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I like to promote the fact that Computers in Libraries magazine is "all technology, all the time." And this issue may be the best example of that, because it delves into the real nitty-gritty of information technology, getting down into the protocols, standards, and codes that so many library services are built on.
I'm also proud of keeping CIL's articles practical, useful, and easy to understand-I like to call it being'Veader-friendly." I try to make my magazine the antithesis of dry,academic journals, where necessary reading is often challenging and sometimes downright painful. But that's not so easy to do while covering a topic as complex as computer coding and programming! I've given it my best shot, though, by compiling this section of primers on the important standards and protocols of the day.
To make these articles as reader-friendly as possible, I've gotten the most basic explanations and have kept each to only one page. To do this, I contacted people throughout the industry who are experts on each standard (sometimes they even helped create them), and sent them a list of questions to answer. Each of their gracious responses became one of the primers on the following pages. So essentially, I've gathered a lot of complicated information, put it all into a standard format, and delivered it to you in an attempt to help you understand why things work the way they do, and how some things could work even better.
These are the topics you'll find here:
Atom
COinS
MADS
MARC 21 / MARCXML
MIX
MXG
OpenSearch
PREMIS
RESTful HTTP
unAPI
XM PP (aka Jabber)
ZeeRex
That list might look intimidating, but don't be afraid to turn the page. Each primer has passed the ultimate test: I, who nearly failed a programming course in college, was able to read and understand each one. And if I can do it, you can do it.
Those of you readers who already work on things like these every day might consider this section a special tech treat, something a little juicier than usual. And speaking of treats, don't miss the full-length feature on SUSHI. If you only knowsushi as food, then turn to page 6 to see how it relates to data.
Finally, if you like this...