LibWorm.com provides a librarian RSS filtering service. Over 1500 RSS librarian sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest headlines from journals and sites in the Cataloging interest group. http://www.libworm.com/rss/librarianqueries.php Fri, 05 Aug 2011 02:51:02 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://catalogablog.blogspot.com/2011/04/stuck-in-past.html This month in Library Journal Michael Stephens writes in Stuck in the Past about the changing nature of the profession. He neglects catalogers. However, we can offer a few suggestions along the lines of those he suggests for reference. How about advising or offering classes for those wishing to "catalog" their collection? In metadata how about advising the town or academy in best selecting a metadata standard, standard indexing terms, and the software to use it? Just what is the benefit in filling in the info on a Word or PDF file? How could it be more useful? How should files be organized and named so that they can be easily found again? Would adding microformats to the Website of a local business reduce costs and drive more business their way? Giving a workshop, training session or just such advice might be useful. Any other suggestions? (Source: Catalogablog) Thu, 21 Apr 2011 04:00:00 +0100 895883 http://catalogablog.blogspot.com/2011/04/code4lib-journal.html Issue 13 of the Code4Lib Journal has been published. Partial contents:ISBN and QR Barcode Scanning Mobile App for LibrariesGraham McCarthy and Sally WilsonThis article outlines the development of a mobile application for the Ryerson University Library. The application provides for ISBN barcode scanning that results in a lookup of library copies and services for the book scanned, as well as QR code scanning. Two versions of the application were developed, one for iOS and one for Android. The article includes some details on the free packages used for barcode scanning functionality. Source code for the Ryerson iOS and Android applications are freely available, and instructions are provided on customizing the Ryerson application for use in other library environments. Some statistics on the number of downloads of the Ryerson mobile app by users are included.Using Web Services for a Mobile OPACDenis Galvin and Mang SunThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the creation and intended evolution of the Rice University mobile online public access catalog (OPAC). The focus of the article is on how SirsiDynix’s Symphony Web Services can be used to create a mobile OPAC.Look What We Got! How Inherited Data Drives Decision-Making: UNC-Chapel Hill’s 19th-Century American Sheet Music CollectionRenée McBrideHave you inherited a digital collection containing valuable, but inconsistent metadata? And wondered how to transform it into a usable, quality resource while accepting that it can’t meet your idea of perfection? This article describes such an experience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Library with its CONTENTdm-based 19th-Century American Sheet Music Collection, addressing issues such as field construction, the use of controlled vocabularies, development of a project data dictionary, and metadata clean-up. ... Tue, 19 Apr 2011 04:00:00 +0100 895887 http://catalogablog.blogspot.com/2011/04/field-720.html Why do I so rarely see field 720 used? I just downloaded a record that had two names not in the LC Authority file, yet both were in field 700. Here is the description of field 720 from MARC Full.Added entry in which the name is not controlled in an authority file or list. It is also used for names that have not been formulated according to cataloging rules. Names may be of any type (e.g., personal, corporate, meeting).Used when one of the other access fields (e.g., 1XX (Headings) or 7XX (Added Entries)) cannot be used because the level of control and/or structure of the name does not meet the requirements of the other access fields. Field 720 should not be used for uncontrolled names intended to provide subject access. In that case, field 653 (Index Term-Uncontrolled) is preferred.Sounds like the field to use when the names aren't in LCNAF or some other file.Just asking, am I missing something?5 AprilIt has been suggested, in a comment, that perhaps these are controlled in a local database. Maybe, but in a shared cataloging environment where we don't have access to the local database is it good policy? Just asking. I can see if they were in the German or French or Brazilian authority files but something local not so much. I very rarely see the 720, are people using it? Am I just not clear on the concept? (Source: Catalogablog) Mon, 04 Apr 2011 04:00:00 +0100 895893 http://catalogablog.blogspot.com/2011/03/marc-printed-documentation.html LC is seeking comments on changing from print to online documentation.The Network Development and MARC Standards Office is considering some changes in the publication of the MARC 21 Format documentation. For many years we have printed the formats and their updates and the code lists and sold them through our Cataloging Distribution Service (CDS). In the last decade, however, CDS and our Office have developed alternative publication channels -- first the Concise formats were made available online for free, then the format documents were added to Catalogers Desktop where they were enriched with links to code lists and cataloging norms, and finally the full format content was published for free on the web. As a result, the demand for the printed format documentation has dwindled to very small numbers. (I, myself, rely totally on the online now and am not expeditious about filing in those updates!)Format updates:I have announced at the last two ALA meetings that we were considering not printing several of the updates and I have talked with a number of persons individually about that. Now we are ready to act and are proposing not to print any of the full format documents henceforth -- Bibliographic, Authority, Holdings, Classification, Community Information -- but want the community to have an opportunity to voice any concerns. We would continue to print the concise format annually, but perhaps in a reduced form -- only a looseleaf binder with Bibliographic, Authority, and Holdings.We would also establish a printing stylesheet for the online format pages that would eliminate internet framing material, yielding pages very close to the current print. They could be used by those who prefer print to update a printed format resource. The free online version of each format would continue to be available online in both full and concise forms, as it is now. ... Fri, 25 Mar 2011 04:00:00 +0100 895899 http://catalogablog.blogspot.com/2011/03/cataloging-remote-access-multimedia.html The Streaming Guide to Cataloging Remote Access Multimedia: A How-to Virtual Manual for Catalogers by Marielle Veve is available on-line. (Source: Catalogablog) Wed, 23 Mar 2011 04:00:00 +0100 895903 http://catalogablog.blogspot.com/2011/03/anniversary.html I see I missed an anniversary, back on March 5, 2002 I started Catalogablog. That's quite a while back. Lately I've been posting less. Not because cataloging is any less exciting, but I'm just a bit tired. Thanks to all the readers over the years and everyone who has suggested stories and made comments. (Source: Catalogablog) Thu, 17 Mar 2011 04:00:00 +0100 895905 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=16356 Library Support Technician / Librarian I (University of Maine, Maine) Library Support Technician: Maine InfoNet and The University of Maine System Libraries invite applications from service-oriented individuals for the position of Library Support Technician / Librarian I.  The Library Support Technician provides technical and customer support for online library services made available through Maine InfoNet, the University of Maine System, and the Maine State Library.  This position provides first level support for various online library services managed through Maine InfoNet, such as the URSUS catalog and University, system and statewide research tools, and the Maine InfoNet Download Library. ... Fri, 31 Dec 2010 05:20:02 +0100 895749 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=16350 Systems Management (Information Security) Intern (OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc., Ohio) OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs.  Tens of thousands of libraries around the world use OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve library materials.  We are currently seeking candidates for a Systems Management (Information Security) Intern position.  The work location for the assignment will be our Corporate Headquarters in Dublin (Columbus), Ohio. ... Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:20:02 +0100 895654 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=16351 Library Services Consultant (Sales Manager), Federal Contracts (OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc., District of Columbia) Founded in 1967, OCLC is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing library costs.  More than 72,000 libraries in 171 countries have used OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend, preserve and manage library materials.  Researchers, students, faculty, scholars, professional librarians and other information seekers use OCLC services to obtain bibliographic, abstract and full-text information when and where they need it. ... Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:20:02 +0100 895652 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=16349 Global Product Management Intern (OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc., Ohio) OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs.  Tens of thousands of libraries around the world use OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve library materials.  We are currently seeking candidates for a Global Product Management Intern position.  The work location for the assignment will be our Corporate Headquarters in Dublin (Columbus), Ohio. ... Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:20:02 +0100 895651 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=16348 Digital Collection Services Intern (OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc., Ohio) OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs.  Tens of thousands of libraries around the world use OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve library materials.  We are currently seeking candidates for a Digital Collection Services Intern position.  The work location for the assignment will be our Corporate Headquarters in Dublin (Columbus), Ohio. ... Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:20:02 +0100 895649 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=16347 CONTENTdm Intern (OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc., Washington) OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs.  Tens of thousands of libraries around the world use OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve library materials.  We are currently seeking candidates for a CONTENTdm Intern position.  The work location for the assignment will be our Seattle, Washington office. The OCLC Diversity and Inclusion Initiative offers internship opportunities designed to provide unique experiences for aspiring college students. ... Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:20:02 +0100 895648 http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2010/dec/30/short-stories-fiction The year saw strong work from Lydia Davis, Damon Galgut, Yiyun Li among others, as well as other brilliant stuff I no doubt missedTo start where I finished last year's round-up of the year in short fiction, Lydia Davis's Collected Stories was published in a UK edition this summer. This stocky orange and white volume underlines her position as one of the most fascinating short story writers of the past 25 years, who combines formal experimentalism and psychological complexity with a keen wit. She featured in my brief survey of the short story series in February.Deborah Eisenberg is another great short story writer whose collected appeared this year (albeit only in the US). Every story from her four collections to date is included, which makes for a feast of unconventional storytelling and exquisitely turned sentences. Like Davis, she's profoundly intelligent with language, and frequently very funny.Of the new collections published this year, my personal favourite might equally be considered a novel or memoir. That Damon Galgut's In a Strange Room manages to be both, as well as a collection of stories, is just one of the many extraordinary things about it. Shortlisted for the Man Booker, its three sections were originally published as stories in the Paris Review.An attempt to relate, as accurately as possible, three journeys and relationships Galgut experienced, the book is an interrogation of memory and a study of the way different relationships function. No one would desire to find themselves in these situations, but if they did, they'd want to describe them with Galgut's rigour and penetration. Much of the book's power derives from his ability to pare back situations to their fundamentals.Yiyun Li's Gold Boy, Emerald Girl is my other essential collection of the year. A US citizen who writes in English, Li's stories are mostly set in China, where she lived until 1996, but her influences are international and surprisingly old fashioned. ... Thu, 30 Dec 2010 09:00:05 +0100 895643 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.education.web4lib/17253 Our public library consortium went live with Boopsie back in April. Overall, it's been a very positive experience and we've had few major issues. Our usage isn't huge, but it is about 20-25 percent of detectable smart phone use on our catalog, and I don't think we've even been promoting it that heavily. The user base is really steady, and has reached 1 percent of catalog use a couple of times. It just seems that people who start using it continue using it, and that's a good sign. We've found that people really do "get in, get it done and get out" with Boopsie, in that almost every search leads to a request. Every once in a while, it'll stop working, but this has generally been due to changes we've made to our ILS, and their tech support has been very fast in getting us back up every time. At first our updates weren't frequent, but by July they had set it up where Boopsie is checking hourly to see if there's a new data file, and if there is, uploading it. We've found that one update overnight is s (Source: gmane.education.web4lib) Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 895624 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=16336 Post-Doctoral Researcher (OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc., Ohio) OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs. Tens of thousands of libraries around the world use OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve library materials. We are currently seeking candidates for a Post-Doctoral Researcher position at our Corporate Headquarters in Dublin (Columbus), Ohio. The Post-Doctoral Researcher will typically work with existing teams in OCLC Research, under the guidance and supervision of a permanent scientific staff member. ... Thu, 30 Dec 2010 03:20:02 +0100 895580 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=16334 Diversity Fellowship Program (Research) (OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc., California) OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs. Tens of thousands of libraries around the world use OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve library materials. We are currently seeking candidates for a Diversity Fellowship Program (Research) position at our San Mateo, California office. ... Thu, 30 Dec 2010 03:20:02 +0100 895579 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=16335 Diversity Fellowship Program (Metadata/Quality Control) (OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc., Ohio) OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs. Tens of thousands of libraries around the world use OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve library materials. We are currently seeking candidates for a Diversity Fellowship Program (Metadata/Quality Control) position at our Corporate Headquarters in Dublin (Columbus), Ohio. The Fellow will work for 6 months with the contract cataloging-related services and then 6 months with quality control. ... Thu, 30 Dec 2010 03:20:02 +0100 895578 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=16337 Dewey Decimal Classification Intern (OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc., District of Columbia) OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs. Tens of thousands of libraries around the world use OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve library materials. We are currently seeking candidates for a Dewey Decimal Classification Intern position. The work location for the assignment will be the Dewey Editorial Office, Library of Congress, in Washington D.C. ... Thu, 30 Dec 2010 03:20:02 +0100 895577 http://freegovinfo.info/node/3147 Press Release from GPO: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 29, 2010 No. 10-49 MEDIA CONTACT: GARY SOMERSET 202.512.1957, 202.355.3997 cell gsomerset@gpo.gov PUBLIC PRINTER BOB TAPELLA RESIGNS WASHINGTON—Public Printer of the United States Bob Tapella announces his resignation as head of the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO). Tapella has led the men and women of the 150-year-old agency the last three years. He was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2007 to become the 25th Public Printer of the United States. Deputy Public Printer Paul Erickson becomes the Acting Public Printer effective immediately. Prior to becoming Public Printer, Tapella served as a senior executive at GPO for five years. He was part of the team that took GPO from a survival mode to the thriving operation it is today. Tapella helped turn GPO’s financial situation from years of significant losses into the positive net operating income the agency enjoys today. Fiscal year 2010 marked the seventh consecutive year of positive results. The agency also launched GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDsys) during Tapella’s tenure, giving the American people a one-stop site to authentic, published government information. “It has been a pleasure serving both President Obama and President Bush during the last eight years at GPO,” said Public Printer Bob Tapella. “I want to thank the hardworking men and women of GPO who have transformed an agency that opened in 1861 into a 21st century printing, digital media, secure credentialing and ISO 9001 premiere manufacturing organization. I believe the successful launch of FDsys positions GPO to meet the challenges of the Digital Age.” Link to bio of Acting Public Printer Paul Erickson: http://www.gpo.gov/pdfs/about/Ericksonbio.pdf Link to photos of Bob Tapella and Paul Erickson: http://www.gpo. ... Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:36:22 +0100 895593 http://www.teleread.com/library/scholarly-electronic-publishing-weblog-updated-for-december/ Ariadne, no. 65 (2010): Includes: “Developing Infrastructure for Research Data Management at the University of Oxford,” “Moving Researchers across the eResearch Chasm,” “Trust Me, I’m an Archivist: Experiences with Digital Donors,” and other articles. Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian 29, no. 4 (2010): Includes “Digital Archival Image Collections: Who Are the Users?” and other articles. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly 49, no. 1 (2011): Includes “Google Book Search and Metadata,” “Reclassification in Academic Research Libraries: Is It Still Relevant in an E-book World?,” and other articles. Collection Management 36, no. 1 (2011): Includes “Librarian Roles in Institutional Repository Data Set Collecting: Outcomes of a Research Library Task Force” and other articles. First Monday 15, no. 12 (2010): Includes “The Size Distribution of Open Access Publishers: A Problem for Open Access?” and other articles. IFLA Journal 36, no. 4 (2010): Includes “Non-users’ Evaluation of Digital Libraries: A Survey at the Università degli studi di Milano” and other articles. The Journal of Electronic Publishing 13, no. 3 (2010): Includes “Academic Search Engine Spam and Google Scholar’s Resilience against It,” “OA Repositories: The Researchers’ Point of View,” “Traversing the Book of Mpub: An Agile, Web-first Publishing Model,” and other articles. Journal of Scholarly Publishing 42, no. 2 (2011): Includes “Extending ArXiv.org to Achieve Open Peer Review and Publishing,” “Protocols and Challenges to the Creation of a Cross-disciplinary Journal,” and other articles. Krikorian, Gaälle, and Amy Kapczynski, eds. ... Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:35:45 +0100 895609 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScholarlyElectronicPublishingWeblogrss/~3/eC6Mm0oVw6U/ Ariadne, no. 65 (2010): Includes: "Developing Infrastructure for Research Data Management at the University of Oxford," "Moving Researchers across the eResearch Chasm," "Trust Me, I'm an Archivist: Experiences with Digital Donors," and other articles. Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian 29, no. 4 (2010): Includes "Digital Archival Image Collections: Who Are the Users?" and other articles. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly 49, no. 1 (2011): Includes "Google Book Search and Metadata," "Reclassification in Academic Research Libraries: Is It Still Relevant in an E-book World?," and other articles. Collection Management 36, no. 1 (2011): Includes "Librarian Roles in Institutional Repository Data Set Collecting: Outcomes of a Research Library Task Force" and other articles. First Monday 15, no. 12 (2010): Includes "The Size Distribution of Open Access Publishers: A Problem for Open Access?" and other articles. IFLA Journal 36, no. 4 (2010): Includes "Non-users' Evaluation of Digital Libraries: A Survey at the Università degli studi di Milano" and other articles. The Journal of Electronic Publishing 13, no. 3 (2010): Includes "Academic Search Engine Spam and Google Scholar’s Resilience against It," "OA Repositories: The Researchers' Point of View," "Traversing the Book of Mpub: An Agile, Web-first Publishing Model," and other articles. Journal of Scholarly Publishing 42, no. 2 (2011): Includes "Extending ArXiv.org to Achieve Open Peer Review and Publishing," "Protocols and Challenges to the Creation of a Cross-disciplinary Journal," and other articles. Krikorian, Gaälle, and Amy Kapczynski, eds. ... Wed, 29 Dec 2010 19:08:58 +0100 895591 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/freerangelibrarian/~3/W7a2nEc5oIs/ "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" I was teaching a library-science class about a decade ago when a student snaked her hand into the air. “You know how no good deed goes unpunished?” she asked. “No,” I said, and continued lecturing. I knew where she was going with that question, because I knew her from another context, where she was the self-designated killjoy who approached every project confident of its failure–which, for the record, is an excellent way to ensure failure happens. She’s the one who will ask, “Just to play Devil’s advocate”–as if Satan needed any help. And we have all sat in meetings where this person  dwelled ad infinitum on every possible thing that could go wrong with a good idea that hadn’t even been launched, or itemized in exquisite detail the inevitable failings of any good idea in progress. There have been times when I have been this person (and will be again in the future), and for this I humbly repent. I was reminded of this moment recently when I read the (relatively mild) commentary on an article in Library Journal, “Netflix-inspired Pilot Program for Borrowing in California Library Languishes,” and then, reluctantly, prodded from a Tweet, turned my eyes to this post by the Annoying Librarian (yes, I know that’s not her real fake name). It was at that moment I realized why I loathe her: because I’ve suffered her kith and kin at nearly every library job I’ve ever had. Which leads into a response I’ve wanted to post for a while about what directors do for a living. ... Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:48:34 +0100 895537 http://web.resourceshelf.com/go/resourceblog/62970 About the Catalog and Database: The IT History Society (ITHS) is a world-wide group of over 500 members working together to assist in and promote the documentation, preservation, cataloging, and researching of Information Technology (IT) history. We offer a place where individuals, academicians, corporate archivists, curators of public institutions, and hobbyists alike [...] (Source: ResourceShelf) Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:58:00 +0100 895525 http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/idate-releases-ebook-report/ European consulting firm, IDATE, has released its 130 page study of the ebook market for Japan, America and Europe for 2008-2015. The report costs between 2,900 and 3,500 euros, but they have allowed me to release part of their principle results (blockquotes omitted): By the end of 2010, the digital book market took off in all of the surveyed countries, albeit under varying scenarios. That year, the United States became the world’s largest market with a turnover from e-book sales reaching EUR 594 million, ahead of Japan, e- book pioneer country whose market is evaluated at EUR 527 million. European markets remain relatively modest, but are characterised by strong growth rates (around 80%). This digital migration concerns all literary genres, although some more rapidly than others (sentimental literature, science fiction & fantasy, detective stories) and a wide range of media (e-readers, PCs, mobile phones, game consoles, tablets, media players). • By 2014, the digital transition should not result in a global loss (or destruction) of book value. Certainly, sales of printed books have been declining for several years in the surveyed countries (except for France and Canada), and the emergence of a digital offer will only accentuate this trend, especially for the literary genres that are prone to this digital migration. However, e-book sales should offset the decline in printed book sales, and potentially even expand the book market thanks to the incremental sales effect (i.e., digital book sales which would not have taken place with printed books). By 2015, the future of the market will be shaped by factors operating at two levels: the degree of conversion of casual readers to digital media (who represent the bulk of the book market in terms of volume) and the impact of enriched books, hybrid multimedia products capable of attracting people who are not regular consumers of traditional books. ... Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:36:06 +0100 895515 http://mblc.state.ma.us/jobs/find_jobs/rss.php?job_id=6527 1. Coordinate library’s efforts to scan and incorporate digitized materials in the library’s DSpace repository a. Locate and scan materials selected by library staff for scanning b. Overseeing shipments sent to Internet Archive’s scanning center c. Coordinate scanning work of interns and coop students d. Locate state documents and other materials on the Internet Archive and related sites to download and incorporate in the library’s electronic repository e. Under the direction of the technical services staff, add electronic and digitized documents to the library’s DSpace repository. f. Assist with interlibrary loan requests 2. Oversee inventory projects a. With the Head of Reference and Head of Technical Services, establish procedures to inventory the library’s collections. b. Coordinate shelf-reading of collection to be inventoried c. Inventory collection, adding barcodes to items not in the online catalog. d. Assist with copy cataloging and other related tasks for this project. 3. Coordinate collection maintenance and space planning a. Shelve main library materials, with assistance of coop students b. Maintain orderly and neat condition of the stacks c. Consult librarians on stack maintenance projects and initiate projects to improve collection storage. d. Oversee physical shifting of materials. e. Review and revise stack guides as needed. 4. Assist with maintenance of website, subscriptions, and library’s social media. a. Update website as needed b. Maintain subscription information in Serials Solutions c. Compile Electronic Repository (DSpace), Website Statistics and Database Statistics d. Update library’s blog, facebook page and other social media e. Suggest ideas for increasing the library’s web presence 5. ... Wed, 29 Dec 2010 01:25:02 +0100 895390 http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/smashwords-2011-predictions-for-book-publishing/ It’s annual prognostication time when folks like me stick out their necks and try to predict the future. I invite you to join in the fun. Brush up your crystal ball and share your publishing predictions for 2011 in the comments field below. Earlier today, Jeff Rivera over at MediaBistro interviewed me for my ten book publishing predictions for 2011. I’ll list five below, and then I encourage you to click over to Mediabistro for the full ten in his interview, Publishing Predictions for 2011 from Smashwords. If 2010 was the year ebooks went mainstream in the U.S., 2011 will be the year indie ebook authors go mainstream. We’ve already seen this start to happen with some tremendous indie ebook author breakouts in 2010. I wrote about Smashwords author Brian S. Pratt a few weeks ago. So here are five predictions for 2011: 1. Ebook sales rise, unit consumption surprises – Ebooks sales will approach 20% of trade book revenues on a monthly basis by the end of 2011 in the US, yet the bigger surprise is that ebooks will account for one third or more of unit consumption. Why? Ebooks cost less and early ebook adopters read more. 2. Agents write the next chapter of the ebook revolution – Agents, serving the economic best interests of the best-selling authors, will bring new credibility to self publishing by encouraging authors to proactively bypass publishers and work directly with ebook distribution platforms. Agents will use these publishing platforms for negotiating leverage against large publishers. The conversation will go something like this: “You’re offering my author only 15-20% list on ebooks when I can get them 60-70% list working direct with an ebook distributor likeSmashwords or a retailer like Amazon?” 3. More big authors reluctant to part with digital rights – Indie ebook publishing offers compelling advantages to the author. ... Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:38:01 +0100 895404 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=8997 State: Massachusetts The incumbent is responsible for managing the E-Resources, Serials, & Government Documents (ESG) Acquisitions unit, which performs acquisitions of continuing resources (including monographic series received on standing orders and government documents) in paper, microform, and electronic formats. Working closely with the ESG Cataloging unit, the incumbent participates in establishing ESG policies and procedures in consultation with other unit managers and appropriate staff. ... Tue, 28 Dec 2010 14:10:02 +0100 895333 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=8998 State: Indiana Participate in all aspects of non-MARC descriptive metadata for digital projects within Cataloging Division: project development and planning, implementation, document preparation, training, creation of metadata using standard schemas; serve as non-MARC metadata resource person for Technical Services; provide full-level cataloging for monographs and CD-ROMs, including e-books, in English and West European languages, creating original cataloging records and enhancing cataloging copy. For complete list of responsibilities see: http://www.libraries.iub.edu/index.php?pageId=1410. Qualifications: Required: M.L.S. from an ALA-accredited library school; minimum of one year relevant non-MARC metadata experience in an academic or research library system; minimum of one year original monograph cataloging experience in an academic or research library system; evidence of effective planning, implementation, document writing, and training of non-MARC metadata for digital projects; demonstrated working knowledge of cataloging rules, standards, and tools such as AACR2rev, LCRI, DACS, LC classification, and subject headings; demonstrated working knowledge of MARC (books format) and at least one other standard metadata scheme (e.g. TEI, MODS, Dublin Core, EAD). For complete list of qualification see: http://www.libraries.iub.edu/index.php?pageId=1410. To apply: Review of applications begins February 1, 2011. Position remains open until filled. Send letter of application, professional vita, names/addresses/telephone numbers of six references to: Jennifer Chaffin, Director of Human Resources, Libraries Human Resources, Herman B Wells Library 201B, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405. Phone: 812-855-8196. Fax: 812-855-2576. E-mail: libpers@indiana.edu. For more information about Indiana University Bloomington go to: http://www.iub.edu. Indiana University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. ... Tue, 28 Dec 2010 14:10:02 +0100 895332 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/iRcS/~3/98BFeFf5vjY/national-archives-launches-online.html "The National Archives and Records Administration's new Online Public Access prototype is being made available to the public. The National Archives' flagship initiative in our Open Government plan is to develop online services to meet the 21st century needs of the public. It is also a key component of our agency's Transformation Plan, to be customer-focused and ensuring our nation’s heritage is accessible to all. The Online Public Access prototype is the public portal that provides access to digitized records, and information about our records. It also provides a centralized means of searching multiple National Archives resources at once. Currently, researchers perform separate searches in the Archival Research Catalog (ARC) for catalog descriptions, histories and biographies; Access to Archival Databases (AAD) for electronic records; and Archives.gov. The new interface illustrates a streamlined search experience for users, searching across all of these resources" (Source: Peter Scott's Library Blog) Tue, 28 Dec 2010 13:37:55 +0100 895325 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/dTJJL/~3/98BFeFf5vjY/national-archives-launches-online.html "The National Archives and Records Administration's new Online Public Access prototype is being made available to the public. The National Archives' flagship initiative in our Open Government plan is to develop online services to meet the 21st century needs of the public. It is also a key component of our agency's Transformation Plan, to be customer-focused and ensuring our nation’s heritage is accessible to all. The Online Public Access prototype is the public portal that provides access to digitized records, and information about our records. It also provides a centralized means of searching multiple National Archives resources at once. Currently, researchers perform separate searches in the Archival Research Catalog (ARC) for catalog descriptions, histories and biographies; Access to Archival Databases (AAD) for electronic records; and Archives.gov. The new interface illustrates a streamlined search experience for users, searching across all of these resources" (Source: Peter Scott's Library Blog) Tue, 28 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 895662 http://keptup.typepad.com/academic/2010/12/professional-science-masters-grows-in-popularity-despite-uncertainties.html A curiosity tucked away in a handful of university catalogs a decade ago, the professional science master’s degree is emerging from the shadows at a number of college campuses. The degree combines graduate studies in science or mathematics and business management courses. Advocates of the degree say it will become a fixture at many more universities because it promises to satisfy the work force requirements of increasingly technological economies in the United States and abroad. Read more at: (Source: The Kept-Up Academic Librarian) Tue, 28 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 895336 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=16305 Cataloging Coordinator/Metadata Librarian (University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Wisconsin) Institution: University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point Deadline: Screening begins February 14, 2011 and continues until position is filled. The University Library seeks an experienced and forward-thinking Cataloging Coordinator/Metadata Librarian to provide leadership in the creation and maintenance of metadata for the Library’s systems, including its online catalog and digitization projects. The incumbent will have overall responsibilities for management of and quality control in the Cataloging Department and will work collaboratively with the other faculty cataloger to set priorities, allocate resources, and develop and implement plans, policies and practices within the department. ... Mon, 27 Dec 2010 23:20:01 +0100 895224 http://careercenter.sla.org/jobs/3827783/librarian US - CA - Davis, BLS or MLS. Excellent library skill, catalog, research, telephone skills, facility with windows-based software (experience with Outlook, Word, Excel, Quickbooks, or iMIS membership software a plu (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results []) Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:26:00 +0100 895234 http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/kobo-shows-record-growth-over-christmas-holidays/ From the press release: Kobo, the only pure-play global eReading service built on an open platform, today revealed its Holiday 2010 momentum. This Christmas, readers around the world received new eReaders and iPads and other eReading devices under their tree. Over a million people connected to Kobo, and hundreds of thousands of devices were activated each day since Christmas Eve, fuelling the highest eBook download rate in the company’s history. People around the world chose Kobo this Christmas, with the popular easy-to-use Kobo Wireless eReader, dozens of compatible eReaders, top-rated applications for iPad, iPhone, Blackberry, Android, and one of the largest catalogues in the world with over 2.2 million eBooks, newspapers and magazines. “Earlier this month we predicted that Christmas would be a record breaker for Kobo, and we have exceeded our expectations driving several ebook downloads per second since Christmas Eve, or an equivalent number hardcover books stacked as high as 50 Empire State Buildings ” said Michael Serbinis, CEO of Kobo. “I would like to thank our customers for choosing Kobo to start building their digital library this Christmas. Our success this holiday season is a pre-cursor to a New Year with people reading more than ever thanks to eBooks and Kobo. ... Mon, 27 Dec 2010 20:14:46 +0100 895263 http://ddc.typepad.com/025431/2010/12/happy-retirement-dennis.html Our colleague Dennis McGovern, former chief of the Decimal Classification Division (DCD), is retiring this Thursday. (Longtime readers of the Dewey blog might remember Dennis as “the vicar of Dewey Manor” in the early days of the blog.)  Dennis was appointed to the position of DCD chief on May 17, 2004, after serving as the acting chief of DCD since February 2002, when previous chief David Smith retired.  He stepped down as DCD chief for health reasons in August 2008.  Since that time Dennis has worked a split detail as a Senior Decimal Classification Classifier in the areas of literature, language, sports, and recreation, and as a senior cataloger of romance language material in the Social Science Cataloging Division and the African, Latin American, and Western European Division.  Dennis first joined LC in as an editorial assistant in the Bill Digest Section of the American Law Division, Congressional Research Service.  In August of the same year, he joined the LOIS Processing Section in the former Order Division, Acquisitions Directorate, and April 1984 became a CIP publisher liaison in the Cataloging in Publication Division, while he also studied part time for his master's degree in library science at the University of Maryland.  After completing library school, he became a cataloger at the Martin Luther King Memorial Library in the District of Columbia Public Library system.  Dennis returned to LC as a descriptive cataloger in 1987.  He joined the Education, Sports, and Recreation Team when it was formed in 1989 as part of the Whole Book Cataloging Project.  Dennis came to DCD in 2002 from the position of team leader, Education, Sports and Recreation Team (ESR), Social Sciences Cataloging Division. ... Mon, 27 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 895834 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.education.web4lib/17248 Antoinette, I may be biased, because I am the CEO of Boopsie, Inc. However, we have mobilized around 100 libraries (public and academic) this past year with custom apps. Here is a link to some recent customers: http://www.boopsie2.com/libraries_clients.html And here is a link to a press release showing that mobilizing the catalog isn't the only thing you need to do in an application (we work with all major ILS systems), but the key is also to mobilize the other content of the library - which is where most of the use is seen. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/11/prweb4787284.htm We've seen about 10 million queries come thru the mobile apps - so they are clearly being used quite a bit. We're happy to answer any questions. Email libraries-VJQNKLXSQs9BDgjK7y7TUQ< at >public.gmane.org Cheers, Greg On Mon, Dec 27, 2010 at 1:40 PM, Antoinette Turner < Antoinette.Turner-8NuUmYHGo9es7h9kiGOq9je48wsgrGvP< at >public.gmane.org> wrote: (Source: gmane.education.web4lib) Mon, 27 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 895300 http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/dec/26/kate-horsley-fancy-dress William has everything he ever wanted. Sophie, lying beside him, is expecting their first child. She is perfect, it is Christmas, so why does he feel so awful? An exclusive short story by Kate HorsleyWilliam woke up earlier than he would have liked. It was the morning of Christmas Day, but it was still dark outside. He thought about trying to go back to sleep, but even though he felt tired, he knew he wouldn't be able to. He got out of bed and walked over to the window. The blind had been lowered and he edged his body between the material and the glass. He looked down at the road running adjacent to the house. The streetlamps were still lit; grey parking meters stood at intervals along the pavement. The families in the row of houses opposite didn't appear to be up: the windows were dark and each building gave the impression of great stillness. He could hear some wind in the trees, but apart from that it was very quiet, as though there'd been a large fall of snow. He walked back over to the bed and he sat down on the nearest corner. Sophie had always been a good sleeper; she could sleep anywhere – in the back of a car, curled up on a sofa at a party. Since she'd become pregnant, she'd started having lie-ins too. Over the last few months William had grown more sensitive to his wife's habits because he'd been having trouble sleeping himself. It was a similar pattern every night. He'd go to sleep for a few hours and then he'd wake up, very suddenly. Sometimes he was still awake at six or seven the following morning. It all felt quite out of character. William liked to think of himself as a steady sort of man, the type of person who didn't let things get the better of him. He hadn't mentioned what had been happening to anyone – he didn't want to worry Sophie – until a few nights ago when he'd had a conversation with his brother on the phone. John had said something about it being a difficult time of year. ... Sun, 26 Dec 2010 00:05:12 +0100 894999 http://medinfo.netbib.de/archives/2010/12/25/3840 Markus FISCHER, Stefan KANDERA, Veronika KLEIBEL, Maike KRONE, Susanne MAYER, Erika NIEDERMANN und Dieter SULZER: bibnet.org – kooperative Referenzdatenbank für das Gesundheitswesen Zusammenfassung: Schwerpunktthema der aktuellen Ausgabe 3/2010 von GMS Medizin – Bibliothek – Information ist die Jahrestagung 2010 der Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Medizinisches Bibliothekswesen (AGMB) in Mainz; das Motto der Tagung lautete „alles – einfach – sofort: Service in Medizinbibliotheken“. Zentrales Thema der diesjährigen Tagung waren innovative Dienstleistungen und Produkte in und für Medizinbibliotheken. Weitere Beiträge setzten sich mit Themen wie Bibliotheksneubau, Benutzerschulungen und Qualitätsmanagement auseinander. Eine Arbeitsgruppe des Vereins „Netzwerk Fachbibliotheken Gesundheit“ (CH) hat unter der Adresse http://bibnet.org/ zusammen mit dem Rudolfinerhaus in Wien (A) eine kooperative und frei zugängliche Referenzdatenbank für das Gesundheitswesen geschaffen. Nachgewiesen werden Referenzen primär aus dem pflegerischen Bereich stammender und überwiegend deutschsprachiger Zeitschriftenartikel. bibnet.org führt auf einer zentralen Plattform vorhandene Katalogisate verschiedener Bibliotheken zusammen. Aktuell enthält die Datenbank rund 45.000 Datensätze aus über 400 ausgewerteten Zeitschriften. Diese stammen aus den Beständen des Rudolfinerhauses in Wien und der Pro Senectute Bibliothek Schweiz und gehen bis ins Jahr 1979 zurück. Weitere Datensätze werden durch Beteiligung zahlreicher Bibliotheken an der fortlaufenden Katalogisierung hinzugefügt. Jede teilnehmende Bibliothek übernimmt dabei die Verantwortung für die Auswertung der ihr zugeteilten Zeitschriften. Sämtliche verwendeten technischen Systeme basieren auf Open Source-Lösungen: Als Suchsystem kommt Vufind zum Einsatz. Als Katalogisierungssystem für Bibliotheken, die über keine MARC-kompatiblen Systeme verfügen, steht eine Instanz von KOHA zur Verfügung. ... Sat, 25 Dec 2010 08:00:14 +0100 895375 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Hangingtogetherorg/~3/QQYp9vyryio/ As 2010 winds down, we’d like to call attention to some of the things we’ve worked on or created this year. You can see a rundown of highlights here. I hate those end of year “10 best” lists. For me, each list represents a number of [books, cds, movies, apps, restaurants] that I once again failed to get to in the current year and probably won’t in the next. I also hate being told what I should [read, listen to, watch, play with, eat]. But I love WorldCat Genres, which is a great way to browse and discover fiction (or movies) based on my own tastes and preferences. For example, I love autobiographical fiction, because it’s usually bittersweet and sometimes dishy. Browsing in WorldCat Genres, I can see some newer books that are in this genre that look tempting, as well as some old favorites, and related movies. I like this way of constructing my own lists, based on similarities in the WorldCat data. And then there’s Classify. Classify is an experimental web service that reveals the classification (Dewey Decimal Classification, Library of Congress Classification, or National Library of Medicine Classification) that has been assigned across a FRBR work set. A good example is a book I’m reading now, Christopher McDougall’s Born to Run. You’ll see, at least for DCC, the classifications mostly adhere to one class number, but also tend to be assigned to two other class numbers. Additionally, Classify reveals the FAST subject headings for the FRBR work set. So what? So this is a person-friendly prototype for what is actually a web service. Imagine farming a portion of your cataloging workflow off to a webservice. If there’s overwhelming agreement on classification (90% of those items that have a class number are all the same), then the class number is assigned automagically. If there’s variance, a human intervenes and makes a decision. ... Sat, 25 Dec 2010 00:41:10 +0100 895035 http://www.teleread.com/library/clir-announces-hidden-collection-awards/ CLIR Announces Hidden Collections Awards Created in 2008 with funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives awards program supports the identification and cataloging of special collections and archives of high scholarly value that are difficult or impossible to locate. Award recipients create Web-accessible records according to standards that enable the federation of their local cataloging entries into larger groups of related records, enabling the broadest possible exposure to the scholarly community. Washington, DC, Dec. 21, 2010—The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) today announced the following recipients of the 2010 Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives awards: American Museum of Natural History Library For the People, for Education, for Science: Web Access to the American Museum of Natural History Archives $117,600 Arizona State University LibrariesLabor Rights are Civil Rights/Los Derechos de Trabajo Son Derechos Civiles$155,600 Eleutherian Mill-Hagley Foundation, Inc. on behalf of the Hagley Museum and LibraryZ. Taylor Vinson Transportation Collection Processing Project$246,100 J. Paul Getty Trust on behalf of the Getty Research InstituteOpen Plan, Open Access: Increasing Researcher Access to Modern Architectural Records$154,600 Northeast Historic FilmMoving Images 1938-1940: Amateur Filmmakers Record the New York World’s Fair and Its Period$186,900 San Diego Historical SocietyEnhancing Access to the History of San Diego and the Border Region$162,100 Smithsonian Institution, on behalf of the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. ... Fri, 24 Dec 2010 15:18:06 +0100 894825 http://www.teleread.com/ebooks/mike-shatzkin-how-book-marketing-could-change/ In his latest blog post, publishing consultant Mike Shatzkin talks about an interesting discovery he made in the wake of interviewing publishers for a presentation on current trends in book publishing contracts—all the publishers seem to agree on the importance of working out new ways of marketing books in a post-e-book world. The decline of shelf space also means a decline in marketing opportunities. Up ‘til now, books themselves have been critically important in marketing the books—seeing a title on display at a bookstore is its own form of advertising, and will place an awareness of the book in the mind of the shopper even if he later goes on to buy it from somewhere else. (And in that vein, books have also long been used to advertise other things; the whole point of a tie-in novelization has historically been to serve as a mini-movie poster—the studios could care less about whether the book takes a loss, or is even worth reading, as long as it drives awareness of the movie by being faced out in a bookstore.) Shatzkin draws a distinction between “expensed marketing”—advertising a single-title in ways that serve to promote that title only, and “investment marketing”—building a brand to promote many titles over time. He notes that “expensed marketing” is what publishers and bookstores have always done, but believes the way forward is “investment marketing” instead. It doesn’t make sense to go to the trouble of digital promotion for only one book. He suggests a way of doing this through attacking the problem of search and discovery, how difficult it is to find an e-book you want without having a physical store to browse through and examine titles. He would like an e-book app that would offer him a catalog of books tailored to his interests, and alerts when new such books are published. ... Fri, 24 Dec 2010 12:15:00 +0100 894828 http://medinfo.netbib.de/archives/2010/12/24/3838 Bruno BAUER, Daniel FORMANEK und MARIAN MIEHL: Virtuelle Lehrbuchsammlung und eBooks on Demand als Facetten der Hybridbibliothek: zwei innovative Services der Universitätsbibliothek der Medizinischen Universität Wien Zusammenfassung: Die Universitätsbibliothek der Medizinischen Universität Wien verfügt als Hybridbibliothek über große Bestände an gedruckter bzw. digitaler Literatur. Um den Zugriff zu dieser Information zu verbessern, wurden in jüngster Zeit zwei Projekte entwickelt und realisiert. Für die Studierenden wurde das Informationsportal Van Swieten Student 2.0 als virtuelle Lehrbuchsammlung konzipiert, das neben dem Nachweis von gedruckten und elektronischen Lehrbüchern weitere für das Medizinstudium relevante Informationsquellen offeriert und auch Web 2.0-Applikationen integriert. Die Zettelkataloge, bisher einziges Nachweisinstrument für die wertvollen medizinhistorischen Bestände, wurden digitalisiert, OCR-gelesen und als webfähiger OPAC mit Web 2.0-Funktionen erweitert. Auf Basis dieses Katalogs können urheberrechtsfreie Werke über das innovative Service eBooks on Demand (eod) in digitaler Form bzw. als Reprint angefordert werden. Schlüsselwörter: Medizinische Universität Wien, Universitätsbibliothek, Virtuelle Lehrbuchsammlung, Van Swieten Student 2.0, WordPress, Scriblio, eBooks on Demand (eod), Zettelkatalog, Digitalisierung, Hybridbibliothek, Web 2.0. Bruno BAUER, Daniel FORMANEK and MARIAN MIEHL: Virtual textbook collection and eBooks on Demand as facets of the hybrid library: two innovative services of the university library of the Medical University Vienna Abstract: The university library of the Medical University of Vienna is a hybrid library and offers a huge stock of literature in print and online. Two projects were realised to improve access to this collection. The library built a catalogue for their students, which includes all relevant resources for their courses. ... Fri, 24 Dec 2010 08:00:00 +0100 895376 http://mblc.state.ma.us/jobs/find_jobs/rss.php?job_id=6522 The incumbent is responsible for managing the E-Resources, Serials, & Government Documents (ESG) Acquisitions unit, which performs acquisitions of continuing resources (including monographic series received on standing orders and government documents) in paper, microform, and electronic formats. Working closely with the ESG Cataloging unit, the incumbent participates in establishing ESG policies and procedures in consultation with other unit managers and appropriate staff. ... Fri, 24 Dec 2010 04:15:02 +0100 894735 http://nnlm.gov/pnr/dragonfly/2010/12/23/hxofmednewprojects/ The National Library of Medicine’s History of Medicine Division recently announced the following new projects: Completion of a project to catalog Imperial Russian Era Holdings.  Pre-1917 collection includes pamphlets and dissertations on a spectrum of medical topics, including some by future Nobel Laureates – http://www.nlm.nih.gov/news/russian_holdings_cataloged.html Medical history comes to life through first person accounts in the National Library of Medicine’s Oral History Collections.  The new web interface allows easier searching of text and audio content – http://www.nlm.nih.gov/news/oralhistory.html New education resources added to Online Exhibition, “Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature” – http://www.nlm.nih.gov/news/frankenstein_enriched.html And, don’t forget: If you have a collection of unique historical health sciences materials, we would appreciate your filling out our survey – http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N3QKT67. To learn more about the background of the survey, read the previous Dragonfly post. (Source: Dragonfly) Thu, 23 Dec 2010 18:17:14 +0100 895379 http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/new-ebook-sales-site-for-self-published-authors-novelled/ Back in October Peter Ibrahim sent me an email about his new site – Novelled, which had not yet gone live. I said I’d mention it when it hit the net. Well, it has just done that and here’s what Peter had to say about it back then. You can find the site here. … the website will allow any budding author to instantly convert their Word documents into various eBook-compatible file formats and make them available for purchase. Obviously, mine won’t be the first website to try this and we certainly won’t be the last, but I think it’s different enough to some competitors to be worth visiting. As long as sites promoting amateur fiction continue to sail somewhat under the public radar and don’t provide authors with quite the same exposure that musicians and filmmakers have then the opportunity is always there… The website is called Novelled and will sell eBooks in the three major formats (.pdf, .mobi and .epub) so hopefully no major eReader hardware is excluded. The site sports what I hope is a fairly attractive-looking and professional interface; whilst the content might be provided by amateur authors, there’s no reason for the website to look the same. Perhaps the biggest difference (and, I would guess, the love it or hate it aspect of the site) is the pricing structure – Novelled will use a fixed 99p / $1.50 price for all eBooks sold on the site. It’s been my experience that many budding authors set somewhat unrealistic prices for their work – prices that compare unfavourably with both physical books and their professional eBook counterparts – and perhaps sell fewer books than their content otherwise merits. By using fixed, low-cost pricing, the intention is to attract a larger audience and encourage more people to “take the gamble” on an unknown author. ... Thu, 23 Dec 2010 14:37:18 +0100 894676 http://50.16.230.151/article/thursday-threads-2010w51/ Receive DLTJ Thursday Threads:by E-mailby RSSDelivered by FeedBurner When I say “<blank> is a question answering system. A question can be posed in natural language and … <blank> can come up with a very precise answer to that question” — what comes to mind to fill in the <blank>? If you guessed a system developed by IBM to appear alongside human contestants on Jeopardy, you’d be right. That quote comes from video posted by IBM earlier this year that is the topic of the first DLTJ Thursday Threads entry. This weeks other entries look at possible erosions of copyright first sale doctrine, the state of open access publishing, and a proposition for new definitions to terms of art in data modeling.If you find these threads interesting and useful, you might want to add the Thursday Threads RSS Feed to your feed reader or subscribe to e-mail delivery using the form to the right. If you would like a more raw and immediate version of these types of stories, watch my FriendFeed stream (or subscribe to its feed in your feed reader). Comments and tips, as always, are welcome.Reference Librarian of the Future? IBM Supercomputer ‘Watson’ to Challenge ‘Jeopardy’ StarsIBM 'Watson' Video on YouTubeAn I.B.M. supercomputer system named after the company’s founder, Thomas J. Watson Sr., is almost ready for a televised test: a bout of questioning on the quiz show “Jeopardy.” I.B.M. and the producers of “Jeopardy” will announce on Tuesday [December 14, 2010] that the computer, “Watson,” will face the two most successful players in “Jeopardy” history, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, in three episodes that will be broadcast Feb. 14-16, 2011.For I.B.M., “Watson” is an important test of artificial intelligence. Scientists there have been talking to “Jeopardy” about a man vs. machine match-up for the better part of two years. ... Thu, 23 Dec 2010 12:06:53 +0100 895465 http://www.slaw.ca/2010/12/23/morris-cohen-1927-2010-a-few-thoughts/ Morris Leo Cohen died on Saturday, December 18, 2010. He had recently celebrated his 83rd birthday. More than a few of us call Morris mentor. During his years at Yale, Harvard, Penn and SUNY Buffalo, he attracted disciples with ease and grace. I trust that a round of tributes will follow his passing, but one aspect that may be neglected is the symbolic value of it for librarianship. Morris was the last great scholar bibliographer of his generation in American law librarianship. Not a scholar who stepped into the role of librarian, Morris was a scholarly bibliographer, a man of great learning, who could quote both Samuel Johnson and Ranganathan in the same sentence. Even more important, he was devoted to bibliographic integrity. While a hardy handful of American law librarians continue to pursue lines of scholarly interest, Morris stands for old-style, careful, bibliographic work. His work showed analytical depth combined with elegant style. It was an endeavor that called for intellectual focus and pure sweat equity. When I first met Morris in 1972, I was a second year law student at Harvard Law School. Sharon Hamby O’Connor, who had been my boss at the undergraduate library, suggested that I meet with him to discuss my very foggy career plans. (Sharon went on to become Law Librarian, Professor and Associate Dean at Boston College Law School, yet another of Morris’s mentees). Inspirational in every possible way, Morris told me to be a law librarian. Looking at him, at his work, and entranced, as so many were, by his sweet manner, he changed my life. I recall that on that day he told me of BEAL, his projected Bibliography of Early American Law. It was an ambitious project, conceived of with Balfour Halevy, that ultimately was designed to prepare a catalog that listed each and every legal imprint in the United States published before 1860. Ideally, Morris would look at each book in person. ... Thu, 23 Dec 2010 12:00:01 +0100 895185 http://rabid-librarian.blogspot.com/2010/12/i-came-home-early-today-because-i.html and was lucky enough to get a ride from a co-worker, plus she gave me a pair of gloves that were too big for her. Since mine are unraveling, this was great. There are a lot of good people in this world. Thanks so for the ride and for the gloves! The beautiful, large wreath I hung on the door last night is quietly filling the hallway with lovely evergreen fragrance. I hope that doesn't bother anyone. I find it very nice. I sent a thank you note for it today (it was given to me), as well as a sympathy card for someone I know who lost her husband yesterday to a long illness, which I know is bad at any time, but must be especially painful before the holiday. It was a nice day. I was pretty productive despite my blood sugar being so high this morning. I had a very light lunch (cheese sandwich and tomato basil soup) and didn't get foggy at all afterwards. Yesterday they came and changed out the computers in the library for new leased ones, and I've been tweaking things a bit to try to get my settings back how I had them. The sad thing is apparently the DVD drive doesn't play CDs. Fortunately I have music and a radio on my phone for when it's very, very quiet in the late evenings. But no more singing along out loud with Rob Thomas once my co-workers have vacated the library. :) Next week I have several books to catalogue. I'm lucky we had a grant this year (and it's been renewed for next year, yay!) for books and electronic subscriptions, as my entire book/journal budget is taken by the print journals. I washed dishes and took out the trash this morning, but the apartment is a wreck and I'd like to do some straightening up and also take out the recyclables. Laundry is still an issue as well, and there's wrapping presents and doing game notes. I've been re-reading A Christmas Carol and I've gotten almost through the Ghost of Christmas Present. I forgot how much I enjoy Dickens. I got a complete set of his works for the Kindle for about a dollar. ... Thu, 23 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 895458 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/Ple33mRbfz4/dashing-through-snow-with-norad-and.html (Cross-posted from the Lat Long Blog)Every Christmas Eve, children all over the world ask themselves—and their parents—questions about Santa’s magical journey. How does Santa visit so many children in one night? Will he eat the cookies I left out? How does he fit all those presents into his sleigh? These childhood mysteries are part of what makes the Santa tradition so special.There’s one timeless question that we’re proud to say we can help answer: Where in the world is Santa at this very moment? Thanks in part to recent advances in warp-speed GPS technology and some very clever elves (elveneering?) NORAD Tracks Santa is once again prepped and ready to go.Starting tomorrow, December 24 at 2:00am EST, visit www.noradsanta.org to follow Santa as he journeys around the world delivering presents to children in more than 200 countries and territories. There are a few different ways to find the jolly old man in his unmistakable red suit over the course of the day, so feel free to track him using any of the following methods:See Santa on a Google Map: On your home computer or laptop, visit www.noradsanta.org and choose your preferred language. You’ll see a large Google Map on the page displaying Santa’s current location and his next stop. Click the video icons to watch “Santa Cam” videos, and click the gift icons to learn more about each city.Watch Santa fly with the Google Earth Plug-in: From www.noradsanta.org, click on the link Track Santa in Google Earth. You'll see Santa steering his sleigh right on the webpage. If you don't have the Google Earth plug-in, you can get ready by downloading it ahead of time.Follow Santa on your phone: Track Santa from your mobile phone by opening Google Maps for mobile and searching for [santa]. Or, visit m.noradsanta.org on your phone’s browser.Subscribe to his YouTube channel: Santa’s home on YouTube is at http://www.youtube.com/noradtrackssanta. ... Thu, 23 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 894702 http://mblc.state.ma.us/jobs/find_jobs/rss.php?job_id=6524 Non-Benefited position. Hours: Monday and Wednesday 9:00 am to 12:00 for the 15 weeks of the spring semester, primarily at the Lowell campus. Provides original and complex copy cataloging and classification for new materials and enhancement of existing catalog records to include contents notes and other details not originally included. Assists with related projects as needed. (Source: MBLC Job Listings) Thu, 23 Dec 2010 02:15:04 +0100 894478 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=16302 Head, Knowledge Access Design and Development (New York University, New York) New York University Libraries The head of this newly conceived department will lead a service-focused team in designing, implementing, and assessing an array of metadata-reliant processes and other strategies for enabling intellectual access to the research resources in all formats of the NYU Division of Libraries. ... Thu, 23 Dec 2010 02:10:01 +0100 894476 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/web2learning/YOVk/~3/mEwp63KA2c8/4465 This came across a few lists I’m on today and I thought it would be beneficial to some of you. Using the file that some Colorado Libraries have created you can import a batch of freely available ebook classics to your system. More info here: The Colorado Library Consortium created a project to clean up the most popular MARC records from Project Gutenberg called eDiscover the Classics. We identified the top 500 or so downloads and cleaned up those records and made them available to other libraries. We launched the website a few weeks at: http://www.clicweb.org/e_discover/e_discoverhome.html Since that time the records have been further enhancements by Douglas County Libraries and University of Denver. If you have already downloaded the MARC records we encourage you to get the new set of records and reload them into your catalog. Here is a link explaining our clean-up efforts: http://www.clicweb.org/e_discover/history%20of%20record%20enhancement%20.pdf Please consider these MARC records a gift to the library community! The more patrons think of libraries as a source for content for their Kindles, Nooks, IPads, MP3 players, etc – the better! Valerie Horton Related posts:Free Audio Books eXtensible Catalog (XC) gets more funding Penguin RSS (Source: What I Learned Today...) Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:53:42 +0100 894487 http://libraryjuicepress.com/blog/?p=2670 Just a brief item of interest. West Publishing is being forced to pay $2.5 million in damages to two authors who had stopped updating their legal treatise, but were named by West as authors of a new update that contained virtually no new material. Sounds like an example of a business practice that could be called “slazy,” if you get my drift. Personally, I find it encouraging that the courts are taking questions of authorship as seriously as this. (Source: Library Juice) Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:49:56 +0100 895081 http://www.hsdl.org/hslog/?q=node/5899 The Homeland Security Digital Library (HSDL) Weblog captures new reports on emerging topics dominating the homeland security headlines. This particular collection of blogs does not necessarily reflect the top homeland security stories of 2010. Rather, these blogs were selected based on the highest number of blog visits (hits), most frequently recurring blog themes, rising trends in homeland security, and critical Department of Homeland Security reports. The HSDL would like to highlight some of the issues that have shaped Homeland Security over the last year. Top Ten Blogs that have garnered the most attention from our readers: 1. Executive Order: Medical Countermeasures Following a Biological Attack 2. Pentagon releases Fort Hood Report 3. Global Warming is Now Officially Considered a Threat to U.S. National Security 4. Federal Grants and Loans Catalog is Now Available! 5. Counterterrorism Calendar 2010 6. New Defense Strategy: Pentagon Releases the Quadrennial Defense Review Report 7. New Reports Accuse White House of Underestimating Extent of Deepwater Horizon Spill 8. Racists and Terrorists Increasingly Using Social Networking Sites 9. Is Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder Declining in the U.S.? 10. Local Military and Civilian Planning Critical to Disaster Preparedness read more (Source: HSDL Weblog - On the HomeFront) Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:18:07 +0100 894465 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabyBoomerLibrarian/~3/wlMwfZeH2VA/posting-for-visiting-assistant.html INDIANA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES-BLOOMINGTON Metadata/Cataloging Librarian Visiting Assistant Librarian (Two Year, Non-Tenure Track Appointment) The IU Bloomington Libraries are seeking an innovative and service oriented individual for the position of Metadata/Cataloging Librarian at the Indiana University Bloomington Libraries. This is a two-year, full-time, non-tenure track appointment in the Libraries' Technical Services Department. Founded in 1820, Indiana University-Bloomington has grown from a small state seminary into the flagship campus of a great public university with over 42,000 students and almost 3,000 faculty. Innovation, creativity, and academic freedom are hallmarks of IU Bloomington and its world-class contributions in research and the arts. The Indiana University Bloomington Libraries (http://www.libraries.iub.edu) are among the leading academic research library systems in North America, having recently been named the top university library by the Association of College and Research Libraries. The IUB Libraries provide strong collections, quality service and instructional programs, and leadership in the application of information technologies. The collections support every academic discipline on campus and include more than 6.6 million books, journals, maps, films, and audio/visual materials in over 900 languages. Users can access more than 400 databases, 43,000 electronic journals, and 224,000 electronic books, as well as locally developed digital content. The IUB Libraries are active members of regional and national associations and consortia including the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Digital Library Federation (DLF), and is a founding member of HathiTrust, a shared digital repository. IU is the principal investigator for Kuali Open Library Environment (OLÉ) and is working with academic library partners to develop a next generation open source library management system. ... Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:10:00 +0100 894502 http://www.slaw.ca/2010/12/22/ipad-apps-happy-holiday-shopping/ In the spirit of the season, here are some iPad apps of possible interest to SLAW readers: Dragon Dictation: I am excited to "train" this new version of Dragon Dictation for the iPad but have been too busy to do so. I have heard good things. I remember trying version 1 of Dragon Dictation on what I think back then was a 486 computer. One assumes this new version will work more smoothly. Screenshot of UTL Mobile App showing catalogue record for The Practical Guide to Canadian Legal Research UTL Mobile App: Perhaps of more interest to those in the Toronto area is the free University of Toronto mobile app, which allows for searching of the university catalogue (among other things). iPad Games for Sale: I am not sure how much longer these sales will last, so act quickly. Both EA Games and Gameloft have hugely discounted prices on their iPad Games. Flipboard: Although I don’t follow Facebook or Twitter, I still found Flipboard useful and well designed (it won iPad’s App of the Year and is free). As described on iTunes: Flipboard is a fast, beautiful way to flip through the news, photos and updates your friends are sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Google Reader and Flickr. See your social media in a magazine layout that is easy to scan and fun to read. Share articles and photos, comment on posts, and like or favorite anything. Customize your Flipboard with sections created from your favorite people, lists, groups and blogs on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Google Reader. (Source: Slaw) Wed, 22 Dec 2010 11:00:58 +0100 895194 http://web.resourceshelf.com/go/resourceblog/62808 CLIR Announces Hidden Collections Awards The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) today announced the following recipients of the 2010 Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives awards: American Museum of Natural History Library For the People, for Education, for Science: Web Access to the American Museum of Natural History Archives  $117,600 [...] (Source: ResourceShelf) Wed, 22 Dec 2010 09:16:00 +0100 894425 http://rabid-librarian.blogspot.com/2010/12/what-really-great-idea.html For microphilanthropist, donations are a part of daily life It’s been more than 230 days since Carlo Garcia bought a cup of coffee. That’s because in April, the Chicago resident realized that he could change lives and inspire others to do the same — all for the price of his morning joe. “One day this idea popped into my head: How hard would it be to give back to charity every day? What’s stopping us from doing that?” said Garcia, who catalogs his daily donations on his blog, Living Philanthropic.My favourite quote? 'You don't have to be rich and famous to make a little bit of good.' Way to go! (Source: The Rabid Librarian's Ravings in the Wind) Wed, 22 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 894551 http://outofthejungle.blogspot.com/2010/12/blind-visually-disabled-students.html The Chronicle of Higher Education, in a news story dated December 12, by Marc Parry, reports that as colleges and universities create more social media-based services and "hubs" for students, there is an increasing problem with visually disabled students lacking access. The developers of these sites simply don't think about making them accessible, the way that architects now routinely consider ramps and braille signage. But the problem is bigger than social sites' accessibility. E-textbooks often lack the metadata tags that are key for the screenreaders used by visually disabled readers. If an illustration does not have a caption explaining what the illustration, graph or image shows, the blind student cannot access that information. When schools mandate the use of Kindles they really need to be aware that these machines do not have decent readers built in, and blind users will HATE or be unable to use the machines to access e-books (depends on the version whether there is a voice at all -- visit this 2009 CNet review for a sample of the voice). When websites require mouse clicks to navigate, a vision-impaired user cannot access the site, because they cannot see to move the mouse around on the screen. They use a keyboard, and need a key substitute for the button click that the web designer imagines for the mouse. With a mouse-only design, visually impaired users have been locked out of the website.These new developments are actually causing the visually disabled student to LOSE ground from the status of the visually disabled college student of 20 years ago, according to Daniel F. Goldstein, counsel to the National Federation for the Blind. Goldstein helped students file a discrimination complaint against Penn State because of campus technology blocking their access to the library catalog, department websites, and the course management software, which is apparently a nightmare. ... Wed, 22 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 894539 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JohnBattellesSearchblog/~3/SW12BPQvIpM/the_year_in_writing_2010.php This has become something of a tradition at Searchblog (well, OK, it's the second time in three years), in which I review the year in posts and note those of which I am particularly proud. For me it's a way to remember what I've been on about, and catalog some of my sketches for further work (perhaps as a book, ahem). So in chronological order, here are the posts I liked from these past 12 months, with some commentary as well: January Predictions 2010 I'll be getting to this in a post later this week. Search Getting Worse? What Did I Mean?! I wrote a series on this. This is a summary. Google's Tortured History With China In which the eventual unraveling of Google's business in China began. The Evolving Search Interface: Mobile Drives Search As App Or why mobile is a major threat to Google, and why Google responded with Android. Why The Apple iPad Will Disappoint (The Obama Effect) I was wrong about the iPad being a dud, but not wrong about it disappointing me. It pretty much made everyone else happy, but I don't like it mainly for the politics of it. And it did disappoint nearly everyone when it was announced, but then became a major hit. As to why I was unhappy: The Tuesday Signal: Birth of Another Orifice Google Rolling Out Social Search: But Does It Leverage Facebook?  Glimmerings of what has become a full out data sharing war between the rivals. February Thursday Signal: Are You Checked In? I realize, in this post, that checking in is a new field in the Database of Intentions. Updated: Google to Air "Search Stories" Ad During Super Bowl... My big scoop of the year. Sigh, I guess Searchblog isn't much of a news outlet, is it?! The Thursday Signal: Is Google Losing Its Customer Focus? In which I determine it is, based on Buzz. I Don't Like The iPad Because... I guess I had to keep hammering on this. This is about how the iPad is loved by all traditional media because of its locked distribution model. ... Wed, 22 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 894485 http://mblc.state.ma.us/jobs/find_jobs/rss.php?job_id=6521 1.Initiates, develops, and implements procedures for efficient operation and use of the media center. 2. Prepares and administers media budget; evaluates, selects, orders, and catalogs all media center resources. 3.Develops, administers, and maintains a balanced collection in accordance with the district's materials selection policy. 4.Provides literature appreciation, reference, and readers' advisory services to a diverse student population; serves as an information resource to staff and as a link to resources outside the media center. 5.Trains and supervises adult and student volunteers. 6.Works cooperatively with teachers to plan and implement lessons and projects that make use of media center resources; collaboratively plans instructional units incorporating content-area and information literacy skill objectives. 7.Develops and deliver lesson plans for teaching information literacy skills, the information search process, and literature appreciation. 8.Participates in curriculum development and implementation through service on building and district committees; demonstrates knowledge of the Massachusetts State Frameworks. (Source: MBLC Job Listings) Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:10:02 +0100 894268 http://mblc.state.ma.us/jobs/find_jobs/rss.php?job_id=6520 Manage access to Association archives, including adding new acquisitions, cataloging, arranging and describing collections, preservation and conservation. Working with end users, content providers and stakeholders, manages and updates association-wide taxonomy. Provides reference assistance to library users. PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES - Manage use and develop collections in the Archives, identify, acquire, and catalog new NFPA publications, regardless of format; search for older publications not represented in the archives - Arrange and describe archival collections, create finding aids, catalog new acquisitions and update MARC records to ensure access - Create, maintain, and manage digital preservation projects for individual items and collections to provide electronic access to image collections - Oversee conservation and preservation to protect older materials - Collaborate with users and stakeholders to maintain an association-wide controlled vocabulary for NFPA’s digital assets; use nationally-recognized indexing, metadata and taxonomy standards for consistency across the Association - Develop user documentation to train content providers and searchers on how to tag collections and web pages - Provide research to staff, using Archives, library and databases, to assist with code and product development - Answer walk-in, email, and telephone inquiries. (Source: MBLC Job Listings) Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:10:02 +0100 894267 http://mblc.state.ma.us/jobs/find_jobs/rss.php?job_id=6522 The incumbent is responsible for managing the E-Resources, Serials, & Government Documents (ESG) Acquisitions unit, which performs acquisitions of continuing resources (including monographic series received on standing orders and government documents) in paper, microform, and electronic formats. Working closely with the ESG Cataloging unit, the incumbent participates in establishing ESG policies and procedures in consultation with other unit managers and appropriate staff. ... Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:10:02 +0100 894266 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=16289 Librarian (Technical Services) (Saddleback College, California) Full-Time Tenure Track JOB OPENING ID# 1721/3789 CLOSING DATE:  APRIL 1, 2011 PLEASE NOTE: In order to be considered for this opening, you must apply through the District website at https://jobs.socccd.edu EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Minimum of two (2) years post-graduate experience in an academic library (preferably community college) planning and managing library automation systems and technical services. ... Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:05:02 +0100 894259 http://web.resourceshelf.com/go/resourceblog/62786 Full Text Paper (4 pages; PDF) Title: Mobile Phone Search for Library Catalogs by Ramona Broussard, Yongyi Zhou, and Matthew Lease School of Information, University of Texas at Austin Source: Proceedings of the 73rd ASIS&T Annual Meeting Volume 47 (2010) From the Abstract: While some libraries have begun to offer [...] (Source: ResourceShelf) Tue, 21 Dec 2010 12:27:00 +0100 894195 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/iRcS/~3/hYsDltzUQg4/louis-armstrong-house-museum-launches.html The Museum Collections of the Louis Armstrong House Museum are available for online browsing. The project to create an Online Catalog of the Museum Collections was supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation (Source: Peter Scott's Library Blog) Tue, 21 Dec 2010 11:52:52 +0100 894148 http://lovetheliberry.blogspot.com/2010/12/art.html Girl: Do you have Strawberries with Whipped Cream by James Patterson.I look all over-- the catalog, Fantastic Fiction, Amazon, Google Books, etc. to finally learn that it is the epilogue to Sundays at Tiffany's.Girl (to her dad): Why did they name the epilogue that?Dad: Because it's art. They can do whatever they want. Why did Picasso paint people with three eyes? Because it's art! (Source: Love the Liberry) Tue, 21 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 895098 http://kidslit.menashalibrary.org/2010/12/21/snook-alone-a-book-of-faith-silence-and-connection/ Snook Alone by Marilyn Nelson, illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering Abba Jacob lived on an island with his dog, Snook.  Each day their routine was the same.  They got up at dawn, prayed, worked together, and spent time in companionable silence together.  Sometimes there were visitors or Abba Jacob headed off to town in his car, but Snook was always there waiting for him.  Until one day, Snook and Abba Jacob headed out in a boat to help catalog plant and animal species on the islands.  Snook was along to help catch the rats and mice that were disrupting the birds and animals of the islands.  It was great micing!  It was so good that Snook got too involved in his work, so when a storm blew up, Abba Jacob was forced to leave Snook behind on the deserted island.  All alone, Snook found his own rhythm of silence, catching food, finding water, silence and waiting.  Sometimes he thought he could hear Abba Jacob’s voice on the wind, but no one came for him.  Snook spent a long time alone on the island, never forgetting his friend, Abba Jacob.  Until one day, a fishing boat returned to the island with Abba Jacob aboard! This book is such a  delight.  It is a book with such depth, such quiet, such silence that its power builds during those quiet moments, creating a magnificent longing.  It is a book that celebrates the simple, the quiet, the profound in our lives.  It is a book about enduring friendship, continued connection, and at its heart: love.  Nelson writes with such a beauty here that some lines make you stop and you have to remember to breathe again.  They are moments just like in the book itself, moments of simple clarity, embedded in the writing. ... Tue, 21 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 894750 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/dTJJL/~3/hYsDltzUQg4/louis-armstrong-house-museum-launches.html The Museum Collections of the Louis Armstrong House Museum are available for online browsing. The project to create an Online Catalog of the Museum Collections was supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation (Source: Peter Scott's Library Blog) Tue, 21 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 894626 http://mcls.org/blog/?p=828 In just a few short days, your library patrons will be opening gifts of new Kindles, Nooks, iPads, and other eReaders.  After reading their pre-loaded books, these patrons will descend on your libraries in droves, asking for help to download eBooks and audiobooks from your catalog.  Are you ready for the onslaught? On April 28, 2011, MCLS is hosting a special program in Lansing, Michigan, on digital books and eReaders.  Our keynote presenter will be Bobbi Newman (librarianbyday.net) speaking on “Choose Your Own Adventure: the Future of eBooks and Libraries.”  We will have a speaker addressing legal issues related to eReaders, and Kathy Petlewski will present on the practical side of helping patrons to download eBooks to a variety of eReaders.  During the breaks, Kathy will also host “Petlewski’s Petting Zoo” where attendees can try out different eReaders hands-on.  Online registration for this special program is available on the MCLS Workshop Registration web page: https://members.mcls.org/workshops/viewcourse.html?id=252 For help with eReaders prior to April 28, here are some helpful links: Julia Walkuski’s LibGuide (U of M Dearborn) http://libguides.umd.umich.edu/ereaders Paul Gallagher’s DALNET presentation http://www.dalnet.lib.mi.us/def.html Kathy Petlewski’s Thoughts from a Well-Rounded Librarian blog http://kpetlewski.wordpress.com/ eBook Reader Review http://ebook-reader-review.toptenreviews.com/ eReader Comparison http://chamberfour.com/ereader-comparison/ eBook Reader Comparison http://www.ereaderleader.com/ereader-comparison/ Note: the above links are posted on the MCLS Michigan & Indiana Libraries Wiki at: http://mcls.org/wiki/index.php/EBooks_and_eReaders Please feel free to add links to other eReader resources to this Wiki page! (Source: MLC Blog) Mon, 20 Dec 2010 20:18:40 +0100 894102 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/kKPe9bJH7Ms/going-green-at-google-in-2010.html (Cross-posted on the Google.org blog)At Google, we’re committed to building a clean energy future because we we want to be good environmental stewards, and because we think it makes business sense. We’ve had a busy year with our clean energy initiatives. Take look at our redesigned green website and this new video from the Google green team to learn more about the priorities we’re pursuing:As we look back on 2010, we wanted to highlight what we’ve been working on this year to help build a more sustainable future—for Google, and the world.Greening our operations. We already have the most energy efficient data centers in the world, and use renewable energy whenever possible. This year we created a subsidiary, Google Energy LLC, to enable us to purchase renewable energy on the wholesale power markets and to help spur development in the sector.Flexibility in buying renewable energy. In February, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) granted Google Energy LLC the authority to buy and sell energy on the wholesale market, giving us the flexibility to procure renewable energy at competitive prices.20-year green power purchase. Our FERC authority enabled Google Energy LLC to enter a 20-year green Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in July to buy clean energy from 114 megawatts (MW) of wind generation at NextEra’s Story County II facility in Iowa (read more about how the deal is structured). By purchasing so much energy for so long, we’re giving the developer financial certainty to build additional clean energy projects.Developing green products and tools. Just a few weeks ago, during the the U.N. Climate Change Conference in sunny Cancun, Mexico, we launched Google Earth Engine, a new Google Labs product. Google Earth Engine is a technology platform that makes an unprecedented catalog of imagery and data available online in one place for the first time. It enables global-scale monitoring and measurement of changes in the earth’s environment. ... Mon, 20 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 894545 http://rochellejustrochelle.typepad.com/copilot/2010/12/ereaders-overdrive-compatibility-libraries-as-digital-content-ghost-towns.html This past Saturday, I stopped by the nook kiosk at Barnes & Noble so that I could chat with the sales rep and better explain exactly what the library had to offer from Overdrive. We’ve had a few patrons who’ve said they were told by BN sales staff that they could find TONS of free books at the library. While, technically, this is true, if you count the public domain content, most people were already force-fed the classics at some point during their formal education and want something a little more current.Pro tip: It’s not a good idea to engage retail employees on the Saturday before Christmas. Especially one who is hawking THE HOT ITEM ON EVERYONE’S CHRISTMAS LIST at a kiosk in the entry of a mall anchor store. What I mean to say is, Holy cow, that joint was jumpin’!  I waited at least ten minutes to get the guy’s attention. In that ten minutes, he sold at least two nooks, and lost another customer who decided to come back later. Other people stood and listened--there was kind of a county fair/veg-o-matic vibe to the scene. Finally, I saw a break, jumped in and introduced myself as someone from the library who wanted to make sure BN staff understood exactly what we had to offer, since I wasn’t sure the right message was getting out. We barely got started when more customers came up to the kiosk. I stepped back and let him work. After about five minutes, I gave up and went browsing. I came back about 20 minutes later and managed to catch him in between customers and we ended up having a great chat.  He’s already a library user, but wasn’t really familiar with Overdrive except on a basic level. So, I gave him the talk that I’ve been giving all the patrons who are smart enough to come to us before buying an e-reader.Are You Really Ready to Buy an Ereader?: Overdrive-Compatible VersionFirst off, Kindle does not work with Overdrive. ... Mon, 20 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 894124 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.education.web4lib/17229 Good afternoon: Tisch library at Tufts University has the option of providing OCLC's WorldCat Local search interface to our patrons. Our Web Services Team is devising a strategy. Like many libraries, we offer a tab interface for direct interaction with our library catalog as well as electronic resources. The current trend for libraries providing access to WorldCat Local appears to be replacing the "classic" catalog (local OPAC) search with WorldCat Local, but including a link to the local OPAC (see University of Washington Libraries<http://www.lib.washington.edu/> for an example). Others have chosen to place WorldCat Local in a tab unto itself and keep the local OPAC in another tab - see University of Connecticut Libraries<http://www.lib.uconn.edu/>. Would anyone be willing to share their strategy and rationale in providing WorldCat Local to your community, as well as student response to the interface? Thanks ever so much, Thom Thom W. Cox Technical Project Manager Tisch Library Tufts University Med (Source: gmane.education.web4lib) Mon, 20 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 894118 http://www.teleread.com/library/google-ngrams-ocr-and-metadata/ Most of the the press and commentary we’ve seen about Google’s new Ngram Viewer has been extremely positive (here’s our post from last week with links to several articles). However, today we came across a very interesting and very well written/documented blog post by Natalie Binder, a librarian and information science student at Florida St. University. “Google’s word engine isn’t ready for prime time” (by Natalie Binder, The Binder Blog) Here are two brief paragraphs from the blog post: The whole idea of Ngrams is built on a shaky foundation: the accuracy of Google’s optical character recognition (OCR) software. OCR is how a computer “reads.” When a paper document is scanned, it’s essentially a “dumb document.” The text is not searchable because a computer doesn’t know the difference between a printed word and an image. [Clip] Accurately digitizing a book requires hundreds of hours of hard work, because a human being has to go through and hand-correct these errors (see my previous article on OCR, “A breadful book“). She also points to the challenge of getting quality metadata when scanning documents. She also includes a link to the widely read 2009 blog post by Geoffrey Nunberg, “Google Books: A Metadata Train Wreck.” Binder concludes: This [metadata] is not a small problem. These types of issues are rampant in Google Books. Moreover, Google may not be able to count on crowd wisdom to fix these problems. Codicology (the study of the physical properties of books) and cataloging are highly specialized professional fields, both of which require Master’s degrees. These types of errors undermine trust in Google’s entire cataloging system. Until these issues are resolved, serious scholars of the humanities cannot approach Google Books as a trustworthy scholarly source. _Unless it can somehow prove its accuracy, ngrams sinks in the same boat. ... Sun, 19 Dec 2010 22:04:57 +0100 893861 http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/dec/19/robert-mccrum-writers-in-prison The latest issue of Index on Censorship highlights the global plight of writers imprisoned for their viewsThere's an apocryphal story about Picasso, who was asked to subscribe to a fund for getting Soviet writers out of prison, but refused. They write better in prison, said Picasso. Oddly enough, in the more recent case of Jeffrey Archer, he would have been right.Leaving aside Lord Archer and the Russians for a moment, when you come to examine Britain's library of prison books, the pickings are surprisingly slim. In the English tradition, I think there are just three manuscripts directly attributable to the clink: John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Oscar Wilde's De Profundis (and "The Ballad of Reading Gaol"), and Money in the Bank by PG Wodehouse, written during his internment in Nazi Germany.Still, from Shakespeare to Byron, self-expression always came with some fear of reprisal, and the list of English writers whose work has been shaped, however slightly, by the prison cell includes Thomas More, Walter Raleigh, Daniel Defoe and Charles Dickens. Arguably, his father's tenure of the Marshalsea (a debtors' prison) was, as much as the celebrated "blacking factory", the novelist's defining experience.Further afield, in the English-speaking world there were the injustices of the Raj and, later, of apartheid. From South Africa, Breyten Breytenbach's masterpiece, True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist, owes everything to his imprisonment, which takes us back to Picasso's provocative contention.But here in Britain, for the last 100 years, our literature has been unrestricted. Some homosexual writers might dispute that, but most writers have enjoyed real freedom. What's more, most British readers would say they live in a free society.Sadly, this has not been the experience of writers, or readers, worldwide. ... Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:05:20 +0100 893719 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2010/12/18/reference-question-of-the-week-121210 Here’s a good example of why having some readers advisory background is very helpful when doing reference - and how not taking shortcuts can save the patron’s time. A young patron came to the desk and says, I’m looking for a book - I borrowed it from a friend of mine, but only got like 25 pages into it, and then he took it back. Can you find it for me, because I want to finish it. She couldn’t remember the author, but she was sure the title was The Alchemist. No problem, I thought, as I walked her down to Y/Fic/Coelho - but after skimming the first few pages, she said it wasn’t the right book. Then I took her to Y/Fic/Scott, thinking she might have meant The Alchemyst instead of The Alchemist, but that wasn’t the right one either. Nor was it Fullmetal Alchemist. So we walked back up to the desk to search the catalog, and on the way she told me what she remembered from the story: a guy walks into a private detective’s (or a psychiatrist?) office and tells her his life story, and that he has been alive for hundreds of years. Since she’d only gotten twenty pages into the book, the only real detail she could remember is that the guy was described has having very engaging colorful eyes, that changed color sometimes. She texted her friend to ask him who the author was, while I searched our catalog for The Alchemist. However, she didn’t recognize any of the covers and the book records didn’t include descriptions. Since she kept talking about the guy telling his life story in the office, I thought we might hit on it by searching the internet. We tried searching online for things like “the alchemist” detective “life story” and alchemist “life story” -Coelho -fullmetal and “life story” book eyes change color but weren’t getting anywhere. ... Sat, 18 Dec 2010 15:46:59 +0100 893666 http://newpagesblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/seven-stories-press-holiday-sale.html Seven Stories Press is having a holiday sale:25% off all frontlist titles50% off all backlist titlesAuthor catalog list here.Subject catalog list here.Enter the coupon code SSPHOLIDAY10 when checking out to claim the backlist discount. Backlist offer limited to titles published before July 1, 2010 and to orders within the US. Buyers are asked to place a separate order for frontlist and backlist (Source: NewPages Blog) Sat, 18 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 893811 http://invisibleweblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/jasis-latest-issue.html Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (JASIST) is one of the most prestigious and influential peer reviewed journals in LIS and has been published continuously since 1950. Recently, JASIS&T has published the 12th issue of its 61 volume (December 2010). Titles of some papers appeared in this issue are:Last but not least: Additional positional effects on citation and readership in arXiv, Co-citation analysis, bibliographic coupling, and direct citation: Which citation approach represents the research front most accurately? A comparison of two techniques for bibliometric mapping: Multidimensional scaling and VOS,Power law distributions in information science: Making the case for logarithmic binning,The effect of folder structure on personal file navigation,Requirements and use of in-service information in an engineering redesign task: Case studies from the aerospace industry,The effect of spelling and retrieval system familiarity on search behavior in online public access catalogs: A mixed methods study,Member activities and quality of tags in a collection of historical photographs in Flickr,Influences of users' familiarity with visual search topics on interactive video digital libraries,Using structural information to improve search in Web collections, A new context-dependent term weight computed by boost and discount using relevance information,Adapting semantic natural language processing technology to address information overload in influenza epidemic management,Sentiment in short strength detection informal text. (Source: The Invisible Web Weblog) Sat, 18 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 893785 http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/node/6513 The Berkman Center's Law Lab is pleased to announce the launch of the initial prototype for its Digital Law Library wiki . Initiated in 2010, and led by Law Lab Director Oliver Goodenough in close collaboration with Tracy Bach, a professor at Vermont Law School and Yaya Bodian, Maître Assistant at CREDILA, Université Cheikh Anta Dioin, in Dakar, Senegal, this effort is focused on cataloging and analyzing Senegalese and other West African law and putting it online in a searchable and easily accessible format. In partnership with local lawyers, professors, researchers, and students, the initial stage of this project seeks to improve online access to the laws and other materials for a variety of actors, including government representatives, NGOs, scholars, and citizens. The Law Lab has supported CREDILA in establishing this access-controlled curated wiki for Senegalese law, with a particular emphasis on commercial and business related laws. The site covers lawmaking in all three branches of Senegal, in addition the law of international bodies, like treaties, as well as that of regional organizations like ECOWAS and the AU. It also consists of both links to relevant websites containing Senegalese law, like those of government ministries, as well as original material not available online elsewhere (like the scholarly review published by CREDILA annually). Additional information regarding the project, which has been funded with generous support by the Kauffman Foundation and the wiki can be found at the Law Lab site. An introductory tutorial is forthcoming. As always, feedback is encouraged and most welcome. (Source: Berkman Blog) Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:58:55 +0100 893532 http://www.lib.auburn.edu/whatsnew/2010/12/catalog-changes/ Since  July 20 the default online catalog of the Auburn University Libraries has been a catalog labelled “Catalog (beta).”  It is now simply labelled “the Catalog” and has been chosen as the default online catalog for patrons to use.  It is prominently located in the left central portion of the Auburn University Libraries homepage . A radio button for the “Classic Catalog” continues to be available for those who wish to use the online catalog previously known as AUBIEcat. Further change:  the “Classic Catalog” otherwise known as AUBIEcat is itself undergoing redevelopment.  To find out more about the pending redesign, click on the blue “Keyword Search” button located on the Auburn University Libraries homepage below the “Catalog” and “Classic Catalog” radio buttons.  This takes you to the Keyword Search screen in AUBIEcat (otherwise now known as the Classic Catalog).  Click on the bright yellow “AUBIEcat Redesign” link located in the upper right hand side of the screen. (Source: What's New at the Auburn Libraries) Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:36:55 +0100 893468 http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/dec/16/culturomics-google-tool-cultural-trends Two hundred years of history in the form of 5,195,769 digitised books can now be probed for cultural trends using Google's new culturomics toolEmail updates and links to science@guardian.co.uk. We'd like to hear about your own research using the new tool. What trends have you unearthed? The paper's authors have agreed to analyse some of the best ones for usRead the research in Science (register to view it in full)Friday 17 December 3.34pm: Our own Martin Robbins has used the tool to identify a marked cultural trend in favour of a certain liberal-leaning newspaper.Friday 3.27pm: A vast collection of Google ngrams is already being amassed at #ngrams on Twitter.Friday 3.21pm: A bona fide linguistics researcher has weighed in with a blopost at the Language Log. Geoff Nunberg of the University of California Berkeley welcomes the research, and the new Google tool, but looks forward to more bells and whistles:The big news is that Google has set up a site called the Google Books Ngram Viewer where the public can enter words or n-grams (to 5) for any period and corpus and see the resulting graph. They've also announced that the entire dataset of n-grams will be made available for download. Some reports have interpreted this as meaning that Google is making the entire corpus available. It isn't, alas, nor even the pre-1923 portion of the corpus that's in public domain. One can hope…At present, that's all you can with this. You can't do many of the things that you can do with other corpora: you can't ask for a list of the words that follow traditional for each decade from 1900 to 2000 in order of descending frequency, or restrict a search for bronzino to paragraphs that contain fish and don't contain painting, etc. And while Lieberman Aiden and Michel made an impressive effort to purge the subcorpus of the metadata errors that have plagued Google Books, you can't sort books by genre or topic. ... Fri, 17 Dec 2010 08:10:47 +0100 893359 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=16265 Librarian/Archivist (Vulcan Inc., Washington) The Librarian/Archivist is responsible for original cataloging of library materials in a variety of formats, processing of archival collections, conducting basic preservation activities, providing access to the collections, and assisting with reference services. This position works with traditional archival materials, artifacts, photos, and digital media. The Librarian/Archivist works closely with the Director to collaborate on projects that utilize the archival collections. ... Fri, 17 Dec 2010 03:05:02 +0100 893230 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/iRcS/~3/t1PZ8R5CIdM/national-diet-library-of-japan-adds-4.html The National Diet Library has successfully added 4 million records to WorldCat, making these valuable research resources more visible and accessible to scholars, students and Web searchers worldwide through the world's most comprehensive database of materials held by libraries. In June, the National Diet Library and OCLC announced their agreement "to cooperate for the benefit of libraries, library patrons and end users of information services." OCLC staff from Leiden, the Netherlands, and Dublin, Ohio, USA, worked with National Diet Library staff to create a conversion program to convert JAPAN/MARC to MARC 21 records. Cataloging staff with language expertise were also critical to the successful data conversion and load into WorldCat. The addition of Japan's National Diet Library records increases the number of records containing CJK (Chinese-Japanese-Korean) script data in WorldCat by nearly 33 percent (Source: Peter Scott's Library Blog) Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:08:53 +0100 893123 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/iRcS/~3/UczpJV-3t_M/biblio-tech-review-december-2010.html The December 2010 issue of Biblio Tech Review is now available. This issue includes: * Staffordshire University (UK) chooses Koha open source * European consortium launches advanced cloud infrastructure project * Western Regional Consortia (US) Share Library Resources across the Divide * SirsiDynix launches BookMyne 2.0 iPhone application * SkyRiver Becomes Exchange Partner for LC's Program for Cooperative Cataloging (Source: Peter Scott's Library Blog) Thu, 16 Dec 2010 11:10:45 +0100 893130 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ReadingGirlSpeaks/~3/cqcEhW-tmDo/ohiolink-unveils-new-look.html The OhioLINK central catalog has a new look today, but still the same great resources, giving you access to millions of books, scores, and recordings from around the state. New features include: the Library Holdings and Table of Contents boxes may now be minimizedby clicking on the Hide link in the upper right of the boxwhen possible, a link to the electronic version of content appears on the results list. To see examples of this you can do a keyword search on Hathi Trust .action oriented buttons have been given different colors to make them stand out to the user. ... Thu, 16 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 894112 http://drakelibrary.blogspot.com/2010/12/library-services-during-winter-break.html As mentioned recently, our web page, the access to article databases, the catalog, to reference materials and other online resources will be available 24/7 as usual. While we will be closed for two weeks, we will be open after that. Click here for the schedule of our hours, and we'll be glad to help you in person, on the phone, or through online chat. (Source: Drake Memorial Library) Thu, 16 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 893540 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/dTJJL/~3/UczpJV-3t_M/biblio-tech-review-december-2010.html The December 2010 issue of Biblio Tech Review is now available. This issue includes: * Staffordshire University (UK) chooses Koha open source * European consortium launches advanced cloud infrastructure project * Western Regional Consortia (US) Share Library Resources across the Divide * SirsiDynix launches BookMyne 2.0 iPhone application * SkyRiver Becomes Exchange Partner for LC's Program for Cooperative Cataloging (Source: Peter Scott's Library Blog) Thu, 16 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 893080 http://careercenter.sla.org/jobs/3805784/librarian-archivist US - WA - Seattle, Librarian/Archivist Vulcan Inc., Seattle, WA The Librarian/Archivist is responsible for original cataloging of library materials in a variety of formats, processing of archival collections, condu (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results []) Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:56:00 +0100 892971 http://litablog.org/2010/12/call-for-bloggers-midwinter-2011-schedule/ Do you plan to attend ALA Midwinter in San Diego? Take this opportunity to become a LITA Blogger. The LITA Blog (http://litablog.org) will again be on hand to report what is happening and share the terrific Midwinter experience with those who cannot attend this year. If you like to write and are looking for new ways to get involved (or have blogged in the past and would like to blog again), please email me at thebrewinlibrarian@gmail.com and let me know what sessions you would like to cover. The blog schedule for Midwinter is below and will be updated as we receive volunteers. Names of bloggers appear in bold next to session. If there is no name after a session title, please feel free to sign up for it! We will be taking volunteers up to and during the conference. Thank you very much in advance! Matt Hamilton, LITA Web Coordinating Committee FRIDAY, JANUARY 7 Creating Library Web Services: Mashups and APIs 9:00 am- 4:30 pm SDCC-Room 24 A del.icio.us subject guides, Flickr library displays, YouTube library orientation; with mashups and APIs, it’s easier to bring pieces of the web together with library data. Learn what an API is and what it does, the components of web services, how to build a mashup, how to work with PHP, and how to create web services for your library. Participants should be comfortable with HTML markup and have an interest in learning about web scripting and programming and are encouraged to bring a laptop for hands-on participation. Open Source CMS Playroom 9:00 am- 4:30 pm SDCC-Room 24 B Open source content management systems present an opportunity for libraries to distribute content creation and maintenance and add Web 2.0 features to library websites. This workshop will provide an overview of several content management systems, compare and contrast system functionality and features, and demonstrate how open source CMSs can be used to enhance library websites. ... Wed, 15 Dec 2010 22:15:50 +0100 893198 http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2010/12/15/the-relationship-between-user-experience-and-customer-experience/ In the past I’ve heard talks or read articles where user experience (UX) and customer experience (CX) are used interchangeably to describe some process of designing and implementing an enhanced service environment for the end user/customer/community member. I don’t think there is anything wrong with using them interchangeably for most audiences, but it may be informative for our own understanding to get a sense of how they are differentiated and how they relate to each other. Perhaps we can to establish the uniqueness of each term, although some of you may decide it’s just a matter of semantics. Read up on and it and come to your own conclusions. A good starting point is this interview with Samantha Starmer, Manager, eCommerce Experience at REI published at UX Magazine. You can read the transcript or watch a video of the interview. The interviewer asks an interesting question of Starmer: How does REI define ‘user experience’ and its relationship to customer experience (CX)? Here is Starmer’s response: I think that it’s an interesting question, when you talk about user experience and customer experience. User experience, in general, we’re thinking about people using something, people interacting with something. Right now, most specifically, that’s the website and any mobile applications or mobile sites, but that’s really part of a larger umbrella around the full customer experience, which would include interactions with a store employee, using the product, using our services, taking a class, that kind of thing. Seems fairly clear. UX is a subset of CX. You want to design a good user experience for the library catalog, or what happens at the reference or circulation desk of your library. ... Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:05:03 +0100 892944 http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2010/dec/15/rare-book-catalogues It's hard to make a rational case for publishing these expensive print showcases, but they are a defining aspect of my strange tradeI issued my first catalogue as a rare book dealer in 1982, while still lecturing in English at the University of Warwick, from which I resigned a couple of years later in order to deal full-time. By contemporary standards it was pretty fancy: photos of the best items, glossy paper, decent typesetting. I was a bit taken aback when my printer described it as "cheap and cheerful". Or maybe it was me he was referring to?The contents, though, were hardly inexpensive: there was a first edition of Ulysses, a Virginia Woolf corrected typescript, and a number of excellent inscribed books, including TS Eliot (to his first wife), and Joseph Conrad (a pre-publication inscription of Almayer's Folly, his first book). But the catalogue was based on my personal collection, so the problem was how to do another one in six months' time, and another after that. It isn't easy to find the right books: I try to find unique material, and buy in ones, not in lots. When offered a library or collection of books, I pick out the best few, and refer the rest to dealers who are better at books in bulk (yuck) than I am.For a time I kept up the (to me) hectic schedule of two catalogues a year – there are dealers who manage six – though mine never had more than a couple of hundred items in them. But as time went by, and email and the internet came to have a great influence on the trade, I've done fewer and fewer catalogues. Nowadays, I am lucky to get out one every 12 months, and limit them to 100 items.We sent one out last week (Catalogue 34) and I wonder, a little, why I bother? Our catalogues cost £5,000 to print and distribute (in envelopes! with stamps!) to the 800 people on my mailing list, 790 of whom will not order from it. In the first five days after we sent it, we had so few phone calls that we began to suspect the phone was down. ... Wed, 15 Dec 2010 10:41:45 +0100 892842 http://olc7.ohiolink.edu/whatsnew/archives/000396.html OhioLINK today released an update user interface for our library catalog. The changes to the catalog are concentrated on the look and feel of the interface. No changes have been made to its indexing or fundamental functionality. Some features to... (Source: What's New At OhioLINK) Wed, 15 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0100 893194 http://litablog.org/2010/12/join-lita-tech-set-authors-for-a-conversation-at-ala-midwinter/ The LITA Publications Committee will be hosting a conversation and open discussion with three of the LITA Tech Set authors: Marshall Breeding, author of Next Gen Library Catalogs and recognized expert on all things ILS and library technology. Marshall was the 2010 recipient of the prestigious LITA/Library Hi Tech Award for Outstanding Communication in Library and Information Technology. Kelly Czarnecki, author of Gaming in Libraries. Kelly is a technology education librarian at ImaginOn, an innovative collaboration between Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and the Children’s Theater of Charlotte. Lauren Pressley, author of Wikis for Libraries and So You Want To Be a Librarian? Lauren also writes one of the leading library blogs, http://laurenpressley.com/library/. Please join Saturday, January 8, 2011, 1:30-2:30 pm SDCC 31B for a lively exchange with these top technology authors. (Source: LITA Blog) Tue, 14 Dec 2010 23:05:19 +0100 893199 http://146.74.224.231/archives/2010/12/best_of_year_bo.html As the year comes to a close BookBrowse reviewers list their favorite titles for 2010. Here's a selection of the featured titles, for a complete list visit the library catalog and place a request or visit BookBrowse for extended reviews of each title. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson Major Ernest Pettigrew (retired) leads a quiet life in the village of St. Mary, England, until his brother's death sparks an unexpected friendship with Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper from the village. Drawn together by their shared love of literature and the loss of their respective spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali soon find their friendship blossoming into something more. But will their relationship survive in a society that considers Ali a foreigner? The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoat by David Mitchell Dispatched to the influential Japanese port of Dejima in 1799, ambitious clerk Jacob de Zoet resolves to earn enough money to deserve his wealthy fiancee, an effort that is challenged by his relationship with the midwife daughter of a samurai. Brilliant by Jane Brox Documents the role of light in history, tracing how the development of specific innovations had a pivotal influence on social and cultural evolution. Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart In a novel set in the near future, when a beautiful, yet cruel, woman that Lenny Abramov met in Italy says she his coming to stay with him in New York, even the tanks and soldiers stationed in the city and the ongoing war with Venezuela can't get him down. Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny Taking leave during Quebec's Winter Carnival after a case gone wrong, a disgruntled Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is unable to avoid assisting a politically-charged investigation involving a historian's murder during a search for a famous figure's burial site. (Source: Santa Clara County Library - The Latest SCCoop) Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:42:53 +0100 892828 http://nnlm.gov/scr/blog/2010/12/14/journals-in-ncbi-databases/ The merger of the Journals Database within the NLM Catalog is complete. To search for journals, click on the Journal in NCBI Databases on the PubMed homepage. The results will display the list of journal titles.  Notice the Limits for Journal in NCBI Databases are activated.  Also notice that you can still build a PubMed search from the results. NLM has created some tutorials to assist you with this change: The NLM Catalog: A Quick Introduction Searching for Journals in the NLM Catalog The NLM Catalog: Building a Set of Journals to Search in PubMed (Source: Network News) Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:07:14 +0100 892814 http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/new/index.php/2010/12/14/a-new-linkcat-is-coming/ In early 2011, libraries in the South Central Library System, including Madison Public Library, will transition to new software for our online catalog, LINKcat. The new software also includes upgrades to our inventory, search, and checkout systems. Why are we changing our software? The current software we are using is old and outdated. The new software will allow for us to make changes and offer new features that the old software couldn’t support. One of these new features 24/7 access.  Say goodbye to early morning downtime! What does this mean for me? There will be a short period of time during our transition phase when the old LINKcat and automated checkout systems (or “self-checks”) will not be available for use. Watch for updates on that downtime on our library’s web site, our Facebook page, the official LINKcat Facebook page, or our Twitter account.  Our libraries will be open during this brief time, but service may be slower and a library card will be required for borrowing library materials. Between now and go-live time, we’ll offer a series of updates highlighting new features of the online catalog. Look for videos and print guides on how to get the most out of the new LINKcat as soon as the system is operational and available to the public. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding during the transition time. Our staff is looking forward to being able to provide you with better service with this new software! (Source: What's New) Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:07:42 +0100 892833 http://www.betabib.org/2010/12/14/worldcat-samkatalogen-och-expertgruppen/ Under året har frågan om avtalet mellan KB och OCLC som tillåter postutbyte varit uppe i Expertgruppen för Libris nationella system. Frågan är segsliten där de svenska principerna om samkatalogen som en öppen fri datakälla ställs mot ”club good” och att underlätta för de bibliotek som vill få in Deweyklassningar på ett smidigt sätt. Jag har flera gånger poängterat vikten av att de svenska biblioteken finns med i WorldCat och före diskussionen om principerna för återanvändning av data så försökte jag uppmärksamma att det bara varit de bibliografiska posterna som skulle exporteras från Libris och inte beståndsposterna. I mina ögon leder detta till onödiga begränsningar när det gäller att kunna skicka användaren direkt till källan från WorldCat. På OCLC:s marknadsföringsevenemang som KB var värd för tog jag upp den här frågan direkt med OCLC och KB:s ledning på plats. OCLC sade att det inte var några problem. KB sade bara att det inte ingick i förhandlingarna. Ingen motivering. Jag undrar hur det kommer sig att man kan ha hållt på att diskutera det här avtalet så länge, stött och blött det utan att det en enda gång i sin helhet (så vitt jag vet) dragits genom inflytandestrukturen. Att man inte har försökt hitta en samsyn mellan biblioteken när det gäller vad som skall ingå i postutbytet och vilka principer som skall råda. Vi har etablerade principer för LIBRIS samkatalog och jag minns klart och tydligt från riksbibliotekariens besök i Göteborg (under turnén om KB:s vidgade uppdrag) hur han på en direkt fråga svarade att samkatalogen skall stödja principerna för open data. KB:s egna OA-policy stödjer principerna för öppet och fritt metadata. Således torde det vara en grundbult i den svenska samkatalogen. Detta resonemang återspeglas även Expertgruppens resonemang. Första gången den här Expertgruppen hade uppe frågan var den 10 mars: 11. ... Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:14:01 +0100 893919 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=8938 State: Ohio OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs. Tens of thousands of libraries around the world use OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve library materials. We are currently seeking candidates for a Diversity Fellowship Program (Metadata/Quality Control) position at our Corporate Headquarters in Dublin (Columbus), Ohio. The Fellow will work for 6 months with the contract cataloging-related services and then 6 months with quality control. This joint cooperative opportunity will provide well-rounded exposure to cataloging rules, practices, standards, processes, and challenges from both libraries’ and OCLC’s perspectives. The Fellow will be provided with overviews of OCLC services and processes, learning opportunities to develop technical skills, and will be asked to meet objectives contributing to the success of each unit. The Fellow will gain experience in cataloging and collection development of diverse sets of materials that can be used in future professional growth by learning about the varying needs of libraries and material-supplier partners. The Fellow will be working along with the production cataloging staff as well as individually performing tasks. The Fellow will learn to process and correct identified sets of problem/error master records in the WorldCat database including reporting problems with Library of Congress (LC) records directly to LC. A wide variety of problems incorporating all aspects of the cataloging record will be included in this work. The Fellow will also learn the basics of NACO processing of name and series authority records and gain familiarity with the PCC (Program for Cooperative Cataloging). ... Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:00:02 +0100 892589 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=8950 State: California Title:    Electronic Resources Librarian Department:    University Library Class:   Full-Time Position Type: Exempt Staff Salary: Commensurate with experience. Upon eligibility, employees may participate in the benefits plans available to employees, such as medical/dental/vision coverage, 403(b) retirement plan, tuition remission, paid holidays, sick leave, and vacation. Post-Date:       2010-12-06 Deadline:         Open until filled. BASIC FUNCTION AND SCOPE OF JOB As a member of the University Library Team, this librarian will: ● Coordinate the selection and acquisition of electronic resources; assist in negotiating cost/funding issues with library selectors and external partners; manage database trials. ● Configure and maintain all library technologies that support e-resource management. ● Solicit, maintain, and disseminate usage statistics for all licensed online resources. ● Track developments of new and changing online services and resources. ● Provide reference and instruction to University students, faculty, staff, corporate members and alumni onsite and those affiliated with the University via Cybercampus. ● Work with other library staff and faculty to evaluate, select, and deselect materials in all media. ● Participate in library planning, assessment, and evaluation. ● Collaborate with other staff in peer training and staff development. ● Serve as the library's subject specialist and liaison for assigned disciplines (to be determined based on candidate's experience and organizational needs) and maintain effective communication with faculty in liaison areas. Schedule includes evening reference shifts, and one or more weekend days per month. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS This librarian oversees all University Library electronic resources. ... Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:00:02 +0100 892585 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=8978 State: New Jersey Library Web Developer/Designer Princeton University Library Princeton, New Jersey Requisition #1000633 The Princeton University Library comprises a large central library and nine specialized libraries that are heavily used by an academic community of 6,400 students, 1,100 faculty members, and many visiting scholars. To support the diverse needs of its users, the Library holds some six million printed volumes, ranging from incunabula to current imprints, and provides access to many other records of human knowledge, such as ancient papyri and cylinder seals, modern literary manuscripts, and recently produced electronic databases and journals. The Library employs more than 300 professional and support personnel, complemented by a large student and hourly workforce. Please consult the Library Web site for more information http://library.princeton.edu Available: Immediately Description and Responsibilities: The Web Developer position will help the Library Web Development Manager on specific projects to deliver more library content and services to our users from our web sites. Specific projects may include designing new sites, or using new web services technologies to improve the user experience in discovering, searching, finding, or acquiring library materials and content. Additionally, the position will assist in implementing the Drupal CMS, customizing the interface for the latest version of the OPAC, and creating mobile ready versions of the library web site and catalog. Customization tasks for the new NextGen Discovery system will be a large component of the work. Projects will also likely include implementation of open source code created in other libraries, using various API's made available by Google, OCLC, or Code4Lib members as well as various library vendors. This position will also be assigned other digital library projects as the need arises. ... Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:00:02 +0100 892579