computer to be as reliable as possible since these classes can move quickly and a computer breakdown can cause you to fall behind quickly.

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This is intended to be a blog where I can post thoughts and ideas that relate to my career as a library and information professional. I often find valuable online resources or other materials that I want to share review for others in my field. This is a great place to share those ideas and I invite any comments or suggestions.

The title of this blog for those of you who are curious comes from an article I read for an ethics class, "The Mission of the Librarian," by Jose Ortega Y Gasset, wherein he says that the librarian should become "master of the raging book." While I don't agree with everything that the author writes, I thought that was a great phrase. I'm thinking about putting it on a t-shirt or something.

Some of the blog entries will be evaluations I have done for classes I have taken which were originally podcasts. If I can post the audio then I will, just for continuity until they can be podcast somewhere more permanant or replaced as necessary.