code: public static String getValue( Element node )
      {
          if( null == node )
          {
              return null;
          }
          String value;
          if( node.getChildNodes().getLength() > 0 )
          {
              value = node.getFirstChild().getNodeValue();
          }
          else
          {
              value = node.getNodeValue();
          }
          return normalize( value );
      }
docs: Return the value of an element.
  
  @param node the DOM node
  
  @return the node value