August 2005

Some New York libraries are starting to see an influx of students who were less than diligent in tackling their summer reading lists, according to the Westchester (NY) Journal News. Aware that students are more successful if they don’t take a summer reading break, some schools assign summer reading lists.

That joy was missing for Martin Cash, 15, who is going into Nyack High School and only recently began his reading because he wasn’t that thrilled with the list, he said. It did not include “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” among other books he would like to read.

Here’s a similar story from the Hartford Courant.

This Week in LibraryBlogLand
Week ending 28 August 2005

Thanks to Blake, Rochelle, and Daniel for doing last week’s round-up. The break was much appreciated.

Baby Carver. Baby Schwartz.

librarianscott points to a Slashdot post which explains that the situation with the UT undergrad library is actually a good thing when seen within the context of the history of undergraduate libraries. Barbara Fister at Librarians at the Gate notes that it was “a very small collection, hand-picked for providing somewhat canned materials for a required composition course assignment.” Christopher Harris (Infomancy) asks, is a bookless library really an oxymoron?

Rex Libris contest: “We want your library-related action shots! Pull out your library card and strike a pose! Or find a picturesque location in the reference stacks and look like you’re seriously into protecting books! Or pretend to be an evil-doer whom Rex must stop!” Winners will be chosen on September 2. [Addendum]

On a discussion about collection agencies on the Publib mailing list, a former university library dean tells the story of what the library discovered when they did a study of which books were not being returned and by whom, and what the library did about it.

Both Sarah Houghton (Librarian in Black) and jajacobs (Library Autonomous Zone) point to a three part series on CIO Today about Google and Privacy.

Walt Crawford and Michael Sauers (Travelin’ Librarian) discuss digital audiobooks, DRM, and libraries.

Mary Minow talks to David Dodd about Copyright, Librarians, and the Grateful Dead. T. Scott talks about teaching college students about copyright and plagiarism.

Jenn Riley, the Inquiring Librarian, thinks about Google and muses on the state of copyright.

Walt at Random asks about life-changing events. Responses from Dorothea Salo (Caveat Lector) and Joy Weese Moll (Wanderings of a Student Librarian).

Jessamyn (librarian.net) compares the effect railroads had on whether towns thrived or died to the current debate over municipal wifi. jajacobs at Library Autonomous Zone links to several background articles about municipal wireless, broadband access, and the digital divide.

Richard Ackerman (Science Library Pad) has a couple of entries about science blogs

Jonathan Furner (025.31 The Dewey Blog) provides a transcript from the House of Lords that includes this wonderful bit: “My Lords, having looked at the document, which has a modest number of words, I disagree with the noble Earl. I believe that IT users in the business will probably find it very helpful and useful. Certainly, when I read it, I began to understand notions relating to taxonomies, thesauri and ontologies.”

Neither Steven Cohen (Library Stuff) nor John Dupuis (Confessions of a Science Librarian) like the tone of the Libraries for Dummies blog. Dave, the Industrial Librarian, explains what he doesn’t like about it. Discussion ensues.

Richard Ackerman (Science Library Pad) links to a Slashdot discussion about what new tech libraries should try next. A large part of the discussion turned into “get more books” and “open longer hours.”

Michael McGrorty (Library Dust) has started a series of entries about former UCLA librarian Lawrence Clark Powell, who wrote, “A librarian who does not love and read books is not a good librarian.”

Jason, the Zenformation Professional, “realized for the first time why librarianship, as a whole, is in such sorry shape.”

Deb, the Real Public Librarian, finds out that the Australian Library and Information Association recognizes blogging as a Professional Development activity.

Mary Minow (LawLibrary Blog) discusses the question, “Can a library, museum or archive charge money for photos that are in the public domain?”

Christine, a NexGen Librarian, talks about what she thought she would like about librarianship and what she was surprised to like.

Amanda Robertson, who is Data Obsessed, discusses Vivisimo CEO’s article about New roles for corporate librarians.

Merrilee at hangingtogether has a short report about the Society of American Archivists’ annual meeting.

Tia Dobi at Ex Libris continues here series, Library Promotion for the Over-Educated.

Scott Pfitzinger at BiblioTech Web discusses why libraries should have blogs.

………………..
This Week in LibraryBlogLand (TWiL) appears on LISNews.com every Monday before noon (Central time).

This Week in LibraryBlogLand
Week ending 28 August 2005

Thanks to Blake, Rochelle, and Daniel for doing last week’s round-up. The break was much appreciated.

Baby Carver. Baby Schwartz.

librarianscott points to a Slashdot post which explains that the situation with the UT undergrad library is actually a good thing when seen within the context of the history of undergraduate libraries. Barbara Fister at Librarians at the Gate notes that it was “a very small collection, hand-picked for providing somewhat canned materials for a required composition course assignment.” Christopher Harris (Infomancy) asks, is a bookless library really an oxymoron?

Rex Libris contest: “We want your library-related action shots! Pull out your library card and strike a pose! Or find a picturesque location in the reference stacks and look like you’re seriously into protecting books! Or pretend to be an evil-doer whom Rex must stop!” Winners will be chosen on September 2. [Addendum]

On a discussion about collection agencies on the Publib mailing list, a former university library dean tells the story of what the library discovered when they did a study of which books were not being returned and by whom, and what the library did about it.

Both Sarah Houghton (Librarian in Black) and jajacobs (Library Autonomous Zone) point to a three part series on CIO Today about Google and Privacy.

Walt Crawford and Michael Sauers (Travelin’ Librarian) discuss digital audiobooks, DRM, and libraries.

Mary Minow talks to David Dodd about Copyright, Librarians, and the Grateful Dead. T. Scott talks about teaching college students about copyright and plagiarism.

Jenn Riley, the Inquiring Librarian, thinks about Google and muses on the state of copyright.

Walt at Random asks about life-changing events. Responses from Dorothea Salo (Caveat Lector) and Joy Weese Moll (Wanderings of a Student Librarian).

Jessamyn (librarian.net) compares the effect railroads had on whether towns thrived or died to the current debate over municipal wifi. jajacobs at Library Autonomous Zone links to several background articles about municipal wireless, broadband access, and the digital divide.

Richard Ackerman (Science Library Pad) has a couple of entries about science blogs

Jonathan Furner (025.31 The Dewey Blog) provides a transcript from the House of Lords that includes this wonderful bit: “My Lords, having looked at the document, which has a modest number of words, I disagree with the noble Earl. I believe that IT users in the business will probably find it very helpful and useful. Certainly, when I read it, I began to understand notions relating to taxonomies, thesauri and ontologies.”

Neither Steven Cohen (Library Stuff) nor John Dupuis (Confessions of a Science Librarian) like the tone of the Libraries for Dummies blog. Dave, the Industrial Librarian, explains what he doesn’t like about it. Discussion ensues.

Richard Ackerman (Science Library Pad) links to a Slashdot discussion about what new tech libraries should try next. A large part of the discussion turned into “get more books” and “open longer hours.”

Michael McGrorty (Library Dust) has started a series of entries about former UCLA librarian Lawrence Clark Powell, who wrote, “A librarian who does not love and read books is not a good librarian.”

Jason, the Zenformation Professional, “realized for the first time why librarianship, as a whole, is in such sorry shape.”

Deb, the Real Public Librarian, finds out that the Australian Library and Information Association recognizes blogging as a Professional Development activity.

Mary Minow (LawLibrary Blog) discusses the question, “Can a library, museum or archive charge money for photos that are in the public domain?”

Christine, a NexGen Librarian, talks about what she thought she would like about librarianship and what she was surprised to like.

Amanda Robertson, who is Data Obsessed, discusses Vivisimo CEO’s article about New roles for corporate librarians.

Merrilee at hangingtogether has a short report about the Society of American Archivists’ annual meeting.

Tia Dobi at Ex Libris continues here series, Library Promotion for the Over-Educated.

Scott Pfitzinger at BiblioTech Web discusses why libraries should have blogs.

………………..
This Week in LibraryBlogLand (TWiL) appears on LISNews.com every Monday before noon (Central time).

Anonymous Patron writes “New York Times Reports on the Smithsonian Institution, which is falling apart.
Ominous drips from strained expansion joints have sprinkled down amid Asian artifacts in the institution’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. The historic Arts and Industries Building is closed to visitors to protect them from metal panels dropping from its beautiful but dilapidated ceiling. At the National Air and Space Museum, a water stain mars the Lilienthal hang glider that inspired the Wright Brothers to fly. Even the 1940’s prototypes of what was to become seemingly indestructible Tupperware were irreparably damaged in a plumbing breakdown.”

A new book, “Lost Delta Found” (Vanderbilt University Press, editors Robert Gordon and Bruce Nemerov) includes the neglected work of Fisk University scholars who accompanied folklorist Alan Lomax to Mississippi in the thirties and forties to record the great folk and blues of Muddy Waters and other Delta musicians.

From the New York Times .

…from the Rocky Mountain News , columnist Mike Pearson evaluates the Penguin Collection of 1,082 classics, and decides to go the Cliff Notes route on some of the titles…

An Anonymous Patron writes ”
Sure Jimmy Carter has his cozy Carter Center promoting democracy, George H. W. Bush has a Texas A&M school of public service named after him, and Bill Clinton runs his foundation dedicated to fighting HIV/AIDS. So how does President Bush top that when he goes home to his presidential library and museum somewhere in Texas? Go bigger. “The Hoover Institution,” reveals Bush’s chief library scout and former Commerce Secretary Don Evans , “is the model. That’s what will differentiate our library.” No kidding. Based at Stanford University, Hoover’s team includes over 150 big thinkers who have shaped major national policies and still influence Washington.
Evans tells us that the “Bush Institute” won’t just take up the president’s agenda of advancing compassionate conservatism, fighting terrorism, and expanding democracy: Women’s issues, a passion of the first lady, will also get a starring role. “This will be a very active institution,” he predicts. And that’s not all. In a letter to seven colleges and the city of Arlington, all vying to build the George W. Bush Presidential Library, Evans and Bush brother Marvin say the prez also wants a high-tech library and museum, including an IMAX theater, gift shop, and apartment. It’ll be expensive, and the winner will have to raise gobs of cash. But, assures the duo, “the president has many donors, supporters, and friends around the world.”
US News Has More“

Cavan writes “… from Baton Rouge:

Gary Price’s ever-valuable ResourceShelf has a list of Web Resources for Hurricane Katrina:

http://www.resourceshelf.com/2005/08/hurricane-kat rina-web-resources.html

For a Google News update, click on:

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=hurrica ne+katrina&btnG=Search+News
At 10:45 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, this already retrieved 15,900 items.

For Yahoo! News Search, click on:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/news/search?p=%22hurr icane+katrina%22&ei=UTF-8&fr=FP-tab-news-t&fl=0&x= wrt
9,755 items at 10:45 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 28.

“

Have you heard of the FACEBOOK ? Chances are that if you are a college student, or parent or friend of same, that you have. It’s the in place to post your data and check out other college kids photos, likes, dislikes, friends, etc.

My two sons (Carleton College and Vassar College) are active participants (but of course, I can’t check out their pages unless they let me). Story here on how this relatively new site (February 2004) has mushroomed into a big attraction for the 18-24 demographic.

There is a blog entry at Bookfinder.com called Office READ posters that is about ALA READ Posters that have been up in the Bookfinder.com offices.

Redcardlibrarian writes “Comics have wiggled out from underneath the thumb of the Comics Code Authority, but they still have to fight to get the same respect and protection of other media according to the Orlando Sentinel:

“Comics have gained a certain gravitas in recent years: Graphic novels get reviewed alongside conventional books, and universities offer courses on comic-book theory. There has been a glut of news stories telling us of comics’ newfound maturity.

The courts, though, have not adapted so readily.

“We still have to deal with prosecutors who will look at a jury and say, ‘Come on — comics are for kids. Let’s call a spade a spade,’ ” says Charles Brownstein of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.”

Also, take a look at the website for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund “