April 2000

To Filter or Not to Filter

The Chicago Sun Times has added to the filtering debate with this article.


\”You want your Internet straight up or filtered?\”



\”While many library patrons may not realize it, the answer depends on the library they visit. In Chicago, access to the Internet is free of computer programs that screen out possibly objectionable material, such as full-frontal nudity.

In Schaumburg, the Internet at the library comes filtered.\”

The Chicago Sun Times has added to the filtering debate with this article.


\”You want your Internet straight up or filtered?\”



\”While many library patrons may not realize it, the answer depends on the library they visit. In Chicago, access to the Internet is free of computer programs that screen out possibly objectionable material, such as full-frontal nudity.

In Schaumburg, the Internet at the library comes filtered.\”

\”Internet access in the library puts librarians in an unusual spot.

Before, librarians determined which books and materials were on their shelves.

Madonna and Robert Mapplethorpe\’s books might make the cut, but not hard-core pornography.\”

\”But when the Internet streams unfettered into their libraries, librarians aren\’t making those decisions.

Many librarians don\’t view Internet pornography as a big issue, saying they get few complaints. And some librarians question whether filters are effective and worry that they impinge on First Amendment rights.\”

April 28, 2000 by Uncategorized 0

Whose checking out non-fiction books from your library?

Cleveland Live has this wonderful article about a library survey that was conducted to beef up their non-fiction collection.


\”Bohemians are at the checkout desk and the librarians couldn’t be happier.\”

\”Fearing a decline in the use of its nonfiction collection, Lakewood Public Library used a customer profile to revamp its selection and rearrange its books. Residents were classified as members of the \”Bohemian Mix,\” \”Blue Blood Estates\” and \”Old Yankee Rows.\” Their tastes are reflected in new sections that feature tomes on traditional medicine, the paranormal, gardening and Mother\’s Day. It\’s Lakewood\’s way of keeping books relevant in an Internet age.\”

Cleveland Live has this wonderful article about a library survey that was conducted to beef up their non-fiction collection.


\”Bohemians are at the checkout desk and the librarians couldn’t be happier.\”

\”Fearing a decline in the use of its nonfiction collection, Lakewood Public Library used a customer profile to revamp its selection and rearrange its books. Residents were classified as members of the \”Bohemian Mix,\” \”Blue Blood Estates\” and \”Old Yankee Rows.\” Their tastes are reflected in new sections that feature tomes on traditional medicine, the paranormal, gardening and Mother\’s Day. It\’s Lakewood\’s way of keeping books relevant in an Internet age.\”
\”[Ken]Warren [executive director of the Lakewood Public Library] spent $58 on the report from Claritas, a marketing firm that plugs census information, marketing reports and other data into a formula. The result is consumer profiles of 62 groups with details on everything from age and political affiliation to whether they’re likely to subscribe to Gourmet magazine and shop at Home Depot.\”

\”In Claritas-ese, Lakewood includes members of the \”Bohemian Mix,\” \”Urban Achievers,\” \”Single City Blues,\” \”Blue Blood Estates\” and \”American Dreams,\” among others. The report describes an ethnically diverse, health-conscious populace that favors gay rights, plays the lottery and digs \”funky cafes\” and organic foods.\”

\”Library officials already knew a lot of that. But Warren said the consumer information provided some focus on how to cater to customers needs.\”

April 28, 2000 by Uncategorized 0

Bring your books back…..in 5 months!!

The Detroit News has published this article about a library that, during renovations, is letting patrons check out as many materials as they want, and can bring them back August 1st.


\”The Sherman family plans on making use of the Sterling Heights Public Library collections this summer — from its home. The library is running a summer reading special. Patrons, like the Shermans, can take all the books, videos and audio tapes they want and keep them until Aug. 1 while the library is closed for renovations.\”


\”We checked out 133 books and videos,\” Ann Sherman of Sterling Heights said. \”A lot of them are children\’s books for my son. But we also took out books for my husband and myself.\”

The Detroit News has published this article about a library that, during renovations, is letting patrons check out as many materials as they want, and can bring them back August 1st.


\”The Sherman family plans on making use of the Sterling Heights Public Library collections this summer — from its home. The library is running a summer reading special. Patrons, like the Shermans, can take all the books, videos and audio tapes they want and keep them until Aug. 1 while the library is closed for renovations.\”


\”We checked out 133 books and videos,\” Ann Sherman of Sterling Heights said. \”A lot of them are children\’s books for my son. But we also took out books for my husband and myself.\”
\”The library is shutting its doors Sunday as part of a $1.6-million renovation project. Library officials say the task of moving 200,000 volumes would be easier if fewer of the books remain on the shelves. \”We\’re going to be closed for at least a month, maybe longer, depending on how the remodeling goes,\” library director Carol Lingeman said.


\”But we\’re letting people keep all of their (checked-out) books until Aug. 1 because we figure that\’s the latest date that we will reopen.\”


Usually, the library checks out materials for three-week periods.
Lingeman said improvements to the library include a meeting area that seats 150 people, a children\’s story-time reading room, a larger lobby, a browsing area for adults and a room for its volunteer group, the Friends of the Library.\”

April 28, 2000 by Uncategorized 0

New Web Site From Harvard Business School

Sarah Jane Johnston writes \”HBS Working Knowledge, a Web site designed to meet the information needs of Harvard Business School alumni, is available to the general business and academic communities at http://hbsworkingknowledge.hbs.edu.
The site brings together timely business information and research from the intellectual capital of Harvard Business School and other highly regarded sources.

Sarah Jane Johnston writes \”HBS Working Knowledge, a Web site designed to meet the information needs of Harvard Business School alumni, is available to the general business and academic communities at http://hbsworkingknowledge.hbs.edu.
The site brings together timely business information and research from the intellectual capital of Harvard Business School and other highly regarded sources. Visitors to the site can browse more than a dozen topic areas featuring timely articles and essays on diverse management topics, interviews with HBS professors and industry leaders, book recommendations and Web site reviews.

Topic areas include E-Commerce and the Marketspace, Innovation & Change, Investment and Finance, and Knowledge and the Information Economy. Weekly updates of three to four topical features and new book and Web site recommendations ensures fresh, current, and lively business reading for HBS Working Knowledge users.

Development of HBS Working Knowledge began in response to alumni requests for a digest of new research and publications from HBS.

More than 300 alumni and MBA students were tested, evaluated and provided feedback on the site prototype. \”Our alumni clearly told us they wanted current, relevant sources of contemporary business information and research delivered to them over the Web. In listening to them, we developed a site which extracts and packages business information and research generated within HBS, its publishing company, and other outside sources,\” said Tom Michalak, Project Leader and Executive Director of the HBS Baker Library. The library\’s approach to information had been focussed on providing a large volume of material to users while in the MBA program. However, Baker\’s research discovered that alumni needs were different; they clearly expressed the need for filtered and distilled information delivered in brief, timely and concise capsules.


\”Information is more immediate and accessible than ever before, and we are constantly thinking up new ways to package and deliver it,\” said Michalak. \”The speed of change in our work lives is altering the way learning takes place and increasing the importance of continued learning. HBS Working Knowledge will play an important part in meeting that need.\”
\”

April 28, 2000 by Uncategorized 0

Drew Carey wins (fill in the blank) dollars on Millionaire

Drew Carey has won big money on \”Who Wants to be a Millionaire\”, so says and article in the Chicago Tribune. Carey has stated that he will donate his winnings to Ohio Libraries, but the amount that he has won has not been released.


\”But we\’ll allow Carey to add this much: \”Only five people,\” he says, have won the amount of dough that he was able to walk away with.

While you\’re trying to figure out exactly how many have won how much (clue: Carey didn\’t win a million), we\’ll tell you that the celebrity version of \”Who Wants to Be a Millionaire\” airs Monday through Wednesday at 7 p.m. and Thursday at 8 p.m. on [ABC]\”

Drew Carey has won big money on \”Who Wants to be a Millionaire\”, so says and article in the Chicago Tribune. Carey has stated that he will donate his winnings to Ohio Libraries, but the amount that he has won has not been released.


\”But we\’ll allow Carey to add this much: \”Only five people,\” he says, have won the amount of dough that he was able to walk away with.

While you\’re trying to figure out exactly how many have won how much (clue: Carey didn\’t win a million), we\’ll tell you that the celebrity version of \”Who Wants to Be a Millionaire\” airs Monday through Wednesday at 7 p.m. and Thursday at 8 p.m. on [ABC]\”

\”Carey revealed another behind-the-scenes tidbit about the star matchup, the proceeds of which are going to the participants\’ favorite charities. (Carey was playing for the library system of his native Ohio.)

\”For all the celebrities, they wanted us each to win at least $32,000. And so they kept all of our microphones on and kept us lit up [in spotlights] while the other celebrities were up there,\” says Carey.

\”That way the celebrities could kind of like cough — go `kaff-kaff!\’ — if we thought the answer was wrong. Rosie gave me a big hint on one question I was going to get wrong.\”

But charity and civility go only so far. After the celebrities reached the $32,000 plateau, the microphones switched off, the lights went dark and \”then you were on your own,\” Carey says.\”

April 28, 2000 by Uncategorized 0

Reserve Your Harry Potter Now!!

The New York Times had this cute article about ordering the next book in the Harry Potter series.


\”417.

According to my calculations, that is the number of times a day, on average, that my 9-year-old daughter, Ella, asks me when we will be able to buy the fourth book in the Harry Potter series.\”


\”416. That is how many times I respond in a reasonable tone, explaining patiently that we will have to wait until July 8, the worldwide publication date for all English language versions.\”


\”1.

That is how many times — usually after supper but before the dishes are washed, while her little sister is mashing red Play-Doh into the dog\’s tail — that I say: \”Leave me alone about the Harry Potter book! I can\’t take it anymore! I can\’t take it, I tell you!\”

The New York Times had this cute article about ordering the next book in the Harry Potter series.


\”417.

According to my calculations, that is the number of times a day, on average, that my 9-year-old daughter, Ella, asks me when we will be able to buy the fourth book in the Harry Potter series.\”


\”416. That is how many times I respond in a reasonable tone, explaining patiently that we will have to wait until July 8, the worldwide publication date for all English language versions.\”


\”1.

That is how many times — usually after supper but before the dishes are washed, while her little sister is mashing red Play-Doh into the dog\’s tail — that I say: \”Leave me alone about the Harry Potter book! I can\’t take it anymore! I can\’t take it, I tell you!\”




\”…My daughter, like generations of intrepid young hackers before her, had begun to address her repetitive questions to an authority figure infinitely more patient — and logical — than the average parent. She had turned to the computer. In an exhaustive question-and-answer session at the Ask Jeeves search site, Ella had typed, \”How can I buy the fourth Harry Potter book?\”

Instead of countering that if she wanted an answer, she had first better go make that bed and put away that stack of clean laundry that had been sitting on her dresser for three days, the wise computer offered Ella what seemed like a solution. It told her that a number of online booksellers were already taking orders.\”

April 28, 2000 by Uncategorized 0

S.C. Attorney General says that filtering is free of first amendment

APBnews has this article about South Carolina Attorney General Charles Condon who gave his support of a bill that would let libraries in the state filter the Internet without having to deal with first amendment issues.


\”Public libraries have no obligation to provide computers or Internet service,\” Condon wrote in a 10-page decision. \”Notwithstanding this fact, however, public libraries have the constitutional right to use filters to remove pornography.\”

APBnews has this article about South Carolina Attorney General Charles Condon who gave his support of a bill that would let libraries in the state filter the Internet without having to deal with first amendment issues.


\”Public libraries have no obligation to provide computers or Internet service,\” Condon wrote in a 10-page decision. \”Notwithstanding this fact, however, public libraries have the constitutional right to use filters to remove pornography.\”
\”The attorney general\’s opinion was requested by state Sen. Mike Fair, R-Greenville, who has proposed a bill mandating that libraries use online filtering software.


The legislation was sparked by the Greenville County Library Board\’s refusal to install the protective software on computers.


The use of filtering software to block adult Web sites in the nation\’s libraries has pitted free-speech advocates against those wanting to shield children from the seamier side of the Internet.

The bill, which is being considered by a legislative subcommittee, would remove legal protections South Carolina libraries have enjoyed since a 1991 state law prohibited giving minors access to pornography. The parents of children who see pornography on the Internet in the library could file an incident report with the local prosecutor, who then would decide whether to bring the case to a grand jury. \”

April 28, 2000 by Uncategorized 0

Explorations in hypertex

The Gaurdian has an in depth Look at the history and future of hypertext. They look at the hypertext revolution and what it means for literature.

\”When Apple decided to supply a copy of a little
program called Hypercard on all Macintosh
computers back in the 80s, it prepared the way
for what would become the web\’s most distinctive
feature, hypertext. It also unknowingly launched
a small literary revolution.\”

The Gaurdian has an in depth Look at the history and future of hypertext. They look at the hypertext revolution and what it means for literature.

\”When Apple decided to supply a copy of a little
program called Hypercard on all Macintosh
computers back in the 80s, it prepared the way
for what would become the web\’s most distinctive
feature, hypertext. It also unknowingly launched
a small literary revolution.\”Hypertext proponents say that hypertext enables
a writer (and reader) to break free of the rigid,
linear format of the print book. They point to
Sterne with Tristram Shandy, Woolf with To The
Lighthouse, and Joyce with Ulysses, as authors
who struggled to do this in print. Hypertext, they
argue, pushes literature into places it has been
trying to go for decades.

Critics say hypertext is a lot of complex and
pointless literary nonsense, merely a vehicle for
testing out the pet theories of convoluted
postmodern theorists like Roland Barthes and
Jacques Derrida. But their longstanding
complaint that it\’s annoying to read a work on a
computer may have to be abandoned with the
availability of new, small reading devices.

April 27, 2000 by Uncategorized 0

Is it check-out time for libraries?

Now Magazine in Toronto has a Story on how libraries are dying due to increased pressure from book stores and coffee shops.

\”As circulation figures slide at Toronto\’s 98 library branches, critics complain that they\’re stuffy, outmoded and insensitive to T.O.\’s multicultural makeup. And now, far-seeing supporters of publicly supported reading are calling for big changes. \”

Now Magazine in Toronto has a Story on how libraries are dying due to increased pressure from book stores and coffee shops.

\”As circulation figures slide at Toronto\’s 98 library branches, critics complain that they\’re stuffy, outmoded and insensitive to T.O.\’s multicultural makeup. And now, far-seeing supporters of publicly supported reading are calling for big changes. \”If no one heeds their warnings and readers continue to seek too much solace in corporate book-merchandising, our library system, the second-largest in North America, will start to look like a white elephant — a tax-funded white elephant.


\”The library needs a totally new game plan,\” says Toronto budget chief Tom Jakobek. \”The library\’s been run by the same people who\’ve been running it forever, and we haven\’t seen any real change.\”

April 27, 2000 by Uncategorized 0

Change by the Books

Peter Poe, staff writer for the Washington Post has written this favorable article about the addition of other language books and online catalogs into libraries collections.


\”Not long after she moved here from Taiwan, Sherry Yu found something shocking in an American library. It was a library card application form written entirely in Chinese.


\”I came here to see what an American library looks like and I\’m leaving with an American library card,\” Yu, 21, said in Chinese, smiling as she held up a key chain with a library tag on it. \”Can you believe that?\”

Peter Poe, staff writer for the Washington Post has written this favorable article about the addition of other language books and online catalogs into libraries collections.


\”Not long after she moved here from Taiwan, Sherry Yu found something shocking in an American library. It was a library card application form written entirely in Chinese.


\”I came here to see what an American library looks like and I\’m leaving with an American library card,\” Yu, 21, said in Chinese, smiling as she held up a key chain with a library tag on it. \”Can you believe that?\”




\”Since 1898, when Congress authorized that the District open its first library in a house on New York Avenue, public libraries across the region have strived to maintain a broad collection to serve varied interests. Now, librarians say the demand for diversity is immensely greater, and though Wheaton\’s foreign language collection is large, demand often outpaces supply.

\”They are some of the most popular materials in the library,\” said Cynthia Hicks, the Wheaton manager, a 30-year library veteran. \”We can\’t keep them on the shelves. . . . What people want in their libraries has changed, particularly the demand for Internet access and for materials in other languages.\”

April 27, 2000 by Uncategorized 0

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