🗃️ How to Digitize & Preserve Old Media: A Librarian’s Guide

 

🗃️ How to Digitize & Preserve Old Media: A Librarian’s Guide

Preserving history is more than nostalgia — it’s about protecting identity. Across libraries, archives, and private collections, countless pieces of media are deteriorating silently: photographs fading, VHS tapes warping, and paper yellowing with time. Digitization is not just a trend; it’s an act of cultural survival. Every scan, every upload, every properly labeled file keeps the past alive for future researchers and storytellers.

The first step in any digitization project is assessment. What do you have, and in what condition? Prioritize the materials most at risk of loss — magnetic tapes, fragile documents, or media exposed to humidity. Once you’ve identified them, select your digitization tools carefully. A flatbed scanner works for photos and documents, but for film or audio you might need specialized equipment or professional services. Don’t forget to create backups — at least one on an external drive and another in cloud storage.

Metadata is the unsung hero of digital preservation. Scanning without labeling is like building a library without cataloging. Record dates, creators, and descriptions consistently; even a simple spreadsheet can serve as a metadata index. This ensures future users can search, verify, and connect the dots across your collection.

After digitization comes curation. Think about accessibility — who should be able to view or download your materials? Platforms like Internet Archive or local institutional repositories provide free hosting for non-commercial historical collections. Sharing is part of preservation: the more copies exist, the safer your data becomes.

Digitization isn’t a one-time task; it’s a long-term habit. Regularly review formats, migrate files as technology evolves, and maintain your digital hygiene. In the end, the goal is simple but profound: to ensure that stories, images, and voices from the past never vanish again — and that anyone, anywhere, can access them with a click.

🧠 Cómo un bibliotecario puede usar la inteligencia artificial

 

🧠 Cómo un bibliotecario puede usar la inteligencia artificial

Durante siglos, el bibliotecario ha sido el guardián del conocimiento, el mediador entre la información y el lector. Hoy, esa misión no cambia, pero las herramientas sí. La inteligencia artificial no sustituye la vocación bibliotecaria: la amplía. Nos permite organizar, descubrir y difundir saberes a una velocidad y con una precisión que antes eran impensables. Si la imprenta democratizó la lectura, la IA puede democratizar el acceso al conocimiento digital.

Un bibliotecario puede usar la IA para describir, clasificar y contextualizar colecciones con una profundidad que antes requería meses de trabajo. Los algoritmos pueden identificar patrones en archivos históricos, traducir metadatos, o conectar documentos olvidados con investigaciones actuales. Lo importante es que el criterio humano siga guiando la interpretación: la IA ayuda a encontrar relaciones, pero solo el bibliotecario sabe cuáles tienen verdadero valor cultural.

También puede usar la IA como puente educativo. Un asistente inteligente puede ayudar a los usuarios a formular búsquedas más efectivas, entender fuentes y desarrollar pensamiento crítico. En lugar de limitarse a custodiar libros, el bibliotecario se convierte en mentor de la información. La IA, bien empleada, transforma la biblioteca en un espacio vivo donde el conocimiento se actualiza en tiempo real.

Además, la inteligencia artificial ofrece una oportunidad para preservar la memoria. Miles de documentos, grabaciones y fotografías corren riesgo de desaparecer. Con modelos de IA, es posible restaurar textos dañados, mejorar imágenes históricas o generar descripciones automáticas que faciliten su búsqueda. No es solo tecnología: es una forma nueva de conservar la herencia cultural.

En última instancia, la IA no redefine lo que significa ser bibliotecario: lo reafirma. Nos recuerda que la esencia del oficio no está en acumular información, sino en darle sentido. El futuro de las bibliotecas no será de máquinas que reemplazan, sino de humanos que colaboran con ellas para que el conocimiento llegue más lejos, más claro y más humano que nunca.

“The Librarian Who Built Freedom”

I was a librarian in Cuba — surrounded by books I couldn’t sell and words I couldn’t publish.

In a place where creativity had limits, I learned to build value from knowledge.

Teaching became my first form of freedom.

Years later, I found a new world where ideas can earn, stories can travel, and technology can amplify a single voice.

Now I use AI, creativity, and consistency to help others turn their ideas into independence.

I used to catalog books. Now, I write my own chapters — and help others do the same.

Cómo Vender en Amazon, eBay y Mercari: Guía Completa

 

Cómo Vender en Amazon, eBay y Mercari: Guía Completa

Introducción

Hola, soy Daniel Motola, voluntario en SCORE. Hoy vamos a hablar sobre cómo vender en Amazon, eBay y Mercari. Si estás buscando ganar dinero extra, ser tu propio jefe, o simplemente aprovechar tu tiempo, esta guía es para ti.

¿Por Qué Vender en Línea?

Vender en línea ofrece múltiples beneficios:

• Ganar dinero adicional
• Ser tu propio jefe
• Adquirir productos costosos con tus ganancias
• Tener una actividad productiva
• Generar ingresos extra

Requisitos Básicos

Para tener éxito en ventas en línea, necesitas:

• Tiempo: Dedica el tiempo necesario para aprender y gestionar tus ventas.
• Capacidad de Aprender: Las plataformas como Amazon, eBay y Mercari cambian constantemente; estar actualizado es clave.

Amazon: Cómo Empezar

1. Crear una Cuenta: Regístrate en Amazon Seller Central.
2. Elegir el Tipo de Cuenta:
   • Individual: Paga por cada venta.
   • Profesional: Paga una tarifa mensual fija.
3. Envío y Logística: Utiliza Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) para que Amazon maneje el almacenamiento, empaque y envío de tus productos.

eBay: Guía Rápida

1. Registro y Listado: Crea una cuenta en eBay y empieza a listar tus productos.
2. Fotografía y Descripción:
   • Toma buenas fotos de tus productos.
   • Proporciona descripciones detalladas.
3. Precio Competitivo: Fija precios que sean atractivos para los compradores.

Mercari: Lo Básico

1. Registro: Crea una cuenta en Mercari.
2. Listar Productos:
   • Sube fotos de tus productos.
   • Escribe descripciones claras y precisas.
3. Promociones: Utiliza las promociones de Mercari para aumentar tus ventas.

Consejos Fiscales y Legales

• Guardar Recibos: Mantén un registro de todas tus compras y ventas.
• Consultar con un Contador: Asegúrate de cumplir con todas las regulaciones fiscales.

Conclusión

Vender en línea puede ser una excelente manera de ganar dinero extra, ya sea a tiempo completo o parcial. Decide tus objetivos, elige la plataforma adecuada y empieza a vender.

Recursos Adicionales

• Canal de YouTube de Amazon: Aprende más sobre cómo vender en Amazon.
• Foros y Blogs: Únete a comunidades de vendedores para intercambiar consejos y experiencias.

The Importance of AI Governance: Navigating the Ethical Landscape

Image created with Leonardo.ai   

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved, becoming an integral part of various aspects of our lives. From healthcare and finance to education and entertainment, AI technologies offer immense potential to drive innovation and efficiency. However, as these technologies advance, the importance of AI governance becomes paramount. Establishing ethical guidelines, regulations, and frameworks is crucial to ensure responsible development, deployment, and use of AI. In this article, we explore the reasons why AI governance is essential in navigating the ethical landscape of AI.

1. Addressing Ethical Concerns

One of the primary reasons for implementing AI governance is to address ethical considerations associated with AI technologies. Algorithms can inadvertently perpetuate biases present in training data, leading to unfair outcomes. Governance frameworks help identify and mitigate biases, promoting the development of AI systems that treat individuals fairly and equitably.

2. Ensuring Transparency

Transparency is a cornerstone of trustworthy AI. Users and stakeholders should understand how AI systems make decisions, especially when those decisions impact individuals' lives. AI governance emphasizes transparency, requiring developers to provide insights into the decision-making processes of their algorithms. This transparency builds trust and allows users to comprehend the rationale behind AI-driven outcomes.

3. Regulation and Compliance

Implementing regulations specific to AI is essential to ensure that these technologies align with legal standards and societal norms. Regulations provide a framework for responsible AI development, setting boundaries to prevent misuse and potential harm. Compliance with these regulations is crucial for fostering a culture of accountability within the AI community.

4. Protecting Privacy 

AI often relies on vast amounts of data, raising concerns about privacy infringement. AI governance frameworks establish guidelines for the collection, storage, and use of personal data, safeguarding individuals' privacy rights. Striking a balance between data-driven innovation and privacy protection is a key objective of AI governance. 

5. Building Accountability

Determining responsibility in the event of errors or harm caused by AI systems is a critical aspect of governance. Clear accountability mechanisms ensure that developers, organizations, and other stakeholders are held responsible for the impact of their AI applications. This accountability promotes a culture of responsibility and encourages continuous improvement in AI systems.

6. Enhancing Security

As AI technologies become more pervasive, the need for robust security measures intensifies. Governance frameworks address security concerns, mitigating the risks of malicious use, hacking, or manipulation of AI algorithms and data. Protecting the integrity of AI systems is vital to maintaining public trust in these technologies.

7. International Collaboration

AI governance is not confined by national borders. International collaboration is crucial for establishing consistent global standards that transcend geographical boundaries. Collaborative efforts ensure a harmonized approach to AI governance, preventing fragmentation and enabling a unified response to the challenges posed by advanced AI technologies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the importance of AI governance cannot be overstated. It is the linchpin that holds together the ethical fabric of AI development and deployment. By addressing ethical concerns, ensuring transparency, implementing regulations, protecting privacy, building accountability, enhancing security, and fostering international collaboration, AI governance sets the stage for a future where AI technologies are not only innovative but also responsible and beneficial to society as a whole. As we continue to embrace the transformative power of AI, robust governance frameworks will be the guiding force that navigates us through the evolving ethical landscape of artificial intelligence.

Books we recommend to read.

1. "Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World" by Meredith Broussard

This book critically examines the limitations and challenges of AI, shedding light on the societal implications and the need for responsible governance.

2. "AI Ethics" by Mark Coeckelbergh

Coeckelbergh explores the ethical dimensions of AI, addressing issues such as transparency, accountability, and the impact of AI on society.

3. "Rebooting AI: Building Artificial Intelligence We Can Trust" by Gary Marcus and Ernest Davis

The authors discuss the current state of AI, its limitations, and propose strategies for building more reliable and ethical AI systems.

4. "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power" by Shoshana Zuboff

While not solely focused on AI governance, this book provides a comprehensive examination of the impact of technology on privacy and society, offering insights into the broader context of governance challenges.

5. "Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics" edited by Vincent C. Müller

This collection of essays brings together perspectives from various experts on the ethical considerations surrounding AI and robotics.

6. "Robot Rules: Regulating Artificial Intelligence" by Jacob Turner

Turner discusses the legal and regulatory challenges associated with AI, offering insights into the governance frameworks needed to manage these technologies responsibly.

7. "Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans" by Melanie Mitchell

While exploring the capabilities of AI, Mitchell also discusses the societal and ethical implications, prompting readers to think critically about the role of governance in shaping AI's impact.