http://www.rss4lib.com/2010/08/survey-report-on-librarians-us.html
A recent survey of WebJunction users showed some interesting statistics on use of various online tools by librarians (the write-up is at at "Library Staff Report Their Use of Online Tools" @: http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2010/07/06/library-staff-report-their-use-of-online-tools/).
The trend from the survey indicates that social media (such as Facebook) is making inroads on email as a communication tool. Of particular interest to me is the finding that RSS feeds are used daily or weekly by only 24% of respondents and used never by 50%. Blogs are used daily or weekly by only 27%, and never by 40%.
I know I spend much less time reading blogs (and, as those of you who read RSS4Lib in its native blog for or via RSS might notice, writing for one). I do wonder how much RSS usage is un-noticed or un-recognized by respondents; as RSS (and XML in general) become the way data move, do its consumers care how the data appear where they're consumed?
The survey results highlight differences between academic and public librarians (academic librarians are more likely to use online tools than their public counterparts) and a series of interesting differences between urban and rural librarians.
Monday, January 31, 2011
The State News: Scholarly journals cost library
http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2011/01/scholarly_journals_cost_library
By Summer Ballentine | Originally Published: 01/27/11 9:19pm |Modified: 01/27/11 9:19pm
Although the MSU library budget increased about 32 percent since the 2000-01 academic year, the cost of scholarly publications is rising at far higher rates, said Steven Sowards, associate director of collections of the Main Library.
“For as long as I’ve been a librarian — which has been more than 20 years — the price of journals (and) the overall expenditure for journals has been going up faster than (the budget),” he said. “It’s been a challenge.”
More than half of the library materials budget is spent buying subscriptions for scholarly publications, Sowards said.
“We spend about $7 million (to) $8 million a year on these subscriptions,” he said.
About $24 million has been allocated for the library’s overall budget for the 2010-11 academic year. The total library budget for supplies, services and equipment for the 2010-11 academic year is about $14 million.
Despite the cost of publications, academic community members rely on them.
University administrators encourage professors to publish in professional journals to establish themselves in their field, psychology professor Bill Davidson said. Professors either “publish or perish,” he said.
“One of the criteria for whether you are being an active, high-quality contributing scientist is whether your work is being published in a (scholarly journal),” he said.
Up-to-date scholarly magazines are important resources for the MSU community members, Sowards said.
“The scholarly journals are the place where the latest scientific and scholarly findings are published,” he said. “It (is) important not only for students but for faculty and researchers.”
Knowing previous academic work also is necessary in creating new knowledge, said Clifford Haka, the director of libraries.
“Since we are a research institution, we need to get the research journals in a wide variety of fields so MSU workers in those fields can be aware of what’s out there and what has been done before,” he said.
Publishing information in open-access journals, which provide free information to the public, is a way faculty members can help decrease the cost of buying scholarly magazines, Haka said.
However, open-access journals, which often are published online, still incur costs of publication, he said. Instead of requiring payment from users, open-access journals charge contributing faculty members a fee to publish their information, he said.
The library helps professors and other faculty members pay to publish in these journals, but there still is not enough openly available information to stop buying subscriptions to more expensive publications, Haka said.
“That hasn’t gotten to be robust enough yet so that we can cancel some of those high-cost journals,” he said.
Undergraduates and some graduate students have the option to publish research in free university publications, such as Red Cedar Undergraduate Research, or ReCUR.
“I think we just want it to be widely available, and we want students to be able to take it home and have a copy of it in their portfolio,” said Katie McArdle, student managing editor of ReCUR and a digital rhetoric and professional writing sophomore. “We do it as a complimentary (service).”
For faculty members looking to publish their research, the challenge of publishing in journals and affording subscriptions will take more time to solve, Haka said.
“There are no easy solutions, (but using open-access journals) is a potential solution; it is certainly feasible,” Haka said.
By Summer Ballentine | Originally Published: 01/27/11 9:19pm |Modified: 01/27/11 9:19pm
Although the MSU library budget increased about 32 percent since the 2000-01 academic year, the cost of scholarly publications is rising at far higher rates, said Steven Sowards, associate director of collections of the Main Library.
“For as long as I’ve been a librarian — which has been more than 20 years — the price of journals (and) the overall expenditure for journals has been going up faster than (the budget),” he said. “It’s been a challenge.”
More than half of the library materials budget is spent buying subscriptions for scholarly publications, Sowards said.
“We spend about $7 million (to) $8 million a year on these subscriptions,” he said.
About $24 million has been allocated for the library’s overall budget for the 2010-11 academic year. The total library budget for supplies, services and equipment for the 2010-11 academic year is about $14 million.
Despite the cost of publications, academic community members rely on them.
University administrators encourage professors to publish in professional journals to establish themselves in their field, psychology professor Bill Davidson said. Professors either “publish or perish,” he said.
“One of the criteria for whether you are being an active, high-quality contributing scientist is whether your work is being published in a (scholarly journal),” he said.
Up-to-date scholarly magazines are important resources for the MSU community members, Sowards said.
“The scholarly journals are the place where the latest scientific and scholarly findings are published,” he said. “It (is) important not only for students but for faculty and researchers.”
Knowing previous academic work also is necessary in creating new knowledge, said Clifford Haka, the director of libraries.
“Since we are a research institution, we need to get the research journals in a wide variety of fields so MSU workers in those fields can be aware of what’s out there and what has been done before,” he said.
Publishing information in open-access journals, which provide free information to the public, is a way faculty members can help decrease the cost of buying scholarly magazines, Haka said.
However, open-access journals, which often are published online, still incur costs of publication, he said. Instead of requiring payment from users, open-access journals charge contributing faculty members a fee to publish their information, he said.
The library helps professors and other faculty members pay to publish in these journals, but there still is not enough openly available information to stop buying subscriptions to more expensive publications, Haka said.
“That hasn’t gotten to be robust enough yet so that we can cancel some of those high-cost journals,” he said.
Undergraduates and some graduate students have the option to publish research in free university publications, such as Red Cedar Undergraduate Research, or ReCUR.
“I think we just want it to be widely available, and we want students to be able to take it home and have a copy of it in their portfolio,” said Katie McArdle, student managing editor of ReCUR and a digital rhetoric and professional writing sophomore. “We do it as a complimentary (service).”
For faculty members looking to publish their research, the challenge of publishing in journals and affording subscriptions will take more time to solve, Haka said.
“There are no easy solutions, (but using open-access journals) is a potential solution; it is certainly feasible,” Haka said.
ALA Learning: Technology Skills Library Staff Should Have
http://alalearning.org/2011/01/21/techskills/
I was recently asked to draw up a list of technology skills that I thought members a library staff should possess. I wrote my list in very broad strokes, before making it really specific to different tasks or specifying certain items only for certain positions. I thought I would share this “rough list” with the rest of the library world in case it would help you too. I advise getting more specific if you’re having staff self-assess on what skills they have, or actually provide trainings in these areas. But this is a good starting point.
So what did I miss? What would you take out? Leave comments and let’s develop this list together!
Terminology
Technology terms glossary
Hardware
Parts of your desktop computer
Parts of a laptop computer
Using printers
Using photocopiers
Using telephones
Using fax machines
Using self-checks
Using projectors
Using digital still cameras
Using digital video cameras
Using digital microphones
Using sorting systems
Software
Operating system
Effective management of files and folders systems
Word Processing software
Spreadsheet software
Presentation software
Multimedia players and plug-ins
Web browsers
E-mail and calendar software (Outlook or whatever)
ILS (back-end staff-side stuff)
Computer and/or room reservation software
Online reference software
Photo editing software
Video editing software
Audio editing software
Security and Privacy
Policies regarding security on public computers
Policies regarding security on staff computers
Policies regarding user data collection and privacy
Public Computing
Familiarity with software
Familiarity with hardware
Familiarity with wired and wireless networks
Familiarity with computer and network use policies
Ergonomics
Proper ergonomic computer set-up
How to avoid repetitive stress injuries
How to avoid eye strain with computers
Library web presence
URLs for library’s website and catalog
Using the library’s website
Using the library’s web catalog
Best practices for searching the catalog and website
Familiarity with library’s or library vendors’ mobile apps or sites
Familiarity with eBooks collections
Familiarity with databases
Familiarity with virtual reference and tutoring services
Familiarity with accessibility requirements and procedures
Writing for the web best practices
How to post content (text, links, images) to the library’s website
How to post content to the library’s intranet
Best practices for social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
How to post photos to Flickr
How to post video or audio files (to whatever sites you’re using)
Troubleshooting
Assisting in-house users effectively on our equipment or theirs
Assisting remote users effectively on their equipment
Personal Skills
Continuous learning
Change management
Planning and evaluating new information technology systems
Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new web services
One-on-one training best practices
I was recently asked to draw up a list of technology skills that I thought members a library staff should possess. I wrote my list in very broad strokes, before making it really specific to different tasks or specifying certain items only for certain positions. I thought I would share this “rough list” with the rest of the library world in case it would help you too. I advise getting more specific if you’re having staff self-assess on what skills they have, or actually provide trainings in these areas. But this is a good starting point.
So what did I miss? What would you take out? Leave comments and let’s develop this list together!
Terminology
Technology terms glossary
Hardware
Parts of your desktop computer
Parts of a laptop computer
Using printers
Using photocopiers
Using telephones
Using fax machines
Using self-checks
Using projectors
Using digital still cameras
Using digital video cameras
Using digital microphones
Using sorting systems
Software
Operating system
Effective management of files and folders systems
Word Processing software
Spreadsheet software
Presentation software
Multimedia players and plug-ins
Web browsers
E-mail and calendar software (Outlook or whatever)
ILS (back-end staff-side stuff)
Computer and/or room reservation software
Online reference software
Photo editing software
Video editing software
Audio editing software
Security and Privacy
Policies regarding security on public computers
Policies regarding security on staff computers
Policies regarding user data collection and privacy
Public Computing
Familiarity with software
Familiarity with hardware
Familiarity with wired and wireless networks
Familiarity with computer and network use policies
Ergonomics
Proper ergonomic computer set-up
How to avoid repetitive stress injuries
How to avoid eye strain with computers
Library web presence
URLs for library’s website and catalog
Using the library’s website
Using the library’s web catalog
Best practices for searching the catalog and website
Familiarity with library’s or library vendors’ mobile apps or sites
Familiarity with eBooks collections
Familiarity with databases
Familiarity with virtual reference and tutoring services
Familiarity with accessibility requirements and procedures
Writing for the web best practices
How to post content (text, links, images) to the library’s website
How to post content to the library’s intranet
Best practices for social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
How to post photos to Flickr
How to post video or audio files (to whatever sites you’re using)
Troubleshooting
Assisting in-house users effectively on our equipment or theirs
Assisting remote users effectively on their equipment
Personal Skills
Continuous learning
Change management
Planning and evaluating new information technology systems
Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new web services
One-on-one training best practices
Academic Impressions: Academic Library Planning and Revitalization - March 7 - 9, 2011 Columbus, OH
http://www.academicimpressions.com/events/event_listing.php?i=1056&t=Overview&q=7409v427988xO101
Learn how changes in learning theory, technology, and use patterns translate into smart library design choices.
Whether your institution is planning a renovation or a new library building, revitalizing the library as a learning space is a complex endeavor, requiring knowledge of library users' space needs and research-driven design, as well as a commitment to involving multiple stakeholders throughout the campus.
Join us on the campus of The Ohio State University to learn an integrated and practical approach to library planning and design.
A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH
Led by our team of expert instructors, the conference will be organized by the five phases of library revitalization: vision and discovery, planning and programming, design, renovation, and operation, paying most attention to the vision, planning, and design portions. Participants will:
•Analyze the latest in library design and learning space theory
•Investigate the fundamentals of library master planning
•Explore a variety of student services found in libraries
•Uncover processes for working with project stakeholders and promoting campus involvement
You'll also take part in a behind-the-scenes tour at The Ohio State University's William Oxley Thompson Library to see firsthand how the ideas that you've learned have been put into practice. You will have the opportunity to tour the facility, interview staff, and hear about this project from start to finish from a variety of stakeholders.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Because this institute invites attendees to establish criteria for design decisions, institutions will benefit from sending a planning committee to the event. If your library planning committee has not been defined, an effective institutional team may consist of the dean or director of libraries, the primary advocate for the library project, and other stakeholders from the library, academic affairs, and facilities management.
BRING YOUR TEAM, REGISTER TODAY
Register for this event online or call 720.488.6800. Register three people from your institution and the fourth can attend for free. Questions? Call us to determine if this event is right for you.
Learn how changes in learning theory, technology, and use patterns translate into smart library design choices.
Whether your institution is planning a renovation or a new library building, revitalizing the library as a learning space is a complex endeavor, requiring knowledge of library users' space needs and research-driven design, as well as a commitment to involving multiple stakeholders throughout the campus.
Join us on the campus of The Ohio State University to learn an integrated and practical approach to library planning and design.
A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH
Led by our team of expert instructors, the conference will be organized by the five phases of library revitalization: vision and discovery, planning and programming, design, renovation, and operation, paying most attention to the vision, planning, and design portions. Participants will:
•Analyze the latest in library design and learning space theory
•Investigate the fundamentals of library master planning
•Explore a variety of student services found in libraries
•Uncover processes for working with project stakeholders and promoting campus involvement
You'll also take part in a behind-the-scenes tour at The Ohio State University's William Oxley Thompson Library to see firsthand how the ideas that you've learned have been put into practice. You will have the opportunity to tour the facility, interview staff, and hear about this project from start to finish from a variety of stakeholders.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Because this institute invites attendees to establish criteria for design decisions, institutions will benefit from sending a planning committee to the event. If your library planning committee has not been defined, an effective institutional team may consist of the dean or director of libraries, the primary advocate for the library project, and other stakeholders from the library, academic affairs, and facilities management.
BRING YOUR TEAM, REGISTER TODAY
Register for this event online or call 720.488.6800. Register three people from your institution and the fourth can attend for free. Questions? Call us to determine if this event is right for you.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Two Free Books on Digital Literacies
Sheila Webber at the Information Literacy blog points to Two Free Books on Digital Literacies. Both of these books, A New Literacies Sampler and Digital Literacies: Concepts, Policies and Practices, are available in pdf format for download via Libraries and Transliteracy
http://oedb.org/blogs/ilibrarian/2011/two-free-books-on-digital-literacies/
The Huffington Post: The Changing Role of Libraries in the Digital Age
Steve Haber.President of Sony’s Digital Reading Business
Posted: January 3, 2011 01:33 PM
"We believe that free communication is essential to the preservation of a free society and a creative culture. ~ American Library Association
Since the founding of our country, libraries have always been important to freedom. Today we are in the midst of a tremendous shift in the way Americans consume literature and other content, but one thing has not changed -- the library must continue to play a central role in providing open and free access to information and ideas.
Exactly what that role looks like is the subject of much debate and many differing perspectives. Some believe libraries will shift into learning and information centers while others insist they will maintain their role as a physical location for cataloging and loaning books -- in addition to housing sources of information technology.
While providing books was a standalone function for libraries throughout the last few centuries, their offerings have evolved with the digital age to meet the changing needs of their patrons. In fact, according to an article in the November 2009 issue of American Libraries, more than 71 percent of public libraries provide their community's only free public access to computers and the Internet. Not surprisingly then -- due to the economic hardship -- more people are using libraries. A study sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and published by the Institute of Museum and Library Services last year found that 69 percent of Americans 14 years of age or older visited a public library in 2009.
Regardless of its exact nature, technology will play an increasing role in shaping our future libraries. For centuries, the book publishing industry has worked closely with and supported libraries, and they have done so without influencing the freedom of the institution. It is now time for the technology industry to step up and play a similar role.
Here is how technologists can, and should, help support libraries:
•Offer training and support -- free of charge -- to libraries for items such as digital reading devices, tablets and other media devices. Helping technology companies as well as libraries, this will serve to educate the general public in the long run.
•Provide special access to materials - something publishers have been doing for years. While technologists can't always control pricing, we can offer special programs to help educate the public and broaden access.
•Open lines of communication, offering libraries insight into how technologists see the market evolving. This will help library administrators make informed decisions regarding the future of their institutions.
Free means Free
Digital reading has taken off over the past three years in ways that no one would have imagined a decade ago. Earlier this year, the Book Industry Study Group reported that eBook sales rose from 1.5% of all book sales in Q1 2009 to 5% in Q1 2010. This is a wonderful thing in many respects - digital reading makes it easier to publish and distribute materials than ever before. But, the race is also on to lock down the market on ebooks by locking consumers into a specific platform, and this is the equivalent of curbing access.
Sony's Perspective
At Sony, we believe there is a place for public/private partnerships. That's why we're so excited to be working closely with libraries and librarians across the country as part of our Reader Library Program. While there are several different views on the future of libraries, we believe that digital reading will be at the core of libraries, regardless of how they grow and evolve.
Sony's Reader Library Program is designed to help libraries overcome the challenges of adopting eBooks and educating their constituencies on how to borrow, read and make the most of digital reading content. eBooks, like traditional paper books, will play an important role in our civic and cultural life, but only if they are made broadly available and people understand how to access and use them. Sony's Reader Library Program includes four main components:
•A training program for library staff developed by Sony. This training includes in-person workshops, video training and additional materials available on the web, covering digital reading formats, an overview of sources for digital materials, and training on Sony's Reader digital reading devices.
•Sony's Reader digital reading devices for use by library staff.
•Educational materials to provide readers some background on digital reading devices.
•Bi-annual update sessions designed to keep libraries and their staff current with the latest developments in digital reading content, format and devices.
We believe it is extremely important to support public library systems as they expand their digital offerings and our initiative will provide these professionals with training and additional resources that will enable them to inform their patrons on how to benefit from their growing eBook collections. With this type of support, we believe they'll not only survive, but thrive in continuing to provide free access to knowledge in the digital age.
January 2011 Issue of Illuminea, A Quarterly Magazine from Oxford University Press For Librarians
http://web.resourceshelf.com/go/resourceblog/63629
January 28, 2011 14:19
There is no charge to access Illuminea.
Here are the first three articles that we plan to read:
+ "Wikipedia Is Good For Scholarship" by Casper Grathwohl, Publisher, OUP
+ Interview: Sarah Michalak: University Librarian, University Of North Carolina
+ "The Journal Article: PDF Or XML/HTML? by Ad Lagendijk, Professor, University Of Amsterdam
Two versions of Illuminea are available:
1. Interactive Online Version
2. PDF Version
January 28, 2011 14:19
There is no charge to access Illuminea.
Here are the first three articles that we plan to read:
+ "Wikipedia Is Good For Scholarship" by Casper Grathwohl, Publisher, OUP
+ Interview: Sarah Michalak: University Librarian, University Of North Carolina
+ "The Journal Article: PDF Or XML/HTML? by Ad Lagendijk, Professor, University Of Amsterdam
Two versions of Illuminea are available:
1. Interactive Online Version
2. PDF Version
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Code4Lib Journal Current Issue Issue 12
http://journal.code4lib.org/issues/issue12
Mission
The Code4Lib Journal exists to foster community and share information among those interested in the intersection of libraries, technology, and the future.
Communication and sharing among technologists
Libraries have seized upon advances in computer technology, using computers and the Internet to offer unprecedented access to information and library resources. Ironically, the prodigious increase in tools for accessing information has left many with difficulty managing information about these tools. Projects are announced on blogs, in IRC channels, on websites, at conferences, and many other venues. It can require a research project just to find out what a tool does. Online professional/social networks help mitigate this problem, but entering into these networks can present an unnecessary obstacle to the uninitiated.
The Code4Lib Journal (C4LJ) will provide an access point for people looking to learn more about these tools, about approaches and solutions to real-world problems, and about possibilities for building on the work of others, so that the wheel need only be invented once, and can then be cooperatively improved by all.
Communication with the larger library community
As librarians and information workers develop new standards and processes to address changing technologies, it is imperative that those developing and maintaining those technologies communicate with the standards-makers and the wider communities. Emerging standards should be developed with an eye towards the capabilities of current technologies, and technologies should be developed with an eye towards the requirements of librarians, libraries, and their users. C4LJ will support communication between these communities, such that they augment rather than inhibit each other.
By communicating both the problems and possibilities of current and future systems to the wider library community, C4LJ aims to help engender collective understanding and the necessary support for improving library technology and digital services.
Mission
The Code4Lib Journal exists to foster community and share information among those interested in the intersection of libraries, technology, and the future.
Communication and sharing among technologists
Libraries have seized upon advances in computer technology, using computers and the Internet to offer unprecedented access to information and library resources. Ironically, the prodigious increase in tools for accessing information has left many with difficulty managing information about these tools. Projects are announced on blogs, in IRC channels, on websites, at conferences, and many other venues. It can require a research project just to find out what a tool does. Online professional/social networks help mitigate this problem, but entering into these networks can present an unnecessary obstacle to the uninitiated.
The Code4Lib Journal (C4LJ) will provide an access point for people looking to learn more about these tools, about approaches and solutions to real-world problems, and about possibilities for building on the work of others, so that the wheel need only be invented once, and can then be cooperatively improved by all.
Communication with the larger library community
As librarians and information workers develop new standards and processes to address changing technologies, it is imperative that those developing and maintaining those technologies communicate with the standards-makers and the wider communities. Emerging standards should be developed with an eye towards the capabilities of current technologies, and technologies should be developed with an eye towards the requirements of librarians, libraries, and their users. C4LJ will support communication between these communities, such that they augment rather than inhibit each other.
By communicating both the problems and possibilities of current and future systems to the wider library community, C4LJ aims to help engender collective understanding and the necessary support for improving library technology and digital services.
Call for Proposals: Planning and Implementing Resource Discovery Tools in Academic Libraries
CALL FOR CHAPTER PROPOSALS
Proposal Submission Deadline: February 28, 2011
Planning and Implementing Resource Discovery Tools in Academic Libraries
A book edited by Mary Popp and Diane Dallis
Indiana University Libraries Bloomington, IN U.S.A.
To be published by IGI Global:
http://igi-global.com/AuthorsEditors/AuthorEditorResources/CallForBookChapters/CallForChapterDetails.aspx?CallForContentId=4404826d-730e-4ae5-8b71-6ff92792f062
Introduction:
The concept of “resource discovery” has many meanings. Only now is it beginning to be defined as a description for library research software that allows a library user to search multiple Web-based resources simultaneously and bring back usable search results. Resource discovery tools have become more mainstream resources. As librarians work to find, purchase and implement such products as EBSCO Discovery Service, Encore, Primo, and Summon as well as open source tools they need to develop structured procedures for review and implementation that ensure they are using funds wisely. To date, very little has been published on this topic and only a small number of conference programs and presentations have been scheduled or given. There is an immediate need for information and shared ideas.
The mission of this book is to provide librarians and administrators with information they can use to evaluate and implement a resource discovery product—to determine how well such software can meet the needs of their users, to make a product choice based on their local needs, to develop plans for implementation, to implement the software and integrate it into the research lives of users, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the software in their own environments.
Resource discovery tools have become more mainstream resources. As librarians work to find, purchase and implement such products as EBSCO Discovery Service, Encore, Primo, and Summon, as well as open source tools they need to develop structured procedures for review and implementation that ensure they are using funds wisely. To date, very little has been published on this topic and only a small number of conference programs and presentations have been scheduled or given. There is an immediate need for information and shared ideas.
Objective of the Book:
We have the following objectives for this book:
• Propose a working definition of “resource discovery” that can be used in professional discussions about resource discovery products.
• Identify user behaviors based on empirical research that lead to a need for “resource discovery.”
• Identify best practices for selecting a discovery tool.
• Identify best practices for configuring and implementing a discovery tool.
• Collect and share usability test results for resource discovery and related tools and their implementation into library products and services.
• Present representative examples of the implementation of discovery tools.
• Identify areas of concern in use of a resource discovery tool and suggest future enhancements.
Target Audience:
The primary audience for this book is composed of librarians and library administrators in academic libraries, both large and small. Librarians who are interested in providing resources for users to find information, who are interested in emerging technologies, who maintain library Web sites and catalogs, or provide library instruction to students, faculty and staff in colleges and universities will find the overview information useful. Library administrators who must set priorities and find funding for new resources will be able to use the book to help them plan their review of the marketplace, selection of an appropriate tool, and implementation of that tool.
Recommended topics include but are not limited to, the following:
User behavior and expectations for library web sites and finding tools
How the digital consumer experience influences online research
What libraries have learned from federated search
How college students, faculty members, or other researchers find information
Selecting a discovery tool
Integrating local digital collections and non-mainstream resources into discovery tools
User testing and user-centered design in implementing discovery solutions
Issues in implementing a discovery tool
Representative examples of discovery tools in use including product choice, user input, setting up the discovery tool, and lessons learned
Areas of concern in use of the discovery tool
Submission Procedure
Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before February 28, 2011, a 2-3 page chapter proposal clearly explaining the mission and concerns of his or her proposed chapter. The proposal should summarize the proposed contents of the paper, provide a draft outline of major points to be included, and provide a chapter title.
Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by March 28, 2011 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by June 30, 2011. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers for this project.
Publisher
This book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global (formerly Idea Group Inc.), publisher of the “Information Science Reference” (formerly Idea Group Reference), “Medical Information Science Reference,” “Business Science Reference,” and “Engineering Science Reference” imprints. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit www.igi-global.com. This publication is anticipated to be released in 2012.
Editorial Advisory Board Members:
Kris Brancolini, Loyola Marymount University, USA
David Dahl, Towson University, USA
Courtney Greene, Indiana University, USA
Sigrid Kelsey, Louisiana State University, USA
Alesia McManus, Howard Community College, USA
Shane Nackerud, University of Minnesota, USA
Billie Peterson-Lugo, Baylor University, USA
Ken Varnum, University of Michigan, USA
Scott Walter, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Important Dates
February 28, 2011: Proposal Submission Deadline
March 28, 2011: Notification of Acceptance
June 30, 2011: Full Chapter Submission
August 30, 2011: Review Results Returned
September 30, 2011: Final Chapter Submission
October 30, 2011: Final Deadline
Early 2012: Expected Publication Date
Inquiries and submissions can be forwarded electronically (Word document or PDF):
Diane Dallis and Mary Popp
Indiana University Libraries
1320 East 10th Street
Bloomington, IN 47405
E-mail: ResDiscBook@gmail.com
Sigrid Kelsey
Electronic Reference Services and Web Development Coordinator
LSU Libraries, LSU
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
http://www.lib.lsu.edu/faculty/kelsey
(225) 578-2720 skelsey@lsu.edu
Editor, Catholic Library World
http://www.cathla.org/catholic-library-world-clw
Proposal Submission Deadline: February 28, 2011
Planning and Implementing Resource Discovery Tools in Academic Libraries
A book edited by Mary Popp and Diane Dallis
Indiana University Libraries Bloomington, IN U.S.A.
To be published by IGI Global:
http://igi-global.com/AuthorsEditors/AuthorEditorResources/CallForBookChapters/CallForChapterDetails.aspx?CallForContentId=4404826d-730e-4ae5-8b71-6ff92792f062
Introduction:
The concept of “resource discovery” has many meanings. Only now is it beginning to be defined as a description for library research software that allows a library user to search multiple Web-based resources simultaneously and bring back usable search results. Resource discovery tools have become more mainstream resources. As librarians work to find, purchase and implement such products as EBSCO Discovery Service, Encore, Primo, and Summon as well as open source tools they need to develop structured procedures for review and implementation that ensure they are using funds wisely. To date, very little has been published on this topic and only a small number of conference programs and presentations have been scheduled or given. There is an immediate need for information and shared ideas.
The mission of this book is to provide librarians and administrators with information they can use to evaluate and implement a resource discovery product—to determine how well such software can meet the needs of their users, to make a product choice based on their local needs, to develop plans for implementation, to implement the software and integrate it into the research lives of users, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the software in their own environments.
Resource discovery tools have become more mainstream resources. As librarians work to find, purchase and implement such products as EBSCO Discovery Service, Encore, Primo, and Summon, as well as open source tools they need to develop structured procedures for review and implementation that ensure they are using funds wisely. To date, very little has been published on this topic and only a small number of conference programs and presentations have been scheduled or given. There is an immediate need for information and shared ideas.
Objective of the Book:
We have the following objectives for this book:
• Propose a working definition of “resource discovery” that can be used in professional discussions about resource discovery products.
• Identify user behaviors based on empirical research that lead to a need for “resource discovery.”
• Identify best practices for selecting a discovery tool.
• Identify best practices for configuring and implementing a discovery tool.
• Collect and share usability test results for resource discovery and related tools and their implementation into library products and services.
• Present representative examples of the implementation of discovery tools.
• Identify areas of concern in use of a resource discovery tool and suggest future enhancements.
Target Audience:
The primary audience for this book is composed of librarians and library administrators in academic libraries, both large and small. Librarians who are interested in providing resources for users to find information, who are interested in emerging technologies, who maintain library Web sites and catalogs, or provide library instruction to students, faculty and staff in colleges and universities will find the overview information useful. Library administrators who must set priorities and find funding for new resources will be able to use the book to help them plan their review of the marketplace, selection of an appropriate tool, and implementation of that tool.
Recommended topics include but are not limited to, the following:
User behavior and expectations for library web sites and finding tools
How the digital consumer experience influences online research
What libraries have learned from federated search
How college students, faculty members, or other researchers find information
Selecting a discovery tool
Integrating local digital collections and non-mainstream resources into discovery tools
User testing and user-centered design in implementing discovery solutions
Issues in implementing a discovery tool
Representative examples of discovery tools in use including product choice, user input, setting up the discovery tool, and lessons learned
Areas of concern in use of the discovery tool
Submission Procedure
Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before February 28, 2011, a 2-3 page chapter proposal clearly explaining the mission and concerns of his or her proposed chapter. The proposal should summarize the proposed contents of the paper, provide a draft outline of major points to be included, and provide a chapter title.
Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by March 28, 2011 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by June 30, 2011. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers for this project.
Publisher
This book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global (formerly Idea Group Inc.), publisher of the “Information Science Reference” (formerly Idea Group Reference), “Medical Information Science Reference,” “Business Science Reference,” and “Engineering Science Reference” imprints. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit www.igi-global.com. This publication is anticipated to be released in 2012.
Editorial Advisory Board Members:
Kris Brancolini, Loyola Marymount University, USA
David Dahl, Towson University, USA
Courtney Greene, Indiana University, USA
Sigrid Kelsey, Louisiana State University, USA
Alesia McManus, Howard Community College, USA
Shane Nackerud, University of Minnesota, USA
Billie Peterson-Lugo, Baylor University, USA
Ken Varnum, University of Michigan, USA
Scott Walter, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Important Dates
February 28, 2011: Proposal Submission Deadline
March 28, 2011: Notification of Acceptance
June 30, 2011: Full Chapter Submission
August 30, 2011: Review Results Returned
September 30, 2011: Final Chapter Submission
October 30, 2011: Final Deadline
Early 2012: Expected Publication Date
Inquiries and submissions can be forwarded electronically (Word document or PDF):
Diane Dallis and Mary Popp
Indiana University Libraries
1320 East 10th Street
Bloomington, IN 47405
E-mail: ResDiscBook@gmail.com
Sigrid Kelsey
Electronic Reference Services and Web Development Coordinator
LSU Libraries, LSU
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
http://www.lib.lsu.edu/faculty/kelsey
(225) 578-2720 skelsey@lsu.edu
Editor, Catholic Library World
http://www.cathla.org/catholic-library-world-clw
Monday, January 24, 2011
From Library Stacks to Library‐in‐a‐Pocket: Will users be around?
http://www.lib.polyu.edu.hk/ALSR2010/programme/pdf/Theme1_Choy.pdf
http://www.lib.polyu.edu.hk/ALSR2010/programme/presentation/Theme1_Choy_Fatt_Cheong_Presentation.pdf
Invited Speech: From Library Stacks to Library‐in‐a‐Pocket: Will users be around? by Choy Fatt Cheong
A SHORT STORY ABOUT LIBRARIES
http://www.lib.polyu.edu.hk/ALSR2010/programme/presentation/Theme1_Choy_Fatt_Cheong_Presentation.pdf
Invited Speech: From Library Stacks to Library‐in‐a‐Pocket: Will users be around? by Choy Fatt Cheong
A SHORT STORY ABOUT LIBRARIES
libraryassessment.info: Library Assessment Forum presentations on Jan 7 in San Diego
http://libraryassessment.info/?p=654
The latest information in relation to the grant activities was presented by Carol Tenopir (Co-Pi, U of Tennessee), Megan Oakleaf (Syracuse U) and Rachel Fleming-May (U of Tennessee) during the Library Assessment Forum hosted by ARL on January 7, 2010, in San Diego. The Forum also included an update by Steve Hiller (U of Washington) on the wildly successful Library Assessment Conference held in Baltimore last fall. Presentations from the Forum are available at: forthcoming
libraryassessment.info
A blog for and by librarians interested in library assessment, evaluation, and improvement supported by the Association of Research Libraries
The latest information in relation to the grant activities was presented by Carol Tenopir (Co-Pi, U of Tennessee), Megan Oakleaf (Syracuse U) and Rachel Fleming-May (U of Tennessee) during the Library Assessment Forum hosted by ARL on January 7, 2010, in San Diego. The Forum also included an update by Steve Hiller (U of Washington) on the wildly successful Library Assessment Conference held in Baltimore last fall. Presentations from the Forum are available at: forthcoming
libraryassessment.info
A blog for and by librarians interested in library assessment, evaluation, and improvement supported by the Association of Research Libraries
Friday, January 21, 2011
Academic Impressions: Academic Library Planning and Revitalization - Columbus, OH :: March 7 - 9, 2011
http://www.academicimpressions.com/events/event_listing.php?i=1056&q=7337h427988xO
OVERVIEW
How do changes in learning theory, technology, and use patterns translate into program and design choices when renovating or building academic libraries? Whether an institution is planning a renovation or a new library building, revitalizing the library as a learning space is a complex endeavor, requiring knowledge of library users' space needs and research-driven design, as well as a commitment to involving multiple stakeholders throughout the campus.
This hands-on event will provide you with an integrated and practical approach to library planning and design.
Participants will:
•Analyze the latest in library design and learning space theory
•Investigate the fundamentals of library master planning
•Explore a variety of student services found in libraries
•Uncover processes for working with project stakeholders and promoting campus involvement
A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO LIBRARY REVITALIZATION
The conference will be organized by the five phases of library revitalization: vision and discovery, planning and programming, design, renovation, and operation. The most attention will be paid to the vision, planning, and design portions.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Library deans and directors, senior associates, and others involved in the library planning process, such as facilities or development administrators, will learn how to approach a library planning project.
Because this institute invites attendees to establish criteria for design decisions, institutions will benefit from sending a planning committee to the event. If your library planning committee has not been defined, an effective institutional team may consist of the dean or director of libraries, the primary advocate for the library project, and other stakeholders from the library, academic affairs, and facilities management.
SITE VISIT
Join us on a tour of The Ohio State University to see how the ideas that you've learned have been put into practice.
Opened in August 2009, Ohio State University's William Oxley Thompson Library was chosen for the site visit because of its innovative design featuring a renovation that incorporated an older building, and to show how a project evolved over 10 years of planning and construction. The library is centrally located on Ohio State's main campus, not far from the recently opened Ohio Union (Ohio State's student center) and residence halls. The Thompson Library houses a million general-collections volumes and a quarter-million volumes of special collections and features seating for about 1,800, including 12 group study rooms and 230 hard-wired computer stations that supplement wireless access throughout the building. You will have the opportunity to tour the facility, interview staff, and hear about this project from start to finish from a variety of stakeholders.
What Others Are Saying
"This institute has provided a wonderful, thought-provoking platform for developing a vision for space planning and all of the associated elements." -Michael Crumpton, Associate Dean, Administrative Services, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
"As a 'newbie' in the library field, this conference enabled me to look at my institution's library space with fresh eyes. The vision is clear! I am well-informed to create a learning space that will entice and keep students and faculty in the library." -Fatima Barnes, Meharry Medical College
"The AI conference was great! The staff was helpful and the faculty were well-informed and spoke to the issues we're dealing with. I met people who are in the same phase and a little further into the process who helped me think differently about our project." -Julia Lisuzzo, Manager of Summer Programs, Rochester Institute of Technology
OVERVIEW
How do changes in learning theory, technology, and use patterns translate into program and design choices when renovating or building academic libraries? Whether an institution is planning a renovation or a new library building, revitalizing the library as a learning space is a complex endeavor, requiring knowledge of library users' space needs and research-driven design, as well as a commitment to involving multiple stakeholders throughout the campus.
This hands-on event will provide you with an integrated and practical approach to library planning and design.
Participants will:
•Analyze the latest in library design and learning space theory
•Investigate the fundamentals of library master planning
•Explore a variety of student services found in libraries
•Uncover processes for working with project stakeholders and promoting campus involvement
A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO LIBRARY REVITALIZATION
The conference will be organized by the five phases of library revitalization: vision and discovery, planning and programming, design, renovation, and operation. The most attention will be paid to the vision, planning, and design portions.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Library deans and directors, senior associates, and others involved in the library planning process, such as facilities or development administrators, will learn how to approach a library planning project.
Because this institute invites attendees to establish criteria for design decisions, institutions will benefit from sending a planning committee to the event. If your library planning committee has not been defined, an effective institutional team may consist of the dean or director of libraries, the primary advocate for the library project, and other stakeholders from the library, academic affairs, and facilities management.
SITE VISIT
Join us on a tour of The Ohio State University to see how the ideas that you've learned have been put into practice.
Opened in August 2009, Ohio State University's William Oxley Thompson Library was chosen for the site visit because of its innovative design featuring a renovation that incorporated an older building, and to show how a project evolved over 10 years of planning and construction. The library is centrally located on Ohio State's main campus, not far from the recently opened Ohio Union (Ohio State's student center) and residence halls. The Thompson Library houses a million general-collections volumes and a quarter-million volumes of special collections and features seating for about 1,800, including 12 group study rooms and 230 hard-wired computer stations that supplement wireless access throughout the building. You will have the opportunity to tour the facility, interview staff, and hear about this project from start to finish from a variety of stakeholders.
What Others Are Saying
"This institute has provided a wonderful, thought-provoking platform for developing a vision for space planning and all of the associated elements." -Michael Crumpton, Associate Dean, Administrative Services, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
"As a 'newbie' in the library field, this conference enabled me to look at my institution's library space with fresh eyes. The vision is clear! I am well-informed to create a learning space that will entice and keep students and faculty in the library." -Fatima Barnes, Meharry Medical College
"The AI conference was great! The staff was helpful and the faculty were well-informed and spoke to the issues we're dealing with. I met people who are in the same phase and a little further into the process who helped me think differently about our project." -Julia Lisuzzo, Manager of Summer Programs, Rochester Institute of Technology
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Reference Shelf: U.S. Government: Congressional Oversight Manual Prepared by the Congressional Research Service
http://web.resourceshelf.com/go/resourceblog/63360
January 18, 2011 00:57
New from the Congressional Research Service:
Congressional Oversight Manual (162 pages; PDF; January 6, 2011)
by Frederick M. Kaiser
Specialist in American National Government
Walter J. Oleszek
Senior Specialist in American National Government
Todd B. Tatelman
Legislative Attorney
January 6, 2011
From the Summary:
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) developed the Congressional Oversight Manual over 30 years ago, following a three-day December 1978 Workshop on Congressional Oversight and
Investigations. The workshop was organized by a group of House and Senate committee aides from both parties and CRS at the request of the bipartisan House leadership. The Manual was produced by CRS with the assistance of a number of House committee staffers. In subsequent
years, CRS has sponsored and conducted various oversight seminars for House and Senate staff and updated the Manual as circumstances warranted. The last revision occurred in 2007. Worth noting is the bipartisan recommendation of the House members of the 1993 Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress (Rept. No. 103-413, Vol. I):
Over the years, CRS has assisted many Members, committees, party leaders, and staff aides in the performance of the oversight function, that is, the review, monitoring, and supervision of the implementation of public policy. Understandably, given the size, reach, cost, and continuing growth of the modern executive establishment, Congress’s oversight role is even more significant—and more demanding—than when Woodrow Wilson wrote in his classic Congressional Government (1885): “Quite as important as lawmaking is vigilant oversight of administration.” Today’s lawmakers and congressional aides, as well as commentators and scholars, recognize that Congress’s work, ideally, should not end when it passes legislation. Oversight is an integral way to make sure that the laws work and are being administered in an effective, efficient, and economical manner. In light of this destination, oversight can be viewed as one of Congress’s principal responsibilities as it grapples with the complexities of the 21st century.
Source: CRS (via Secrecy News; Federation of American Scientists)
January 18, 2011 00:57
New from the Congressional Research Service:
Congressional Oversight Manual (162 pages; PDF; January 6, 2011)
by Frederick M. Kaiser
Specialist in American National Government
Walter J. Oleszek
Senior Specialist in American National Government
Todd B. Tatelman
Legislative Attorney
January 6, 2011
From the Summary:
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) developed the Congressional Oversight Manual over 30 years ago, following a three-day December 1978 Workshop on Congressional Oversight and
Investigations. The workshop was organized by a group of House and Senate committee aides from both parties and CRS at the request of the bipartisan House leadership. The Manual was produced by CRS with the assistance of a number of House committee staffers. In subsequent
years, CRS has sponsored and conducted various oversight seminars for House and Senate staff and updated the Manual as circumstances warranted. The last revision occurred in 2007. Worth noting is the bipartisan recommendation of the House members of the 1993 Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress (Rept. No. 103-413, Vol. I):
Over the years, CRS has assisted many Members, committees, party leaders, and staff aides in the performance of the oversight function, that is, the review, monitoring, and supervision of the implementation of public policy. Understandably, given the size, reach, cost, and continuing growth of the modern executive establishment, Congress’s oversight role is even more significant—and more demanding—than when Woodrow Wilson wrote in his classic Congressional Government (1885): “Quite as important as lawmaking is vigilant oversight of administration.” Today’s lawmakers and congressional aides, as well as commentators and scholars, recognize that Congress’s work, ideally, should not end when it passes legislation. Oversight is an integral way to make sure that the laws work and are being administered in an effective, efficient, and economical manner. In light of this destination, oversight can be viewed as one of Congress’s principal responsibilities as it grapples with the complexities of the 21st century.
Source: CRS (via Secrecy News; Federation of American Scientists)
The January/February 2011 Issue of D-Lib Magazine Is Now Online
January 18, 2011 16:10
Direct to Table of Contents (January/February 2011; Volume 17, Number 1/2)
http://www.dlib.org/dlib/january11/01contents.html
Here's a List of Articles and a Selection of Abstracts
Editorial
+ Research Data
by Laurence Lannom, Corporation for National Research Initiatives
Articles
+ Access to Research Data
Introduction by guest editors Jan Brase, German National Library of Science and Technology and Adam Farquhar, British Library
Abstract: Scientists around the world are addressing the need to increase access to research data. Science is international and global cooperation is imperative. DataCite, launched in December 2009, is an association of more than a dozen members from 10 countries and growing, that enables researchers to locate, identify, and cite research datasets with confidence, and plays a global leadership role in promoting the use of persistent identifiers for datasets. In June 2010, the first DataCite summer meeting took place in Hannover, Germany and provided a forum for 25 speakers and nearly 100 participants from Europe, North America and Australia to exchange information for handling research data. This special issue of D-Lib Magazine includes eight articles derived from talks given at the summer meeting and one additional article on the quality of research data. Together, these articles provide a snapshot of the state-of-the-art on these topics.
[New Blog from DataCite]
+ The Dataverse Network: An Open-Source Application for Sharing, Discovering and Preserving Data
Article by Mercè Crosas, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard University, Harvard
+ DataONE: Data Observation Network for Earth — Preserving Data and Enabling Innovation in the Biological and Environmental Sciences
Article by William Michener, University Libraries, University of New Mexico; Dave Vieglais, Biodiversity Research Institute, University of Kansas; Todd Vision, University of North Carolina; John Kunze and Patricia Cruse, University of California Curation Center; and Greg Janée, University of California Curation Center and University of California at Santa Barbara
+ Quality of Research Data, an Operational Approach
Article by Leo Waaijers; Maurits van der Graaf, Pleiade Management and Consultancy
+ Acquiring High Quality Research Data
Article by Andreas Hense and Florian Quadt, Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University
+ Criteria for the Trustworthiness of Data Centres
Article by Jens Klump, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam German Research Centre for Geosciences
+ Abelard and Héloise: Why Data and Publications Belong Together
Article by Eefke Smit, International Association of STM Publishers
Abstract: This article explores the present state of integration between data and publications. The statistical findings are based on the project PARSE.Insight, which was carried out with the help of EU funding in 2008 — 2010. The main conclusion drawn from these findings is that currently very few conventions and best practices exist among researchers and publishers in how to handle data. There is strong preference among researchers and publishers alike for data and publications to be linked in a persistent way. To achieve that, we advocate good collaboration across the whole information chain of authors, research institutes, data centers, libraries and publishers. DataCite is an excellent example of how this might work.
+ Supporting Science through the Interoperability of Data and Articles
Article by IJsbrand Jan Aalbersberg and Ove Kähler, Elsevier, S&T Journals, Content Innovation,
The Netherlands
+ isCitedBy: A Metadata Scheme for DataCite
Article by Joan Starr, California Digital Library; Angela Gastl, ETH Zürich Library
Abstract: The DataCite Metadata Scheme is being designed to support dataset citation and discovery. It features a small set of mandatory properties, and an additional set of optional properties for more detailed description. Among these is a powerful mechanism for describing relationships between the registered dataset and other objects. The scheme is supported organizationally and will allow for community input on an ongoing basis.
+ "Earth System Science Data" (ESSD) — A Peer Reviewed Journal for Publication of Data
Article by Hans Pfeiffenberger, Alfred Wegener Institut; David Carlson, UNAVCO, USA
News and Events
+ In Brief: Short Items of Current Awareness
+ In the News: Recent Press Releases and Announcements
+ Clips & Pointers: Documents, Deadlines, Calls for Participation
+ Meetings, Conferences, Workshops: Calendar of Activities Associated with Digital Libraries Research and Technologies
Direct to Table of Contents (January/February 2011; Volume 17, Number 1/2
D-Lib Magazine is an electronic publication with a focus on digital library research and development, including new technologies, applications, and contextual social and economic issues. D-Lib Magazine appeals to a broad technical and professional audience. The primary goal of the magazine is timely and efficient information exchange for the digital library community to help digital libraries be a broad interdisciplinary field, and not a set of specialties that know little of each other.
The Corporation for National Research Initiatives (CNRI) is making D-Lib Magazine available for the advancement of knowledge and practice on digital library research and related matters. Funding was previously provided by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under Grant No. N66001-98-1-8908 and by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. IIS-0243042. The magazine is currently supported by the D-Lib Alliance and other contributors.
Articles and the shorter pieces are solicited or selected from among unsolicited submissions. If you would like to contribute to D-Lib Magazine, or if you have any questions and comments about the magazine, please send e-mail to.
Direct to Table of Contents (January/February 2011; Volume 17, Number 1/2)
http://www.dlib.org/dlib/january11/01contents.html
Here's a List of Articles and a Selection of Abstracts
Editorial
+ Research Data
by Laurence Lannom, Corporation for National Research Initiatives
Articles
+ Access to Research Data
Introduction by guest editors Jan Brase, German National Library of Science and Technology and Adam Farquhar, British Library
Abstract: Scientists around the world are addressing the need to increase access to research data. Science is international and global cooperation is imperative. DataCite, launched in December 2009, is an association of more than a dozen members from 10 countries and growing, that enables researchers to locate, identify, and cite research datasets with confidence, and plays a global leadership role in promoting the use of persistent identifiers for datasets. In June 2010, the first DataCite summer meeting took place in Hannover, Germany and provided a forum for 25 speakers and nearly 100 participants from Europe, North America and Australia to exchange information for handling research data. This special issue of D-Lib Magazine includes eight articles derived from talks given at the summer meeting and one additional article on the quality of research data. Together, these articles provide a snapshot of the state-of-the-art on these topics.
[New Blog from DataCite]
+ The Dataverse Network: An Open-Source Application for Sharing, Discovering and Preserving Data
Article by Mercè Crosas, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard University, Harvard
+ DataONE: Data Observation Network for Earth — Preserving Data and Enabling Innovation in the Biological and Environmental Sciences
Article by William Michener, University Libraries, University of New Mexico; Dave Vieglais, Biodiversity Research Institute, University of Kansas; Todd Vision, University of North Carolina; John Kunze and Patricia Cruse, University of California Curation Center; and Greg Janée, University of California Curation Center and University of California at Santa Barbara
+ Quality of Research Data, an Operational Approach
Article by Leo Waaijers; Maurits van der Graaf, Pleiade Management and Consultancy
+ Acquiring High Quality Research Data
Article by Andreas Hense and Florian Quadt, Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University
+ Criteria for the Trustworthiness of Data Centres
Article by Jens Klump, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam German Research Centre for Geosciences
+ Abelard and Héloise: Why Data and Publications Belong Together
Article by Eefke Smit, International Association of STM Publishers
Abstract: This article explores the present state of integration between data and publications. The statistical findings are based on the project PARSE.Insight, which was carried out with the help of EU funding in 2008 — 2010. The main conclusion drawn from these findings is that currently very few conventions and best practices exist among researchers and publishers in how to handle data. There is strong preference among researchers and publishers alike for data and publications to be linked in a persistent way. To achieve that, we advocate good collaboration across the whole information chain of authors, research institutes, data centers, libraries and publishers. DataCite is an excellent example of how this might work.
+ Supporting Science through the Interoperability of Data and Articles
Article by IJsbrand Jan Aalbersberg and Ove Kähler, Elsevier, S&T Journals, Content Innovation,
The Netherlands
+ isCitedBy: A Metadata Scheme for DataCite
Article by Joan Starr, California Digital Library; Angela Gastl, ETH Zürich Library
Abstract: The DataCite Metadata Scheme is being designed to support dataset citation and discovery. It features a small set of mandatory properties, and an additional set of optional properties for more detailed description. Among these is a powerful mechanism for describing relationships between the registered dataset and other objects. The scheme is supported organizationally and will allow for community input on an ongoing basis.
+ "Earth System Science Data" (ESSD) — A Peer Reviewed Journal for Publication of Data
Article by Hans Pfeiffenberger, Alfred Wegener Institut; David Carlson, UNAVCO, USA
News and Events
+ In Brief: Short Items of Current Awareness
+ In the News: Recent Press Releases and Announcements
+ Clips & Pointers: Documents, Deadlines, Calls for Participation
+ Meetings, Conferences, Workshops: Calendar of Activities Associated with Digital Libraries Research and Technologies
Direct to Table of Contents (January/February 2011; Volume 17, Number 1/2
D-Lib Magazine is an electronic publication with a focus on digital library research and development, including new technologies, applications, and contextual social and economic issues. D-Lib Magazine appeals to a broad technical and professional audience. The primary goal of the magazine is timely and efficient information exchange for the digital library community to help digital libraries be a broad interdisciplinary field, and not a set of specialties that know little of each other.
The Corporation for National Research Initiatives (CNRI) is making D-Lib Magazine available for the advancement of knowledge and practice on digital library research and related matters. Funding was previously provided by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under Grant No. N66001-98-1-8908 and by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. IIS-0243042. The magazine is currently supported by the D-Lib Alliance and other contributors.
Articles and the shorter pieces are solicited or selected from among unsolicited submissions. If you would like to contribute to D-Lib Magazine, or if you have any questions and comments about the magazine, please send e-mail to
"E-Journals: Their Use, Value and Impact - Final Report"
http://web.resourceshelf.com/go/resourceblog/63369
January 18, 2011 17:57
From a Summary by Catherine Gray:
This two-part report takes in-depth look at how researchers in the UK use electronic journals, the value they bring to universities and research institutions and the contribution they make to research productivity, quality and outcomes.
Journal publishers began to provide online access to full-text scholarly articles in the late 1990s, triggering a revolution in the scholarly communications process. A very high proportion of journal articles are now available online 96 per cent of journal titles in science, technology and medicine, and 86 per cent of titles in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
It’s clear that e-journals have given researchers an unprecedented level and convenience of access to knowledge in scholarly articles, but what effect have they had on the ways in which researchers seek information? Do they provide good value for money to higher education libraries and what are the wider benefits for universities and research institutions?
Our Phase One report examines how researchers interact with journal websites and whether enhanced access to journal articles has led to greater productivity, research quality and other outcomes. It finds that researchers are savvy when it comes to using e-journals, finding the information they need quickly and efficiently, and that higher spending on e-journals is linked to better research outcomes.
Based on an analysis of log files from journal websites and data from libraries in ten universities and research institutions, our report starts to build a clear picture of how e-journals are shaping the information landscape a picture that we’ll add to as our research in this area continues.
The aim in the Phase Two report was to test and examine the reasons underlying the behaviours which were identified in Phase One.
NEW--JANUARY 18, 2011 Phase II Report--Full Text (32 pages; PDF)
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B9_KwJdDOiGrMWVmMzdkN2ItOGU4My00M2U5LThmZmUtZjlkMDg2OTYzZjNi&hl=en
Published April 2009 Phase I Report--Full Text (52 pages; PDF)
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B9_KwJdDOiGrYjRjYzQ5YmUtNTcyMy00MmE0LTlkNDQtNDY0YTJlZjA5NTQ4&hl=en
Additional Materials (All Documents PDF)
E-Journals: Their Use, Value And Impact - Phase One Briefing
Working Paper: Aims, Scopes And Methods
Working Paper: Journal Spending, Use And Research Outcomes
Working Paper: Bibliometric Indicators
Working Paper: Information Usage And Seeking Behaviour
Working Paper: Has Wider Access To The Literature Impacted Upon Bredth Of Citation?
January 18, 2011 17:57
From a Summary by Catherine Gray:
This two-part report takes in-depth look at how researchers in the UK use electronic journals, the value they bring to universities and research institutions and the contribution they make to research productivity, quality and outcomes.
Journal publishers began to provide online access to full-text scholarly articles in the late 1990s, triggering a revolution in the scholarly communications process. A very high proportion of journal articles are now available online 96 per cent of journal titles in science, technology and medicine, and 86 per cent of titles in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
It’s clear that e-journals have given researchers an unprecedented level and convenience of access to knowledge in scholarly articles, but what effect have they had on the ways in which researchers seek information? Do they provide good value for money to higher education libraries and what are the wider benefits for universities and research institutions?
Our Phase One report examines how researchers interact with journal websites and whether enhanced access to journal articles has led to greater productivity, research quality and other outcomes. It finds that researchers are savvy when it comes to using e-journals, finding the information they need quickly and efficiently, and that higher spending on e-journals is linked to better research outcomes.
Based on an analysis of log files from journal websites and data from libraries in ten universities and research institutions, our report starts to build a clear picture of how e-journals are shaping the information landscape a picture that we’ll add to as our research in this area continues.
The aim in the Phase Two report was to test and examine the reasons underlying the behaviours which were identified in Phase One.
NEW--JANUARY 18, 2011 Phase II Report--Full Text (32 pages; PDF)
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B9_KwJdDOiGrMWVmMzdkN2ItOGU4My00M2U5LThmZmUtZjlkMDg2OTYzZjNi&hl=en
Published April 2009 Phase I Report--Full Text (52 pages; PDF)
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B9_KwJdDOiGrYjRjYzQ5YmUtNTcyMy00MmE0LTlkNDQtNDY0YTJlZjA5NTQ4&hl=en
Additional Materials (All Documents PDF)
E-Journals: Their Use, Value And Impact - Phase One Briefing
Working Paper: Aims, Scopes And Methods
Working Paper: Journal Spending, Use And Research Outcomes
Working Paper: Bibliometric Indicators
Working Paper: Information Usage And Seeking Behaviour
Working Paper: Has Wider Access To The Literature Impacted Upon Bredth Of Citation?
Social Media Examiner: 7 Blogging Tips From Top Bloggers
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/7-blogging-tips-from-top-bloggers/
LISNews: Cites & Insights February 2011 available
http://lisnews.org/cites_amp_insights_february_2011_available
January 16, 2011 - 2:27pm — Walt Cites & Insights 11:2 (February 2011) is now available for downloading--at http://citesandinsights.info/civi11i2.pdf (if you're not seeing the link).
The 28-page issue (in PDF form, but with each section available in crude HTML--noting that the first essay would require considerably more paper to print out than the whole PDF issue) includes:
Making it Work Perspective: Five Years Later: Library 2.0 and Balance (pp. 1-26)
It's been five years since Library 2.0 and "Library 2.0" and this seemed like a good time to revisit some of these themes.
Bibs & Blather: Where's Chapter 4? (pp. 26-28)
Why this issue does not include Chapter 4 of The Liblog Landscape 2007-2010.
January 16, 2011 - 2:27pm — Walt Cites & Insights 11:2 (February 2011) is now available for downloading--at http://citesandinsights.info/civi11i2.pdf (if you're not seeing the link).
The 28-page issue (in PDF form, but with each section available in crude HTML--noting that the first essay would require considerably more paper to print out than the whole PDF issue) includes:
Making it Work Perspective: Five Years Later: Library 2.0 and Balance (pp. 1-26)
It's been five years since Library 2.0 and "Library 2.0" and this seemed like a good time to revisit some of these themes.
Bibs & Blather: Where's Chapter 4? (pp. 26-28)
Why this issue does not include Chapter 4 of The Liblog Landscape 2007-2010.
Collaborative Librarianship: Call for Papers
Collaborative Librarianship: Call for Papers
http://www.collaborativelibrarianship.org/
Collaborative Librarianship: Call for Participation – January 11, 2011 – (Denver CO) – Consider joining the groundswell of support for library collaboration: volunteer to become a peer reviewer for the scholarly, open access, online journal, Collaborative Librarianship. All related subject/interest areas are welcomed. To register as a peer reviewer, please go to the home page, click “Register” tab, and provide the information. (Email address and other information given are strictly confidential and for use only by Collaborative Librarianship.) You can also contact directly the General Editor, Ivan Gaetz: igaetz@regis.edu.
Collaborative Librarianship: Call for Papers – Are you involved in some interesting, innovative or experimental aspect of library collaboration? Is your library exploring or implementing resources or services that build on, promote, or expand the scope of library collaboration? Are you critically reflecting on the methodology, theory or philosophy of why and how librarians, libraries or library consortia work together? If so, we would like to hear from you! Please consider submitting articles for “peer review” or “From the Field” sections of Collaborative Librarianship. Submissions can be made directly through the CL website. Issues will be published in March, June, September and December, 2011.
Inquiries about submissions could be made by contacting Ivan Gaetz, or by contacting the section editors listed on the journal’s website.
http://www.collaborativelibrarianship.org/
Collaborative Librarianship: Call for Participation – January 11, 2011 – (Denver CO) – Consider joining the groundswell of support for library collaboration: volunteer to become a peer reviewer for the scholarly, open access, online journal, Collaborative Librarianship. All related subject/interest areas are welcomed. To register as a peer reviewer, please go to the home page, click “Register” tab, and provide the information. (Email address and other information given are strictly confidential and for use only by Collaborative Librarianship.) You can also contact directly the General Editor, Ivan Gaetz: igaetz@regis.edu.
Collaborative Librarianship: Call for Papers – Are you involved in some interesting, innovative or experimental aspect of library collaboration? Is your library exploring or implementing resources or services that build on, promote, or expand the scope of library collaboration? Are you critically reflecting on the methodology, theory or philosophy of why and how librarians, libraries or library consortia work together? If so, we would like to hear from you! Please consider submitting articles for “peer review” or “From the Field” sections of Collaborative Librarianship. Submissions can be made directly through the CL website. Issues will be published in March, June, September and December, 2011.
Inquiries about submissions could be made by contacting Ivan Gaetz, or by contacting the section editors listed on the journal’s website.
Friday, January 14, 2011
ResourceShelf: Columbia Journalism Review Launches Database of Digital News Outlets in the U.S.
January 14, 2011 22:09
A lot of possibilities here. Don't forget this is a new project.
From a MediaBistro Post:
Columbia Journalism Review is embarking on a project to document digital news outlets throughout the United States, posting the first 50 in The News Frontier Database with plans to continue expanding it.
The News Frontier Database features originally reported profiles and extensive data sets on each outlet, and it is searchable by location, type of coverage, business type, revenue sources, year founded, editorial staff size, business staff size, active volunteers, and institutional support.
Search Criteria Categories
+ Location
+ Business Type
+ Year Founded
+ Business Staff Size
+ Institutional Support
+ Type of Coverage
+ Revenue Sources
+ Editorial Staff Size
+ Active Volunteers
A lot of possibilities here. Don't forget this is a new project.
From a MediaBistro Post:
Columbia Journalism Review is embarking on a project to document digital news outlets throughout the United States, posting the first 50 in The News Frontier Database with plans to continue expanding it.
The News Frontier Database features originally reported profiles and extensive data sets on each outlet, and it is searchable by location, type of coverage, business type, revenue sources, year founded, editorial staff size, business staff size, active volunteers, and institutional support.
Search Criteria Categories
+ Location
+ Business Type
+ Year Founded
+ Business Staff Size
+ Institutional Support
+ Type of Coverage
+ Revenue Sources
+ Editorial Staff Size
+ Active Volunteers
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
ResourceShelf: 40 Page Report from PwC: "The Future of eBooks" (UK, U.S., Netherlands, Germany)
40 Page Report from PwC: "The Future of eBooks" (UK, U.S., Netherlands, Germany)
January 12, 2011 00:09
The future of eBooks
This new study examines trends and developments in the eBooks and eReaders market in the United States, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Germany, and discusses major challenges and key questions for the publishing industry worldwide. It also identifies market opportunities and developments for eBooks and eReaders, and makes recommendations for publishers, traditional retailers, online retailers, and intermediaries.
Given that publishers, internet bookstores, and companies that manufacture eReaders have high expectations for the digital future of the book industry, the study asks if a new generation of eReaders may, at last, achieve the long-awaited breakthrough that lures consumers away from paper and ink.
http://www.pwc.com/en_GX/gx/entertainment-media/pdf/eBooks-Trends-Developments.pdf
ResourceShelf: Online Audio: "Library Of Congress Receives Largest Single Audio Donation"
January 12, 2011 00:22
http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2011/01/10/132803768/200-000-recordings-donated-to-library-of-congress?ft=1&f=1001
The following report aired on All Things Considered, January 10, 2010. Listen online and/or download file and/or access transcript.
From a Text Version of the Report by Tom Cole:
The Library of Congress today announced the largest donation of audio recordings it's ever received. The donation came from Universal Music Group and is made up of master recordings — the final metal discs used to press commercial releases; lacquer discs that were cut in the studio to capture full takes of tunes; and reel-to-reel tapes from the late 1940s. The material dates from around 1930 to around 1950 and marks the first time the Library has received commercial masters from a major label.
They'll be stored under a grass-covered hillside in Culpepper, Va., that once belonged to the Virginia Federal Reserve — built to house enough coin and currency to jump-start the economy east of the Mississippi in the event of a nuclear attack. Today it's the Packard (named after a donor) Campus of the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center. The Blue Ridge Mountains stand to the west and a red-tailed hawk circles overhead as Gene DeAnna, head of the Recorded Sound Section of the Library of Congress, leads the way inside.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2011/01/10/132803768/200-000-recordings-donated-to-library-of-congress?ft=1&f=1001
The following report aired on All Things Considered, January 10, 2010. Listen online and/or download file and/or access transcript.
From a Text Version of the Report by Tom Cole:
The Library of Congress today announced the largest donation of audio recordings it's ever received. The donation came from Universal Music Group and is made up of master recordings — the final metal discs used to press commercial releases; lacquer discs that were cut in the studio to capture full takes of tunes; and reel-to-reel tapes from the late 1940s. The material dates from around 1930 to around 1950 and marks the first time the Library has received commercial masters from a major label.
They'll be stored under a grass-covered hillside in Culpepper, Va., that once belonged to the Virginia Federal Reserve — built to house enough coin and currency to jump-start the economy east of the Mississippi in the event of a nuclear attack. Today it's the Packard (named after a donor) Campus of the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center. The Blue Ridge Mountains stand to the west and a red-tailed hawk circles overhead as Gene DeAnna, head of the Recorded Sound Section of the Library of Congress, leads the way inside.
ResourceShelf: Publishing: "University Presses Face Watershed Moment in Explosion of E-Book Options"
Publishing: "University Presses Face Watershed Moment in Explosion of E-Book Options"
January 12, 2011 17:51
From an Article by Jennifer Howard in the Chronicle of Higher Education:
University presses want to get e-books into libraries and make those books readily discoverable by scholars, but many presses lack the technical resources to pull it off easily. As recently as last fall, they didn't have many noncommercial options if they wanted outside help.
But soon they'll have at least four collective nonprofit or academically affiliated options to pick from. Large-scale e-book platforms organized by JSTOR, Project MUSE, Oxford University Press, and a consortium led by several midsize presses are all on the verge of going live.
[Clip]
These undertakings have been in the exploratory stages for a while, but the last few days have seen a rush of announcements. JSTOR, the subscription-driven service that provides access to scholarly-journal content, unveiled its plans for "Books at JSTOR" at the midwinter meeting of the American Library Association, held in San Diego this week. Then Oxford University Press made public its plans for a new e-book platform called University Press Scholarship Online, or USPO. It's modeled on its Oxford Scholarship Online program, which provides subscription access to Oxford monographs.
Much More in the Complete Article by Jennifer Howard
UPDATE: More From Jennifer Howard: "Cambridge U. Press to Join the E-Book Distribution Race"
See Also: "For Love of Longform" by Steve Kolowich, Inside Higher Ed
See Also: E-Books: More Info About JSTOR's Just Announced "Books at JSTOR" Program Now Available
See Also: Oxford University Press Announces Major New Online Platform For Cross-University Press Monograph Content (Hat Tip and Thanks: Sue Polanka, No Shelf Required)
January 12, 2011 17:51
From an Article by Jennifer Howard in the Chronicle of Higher Education:
University presses want to get e-books into libraries and make those books readily discoverable by scholars, but many presses lack the technical resources to pull it off easily. As recently as last fall, they didn't have many noncommercial options if they wanted outside help.
But soon they'll have at least four collective nonprofit or academically affiliated options to pick from. Large-scale e-book platforms organized by JSTOR, Project MUSE, Oxford University Press, and a consortium led by several midsize presses are all on the verge of going live.
[Clip]
These undertakings have been in the exploratory stages for a while, but the last few days have seen a rush of announcements. JSTOR, the subscription-driven service that provides access to scholarly-journal content, unveiled its plans for "Books at JSTOR" at the midwinter meeting of the American Library Association, held in San Diego this week. Then Oxford University Press made public its plans for a new e-book platform called University Press Scholarship Online, or USPO. It's modeled on its Oxford Scholarship Online program, which provides subscription access to Oxford monographs.
Much More in the Complete Article by Jennifer Howard
UPDATE: More From Jennifer Howard: "Cambridge U. Press to Join the E-Book Distribution Race"
See Also: "For Love of Longform" by Steve Kolowich, Inside Higher Ed
See Also: E-Books: More Info About JSTOR's Just Announced "Books at JSTOR" Program Now Available
See Also: Oxford University Press Announces Major New Online Platform For Cross-University Press Monograph Content (Hat Tip and Thanks: Sue Polanka, No Shelf Required)
LISNews: Librarians and Wikipedia
Wikipedia, according to Wikipedia, is "a free, Web-based, collaborative, multilingual encyclopedia project." But the reference librarians we checked with would want a second source on that.
"Personally, I don't rely on Wikipedia, because of people's ability to go in and edit anybody's text and change the history," says Karen Sharp, senior librarian and webmaster at the Wayne Public Library.
Wikipedia, which comes (according to Wikipedia) from the Hawaiian word "wiki" — "quick" — joined to the "pedia" from "encyclopedia," was launched 10 years ago this Saturday by founders Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger.
Since that time, reportedly 365 million readers have pored over 17 million articles – all written by volunteer contributors – on subjects ranging from Aachen ("spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany") to zymology ("scientific term for fermentation").
Wikipedia has profoundly changed the way most of us gather information. It may have had less effect on the people whose job it is to look things up: reference librarians. Yes, they'll use it sometimes, they told us. But with misgivings, and never as a sole source.
"We use it as a backup," says Sharon Castanteen, director of the Johnson Free Public Library in Hackensack, who has a background in reference. "We'll start with that, get some ideas from it, but we won't trust it 100 percent."
"Personally, I don't rely on Wikipedia, because of people's ability to go in and edit anybody's text and change the history," says Karen Sharp, senior librarian and webmaster at the Wayne Public Library.
Wikipedia, which comes (according to Wikipedia) from the Hawaiian word "wiki" — "quick" — joined to the "pedia" from "encyclopedia," was launched 10 years ago this Saturday by founders Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger.
Since that time, reportedly 365 million readers have pored over 17 million articles – all written by volunteer contributors – on subjects ranging from Aachen ("spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany") to zymology ("scientific term for fermentation").
Wikipedia has profoundly changed the way most of us gather information. It may have had less effect on the people whose job it is to look things up: reference librarians. Yes, they'll use it sometimes, they told us. But with misgivings, and never as a sole source.
"We use it as a backup," says Sharon Castanteen, director of the Johnson Free Public Library in Hackensack, who has a background in reference. "We'll start with that, get some ideas from it, but we won't trust it 100 percent."
ScrewyDecimal: JSTOR Will Introduce Online Access to eBooks Next Year
JSTOR Will Introduce Online Access to eBooks Next Year (Books at JSTOR)
Resource Shelf January 9, 2011 17:59
From a Chronicle of Higher Education Post by Jennifer Howard:
[JSTOR] has struck agreements with four publishers—Princeton University Press, the University of Chicago Press, the University of Minnesota Press, and the University of North Carolina Press—to make their books available online next year. The e-books program, "Books at JSTOR," was announced today at the American Library Association’s Midwinter meeting in San Diego, according to a JSTOR spokesperson.
http://lisnews.org/jstor_will_introduce_online_access_ebooks_next_year
Resource Shelf January 9, 2011 17:59
From a Chronicle of Higher Education Post by Jennifer Howard:
[JSTOR] has struck agreements with four publishers—Princeton University Press, the University of Chicago Press, the University of Minnesota Press, and the University of North Carolina Press—to make their books available online next year. The e-books program, "Books at JSTOR," was announced today at the American Library Association’s Midwinter meeting in San Diego, according to a JSTOR spokesperson.
http://lisnews.org/jstor_will_introduce_online_access_ebooks_next_year
Library Journal: Governor Brown Proposes Eliminating All State Funding for California Public Libraries
By Michael Kelley Jan 12, 2011
California Governor Jerry Brown released a proposed budget for FY11/12 on Monday that would eliminate all state funding for public libraries.
Brown's shock-and-awe, $84.6 billion general fund budget, which still must work its way through the state legislature, would cut state spending by $12.5 billion and include a "vast and historic" restructuring of government operations.
This would mean the loss of $30.4 million for three of the state's most important public library programs: the Public Library Fund ($12.9 million), Transaction Based Reimbursement ($12.9 million), and the California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Service ($4.6 million).
Paymaneh Maghsoudi, the president of the California Library Association (CLA) and the director of the Whittier Public Library, immediately condemned the move.
"The revelation ... that Governor Brown is proposing to eliminate all $30 million in state funding for three of California's most valuable public library programs ...is both disastrous and disheartening," she said in a press release.
Maghsoudi said that library funding had already been cut 75 percent under the two previous administrations.
"The public libraries have done more than their share to assist with the budget deficit over the years by absorbing painful cuts," she said. "The time has come to stop the bleeding and CLA respectfully asks the members of the legislature to oppose these proposed cuts to our valuable programs."
In a statement on the governor's website, Brown defended his proposal.
"These cuts will be painful, requiring sacrifice from every sector of the state, but we have no choice," Brown said. "For 10 years, we've had budget gimmicks and tricks that pushed us deep into debt. We must now return California to fiscal responsibility and get our state on the road to economic recovery and job growth."
The spending plan would eliminate an 18-month budget gap estimated at $25.4 billion ($8.2 billion for the current year and a budget-year deficit of $17.2 billion). Brown's budget proposes $12.5 billion in spending reductions, $12 billion in revenue extensions and modifications, and $1.9 billion in other areas to close the gap and provide for a $1 billion reserve.
Fewer hours, staff cuts, program impacts
Maghsoudi said the proposed budget would result in reduced library hours, staff cuts, and the dismantling of Transaction Based Reimbursement, a cooperative system of borrowing and loaning books that has existed statewide for over 30 years.
Eliminating funding for the state literacy program "would be truly heartbreaking for individuals and families who desperately need this assistance," she said.
The Public Library Fund, which provides direct state aid to public libraries for basic service, has never received its full appropriation from the legislature, but this cut would represent a new low. In its first year, 1983, the state appropriation was $6 million, and has varied from $56.8 million. (80 percent of full funding) in 1999/00 to $12.9 million (12 percent of full funding) in 2008/09.
American Library Association president Roberta Stevens also was critical of Brown's proposal.
"Every service hour lost in our libraries translates into a million lost opportunities to connect people to distance education, unemployment benefits, and other e-government services," she said in a press release. "I encourage Governor Brown not to bury his head in the sand and work to understand the value of public libraries. It is clear that the governor's proposal to reduce funding for public libraries in the state of California must be re-evaluated."
Other programs are not spared the budget ax, including health-care programs such as Medi-Cal as well as $500 million cuts to both the California State University and the University of California. The only sectors to avoid cuts were K- 12 education and the state's prison system.
The legislature is scheduled to take action on the budget by March.
California Governor Jerry Brown released a proposed budget for FY11/12 on Monday that would eliminate all state funding for public libraries.
Brown's shock-and-awe, $84.6 billion general fund budget, which still must work its way through the state legislature, would cut state spending by $12.5 billion and include a "vast and historic" restructuring of government operations.
This would mean the loss of $30.4 million for three of the state's most important public library programs: the Public Library Fund ($12.9 million), Transaction Based Reimbursement ($12.9 million), and the California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Service ($4.6 million).
Paymaneh Maghsoudi, the president of the California Library Association (CLA) and the director of the Whittier Public Library, immediately condemned the move.
"The revelation ... that Governor Brown is proposing to eliminate all $30 million in state funding for three of California's most valuable public library programs ...is both disastrous and disheartening," she said in a press release.
Maghsoudi said that library funding had already been cut 75 percent under the two previous administrations.
"The public libraries have done more than their share to assist with the budget deficit over the years by absorbing painful cuts," she said. "The time has come to stop the bleeding and CLA respectfully asks the members of the legislature to oppose these proposed cuts to our valuable programs."
In a statement on the governor's website, Brown defended his proposal.
"These cuts will be painful, requiring sacrifice from every sector of the state, but we have no choice," Brown said. "For 10 years, we've had budget gimmicks and tricks that pushed us deep into debt. We must now return California to fiscal responsibility and get our state on the road to economic recovery and job growth."
The spending plan would eliminate an 18-month budget gap estimated at $25.4 billion ($8.2 billion for the current year and a budget-year deficit of $17.2 billion). Brown's budget proposes $12.5 billion in spending reductions, $12 billion in revenue extensions and modifications, and $1.9 billion in other areas to close the gap and provide for a $1 billion reserve.
Fewer hours, staff cuts, program impacts
Maghsoudi said the proposed budget would result in reduced library hours, staff cuts, and the dismantling of Transaction Based Reimbursement, a cooperative system of borrowing and loaning books that has existed statewide for over 30 years.
Eliminating funding for the state literacy program "would be truly heartbreaking for individuals and families who desperately need this assistance," she said.
The Public Library Fund, which provides direct state aid to public libraries for basic service, has never received its full appropriation from the legislature, but this cut would represent a new low. In its first year, 1983, the state appropriation was $6 million, and has varied from $56.8 million. (80 percent of full funding) in 1999/00 to $12.9 million (12 percent of full funding) in 2008/09.
American Library Association president Roberta Stevens also was critical of Brown's proposal.
"Every service hour lost in our libraries translates into a million lost opportunities to connect people to distance education, unemployment benefits, and other e-government services," she said in a press release. "I encourage Governor Brown not to bury his head in the sand and work to understand the value of public libraries. It is clear that the governor's proposal to reduce funding for public libraries in the state of California must be re-evaluated."
Other programs are not spared the budget ax, including health-care programs such as Medi-Cal as well as $500 million cuts to both the California State University and the University of California. The only sectors to avoid cuts were K- 12 education and the state's prison system.
The legislature is scheduled to take action on the budget by March.
Walking Paper Blog: a Library Design Consultancy by Aaron Schmidt
Walking Paper is a library design consultancy, shop and blog by Aaron Schmidt, hailing from SE Portland, Oregon.
About the Library Design Consultancy
I give presentations and workshops and I can help make your library provide thoughtful and considered user experiences. Read more about Walking Paper Consulting.
About the Shop
Creating the Future for Libraries notebooks (etc) are meant to emphasize that librarians can and should take an active role in shaping our continued existence. There’s no need for us to predict the future when we can observe, respond and create it. You can browse Creating the Future for Libraries stuff at the Walking Paper Shop.
About the Blog
I post stuff that strikes my fancy and is at least vaguely library/information/web related. You’re just as likely to see something about furniture as you are big picture library ideas.
About Aaron
Gee whiz, what’s there to say? In my non-library life I work out and train people at CrossFit Portland, ride bikes with Buy Local Cycling and VeloDirt. I cook and eat a lot of vegetables and meat.
http://www.walkingpaper.org/about/bio
About the Library Design Consultancy
I give presentations and workshops and I can help make your library provide thoughtful and considered user experiences. Read more about Walking Paper Consulting.
About the Shop
Creating the Future for Libraries notebooks (etc) are meant to emphasize that librarians can and should take an active role in shaping our continued existence. There’s no need for us to predict the future when we can observe, respond and create it. You can browse Creating the Future for Libraries stuff at the Walking Paper Shop.
About the Blog
I post stuff that strikes my fancy and is at least vaguely library/information/web related. You’re just as likely to see something about furniture as you are big picture library ideas.
About Aaron
Gee whiz, what’s there to say? In my non-library life I work out and train people at CrossFit Portland, ride bikes with Buy Local Cycling and VeloDirt. I cook and eat a lot of vegetables and meat.
http://www.walkingpaper.org/about/bio
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
CFP: Journal of Library Innovation
The Editors of Journal of Library Innovation (JOLI) are accepting submissions of research articles and articles about innovative practices in libraries on an ongoing basis. Information about the focus and scope of JOLI, along with the first issue, can be found at the journal's website: http://www.libraryinnovation.org/
If you have tried out a new program, changed a work flow, connected with patrons in a way different from the way you have done so in the past, please consider sharing your experience by writing about it. If you aren't sure if it was innovative, consider the following:
•What was eye-opening?
•What was unexpected?
•What were the benefits?
•What failed?
•What risk did you take in trying something innovative?
•You may have tried something done by many other libraries already, but your results are different from those documented in library literature.
•You have tried something never done in a library setting before.
Thank you for your interest in the Journal of Library Innovation. Please share this email with colleagues who might be interested as well.
If you have any questions, please contact Pamela Jones, Managing Editor, at pjones@medaille.edu
Journal of Library Innovation is a publication of the Western New York Library Resources Council, Buffalo, NY. http://www.wnylrc.org/
If you have tried out a new program, changed a work flow, connected with patrons in a way different from the way you have done so in the past, please consider sharing your experience by writing about it. If you aren't sure if it was innovative, consider the following:
•What was eye-opening?
•What was unexpected?
•What were the benefits?
•What failed?
•What risk did you take in trying something innovative?
•You may have tried something done by many other libraries already, but your results are different from those documented in library literature.
•You have tried something never done in a library setting before.
Thank you for your interest in the Journal of Library Innovation. Please share this email with colleagues who might be interested as well.
If you have any questions, please contact Pamela Jones, Managing Editor, at pjones@medaille.edu
Journal of Library Innovation is a publication of the Western New York Library Resources Council, Buffalo, NY. http://www.wnylrc.org/
CFP: 11th Annual Brick and Click Libraries 1-Day Symposium Nov. 4, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri "Brick and Click" is a one-day symposium of practical relevance to directors, librarians and paraprofessionals supporting traditional and online resources/services for academic library users. The annual symposium has been hosted by Northwest Missouri State University since its inception in 2001.
Presenter Benefits:
Presenters receive a reduced registration fee ($100) to the symposium and an opportunity to publish a paper in the symposium proceedings.
Presentation opportunities include a 50 minute session, and/or a 10-minute “Lightning Round” presentation. For more information, visit: http://bit.ly/BCformats.
Topics suggested from the 2010 evaluation forms include: consortial purchasing, budget, embedded librarianship, RDA nuts & bolts, learning commons, mobile web, iPad applications, and reference trends. Sample topics are available at http://bit.ly/BCtopics.
Submit your proposal(s) by March 7, 2011 using the following link(s):
50-minute presentation: http://bit.ly/BC50mins
10-minute presentation: http://bit.ly/BC10min
If you have questions about presentation proposals, please e-mail Kathy Hart at: mailto:juliah@nwmissouri.edu.
We look forward to receiving your proposal!
Kathy Hart & Carolyn Johnson
Symposium Co-Coordinators
Symposium Web site: http://brickandclick.org/
Symposium Blog: http://brickandclick.blogspot.com/
Facebook: Brick and Click Libraries
Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri "Brick and Click" is a one-day symposium of practical relevance to directors, librarians and paraprofessionals supporting traditional and online resources/services for academic library users. The annual symposium has been hosted by Northwest Missouri State University since its inception in 2001.
Presenter Benefits:
Presenters receive a reduced registration fee ($100) to the symposium and an opportunity to publish a paper in the symposium proceedings.
Presentation opportunities include a 50 minute session, and/or a 10-minute “Lightning Round” presentation. For more information, visit: http://bit.ly/BCformats.
Topics suggested from the 2010 evaluation forms include: consortial purchasing, budget, embedded librarianship, RDA nuts & bolts, learning commons, mobile web, iPad applications, and reference trends. Sample topics are available at http://bit.ly/BCtopics.
Submit your proposal(s) by March 7, 2011 using the following link(s):
50-minute presentation: http://bit.ly/BC50mins
10-minute presentation: http://bit.ly/BC10min
If you have questions about presentation proposals, please e-mail Kathy Hart at: mailto:juliah@nwmissouri.edu.
We look forward to receiving your proposal!
Kathy Hart & Carolyn Johnson
Symposium Co-Coordinators
Symposium Web site: http://brickandclick.org/
Symposium Blog: http://brickandclick.blogspot.com/
Facebook: Brick and Click Libraries
CFP: Green Libraries and Librarians - Calling all Green Librarians!
We know you're out there. We've heard through the grapevine about some of the inspiring, entrepreneurial initiatives you've taken on:
• partnering with with local organic farmers to provide Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to their communities
• pursuing related professional development opportunities, such as attending the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) conference or achieving LEED accreditation
• raising awareness about climate change by hosting an ongoing film and discussion series on that topic at your library
• advocating for LEED-certified libraries
Do you know a librarian that fits this description: "sustainability advocate, educator or entrepreneur"? In that case, please pass this note along.
Or, maybe that person is you? We want to hear your story! Our team is in the process of collecting stories about librarians who are sustainability advocates for an upcoming book. Please fill out this form to let us know how we can get in touch: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFhfMTJudW5kbUNpUkZnUnJhSTBOSFE6MQ#gid=0.
If you have questions, ask away! We're very excited about this project and look forward to hearing from you.
Anne Less
Mary Davidge Associates @ Google, Inc.
aless@google.com
@alessismore
Beth Filar Williams
UNC-Greensboro Libraries
efwilli3@uncg.edu
@greenyourlib
Sarah Dorsey
UNC-Greensboro Libraries
sbdorsey@uncg.edu
CALL FOR CHAPTERS: Handbook of Research on Information Science, Information Systems and Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Chapter Proposal Submission Deadline: 30 March, 2011
Full Chapter Submission Deadline: 31 July 2011
Handbook of Research on Information Science, Information Systems and Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
A book edited by Drs. Wole Olatokun & Rosemary Agbonlahor
Africa Regional Centre for Information Science (ARCIS)
No. 6, Benue Road, P. O. Box 22133, Nigeria
CALL FOR CHAPTERS
Contributions are invited towards the publication of a Handbook of Research in Information Science, Information Systems and ICT.
Objective of the Book
The book, which will be published under the auspices of the Africa Regional Centre for Information Science (ARCIS), University of Ibadan, Nigeria, aims to provide the most current, comprehensive and reliable source of information on latest trends and developments in the field of information science, information systems and information and communication technology. It will serve as a guide to students, researchers and scholars and furnish teachers of information science, information systems and ICT with the necessary knowledge they can impart to their students/trainees. This book will also provide teachers, students, scholars and researchers in the field of information science, systems and technology with useful materials on curricular offering.
Target Audience
The book will be essential reading for all categories of information professionals, governmental and non-governmental officials involved in information science, systems and ICT issues and matters; students, teachers/academics/scholars, researchers in the field of information science, information systems and ICT; ICT users; library and information services providers and users, etc. It will attract information professionals, scholars, researchers, etc., from different parts of the world.
Contributions could come from issues relating to, but not limited to the following areas:
• Emerging issues in Information science,
• Information needs, uses and seeking behavior,
• Infometrics,
• Internet Technologies,
• Human factors,
• Issues in Information systems design and implementation,
• Information Retrieval,
• Records management,
• Institutional Repositories,
• Indigenous Knowledge systems,
• Language engineering,
• Webology/Webometrics,
• Digital divide,
• Web 2.0,
• Gender Issues in Technology,
• Electronic commerce, electronic business and mobile commerce,
• Electronic government,
• ICT applications in public and private sectors,
• Information management,
• Development communication,
• Adoption and implementation of Information and Communication Technology,
• Information policy,
• Information ethics,
• Emerging Technologies,
• Open access movements, issues and initiatives,
• Electronic Records management,
• Cyber crime and digital forensics,
• Community Informatics,
• Ethical and legal issues,
• National information policies,
• Knowledge management,
• Knoowledge sharing,
• Research in information science, information systems and ICT,
• Electronic and multimedia publishing, etc.
Presentation of manuscripts
Contributors are encouraged to submit original empirical or conceptual papers. Manuscripts should be submitted as e-mail attachments to any of the Editors. The preferred format is MS Word. Articles should be accompanied by abstracts of up to 150 words, and 5-6 keywords. The text of the manuscript should be structured as follows: Title, Abstract, Introduction/Background, Body (main thrust of t he paper), Conclusions and Recommendations, References. Manuscript should preferably be prepared in Times New Roman style, font size 12, and in single-line spacing.
Referencing Style
References should be indicated in the text by names of authors and date of publication in brackets. The list of references should be listed in an alphabetical order at the end of the text.
References to journal articles should be in the following order: Author(s), date, title, journal’s name, volume number, issue number and pagination, inclusive e.g.
Lucey, B. T. (2007) Gender and ICT. Information Development, 18 (2) 16-30.
References to books should be in the following order: Author(s), date, title, place of publication, publisher, pagination, e. g.
Kabindi, F. Y. (2005) Issues in Electronic commerce, Electronic government and Mobile Commerce in Africa. Gaborone: Excellent services Publications, 104 p.
References to contributors in collected works should be in the following order; authors(s), date, title of contribution, name of the editor, title of the collected works, place of publication, publisher and pagination, inclusive e.g.
David, C., Andrew K. & Michael, O. M. (2008) National Information and Communication Technology Policy Implementation in Botswana. In: Ibanga, Timothy (ed.) Readings in Library and information science, Gaborone: NIR, pp. 24 – 46.
References to Electronic journals: Adegoke, S. K. & Anthony, B. (2008). Tips for new librarians: what to know in the first year of a tenure-track position. Research Libraries News, 40(2):26-39. Available at: www.abc.co.za/Research/News 59-2.htm. Accessed on 17 September 2007.
References to Conferences papers: Mopelola, M. (2008). Indigenous Knowledge use by Women in a Nigerian rural Community. In: Wormel, I (ed.). Proceedings of the 2nd ProLISSA conference, 24-25 October 2000. Pretoria: Center for Information Development, 205-219.
References to unpublished conferences papers: David. M. (2008). Strategies for Effective Management of Electronic records in Africa. Paper presented at the 10th ProLISSA conference, 15-17 August 2008.
Reviewing policy
All submitted papers will undergo rigorous double-blind review.
Important Dates
Paper Submission deadline: 31st July 2011
Notification of acceptance/rejection: 16 October 2011
Submission of Camera-ready version: 15 November 2011
Submission
Contributors are required to submit on or before March 31, 2011, a 2-3 page chapter proposal clearly explaining the mission and concerns of their proposed chapter. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by April 30, 2011 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by July 31, 2011. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers. All proposals/contributions should be submitted directly to the Editor: Dr. Wole Olatokun (woleabbeyolatokun@yahoo.co.uk)
Full Chapter Submission Deadline: 31 July 2011
Handbook of Research on Information Science, Information Systems and Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
A book edited by Drs. Wole Olatokun & Rosemary Agbonlahor
Africa Regional Centre for Information Science (ARCIS)
No. 6, Benue Road, P. O. Box 22133, Nigeria
CALL FOR CHAPTERS
Contributions are invited towards the publication of a Handbook of Research in Information Science, Information Systems and ICT.
Objective of the Book
The book, which will be published under the auspices of the Africa Regional Centre for Information Science (ARCIS), University of Ibadan, Nigeria, aims to provide the most current, comprehensive and reliable source of information on latest trends and developments in the field of information science, information systems and information and communication technology. It will serve as a guide to students, researchers and scholars and furnish teachers of information science, information systems and ICT with the necessary knowledge they can impart to their students/trainees. This book will also provide teachers, students, scholars and researchers in the field of information science, systems and technology with useful materials on curricular offering.
Target Audience
The book will be essential reading for all categories of information professionals, governmental and non-governmental officials involved in information science, systems and ICT issues and matters; students, teachers/academics/scholars, researchers in the field of information science, information systems and ICT; ICT users; library and information services providers and users, etc. It will attract information professionals, scholars, researchers, etc., from different parts of the world.
Contributions could come from issues relating to, but not limited to the following areas:
• Emerging issues in Information science,
• Information needs, uses and seeking behavior,
• Infometrics,
• Internet Technologies,
• Human factors,
• Issues in Information systems design and implementation,
• Information Retrieval,
• Records management,
• Institutional Repositories,
• Indigenous Knowledge systems,
• Language engineering,
• Webology/Webometrics,
• Digital divide,
• Web 2.0,
• Gender Issues in Technology,
• Electronic commerce, electronic business and mobile commerce,
• Electronic government,
• ICT applications in public and private sectors,
• Information management,
• Development communication,
• Adoption and implementation of Information and Communication Technology,
• Information policy,
• Information ethics,
• Emerging Technologies,
• Open access movements, issues and initiatives,
• Electronic Records management,
• Cyber crime and digital forensics,
• Community Informatics,
• Ethical and legal issues,
• National information policies,
• Knowledge management,
• Knoowledge sharing,
• Research in information science, information systems and ICT,
• Electronic and multimedia publishing, etc.
Presentation of manuscripts
Contributors are encouraged to submit original empirical or conceptual papers. Manuscripts should be submitted as e-mail attachments to any of the Editors. The preferred format is MS Word. Articles should be accompanied by abstracts of up to 150 words, and 5-6 keywords. The text of the manuscript should be structured as follows: Title, Abstract, Introduction/Background, Body (main thrust of t he paper), Conclusions and Recommendations, References. Manuscript should preferably be prepared in Times New Roman style, font size 12, and in single-line spacing.
Referencing Style
References should be indicated in the text by names of authors and date of publication in brackets. The list of references should be listed in an alphabetical order at the end of the text.
References to journal articles should be in the following order: Author(s), date, title, journal’s name, volume number, issue number and pagination, inclusive e.g.
Lucey, B. T. (2007) Gender and ICT. Information Development, 18 (2) 16-30.
References to books should be in the following order: Author(s), date, title, place of publication, publisher, pagination, e. g.
Kabindi, F. Y. (2005) Issues in Electronic commerce, Electronic government and Mobile Commerce in Africa. Gaborone: Excellent services Publications, 104 p.
References to contributors in collected works should be in the following order; authors(s), date, title of contribution, name of the editor, title of the collected works, place of publication, publisher and pagination, inclusive e.g.
David, C., Andrew K. & Michael, O. M. (2008) National Information and Communication Technology Policy Implementation in Botswana. In: Ibanga, Timothy (ed.) Readings in Library and information science, Gaborone: NIR, pp. 24 – 46.
References to Electronic journals: Adegoke, S. K. & Anthony, B. (2008). Tips for new librarians: what to know in the first year of a tenure-track position. Research Libraries News, 40(2):26-39. Available at: www.abc.co.za/Research/News 59-2.htm. Accessed on 17 September 2007.
References to Conferences papers: Mopelola, M. (2008). Indigenous Knowledge use by Women in a Nigerian rural Community. In: Wormel, I (ed.). Proceedings of the 2nd ProLISSA conference, 24-25 October 2000. Pretoria: Center for Information Development, 205-219.
References to unpublished conferences papers: David. M. (2008). Strategies for Effective Management of Electronic records in Africa. Paper presented at the 10th ProLISSA conference, 15-17 August 2008.
Reviewing policy
All submitted papers will undergo rigorous double-blind review.
Important Dates
Paper Submission deadline: 31st July 2011
Notification of acceptance/rejection: 16 October 2011
Submission of Camera-ready version: 15 November 2011
Submission
Contributors are required to submit on or before March 31, 2011, a 2-3 page chapter proposal clearly explaining the mission and concerns of their proposed chapter. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by April 30, 2011 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by July 31, 2011. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers. All proposals/contributions should be submitted directly to the Editor: Dr. Wole Olatokun (woleabbeyolatokun@yahoo.co.uk)
Academic Writing Librarian Blog by Helen Fallon
Introduction
I've set up this blog for librarians who wish to write for publications. I run courses on writing for academic publication and have published extensively.
My blog aims to encourage discussion and information-sharing about writing and publishing in librarianship, provide access to a range of resources I have developed for my writing programmes, create an awareness of calls for papers, posters, book chapters in Ireland and internationally, help identify writing collaborators/partners nationally and internationally promote librarians as academic writers.
Please select 'My Writing Resources' from the tabs above to view PowerPoint slides from recent workshops I have presented, articles I have written on the topic and a bibliography of books and other resources I have compiled.
I hope you find these resources and the blogsite useful.
Please e-mail me with your comments/suggestions @: helen.b.fallon@nuim.ie
I've set up this blog for librarians who wish to write for publications. I run courses on writing for academic publication and have published extensively.
My blog aims to encourage discussion and information-sharing about writing and publishing in librarianship, provide access to a range of resources I have developed for my writing programmes, create an awareness of calls for papers, posters, book chapters in Ireland and internationally, help identify writing collaborators/partners nationally and internationally promote librarians as academic writers.
Please select 'My Writing Resources' from the tabs above to view PowerPoint slides from recent workshops I have presented, articles I have written on the topic and a bibliography of books and other resources I have compiled.
I hope you find these resources and the blogsite useful.
Please e-mail me with your comments/suggestions @: helen.b.fallon@nuim.ie
A Library Writer's Blog: Call for Contributions: The Library Radio Network (TLRN)
Call for Contributions: The Library Radio Network (TLRN)
We are pleased to announce a new online news source for librarians called The Library Radio Network (TLRN) which will debut on February 15th. TLRN will feature library news you can use as well as fascinating interviews with library leaders from throughout the world. TLRN will also feature a monthly radio magazine called Library Perspectives, which will be a hosted hour-long downloadable program using the NPR format featuring interviews and segments on libraries and librarians.
We are seeking contributions from your library organization. We can accept MP3 formatted audio files that run no more than 5 minutes in length. Your segment can feature a member of your staff commenting on an issue in librarianship, or a feature interview with a library manager, or anything else that you want to contribute to this new online network. To air on our first program in February, we must receive your MP3 file no later than January 31st at 5pm ET. If you have any questions, please direct them to rhkmedia@yahoo.com. All files can be sent to that email address, as well. We hope that your library organization will become part of the excitement of TLRN.
Robert H. Kieserman, MBA, MLIS
The Library Radio Network (TLRN)
kiesermb@yahoo.com
We are pleased to announce a new online news source for librarians called The Library Radio Network (TLRN) which will debut on February 15th. TLRN will feature library news you can use as well as fascinating interviews with library leaders from throughout the world. TLRN will also feature a monthly radio magazine called Library Perspectives, which will be a hosted hour-long downloadable program using the NPR format featuring interviews and segments on libraries and librarians.
We are seeking contributions from your library organization. We can accept MP3 formatted audio files that run no more than 5 minutes in length. Your segment can feature a member of your staff commenting on an issue in librarianship, or a feature interview with a library manager, or anything else that you want to contribute to this new online network. To air on our first program in February, we must receive your MP3 file no later than January 31st at 5pm ET. If you have any questions, please direct them to rhkmedia@yahoo.com. All files can be sent to that email address, as well. We hope that your library organization will become part of the excitement of TLRN.
Robert H. Kieserman, MBA, MLIS
The Library Radio Network (TLRN)
kiesermb@yahoo.com
Bibliofuture: After Death, Protecting Your 'Digital Afterlife'
Chances are good that you have hundreds, maybe thousands of e-mails stored on remote servers or 
in your computer. You might have a Facebook page, or a Tumblr or Twitter account. And you might have countless photos in a Flickr album. All that information amounts to a digital profile of sorts, which raises an interesting question: What happens to that online material when we die?
That depends on how you prepare beforehand, says John Romano. Romano and a colleague, Evan Carroll, edit The Digital Beyond, a website that helps users plan what happens to their online content after their death. Romano and Carroll both join Dave Davies for a discussion about online digital legacies.
in your computer. You might have a Facebook page, or a Tumblr or Twitter account. And you might have countless photos in a Flickr album. All that information amounts to a digital profile of sorts, which raises an interesting question: What happens to that online material when we die?
That depends on how you prepare beforehand, says John Romano. Romano and a colleague, Evan Carroll, edit The Digital Beyond, a website that helps users plan what happens to their online content after their death. Romano and Carroll both join Dave Davies for a discussion about online digital legacies.
Doug Johnson Blog: Writing, Speaking and Consulting on School Technology and Library Issues
http://www.doug-johnson.com/
Johnson’s Law of Technology Integration: Use techology to make your poor units better, not your great units worse. (More rules)
WELCOME to my “personal” homepage. This is a way of separating my efforts as the Director of Media and Technology in the Mankato Schools and my professional efforts as a writer and speaker.
I am great believer in the “stone soup mentality.” Like the soldiers in the old French fable, I know that when each person in a profession, organization, or community brings his or her individual talents and efforts to the table, everyone benefits. This page holds my offerings to the profession of library media and technology. I have certainly borrowed lots of wonderful ideas from many of you. I am obligated. (See “Why I Write For Publication,”)
If there are things of interest and value to you on this site, please use them as you can. Please note that the materials on this website, like my Blue Skunk blog, carry a Creative Commons license. Like most folks, I like to be credited for my work and you need to remember these writings and tools are only for nonprofit use within your organization.
I welcome your feedback on any of the writings you find here or on any of my presentations you may have attended.
Thanks for visiting.
Johnson’s Law of Technology Integration: Use techology to make your poor units better, not your great units worse. (More rules)
WELCOME to my “personal” homepage. This is a way of separating my efforts as the Director of Media and Technology in the Mankato Schools and my professional efforts as a writer and speaker.
I am great believer in the “stone soup mentality.” Like the soldiers in the old French fable, I know that when each person in a profession, organization, or community brings his or her individual talents and efforts to the table, everyone benefits. This page holds my offerings to the profession of library media and technology. I have certainly borrowed lots of wonderful ideas from many of you. I am obligated. (See “Why I Write For Publication,”)
If there are things of interest and value to you on this site, please use them as you can. Please note that the materials on this website, like my Blue Skunk blog, carry a Creative Commons license. Like most folks, I like to be credited for my work and you need to remember these writings and tools are only for nonprofit use within your organization.
I welcome your feedback on any of the writings you find here or on any of my presentations you may have attended.
Thanks for visiting.
iLibrarian: Libraries Matter: 11 Answers for Libraries in 2011: PART ONE
Kathryn Greenhill at Librarians Matter suggests 11 Answers for Libraries in 2011. In this part one of a three-part series, Greenhill discusses key issues that libraries will want to address in 2011 including:
ISSUE ONE: Will libraries, museums, archives, public broadcasters and art galleries converge?
ISSUE TWO: How do we force publishers to give us ebook content that includes works that our users want and that they find easy to download to their chosen device?
ISSUE THREE: Gartner claimed in April 2007 that by the end of 2011, 80% of our users would have avatars in a virtual world. What happened?
ISSUE ONE: Will libraries, museums, archives, public broadcasters and art galleries converge?
ISSUE TWO: How do we force publishers to give us ebook content that includes works that our users want and that they find easy to download to their chosen device?
ISSUE THREE: Gartner claimed in April 2007 that by the end of 2011, 80% of our users would have avatars in a virtual world. What happened?
Monday, January 10, 2011
10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Technology
Your gadgets and computers, your software and sites — they are not working as well as they should. You need to make some tweaks.
But the tech industry has given you the impression that making adjustments is difficult and time-consuming. It is not.
And so below are 10 things to do to improve your technological life. They are easy and (mostly) free. Altogether, they should take about two hours; one involves calling your cable or phone company, so that figure is elastic. If you do them, those two hours will pay off handsomely in both increased free time and diminished anxiety and frustration. You can do it.
But the tech industry has given you the impression that making adjustments is difficult and time-consuming. It is not.
And so below are 10 things to do to improve your technological life. They are easy and (mostly) free. Altogether, they should take about two hours; one involves calling your cable or phone company, so that figure is elastic. If you do them, those two hours will pay off handsomely in both increased free time and diminished anxiety and frustration. You can do it.
40+ Things You Need to Watch in 2011!
If the popular misreading of Mayan mythology is correct, we have fewer than two more years left on this Earth. That leaves precious little time for the tech industry to develop and perfect of all the cool technologies that sci-fi authors have dreamed up over the years. Still, while a December 2012 apocalypse may spell doom for the commercial viability of hovercars, it doesn’t mean that the next couple of years in tech will be dull — quite the contrary. 2011 is already shaping up to be a banner year for tech and web innovation.
Below is a list of over 40 websites, apps, companies, gadgets and technologies that the editors of Mashable() think that you should keep an eye on over the coming year. None of them let you zoom through the air over traffic, but they’re definitely all worth a look.
Be sure to click through to each article to see our full write ups on individual entries, and let us know in the comments what you’re looking out for in 2011
Below is a list of over 40 websites, apps, companies, gadgets and technologies that the editors of Mashable() think that you should keep an eye on over the coming year. None of them let you zoom through the air over traffic, but they’re definitely all worth a look.
Be sure to click through to each article to see our full write ups on individual entries, and let us know in the comments what you’re looking out for in 2011
"At ALA Midwinter, Brewster Kahle, Librarians Ponder The E-book Future"
January 10, 2011 21:59
A report from the ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Diego by Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly
Albanese writes:
The session looked at the challenges and opportunities e-books hold for libraries, with two overarching observations: e-books have arrived, and, as moderator Rick Weingarten [former director of ALA’s Office for Information Technology Policy] noted in kicking off the discussion, e-books are not just another format—they are different, just as web pages are different from printed pages, and e-mail is different from regular mail. "And because e-books are different," he said, "what libraries do with them is different."
Panelists:
Brewster Kahle, Internet Archive Founder and Digital Librarian;
Sue Polanka, head of reference and instruction at Wright State University
and author of the e-book blog No Shelf Required;
Tom Peters, CEO of TAP Information Services
From the Article:
It was Kahle’s concerns about the developing e-book market that seemed to resonate most with librarians. “The e-book thing isn’t happening,” Kahle, noted “it has happened.” Kahle, who founded the Open Content Alliance, and Open Library project, a digitization program, offered a strong message to librarians: don’t let a few powerful corporations take control of the digital future. He expressed his longstanding concern over Google’s efforts to scan collections “and sell it back to us,” and urged libraries not to give up their traditional roles. “What libraries do is buy stuff, and lend it out,” he said, suggesting that libraries “digitize what we have to, and buy what we can,” but not to let the promise of licensed access turn libraries into agents for a few major corporations. “We do so at our peril.” He also urged more dialogue with publishers and vendors about the future of digital content and the role of libraries—but he also urged bold action.
Much More in the Complete PW article by Andrew Albansese
A report from the ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Diego by Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly
Albanese writes:
The session looked at the challenges and opportunities e-books hold for libraries, with two overarching observations: e-books have arrived, and, as moderator Rick Weingarten [former director of ALA’s Office for Information Technology Policy] noted in kicking off the discussion, e-books are not just another format—they are different, just as web pages are different from printed pages, and e-mail is different from regular mail. "And because e-books are different," he said, "what libraries do with them is different."
Panelists:
Brewster Kahle, Internet Archive Founder and Digital Librarian;
Sue Polanka, head of reference and instruction at Wright State University
and author of the e-book blog No Shelf Required;
Tom Peters, CEO of TAP Information Services
From the Article:
It was Kahle’s concerns about the developing e-book market that seemed to resonate most with librarians. “The e-book thing isn’t happening,” Kahle, noted “it has happened.” Kahle, who founded the Open Content Alliance, and Open Library project, a digitization program, offered a strong message to librarians: don’t let a few powerful corporations take control of the digital future. He expressed his longstanding concern over Google’s efforts to scan collections “and sell it back to us,” and urged libraries not to give up their traditional roles. “What libraries do is buy stuff, and lend it out,” he said, suggesting that libraries “digitize what we have to, and buy what we can,” but not to let the promise of licensed access turn libraries into agents for a few major corporations. “We do so at our peril.” He also urged more dialogue with publishers and vendors about the future of digital content and the role of libraries—but he also urged bold action.
Much More in the Complete PW article by Andrew Albansese
Friday, January 7, 2011
ALA JobLIST Direct - January 7, 2011
Your #1 source for jobs in Library & Information Science & Technology!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Association of Research Libraries (ARL) November-December 2010 E-News
http://www.arl.org/news/enews/enews-nov2010.shtml
Association of Research Libraries
21 Dupont Circle
Washington DC 20036
voice: (202) 296-2296
fax: (202) 872-0884
E-News for ARL Directors is a collaboration of ARL program staff, compiled and edited by Charles Lowry (clowry@arl.org) and Sarah Lippincott (slippincott@arl.org).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Governance and Membership Activities
1. Future ARL Membership Meeting Dates
2. October Membership Meeting and Forum Proceedings Available
3. National Archives and Records Administration Becomes Newest Member of ARL
Influencing Public Policies
4. US Supreme Court Considers First Sale Case
5. ARL Comments on CCC Involvement in Georgia State Infringement Case
6. ARL Joins Amicus Brief on FOIA and Privacy Issues
7. FCC Poised to Act on Network Neutrality
8. LCA Files Comments re Impact of Government Internet Policies on Copyright & Innovation
9. ARL Joins CDT in Comments on Free Flow of Information on the Internet
10. Copyright Office to Conduct Study on Pre-1972 Sound Recordings
11. Senate Judiciary Committee Approves “Online Piracy” Legislation
12. Senate Passes Museum and Library Service Act
13. Video Distributor and Trade Association File Suit Against UCLA Over Video Streaming
14. Appropriations Update
Reshaping Scholarly Communication
15. ARL/SSP Partnering to Publish Seminar Presentations Available
16. SPARC Meeting Highlights Power of Repositories for Driving Open Access
17. SPARC-ACRL Forum to Examine Open-Access Journal Publishing
18. SPARC Supports the Confederation of Open Access Repositories (COAR)
19. SPARC Showcases Families Supporting Open Access
20. Journal of Electronic Publishing Explores Future of the University Press
21. RLUK Calls for Pricing Restraint for Big Deals
22. JISC Report Assesses Cost of Peer Review
Transforming Research Libraries
23. ARL Releases Guide to NSF Data Sharing Policy
24. ARL Releases Archive of 2030 Scenarios Webcast
25. CARL-ABRC Releases Competencies for 21st-Century Librarians
26. Project Information Literacy Studies Student Information Use
27. CNI Update
Diversity, Professional Workforce, and Leadership Development
28. Registration Open for the 7th Annual ARL Leadership Symposium
29. ARL Selects Career Enhancement Program Fellows
30. ARL Selects 2011-2012 Leadership and Career Development Fellows
31. ALA Selects Field Recruiters for Discovering Librarianship Project
Library Statistics and Assessment
32. ARL Annual Statistical Surveys Update
33. ARL Survey Coordinators, SPEC Liaisons to Convene at ALA Midwinter
34. Library Assessment Conference Draws Nearly 500 Participants
35. ARL Balanced Scorecard Pilot Activities Reaching End
36. LibQUAL+® at ALA Midwinter: Training Sessions, Booth Consultations
37. 2011 International Events Related to Library Assessment
Other Items of Interest to ARL Directors
38. Publications
39. ARL Transitions
40. ARL Staff Transitions
41. Memorial
Association of Research Libraries
21 Dupont Circle
Washington DC 20036
voice: (202) 296-2296
fax: (202) 872-0884
E-News for ARL Directors is a collaboration of ARL program staff, compiled and edited by Charles Lowry (clowry@arl.org) and Sarah Lippincott (slippincott@arl.org).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Governance and Membership Activities
1. Future ARL Membership Meeting Dates
2. October Membership Meeting and Forum Proceedings Available
3. National Archives and Records Administration Becomes Newest Member of ARL
Influencing Public Policies
4. US Supreme Court Considers First Sale Case
5. ARL Comments on CCC Involvement in Georgia State Infringement Case
6. ARL Joins Amicus Brief on FOIA and Privacy Issues
7. FCC Poised to Act on Network Neutrality
8. LCA Files Comments re Impact of Government Internet Policies on Copyright & Innovation
9. ARL Joins CDT in Comments on Free Flow of Information on the Internet
10. Copyright Office to Conduct Study on Pre-1972 Sound Recordings
11. Senate Judiciary Committee Approves “Online Piracy” Legislation
12. Senate Passes Museum and Library Service Act
13. Video Distributor and Trade Association File Suit Against UCLA Over Video Streaming
14. Appropriations Update
Reshaping Scholarly Communication
15. ARL/SSP Partnering to Publish Seminar Presentations Available
16. SPARC Meeting Highlights Power of Repositories for Driving Open Access
17. SPARC-ACRL Forum to Examine Open-Access Journal Publishing
18. SPARC Supports the Confederation of Open Access Repositories (COAR)
19. SPARC Showcases Families Supporting Open Access
20. Journal of Electronic Publishing Explores Future of the University Press
21. RLUK Calls for Pricing Restraint for Big Deals
22. JISC Report Assesses Cost of Peer Review
Transforming Research Libraries
23. ARL Releases Guide to NSF Data Sharing Policy
24. ARL Releases Archive of 2030 Scenarios Webcast
25. CARL-ABRC Releases Competencies for 21st-Century Librarians
26. Project Information Literacy Studies Student Information Use
27. CNI Update
Diversity, Professional Workforce, and Leadership Development
28. Registration Open for the 7th Annual ARL Leadership Symposium
29. ARL Selects Career Enhancement Program Fellows
30. ARL Selects 2011-2012 Leadership and Career Development Fellows
31. ALA Selects Field Recruiters for Discovering Librarianship Project
Library Statistics and Assessment
32. ARL Annual Statistical Surveys Update
33. ARL Survey Coordinators, SPEC Liaisons to Convene at ALA Midwinter
34. Library Assessment Conference Draws Nearly 500 Participants
35. ARL Balanced Scorecard Pilot Activities Reaching End
36. LibQUAL+® at ALA Midwinter: Training Sessions, Booth Consultations
37. 2011 International Events Related to Library Assessment
Other Items of Interest to ARL Directors
38. Publications
39. ARL Transitions
40. ARL Staff Transitions
41. Memorial
8 Best Free Online Data BackUp Applications
Posted by Abhishek on January 5, 2011 in Apps
Losing an important digital data is like a big nightmare in today digital world . Our many important documents are now digital in the form of files and folders . It is always a good habit of taking the back up of your important data which most of us avoid until experienced a catastrophe . Here are some of the best online data back up tools and softwares .
1. DropBox
Dropbox is a very popular online backup tool that uses cloud computing to enable users to store and share files and folders with others across the Internet using file synchronization . It gives 2 GB of free space and you don’t need to upload each of your files and folder , just drag your files and folder to the dropbox folder in your computer and your files will get automatically uploaded to the dropbox server .
2. Mozy
Mozy is another tool which provided automated backup Once you install the Mozy client on your computer, it will back up any files you specify at the frequency you specify. Mozy can back up files while they are open . Mozy also backs up based on file changes, only uploading the portion of a file that has changed and not the entire file all over again . Its Basic home Plan gives 2GB free online backup .
3. Allway Sync
Allway Sync is a good file sync utility for backing up your data to remote locations. Allway Sync is free for personal use, and supports FTP and networked locations as well as external drives.
4. CrashPlan
CrashPlan is a backup tool with a different approach . It allows you to perform local backups on your computer and home network as well as back up data to a friend’s computer if they are also running CrashPlan
5. BuddyBackUP
Buddy back up is a free back up tool which allows you to perform backups on specific PC’s you trust like yours friends and family PCs . It uses P2P technology to back up your files to those computers. Its only drawback is that it requires your buddies to be online to perform backups .
6. DriverMax
DriverMax is a brilliant tool for driver backups , It is very useful when you reinstall Operating system . DriverMax enables you to back up and restore driver sets, plus identify unknown drivers and check for the latest updates online.
7. Foxmarks/X-Marks
This is another excellent tool to back up your bookmarks , profiles , profile passwords from Internet Explorer , Firefox , Safari , Google Chrome etc You can also synchronize your backup across multiple PC’s Online .
8. Macrium Reflect Free
This is a useful drive imaging tool , which allow you to take backup by making image of your hardrives , cd and dvd ‘s
Seven Technologies That Will Rock 2011
http://techcrunch.com/2011/01/02/seven-technologies-that-will-rock-2011/
Erick Schonfeld Jan 2, 2011
So here we are in a new decade, and the technologies that are now available to us continue to engage (and enthrall) in fascinating ways. The rise and collision of several trends—social, mobile, touch computing, geo, cloud—keep spitting out new products and technologies which keep propelling us forward. Below I highlight seven technologies that are ready to tip into the mainstream 2011.
Before I get into my predictions, let’s see how I did last year, when I wrote “Ten Technologies That Will Rock 2010.” Some of my picks were spot on: the Tablet (hello, iPad), Geo (Foursquare, Gowalla, Facebook Places, mobile location-aware search, etc.), Realtime Search (it became an option on Google) and Android (now even bigger than the iPhone). Some are still playing out: HTML5 (it’s made great strides, but isn’t quite here yet), Augmented Reality (lots of cool apps have AR functionality, but for the most part it is still a parlor trick), Mobile Video (FaceTime and streaming video apps pushed it forward), Mobile Transactions (Square and other transaction processing options came onto the scene), and Social CRM (Salesforce pushed Chatter, and tons of social CRM startups pushed their wares, but enterprises are always slow to adopt). And one got pushed to 2011: Chrome OS (we are still waiting).
What’s in store for 2011? Some of these themes will continue to evolve, and some new ones will gain currency. Here are seven technologies poised to rock the new year:
Web Video On Your TV: We’ve already seen many attempts to turn the Internet into a video-delivery pipe to rival cable TV: Google TV, Apple TV, the Boxee Box, Roku, and a slew of “Internet-enabled” TVs. None of them are quite yet cable killers, but they are seeding the market with simple ways to bring Internet video to your large-screen TV in the living room. The more cable-quality video that becomes available over the Web via streaming services such as Netflix, Vudu, or iTunes, the more that people will turn to Web when they are looking for something to watch. This trend is not about surfing the Web on your TV. Nobody wants to do that. It is about using the Internet as an alternative way to deliver movies and TV shows to your flat-screen TV. Even the cable companies will dip their toes into the Internet delivery waters (or plunge deeper if they already have their toes wet). What looks like a pale competitor to cable today will be a lot more viable in a short, twelve months.
Quora Will Have Its Twitter Moment: Social Q&A site Quora may be the current darling of Silicon Valley, but not a lot of people beyond the insular tech startup world actually use it yet. That will start to change in 2011, which I believe will be the year Quora has its Twitter moment and start to really take off. Quora represents a bigger technology trend, which is the layering of an interest graph on top of people’s social graph. On Quora, you can follow not only people, but topics and questions. It defines the world by your interests, not just the people you may know or admire. This is a powerful concept and is not limited to Quora (both Twitter and Facebook also want to own the interest graph), but Quora is designed from the ground up to expose and help you explore your interests. It is addictive, and as it reaches a critical mass of early users, this will be the year it emerges from its shell much like Twitter did in 2007.
Mobile Social Photo Apps:The end of 2010 witnessed a spate of mobile photo apps including Instagram, PicPlz and Path. They all take advantage of several massive key trends: the growth of iPhone and Android, the ubiquity of decent cell phone cameras, GPS, and existing social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare. Each of these apps is built for mobile first. They let you take a picture, mark your location, and share it with your social network (sometimes public, sometimes private). With Instagram and PicPLz, you can choose a filter to make humdrum pics look more exciting or capture a mood. By building on top of existing social networks like Twitter and Foursquare, they are making popular new ways to use those services. Instead of simply checking in, now you can do a photo checkin (even Foursquare lets you do that now). Already Instagram is one of the most popular photo apps in iTunes. Sharing photos is pretty much a universal impulse, and these apps make it easier and more fun.
Mobile Wallets: If you could use your cell phone as a credit card, would you? Everyone from Apple and Google to Nokia want to make that a reality and tap into the mobile payments market. Both Apple and Google are exploring this opportunity. Google bought mobile payments startup Zetawire to gain experience and the latest Android phone, the Nexus S, comes with an NFC chip—the same kind that is embedded into credit cards and lets you pay by waving it over a wireless reader. The iPhone 5 also may come equipped with an NFC chip, and Apple was sniffing around mobile payments startup BOKU last year for a possible acquisition. It is going to take more than just NFC chips in every phone to make mobile payments a reality, but efforts by the major players this year should begin to move the needle.
Context-Aware Apps: Whether it’s search, mobile, or social apps and services, the most useful apps people will keep coming back to are the ones which help people cut through the increasing clutter of the Internet. Apps that are aware of the context in which they are being used will serve up better filtered information. When you search on your mobile phone, that means you get local results and local offers served up first. If you are on a service like Quora that understands your interest graph, it means that you are only shown topics that you care about, sorted in realtime. If you are on a news site, you will see the most shared links from people in you follow on Twitter or are connected to on Facebook. Music and movie services will similarly surface social recommendations. In a world of information overload, context is king.
Open Places Database: Every mobile app, it seems, taps into the geo capabilities of phones to pinpoint your exact location and show you what is around you. (Incidentally, that is another example of a context-aware app). But there is a lot of duplication going on, with everyone from Google to Facebook to Foursquare creating their own database of places. It would make much more sense if there was an open places database that any company could both pull from and contribute to. While we are not there yet, we are making progress towards a more open places database, or at least a federated one. Factual is providing some of the data for Facebook Places and creating a places database is a major focus for the company; MapQuest (owned by AOL, as is TechCrunch) is adopting OpenStreetMaps (which could very well become the central places database with more resources and development); and Foursquare lets other apps pull from its places database through its API. There are economic reasons why some companies don’t want to participate (controlling the places database makes it easier to serve up local offers), but expect to see this movement pick up steam in 2011.
The Streaming Cloud: As all media moves to the cloud, more and more people will stream their movies and music whenever they want to any device. I’ve already mentioned the forces that will bring Web video streaming to your TV, but those movies and TV shows should also be available on your iPads, Android Tablets, or even mobile phones if you want. Expiring downloads will still make sense for plane trips and other places where the network is spotty, but you will manage your subscriptions and collections in the cloud. Think Netflix streaming applied to all media. If Google or Apple can convince the record companies to come along for the ride, the streaming revolution will hit music as well, with both working on jukebox-in-the-sky services. Why would you want to bother with managing all the download rights for the songs you buy from iTunes between your iPhone, iPad, laptop, and your wife’s computer, when you could just sign in form anywhere and start streaming? Plenty have tried with varying degrees of success and failure (Rhapsody, Rdio, Spotify), but it will take someone with the negotiating muscle of Apple or Google to finally bring streaming music to the masses.
What technologies do you think will make it big this year?
Photo credit: Flickr/ Pandiyan
Erick Schonfeld Jan 2, 2011
So here we are in a new decade, and the technologies that are now available to us continue to engage (and enthrall) in fascinating ways. The rise and collision of several trends—social, mobile, touch computing, geo, cloud—keep spitting out new products and technologies which keep propelling us forward. Below I highlight seven technologies that are ready to tip into the mainstream 2011.
Before I get into my predictions, let’s see how I did last year, when I wrote “Ten Technologies That Will Rock 2010.” Some of my picks were spot on: the Tablet (hello, iPad), Geo (Foursquare, Gowalla, Facebook Places, mobile location-aware search, etc.), Realtime Search (it became an option on Google) and Android (now even bigger than the iPhone). Some are still playing out: HTML5 (it’s made great strides, but isn’t quite here yet), Augmented Reality (lots of cool apps have AR functionality, but for the most part it is still a parlor trick), Mobile Video (FaceTime and streaming video apps pushed it forward), Mobile Transactions (Square and other transaction processing options came onto the scene), and Social CRM (Salesforce pushed Chatter, and tons of social CRM startups pushed their wares, but enterprises are always slow to adopt). And one got pushed to 2011: Chrome OS (we are still waiting).
What’s in store for 2011? Some of these themes will continue to evolve, and some new ones will gain currency. Here are seven technologies poised to rock the new year:
Web Video On Your TV: We’ve already seen many attempts to turn the Internet into a video-delivery pipe to rival cable TV: Google TV, Apple TV, the Boxee Box, Roku, and a slew of “Internet-enabled” TVs. None of them are quite yet cable killers, but they are seeding the market with simple ways to bring Internet video to your large-screen TV in the living room. The more cable-quality video that becomes available over the Web via streaming services such as Netflix, Vudu, or iTunes, the more that people will turn to Web when they are looking for something to watch. This trend is not about surfing the Web on your TV. Nobody wants to do that. It is about using the Internet as an alternative way to deliver movies and TV shows to your flat-screen TV. Even the cable companies will dip their toes into the Internet delivery waters (or plunge deeper if they already have their toes wet). What looks like a pale competitor to cable today will be a lot more viable in a short, twelve months.
Quora Will Have Its Twitter Moment: Social Q&A site Quora may be the current darling of Silicon Valley, but not a lot of people beyond the insular tech startup world actually use it yet. That will start to change in 2011, which I believe will be the year Quora has its Twitter moment and start to really take off. Quora represents a bigger technology trend, which is the layering of an interest graph on top of people’s social graph. On Quora, you can follow not only people, but topics and questions. It defines the world by your interests, not just the people you may know or admire. This is a powerful concept and is not limited to Quora (both Twitter and Facebook also want to own the interest graph), but Quora is designed from the ground up to expose and help you explore your interests. It is addictive, and as it reaches a critical mass of early users, this will be the year it emerges from its shell much like Twitter did in 2007.
Mobile Social Photo Apps:The end of 2010 witnessed a spate of mobile photo apps including Instagram, PicPlz and Path. They all take advantage of several massive key trends: the growth of iPhone and Android, the ubiquity of decent cell phone cameras, GPS, and existing social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare. Each of these apps is built for mobile first. They let you take a picture, mark your location, and share it with your social network (sometimes public, sometimes private). With Instagram and PicPLz, you can choose a filter to make humdrum pics look more exciting or capture a mood. By building on top of existing social networks like Twitter and Foursquare, they are making popular new ways to use those services. Instead of simply checking in, now you can do a photo checkin (even Foursquare lets you do that now). Already Instagram is one of the most popular photo apps in iTunes. Sharing photos is pretty much a universal impulse, and these apps make it easier and more fun.
Mobile Wallets: If you could use your cell phone as a credit card, would you? Everyone from Apple and Google to Nokia want to make that a reality and tap into the mobile payments market. Both Apple and Google are exploring this opportunity. Google bought mobile payments startup Zetawire to gain experience and the latest Android phone, the Nexus S, comes with an NFC chip—the same kind that is embedded into credit cards and lets you pay by waving it over a wireless reader. The iPhone 5 also may come equipped with an NFC chip, and Apple was sniffing around mobile payments startup BOKU last year for a possible acquisition. It is going to take more than just NFC chips in every phone to make mobile payments a reality, but efforts by the major players this year should begin to move the needle.
Context-Aware Apps: Whether it’s search, mobile, or social apps and services, the most useful apps people will keep coming back to are the ones which help people cut through the increasing clutter of the Internet. Apps that are aware of the context in which they are being used will serve up better filtered information. When you search on your mobile phone, that means you get local results and local offers served up first. If you are on a service like Quora that understands your interest graph, it means that you are only shown topics that you care about, sorted in realtime. If you are on a news site, you will see the most shared links from people in you follow on Twitter or are connected to on Facebook. Music and movie services will similarly surface social recommendations. In a world of information overload, context is king.
Open Places Database: Every mobile app, it seems, taps into the geo capabilities of phones to pinpoint your exact location and show you what is around you. (Incidentally, that is another example of a context-aware app). But there is a lot of duplication going on, with everyone from Google to Facebook to Foursquare creating their own database of places. It would make much more sense if there was an open places database that any company could both pull from and contribute to. While we are not there yet, we are making progress towards a more open places database, or at least a federated one. Factual is providing some of the data for Facebook Places and creating a places database is a major focus for the company; MapQuest (owned by AOL, as is TechCrunch) is adopting OpenStreetMaps (which could very well become the central places database with more resources and development); and Foursquare lets other apps pull from its places database through its API. There are economic reasons why some companies don’t want to participate (controlling the places database makes it easier to serve up local offers), but expect to see this movement pick up steam in 2011.
The Streaming Cloud: As all media moves to the cloud, more and more people will stream their movies and music whenever they want to any device. I’ve already mentioned the forces that will bring Web video streaming to your TV, but those movies and TV shows should also be available on your iPads, Android Tablets, or even mobile phones if you want. Expiring downloads will still make sense for plane trips and other places where the network is spotty, but you will manage your subscriptions and collections in the cloud. Think Netflix streaming applied to all media. If Google or Apple can convince the record companies to come along for the ride, the streaming revolution will hit music as well, with both working on jukebox-in-the-sky services. Why would you want to bother with managing all the download rights for the songs you buy from iTunes between your iPhone, iPad, laptop, and your wife’s computer, when you could just sign in form anywhere and start streaming? Plenty have tried with varying degrees of success and failure (Rhapsody, Rdio, Spotify), but it will take someone with the negotiating muscle of Apple or Google to finally bring streaming music to the masses.
What technologies do you think will make it big this year?
Photo credit: Flickr/ Pandiyan
Saturday, January 1, 2011
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