LISNews: Librarian News

Loretta writes: \"Most libraries divide up their collections using these two general names, \"fiction\" and \"non-fiction.\" However, we are perpetuating a mistake when we send patrons to \"non-fiction\" to retrieve Shakespeare and folktales and myths. No wonder people have trouble distinguishing the differences between the two categories.

Now I know that Dewey had classifications for fiction and biographies, but that most libraries have segregated these two collections, in addition to other choices individually made.
But can\'t we come up with terminology that more correctly describes that section of our libraries?
I find it hard to believe that there aren\'t other librarians bothered by this, I mean we certainly can spend hours ad nauseum discussing the finer points of cataloging decisions.\"

I\'ll also add, many of the same types of user UN-friendly things happen on most library websites.

So I keep reading News On Yahoo!, Mostly Bad News.

I Put that together with Paid Search Results, Calls for the End of the \"free\" web, and MicroPayments, and I got thinking...

What happens if the web crawls into a pay-per-view, micropayment, or some other kind of non-free model in the future? What if Microsoft or AOL get their way and we (we as in endusers) pay for everything. I can think of 4 sites I\'d pay for Slashdot, Metafilter, Yahoo!, and Google. Add a few maybes to that list, Wired, Moreover, Camworld,and CNET. But I think my list is Atypical for a librarian.

So what sites would you pay for if you had to pay for the privilege of viewing? What sites are so useful you wouldn\'t mind paying for? What sites can\'t you live without? -- Read More

Adam wrote: \"I too was recently laid off from a
corporate position
where
I did web work and now find myself working in a
traditional library setting again.
Anyway, I read the MBA poll.

I am considering entering the Professional MBA
program here my University (one of the perks of this
academic setting is a free tuition) and was curious how
many directors of large libraries actually
have their MBAs and library degrees? What degrees
do directors hold?\"

I\'ve worked for MLS\'s personally, but with more and
more libraries being run as businesses (for better or
worse), are there more MBA\'s in charge now?

Ira Bhargava writes: \"This is to introduce myself as a medical librarian employed with Institute
of Nursing in Dubai, UAE, which is in middle east. I have more than 16 years
of experience behind me as a school/medical librarian.

Recently I have been requested by a local group of schools to organize a
workshop on school libraries.I would like to cover the following 3 main
topics:

1. How to organise an effective school library
2. How to instill reading habits in children
3. How to go about computerising/networking school libraries belonging to one group of entrepreneurs.

So what do you think? How does one find suitable materials to use in a conference... Post your answers below. -- Read More