May 2005

Need for First Amendment Education

Kathleen writes “Judge Marjorie O. Rendell, First Lady of Pennsylvania has stated, “The only way to hold on to our freedom is to give it away — and liberally — to those who come after us. In your own sphere of influence, in your own way, I invite you to join with me and give back meaning to the word “citizen.” Concerned by a recent study that demonstrates a decline in understandidng of the First Amendment, Judge Rendell advocates citizenship education.

â€œThe Future of the First Amendment,â€? found that educators are failing to give high school students an appreciation of the First Amendmentâ€™s guarantees of free speech and a free press. The study by researchers from the University of Connecticut questioned more than 100,000 high school students, nearly 8,000 teachers, and more than 500 administrators and principals.”

Ask Jeeves adds Zoom to its Search Engine

gsandler writes “Here is a
ZDNet article on the latest news from the Ask Jeeves search engine. Their new
feature called Zoom“. It lets people narrow or broaden the field of search results, as well as view results for related concepts.
For example, for a search on the term “cancer,” visitors can narrow it to types of the disease, or they could expand it to related illnesses.”

May 27, 2005 by Blake Uncategorized

Schools required to teach Constitution on Sept. 17

Fang-Face writes “There is
an article at First Amendment Center that reports schools will be required to teach The Constitution. The schools get to lay out the lesson plan, but are required by law to teach the topic every year on the now-named “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day”: September 17; the anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights.

This is going to raise some very interesting legal issues, in my not so humble opinion.“

May 27, 2005 by Blake Legal Issues School Libraries

Moving on from an academic library job

tangognat writes “This article in the Chronicle’s Careers section details the journey of an academic librarian away from a toxic work environment. Emily Edmonson is the pseudonym of an academic librarian at a public university in the South. She has been chronicling her search for a new position this academic year.”

May 27, 2005 by Blake Librarians Libraries

German Books To Go Online.. Before Google Library Project

The French have been most vocal in whining about whether their books will be adequately represented in a Google Print world, but it looks as if the Germans will be the first to do something about it. The country’s BÃ¶rsenverein (Book Trade Association) has set up a task force to oversee the creation of “Volltextsuche online,” a service that will offer full-text access to German books online. A draft report is due by the June booksellers conference.

May 27, 2005 by birdie Books Google Internet Librarians Libraries

NPR : Blogging Poses New Workplace Issues

NPR : Blogging Poses New Workplace Issues Blogging is a favorite pastime for many tech-savvy writers. But when the subject of the blogs veers into the workplace, employers have been less enthusiastic. Los Alamos Labs is red-faced after an employee revealed security concerns in a blog. And Delta has fired a flight attendant for leggy photos on her web journal.

May 27, 2005 by Blake Uncategorized

Laura Bush speaks Truth to Power

GregS* writes “At the World Economics Forum in Jordan to an audience filled with representatives of anti-democratic countries Laura Bush says the following:

“As the Honorary Ambassador for the United Nations Decade of Literacy, I’m asking all nations to help people acquire literacy skills. A mother’s ability to read and write is especially important. Our mothers are our first teachers, and children’s success is linked closely to theirs. Children who are read to from a very early age are more likely to begin reading early themselves. They’re more likely to excel in school, to graduate from secondary school, and to go to a university. They’re more likely to love learning and to value education.” Read more here.

You can also read about a speech given by the Director of the Alexandria Library at the same conference here, including a critique of Laura’s speech.”

May 26, 2005 by Blake Libraries School Libraries

Records Management Toolkit for Schools

Anonymous Patron writes “eGov monitor says The Records Management Society has produced a records management toolkit to help schools achieve FOI compliance. Elizabeth Barber, one of the team involved in putting together the toolkit, outlines its purpose and the background to its development.”

May 26, 2005 by Blake School Libraries

U.S. authorities shut down file-sharing network

slashgirl writes “From the article at cbc.ca/arts: “U.S. law enforcement agencies moved to close down the Elite Torrents file-sharing network on Wednesday.

According to authorities, Revenge of the Sith â€“ the latest Star Wars movie, which landed in theatres last week â€“ was among the files being swapped by the network’s members.
”

“

May 26, 2005 by rochelle Authors Legal Issues

Behind the stacks in the SUNY library system

This question-and-answer piece with our own Bill Drew, incoming president of the State University of New York Librarians Association, was conducted by New York Teacher assistant editor Liza Frenette. It takes a look at SUNY libraries meeting modern demands and access for K-12 teachers.

May 26, 2005 by Blake Librarians Libraries