LJ reports that 17 staffers were laid off at the Philadelphia Free Library and that 20 branches will be run without librarians on staff. The administration claims this was the only way to avoid closing branches.
Samantha
YALSA announces 2005 Best Books for Young Adults
You can find the list of 86 books recommended by ALA’s Young Adult Library Services Association for young adults this year here. Happy reading!
Ancient rock carvings go online
The Beeb reports on a new online archive of prehistoric rock carvings. The archive of rock paintings and carvings from Northumberland is thought to be the largest online. From the creator of the website:
“One of the key aims was to promote widespread enjoyment of this fascinating part of our history and the web was the obvious medium to reach out to the 21st century historian, amateur and professional alike.”
Libraries, the Princeton campus’s unknown repository of sexiness
Amusing and uplifting piece from the Princetonian by an English professor. Lots of great lines like this one:
Education no doubt can be suggested in the classroom; but education happens in the library.
Is a visual search engine in our future?
Via Slashdot comes word of a computer vision researcher working to develop a sort of visual Google. From the story:
Let’s say you’re standing in front of the Mona Lisa in the Louvre. You take a snapshot with your cameraphone and instantly receive an audio-visual narrative about the painting. Then you step out of the Louvre and see a cafe. Should you go in? Take a shot from the other side of the street and a restaurant guide will appear on your phone. You sit down inside, but perhaps your French is a little rusty. You take a picture of the menu and a dictionary comes up to translate.
UPI: MIT library considers move to Pittsburgh
Anonymous Patron writes “United Press International says The Burndy Library, located at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., was considering Sunday a move to Pittsburgh.
The library, which contains 50,000 rare books, 30,000 secondary titles and assorted other materials, has an agreement with MIT that will expire in August 2007, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Sunday.”
Collection agencies track down overdue library books
Anonymous Patron writes “The Washington Times Has An AP article on how we’re using collection agencies more these days. Libraries are turning to collection agencies to recover overdue materials. But strong-arm tactics are out.
“We’re not looking to scare people,” said Mark Willis, spokesman for the Dayton Metro Library. “We want these people to continue being our customers.”
Michael Gorman, president-elect of the American Library Association, thinks more and more libraries are using collection agencies.”
Confessions of a Mad Librarian: The Google deal (down on the Farm)
Anonymous Patron writes “Confessions of a Mad Librarian: The Google deal (down on the Farm). An insiders view and a few more details on the Google project from Stanford. More information about the project, including a FAQ, will be available at the SUL/AIR website in the near future”
Didier Named Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum
Anonymous Patron writes “A Release from U.S. Newswire tells us Archivist of the United States John W. Carlin announced today the selection of Dr. Elaine K. Didier as the new Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum. The appointment is effective January 10, 2005.
Dr. Didier, who is a professor and former dean of the Kresge Library at Oakland University in Michigan, will succeed Dennis Daellenbach who retired on January 1, 2005.”
Reagan Library adds documents
Anonymous Patron writes “The Monterey County Herald Reports from California. Nearly 25,000 pages of former President Reagan’s personal papers, including speeches, radio scripts and articles he wrote in the 1960s and 1970s, are now available for public review at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.”
Recent Comments