October 2012

Sandy’s Devastation…NYU Med School Library Totaled

Reports from my son the NYU Med School student: The Ehrman Medical Library is totally flooded, along with all anatomy and technology labs, lecture halls, radiology equipment, MRIs etc. located at the NYU Langone Medical Center on First Avenue in New York City. Phones and servers too are down and the hospital has been evacuated.

Here is footage of the Dean of the Medical School, Dr. Robert Grossman speaking about the situation.

From their website (not updated yet):
The Frederick L. Ehrman Medical Library is the main library of the NYU Langone Medical Center. It supports the Medical Center and the School of Medicine’s students and staff in creating a maintaining a world-class patient-centered integrated academic medical center. As one of the NYU Health Sciences Libraries, the Frederick L. Ehrman Medical Library enhances learning, research and patient care by managing knowledge-based resources, providing client-centered information services and education, and extending access through new initiatives in information technology.

Trying to explain publishing, or understand it, often remains a great challenge

From – The Shatzkin Files

Opening: I went to the In Re Books conference at New York Law School last Friday and Saturday in hopes of curing some of my ignorance about the law and publishing. I learned some things, including the facts about a very interesting case involving a book publisher, the associations of publishers and booksellers, and a large general retailer that took place over a century ago and anticipated a lot of what we’re seeing today as the other players in the industry battle the power of Amazon.

But I’m afraid my major takeaway was, once again, that the legal experts applying their antitrust theories to the industry don’t understand what they’re monkeying with or what the consequences will be of what they see as their progressive thinking. Steamrollering those luddite denizens of legacy publishing, who just provoke eye-rolling disdain by suggesting there is anything “special” about the ecosystem they’re part of and are trying to preserve, is just part of a clear-eyed understanding of the transitions caused by technology.

So perhaps we have symmetrical ignorance and will never understand each other.

Full blog post

SCOTUS shows concern for libraries

Supreme Court seeks a way around “perpetual copyright” on foreign goods
“If you were the lawyer for the Toyota distributor, [or] if you were the lawyer for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or you are the lawyer for a university library,” said Breyer. “Your client comes to you and says, ‘My God, I just read the Supreme Court opinion. It says that we can’t start selling these old books, or lending them, or putting them in our word processor, or reselling the Toyota, [or] displaying the Picasso without the permission of the copyright holder.’ What, as their lawyer, do you tell them? Do you tell them, ‘hey, no problem?’ Or, do you tell them, ‘you might become a law violator?’ Or, do you tell them, ‘I better litigate this?’ What do you tell them?”

Notably, Olson didn’t back away from the more extreme consequences of his client’s win at the 2nd Circuit. If Wiley wins, he said, institutions like museums and libraries might need to get licenses from copyright owners for their activities.

University partners with barber-librarian

It started with a barbershop and a bookshelf and has grown into an educational endeavor that engages a community and inspires a want for higher education.
“I was told, you’re a fool if you loan a book but you’re a bigger fool if you return it,” he said.

Canada’s book publishers are looking beyond mere survival

Independent publishing in this country is alive vigorous and vital. There are more than 100 active publisher members of the Association of Canadian Publishers. These publishers are doing the same thing today as they did last week, and indeed, as they will do next week — working like hell to publish books by Canadian authors and illustrators for readers across Canada and around the world. Our strength lies not in the size or the reach of any one publisher, but in the diversity and breadth of the publishers considered as a whole.

The New York Dolls Bass Player Is Now A Librarian

Crossdressing Rocker Turned Mormon Librarian: New York Doll Giveaway
The movie begins with Kane as 55 year old, has-been rock star in California. While he was recovering from his fall, however, he encountered two Mormon missionaries and converted to the faith. Yes, Arthur “Killer” Kane became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and ended up working in one of the church’s genealogy libraries – the Family History Center in Los Angeles. Kane’s transformation is emotionally jolting. In one frame he’s a trashy cross dressing punk glam rocker, in the next he’s a librarian in a short sleeved 60/40 blend button up.

Los Angeles’ library cards could double as identification, debit cards

A Los Angeles City Council committee unanimously approved the proposal from Councilman Richard Alarcon. The ID card would include a resident’s photograph, full name, address, date of birth and details on height, weight, and hair and eye color. The card would not be a driver’s license and could not be used as an ID to board a plane. The card could also be a pre-paid debit card that allows residents to build credit.