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 Personnel/HR/Jobs interest group. http://www.libworm.com/rss/librarianqueries.php Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:53:22 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=15584 Dean of Library & Distance Education (McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, Illinois)   Responsible for providing leadership, development and implementation of services and programs for the Library, Distance Education, and Academic Computer Labs. ... Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:20:02 +0100 868581 http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/sep/02/theresa-breslin-bringing-past-life In the fourth in our series of interviews with authors longlisted for the Guardian children's fiction prize, Michelle Pauli talks Theresa Breslin about writing historical fiction for a modern audienceHistorical fiction for teens may not be as in vogue as vampires right now, but for Theresa Breslin, the stories the past inspires can seem just as fantastical. The Carnegie-winning Scottish author has written more than 30 children's books, many of them tackling serious contemporary subjects such as bullying – but, recently it has been characters from centuries gone that have caught her imagination.Her latest novel, Prisoner of the Inquisition, which has been longlisted for the Guardian children's fiction prize, is set in 15th-century Spain. It was a time of tumult for the country: the throne was divided between two monarchs, Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon; Tomás de Torquemada, the architect of the Spanish Inquisition, was at the height of his powers; and Christopher Columbus was about to set sail across the Atlantic."It was almost too good to be true," says Breslin, laughing down the phone from her home in Scotland. "If you had orchestrated this as a fiction story and gone to an editor saying, I've got a magnificent queen who was intent on reunifying the country, endless religious upheaval and an explorer, they would have said it was a bit much. But, of course, it's all fact."Prisoner of the Inquisition is narrated alternately by two teenagers, Zarita and Saulo, whose lives first connect when privileged, naive Zarita, daughter of a wealthy town magistrate, accuses Saulo's father, a beggar, of touching her in a church. He is killed and Saulo escapes, secretly pledging to take his revenge on Zarita and her family. His side of the story encompasses slavery at sea, an encounter with pirates and a burgeoning friendship with Christopher Columbus. ... Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:44:02 +0100 868549 http://www.comarmsblog.com/2010/09/book-reviews-by-cgsc-faculty.html The current issue (Spring 2010, Volume 1, Number 1) of Marine Corps University Journal contains two book reviews from CGSC faculty. James H. Willbanks (author, Abandoning Vietnam, The Battle of An Loc and The Tet Offensive: A Concise History) reviews General William E. DePuy: Preparing the Army for Modern War by Henry G. Cole (Lexington: University press of Kentucy, 2008). Mark Gerges (author of numerous articles on cavalry in the Peninsula War) reviews The Mother of All Battles: Saddam Hussein's Strategic Plan for the Persian Gulf War by Kevin m. Woods (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2008). The Marine Corps University Journal also contains a variety of interviews, articles and other book reviews. Copies of Marine Corps University Journal are available in the lobby of the CARL. (Source: CARL Book Beacon) Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:31:00 +0100 868526 http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2010/sep/02/kick-ass-2-long-wait A sequel to the superhero hit has been greenlit, according to the writer of the original comic book. But doubts have been raised over the film's production scheduleKick-Ass was always rather nicely set up for a sequel, what with that open-ended denouement, so it's hardly surprising that Mark Millar, who wrote the original comic book, has been talking up a second film. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Millar said the film's success on DVD in the US, where it sold 1.4m units in its first week, meant the project was finally greenlit."The estimate is that Kick-Ass will do 100 to 150m on DVD based on the American sales, so it'll end up making a $250m (£160m) on a $28m investment," said Millar. "So it should be OK. The sequel's greenlit, we can go ahead and do the follow-up now. The first made so much compared to what it cost, it would be crazy not to."Millar's announcement, however, has been greeted with a degree of scepticism in the blogosphere, not least because Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn and screenwriter Jane Goldman are tied up with preparations for X Men: First Class. In a later interview with MTV, Millar said the film was "probably about nine months away from production starting, at the earliest".He added: "Matthew's got to do X-Men: First Class. He just wants to get X-Men done next year, then hopefully we'll just go straight into Kick-Ass 2. That's the plan."All of which sounds a little less concrete. And there's the small matter of Vaughn's comments immediately following Kick-Ass's release, when he seemed to indicate there would probably not be a sequel.Could Millar, who clearly stands to benefit from a second film, be over-egging the biscuit? Probably. Having interviewed him, he's a refreshingly candid chap, saying that film-makers attempting to bring less well-known superheroes to the big screen were "fucked", following the arrival of Kick-Ass's postmodern take. ... Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:49:17 +0100 868558 http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/index.cfm?fa=viewfeature&id=2577 If one looks at the research on older workers, one finds what Peter Cappelli, director of Wharton's Center for Human Resources, calls "an incredible amount of discrimination, bigger even than discrimination against race or gender." Older people, he says, often find it difficult to get a job, partly because relatively young supervisors are reluctant to hire and then manage employees who are decades older, even though these employees are the type of worker many employers say they want. In a new book titled, Managing the Older Worker: How to Prepare for the New Organizational Order, Cappelli and Bill Novelli, former CEO of AARP, analyze this phenomenon. (Source: Knowledge@Wharton) Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:00:00 +0100 868710 http://meadvillelibrary.org/news-events/labor-day-weekend.html The library will be closed on Saturday, September 4th and Monday, September 6th for the Labor Day holiday. Normal hours will resume on Tuesday, September 7th. For the full listing of our remaining holiday closings for 2010, see 2010 Holiday Closings under Information. (Source: Meadville Public Library) Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:20:02 +0100 868383 http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2010/09/and-still-obama-wants-to-raise-taxes.html Higher taxes hurt everyone. It particularly hurts the little guy. But that's what FDR did too during the Great Depression of the 1930s-1940s. His little tax increments, like on entertainment or candy, hurt the poorest the most. Now Obama wants to kill investment. Folks, the richest can always go elsewhere with their money--like India or Europe whose economies are growing much faster than ours as they pull back from socialism.Obama has no intention of turning the economy around. Many panelists on these TV talk shows, cable or broadcast, right and/or left, just don't get it. They keep making hopeful suggestions. But his plan is working--more people than ever are dependent on the federal government.More than 50 million Americans are on Medicaid, the federal-state program aimed principally at the poor, a survey of state data by USA Today shows. That’s up at least 17% since the recession began in December 2007.The program has grown even before the new health care law adds about 16 million people, beginning in 2014. That has strained doctors. Private physicians are already indicating that they’re at their limit, says Dan Hawkins of the National Association of Community Health Centers.In other areas:◦More than 40 million people get food stamps, an increase of nearly 50 percent during the economic downturn, according to government data through May; the program has grown steadily for three years.◦Close to 10 million receive unemployment insurance (nearly four times the number from 2007); benefits have been extended by Congress eight times beyond the basic 26-week program, enabling the long-term unemployed to get up to 99 weeks of benefits; caseloads peaked at nearly 12 million in January.◦More than 4.4 million people are on welfare, an 18 percent increase during the recession.As caseloads for all the programs have soared, so have costs, says USA Today:◦The federal price tag for Medicaid has jumped 36 percent in two years, to $273 billion. ... Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0100 868619 http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/sep/02/editorial-tony-blair-memoirs He may not have all the answers to the big questions posed in his beguiling and maddening book, but he has some of themTony Blair has written an extraordinary political memoir. He could hardly do otherwise. This is not a judgment on the quality of his prose, which is sometimes erratic. It is a statement of the politically obvious. Where some former PMs – John Major or James Callaghan, for example – wrote interesting and useful tomes that were more often put down than picked up again, others – most recently Margaret Thatcher and now Mr Blair – write as polarisers and protagonists. Mr Blair writes as what he himself is, a controversial leader and a continuing player. As he said to the Guardian in his interview this week, he believes he has something to say and something to explain. He wants the chance to be heard. He could not have written a boring book if he had tried. And he hasn't.Reactions to Mr Blair's book inescapably say as much about the person reacting as about the book itself or Mr Blair. Treat the last 48 hours as a media event, and it is something of a triumph for the author and his publishers. The headlines started on Tuesday evening, became a flood on Wednesday morning, dominated the media most of yesterday and get a second wind this morning. There will be a predictable aftershock in the weeklies and Sundays. The many who are resolute about not buying the book are all but certain to be outnumbered by the many more whose interest has been whetted. Good news for Random House and for the Royal British Legion.Treat Mr Blair's book as an account of a big political career and it largely depends on what you thought of that career in the first place. In most cases, if people are honest, that verdict is likely to be mixed (which does not mean evenly balanced) as opposed to monochrome. ... Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:01:11 +0100 868432 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=15555 Research Librarian (Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York) Vassar College Libraries invites candidates to apply for the position of Research Librarian for the Sciences within the Research Services Department.  Please visit us at https://employment.vassar.edu/.  To complete the on-line application process, you will be required to attach your resume, cover letter and contact information for 3 professional references (Word or PDF format required). Applicants should submit materials by October 4, 2010 for first round consideration though the position will remain open until filled. (Source: Latest ALA Job Listings) Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:20:01 +0100 868214 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=15579 Electronic Resources Librarian (St. Olaf College, Nortthfield, Minnesota) St. Olaf is seeking a library professional who recognizes St. Olaf's unique place in higher education as a college of the church, an exemplary national liberal arts college, and a leader in global education. The Electronic Resources Librarian provides leadership to the Libraries in the rapidly developing realm of electronic collections and manages the Libraries' electronic resources including e-journals, research and reference databases, e-books, online sound and multimedia databases, and archival electronic document collections. The Electronic Resources Librarian also provides reference services to students and faculty. ... Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:20:01 +0100 868211 http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/sep/01/tony-blair-gordon-brown-reaction Battle that dominated decade of Labour government reopened as former PM's draft of history becomes instant bestsellerTony Blair repeatedly assured Gordon Brown that he would not contest the Labour leadership, then resolved within minutes of hearing of John Smith's death to stand, telling Peter Mandelson "it's mine", the former prime minister admits for the first time in his autobiography.Blair reveals that even before Smith's death he was "straining at the leash", straying out of his policy brief and becoming more convinced that "something was missing" in Brown's ability to lead. He admits that he toyed with the idea of leadership before Smith's death in 1994, but told Brown he had his backing in order to avoid a battle.Blair's book, A Journey, gives fresh details of the depths of the struggle between the two most powerful men in the Labour government and reopens the wounds of the Blair-Brown era on the day the ballots were sent out in the Labour leadership election.He describes Brown as "maddening", lacking political instinct and having "zero" emotional intelligence.A spokesman for Brown said the former prime minister would not comment on the book. Some in the Brown "crew", as Blair describes them, sought to highlight the positive aspects of the two men's relationship.Ed Balls, a key Brown ally and leadership contender, said: "For all the tensions, difficulties and arguments which undoubtedly happened, [Blair and Brown] achieved great things together. I wish these memoirs could be a time for celebrating those achievements, not recrimination."Blair also used an interview with the BBC's Andrew Marr to try to highlight the achievements the two men had made. "Gordon is somebody of enormous talent, ability, commitment. And in the end, his contribution was enormous. I mean he was a huge, solid figure for the government," he said. ... Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:10:20 +0100 868195 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabyBoomerLibrarian/~3/wm4Aw0ZbXe8/jobs-systems-librarian-university-of-la.html #3041 – Systems Librarian, University of La Verne  -- Wilson Library The University of La Verne invites applicants for a Systems Librarian (Assistant Professor), a non-tenure track 12-month faculty appointment. Reporting directly to the University Librarian, the Systems Librarian will use a high level of technical, instructional, and interpersonal skills. The responsibilities of this position include administering and providing technical support for all aspects of library technology including the Innovative Interfaces Millennium integrated library system, hardware and software installations and maintenance, library wireless, opac, proxy server, online resources and services such as LINK+, ILLIAD, ERM, OCLC, link resolver, research databases, e-journals, e-books, etc.; assisting the University Librarian with technology planning and project implementation; serving as primary liaison with the university’s Office of Information Technology to coordinate all library systems’ installation, upgrade and maintenance; supervise one full-time staff member (Electronic Services Technician); serving as liaison to database and online service providers; providing technology training to library staff; providing research consultation services to library users in a multi-disciplinary environment using multiple formats (in-person, e-mail, phone, and chat); developing, promoting, and delivering effective library research skills/information literacy instructional sessions, seminars and workshops for both on-campus and off-campus programs; developing the library collection by selecting materials for acquisition in all formats; serving as liaison with selected academic departments; maintaining a program of professional development. ... Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:44:00 +0100 868359 http://www.lisnews.org/operation_medical_libraries_war_torn_afghanistan The New York Times reports on the growth of 'Operation Medical Libraries', an effort to restock Afghanistan’s hospitals, clinics and universities with medical textbooks. It began modestly in 2007 with a plea for books from a U.C.L.A. medical graduate serving in the Army and has since been embraced by 30 universities and hospitals, more than a dozen professional organizations and scores of individual doctors and nurses. Nearly three decades of war and religious extremism have devastated medical libraries and crippled the educational system for doctors, nurses and other health professionals. Factions of the Taliban singled out medical texts for destruction, military medical personnel say, because anatomical depictions of the human body were considered blasphemous. “They not only burned the books, but they sent monitors into the classroom to make sure there were no drawings of the human body on the blackboard,” said Valerie Walker, director of the Medical Alumni Association of UCLA. By Ms. Walker’s estimate, 27,000 medical texts have reached Afghanistan through Operation Medical Libraries, but she adds that the number is probably much higher. Donors can contribute directly by visiting the project’s Web site, to find a military volunteer’s address, then shipping the books on their own. (Source: LISNews - Librarian And Information Science News) Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:41:15 +0100 868597 http://lisnews.org/operation_medical_libraries_war_torn_afghanistan The New York Times reports on the growth of 'Operation Medical Libraries', an effort to restock Afghanistan’s hospitals, clinics and universities with medical textbooks. It began modestly in 2007 with a plea for books from a U.C.L.A. medical graduate serving in the Army and has since been embraced by 30 universities and hospitals, more than a dozen professional organizations and scores of individual doctors and nurses. Nearly three decades of war and religious extremism have devastated medical libraries and crippled the educational system for doctors, nurses and other health professionals. Factions of the Taliban singled out medical texts for destruction, military medical personnel say, because anatomical depictions of the human body were considered blasphemous. “They not only burned the books, but they sent monitors into the classroom to make sure there were no drawings of the human body on the blackboard,” said Valerie Walker, director of the Medical Alumni Association of UCLA. By Ms. Walker’s estimate, 27,000 medical texts have reached Afghanistan through Operation Medical Libraries, but she adds that the number is probably much higher. Donors can contribute directly by visiting the project’s Web site, to find a military volunteer’s address, then shipping the books on their own. (Source: LISNews.org) Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:41:15 +0100 868139 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NetbibWeblog/~3/YFvsss8ZPpo/ In der Burlington Free Press erscheint ein Interview mit einer Schulbibliothekarin, die sich gerade aufs neue Schuljahr vorbereitet. (Source: netbib weblog) Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:30:11 +0100 868248 http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/sep/01/mark-pilkington-top-10-books-ufos From total believers to complete sceptics, the author of Mirage Men selects books that are 'informative, entertaining, puzzling or all three at once'Mark Pilkington is a writer with a fascination for the further shores of culture, science and belief. He also publishes books as Strange Attractor Press. In Mirage Men Pilkington travels across America looking to explain his own UFO sighting. After scouring the subject's history and meeting former air force and intelligence insiders, Pilkington concludes that instead of covering up tales of UFO crashes and alien visitors, the US military and intelligence services have been promoting them all along as part of their cold war counter-intelligence operations.Buy Mark Pilkington books at the Guardian bookshop"The UFO arena acts as a kind of vivarium for a range of psychological, sociological and anthropological experiences, beliefs, conditions and behaviours. They remind us that the Unknown and the Other are still very much at large in our modern world, and provide us with a fascinating glimpse of folklore in action. A tiny few UFO reports also still present us with genuine mysteries."The first book about UFOs as we know them was The Flying Saucer, a 1948 novel by British former spy Bernard Newman. I'm not sure how many UFO books have been written since then, but I'd guess that it's well over 1000. Here, in chronological order, are 10 that I can recommend as either informative, entertaining, puzzling or all three at once."1. The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects by Edward J RuppeltAn insider's account of the crucial, early days of the UFO story, by the man who headed the US Air Force's official UFO investigation from 1951 to 1953. Ruppelt documents shifting Air Force attitudes to the phenomenon, which ranged from aggressive denial to apparent endorsement of alien visitation in an infamous 1952 Life magazine article. In a revised edition, published in 1960, Ruppelt was more dismissive of the subject. ... Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:29:56 +0100 868192 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/ezFR/~3/JZkuOwOgy4Y/ Boston.com’s Tom Sococca has an absolutely fascinating interview with Andrew Pettegree, author of The Book in the Renaissance. The parallels between printers’ problems at the time and the publishing industry today are legion. Inventing the printing press was not the same thing as inventing the publishing business. Technologically, craftsmen were ready to follow Gutenberg’s example, opening presses across Europe. But they could only guess at what to print, and the public saw no particular need to buy books. The books they knew, manuscript texts, were valuable items and were copied to order. The habit of spending money to read something a printer had decided to publish was an alien one. Nor was print clearly destined to replace manuscript, from the point of view of the book owners of the day. A few fussy color-printing experiments aside, the new books were monochrome, dull in comparison to illuminated manuscripts. Many books left blank spaces for adding hand decoration, and collectors frequently bound printed pages together with manuscript ones. “It’s a great mistake to think of an absolute disjunction between a manuscript world of the Middle Ages and a print world of the 16th century,” Pettegree said. As in our own Internet era, culture and commerce went through upheaval as Europe tried to figure out what to make of the new medium and its possibilities. Should it serve to spread familiar Latin texts, or to promote new ideas, written in the vernacular? Was print a vessel for great and serious works, or for quick and sloppy ones? As with the iPad (or the Newton before it), who would want to buy a printed book, and why? Pettegree’s book is available from Amazon for $26.40 but not in an ebook version yet. I guess I’ll have to wait to read it. Thanks to a tweet from johnmiedema1 Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:20:21 +0100 868305 http://www.teleread.com/2010/09/01/after-youve-printed-a-book-what-do-you-do-with-it-gutenbergs-problem/ Boston.com’s Tom Sococca has an absolutely fascinating interview with Andrew Pettegree, author of The Book in the Renaissance. The parallels between printers’ problems at the time and the publishing industry today are legion. Inventing the printing press was not the same thing as inventing the publishing business. Technologically, craftsmen were ready to follow Gutenberg’s example, opening presses across Europe. But they could only guess at what to print, and the public saw no particular need to buy books. The books they knew, manuscript texts, were valuable items and were copied to order. The habit of spending money to read something a printer had decided to publish was an alien one. Nor was print clearly destined to replace manuscript, from the point of view of the book owners of the day. A few fussy color-printing experiments aside, the new books were monochrome, dull in comparison to illuminated manuscripts. Many books left blank spaces for adding hand decoration, and collectors frequently bound printed pages together with manuscript ones. “It’s a great mistake to think of an absolute disjunction between a manuscript world of the Middle Ages and a print world of the 16th century,” Pettegree said. As in our own Internet era, culture and commerce went through upheaval as Europe tried to figure out what to make of the new medium and its possibilities. Should it serve to spread familiar Latin texts, or to promote new ideas, written in the vernacular? Was print a vessel for great and serious works, or for quick and sloppy ones? As with the iPad (or the Newton before it), who would want to buy a printed book, and why? Pettegree’s book is available from Amazon for $26.40 but not in an ebook version yet. I guess I’ll have to wait to read it. Thanks to a tweet from johnmiedema1 Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:20:21 +0100 868304 http://librarychronicles.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html#2451238228104719539 Apparently these UNO students affected by the Governor's budget cuts agree A student demonstration at the University of New Orleans turned rowdy today when protesters scuffled with campus police, who arrested two of them and led them away in handcuffs in a police cruiser. One of the students was sprayed by police with mace. At least no one was tazed. Longtime readers will note that I am no fan of attention-whoring protest events. But, in this case, I will at least give the students credit for storming offices and injuring ankles and stuff. They could have just painted themselves blue, recited some poetry and called it a day. This, I think, at least shows some commitment. Plus UNO Chancellor Tim Ryan is kind of a tool anyway. I hope they broke some of his shit.In all seriousness, though, these kids should head of to Baton Rouge where they could perhaps find their way into the Governor's office. After all, it's Jindal's budget cuts that are bringing all this trauma about in the first place.UNO students and personnel are irate because about $14.5 million in state money already has been sliced from the school's budget since January 2009 and because more cuts may combine academic departments and eliminate majors in fields such as management, marketing, English, science, mathematics and social studies. There would be a sharp reduction in the number of part-time teachers, faculty teaching loads would increase, and class sizes would be larger.Participants in the Rising Tide 5 Politics Panel pulled no punches with Jindal. Jacques Morial and Clancy Dubos repeatedly referred to the Governor as a "hypocrite". Even Jeff Crouere confessed himself "disappointed" and said he suspects the Governor's ambitions and priorities lie outside of the state. ... Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0100 868409 http://micheladrien.blogspot.com/2010/09/law-library-benchmarks-2010-11.html Primary Research Group has just published its Law Library Benchmarks, 2010-11 Edition:"This study (ISBN 1-57440-155-6) presents data from a survey of more than 50 law libraries in the United States and Canada. The study presents overall and per lawyer employed spending on content/materials, books, print reporters, online services and other legal information vehicles. It covers the trends in use of floor space, overall budgets and staffing, including hiring plans and the breakdown in total staff between librarians and other employees.""The study also presents highly specific data on cost recovery by libraries though charge backs to patrons. Librarians sampled also describe the measures that that they have taken to reduce costs, and to better negotiate with suppliers. Other areas covered include: use of internet tools and resources, the library role in records management, market research and case research, among other areas." (Source: Library Boy) Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0100 868361 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.education.web4lib/16791 I have been looking at developing a video based show on Libraries based on the extremely successful format of Leo LaPorte's TwitTv : http://twit.tv/ I have reviewed - YouTube for archives and trailers: http://www.youtube.com/user/OceanStateLibrarian LiveStream as an economical social media delivery model: http://www.livestream.com/publibtv However, two new formats that represent very wide distribution are available or are becoming available soon: Netflix - http://developer.netflix.com - a huge branded, easy to use interface that fits dynamically with Amazon GoogleTV - http://www.google.com/tv/ - currently partnering with Logitech, Sony and others to create a search interface that melds traditional TV along with the Google interface. Multiple studios around the country / world can be utilized using the Livestream model creating a remote Library news, interview, and product review potential. I think this could become a very strong marketing tool for libraries along with a method of sharing inform (Source: gmane.education.web4lib) Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0100 868143 http://community.livejournal.com/libraries/965376.html I am about to take over management of the interlibrary loan department and its library assistant. I've not managed much of anything in my life and feel like I could use some theoretical background both in ILL and personnel management. Can anyone recommend any books on the subjects?Thanks. (Source: Library Lovers' LiveJournal) Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:44:00 +0100 868037 http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/aug/31/tony-blair-iraq-nightmare In an emotional chapter in his memoirs on the Iraq war, the former prime minister insists that military action was justifiedTony Blair admits that Britain and the US failed to anticipate, after the invasion of Iraq, "the nightmare that unfolded" as al-Qaida and Iran destabilised the country after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003.In an emotional chapter in his memoirs on the Iraq war, in which he admits to shedding many tears at the loss of so many lives, the former prime minister insists that military action was justified and refuses to offer an apology for joining forces with George Bush."I can't regret the decision to go to war," he writes in A Journey. But he adds: "I can say that never did I guess the nightmare that unfolded, and that too is part of the responsibility. The truth is we did not anticipate the role of al-Qaida or Iran. Whether we should have is another matter; and if we had anticipated, what we would have done about it is another matter again."Blair writes of his anguish about how families of the fallen may not understand his pain at the loss of so many lives. "Do they really suppose I don't care, don't feel, don't regret with every fibre of my being the loss of those who died," Blair writes as he pays tributes to coalition soldiers and Iraqis who lost their lives."The anguish arises from a sense of sadness that goes beyond conventional description or the stab of compassion you feel on hearing tragic news," he adds. "Tears, though there have been many, do not encompass it. I feel desperately sorry for them, sorry for the lives cut short, sorry for the families whose bereavement is made worse by the controversy over why their loved ones died, sorry for the utterly unfair selection that the loss should be theirs. ... Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:43:09 +0100 868033 http://www.lisnews.org/itinerant_poetry_librarian_next_headed_boston For four years, Sara Wingate Gray has been traveling the globe carrying a library of “lost and forgotten poetry” with her wherever she goes, and this week she is bringing the books to Jamaica Plain. Through a character known as “the itinerant poetry librarian” she has devoted most of her days to finding bars, parks, pizza parlors and coffee shops in diverse locales—Romania, Washington DC, the Czech Republic, San Francisco—where she can set up shop. This week, Wingate Gray’s traveling library is open in the Greater Boston Area, including two upcoming dates in Jamaica Plain. On Wed., Sept. 1 she will be at Forest Hills Cemetery from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. On Friday, Sept. 3, she will be at the Brendan Behan Pub 378 Centre St. from 4p.m. to 7 p.m. The selections at Forest Hills will be focused on the theme of “dead poets,” Wingate Gray told the Gazette in an Aug. 31 interview at the Jamaica Plain Gazette offices. She said she is not sure what the theme of the Behan library will be, “I can guess it will have something to do with drunkenness and rock & roll,” she said. The poetry library “is a real library,” Wingate Gray said. “The point is to remind people of the importance of free public libraries.” For updates, including upcoming library dates, see http://twitter.com/librarian. (Source: LISNews - Librarian And Information Science News) Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:29:42 +0100 868600 http://lisnews.org/itinerant_poetry_librarian_next_headed_boston For four years, Sara Wingate Gray has been traveling the globe carrying a library of “lost and forgotten poetry” with her wherever she goes, and this week she is bringing the books to Jamaica Plain. Through a character known as “the itinerant poetry librarian” she has devoted most of her days to finding bars, parks, pizza parlors and coffee shops in diverse locales—Romania, Washington DC, the Czech Republic, San Francisco—where she can set up shop. This week, Wingate Gray’s traveling library is open in the Greater Boston Area, including two upcoming dates in Jamaica Plain. On Wed., Sept. 1 she will be at Forest Hills Cemetery from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. On Friday, Sept. 3, she will be at the Brendan Behan Pub 378 Centre St. from 4p.m. to 7 p.m. The selections at Forest Hills will be focused on the theme of “dead poets,” Wingate Gray told the Gazette in an Aug. 31 interview at the Jamaica Plain Gazette offices. She said she is not sure what the theme of the Behan library will be, “I can guess it will have something to do with drunkenness and rock & roll,” she said. The poetry library “is a real library,” Wingate Gray said. “The point is to remind people of the importance of free public libraries.” For updates, including upcoming library dates, see http://twitter.com/librarian. (Source: LISNews.org) Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:29:42 +0100 867876 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=15571 Head of Library Technology and Systems (Coastal Carolina University, Conway, South Carolina) Coastal Carolina University’s Kimbel Library is expanding its services to meet the needs of a rapidly growing campus. It seeks an enthusiastic colleague to provide vision and leadership that reflects current needs and anticipates future trends in the evolving library and information environment. The successful candidate will have experience in the management of library systems that support the essential functions of the library, including the library’s integrated system and resource sharing software and systems. ... Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:20:01 +0100 867847 http://blog.booklistonline.com/2010/08/31/minority-report-witnessing-the-backlash/ If I hadn’t read Will Bunch’s The Backlash: Right-Wing Radicals, High-Def Hucksters and Paranoid Politics in the Age of Obama, I might have been more mystified by several recent developments. Monday, NBC’s Brian Williams, in an exclusive interview with President Barack Obama, asked for a response to charges that the president is not a native-born American. On Sunday, Fox News host Glenn Beck and his marquee speaker Sarah Palin rallied hundreds of thousands of conservatives to the Lincoln Memorial on the 47th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech to call for a return to American sense of honor. Supermarket tabloids give front-page coverage to claims that Obama is a Muslim. Shirley Sherrod, a former Department of Agriculture employee, was fired after a conservative web site posted a clip of her speech confessing a former bias against whites; though it turns out that the full text of her remarks were about helping a white couple save their farm. Pulitzer Prize-winning political reporter Bunch traveled the length and breadth of the US, attending rallies and meetings of radical groups worked up about the state of the nation under the first black president. Bunch pinpoints their worries to changes in demographics that has the US Census Bureau predicting that by 2050 whites will no longer be in the majority. Bunch profiles the Tea Party, Birthers, Oath Keepers, 9.12 Project and others; and debunks several claims, including the allegation that FEMA has been directed to round up discontents for internment camps and that the Obama administration was confiscating guns.  It all makes for interesting reading and observing as the mid-term elections approach. (Source: Likely Stories) Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:00:18 +0100 868218 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/ezFR/~3/KUDkj7m3CRs/ From the Nashua Telegraph comes an article on innovative ways for state governments to provide services: A woman was spending four hours a day helping her husband to read books, because Parkinson’s disease had deprived him of the ability to turn the pages on his own. The state determined that hiring someone to do that two hours a week for a whole year would cost about $2,300, based on the standard companion rate for that region of the state. Doing it five days a week would have cost more than $11,500 a year. Instead, they agreed to purchase a Kindle at a one-time cost of $495. “For less than $500, the family caregiver was afforded more respite than she could have wished for and her husband won some of his independence back,” the state wrote. Thanks to Frank Sleightholme for the link. Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:11:16 +0100 867892 http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/aug/31/reading-libraries-literacy-challenge As government cuts threaten libraries, the Reading Agency comes to their defence with a success story – the Summer Reading ChallengeWith the government looking in every direction to wield its cost-cutting axe, the Reading Agency last week put out a plea that libraries should "not be a soft target for cuts". The declaration came in response to statistics released by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport last week showing that nearly two-thirds of Britons didn't visit a library last year. That triggered fears that the figures were a prelude to mass library closures.The Reading Agency hit back, saying "where libraries offer a more dynamic, interactive reading service, the public respond with alacrity". One of its textbook examples was the Summer Reading Challenge (SRC), its literary initiative that encourages thousands of children to become avid readers every year.Since its creation 12 years ago, the SRC has become an annual part of the long holidays for more than 750,000 children aged four to 11. Every year there's a theme: this year it's outer space, so children are encountering foil aliens, Plasticine planets and more. The libraries then display relevant books, distribute reading rewards such as stickers, certificates, folders and charts, and encourage children to read six or more books during the holidays.On a warm summer afternoon in Wherwell, a small village in Hampshire, a bus covered in pictures of fairies and monsters has pulled up outside the local primary school. It's attracting scores of children, who chat excitedly as they await their turn. But this is no ice-cream van drawing the crowds: it's a library bus, and one of almost 4,000 libraries around the UK running projects encouraging children to read over the holidays as part of the reading challenge.Among those standing in line at Hampshire's library bus this year are the Collis family – Deborah and her children Natasha, seven, and Isabella, five. ... Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:45:04 +0100 867830 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=15570 Music Subject Specialist/Music Catalog Librarian (Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York) The Syracuse University Library is searching for a Music Subject Specialist/Music Catalog Librarian. Within the rapidly evolving framework of scholarly communication, this person will work in close collaboration within the Unit for Research, Collections, and Scholarly Communication and other Library units to advance the collection, organization, distribution, and long-term preservation of the scholarly record as it serves the Syracuse University community of faculty, staff, and students. Syracuse University offers an excellent benefit package that includes tuition, retirement, comprehensive health care plan, paid vacation, and the opportunity for continued professional development. ... Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:20:02 +0100 867649 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/booksquare/~3/ktCU1rYasXM/ Today’s links of interest: Barnes Noble to Shutter Lincoln Center StoreThis is big news. Store closing due to increased rent costs. You’d think landlords would have a bit more foresight, but one supposes losing a major renter is the cost of taking a stand. In other thoughts, how long will the space remain empty? Borders to Sell Build-A-Bear Items as Readers Switch to E-BooksYou know when you can’t tell if something is a genius idea or insane? This is one of those moments. Why Is Amazon So Secretive About Its Best Selling Kindle Numbers?Why, one wonders, does this matter? Since the Kindle platform is extended across all possible devices, does the number of actual dedicated readers sold really have relevance? Better metrics are actual books sold across the platform versus one single channel that appeals only to a particular type of reader. Kobo Opens New York OfficeExcellent news for Kobo, and congratulations to the company for hiring the extraordinary Ami Greko. Sparks Book Gets a Novel PromotionSo many thoughts, so little time. Very smart for Nicholas Sparks’ people to include book promotion as part of the deal when Relativity acquired the motion picture rights. Will it help? Probably. Sure doesn’t cost Relativity much to try. Oxford English Dictionary ‘will not be printed again’Possibly the most interesting part of this story — seriously, of course the chances of a print edition were diminish, especially if the next version is 20 years away — is that the dictionary has never made a profit. Love that Oxford University (Press) is focused on the big picture. (Source: Booksquare) Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:15:05 +0100 867746 http://bhplnjbookgroup.blogspot.com/2010/08/day-falls-stood-still-by-cathy-buchanan.html The library book group will meet this Friday, September 3 at 10:30 a.m. to discuss The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan. The heroine of the book is Bess Heath, whose schooling at the Loretto Academy boarding school abruptly ends after her junior year when her father loses his job as director of the power company on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. Bess becomes a dressmaker, but it is a life that she chooses so that she can be with Tom Cole, the grandson of the legendary man who could predict disasters on the falls and saved dozens of people who ignored his predictions (based on real-life riverman William Hill).An interview with Buchanan and discussion questions can be found on the publisher HarperCollins' web site. Be sure to check out the author's post, 10 Things You Never Knew About Niagara Falls, from her blog tour last year. Another guest post from the tour, Peeking Between the Pages, will give you a look at the stunning historical photos that are reprinted in the book - click on them to see them in much greater detail. Cathy Marie Buchanan's web site has an interactive map of the landmarks of Niagara Falls which is also interesting. (Source: Berkeley Heights Public Library Book Blog and Buzz) Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100 868226 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/08/30/its-all-in-the-name-wiki-giants-on-a-collision-course-over-shared-name-wikipedia-wikileaks/ Confusion between one source and another is rather sad but not that infrequent. Also, in the web age the people say the source of an article they’ve read is Google News or Yahoo News not understanding that they aggregate but (in a majority of cases) don’t supply that much original content. Yes, both news engines clearly list the source but apparently some users do not pay attention. Go back ten years and it was the same thing with web browsers and search engines. In other words, “What Search Engine Did You Use?” The answer would be something like, “Netscape.” From an article in The Independent: …a “wiki” [Hawaiian for "fast"] is defined, at least in computing terms, as a website that allows the easy creation and editing of web pages, and the term has entered the vernacular as a result of two web behemoths – Wikipedia and Wikileaks. Now the two men most responsible for boosting your Hawaiian vocabulary, Wikipedia’s co-founder, Jimmy Wales, and the Wikileaks editor-in-chief, Julian Assange, seem to be having a gentle falling out. In an interview with The Independent, Mr Wales said he was getting a bit fed up of being blamed or praised for the other “Wiki” website. “I get a lot of emails from people who think I run Wikileaks,” he said. “There are people who say: ‘you are responsible for putting the lives of thousands of US troops at risk’, others seem to think I am some sort of freedom fighter, holding governments to account. “I just roll my eyes, chuckle to myself and tell them they’ve got the wrong man. Practically speaking, there isn’t anything I can do about the confusion between the two companies, I wish they had chosen a different name but I can’t go about trying to copyright the word ‘wiki’,” he said. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:35:03 +0100 867704 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/30/bundesbank-executive-book-race-row Merkel leads calls for Thilo Sarrazin to be sacked over remarks about migrants being 'unfit or unwilling to integrated' into societyThe German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has called for the dismissal from the central bank of a prominent board member who has repeatedly said that Muslim immigrants in Germany are unfit and unwilling to integrate into society.The Bundesbank said that comments made by Thilo Sarrazin in a highly publicised new book were harmful to the bank and violated its code of conduct. It said it would meet with the banker before deciding about his future.Sarrazin has unleashed an impassioned debate about Germany's immigrant population by saying that the behaviour of its members is putting the country under threat.His thesis, set out in a book published today , has stoked the wrath of politicians, and Muslim and Jewish groups, and led to calls for his dismissal from his €230,000 a year (£188,000) Bundesbank post and from the Social Democratic party (SPD).Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said that Sarrazin's remarks had "clearly damaged the national and international standing of the bank" and managers should consider his future.But Sarrazin has received the backing of others who say the former politician is merely outlining issues and concerns about integration that have remained taboo for too long.In Deutschland Schafft Sich Ab, or Germany is Digging its Own Grave, Sarrazin argues that most of the country's immigrants cannot be integrated into society and contribute nothing to it.He also blames foreigners – mainly Germany's Muslim population – for "dumbing down" society. He says that the rate at which Muslim women are reproducing means that Germans may soon become "strangers in their own country".The book is already a bestseller and has prompted comparisons to Geert Wilders, the head of the Dutch far-right Freedom party. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:18:07 +0100 867638 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabyBoomerLibrarian/~3/UE6WdyGvjbM/jobs-technical-services-librarian-full.html Technical Services Librarian (Full Time) http://www.albrightknox.org/employment/Technical_Services_Librarian.html Technical Services Librarian (Full Time) The Technical Services Librarian will report directly to the Head of Research Resources. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Responsible for the development and implementation of the Gallery Librarys technical services program to include cataloging, classification, authority file maintenance, serials management, library systems and database administration, interlibrary loan and document delivery services, and basic preservation activities. Provides leadership in ensuring integrated access to scholarly resources in all formats according to professional standards and in a service-oriented manner in support of the research needs of the museum community. * Establishes and assesses technical services goals, priorities, policies, and procedures. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:00:00 +0100 867725 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabyBoomerLibrarian/~3/2WrlOs2SKgY/jobs-posting-systems-emerging.html SYSTEMS AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES LIBRARIAN Murphy Library at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is seeking a dynamic, student-centered librarian to work in a team- oriented library environment. Responsibilities include: provide leadership, vision, and expertise related to library systems and technologies that increase and enhance access to academic resources at UW - La Crosse; identify, evaluate, implement, and teach the use of new technologies that facilitate information access and that contribute to the development of library-related learning materials; participate in reference, information literacy instruction, collection development, collegial governance, and library committees as well as campus and professional activities. The library recognizes and values diversity in its faculty, staff, and students. We seek a colleague who shares the library's commitment to diversity and who will be a dedicated librarian and mentor for students with diverse backgrounds, preparation, and career goals. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS ALA accredited MLS; experience with integrated library systems and web development applications; ability to manage EZProxy and server technology and to develop and manage tools for extracting evaluative statistics; demonstrated knowledge of desktop, laptop, and handheld computing devices and their related technologies; demonstrated ability to work collegially and communicate effectively. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Professional academic library experience. ENVIRONMENT UW-La Crosse is known for its highly ranked academic programs. La Crosse is famous for its exceptional natural beauty. The city (metropolitan population 100,000) is located on the east bank of the Mississippi River below towering bluffs. Abundant water and woodlands provide year-round recreation sites for skiing, hunting, camping, and other outdoor activities. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:45:00 +0100 867726 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=15568 Library Director (City of Marshalltown, Marshalltown, Iowa) Marshalltown Public Library, the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) library in Iowa, seeks an energetic and enthusiastic Director to continue our library’s commitment to quality public library service to our diverse community. Marshalltown is a community of 26,000.  Our community’s regard for its public library is evidenced by its support in building a new 35,700 sq. ft. “green” library facility, completed in December 2008.  Marshalltown Public Library has a collection of 94,000 volumes and circulates 290,000 items annually.  Our 2011 budget is $895,000. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:20:04 +0100 867439 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=15567 Chemistry and Biology Subject Librarian (Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York) Syracuse University Library is searching for a Chemistry and Biology Subject Librarian. The Chemistry and Biology Subject Librarian is a member of the Unit for Research, Collections, and Scholarly Communication. This Librarian works with other Library units to advance the collection, organization, distribution, and long-term preservation of the scholarly record as it serves Syracuse University. Syracuse University offers an excellent benefit package that includes tuition, retirement, comprehensive health care plan, paid vacation, and the opportunity for continued professional development. For a position description and online application instructions, go to www.sujobopps.com, (#026633). ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:20:04 +0100 867438 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabyBoomerLibrarian/~3/1WIzFTakgRc/jobs-usa-new-york-albany-seeking.html POSITION:  Associate Director for Collections The University at Albany, SUNY, invites applications and nominations for the position of Associate Director for Collections. Reporting to the Dean and Director of Libraries, this senior administrative position is responsible for building, assessing and managing the Libraries' print and electronic collections, managing a $5 million acquisitions budget, and supervising, coordinating and evaluating the work of the Libraries' subject specialists. Responsibilities also include oversight of gifts, Special Collections, University Archives, and the Preservation Department. As a member of the senior administrative group, the Associate Director shares responsibility for developing and implementing the mission, goals and broad policy directions for the University Libraries. Albany is looking for an experienced, creative, forward-thinking leader with a keen sense of the evolving role of research libraries in the digital age and demonstrated knowledge of best practices and current trends in collection management and scholarly communication.  The Associate Director works actively with academic schools and departments to determine selective areas of excellence and growth to be reflected in the Libraries' collection investment. S/he is responsible for coordinating initiatives with other associate directors and library managers, advising and mentoring junior faculty, and promoting staff professional growth. S/he represents the Libraries on collaborative projects with other campus units and other libraries.  The Associate Director demonstrates commitment to personal professional development through scholarly research and publication, presentations, and participation in national professional associations. Required: Graduate degree in librarianship from an ALA-accredited institution and from a college or university accredited by a U. S. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:32:00 +0100 867416 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/ezFR/~3/gi1vzv4P6O0/  Resource of the Week: BBC British Novelists Archive Collection By Adrian Janes, DocuTicker UK Contributing Editor The BBC is increasingly finding ways to exploit and make more freely available its vast collection of visual and aural content. The latest example of this is its British Novelists Archive Collection. This is a complement to a BBC TV series, In Their Own Words: British Novelists. But whereas the series of necessity relies on short clips of interviews with leading authors as it charts the history of the 20th century British novel, this website is an archive of complete interviews and talks. These vary in length from five minutes up to an hour, and in year of broadcast from 1937 (Virginia Woolf) to 2009 (Zadie Smith). Care has been taken to present a mixture of writers, which implicitly charts the gradual shift during the century from a literary field dominated by white males to one in which women and minorities are clearly visible and audible, through examples like Margaret Drabble, Angela Carter, Salman Rushdie and Hanif Kureishi. Each programme is accompanied by a synopsis and a few astutely chosen links which complement the archive and might well merit separate bookmarking. These include: Modern radio interviews from the programmes Book Club and Open Book, the latter being strikingly international in scope, with authors from the Americas, Africa and Asia as well as the UK An extensive database of contemporary UK writers provided by the British Council, which includes a biography, bibliography and short critical essay A database of UK reading groups The history and current news of the Man Booker prize, the most prestigious literary award in Britain. (The BBC archive collection also includes a percipient interview from 1995 with the 2009 winner Hilary Mantel, which calls her “the novelist of her generation who will last. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:53:15 +0100 867552 http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2010/aug/30/poetry Filled with vitality and physical exuberance, this week's bank holiday choice is that rare thing: a happy poemThis week's choice, "Pier", by one of today's most interesting younger Irish poets, Vona Groarke, seems to be that comparatively rare thing: a happy poem. It centres on the thrill, in the author's words, of "jumping into the sea from a high fishing pier."It might stir your own nostalgia for childhood and teenage derring-do, but if you're lucky - and wise - you won't have outgrown such experiences, nor save them only for bank holidays. "Pier" isn't designed to deliver a message, but it nevertheless says something about the nature of the good and happy life. Our muscles, extensions of our minds, have "a need for joy". Fascism exploits that fact, as regretted in the Auden sonnet which provides the poem's epigraph. But the "sport" here has a different goal. It's private and it's fun; an act not of conformity but rebellion.Vona Groarke was born in Edgeworthstown in the Irish Midlands, but, as she says in this too-brief interview, she thinks of the west of Ireland as her home. "Pier", from her 2009 collection, Spindrift, is set in Spiddal in County Galway. Initially, what's noticeable is that there's no direct first-person narrative. This emphasis on active verbs turns out to be an excellent device, recreating how it feels to be fully absorbed in physical activity, the mind, that often unwieldy "organ", streamlined into unity with the body. The body of the poem – its rhythms and syntax – is not a container, but a sinewy consciousness.The poem begins with a series of signposts or instructions. The abbreviated style helps focus process and movement. The speaker seems to be doing something she's done before - remembering, as well as reporting, a familiar sequence as she moves steadily to her goal. Each point of the landscape has its associated physical accompaniment. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:24:00 +0100 867424 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=7684 State: New Jersey library.princeton.edu/hr/positions/JobRefLibrnSpColl2008.html Position Summary: The Special Collections Reference Librarian is responsible for reference services in the Rare Books and Manuscripts Department in Firestone Library and works closely with the Assistant University Archivist for Public Services at the Mudd Manuscript Library to coordinate public services for all of Special Collections. This person supervises the work of three support staff and coordinates the delivery of public services with many professionals and support staff who play part-time public service roles in the Department. The position reports to the Associate University Librarian for Rare Books and Special Collections. We seek a generalist with the ability and talent to provide reference services for the myriad subject areas the Department covers. The main reading room in Firestone serves more than 2,500 patrons annually from within and without the University community. Our patrons consult more than 12,000 books, manuscripts, graphic materials, maps, and other items that span many languages and five millennia of recorded history. The Department's public services staff at Firestone also handle approximately 2,500 reference inquiries annually from around the world, provide paper, microfilm, digital, and photographic copies for approximately 16,000 items annually, and gather materials for and host more than 100 classes for approximately 1,500 students during the academic year. The successful candidate must be committed to and be an advocate for public services in the Department, as well as in the wider library system. The ideal candidate will enjoy working with researchers, take up the challenge of problem solving, have a welcoming personality and qualities that will help patrons researching primary sources. The position may work occasional evening or weekend hours. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:20:04 +0100 867353 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=7685 State: California Position Title: Programmer Analyst III Department: University Communications Req No.: 2010-0312 Location: UCI Campus - Irvine Job Summary: Under the general supervision of the director of web communications, the programmer maintains and supports the university's highest-level Web presence through the creation, evolution, production and maintenance of programming used on the UCI website (www.uci.edu), Chancellor website (www.chancellor.uci.edu), UC Irvine Today website (today.uci.edu), the campus emergency website (emergency.uci.edu) and ZotZine (zotzine.uci.edu), the campus e-magazine. As a member of the University Communications team, the programmer develops and builds applications, maintains existing applications, and performs a variety of website testing and quality assurance in support of the department's strategic initiatives. The programmer provides expert training and counsel on technical issues related to the Cascade Server content management system for internal and external clients. The programmer also provides computer and technical support and consulting services for staff within the department. Duties include Web programming and application development, database development, and Web page template development and maintenance. Salary: Annual $57,936 - $78,668 Work Schedule: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., M-F Career Position. Final candidate subject to background check. As a federal contractor, UC Irvine is required to use E-Verify to confirm the work status of individuals assigned to perform substantial work under certain federal contracts/subcontracts. Please attach your resume. For full details, please search for job number 2010-0312 on the HR recruitment page: https://staffing2.hr.uci.edu/CSS_EXTERNAL/CSSPage_Welcome.asp Apply online Click here to see University Communications web site. http://www.today.uci.edu/ Submitted on 2010-08-05 (Source: SLIS Careers Feed) Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:20:04 +0100 867352 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=7686 State: Illinois Job Title: Librarian Job Announcement Number: DE-10-CHI-OTI-0143 Department: U.S. Department of Labor Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) SALARY RANGE: $51,995.00 - $67,589.00 /year OPEN PERIOD: Thursday, August 05, 2010 to Wednesday, August 18, 2010 SERIES & GRADE: GS-1410-09/09 POSITION INFORMATION: This is a full time position. This is a permanent position. DUTY LOCATIONS: 1 vacancy - Chicago Metro Area, IL JOB SUMMARY: Begin a challenging career with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and you will help shape the workforce of tomorrow. DOL offers rewarding opportunities to contribute to a noble mission; to serve and protect American workers, prepare them for new and better jobs, and to ensure the safety and fairness of American workplaces. This position is located: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration Directorate of Training and Education Office of Training & Educational Programs The incumbent serves as a Librarian for the Office of Training and Educational Programs (OETP) within the OSHA Directorate Training and Education (DTE). OETP manages external training programs and includes the H. Lee Saltsgaver Technical Library and the Resources Center Loan Program. The incumbent is responsible for coordinating and administering all activities related to the Resources Center Loan Program and the H. Lee Saltsgaver Technical Library. This includes monitoring and analyzing the effectiveness of the services, and making recommendations for improvement as appropriate to support the changing emphasis of the Agency and the Directorate. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:20:04 +0100 867351 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=7689 State: International The University of Texas at Arlington Job Title Librarian Posting number 10-07-21-01-0100 Job status Open Information: http://utdirect.utexas.edu/pnjobs/index.WBX?comp=1 Check "Professional/Non-faculty" ___ Basic Information Date available 09/01/2010 Position duration Funding expected to continue Position open to all applicants Monthly salary $3333 negotiable depending on qualifications. Hours per week 40.00 Standard from 900AM to 600PM Location Arlington, TX Hiring department Library http://library.uta.edu General notes This is an entry level Science and Engineering Librarian position. Reference desk duty includes one week night, Sunday rotations and occasional holidays. Some instruction includes nights and weekends. Instructions about additional materials to be submitted by all applicants will be provided once you apply. Finalist(s) will be required to give a formal presentation on a library-related topic. Required Application Materials A Resume is required in order to apply. A Letter of Interest is required in order to apply. A List of 3 References is required in order to apply. Additional Information Purpose of position The Science/Engineering Librarian serves as liaison to assigned departments within the Colleges of Science and Engineering; contribute to and supports the Library's mission to foster and promote quality learning, teaching, and research. Essential functions Serves as subject liaison to assigned academic units for promotion and outreach of library services and resources for Science and Engineering disciplines, cultivates partnerships and relationships with faculty, staff and students. Provides general reference while maintaining a service desk area, also provides complex and/or consultative reference and research assistance in assigned subject areas including virtual reference. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:20:04 +0100 867350 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=7703 State: Michigan Saginaw Township Community Schools HUMAN RESOURCES and LABOR RELATIONS MEMORANDUM TO:Universities Job Placement Services FROM:Linda Conlay Secretary, Human Resources DATE:August 12, 2010 RE:Teacher Vacancy Saginaw Township Community Schools has an opening for a Library Media Specialist. For details and to apply online: www.stcs.org. Please include in your university placement bulletin and contact any possible applicants registered with your office. Deadline for application: August 22, 2010 If you have any questions, please call the Office of Human Resources at 989-399-8019. Submitted on 2010-08-12 (Source: SLIS Careers Feed) Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:20:04 +0100 867349 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=7704 State: Michigan Library Media Specialist JobID: 4452 Position Type: Email To A Friend Print Version Closing Date: 07/04/2010 Instructional - High School Date Posted: 6/25/2010 Location: Heritage High School SAGINAW TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY SCHOOLS Equal Opportunity Employer VACANCY 2010-2011 Library Media Specialist Shared time between White Pine Middle School and Heritage High School. Requirements: Valid Michigan Secondary Teaching Certificate with appropriate certification (ND). Pursuant to Public Act 68 of 1993 and Public Act 83 of 1995, selected new employees shall submit to fingerprints and a criminal background check at the employee's expense. It is the policy of the Board of Education that the District will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on sex, age, race, color, national origin, religion, height, weight, marital status, handicap or disability. The District shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination including, but not limited to, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d. et seq.; and 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e, et seq.; The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1210, et seq.; The Handicappers’ Civil Rights Act, MCL §§ 37.1101, et seq.; and The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, MCL §§ 37.2101, et seq.; Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), 29U.S.C. §§ 621, et seq. Inquiries or complaints by applicants or employees related to discrimination should be directed to: Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations Saginaw Township Community Schools 3465 N. Center Road, P.O. Box 6278 Saginaw, MI 48608 TELEPHONE: 989-797-1800 www.stcs.org FAX: 989-797-1801 ________________________________________ Note: Positions open unexpectedly and fill quickly. If you want to apply for positions that are not listed as open, please establish a pre-employment file by completing the online application. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:20:04 +0100 867348 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=7709 State: Indiana August 5, 2010 POSITION AVAILABLE Jeffrey R. Krull Gallery Librarian II Art, Music and Media Allen County Public Library Librarian Responsibilities: Provide reference assistance to patrons in locating materials and information. Instruct patrons on the usage of computers, copiers and audio-visual equipment. Represent the library and community in a leadership role for the arts. Participate in collection development of materials specific to the department. Supervise the department during scheduled evening or weekend hours when the manager and assistant manager are absent. Gallery Coordinator Responsibilities: • Plan Exhibits: Coordinate gallery schedule and maintain ongoing working relationships with art organizations, universities and individual artists throughout the scheduling phase. Refine the exhibit scope, gallery layout and selection of artwork. Prepare gallery programming in conjunction with exhibition; these include workshops, artist visits, lectures and opening receptions. Complete paperwork including contracts, shipping documents, supply forms and purchase requests. • Direct Installation: Direct the activity of properties, security and housekeeping during installation and exhibition. Prepare and patch walls, pedestals and fixtures. Coordinate art drop-off and retrieval of artwork. Arrange artwork and lighting. Inventory items on display daily. Coordinate Receptions with the events coordinator, housekeeping and security staff. Schedule caterers or prepare refreshments. Staff the event and oversee volunteers. • Create Publicity: Update staff, patrons and artists on gallery events through emails, newsletters and posters. Maintain the gallery blog. Maintain ongoing contact with other art organizations. • Minimum Qualifications: ALA/MLS degree. Undergraduate degree with major in art preferred. Gallery experience preferred. Ability to network with the art community; plan and install gallery exhibits. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:20:04 +0100 867347 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=7718 State: Oklahoma Grow with Us in Beautiful Green Country! The Tulsa City-County Library Commission seeks a new Chief Executive Officer to build on a solid foundation of excellent library service. Work with the Library Commission to determine the strategic direction and policies for the library; serve as the face of the library in the community; develop and implement plans for new library facilities, services, and programs; advise Tulsa Library Trust Board and Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries; raise funds, develop and maintain donor relations to enrich library services. The challenges are exciting and the opportunities are endless! See http://www.gossagesager.com/TulsaJD.doc for the complete job description. The Tulsa City-County Library System is an independent library district with a permanent tax rate exclusively dedicated to public library services. Governed by an 11-member, appointed Board of Commissioners, the system is a dynamic library system serving the 585,068 residents of Tulsa County in Northeastern Oklahoma. Library staff (269.5 FTEs) utilize a budget of $25.8 million to operate 25 public locations, one service center and an active bookmobile serving an increasingly diverse area. Named a Five-Star Library by Library Journal in 2008, this year the system celebrated a record 5.7 million circulation and increases in foot-traffic. TCCL also benefits from a supportive Tulsa Library Trust and active Friends groups. Tulsa boasts a widely diversified business base. It is one of "America's Most Livable Communities" and recently Relocate America ranked it the "No. 1 Place to Live." Known as a Mecca for arts in Oklahoma, the city enjoys a rich cultural legacy with its ballet, opera, symphony and museums. Art deco masterpieces abound in many downtown buildings. Outstanding higher education facilities and recreational amenities help it earn these accolades and greatly enhance the area's quality of life. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:20:04 +0100 867346 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=7719 State: New York Rye Free Reading Room – 125 years (and counting) of distinguished service to the community! The Board of Trustees of Rye Free Reading Room (founded in 1884) seeks an energetic, enthusiastic and experienced leader to continue its commitment to quality public library service for the Rye community. The Director will work closely with the 18-member Board of Directors, a 45-member Auxiliary Board, staff and local stakeholders to develop and articulate its vision for library service, design and implement strategic initiatives, and administer the service program, facility and space planning, and fundraising and resource development. See http://www.gossagesager.com/Jobdesc2010.doc for the complete job description. As an association library, the Rye Free Reading Room is funded by the City of Rye and private donations, with the Board actively investigating options for sustainable funding. Rye Free Reading Room has a collection of 90,000 items housed in the main library and a small branch and circulates over 225,000 items annually. With a staff of 17 FTE and a budget of $1.5 million, the library provides exceptional customer service and its programs are consistently among the most heavily attended in Westchester County—attendance last year pushed over 36,000 with best-selling authors and a wide-selection of children’s programs. A recent expansion of the landmark building on Rye’s Village Green and ongoing capital projects, including a renovated technology center, help ensure the facilities are well-positioned for continued growth. Rye, a suburban community in Westchester County, is home to 15,000 residents. Located on Long Island Sound, Rye enjoys a strong sense of community, with close proximity to New York City and regional attractions in the Tri-State area. For additional information on the Library, the City and the area see http://www.gossagesager.com/Ryelinks.htm. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:20:04 +0100 867345 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=7721 State: Indiana Join the team of our nationally recognized Top Ten HAPLR and Library Journal 5-Star library! The Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library, an essential provider of shared information and a core community service, promotes reading, lifelong learning, and economic vitality through its resources, services, and programs to the residents of Vanderburgh County. The Assistant Branch Manager performs professional librarian duties, which include public service, collection development, program development, training, and direction to patrons, staff, and volunteers; performs related duties as required. The assistant assumes management responsibility in the absence of the Branch Manager. The assistant’s responsibilities include but are not limited to the youth services area of the branch. Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Assists with implementation of Library policies, procedures, rules, and directives. 2. Participates in creative planning, budgeting, coordinating, and implementing all functions of the branch. 3. Establishes and enforces a standard of appropriate customer conduct on Library premises consistent with Library rules and policies. 4. Leads, supervises, and coaches employees through scheduling, coordinating, delegating, selecting, counseling, directing, training, evaluating, disciplining, and discharging. 5. Plans, arranges for and/or prepares for and presents programs and library tours for all ages. 6. Evaluates customer needs and preferences for Library resources; responds to customer requests and complaints. 7. Engages in planning, coordinating, recommending and deselecting of materials in all formats. 8. Provides some reference and reader’s advisory services. 9. Coordinates services, resources, and training based on Every Child Ready to Read @ Your Library. 10. Perform functions in youth services department including creative programming activities for children birth to age 18. 11. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:20:04 +0100 867344 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=7729 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 at http://library.princeton.edu/ for more information. 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. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:20:04 +0100 867342 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=7731 State: Ohio OHIONET, a nonprofit multi-type library cooperative, seeks an experienced, yet progressive Technology Specialist to assist in the administration of OPAL (Ohio Private Academic Libraries) consortium's and other OHIONET-supported library servers and applications. As part of our member support team, this individual will also provide technical support to member libraries and will participate in after-hours and weekend support rotation. This individual will conduct training sessions both online and in-person to support the effective use of these systems and will prepare complete and accurate documentation to support these projects. Qualifications: - ALA-accredited MLS or equivalent experience required; - Minimum of two years of experience in library system administration or support required (experience with Innovative Interfaces system administration preferred); - Experience with Linux system administration required; - Knowledge of networks and networking principles required; - Familiarity with at least one programming/scripting language required; - Must have a strong public/customer service background and possess the ability to provide front-line troubleshooting in complex environments; - Must be capable of managing technical projects; - Must possess strong written and verbal communication skills; - Should possess excellent leadership, analytic and problem-solving skills and capability of exercising sound judgment; - Travel to libraries required. Compensation: Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Generous package of benefits includes 20 vacation days, 11 holidays, 12 days sick leave, TIAA-CREF retirement plan, and medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance. Interested applicants should send a letter of application, resume, and three references with addresses and phone numbers. Applications can be sent electronically via email to jennifert@ohionet. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:20:04 +0100 867341 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=7732 State: Indiana Responsible for original and enhanced cataloging of rare books and special collections materials in specialized areas, e.g. early or fine printing, major rarities, and general books, mostly of hand press period; advising and consulting with other catalogers on bibliographical terminology and description, collations, and other cataloging problems specific to rare book cataloging and remaining current with the changing body of cataloging rules for rare materials including DCRM, AACR2, RDA, MARC21, LCSH, and Library of Congress classification. Qualifications: Required: ALA-accredited MLS; demonstrated experience with DCRM, AACR2, MARC21, cataloging components of OCLC, and local integrated online library systems; competence in techniques and terminology of descriptive bibliography; working knowledge of Latin and at least two other foreign languages (Greek, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese and other modern European languages preferred); strong oral and written communication skills; 3-5 years post-MLS rare book cataloging experience; able to meet requirements of tenure-track librarian position. Preferred: Second degree in discipline related to strengths of Lilly Library collections; knowledge of NACO procedures strongly preferred; experience with Sirsi/Unicorn products. This is a tenure-track academic appointment that includes eligibility for sabbatical leaves. Position to be filled by January 1, 2011 - review of applications begins September 27, 2010. To apply send letter of application; professional vita; names/addresses/telephone numbers of four references to Jennifer Chaffin, Director of Human Resources, Libraries Human Resources, Herman B Wells Library 201B, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405 or send via e-mail to libpers@indiana.edu. Phone: 812-855-8196 - fax: 812-855-2576. For complete copy of the posting go to: http://www.libraries.iub.edu/index.php?pageId=1410. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:20:04 +0100 867340 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=7733 State: Illinois The Librarian, Career Resource Centers (CRC) responds to thousands of requests for information from students and alumni. This position is responsible for research, development, and delivery of career research materials and instruction for 3,200 students enrolled in the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (Chicago Booth) full-time and part-time MBA programs in Chicago, London, and Singapore and more than 40,000 alumni worldwide. The Librarian plays a key role in the transfer of knowledge and ideas by providing students and alumni with access to a wide range of information to facilitate their career advancement efforts including frequent instructional programs on the relevant research tools. This individual manages all aspects of both the Harper and Fisher CRC’s, supervises CRC staff, and works with departmental colleagues to develop complementary and collaborative programming to enhance the overall success of Career Services. The Librarian determines the overall vision and strategy for the CRC’s, including physical space, staff, new resources, and new programs. This person develops and continually monitors best practices. In addition, the Librarian is expected to acquire, maintain, and apply expert knowledge of resources and disseminate that knowledge to relevent constituencies via one-on-one consultations, presentations, and the web (or other forms of media). Lastly, this individual coordinates resources and relationships amongst the Harper CRC, Fisher CRC, Regenstein Library, Computing Services, Faculty, other Booth departments/centers, and Career Services team. PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. As the librarian, determine overall vision and strategy for the CRC’s including physical space, staff, new resources and new programs. Develop and continually monitor best practices. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:20:04 +0100 867339 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=7762 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 at http://library.princeton.edu/ for more information. Available: Immediately Search Committee: (Princeton access only) 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. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:20:04 +0100 867336 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/08/30/resource-of-the-week-bbc-british-novelists-archive-collection/ Resource of the Week: BBC British Novelists Archive Collection By Adrian Janes, DocuTicker UK Contributing Editor The BBC is increasingly finding ways to exploit and make more freely available its vast collection of visual and aural content. The latest example of this is its British Novelists Archive Collection. This is a complement to a BBC TV series, In Their Own Words: British Novelists. But whereas the series of necessity relies on short clips of interviews with leading authors as it charts the history of the 20th century British novel, this website is an archive of complete interviews and talks. These vary in length from five minutes up to an hour, and in year of broadcast from 1937 (Virginia Woolf) to 2009 (Zadie Smith). Care has been taken to present a mixture of writers, which implicitly charts the gradual shift during the century from a literary field dominated by white males to one in which women and minorities are clearly visible and audible, through examples like Margaret Drabble, Angela Carter, Salman Rushdie and Hanif Kureishi. Each programme is accompanied by a synopsis and a few astutely chosen links which complement the archive and might well merit separate bookmarking. These include: Modern radio interviews from the programmes Book Club and Open Book, the latter being strikingly international in scope, with authors from the Americas, Africa and Asia as well as the UK An extensive database of contemporary UK writers provided by the British Council, which includes a biography, bibliography and short critical essay A database of UK reading groups The history and current news of the Man Booker prize, the most prestigious literary award in Britain. (The BBC archive collection also includes a percipient interview from 1995 with the 2009 winner Hilary Mantel, which calls her “the novelist of her generation who will last. ... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 08:43:55 +0100 867563 http://liszen.com/trends/story.php?title=In_defence_of_Public_Libraries__Pits_n_Pots Stephen Fry, himself a public institution, interviewed on Room 101 a few years ago, proposed an alternative to the cynical Room 101 programme by hav (Source: pligg - all) Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:00:19 +0100 867364 http://digital-scholarship.com/digitalkoans/2010/08/29/analyst-programmer-intermediate-at-georgia-state-university/ Georgia State University is recruiting an Analyst Programmer Intermediate. Salary: $42,707-$49,113. Here's an excerpt from the ad (vacancy number: 0601522): Reporting to the Web Services Librarian, the Analyst Programmer develops, maintains, and troubleshoots web based applications in support of University Library's goals. Responsibilities include scripting and programming for applications developed in-house, customization and enhancement of open-source and vendor applications, working with vendor or open-source Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and management of in-house databases. In addition, the Analyst Programmer develops end-user interfaces and dynamic forms for web applications using a variety of scripting languages and frameworks including PHP, JavaScript, CSS, XML/XSL, and RSS. This position works with project stakeholders as needed to further develop or enhance application designs or features. This position also works collaboratively with library Systems personnel to implement and configure web servers in support of web development activities, authentication technologies and server security. (Source: DigitalKoans) Mon, 30 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100 867657 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Digitization101/~3/D3FwHVavlzw/podcast-digital-asset-management.html In this 15-minute interview Henrik de Gyor talks about digital asset management implementation with Aric Allen (createasphere). If you are interested in what digital asset management (DAM) can do for you, this podcast offers a very good introduction. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. (Source: Digitization 101) Mon, 30 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100 867459 http://hurstassociates.blogspot.com/2010/08/podcast-digital-asset-management.html In this 15-minute interview Henrik de Gyor talks about digital asset management implementation with Aric Allen (createasphere). If you are interested in what digital asset management (DAM) can do for you, this podcast offers a very good introduction. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. (Source: Digitization 101) Mon, 30 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100 867428 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DigitalKoans/~3/UshoguGGTBo/ Georgia State University is recruiting an Analyst Programmer Intermediate. Salary: $42,707-$49,113. Here's an excerpt from the ad (vacancy number: 0601522): Reporting to the Web Services Librarian, the Analyst Programmer develops, maintains, and troubleshoots web based applications in support of University Library's goals. Responsibilities include scripting and programming for applications developed in-house, customization and enhancement of open-source and vendor applications, working with vendor or open-source Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and management of in-house databases. In addition, the Analyst Programmer develops end-user interfaces and dynamic forms for web applications using a variety of scripting languages and frameworks including PHP, JavaScript, CSS, XML/XSL, and RSS. This position works with project stakeholders as needed to further develop or enhance application designs or features. This position also works collaboratively with library Systems personnel to implement and configure web servers in support of web development activities, authentication technologies and server security. (Source: DigitalKoans) Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:02:54 +0100 867318 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/ezFR/~3/zN2d83MEZec/ Several weeks ago, Greg McQueen released a 100 Stories for Haiti Podcast focused on ebooks, offering an insightful and well-balanced look at the state of ebooks. He interviewed multiple authors and even yours truly to explore what ebooks mean to authors, readers and the future of publishing. For me, the highlight of Greg’s excellent podcast was Smashwords author David Robinson, a 60-year Yorkshireman who presented an audio essay on indie ebook publishing. This is a must-listen. Mr. Robinson is a gifted orator, and he has created one of the best-articulated manifestos on e-publishing I’ve heard. One comment that struck me as particularly insightful is when he explains how it’s not so much rejection that bruises the soul of a writer, it’s the chronic condition of being ignored. As you’ll hear below, his wry wit and precision delivery add a richness and meaning his written words alone could never convey. I think after you give him a listen, you’ll be a fan too! Click the play button above to listen to David Robinson’s essay. To listen to Greg McQueen’s entire podcast episode about ebooks, here’s the full audio (see episode 3): Via Mark Coker’s Smashwords blog. Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:56:50 +0100 867297 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/iRcS/~3/q14w3nKyHRs/times-cheltenham-literature-festival.html The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 2010 - "One of the oldest and best loved literature festivals in the world… lectures, poetry readings, children's events, interviews, storytelling, book groups, writing workshops, education projects, live literature…" - 8–17 October 2010 - Cletenham, UK (Source: Peter Scott's Library Blog) Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:02:18 +0100 867173 http://www.docuticker.com/?p=38482 Sexual Victimization In Prisons And Jails Reported By Inmates, 2008-09 Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics Presents data from the National Inmate Survey (NIS), 2008-09, conducted in 167 state and federal prisons, 286 local jails, and 10 special correctional facilities (operated by U.S. Armed Forces, Indian tribes, or the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)) between October 2008 and December 2009, with a sample of 81,566 inmates ages 18 or older. The report provides a listing of facilities ranked according to the prevalence of sexual victimization, as required under the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-79). The prevalence of victimization as reported by inmates during a personal interview is based on sexual activity in the 12 months prior to the interview or since admission to the facility, if less than 12 months. Included are estimates of nonconsensual sexual acts, abusive sexual contacts, inmate-on-inmate and staff sexual misconduct, and level of coercion. The report also presents findings on reported sexual victimization by selected characteristics of inmates, including demographic characteristics, sexual history and orientation, and criminal justice status. It includes details on victims’ experiences and the circumstances surrounding incidents of sexual victimization. + Full Report (PDF) (Source: Docuticker) Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:59:46 +0100 867190 http://outofthejungle.blogspot.com/2010/08/developing-technology-how-print-shaped.html The Boston Globe Ideas section today had a wonderful interview with author Andrew Pettegree, about his book The Book in the Renaissance. Written by Tom Scocca, the Q&A style article discusses with Professor Pettegree his research about the birth of publishing, and what it reveals about our misperceptions of the earliest days of printing. When we think of early print, we always think of the Gutenberg Bible. This is the iconic representation of the early movable print product. But it is a huge misperception. Most printers were pouring out disposable little tracts, announcements from the town council, schoolbooks, sermons and, if they were lucky, reams of indulgences. The church at that time sold indulgences, and what they handed over to the layperson was a sheet of paper, printed, that stated what sins were forgiven. The lucky printer who got an order, could print multiple copies of the same single sheet, composed once, and get paid for it multiple times by an official institution. According to Pettegree, the problem that printers faced was that the public was not used to being offered items to buy that they had not ordered. They had never had bookstores or catalogs. Up to that time, if a person wanted a book, they ordered it made. So when books became easier to make, printers struggled over how and what to offer to the public. They consulted with the leading scholars of the day, and offered the suggested classics. And had a resounding dud. They tried offering the leading medical texts. And again, had very little interest. They did better with sermons. These were smaller books, and did not cost so much. The items that were widely produced and that kept the successful printers in business turned out to be ephemeral, small print jobs like the announcements from town councils, school books that children did not want to keep, and indulgences. ... Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100 867538 http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/aug/29/william-gibson-interview The science fiction writer on his relationship with technologyWhat's your favourite piece of technology, and how has it improved your life?Whatever piece of word processing software I'm using. I never learned to touch-type.When was the last time you used it, and what for?To answer the previous question.What additional features would you add if you could?I'd like a Word-compatible processor optimised for writing novels, that takes up a minimum of storage space, thanks.Do you think it will be obsolete in 10 years' time?I imagine we'll be using some version of it as long as we continue to write at lengths greater than 140 characters.What always frustrates you about technology in general?The reality of malfunction, something I've quite rightly been criticised for neglecting to adequately depict in my fiction.Is there any particular piece of technology that you have owned and hated?The last fax I bothered to purchase, which cost virtually nothing, and was so loaded with features and options that I've yet to figure out how to send a fax. Fortunately I only need to send two or three a year, in which case I go to a nearby shop.If you had one tip about getting the best out of new technology, what would it be?To wait for at least the second iteration, but then I suppose it's no longer new. But I've always tended to be a slow adaptor. I'd rather watch other people use new things than use them myself.Do you consider yourself to be a luddite or a nerd?Neither. I try to be objective about technology. Agnostic, in a sense. Whatever personal opinions I form tend to have more to do with what we find to do with the new thing.What's the most expensive piece of technology you've ever owned?A Volkswagen Passat.Mac or PC, and why?Mac. I started with Apple, in a pre-Windows era when PCs seemed to involve more of a learning curve. But the fact that I'm yet to acquire so much as a single virus still seems a very good thing. ... Sat, 28 Aug 2010 23:05:58 +0100 866788 http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/aug/29/david-grossman-israel-hezbollah-interview The Israeli writer discusses his novel To the End of the Land, a memorial to his son who was killed while serving in the army, and why he remains an opponent of his country's policy towards the PalestiniansIn May 2003, David Grossman, one of Israel's most celebrated novelists, began writing a new book. It was to be about what the Israelis euphemistically call "the Situation", which was a little odd because, for the past decade, he'd carefully avoided writing about politics, in his stories, if not his journalism. It was not just that he'd long felt that almost anything he could say had already been said by one side or the other. There was the danger that such a story, even in his deft hands, would be creaky and polemical. Now, though, he felt suddenly that he couldn't not write about it. Grossman's eldest son, Yonatan, was six months from completing his military service and his younger son, Uri, was 18 months from beginning it. His feelings about this – in Israel, men serve three years – were so acute, it seemed they would push the pen over the paper for him.The story came quickly. It would be about a middle-aged woman, Ora, whose son, Ofer, only just released from army service, has voluntarily returned to the frontline for an offensive against one of Israel's many enemies. Ora, having moved from celebration to renewed fearfulness in a matter of hours, is in danger of losing her mind. She has no idea how she will get through the next weeks or months. Then, in a fit of magical thinking, it comes to her. She will mount a pre-emptive strike of her own. She will simply go away, absent herself from her home and her life. That way, she reasons, she will not be there when the army "notifiers" come to tell her of her son's death. And if she is not there, perhaps he will not die. ... Sat, 28 Aug 2010 23:03:46 +0100 866782 http://www.docuticker.com/?p=38471 Fact Sheet: Night Shift Differential For Federal Wage System Employees Source: Office of Personnel Management Night shift differential means the differential paid for work performed when the majority of a prevailing rate employee’s regularly scheduled nonovertime hours fall between 3 p.m. and 8 a.m. It is computed as a percentage of the employee’s rate of basic pay. (Source: Docuticker) Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:53:14 +0100 866926 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/a-informacao/~3/9djWboQhmpo/doacao-de-livro-infantil-vira-pena.html Autor: Sandro Villar.Fonte: O Estado de S. Paulo. Data: 26/08/2010.Quem se envolver em crimes leves em Presidente Venceslau [SP], no extremo oeste paulista, terá a chance de optar pelo pagamento de uma pena alternativa inédita no País: a doação de livros infantis para os cerca de 4 mil alunos das 16 escolas municipais. O autor da ideia é o juiz Silas Silva Santos, de 33 anos, titular da 1.ª Vara Judicial do Fórum de Presidente Venceslau. A doação de livros substitui outras penas alternativas, como doação de cestas básicas, prestação de serviços comunitários e pagamento de multas. Para escapar de processos, 24 interessados aderiram à proposta do magistrado desde março.Até agora, 14 acusados doaram 648 livros infantis à Secretaria Municipal de Educação. "Não há condenação, não há confissão de culpa quando o sujeito adere a essa transação. Há um ajuste entre o autor da infração e o Ministério Público, justamente para evitar o processo e uma eventual pena criminal mais grave", explica o juiz, lembrando que os envolvidos têm interesse em aderir ao programa porque ficam sem antecedentes criminais. "Quando o sujeito adere não fica registrado antecedente."Crimes leves. Serão beneficiados os acusados de crimes leves, como calúnia, desacato e lesões corporais leves, condenados a até 2 anos de prisão. Além dessas exigências, a medida beneficia réus primários com bons antecedentes."Eu entrego uma lista de livros e ele (acusado) próprio entrega na secretaria. Nós optamos por transformar essa prestação de serviço no que eu chamaria de cesta de livros. O objetivo é formar bibliotecas municipais", diz Silva Santos. Até agora, nenhum dos acusados doou menos de dez livros. "Um doou 18", conta Aldora Maia Veríssimo, de 58 anos, secretária de Educação. "Ele gastou R$ 117", diz, acrescentando que outro comprou 48 livros por R$ 409, uma das maiores doações até o momento. ... Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:36:00 +0100 866516 http://mblc.state.ma.us/jobs/find_jobs/rss.php?job_id=6359 Environment: Busy Metro-Boston public library serving a diverse community. At Malden Public Library, we place a strong emphasis on personal service. -Day to day management of personnel and library services to insure the library needs of a diverse community is satisfied; -Plan programs and services, promotes library use in the community, and serves as liaison with community groups and schools; -Supervise 8 librarians, 8 support staff and messengers; -Interact effectively with the public, staff and administration; -Communicate with administration on a regular basis; -Train professional and support staff in public service; -Oversee collection development for adult fiction and portions of the non-fiction collection; - Keep abreast of emerging technologies; -Maintains a working knowledge of contemporary issues, trends, and technology in the library profession -Ability and willingness to assume responsibility; -Generate ideas for service improvements; (Source: MBLC Job Listings) Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:20:01 +0100 866322 http://mblc.state.ma.us/jobs/find_jobs/rss.php?job_id=6361 Part-Time Library Assistant Shady Hill School For close to ten decades, Shady Hill, a school of 515 students (PS-8) and seventy-five full- and part-time teachers, has been a leader in progressive elementary education. The year-long central subject study, which emphasizes strong content, the use of primary sources, acquisition of essential skills, and self-discovery, forms the core of our curriculum. The school’s program allows children to explore their worlds and test their powers; we seek to develop independent, joyful and curious learners who respect their own accomplishments and those of others. We strive to be a community whose values are strong and which is unafraid to engage students in important questions. As a diverse school, we believe that a varied and inclusive community is an educational and moral imperative that empowers us all. Therefore, we especially welcome applications from candidates who will contribute to the diversity of the community. The Shady Hill Library is an essential resource for our students, faculty, and apprentice teachers. Librarians provide weekly instruction, as well as reference, readers’ advisory and curricular support for the entire school community. Our fully automated facilities include a collection of 25,000 books and audio-visual materials, and a lab containing seventeen Mac computers. Specific Responsibilities: • Oversee all circulation desk duties • Manage volunteers • Assist with general collection maintenance and processing of new books • Assist librarian with some Lower School classes Position open September 1, 2010. Please send a cover letter and resume to: Jennifer Polshek, Library Director, Shady Hill School, 178 Coolidge Hill, Cambridge, MA 02138. Fax: 617-520-9387. No phone calls, please. (Source: MBLC Job Listings) Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:19:59 +0100 866318 http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2010/aug/28/posy-simmonds-tamara-drewe-interview 'A graphic novel is like a film. There are close-ups and long-shots. You choose the location and the props. You do the make-up and the lighting and you get the characters to act.'A couple of months ago Posy Simmonds found herself ensconced in a French hotel suite for 48 hours being interviewed, almost continuously, by TV and radio stations. She was talking about the film version of her graphic novel Tamara Drewe, which was then about to premiere at Cannes and is now about to open in London. Her French is very good, but she still brushed up on her vocabulary to anticipate a few likely questions. "I thought they'd ask what was my favourite scene and so I prepared two answers: the attempt to get the goats to mate – 'couplement des chèvres' – which in fact didn't make the final cut, and the 'lulling the spouse' scene – 'endormir l'épouse' – which did.""Lulling the spouse" was a tactic devised by the detective novelist and inveterate philanderer Nicholas Hardiman, who, along with his long suffering wife Beth, runs the rural writers' colony at the heart of Tamara Drewe. "Behind it is the idea that to avoid suspicion, you must first arouse it," Simmonds laughs. "So you tell the spouse, rather unconvincingly, that, unexpectedly, you're going to be very late this evening and you'll be at mutual friend X's house. And then you actually are at X's house when the anxious spouse rings up, which rather puts them off checking up on you again for a while."No wonder Simmonds's astute facility in anatomising the foibles of her characters has led Tamara Drewe to be described as The Archers on Viagra. It's a neat line, but in fact her story's literary antecedent is grander than Ambridge. And as her career has progressed her work has become progressively richer and more serious, if no less entertaining, than even the most convincingly sophisticated soap opera. ... Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:05:36 +0100 866291 http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/aug/28/marcus-du-sautoy-numbers-review How Music Works by John Powell, The Num8er My5teries by Marcus de Sautoy and Click by Ori and Rom BrafmanHow Music Worksby John Powell (Penguin, £12.99)If the Advertising Standards Authority regulated book titles, this one would get a slap. The author cheerfully introduces the basics of acoustics, musical instruments, chords and so forth, but what he has to say about how music actually works is limited to implausible pseudo-evolutionary speculation, weird anthropomorphism (does major-key music really sound "self-satisfied"?) and near-useless generalisation (the fact that we find faster tempos exciting is "probably linked to our dislike of uncertainty").Denser arguments about the science and psychology of music are to be found in Philip Ball's The Music Instinct, but Powell (a physicist and composer) is aiming his book at a much less-informed audience, and he is at least very good on the subtleties of vibrating strings, the impracticality of the decibel system and the structures of various scales.In order to keep things chirpy and fast-moving, Powell is occasionally led into oversimplification (the opening of "Hotel California" is not exactly "a series of arpeggios"), though the mood of enforced jollity starts to wear. Still, I was pleased to learn of the wonderfully curmudgeonly Professor Frederick Corder, whose 19th-century guide to orchestration seems to have expressed hatred for most orchestral instruments, as well as those who played them. Sample quote: "Viola players have always been both scarce and bad." Perhaps a little harsh.The Num8er My5teriesby Marcus du Sautoy (Fourth Estate, £16.99)Omnipresent maths cheerleader Marcus du Sautoy here presents an introduction to the fields of number theory, topology, probability, encryption and simple physics. ... Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:05:29 +0100 866297 http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/28/alexei-sayle-family-values The comedian and writer talks about his familyMy family always knew we were different. It was something we revelled in, and it was accepted. We were communists, we were part of this bigger thing. Generally, we were happy with that difference. It made us feel good about ourselves.In many ways, we were ordinary, working-class people, but communism was always there – for instance, in the choices we made about what was seen on television, which was anything by the Unity Theatre, or anything from the Soviet Union. I was allowed to buy British comics, but not American ones. But it wasn't like being Amish.Molly, my mother, is 95 this year. We are friends. It's a complicated relationship, but we're very close. She's difficult, particularly with me – she gets too wound up and invests an awful lot in me. But I love her – she's my mother. She's adored by people – the ones that adore her really think she's wonderful.Was she a good mother? In some ways, yes. She was very good about nutrition, putting money aside for me and making sure I got an education. And I was adored, always told I was special. But there was also the shouting and screaming; it could be unsettling. And sometimes, the fact that she wasn't like anyone made you want to swap her for someone else. When I was a teenager, it used to really shock people when they'd see Molly and me in the pub, telling each other to fuck off.Joe, my father, was very genial, and people loved him. He started to get ill when I was young, and in a way, he's a mystery to me. His life before Molly is mysterious because he was quite old when he met her. Later, it was either Alzheimer's disease or a series of strokes, and it was spread over a long time. Seeing him disintegrate was never discussed, but it was very traumatic, and I do very much regret that I didn't know him. I was very confused – from about 14, I was never in the house because it was too painful. He died in 1983. He used to come to see me in shows. ... Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:05:19 +0100 866306 http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/node/6317 (Source: Berkman Blog) Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:00:50 +0100 866339 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/ezFR/~3/VyfC6epy_as/ From the press release: Mark Nelson, Strategic Partner Manager & International Lead at Google, will be interviewed during a special keynote event, LIVE during the Publishing Business VIRTUAL Conference & Expo (produced by Book Business and Publishing Executive magazines), Sept. 16 at 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. ET. Register for Free The interview will focus on “Google Editions,” Google’s forthcoming new service that will allow users to buy digital copies of books they discover through Google’s book search, and enable book retailers to sell Google Editions through their own sites and share in the revenue from e-book sales. The foundation and distinction of Google Editions versus other online e-bookstores is its “cloud-based” platform, which provides consumers who purchase books with an “electronic bookshelf,” so they can access their books anytime, anywhere, from a variety of electronic devices, via the Internet. Nelson also will share his perspectives on the future of the book industry, among other important issues surrounding a shifting industry in which Google has been a dominant player. To reserve your front-row seat (@ your desk), sign up today Date … Thursday, September 16, 2010 Time … 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. (Also available later on-demand) Where … Your Computer – It’s Virtual Cost … $0 – It’s Free Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:34:40 +0100 866101 http://kairosnews.org/job-announcement-tenure-track-asst-prof Assistant Professor of Creative Writing: Position Description. Reporting to the Chair of the Department of Writing and Linguistics, the Assistant Professor of Creative Writing position requires teaching, service, and research responsibilities and a terminal degree. The successful candidate will teach 3 courses per semester with primary assignment in multi-genre and single-genre Creative Writing courses. The position is a 9-month, tenure-track appointment, and the salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.   Required Qualifications: •                      M.F.A. or Ph.D. ... Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:17:08 +0100 866461 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/08/27/humanities-mobile-the-man-booker-prize-for-fiction-now-has-its-own-free-iphonepadtouch-app/ Yes, even the world famous Man Booker Prize for Fiction has been bitten by the “app bug” has just released its own FREE iPhone/Pad/Touch app. More info (and links) about the prize itself are located below. From the Description: The Man Booker Prize for Fiction, first awarded in 1969, promotes the finest in fiction by rewarding the very best book of the year. Explore the full history of the prize, with access to authors, book titles and judges for each year the prize has been awarded. Expand your experience of the titles by watching specially created videos, listen to audio extracts and read Q&A interviews with the authors. The app will be updated at every stage of the prize and will provide easy access to everything related to the prize. You’ll also notice that GPS can be used to find a local bookshop. You can read more about it and download a copy of the app here. See Also: Official News Release This year’s Man Booker Prize shortlist will be announced on Tuesday 7 September at a press conference at Man Group’s London headquarters. The winner of the Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2010 will be revealed on Tuesday 12 October at a dinner at London’s Guildhall and will be broadcast on the BBC Ten O’Clock News. Learn More About the Award via the Man Booker Prize Web Site From the FAQ: Any full-length novel, written by a citizen of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland and published in the United Kingdom for the first time in the year of the prize. The novel must be an original work in English (not a translation) and must not be self-published. If many pundits are correct and self-publishing grows market share to a certain percentage you have to wonder if those who run the award will remove the self-published restriction. ... Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:19:27 +0100 866123 http://wlaweb.blogspot.com/2010/08/stoughton-public-library-presents-film.html Stoughton Public Library will present a community based film including interviews of local residents telling their library stories on Thursday, September 9.  This event celebrates September as National Library Card Sign-up Month. The film features community members, including local celebrities, using the library and sharing what the library means to them. The movie was filmed and edited by WSTO cable TV. Library staff also acknowledges the support of the South Central Library System. (Source: The WLA Blog) Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100 868176 http://aidlibrary.blogspot.com/2010/08/library-news-08272010.html Hurrah for cooler weather, everyone seemed in a better mood.  We continue to get more and more new stuff, DVDs, databases etc.  DatabasesYou can use both of these off campus if you have the log-in and password brochure available in the library when you show your valid student ID.   It is amazing to me how many students get home and decide they need to use the databases and call the library to ask for them.  WE WILL NOT GIVE THE PASSWORDS OVER THE PHONE OR IN EMAIL!!  We really, really mean it!Encyclopedia Britannica Online Academic Edition provides the Encyclopaedia Britannica, plus statistics, magazine articles, biographies, evaluated web sites, timelines, country information, educational videos and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus, quotes, an atlas and news feeds from The New York Times.   Wikipedia wants to be Britannica when it grows up.  CQ Researcher is noted for its in-depth, unbiased coverage of health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, and the economy. Each issue has an introductory overview; background and chronology on the topic; an assessment of the current situation; tables and maps; pro/con statements from representatives of opposing positions; and bibliographies of key sources. Updated online 44 times a year. MediaFirstcom is a production music and sound effects service with 140,000 tracks and 6,000+ new track releases every year. Searching is by keyword, styles, eras, tempos, instruments, moods, countries and dances. Sign in using the log-in and password available in the library when you show your valid AiDallas ID for on and off-campus access.   Please set up your own folder for your projects. Turn off your pop-up blocker. This site will not function properly with your pop-up blocker on.VideosBusiness90 minutes to killer presentation skills. ... Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100 866720 http://acrlog.org/2010/08/27/sudden-thoughts-and-second-thoughts-28/ Even Lightning Gets More Time I like lightning talks. I have given four of them now. It’s a challenge to come up with a sensible presentation that still manages a good learning experience while hopefully entertaining the crowd. All have been in the 5 minute range. That’s precious little time to say anything of much substance – but I talk fast. To my way of thinking 5 minutes is the right amount of time for a sensible lightning talk. And it’s still challenging enough that many who try cannot complete in 5 minutes. Well I just saw a program announcement where they are offering the stupendously generous time of 3 minutes for a lightning talk. My reaction to that is “why bother?”. Is there really much of anything you can say or do of value in so short a time – and would you really want to be in the audience at this thing? Are we now having a competition to see who can come up with the shortest lightning talk program? What’s next? A 30-second lightning talk? Perhaps a lightning talk where you only get 140 characters. This is getting ridiculous. Those Other L-School Grads Aren’t Getting Jobs and They Are Mad As Hell and Not Taking It Have you been following what’s going on with those disgruntled law school graduates who are incredibly pissed off because no law firms are offering them high-paying jobs as soon as they are handed their diplomas? They made the choice to become lawyers, and they made the choice to go into deep debt ($100K or more is not uncommon). Now they are blaming their law schools and their career offices for misleading them about their job prospects. From a USA Today article: A small but growing coalition of graduates, on blogs with names like “Scammed Hard” and “Shilling Me Softly,” blame their alma maters for luring them into expensive programs by overstating their employment prospects. ... Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100 866145 http://keptup.typepad.com/academic/2010/08/colbert-gets-truthy-on-for-profit-higher-education.html In an interview with Andrew Hacker, co-author of the newly publishedHigher Education (Source: The Kept-Up Academic Librarian) Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100 866077 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/08/26/social-media-german-law-bans-facebook-research-for-hiring-decisions-googling-job-applicants-the-uk-position/ From an Out-Law Post: Employers in Germany will be allowed to enter job applicants’ names into search engines and professional networking sites but must not look at their profiles on Facebook, under a draft law that was approved by the Federal Cabinet yesterday. The law on the regulation of employee privacy is said to establish “an equitable balance between the interests of employees in protecting personal data and the legitimate interests of employers,” according to a translation of a statement on the Federal Cabinet’s website. The law clarifies the questions that can be asked during a job application process. It is acceptable for an employer to request an applicant’s name, address, telephone number and email address, according to the law; but certain internet searches are forbidden. [Clip] Official guidance that accompanies the law cites Facebook as an example of a service used for communication, which must not form part of a “private fishing expedition” and LinkedIn as a service used to represent professional qualifications which can be explored. [Clip] Kirsty Ayre, a partner in the employment law team of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind OUT-LAW.COM, said UK law is more tolerant of online research. “I know a lot of employers will put an applicant’s name into Google to see what comes up, and nothing in UK law prevents that,” she said. “In terms of how employers use the information they find, they have to be conscious of a person’s rights, particularly under the Data Protection Act.” “The safest approach is to make it clear at the outset of the recruitment process that you’re going to conduct internet research,” she said. Access the Complete Post (via Out-Law) (Source: ResourceShelf) Thu, 26 Aug 2010 23:11:24 +0100 865865 http://mblc.state.ma.us/jobs/find_jobs/rss.php?job_id=6353 Reader Services Librarian Access Services is a large-scale department that includes over 50 staff and is comprised of three main units: Reader Services, Resource Sharing, and Collection Management. The Reader Services Librarian is a member of the Widener and Lamont Access Services management team, who participates in shaping the direction of services for the department. This position communicates and collaborates with unit heads at the Lamont Library and represents Lamont Reader Services in committee work and collaboration efforts across HCL and HUL. This position manages HUL's largest Reserves operation, servicing over 10,000 items supporting the curriculum of over 700 courses per year. The Reader Services Librarian manages staff - exempt and non-exempt level-- who are cross-trained among units within Access Services and HCL, and manages staff supervision of a large student workforce. Reporting to the Head of Reader Services, the Reader Services Librarian supports the research needs of the University's faculty, students, staff, visiting scholars and alumni by managing and administering the 24/5 operation of the Lamont Library Reader Services, which includes the circulation and reserves services. Serves as primary resource for staff, faculty, and patrons in their interactions with Lamont Reader Services and in the explanation of departmental policy and procedure. Monitors the operation, workflow, and planning for Lamont Reader Services. Responsible for developing, implementing, maintaining, enforcing and analyzing policies, procedures, workflow and services of circulation and reserves. Supervising a staff of six, assumes day-to-day responsibility for Lamont Reader Services monitoring the operation, workflow, staffing, and planning for over 150,000 circulations annually. Assumes management of an active Reserves Program, orders titles in support of curriculum, and is responsible for managing a Reserves budget over 90K. ... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:20:02 +0100 865561 http://mblc.state.ma.us/jobs/find_jobs/rss.php?job_id=6355 The BPL seeks a customer driven and technically experienced individual to lead the network and server teams, manage the network, server and telecommunications infrastructure, and provide technology architecture, IT security and high level network/security problem resolution expertise: to ensure a functioning and optimal computing infrastructure across the Boston Public Library's branch library locations, the central library and its departments, across both internal and public computing programs and services, and encompassing all online and onsite IT services. The IT Infrastructure Manager directly manages the network and server staff. The IT Infrastructure Manager will act internally and externally for the IT department as the deputy CTO as needed and on tasks and projects as assigned. This role will work closely and collaboratively with the IT Operations, Web Services and Applications Managers in particular to ensure a well coordinated delivery of IT services to internal and external customers. This role is also responsible for the on-call schedule, team scheduling, oversees personnel, and participates in strategic and budgetary planning procedures, including BPL's participation in the Federal eRate program. This is both a hands-on technical and managerial position. The position is also expected to maintain currency in cutting edge network and security technology and service delivery models, and provide appropriate leadership to BPL's IT department in this area. The IT Infrastructure Manager is responsible for maintaining the Data Center, Server, Storage and Network inventory; for procuring, supporting and delivering maintenance for included equipment and software licenses. They maintain vendor relationships with key service providers that support and provide technology and network services for the BPL infrastructure. ... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:20:02 +0100 865559 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=15542 Reader Services Librarian (Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts) Access Services is a large-scale department that includes over 50 staff and is comprised of three main units: Reader Services, Resource Sharing, and Collection Management.The Reader Services Librarian is a member of the Widener and Lamont Access Services management team, who participates in shaping the direction of services for the department.  This position communicates and collaborates with unit heads at the Lamont Library and represents Lamont Reader Services in committee work and collaboration efforts across HCL and HUL. This position manages HUL’s largest Reserves operation, servicing over 10,000 items supporting the curriculum of over 700 courses per year. ... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:15:01 +0100 865553 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=15549 Library Director (Kings County Library, Hanford, California) Salary Range: $78,000 – $101,400 annually. Excellent benefits including fully paid PERS 2% @ 55. Fully paid medical benefits which include health/dental/vision/chiropractic care/mental health.  $50,000 term/life insurance, long term disability insurance and an additional 48 hours of management vacation every fiscal year. Description: Under administrative direction of the County Administrative Officer, this at-will Department Head is responsible for the overall administration and management of all library activities throughout the County library system which includes six branches and one community/school library. Responsible for planning, organizing and reviewing library services and programs for patrons of all ages. ... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:15:01 +0100 865551 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=15538 Library Director (Fort Dodge Public Library, Fort Dodge, Iowa) The City of Fort Dodge is seeking an enthusiastic, creative, service oriented Library Director with public library experience to build on our library's past successes and lead it to new levels of excellence.  The library director will be responsible for staff supervision, budget management and the planning, direction, development and evaluation of library policies, services and procedures. The director will also represent the library through public contact, including regularly working at a public service desk.  For a complete job description and more information about the library please visit our website at www.fortdodgeiowa.org/library. ... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:15:01 +0100 865550 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=15557 Library Assistant (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland, Ohio) The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the world’s first museum dedicated to the living heritage of rock and roll music, is currently seeking candidates for the position of Library Assistant.  Reporting to the Catalog and Metadata Librarian, the Library Assistant is responsible for processing incoming library materials, performing basic copy cataloging of library materials, assisting with acquisitions duties, and providing basic reference service to Library and Archives users. A bachelor’s degree in a related field is preferred. ... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:15:01 +0100 865549 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=15552 Information Literacy Librarian (Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield, Connecticut) Academic Year 2010-2011 Appointment (Temporary, Full-Time – 35 hours per week) ANTICIPATED STARTING DATE: October 2010 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: ALA-accredited Masters Degree in Library Science (or MLIS), with one to four years of related experience including up to two years of experience in leading or supervising others, or a combination of education, training, and experience which would lead to the competencies required. Demonstrated strong competencies in information literacy instruction and reference service. ... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:15:01 +0100 865547 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=15553 Director of Libraries (Framingham Public Library, Framingham, Massachusetts) The Framingham Public Library serves a diverse community of 67,000 in the largest municipality in the Commonwealth with a town meeting form of government. The Library Director manages a budget of $2,077,000 and a staff of 45 FTE’s in both the Main Library and the McAuliffe Branch Library. The Director oversees all aspects of library system operations including finances, personnel, collections, public relations, facilities, computer systems, and other equipment. The Director fosters positive relationships with the public, town officials and employees, and promotes excellent customer service. ... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:15:01 +0100 865543 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=15551 Director (Yazoo Library Association, Yazoo City, Mississippi) Director Yazoo Library Association B. S. Ricks Memorial Library 310 North Main Street Yazoo City, MS 39194 662-746-5586 The Administrative Board of Trustees of the Yazoo Library Association’s B. S. Ricks Memorial Library is seeking a creative and innovative Director who can blend traditional library services with the technology needs required by our citizens. Yazoo City is situated in Yazoo County, the Gateway to the Mississippi Delta. Named for a preeminent turn of the 20th century local entrepreneur, the B. S. Ricks Memorial Library is a 1901 Beaux Arts building that is also on the National Register of Historic Places. ... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:15:01 +0100 865542 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=15548 Director (Monona Public Library, Monona, Wisconsin) The City of Monona, WI (Population 8,000), located in the Greater Madison area, seeks a Director responsible for all aspects of library administration. Salary range $55,000 - 62,000 with excellent benefits. Visit http://www.mononalibrary.org/about/jobs.html for detailed requirements and position description. Send cover letter with resume to the Library Search Committee at mononalibrarysearch@gmail.com. Application deadline: October 1, 2010.     (Source: Latest ALA Job Listings) Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:15:01 +0100 865541 http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=15543 Collection Services Supervisor (Timberland Regional Library, Tumwater, Washington) Timberland Regional Library is looking for a proactive leader for our Acquisitions department. Duties include supervising 5 FTE, managing the fund accounting for a $2.6 million materials budget, and working closely with other Collection Services departments to provide excellent customer service. Please submit a Cover Letter, Resume and answers to the Supplemental Questions in addition to your TRL Application. Job code TECH532035-01, 40 hours/week (1.0fte) Applications must be received by 9/17/10 at 5pm. Please visit our website for more information: www.trl.org (Source: Latest ALA Job Listings) Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:15:01 +0100 865540 http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/madreads/index.php/2010/08/26/wars-of-words/ As long as there have been stories in book form there have been arguments, disagreements, gossip and controversies that erupt.  I’ll admit it, I’m happy about that fact.  What is literary?  What is commercial?  The debates rage on.  Often the war of words erupt over reviews written - note Alain de Botton’s comment (fourth one down) about a review written about his book (which we do own, so not completely dead in the U.S.) - or reviews not written as in the newest instance where two authors are taking the New York Times to task for lavishing so much space on Jonathan Franzen’s new book and none to their own.  That’s the short version. The longer version is an ongoing debate about what gets included in the limited space of the review section of the Gray Lady.  Authors Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Weiner tell it as they see it in this Huffington Post interview.  Weiner starts off with: “I think it’s a very old and deep-seated double standard that holds that when a man writes about family and feelings, it’s literature with a capital L, but when a woman considers the same topics, it’s romance, or a beach book - in short, it’s something unworthy of a serious critic’s attention.” And even when more commercial fiction (or genre fiction) is included she argues: “when genre fiction that men read gets reviewed but genre fiction that women read doesn’t exist on the paper’s review pages? It would be as if the paper’s film critics only reviewed tiny independent fare and refused to see so much as a single frame of a romantic comedy, or if the music critics listened to Grizzly Bear and refused to acknowledge the existence of Katy Perry or Lady Gaga. How seriously would a reader take a critic like that?” I do agree with that. ... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:56:38 +0100 865848 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/08/26/highlights-only-just-released-the-survey-of-academic-libraries-2010-11-edition/ Primary Research Group has published The Survey of Academic Libraries, 2010-11 Edition, (157440-153-X). The report presents more than 245 pages of data and commentary on a broad range of academic library issues including: spending on books, ebooks, journals, databases and other content vehicles; hiring plans and trends in salaries and benefits; subject specific and overall academic library investment plans in content and trends in the capital budget; data on the use of laptops in the library, and the usefulness of various internet tools, among other issues. Just a few of the study’s many findings are that: + For more than 56% of the libraries in the sample, salaries and benefits in real terms declined in the past year. + The libraries in the sample reduced spending on content/materials by a mean of 1.75% in the 2009-10 academic year; the median figure was 0. + Libraries in the sample spent a mean of $5,801 on books and other intellectual property through Amazon online in the 2009-10 academic year. + 12.73% of the libraries sampled said that they had received support within the last year from Federal agencies. + An enormous gap is opening up between the public and private colleges over capital spending. 55.56% of the public colleges say that their capital budgets will decrease over the next three years while only 5.56% of private colleges say the same. + About a quarter of the libraries sampled have increased investment in information resources in business, finance and economics while about half that percentage has decreased such investment. Most have maintained it constant. More than 37% of private colleges have increased investment in this area while only 6.25% have decreased it. ... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:35:16 +0100 865868 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/ezFR/~3/4i3ebi_Y-JQ/ Video and computer games share a bit of an odd similarity to books and e-books. Like books, they can be an example of intellectual property encapsulated in an object, which can be bought and sold new or used—but like e-books, they can also be delivered purely digitally, and equipped with restrictive DRM. And as with both, there’s some controversy surrounding the idea of used sales. While many print book publishers look at the sale of used books and gnash their teeth, they are largely powerless to do anything about them. The First Sale Doctrine states that it’s perfectly legal for people to resell the media they buy, after all. Some publishers might make noises about forcing used book dealers to pay royalties on titles they resell, but it would take an act of Congress to mandate something like that, and it doesn’t look like it’s in the cards. On the other hand, just as e-book publishers are able to connive their way around the Fair Use doctrine by putting DRM on their titles and making it illegal to break the DRM, video and computer game developers actually can make buying used titles less attractive—at least, titles that have an on-line play component, interoperability with other games, or some other function that the publishers can block. All they have to do is include a single-use code with each new version of a game that won’t work for someone who buys it used, and in one fell swoop they remove a lot of the value inherent in the price savings on the used game. (Of course, this also blocks pirated versions of the game, but piracy would have happened anyway—it’s the used resale market that they’re squarely aiming at.) Used Computer Games: Cheat or Helper? The controversy over used video games has sprung up anew as game developer THQ’s creative director for wrestling games said in an interview that used games “cheat” developers (by way of explaining why THQ’s latest wrestling game includes such a single-use code). ... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:15:00 +0100 865830 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/ezFR/~3/VATSeXVfdBM/ According to Publishing Perspectives, Thalia, Germany’s largest book chain, is launching a dedicated ereader in October. Further details will be announced at IFA in Berlin on September 4. The article points out that Thalia: Thalia has also launched a website on the subject of e-readers, featuring author interviews and discussions about the future of reading. The initiative will also carry over into 18 of Thalia’s bookstores, where multimedia displays will allow customers to record their thoughts on the future of reading via video. Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:54:21 +0100 865833 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/ezFR/~3/iQK3-gSX4GA/ From The Literary Platform: The Man Booker Prize has just unveiled its new iPhone app – a first for UK literary prizes. The app, created by award winning digital agency Vexed Digital, will be free to download and will offer access to the Man Booker Prize archive – offering a full chronological history of the prize including information about the judges and the longlist, shortlist and winning authors and books. App users will be able to access exclusive author interviews, video content and audio and text extracts from selected Man Booker Prize titles. Push notification functionality will let users know about every stage of the Prize, with up to date information on the shortlist and winner announcements. In addition, a unique GPS service allows users to search for their local book shop or to buy directly from online retailers’ websites. Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:16:20 +0100 865836