LISNews Librarian And Information Science News

As gaming in libraries becomes more of a commonplace and less of a radical notion, librarians will be forced to deal with the same kinds of issues they encountered when libraries began to carry movies.

When libraries started stocking VHS cassettes, there was a huge debate over R rated movies. Should libraries stock such films even though many R rated movies garner Academy Awards and other film acclaims? Now the rating issue isn't over R, it's M for Mature. Should a library carry a game or not simply based off its rating? Grand Theft Auto IV is rated M but received accolades throughout the entire gaming world. How reliable is the rating? Do we check it out to minors? And the list goes on.

We've had our share of trouble with game ratings here in the States, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that the good folks over in the United Kingdom are slogging through similar problems.

More from the Beeb.

Librarians don't like to use the word stolen, but in the last three years, nearly $350,000 worth of goods has disappeared from the Bucks Country Public Library. Now Bucks administrators plan to retain an Indiana collection agency that works exclusively with libraries to recover property and get deadbeat borrowers to pay fines and fees. The firm, Unique Management Services Inc., doesn't use tough-talking, pay-us-or-we'll-ruin-your-credit collection agents. employs seminarians. Honest to God. Who better than a future pastor to politely argue the moral probity of giving back what doesn't belong to you? Read more Here.

As many libraries make the transition to RFID tags, the implications of processing high volumes of materials become larger. The greatest thing about RFID tags is that, with proper technology, you can read multiple tags at the same time. Barcodes still require a one at a time read.

Now a new technology allows not only the simultaneous reading of hundreds of RFID tags, but also the simultaneous reading of different types of RFID antennae with the ability to assess and acquire information on new tags previously unknown to the reader.

Hundreds of items at a time? Sign this circ jerk up!

Does your library use barcodes?

Sure, most of 'em do! Even those making the move to RFID tend to keep the barcodes around for a little while, if not indefinitely. But barcodes are bland, boring, banal, and blah. So why not do something different?

Get creative with your barcodes and turn them into little artistic masterpieces!

An Article Out Of The UK reports RFID self-service technology could see the main libraries in south Northants open for an extra 26 hours per week.
Northants County Council recently launched a public consultation into the proposals which would see books at Brackley and Towcester libraries fitted with Radio Frequency Identification tags.

The tags mean customers will be able to scan their chosen books in and out themselves – and can return books to any county library using the technology.

This will free-up time for librarians who will be able to spend more time helping customers and will allow them to travel to other libraries to cover the extended hours.

Dr. Daniel Messer
Circulation Supervisor
Interlibrary Loans Supervisor
Southeast Regional Library - A branch of the Maricopa County Library District
775 N Greenfield Rd
Gilbert, Arizona 85234
(602) 652-3234

Your very own Dr. Gonzo.

E-mail: greatwesterndragon (at) gmail (dot) com

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According to Rochelle , who talked to Amazon customer support, libraries that are lending out Kindles (Amazon's ebook reader) to patrons are in violation of the terms of service. She makes some compelling points on questions that Amazon needs to answer, such as ways to disable people from downloading without disabling the account.

"While returning the late books and paying my $8 fine, I asked the librarian why the automated telephone system referred to my wife as Suzanne The 1000th Malone. She looks at the entry in her database and everything looks fine:

Name: Suzanne M. Malone

"Now if you look at that for a minute, you will see the reason for one of the most absurd software bugs I have ever encountered. Yes, 'M' (her middle name is Marie) is 1000 in Roman numerals.

It's a good thing her name wasn't Liv M. Mix. Full story:

The Tuscaloosa County school board has grudgingly allowed the novel Sandpiper to stay in the Brookwood High School library despite a teen's protest against it and the board's own dislike for its material.

"It disappoints us that the decisions of the courts have taken away this local Board of Education's ability to make decisions that protect these very same school children," Whitehead said. "Based upon legal counsel, we therefore have reluctantly decided to take no action."

The Queens Library really has something to shout about, namely leading the nation's circulation with a whopping 20.2 million items!

Queens Library offers six million items for loan and features a collection spanning 30 languages. They serve around 55,000 people per day.

Second highest circ goes to Multnomah County Public Library in Portland, OR.