LISNews: Librarian News

Anonymous Patron writes "Ancestry.com, the largest thing going in the for-pay genealogy world, inspires many genealogists to swear by it and some researchers to swear at it.

But some of the 2 billion names contained in its databases primary sources turn out to be difficult to pin down.

The Lebanon, PA, Daily News has the article. Though the issue isn't really explored much here, they raise a good point, always check your sources."

Bob Cox writes Ann Arbor news has this story on a new technology to help small booksellers compete with the "big guys."
"One of the firm's first and most satisfied customers is Karl Pohrt, owner of the Shaman Drum bookstore in downtown Ann Arbor, who calls the technology nothing short of "revolutionary."

"I think it's essential for independent booksellers to move up to the next level," Pohrt said."

phoenix04 writes "For National Library Week, April 18-24, Gale is offering free trials of many databases including specialized not-usually-offered-except-for-cost. Go to www.gale.com for details. I already use Times Digital Archive, which is _The Times of London_ - back to mid-1700s!!! Truly awesome times for librarians. End-users haven't a clue till we lead 'em. Of course, Gale benefits because of the registration process."

Fang-Face writes "Speaking of Little Sisters, here's a story about the U.S. equivalent in Littleton, Colorado. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments today to throw out a Denver zoning law that prohibits situating a sex-themed business within five hundred feet of schools or day care centers. Z.J. Gifts opened Christal's in 1999 and went to federal court that same year, arguing that the bookstore not a sex shop because only a portion of its merchandise is adult in nature. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case last October because different appeals courts have disagreed on the issue.

(Why are such laws a bad thing? Because such laws have been unethically exploited. In North Charleston, South Carolina, which case the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear,
and by the City of New York.)"