More than an Episode Guide

I have never given much thought to Wikipedia.  The reason is, I knew that it is an open website that anyone could update.  I trusted it for a Dexter Episode Guide, but not much else. 

According to Wikipedia, Wikipedia began in 2001, (because of the nature of the site that may or may not be accurate) but I do not remember using it in college.  I graduated with my BS in 2004.  When I started researching my architect, Louis Asbury, I started with our Library Special Collections.  To be honest, it did not even occur to me use Wikipedia until I watched the Middlebury College Debate. 

I found the debate very informative.  I had no idea there was a community of people committed to maintaining certain entries and debating posts.  This changed my opinion on the usefulness of the site.  I think it could be a great starting point for research.  If you find an entry that is actively maintained, you can find up to the date information and arguments.  From this you may be able to research your subject from a different vantage point than before.  The second debater laid out some ground rules for using Wiki and I agree with them.  

1.Consult Wiki

2. Get background info

3. Do research

4. Go back to Wiki and improve it, using appropriate citations

I think that you can use Wikipedia to your advantage but never take it as fact.  I guess there is more to it than random Pop Culture Facts (well they may or may not be ‘facts’).

Here We Go...

We are finally getting started on our Online Exhibit.  Our group is focusing on Charlotte Architecture.  The title of our exhibit is Building My Charlotte…(we are still working on this part).  We are focusing on 3 influential Charlotte Architects and postcards.  Yes, Postcards.  We will be examining how postcards reflect Charlotte Architecture and the stories they are meant to tell.  So many of the buildings we will be looking at were used as postcards.  Why?  Was this a kind of marketing or just an art form?      

The architect I chose is Louis Asbury.  Asbury, who lived almost 100 years (1877-1975), designed buildings that really shaped what Uptown Charlotte looks like today.  What I find most interesting is that he designed the first skyscraper in Charlotte, the First National Bank Building.  When it was completed, it was the tallest building in the Carolina’s.  I think this building more than any others that he designed really came to symbolize what Charlotte is known for today, towering banking buildings.

Asbury also designed other well-known Charlotte buildings:  the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, Mayfair hotel, Efrid’s Department Store and Myers Park Methodist Church.  Just to mention few. 

This is my first real research project and I am excited to get started. However, along with the excitement is a little trepidation.  This is the first step in this journey and I don’t want to stumble. 

Hmm… I hope I didn’t just scare my group mates!  Don’t worry ladies, I won’t let you down!

Omeka 1 - Me 0

I have struggled with this post today.  I am supposed to be researching plug ins for Omeka but for some reason I am having a tough time.  I think I finally signed up for it correctly but to be honest I am not sure.   

I finally started looking at Plug ins I found one that I think will help our exhibit.  I am in the group that is focusing on Charlotte Architecture. 

The first Plug in that I saw that I understood the tech language was Geolocation, which adds locations info and maps to Omeka.   I have a feeling Location info and Maps will have an important piece in our exhibit.

I know that I will become more comfortable with Omeka as I use it more but today it stressed me out a little.  I can normally figure out technology but today Omeka won.    

It's Hurricane Season

As a survivor of my fair share of hurricanes the Hurricane Digital Memory Bank attracted my attention.  As I have mentioned before I am from the east coast of Central Florida and my family and I have evacuated for several hurricanes.  

The website states on the About this Project tab they want to 'collect, preserve, and present the stories and digital record of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.’   The contributions that have been made, and the collections that have been established will help to tell not only Katrina and New Orleans’ story but the story of the smaller communities as well.   Communities like Vidor, Texas.      

Vidor Church of Christ

In April of 2009 I had the opportunity to go to Vidor Texas for Hurricane Relief.  Hurricane Rita hit Vidor in 2005.  I helped repair a house that had been sitting empty for almost 4 years.  The owners lived behind the house in a FEMA trailer.  When I pulled up the website I immediately searched for Vidor, Texas.  There is 338 items for Vidor.  Including a couple of pictures. 

I am not sure what marketing was used to drive contributors to this site.  What I did notice about Vidor is that a lot (not all) of the contributions are from either student or teachers point of view.  I did find it interesting how teenagers reacted to being uprooted from their home.   

I know that the damage in New Orleans was worse than in Vidor.  This website however allows people affected by Rita and others outside of New Orleans to tell their story as well.  I know from experience how agonizing it is to drive eight hours from your home and not know what will be there when you return.  Thankfully, not everyone knows what that is like.  This site helps preserve those experiences and to share what each of these communities went through.