Reflection # 5

This is not my first online class. I had one online class before this and I also took another online class this summer. I can say that online classes have more interaction with other students because of the discussion forum. In a classroom, some students come in just for the attendance. After the attendance is checked, some students will leave the classroom. I could also say that online class is easier but overwhelming. Examination is the only thing missing in this class. The past online classes I took have examination at the end of each unit. Library classes I think are very appropriate to be taught online especially this class. This class involves a lot of research online and it must be done online. Student like me who work full time and with a busy schedule would prefer to take 100 % online course. But if a course was offered with face to face open workshop I would still attend it depending on the schedule.

Research Guide

Subject Guide

Rent control

Overview

In California, there are 17 cities that have rent control ordinance. Without rent control, landlords can raise tenant’s rent everyday or every minute of the day or can evict tenant whenever they want. Rent control ordinance includes rent increase limits and eviction restrictions. Rent control ordinance differs from City to City. In Glendale and San Diego California, eviction law only exists. Los Angeles, the biggest City in Southern California has the most comprehensive rent control ordinance. This subject guide can be used by students and renters or the general public in researching rent control ordinance.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

The following subject headings can be use when doing research using library catalog.

Rent control
Rent stabilization
Affordable housing

Keywords

For further information about Rent Control, search the following words and terms in electronic databases and other publications. Using Boolean operators and symbols such as and, or, not +, - are helpful in widening or narrowing your search.

Section 8
HACLA
Eviction
Property maintenance
Municipal Code

Reference Sources

The following reference sources is a good start in looking for the meaning of “Rent Control”

MSN Encarta
This reference source is available online.

The New Encyclopedia Britannica
This reference source is available at any public library

Merriam-Webster online
This reference source is also available online

Print Books

Landlord-tenant handbook for rental units subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance.
This handbook is available at the Los Angeles Public Library. The call # for this handbook is 333.5 L2575. You can also obtain a copy of this handbook at any City of Los Angeles Housing Department offices.

The California landlord’s law book [electronic resource]: rights and responsibilities.
This is an e-book. You can read the entire book by accessing any library website. A print copy is also available at Nolo Press

Rent control in California: responding to the housing crisis by William Dennis Keating.
This book is published by California Institute of Government Studies in UC Berkeley. This book can be borrowed at the Los Angeles Public Library and at the Long Beach City College Library.

Periodicals

The following periodicals have the latest articles about “Rent Control”. You can access these periodicals using any public library’s website online database ProQuest.

Journal of Housing and Community Development
Published by National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, Washington D. C.

Consumers’ Research Magazine
Published by Consumers’ Research Incorporated, Washington D. C.

The American Economic Review
Published by American Economic Association, Nashville, Tennessee

Website Resources

Additional information regarding rent control can be found in the following websites.

http://www.lahd.lacity.org/
The City of Los Angeles has the most comprehensive rent control ordinance in California. Its mission is to develop citywide housing policy and supporting safe and livable neighborhoods through the promotion, development and preservation of decent and affordable housing.

www.consumer.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/index.shtml
State of California Consumers Affairs Office to protect and serve consumers while ensuring a competent and fair marketplace

http://www.badlandlords.info/
This a website gives a lot of information for renters throughout the U. S.

http://www.chirpla.org/
Comprehensive Housing Information and Referrals for People Living with HIV/AIDS. They provide housing options, and related services for people living with HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles County.

www.tenant.net/Other_Areas/Calif/
Tenant.net is a compilation of resources dealing with landlord-tenant laws in the state of California.

http://www.hud.gov/
U. S. Department of Housing and Development provides housing information, news and tenant’s rights.


Organizations

The following are listings of organizations that help tenants in the City of Los Angeles

Southern California Housing Rights Center - Los Angeles Office520 S. Virgil Avenue #400Los Angeles 90020Phone (213) 387-8400

Southern California Housing Rights Center - Westside Office3415 S. Sepulveda Boulevard #150Los Angeles 90035Phone (310) 572-9234 Open on Wednesdays only

Fair Housing Foundation - South Los Angeles Office4401 Crenshaw Boulevard #317Los Angeles 90043Phone (323) 295-3302

Fair Housing Council of San Fernando Valley 8134 Van Nuys BoulevardPanorama City 91402Phone (818) 373-1185

Blog reflection # 4

Information Competency is the set of skills needed to find, retrieve, evaluate and use information effectively using the traditional library and online reference resources. A student is considered Information competent if she or he has the ability to determine whether the information is useful and of course appropriate to use. I think I can consider my self information competent after all the things that I’ve learned from this course. I can still improve my information competency skills by the next online course that I will take even if it’s not related to Library.

Blog Reflection 3

My opinion on this course has tremendously changed. I’ve learned a lot from this class especially on doing research. I can say the assignments are getting a lot easier because on what I have learned from previous lessons. Before I only use Google if I am doing research. Now I know a lot of websites where I can get information from. I am thankful that I was waitlisted on Library 1 and Ms. Laney suggested that I take Library 3 instead. It is more comprehensive but it’s worth taking it.

Reflection 2

My opinion about the library has not changed. We still need the library because the internet is not yet a reliable source of information. I mean not all resources can be put on the internet. So far, I have learned a lot of things in this course. I like the discussion forum because some student has different opinions on different things. When Ms. Laney announced the Library Technician course, I was thinking of taking it. I will finish first the course I’m taking now and I will see what will happen next. So far my knowledge of making research using different resources has come to different level.

My Library Experience

The library I visited is the Cerritos Library. Before I start, I would like to thank Ms. Padmini Parbhakar the librarian who helped me a lot and patiently answered all my questions.

The Cerritos library is located on the corner of Bloomfield Avenue and 183rd Street. The library building has an area of 88,000 square feet up and has three levels. The library has a seating capacity of 575 and 135 of those are computer workstations. When you enter the lobby of the library, a big salt water aquarium will welcome you. And there are also miniature sculpture and art exhibits in the lobby. On the ground floor of the library is the Children’s Library, the Young Adult and Multimedia section, A reading Room, the Magazine and Newspaper section, and the Circulation Desk. Also on the ground floor is The Friend’s store where you can buy something like coffee mugs, books and other souvenirs. Next to it is the Local History Room where you can see different arts done by different artists. Outside the Local History Room are the pictures of the First Ladies of the United States from Martha Washington to Laura Bush. On the second floor of the library is the Reference section, the Fiction and Non-current Periodicals, Language Section and the Computer section. There are also Study rooms on the second floor where you can use it as a conference room. On the third floor of the library is a big function room called the Skyline Room.

The library has a collection of almost 300,000 books from children’s book to carefully selected business materials. With this extensive collection of library materials, the Cerritos library uses the Library of Congress Classification System. Some of the library services available are reference, online resources and the interlibrary loan. The library is a member of the Metropolitan Cooperative Library System. The MCLS comprises of cities from Alhambra to Thousand Oaks. The cities that are not member of this cooperative like Artesia and Bellflower will pay for membership at the Cerritos library and will also pay for the books they will check-out. They also have the Interlibrary Loan Service where they send books to other library if some books are not available in that library. Their online resources are also extensive. They subscribe to online databases like Auto Repair References which provides assistance to auto mechanic, the Business and Company Resource Center where you can get information about businesses, the Reference USA database about contact information on business and Physicians and Dentist and many more. Librarian with headsets and handheld computers roam throughout the library to provide users hands on assistance. My Clio is the Cerritos’ library new generation computer system. It connects users to many of the library’s services and resources from any workstation in the library. The library also has the new Checkpoint Intelligent Library System. It uses radio frequency identification technologies for automated library materials return, track inventory, security and self check-out.

It is a wonderful experience visiting this library. So far, this is the most beautiful library I’ve ever seen. The only thing that is missing here is a Starbucks. Try to go to this library and you will always go back. The library is open from Monday to Sunday with library hours varies. It is located at 18025 Bloomfield Avenue Cerritos CA 90703 and their phone number is (562) 916-1350 or you can visit their website at www.ci.cerritos.ca.us/library/

Reflection 1

Thank God I choose this course to fulfill my General Education requirement on Information Competency. So far what I’ve learned from this class is not yet a lot but it is already helping me a lot on other courses that I’m taking specially doing research online. I’ve never though that this class would be very helpful on my other class online. The only thing that I don’t in this course is the time frame. I should have taken this class on a fall or spring semester. But it is fine to me because it make me work or study hard. The discussion forum is the part that I like most. I get a lot of ideas from other students. And finally, to other students who have not taken this course, take it. It is really fun and interesting.