From information at mjcpl.org Thu Nov 1 08:55:29 2007 From: information at mjcpl.org (Jerry Yarnetsky, mjcpl reference) Date: Thu Nov 1 08:55:37 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] RE: CMS (Content Management System) In-Reply-To: <60a2c0c00710311815j14cc9773ga1301f7191ee38af@mail.gmail.com> References: <6fd17e700710311654l2a8938b6s9dc15bc3e68277f2@mail.gmail.com> <60a2c0c00710311815j14cc9773ga1301f7191ee38af@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <6fd17e700711010555y1ea91a56g55ba286e9a5866a5@mail.gmail.com> Hi Tom, I've learned a lot using TXP and as a result am planning a redesign of our site (though I haven't decided whether to go at it incrementally or whole hog). What I've been doing for image handling is a combination of image uploader with smd_slimbox (a lightbox variant) for galleries and bas_img_selector for article images. What I don't like is the inability of deleting multiple images at once. The importer I like is ebl_batchupload as it can create image categories and batch resize on the fly via a Flash dialog box. It's currently out of circulation awaiting an upgrade expected 12/1. He'll be charging $5 a domain for it once he releases it again, but for me it'll be worth the price. Another one that works for me is fpx_image_import. However, that requires you to ftp your images to a special folder for processing. Not bad for me, but not good for client that is not as tech savvy (I do freelance TXPing on the side for a designer friend of mine). Let me know your website address so I can follow it as you go-- it's good to see another library try TXP! If you have any questions let me know! best, Jerry Yarnetsky reference-technology librarian Madison-Jefferson County Public Library 420 W. Main St. Madison IN 47250 (812) 265-2744 information@mjcpl.org www.mjcpl.org On 10/31/07, Tom Keays wrote: > > I was going to ask if anyone could recommend Textpattern. I've been > torn between it and Drupal, but leaning recently to Textpattern. The > book by Kevin Potts, Robert Sable, and Nathan Smith has been very good > in helping me get up to speed with the CMS. > > On 10/31/07, Jerry Yarnetsky, mjcpl reference > wrote: > > Weaknesses... > > > > * Image handling on the administrative side needs to improve. > > This weakness was mentioned in some of the blogs and forums I've read. > Some folks are proposing farming out the image handling issue to > Flickr and using plugins like vdh_flickr to embed images into blogs. > I'm not sure if this idea is viable for library websites, but makes > seems to make sense for individuals who want to offload some that > bandwidth or need flexibility should they decide to migrate to another > CMS at some point. > > Textpattern's "TextBook" wiki has a useful comparison chart of various > image and gallery plugins. Allowing a little thread bleed here, there > are several implementations of Lightbox listed that folks might want > to check out. > > > http://textbook.textpattern.net/wiki/index.php?title=Comparison_of_Gallery_Plugins > From P.Innocenti at hatii.arts.gla.ac.uk Thu Nov 1 12:33:41 2007 From: P.Innocenti at hatii.arts.gla.ac.uk (Perla Innocenti) Date: Thu Nov 1 12:36:19 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] =?utf-8?q?Registration_is_open_for_=E2=80=9CAppraisal_?= =?utf-8?q?in_the_Digital_World=E2=80=9D_Conference?= Message-ID: <006a01c81ca4$f6bf3700$e060d182@ssd4.gla.ac.uk> ***Apologies for cross-posting*** Appraisal in the Digital World Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei Rome, Italy 15 - 16 November 2007 http://www.dpc.delos.info/rethinking_appraisal/ The Accademia Nazionale Dei Lincei and Digital Preservation Cluster of the DELOS Network of Excellence in association with DigitalPreservationEurope (DPE), and InterPARES are delighted to announce that registration is open for the ?Appraisal in the Digital World? Conference, which will take place in Rome on 15-16 November 2007. The conference will focus on emerging appraisal strategies, policy development and implementation, cutting-edge research, and practitioner experience and comprises a mix of peer-reviewed papers, invited presentations and keynote international speakers including Terry Eastwood, Ken Thibodeau, Luciana Duranti and Jason Baron. It provides an opportunity for information professionals, archivists, records managers, record creators, managers, students, and researchers from the sciences, the arts, government and business to rethink appraisal in the context of the changes brought about by digital technology and the globalization of our society, to network with colleagues, learn about current developments and research, discuss their own experiences, and identify risks and challenges that are likely to emerge from each possible choice. Registration Earlybird registration before 9th November 2007 costs ?50, and ?150 thereafter. The registration fee includes: a.. Conference b.. Conference Handouts c.. Lunches and coffee breaks d.. Conference dinner Financial support For university students, PhD students and young researchers supported only by a research grant, a limited number of partial bursaries is available, supported by DELOS. The partial bursaries are available in the form of registration fee waivers. A letter of recommendation from the University or the research organization is required. The number of bursaries is limited and will be granted under a first come, first served policy. To apply for the grant, please send an email to the Conference Secretariat at appraisal.conference@hatii.arts.gla.ac.uk, explaining your status and accompanied by a letter of recommendation. Organizing Committee Prof.Luciana Duranti, University of British Columbia; Prof Tito Orlandi, Universit? di Roma (La Sapienza); Prof. Maria Guercio, Universit? di Urbino; Prof.Seamus Ross, University of Glasgow Programme Committe Prof Richard J. Cox, University of Pittsburgh; John Faundeen, Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science, U.S. Geological Survey; Elaine Goh, National Archives of Singapore; Ross Harvey, Charles Sturt University and Research Fellow DCC (UK); Hans Hofman, National Archives of the Netherlands; Shadrack Katuu, Project Officer Nelson Mandela Foundation; Rosely Rondinelli, Archivist of the Casa de Rui Barbosa Foundation - Brasil. For further information: appraisal.conference@hatii.arts.gla.ac.uk ____________________________________ Prof. Seamus Ross Director HATII, University of Glasgow 11 University Gardens, Glasgow G12 8QQ Scotland Tel: +44(0)141 330 5512 Fax: +44(0)141 330 3788 appraisal.conference@hatii.arts.gla.ac.uk http://www.dpc.delos.info From Elena_OMalley at emerson.edu Thu Nov 1 16:08:19 2007 From: Elena_OMalley at emerson.edu (Elena OMalley) Date: Thu Nov 1 16:08:24 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] techessence.info In-Reply-To: <20071007160025.C6DDF189AE8@lists.webjunction.org> References: <20071007160025.C6DDF189AE8@lists.webjunction.org> Message-ID: <20EBF4F2D8307E4EAF71464CBE0055940567577F@HAIL.emerson.edu> I was taking a turn through my RSS feeds, and it looks like TechEssence.info hasn't been updated since June 07. Is it just resting? Or do I have a caching problem? Thanks, Elena O'Malley Assistant Director for Technology and Access Services Emerson College Library, Boston, MA 02116 From amutch at waterford.lib.mi.us Thu Nov 1 16:21:41 2007 From: amutch at waterford.lib.mi.us (Andrew) Date: Thu Nov 1 16:21:48 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] DST patching heads-up Message-ID: <472A3555.4000902@waterford.lib.mi.us> If you think your Windows machines are all patched up for the rollback from Daylight Saving Time (DST), you might be surprised to find computers and servers that are off-the-clock Monday. Even if you patched computers this Spring, you may run into problems under the following conditions: 1) A Windows computer or server set up AFTER the spring forward to DST AND 2) Runs Windows XP or Server 2003 AND 3) Synchs to a local Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) server Under those conditions, those computers and servers are likely not patched unless you patched them manually using the existing DST patches. The category that the DST patch falls under is not normally enabled on local WSUS servers. Below is a blog post that covers what you need to do on your local WSUS server to enable the category for the DST patch. Once you've enabled that category, you should synch your server with MS and then approve the patch to be deployed. Once the patch is enabled in WSUS, you can check the status of your computers and servers to see if they are truly ready for the end of DST. http://blogs.technet.com/dst2007/archive/2007/08/18/kb-933360-on-wsus-081707.aspx Andrew Mutch Library Systems Technician Waterford Township Public Library Waterford, MI From dreww at tc3.edu Thu Nov 1 16:24:13 2007 From: dreww at tc3.edu (Bill Drew) Date: Thu Nov 1 16:25:33 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] techessence.info Message-ID: I see the same thing. Maybe Roy Tennant or Thomas Dowling will give us an explanation. >>> "Elena OMalley" 11/1/2007 4:08 PM >>> I was taking a turn through my RSS feeds, and it looks like TechEssence.info hasn't been updated since June 07. Is it just resting? Or do I have a caching problem? Thanks, Elena O'Malley Assistant Director for Technology and Access Services Emerson College Library, Boston, MA 02116 _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From gerrymck at iastate.edu Thu Nov 1 17:35:47 2007 From: gerrymck at iastate.edu (Gerry Mckiernan) Date: Thu Nov 1 17:36:19 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] A SciTechNet: chemistry.org/exchange In-Reply-To: <4729FFCA.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> References: <4729FFCA.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> Message-ID: <472A0065.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> ***APOLOGIES FOR RECEIPT OF DUPLICATE POSTINGS*** Friends/Colleagues I am pleased to announce the latest addition to my recently-announced _SciTechNet(sm)_ blog devoted to Science and Technology social networking services. The newly-added service is called ***chemistry.org/exchange*** WHY? chemistry.org/exchange *is user-driven scientific content: [one] * can share, vote, and comment on articles and news among a global community. chemistry.org/exchange is a scientific community: create a profile, assign tags (keywords) to your account, and find and network with other registered users.* chemistry.org/exchange is an article repository that allows registered users ** to start a library of scientific research that's important to * [them] --publications * [they*ve] authored, or articles that furthers * [their] research.* chemistry.org/exchange was originally launched as BiotechExchange.org with the intent of providing *individuals [with] the opportunity to meet, dialogue, discuss, debate, and interact with other researchers and professionals involved in discovery and process development for the pharmaceutical and bio-based materials industries.* BiotechExchange.org sought to provide * * a forum to share information, identify opportunities, and seek collaborations with fellow scientists and industry professionals HOW? To use the full functionality of chemistry.org/exchange, individuals must be registered. Registration is free and requires only basic identification information For Additional Information and Links Visit _SciTechNet_ [ http://scitechnet.blogspot.com/2007/11/chemistryorgexchange.html ] Enjoy! /Gerry Gerry McKiernan Associate Professor Science and Technology Librarian Iowa State University Library Ames IA 50011 !!! Social Networking is People !!! [ http://www.facebook.com/p/Gerry_McKiernan/16926735 ] Iowa: Where the Tall Corn Flows and the (North)West Wind Blows ... [ http://alternativeenergyblogs.blogspot.com/ ] From tennantr at oclc.org Thu Nov 1 19:35:56 2007 From: tennantr at oclc.org (Roy Tennant) Date: Thu Nov 1 21:18:05 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] techessence.info In-Reply-To: <20EBF4F2D8307E4EAF71464CBE0055940567577F@HAIL.emerson.edu> Message-ID: TechEssence.info is a worthy project that has fallen on hard times. I'm afraid I've found no time recently to blog there, and neither have my brave colleagues. I have not given up, and will try to reinvigorate it so that it can become what I had hoped it would when I launched it. I'm at least glad that someone appears to care. Thanks, Roy On 11/1/07 1:08 PM, "Elena OMalley" wrote: > > I was taking a turn through my RSS feeds, and it looks like > TechEssence.info hasn't been updated since June 07. Is it just resting? > Or do I have a caching problem? > > Thanks, > Elena O'Malley > Assistant Director for Technology and Access Services > Emerson College Library, Boston, MA 02116 > > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ -- From JBloy at edgewood.edu Fri Nov 2 10:52:14 2007 From: JBloy at edgewood.edu (Jonathan Bloy) Date: Fri Nov 2 10:52:33 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Sharepoint 07 as a CMS Message-ID: <2793B0685088F840AA0183F23866B4FC093F3C3B@225-email.edgewood.edu> We're looking to move to a content management system for our library's website, and I've made a proposal to our IT department that a Drupal be installed for that purpose. They've told me the campus will be getting Sharepoint 07 in the coming months, and we could utilize its CMS capabilities for our website. I should mention that I'm a strong advocate for accessible sites that follow web standards. Currently, the campus is using Sharepoint 03 version as an intranet. From my experience with that, and what I've been reading about the 07 version, I must admit to being a little disheartened. Is anyone currently using Sharepoint 07 successfully as a CMS for their library website? Any experience, or examples you can share? -- Jonathan Bloy Web Services Librarian Edgewood College Madison, Wisconsin http://library.edgewood.edu From randy.norwood at ttu.edu Fri Nov 2 13:27:54 2007 From: randy.norwood at ttu.edu (Norwood, Randy) Date: Fri Nov 2 13:29:18 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Sharepoint 07 as a CMS In-Reply-To: <2793B0685088F840AA0183F23866B4FC093F3C3B@225-email.edgewood.edu> References: <2793B0685088F840AA0183F23866B4FC093F3C3B@225-email.edgewood.edu> Message-ID: <1CF6BEFB32219044B8A8D8669BEB754942F27A@CALYPSO.net.ttu.edu> The thing to remember about Sharepoint is that it's more of a platform for development and enhancement than a solution. It's a very complex system, and needs to be installed, configured, developed and managed by staff who are trained and knowledgable. It can do many things, but does not necessarily do all of them well. At my law school, we're using Sharepoint MOSS 2007 for our intranet, and it's working pretty well. There was some consideration given to using Sharepoint WSS 3.0 (which lacks some of MOSS's personalization features) for our web site. However, that was postponed due to some issues with campus IT, which wanted us to use their new enterprise CMS (which they've since postponed themselves). If I were you, I would not want to be the first on your campus to use Sharepoint as a web CMS. If others jump in and are successful, and campus IT supports it well, then maybe I would be amenable to it. In general, I prefer a dedicated/specialized web CMS. -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Randy Norwood Sr Programmer/Analyst Texas Tech School of Law Library Office: 806-742-3990 x350 Web/Intranet Requests: http://intranet.law.ttu.edu/Lists/WebIntranet%20Requests/ Support: 806-742-3990 x318, computersupport.law@ttu.edu E-mail: randy.norwood@ttu.edu -----Original Message----- From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Jonathan Bloy Sent: Friday, November 02, 2007 9:52 AM To: web4lib@webjunction.org Subject: [Web4lib] Sharepoint 07 as a CMS We're looking to move to a content management system for our library's website, and I've made a proposal to our IT department that a Drupal be installed for that purpose. They've told me the campus will be getting Sharepoint 07 in the coming months, and we could utilize its CMS capabilities for our website. I should mention that I'm a strong advocate for accessible sites that follow web standards. Currently, the campus is using Sharepoint 03 version as an intranet. From my experience with that, and what I've been reading about the 07 version, I must admit to being a little disheartened. Is anyone currently using Sharepoint 07 successfully as a CMS for their library website? Any experience, or examples you can share? -- Jonathan Bloy Web Services Librarian Edgewood College Madison, Wisconsin http://library.edgewood.edu _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From matt.polcyn at gmail.com Fri Nov 2 15:08:26 2007 From: matt.polcyn at gmail.com (Matt Polcyn) Date: Fri Nov 2 15:12:25 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Position announcement: Technology Specialist, OHIONET (Columbus, Ohio) Message-ID: <65eac5160711021208x62c867dcu2f73deb0dd31ca71@mail.gmail.com> TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST OHIONET, a not-for-profit library membership organization, invites applications for an energetic, flexible, technologically savvy, and innovative professional to join its three-person team supporting OPAL, a consortium of twenty-four academic libraries of private higher educational institutions within Ohio, and its computer systems. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES - Provide technical support to OPAL libraries and their staff to support their use of the Innovative Interfaces Millennium system. - Develop and maintain the OPAL web presence, including the OPAL catalog interface and the OPAL website. - Conduct system-related training sessions for OPAL libraries and their staff. - Assist in the administration of OPAL consortium's other computer systems. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES - Demonstrated ability to provide front-line troubleshooting in complex automated environments. - Strong public/customer service background. - Excellent leadership, analytic and problem-solving skills and capability of exercising sound judgment. - Strong knowledge of and experience with web-related technologies including XHMTL, XML and CSS. - Familiarity with principles of web usability and accessibility. - Knowledge of scripting languages such as PERL, PHP, Javascript. - Ability to acquire a working knowledge of new languages and environments quickly and independently. OTHER QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelors degree or other relevant degree, or equivalent work experience required. - Relevant certifications and demonstrated professional leadership and commitment preferred. - Minimum of two years of experience in library systems or web administration or support. - Experience with Innovative Interfaces Millennium system and WebPAC preferred. COMPENSATION Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. OHIONET provides excellent benefits including generous healthcare plan, 20 vacation days, 11 holidays, 12 days sick leave, TIAA-CREF retirement plan. APPLICATION Qualified candidates are encouraged to send a letter of application, resume, and three references with addresses and phone numbers to: Jennifer Turner Director of Accounting and Business Services OHIONET 1500 W. Lane Ave. Columbus OH 43221 jennifer@ohionet.org Applications received by November 16th will receive first consideration. From jbowen at library.rochester.edu Fri Nov 2 15:24:29 2007 From: jbowen at library.rochester.edu (Bowen, Jennifer) Date: Fri Nov 2 15:32:07 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] eXtensible Catalog Project Phase 2 funded Message-ID: (Apologies for duplicate postings to multiple lists) We are pleased to announce that the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has awarded the University of Rochester River Campus Libraries a grant to support Phase 2 of the eXtensible Catalog Project. During Phase 2 of the eXtensible Catalog Project, the XC Project Team at the University of Rochester, together with XC Partner Institutions, will develop the XC software, a set of open-source applications to provide libraries with an alternative way to reveal their collections to library users. The full press release is available at: http://www.rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=3032 More information about the eXtensible Catalog project is available at www.eXtensiblecatalog.info . Jennifer Bowen Co-Principal Investigator, eXtensible Catalog Project Director of Metadata Management River Campus Libraries University of Rochester 352A Rush Rhees Library, Box 270055 Rochester, NY 14627-005 jbowen@library.rochester.edu ph: 585-275-0004 [please note new phone number!] fax: 585-273-1032 From gerrymck at iastate.edu Fri Nov 2 15:40:07 2007 From: gerrymck at iastate.edu (Gerry Mckiernan) Date: Fri Nov 2 15:47:01 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Twine: The Most Revolutionary Way to Organize, Find and Share Your Information In-Reply-To: <472B3628.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> References: <472B2C40.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> <472B3380.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> <472B3628.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> Message-ID: <472B36C7.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> ***APOLOGIES FOR RECEIPT OF DUPLICATE POSTINGS*** Friends/ A Friday Afternoon Find ... /Gerry Twine is a new service that intelligently helps you share, organize and find information with people you trust. [ http://www.twine.com/ ] Share more productively. In Twine you can safely share information and knowledge, and collaborate around common interests, activities and goals. Twine helps you better leverage and contribute to the collective intelligence of your network. Use Twine to share more productively with friends, colleagues, groups and teams. Get more organized. Twine provides one place to tie everything together: emails, bookmarks, documents, RSS feeds, contacts, photos, videos, product info, data records, and more. And, because Twine actually understands the meaning of any information you add in, it helps you organize all your stuff automatically. Finally, you can search and browse everything and everyone you know, about anything, in one convenient place. Find and be found. You are like a snowflake - you are totally one-of-a-kind. Twine recognizes what makes you special: your unique interests, personality, knowledge and relationships, to help you find and discover things, and be found by others, more relevantly. Who is Twine For? Friends. Colleagues. Groups. Teams. Anyone who needs help dealing with the growing array of information and relationships on the Web today. Whether you just need to organize and share with friends, or you need to collaborate better with teams, Twine provides the smartest way to tie it all together. How Does Twine work? We thought you*d never ask! Well, in a nutshell Twine uses the Semantic Web, natural language processing, and machine learning to make your information and relationships smarter. But if that*s all Greek to you, just think of Twine as your very own intelligent personal Web assistant, working for you behind the scenes so you can be more productive. [ http://www.twine.com/about ] !!! Happy Friday !!! /Gerry Gerry McKiernan Associate Professor Science and Technology Librarian Iowa State University Library Ames IA 50011 !!! Social Networking is People !!! [ http://www.facebook.com/p/Gerry_McKiernan/16926735 ] Iowa: Where the Tall Corn Flows and the (North)West Wind Blows ... [ http://alternativeenergyblogs.blogspot.com/ ] From jorgeserrano at gmail.com Fri Nov 2 18:20:25 2007 From: jorgeserrano at gmail.com (Jorge Serrano Cobos) Date: Fri Nov 2 18:31:11 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] =?iso-8859-1?q?prove_that_library_2=2E0_isn=B4t_useles?= =?iso-8859-1?q?s?= Message-ID: <668dcc760711021520s9927d8fscea5703f27b82c7c@mail.gmail.com> Hi: Reading "We Know What Library 2.0 Is and Is Not" by Michael Casey and Laura Savastinuk in http://www.librarycrunch.com/2007/10/we_know_what_library_20_is_and.html comes to my mind the need to have more figures, more numbers, more indicators, to demonstrate if a change in our websites to Library 2.0 approach, even just a 1.0 better performance and user centered design change, does really brings more users to physical library. Do you have any figures on this issue? Could you prove it? Any experiences showing that a usability design change, not only brings more users to the web, but more requests? And a library 2.0 approach? Or is the step from the web to the real bookshelf too long? Thanks in advance, and sorry for my english... (I?m spaniard) -- Jorge Serrano-Cobos Head of Digital Content Department http//www.masmedios.com Social Networks: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=590138596 http://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgeserranocobos http://jorge-serrano-cobos.neurona.com Thinkepi Group Member http://www.thinkepi.net Personal web: http://trucosdegoogle.blogspot.com From pfa at umich.edu Fri Nov 2 18:45:37 2007 From: pfa at umich.edu (Anderson, Patricia) Date: Fri Nov 2 19:08:38 2007 Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?RE=3A_=5BWeb4lib=5D_prove_that_library_2=2E0_isn=B4t_usele?= =?iso-8859-1?Q?ss?= References: <668dcc760711021520s9927d8fscea5703f27b82c7c@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: The flaw in this question is the assumption that unless something brings patrons to the physical library it is useless. Gatecounts are a ROI metric whose time is past. There are other ways we can and should be measuring patron engagement with the librarians and the resources provided by the library. For one, I would like to see something that measure the amount of TIME spent in what type of interactions with patrons, rather than numbers of questions answered, just for one. Sorry for turning the question on its head, but I think this really is a "return on investment" question, rather than a Library 2.0 question. We have to answer first how we measure ROI, and *then* we can look at how Library 2.0 and social technologies impact on that. My two cents, Patricia Anderson, pfa@Umich.edu -----Original Message----- From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org on behalf of Jorge Serrano Cobos Sent: Fri 11/2/2007 6:20 PM To: Web4lib@webjunction.org Subject: [Web4lib] prove that library 2.0 isn?t useless Hi: Reading "We Know What Library 2.0 Is and Is Not" by Michael Casey and Laura Savastinuk in http://www.librarycrunch.com/2007/10/we_know_what_library_20_is_and.html comes to my mind the need to have more figures, more numbers, more indicators, to demonstrate if a change in our websites to Library 2.0 approach, even just a 1.0 better performance and user centered design change, does really brings more users to physical library. Do you have any figures on this issue? Could you prove it? Any experiences showing that a usability design change, not only brings more users to the web, but more requests? And a library 2.0 approach? Or is the step from the web to the real bookshelf too long? Thanks in advance, and sorry for my english... (I?m spaniard) -- Jorge Serrano-Cobos Head of Digital Content Department http//www.masmedios.com Social Networks: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=590138596 http://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgeserranocobos http://jorge-serrano-cobos.neurona.com Thinkepi Group Member http://www.thinkepi.net Personal web: http://trucosdegoogle.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From leo at leoklein.com Fri Nov 2 23:02:15 2007 From: leo at leoklein.com (Leo Robert Klein) Date: Fri Nov 2 23:02:20 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] prove that library 2.0 =?ISO-8859-1?Q?isn=B4t_us?= =?ISO-8859-1?Q?eless?= In-Reply-To: References: <668dcc760711021520s9927d8fscea5703f27b82c7c@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <472BE4B7.8010702@leoklein.com> Anderson, Patricia wrote: > The flaw in this question is the assumption that unless something brings > patrons to the physical library it is useless. Gatecounts are > a ROI metric whose time is past. There are other ways we can and > should be measuring patron engagement with the librarians and > the resources provided by the library. For one, I would like > to see something that measure the amount of TIME spent > in what type of interactions with patrons, rather than > numbers of questions answered, just for one. > > Sorry for turning the question on its head, but I think this really is a > "return on investment" question, rather than a Library 2.0 question. We > have to answer first how we measure ROI, and *then* we can look at > how Library 2.0 and social technologies impact on that. > > My two cents, I don't see why trips to the "real bookshelf" can't be one metric. If we're going the "brick-and-mortar" route, I'd include increased participation in activities like book clubs, readings and other special events -- thanks to advanced publicity via social networking. That said, I totally agree that we need better ways to measure success in this area. If every time the lights go out, someone yells "Blogs-Wikis-Flickr" (the 'BWF' syndrome), we ought to have some way of figuring out whether it's the most appropriate solution. Case studies from others would be helpful. In many cases, we may not even know what to look for. LEO -- ------------------- www.leoklein.com (site) www.ChicagoLibrarian.com (blog) aim/msn/yhoo/goog: 'leorobertklein' -- ------------------------------- From jaf30 at cornell.edu Sat Nov 3 08:12:37 2007 From: jaf30 at cornell.edu (John Fereira) Date: Sat Nov 3 08:13:00 2007 Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?RE:_[Web4lib]_prove_that_library_2.0_isn=B4t_?= usele ss In-Reply-To: References: <668dcc760711021520s9927d8fscea5703f27b82c7c@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <6.2.3.4.2.20071103075423.02e69fb8@postoffice8.mail.cornell.edu> At 06:45 PM 11/2/2007, Anderson, Patricia wrote: >The flaw in this question is the assumption that unless something >brings patrons to the physical library it is useless. Gatecounts are >a ROI metric whose time is past. There are other ways we can and >should be measuring patron engagement with the librarians and the >resources provided by the library. For one, I would like to see >something that measure the amount of TIME spent in what type of >interactions with patrons, rather than numbers of questions >answered, just for one. I would go beyond that. Is bringing more patrons into the physical library for the benefit of the patrons or for the benefit of the library? I would like to see some metrics on how implementing Library 2.0 technologies provides a measurable benefit to the patrons, and not just benefits that librarians have claimed that patrons need. In other words, I'd like to hear from patrons how the use of blogs, rss, and social networking systems have improved their overall experience using the library. >Sorry for turning the question on its head, but I think this really >is a "return on investment" question, rather than a Library 2.0 >question. We have to answer first how we measure ROI, and *then* we >can look at how Library 2.0 and social technologies impact on that. To do that a better definition of ROI is required. What exactly is the return? Libraries are essentially a services oriented "business". Does Library 2.0 provide demand driven services or supply driven services? Unless patrons are saying, "Gee, I would use the library a lot more often if only it had a presence in Second Life", creating a presence in Second Life is not going to provide a ROI that is meaningful to the patrons. John Fereira jaf30@cornell.edu Ithaca, NY From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Sat Nov 3 11:59:10 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Sat Nov 3 11:59:14 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] prove that library 2.0 isnīt useless In-Reply-To: <668dcc760711021520s9927d8fscea5703f27b82c7c@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <639839.47136.qm@web57101.mail.re3.yahoo.com> An excellent question. I'm not sure we know how to answer it yet, as others have pointed out. But I'm not sure that it's fair to gauge the success of library 2.0 projects by whether or not they really bring more users to the physical library. Part of the point of such projects is to reach out to people who never come to the library...providing services at their point of need, rather than forcing them to make a trip to the library. Bernie Sloan Jorge Serrano Cobos wrote: Hi: Reading "We Know What Library 2.0 Is and Is Not" by Michael Casey and Laura Savastinuk in http://www.librarycrunch.com/2007/10/we_know_what_library_20_is_and.html comes to my mind the need to have more figures, more numbers, more indicators, to demonstrate if a change in our websites to Library 2.0 approach, even just a 1.0 better performance and user centered design change, does really brings more users to physical library. Do you have any figures on this issue? Could you prove it? Any experiences showing that a usability design change, not only brings more users to the web, but more requests? And a library 2.0 approach? Or is the step from the web to the real bookshelf too long? Thanks in advance, and sorry for my english... (I?m spaniard) -- Jorge Serrano-Cobos Head of Digital Content Department http//www.masmedios.com Social Networks: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=590138596 http://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgeserranocobos http://jorge-serrano-cobos.neurona.com Thinkepi Group Member http://www.thinkepi.net Personal web: http://trucosdegoogle.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Sat Nov 3 12:04:53 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Sat Nov 3 12:04:57 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] prove that library 2.0 isnīt useless In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <268203.50532.qm@web57108.mail.re3.yahoo.com> The concept of ROI and libraries is an interesting one. I would imagine that in the physical library there are a lot of returns on investments that don't look too good (e.g., books that are acquired but never read, etc., etc.). To be fair, if libraries were to try to measure ROI for Library 2.0 projects, they should do the same for projects in the physical library. Do libraries do that? If so, how? Bernie Sloan "Anderson, Patricia" wrote: The flaw in this question is the assumption that unless something brings patrons to the physical library it is useless. Gatecounts are a ROI metric whose time is past. There are other ways we can and should be measuring patron engagement with the librarians and the resources provided by the library. For one, I would like to see something that measure the amount of TIME spent in what type of interactions with patrons, rather than numbers of questions answered, just for one. Sorry for turning the question on its head, but I think this really is a "return on investment" question, rather than a Library 2.0 question. We have to answer first how we measure ROI, and *then* we can look at how Library 2.0 and social technologies impact on that. My two cents, Patricia Anderson, pfa@Umich.edu -----Original Message----- From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org on behalf of Jorge Serrano Cobos Sent: Fri 11/2/2007 6:20 PM To: Web4lib@webjunction.org Subject: [Web4lib] prove that library 2.0 isn?t useless Hi: Reading "We Know What Library 2.0 Is and Is Not" by Michael Casey and Laura Savastinuk in http://www.librarycrunch.com/2007/10/we_know_what_library_20_is_and.html comes to my mind the need to have more figures, more numbers, more indicators, to demonstrate if a change in our websites to Library 2.0 approach, even just a 1.0 better performance and user centered design change, does really brings more users to physical library. Do you have any figures on this issue? Could you prove it? Any experiences showing that a usability design change, not only brings more users to the web, but more requests? And a library 2.0 approach? Or is the step from the web to the real bookshelf too long? Thanks in advance, and sorry for my english... (I?m spaniard) -- Jorge Serrano-Cobos Head of Digital Content Department http//www.masmedios.com Social Networks: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=590138596 http://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgeserranocobos http://jorge-serrano-cobos.neurona.com Thinkepi Group Member http://www.thinkepi.net Personal web: http://trucosdegoogle.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com From tim at librarything.com Sat Nov 3 17:35:12 2007 From: tim at librarything.com (Tim Spalding) Date: Sat Nov 3 17:35:18 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Reconsidering Library 2.0 ? Message-ID: <63d3c8ce0711031435t3b8f756as9a42158351d80dc1@mail.gmail.com> I understand the appeal of "moving past" technology to understand "Library 2.0" as something deeper, something user-centered, and I understand the appeal to evaluate outcomes judiciously and with metrics, if possible. But, from where I sit, the appeal of Library 2.0 is *at least* and *in the first instance* about a solid core?having library technology that does things and integrates with its users' lives in a way that could be described as "not failing." There's a certain reconsideration of Lib 2.0 going around, some breath-taking, and even a certain amount of backlash. Yet very little has actually *happened*. A few libraries are doing interesting things, but they're a tiny minority. There's been no general spread. The number of conference talks with "Library 2.0" in their title far exceeds real action taken. What action has happened has largey occured in activities which I at least see as peripheral, like giving your library a MySpace page which, like as not, nobody visits. Meanwhile, the core experience languishes. Library websites haven't changed much and OPACs have changed even less. Indeed, the core technology experience is if anything worse today, as patron expectations have risen. It's been said before, but it deserves repeating: OPACs are *dreadful*. "The OPAC sucks" has become a sort of Lib 2.0 shibboleth, but they haven't stopped sucking. Libraries talk about getting on Twitter and Second Life, and they're not on Google. Here and there I can get library photos on Twitter, but my OPAC won't tell me that although the book I clicked on is out, there is another edition available. Mid-90s spelling correction and relevancy ranking are sometimes available, but often as a paid feature. Looking at these issues from the outside, the landscape can seem surreal. I know I have a bias. I'm a software developer. I see software problems. And I am not blaming library technologists, who are generally at the mercy of systems and organizational limitations that would drive me mad. Still, I see the library's core web presence as central, and so obviously behind as to nearly moot other, reasoned discussion. So, let me climb down and open this up: *Should the core web presence be the center of Lib 2.0? *Can reconceptualizing the project away from technology actually achieve the technological goals more readily? *Am I missing real progress? If so, what have I missed? *Is the talk/action ratio unavoidable? Tim On 11/3/07, B.G. Sloan wrote: > > The concept of ROI and libraries is an interesting one. I would imagine that in the physical library there are a lot of returns on investments that don't look too good (e.g., books that are acquired but never read, etc., etc.). > > To be fair, if libraries were to try to measure ROI for Library 2.0 projects, they should do the same for projects in the physical library. Do libraries do that? If so, how? > > Bernie Sloan > > "Anderson, Patricia" wrote: > The flaw in this question is the assumption that unless something brings patrons to the physical library it is useless. Gatecounts are a ROI metric whose time is past. There are other ways we can and should be measuring patron engagement with the librarians and the resources provided by the library. For one, I would like to see something that measure the amount of TIME spent in what type of interactions with patrons, rather than numbers of questions answered, just for one. > > Sorry for turning the question on its head, but I think this really is a "return on investment" question, rather than a Library 2.0 question. We have to answer first how we measure ROI, and *then* we can look at how Library 2.0 and social technologies impact on that. > > My two cents, > > Patricia Anderson, pfa@Umich.edu > > > -----Original Message----- > From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org on behalf of Jorge Serrano Cobos > Sent: Fri 11/2/2007 6:20 PM > To: Web4lib@webjunction.org > Subject: [Web4lib] prove that library 2.0 isn?t useless > > Hi: > > Reading "We Know What Library 2.0 Is and Is Not" by Michael Casey and Laura > Savastinuk in > http://www.librarycrunch.com/2007/10/we_know_what_library_20_is_and.html comes > to my mind the need to have more figures, more numbers, more indicators, to > demonstrate if a change in our websites to Library 2.0 approach, even just a > 1.0 better performance and user centered design change, does really brings > more users to physical library. > > Do you have any figures on this issue? Could you prove it? Any experiences > showing that a usability design change, not only brings more users to the > web, but more requests? And a library 2.0 approach? Or is the step from the > web to the real bookshelf too long? > > Thanks in advance, and sorry for my english... (I?m spaniard) > > -- > Jorge Serrano-Cobos > Head of Digital Content Department > http//www.masmedios.com > > Social Networks: > http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=590138596 > http://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgeserranocobos > http://jorge-serrano-cobos.neurona.com > > Thinkepi Group Member > http://www.thinkepi.net > Personal web: http://trucosdegoogle.blogspot.com > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > -- Check out my library at http://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding From leo at leoklein.com Sat Nov 3 19:45:04 2007 From: leo at leoklein.com (Leo Robert Klein) Date: Sat Nov 3 19:45:10 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Reconsidering Library 2.0 ? In-Reply-To: <63d3c8ce0711031435t3b8f756as9a42158351d80dc1@mail.gmail.com> References: <63d3c8ce0711031435t3b8f756as9a42158351d80dc1@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <472D0800.5090505@leoklein.com> Tim Spalding wrote: [snip] > Meanwhile, the core experience languishes. Library websites haven't > changed much and OPACs have changed even less. Indeed, the core > technology experience is if anything worse today, as patron > expectations have risen. Actually, I'd be a bit more optimistic on this front. Just off the top of my head, I'd say the Indianapolis-Marion County website or the Queens Borough Library website, are good examples of what libraries can do. I think if the focus is on core competencies, instead of checklist 2.0 solutions (blog - check, wiki - check, etc.), you can come up with excellent results. LEO -- ------------------- www.leoklein.com (site) www.ChicagoLibrarian.com (blog) aim/msn/yhoo/goog: 'leorobertklein' -- ------------------------------- From jorgeserrano at gmail.com Sun Nov 4 02:56:50 2007 From: jorgeserrano at gmail.com (Jorge Serrano Cobos) Date: Sun Nov 4 02:56:56 2007 Subject: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Re:_[Web4lib]_prove_that_library_2.0_isn=B4t_useless?= In-Reply-To: <268203.50532.qm@web57108.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <268203.50532.qm@web57108.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <668dcc760711040056q68702601qad1092e158bb4c6b@mail.gmail.com> Sure, we can think on many indicators, but we need something -whatever- to be convinced and to convince colleagues about why they could/should change and move on. In Spain we have a whole standardized bunch of indicators, and the data from the whole country is centralized here: http://mapabpe.mcu.es/menu_anexos.html If you take some of the indicators, for example requests, ( http://mapabpe.mcu.es/controlbibliotecas.cmd?idbiblioteca=1&idopcion=54&Cagrupar=Ca&comunidad=1&elano=2006&Autonomia=Ca) we can see some states with negative growth, and these are the indicators that politicians can use to give money -or not-. Other indicators show similar problems, like less queries to OPACs http://mapabpe.mcu.es/controlbibliotecas.cmd?idbiblioteca=1&idopcion=58&Cagrupar=Ca&comunidad=1&elano=2006&Autonomia=Ca others perform possitive (thank God) The thing is, this is were justification has to be made if you want librarians to change their mind, or worse, politicians (the ones with the money) at least in Spain. I use to do Web Analytics and Search Analytics for my e-commerce clients, who are totally different species. I know they want raw data, more sales, more engaged users, things like that. Anyone doing multivariant or A/B tests or changing just a background colour on their websites and connecting that with more services visitors, more time spent, more -anything- taking apart other factors? That is causal relationship, the kind of demonstration to be shown at a conference. Anyway, thanks in advance, -- Jorge Serrano-Cobos Head of Digital Content Department http//www.masmedios.com Social Networks: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=590138596 http://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgeserranocobos http://jorge-serrano-cobos.neurona.com Thinkepi Group Member http://www.thinkepi.net Personal web: http://trucosdegoogle.blogspot.com On 11/3/07, B.G. Sloan wrote: > > > The concept of ROI and libraries is an interesting one. I would imagine > that in the physical library there are a lot of returns on investments that > don't look too good (e.g., books that are acquired but never read, etc., > etc.). > > To be fair, if libraries were to try to measure ROI for Library 2.0projects, they should do the same for projects in the physical library. Do > libraries do that? If so, how? > > Bernie Sloan > > "Anderson, Patricia" wrote: > The flaw in this question is the assumption that unless something brings > patrons to the physical library it is useless. Gatecounts are a ROI metric > whose time is past. There are other ways we can and should be measuring > patron engagement with the librarians and the resources provided by the > library. For one, I would like to see something that measure the amount of > TIME spent in what type of interactions with patrons, rather than numbers of > questions answered, just for one. > > Sorry for turning the question on its head, but I think this really is a > "return on investment" question, rather than a Library 2.0 question. We > have to answer first how we measure ROI, and *then* we can look at how > Library 2.0 and social technologies impact on that. > > My two cents, > > Patricia Anderson, pfa@Umich.edu > > > -----Original Message----- > From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org on behalf of Jorge Serrano Cobos > Sent: Fri 11/2/2007 6:20 PM > To: Web4lib@webjunction.org > Subject: [Web4lib] prove that library 2.0 isn?t useless > > Hi: > > Reading "We Know What Library 2.0 Is and Is Not" by Michael Casey and > Laura > Savastinuk in > http://www.librarycrunch.com/2007/10/we_know_what_library_20_is_and.htmlcomes > to my mind the need to have more figures, more numbers, more indicators, > to > demonstrate if a change in our websites to Library 2.0 approach, even just > a > 1.0 better performance and user centered design change, does really brings > more users to physical library. > > Do you have any figures on this issue? Could you prove it? Any experiences > showing that a usability design change, not only brings more users to the > web, but more requests? And a library 2.0 approach? Or is the step from > the > web to the real bookshelf too long? > > Thanks in advance, and sorry for my english... (I?m spaniard) > > -- > Jorge Serrano-Cobos > Head of Digital Content Department > http//www.masmedios.com > > Social Networks: > http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=590138596 > http://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgeserranocobos > http://jorge-serrano-cobos.neurona.com > > Thinkepi Group Member > http://www.thinkepi.net > Personal web: http://trucosdegoogle.blogspot.com > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > -- Jorge Serrano-Cobos Departamento de Contenidos http//www.masmedios.com Redes Sociales: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=590138596 http://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgeserranocobos http://jorge-serrano-cobos.neurona.com Miembro del Grupo Thinkepi http://www.thinkepi.net Web personal: http://trucosdegoogle.blogspot.com From kcoyle at kcoyle.net Sun Nov 4 10:13:05 2007 From: kcoyle at kcoyle.net (Karen Coyle) Date: Sun Nov 4 10:13:38 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] prove that library 2.0 =?ISO-8859-1?Q?isn=B4t_us?= =?ISO-8859-1?Q?eless?= In-Reply-To: <668dcc760711040056q68702601qad1092e158bb4c6b@mail.gmail.com> References: <268203.50532.qm@web57108.mail.re3.yahoo.com> <668dcc760711040056q68702601qad1092e158bb4c6b@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <472DE181.2010702@kcoyle.net> If anyone wants to look at similar stats from the US, the state libraries gather that data. Here's the link for the stats page from California: http://www.library.ca.gov/lds/librarystats.html Unfortunately, it isn't comparative against earlier years, but you can download the excel files and do that yourself. Included in these stats are changes in population served -- that is, gains and losses of population in the community itself. What I was looking at these stats a few years ago for a project, it seemed to me that in many cases use of the library was going up, not down, and the easier it was to check out books the more books were checked out (we were studying RFID and self-check). Reference was going down, however. (I happened to think that reference at a reference desk in one place in the library is a dead strategy. Reference has to take place where the users are -- in the stacks. Ditto with catalog use -- who wants to walk 50 yards or meters back to a terminal station to consult the catalog?) The only way to convince people that something new works in the library is to prove it. This means that we all should be gathering stats before and after so we can actually measure the effect of changes. You wouldn't be able to take someone else's stats and translate them directly to your own community, but it would give you support for pursuing changes in your own community. kc Jorge Serrano Cobos wrote: > Sure, we can think on many indicators, but we need something -whatever- to > be convinced and to convince colleagues about why they could/should change > and move on. > > In Spain we have a whole standardized bunch of indicators, and the data from > the whole country is centralized here: > http://mapabpe.mcu.es/menu_anexos.html > > If you take some of the indicators, for example requests, ( > http://mapabpe.mcu.es/controlbibliotecas.cmd?idbiblioteca=1&idopcion=54&Cagrupar=Ca&comunidad=1&elano=2006&Autonomia=Ca) > > > we can see some states with negative growth, and these are the indicators > that politicians can use to give money -or not-. > > Other indicators show similar problems, like less queries to OPACs > http://mapabpe.mcu.es/controlbibliotecas.cmd?idbiblioteca=1&idopcion=58&Cagrupar=Ca&comunidad=1&elano=2006&Autonomia=Ca > > others perform possitive (thank God) The thing is, this is were > justification has to be made if you want librarians to change their mind, or > worse, politicians (the ones with the money) at least in Spain. -- ----------------------------------- Karen Coyle / Digital Library Consultant kcoyle@kcoyle.net http://www.kcoyle.net ph.: 510-540-7596 skype: kcoylenet fx.: 510-848-3913 mo.: 510-435-8234 ------------------------------------ From tschaka1 at earthlink.net Sun Nov 4 13:34:41 2007 From: tschaka1 at earthlink.net (Karen Tschanz) Date: Sun Nov 4 13:37:26 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Job Posting: Electronic Resources Management Librarian Message-ID: <005201c81f11$5de234f0$efefff04@karen1cc944820> Dear Listers: We are pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for the position described below. Please reply to marbrown@mail.mcg.edu. Thanks! Karen S. Tschanz Chair, Content Management Robert B. Greenblatt Library Medical College of Georgia Augusta GA 30909 Ph: 706-721-9912 ktschanz@mail.mcg.edu Electronic Resources Management Librarian - Assistant or Associate Professor The Robert B. Greenblatt, M.D. Library invites applications for Electronic Resources Management (ERM) Librarian, a position responsible for integrated acquisitions, management, access and delivery of electronic resources. The position assumes a leadership role in managing resource access, monitors current trends in access and electronic resource management, and administers use of electronic resource management systems and tools, especially Verde and MetaLib. The ERM Librarian serves as a resource expert for access and management of electronic resources and shares responsibility for training and oversight of staff involved in e-resource support. The Medical College of Georgia (MCG) is the only academic institution in Georgia dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. It has over 2,000 students in its Schools of Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Studies, Medicine and Nursing, a hospital with over 80 specialty clinics and centers and an award winning Children's Medical Center. Augusta, located along the banks of the Savannah River adjacent to South Carolina, has a population of over 200,000. It is the second oldest city in Georgia and is rich in history and architectural diversity. Host of the renowned Masters Golf Tournament, the springtime display of azaleas and dogwoods has earned the city the title of the "Garden City." With mild winters and tropical summers, Augusta attracts history buffs, nature lovers, art and museum visitors and sports fans. Responsibilities The ERM Librarian functions within the Greenblatt Library's Collection Management team, contributing leadership and expertise with emphasis on electronic resource management systems and tools. Assuming a point position in expanding the Library's electronic collections, this librarian coordinates and arranges e-resource trials, obtains licenses and electronic resource agreements, and conducts pre-license reviews. The ERM Librarian identifies data useful to acquisitions, collection development and institutional reporting and extracts the data from a variety of sources including electronic resource management tools, Voyager, Library and vendor websites. Responsibilities of the position include organizing, analyzing, and preparing data for use in acquisitions, collection development and institutional reporting. Collaboratively with other team members, the librarian participates in ongoing processes to assure optimal access to the Library's collections and to enhance the Library's interface to digital resources. As part of the technical team, the librarian spearheads troubleshooting of ERM systems and tools, collaborating with staff on access management problem identification and resolution. Qualifications The Electronic Resources Management Librarian must have a Masters degree in Library or Information Science from an ALA-accredited program, a minimum of two years of experience in an academic or research library, and the ability to function as a faculty member in areas of education, scholarship and research. Appointment as an Associate Professor requires meeting the criteria established by MCG for promotion to that rank. The successful candidate will have experience administering an electronic resource management system and other resource management tools and software. The experience will include e-resource data analysis and reporting, experience working with publishers and vendors of electronic resources, licensing and shared electronic resource agreements, and experience in troubleshooting electronic resources. Knowledge of electronic materials, services, licenses and pricing models; understanding of practices and trends in scholarly publishing and communication, technology, Library and Web 2.0 developments; and understanding of the legal, business and open access issues involved in the licensing and management of electronic resources are expected. The successful candidate will be collaborative, analytical and a skillful communicator capable of multitasking and effective project management. Additional Preferred Qualifications Skill in the use of electronic resource management tools, preferably EZProxy and ExLibris products, familiarity with SQL/MySQL, and experience working in an academic health sciences library are preferred. Further information about this position and the Medical College of Georgia Greenblatt Library can be found at http://www.lib.mcg.edu/ Salary and Benefits This position has faculty rank and status (non-tenure track). Benefits include a competitive health package, and TIAA/CREF and other retirement options. Minimum salary is $42,000. Review of applications will begin January 15, 2008 and continue until the position is filled. Send letter of application, curriculum vitae, and three letters of professional reference to: Marianne Brown, Head Library Business Services Greenblatt Library, AB-217 Medical College of Georgia Augusta, GA 30912-4400 Ph. 706.721.4677 Fax 706.721.2018 Email: marbrown@mail.mcg.edu AA/EEO/Equal Access/ADA Employer From tschaka1 at earthlink.net Sun Nov 4 13:53:45 2007 From: tschaka1 at earthlink.net (Karen Tschanz) Date: Sun Nov 4 13:53:40 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Job Posting: METADATA LIBRARIAN Message-ID: <005c01c81f14$07b134c0$efefff04@karen1cc944820> Dear Listers: We are pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for the position described below. Please reply to marbrown@mail.mcg.edu. Thanks! Karen S. Tschanz Chair, Content Management Robert B. Greenblatt Library Medical College of Georgia Augusta GA 30909 Ph: 706-721-9912 ktschanz@mail.mcg.edu **************************************************************************** ****************************************************************** Metadata Librarian - Assistant or Associate Professor The Robert B. Greenblatt, M.D. Library invites applications for Metadata Librarian. As a member of the Content Management team, the Metadata Librarian assumes a leadership role in cataloging and metadata creation, and in management and quality assurance for bibliographic and digital projects and databases. The Medical College of Georgia (MCG) is the only academic institution in Georgia dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. It has over 2,000 students in its Schools of Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Studies, Medicine and Nursing, a hospital with over 80 specialty clinics and centers and an award winning Children's Medical Center. Augusta, located along the banks of the Savannah River adjacent to South Carolina, has a population of over 200,000. It is the second oldest city in Georgia and is rich in history and architectural diversity. Host of the renowned Masters Golf Tournament, the springtime display of azaleas and dogwoods has earned the city the title of the "Garden City." With mild winters and tropical summers, Augusta attracts history buffs, nature lovers, art and museum visitors and sports fans. Responsibilities The Metadata Librarian develops and streamlines processing models and workflows in support of print and digital initiatives, creates digital collections and develops online finding aids and preservation efforts utilizing digital technology. This librarian performs original cataloging of monographs, serials, theses, historical and archival materials, media and databases. Working within the team environment, the Metadata Librarian oversees staff performing copy cataloging and serves as a resource expert for metadata, cataloging, historical collection and preservation, and digital databases. The Metadata Librarian cooperatively plans, initiates and implements projects involving digital collections, digital preservation, digital or institutional repositories, enhancement of information resource and database access, usability and improvement of data quality. This librarian ensures quality of bibliographic and digital databases through application of national and local metadata standards, best practices, schemas, taxonomies, thesauri and data elements. The Metadata Librarian is the primary in-house expert for the online public access catalog and in this capacity collaborates to design and implement enhancements to the catalog and its interfaces. Qualifications The Metadata Librarian must have a Masters degree in Library or Information Science from an ALA-accredited program, minimum of two years of experience in an academic or research library, and the ability to function as a faculty member in areas of education, scholarship and research. Appointment as an Associate Professor requires meeting the criteria established by MCG for promotion to that rank. The successful candidate will have knowledge of metadata formats and standards, recent experience working with a major integrated library management system, experience cataloging resources in a variety of formats, including original cataloging, and library database management experience. Familiarity with current trends, best practices and emerging issues in metadata, cataloging, digitization, preservation, repositories, and scholarly communication is expected. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of metadata formats and standards, such as MARC, Dublin Core, EAD, XML, METS, MIX, MODS, VRA, and commonly applied cataloging and classification schemes. The successful candidate will be collaborative, analytical and a skillful communicator capable of multitasking and effective project management. Additional Preferred Qualifications Experience cataloging and classifying health sciences resources and experience working with Ex Libris Voyager are preferred. Also preferred are candidates with experience working with historical and archival materials and development of finding aids, digitization project management, and use of a digital repository tool such as D-Space. Further information about this position and the Medical College of Georgia Greenblatt Library can be found at http://www.lib.mcg.edu/ Salary and Benefits This position has faculty rank and status (non-tenure track). Benefits include a competitive health package, and TIAA/CREF and other retirement options. Minimum salary is $42,000. Review of applications will begin January 15, 2008 and continue until the position is filled. Send letter of application, curriculum vitae, and three letters of professional reference to: Marianne Brown, Head Library Business Services Greenblatt Library, AB-217 Medical College of Georgia Augusta, GA 30912-4400 Ph. 706.721.4677 Fax 706.721.2018 Email: marbrown@mail.mcg.edu AA/EEO/Equal Access/ADA Employer From lars at aronsson.se Sun Nov 4 14:53:19 2007 From: lars at aronsson.se (Lars Aronsson) Date: Sun Nov 4 15:10:32 2007 Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?RE:_[Web4lib]_prove_that_library_2.0_isn=B4t_?= usele ss In-Reply-To: <6.2.3.4.2.20071103075423.02e69fb8@postoffice8.mail.cornell.edu> References: <668dcc760711021520s9927d8fscea5703f27b82c7c@mail.gmail.com> <6.2.3.4.2.20071103075423.02e69fb8@postoffice8.mail.cornell.edu> Message-ID: John Fereira wrote: > To do that a better definition of ROI is required. What exactly > is the return? Libraries are essentially a services oriented > "business". I recently discussed the Google Book Search project with a library person. It's amazing how much money Google is investing in scanning books, and the library person was quite envious. It struck me then, that librarians are used to see funding and investment as a resource. The more you get, the happier you are. The book scanning people at Google get more money, so they must be happier than people at most libraries. We got funding. Yay! But in the commercial world, where Google operates, an investment is a debt, something you will one day be required to pay back and with an interest. If you can manage a project with less funding, you're all the merrier, because the sooner and easier will you be able to reach break-even and return a profit. It is indeed worrisome that Google makes such large investments in book scanning. How on earth are they going to recover those costs? By closing down the entire thing to paying subscribers? Perhaps these different views on "investment" is something that should be kept in mind when discussing "return on investment". -- Lars Aronsson (lars@aronsson.se) Aronsson Datateknik - http://aronsson.se From shollander2 at yahoo.com Mon Nov 5 11:00:15 2007 From: shollander2 at yahoo.com (Scott Hollander) Date: Mon Nov 5 11:00:19 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Job Posting: Web/Graphic Designer Message-ID: <3920.82614.qm@web84109.mail.mud.yahoo.com> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: The University at Buffalo Libraries is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Web/Graphic Designer. This position requires a Bachelor?s degree in a visual design-related discipline such as graphic design, communications design, digital design, new media design, visual communication, media arts or media studies. Also required is two to three years of website development experience. We are accepting applications through November 28, 2007. Fuller information about the position as well as the mandatory online application can be found at: https://www.ubjobs.buffalo.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=51385. The University at Buffalo is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We are particularly interested in identifying prospective minority candidates to further enrich and diversify our staff. From Elena_OMalley at emerson.edu Mon Nov 5 12:42:27 2007 From: Elena_OMalley at emerson.edu (Elena OMalley) Date: Mon Nov 5 12:44:12 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] techessence.info In-Reply-To: References: <20EBF4F2D8307E4EAF71464CBE0055940567577F@HAIL.emerson.edu> Message-ID: <20EBF4F2D8307E4EAF71464CBE0055940579DDD7@HAIL.emerson.edu> Roy-- I understand that folks get busy. Thanks for the site, and I'll check back occasionally. Elena -----Original Message----- From: Roy Tennant [mailto:tennantr@oclc.org] Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 7:36 PM To: web4lib@webjunction.org Subject: Re: [Web4lib] techessence.info TechEssence.info is a worthy project that has fallen on hard times. I'm afraid I've found no time recently to blog there, and neither have my brave colleagues. I have not given up, and will try to reinvigorate it so that it can become what I had hoped it would when I launched it. I'm at least glad that someone appears to care. Thanks, Roy On 11/1/07 1:08 PM, "Elena OMalley" wrote: > > I was taking a turn through my RSS feeds, and it looks like > TechEssence.info hasn't been updated since June 07. Is it just resting? > Or do I have a caching problem? > > Thanks, > Elena O'Malley > Assistant Director for Technology and Access Services Emerson College > Library, Boston, MA 02116 > > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ -- From mindspiral at gmail.com Mon Nov 5 16:12:52 2007 From: mindspiral at gmail.com (Brian Gray) Date: Mon Nov 5 16:13:03 2007 Subject: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Re:_[Web4lib]_prove_that_library_2.0_isn=B4t_useless?= In-Reply-To: <668dcc760711021520s9927d8fscea5703f27b82c7c@mail.gmail.com> References: <668dcc760711021520s9927d8fscea5703f27b82c7c@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: I do not know that we need to limit or measure the effects of web 2.0 as a correlation with an increase in "physical library traffic. I think of how much web 2.0 targets those that are not, will never be, or are only rarely physical users of the brick and mortar building. Web 2.0 tools or techniques reach these users while improving the experience of traditional library users. I can also think of all the advantages it offers to the library staff. For example, my campus has a discussion forum, blog system, and wiki system that all faculty, staff, and students can use. We are able to get statistics of the library portions of those environments to see that they are being visited and/or utilized. More importantly to me has been the "extra" transactions and/or competitive intelligence that has occurred. I have answered reference questions in all all these environments. I have participated in and/or read user comments about the library and its services. I can see the hot topics of discussion or research on campus. Brian Gray Head of Reference Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University On 11/2/07, Jorge Serrano Cobos wrote: > Hi: > > Reading "We Know What Library 2.0 Is and Is Not" by Michael Casey and Laura > Savastinuk in > http://www.librarycrunch.com/2007/10/we_know_what_library_20_is_and.html comes > to my mind the need to have more figures, more numbers, more indicators, to > demonstrate if a change in our websites to Library 2.0 approach, even just a > 1.0 better performance and user centered design change, does really brings > more users to physical library. > > Do you have any figures on this issue? Could you prove it? Any experiences > showing that a usability design change, not only brings more users to the > web, but more requests? And a library 2.0 approach? Or is the step from the > web to the real bookshelf too long? > > Thanks in advance, and sorry for my english... (I?m spaniard) > > -- > Jorge Serrano-Cobos > Head of Digital Content Department > http//www.masmedios.com > > Social Networks: > http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=590138596 > http://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgeserranocobos > http://jorge-serrano-cobos.neurona.com > > Thinkepi Group Member > http://www.thinkepi.net > Personal web: http://trucosdegoogle.blogspot.com From mindspiral at gmail.com Mon Nov 5 16:24:34 2007 From: mindspiral at gmail.com (Brian Gray) Date: Mon Nov 5 16:24:43 2007 Subject: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Re:_[Web4lib]_prove_that_library_2.0_isn=B4t_usele_ss?= In-Reply-To: References: <668dcc760711021520s9927d8fscea5703f27b82c7c@mail.gmail.com> <6.2.3.4.2.20071103075423.02e69fb8@postoffice8.mail.cornell.edu> Message-ID: They are recovering costs now with online ad placements. Also, just think if the marketing value if Google one day could announce "we own the digital content of ALL books". I do not think you will see a subscriber model, unless copyright law is changed for this new online approach of complete digitization AND access to materials. I suspect we may see ads placed throughout a digitized at sometime in the future, before a full subscriber model occurs. Brian Gray mindspiral@gmail.com On 11/4/07, Lars Aronsson wrote: > But in the commercial world, where Google operates, an investment > is a debt, something you will one day be required to pay back and > with an interest. If you can manage a project with less funding, > you're all the merrier, because the sooner and easier will you be > able to reach break-even and return a profit. It is indeed > worrisome that Google makes such large investments in book > scanning. How on earth are they going to recover those costs? > By closing down the entire thing to paying subscribers? From VFranklyn at ppld.org Mon Nov 5 17:15:32 2007 From: VFranklyn at ppld.org (Franklyn, Virginia) Date: Mon Nov 5 17:15:36 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] CMS Message-ID: <0600FBC573ABAA4B8042C9FA002E88670338E424@2k3-thor.ad.ppld.org> Hi folks, Quick question for those of you using a CMS with IIS: what CMS product do you use? Also, are you satisfied with said CMS? Thanks! Virginia Franklyn Web Developer Pikes Peak Library District 719-531-6333 x1129 http://library.ppld.org From dgrediagin at bssd.org Mon Nov 5 17:55:23 2007 From: dgrediagin at bssd.org (Darla Grediagin) Date: Mon Nov 5 17:56:20 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] CMS In-Reply-To: <0600FBC573ABAA4B8042C9FA002E88670338E424@2k3-thor.ad.ppld.org> References: <0600FBC573ABAA4B8042C9FA002E88670338E424@2k3-thor.ad.ppld.org> Message-ID: <472F9F5B.1010704@bssd.org> Good afternoon, Does anyone know of a program to merge individual library records into a union catalog? I am running three machines with Unbuntu, WindowsXP, and Macintosh, so I can use any format you may know of. Thanks in advance, Darla Darla Grediagin District Librarian Bering Strait School District Unalakleet, Alaska Web Address : http://bssdonline.org/course/view.php?id=51 Blog: http://aklibrarian1.edublogs.org/ OPAC: http://opac.bssd.org:8181/cgi-bin/koha/opac-search.pl From kgs at bluehighways.com Mon Nov 5 19:58:24 2007 From: kgs at bluehighways.com (K.G. Schneider) Date: Mon Nov 5 19:58:27 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Reconsidering Library 2.0 ? In-Reply-To: <63d3c8ce0711031435t3b8f756as9a42158351d80dc1@mail.gmail.com> References: <63d3c8ce0711031435t3b8f756as9a42158351d80dc1@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <1194310704.7452.1219725127@webmail.messagingengine.com> > Meanwhile, the core experience languishes. Library websites haven't > changed much and OPACs have changed even less. Indeed, the core > technology experience is if anything worse today, as patron > expectations have risen. > > It's been said before, but it deserves repeating: OPACs are > *dreadful*. All this is true, as is the idea that just having a MySpace page (or a Second Life presence) does not constitute being "2.0." I also think some of the stepping-back is by people who never moved forward in the first place. But that's an aside. The big thing is to understand that change does happen slowly in libraries, even nimble libraries, for reasons having to do with balancing limited (and frequently precommitted) funds, the huge complexity of a move, data that is welded into recalcitrant proprietary software, key services that must continue regardless of the library's commitment to change, and other things having nothing to do with the *desire* to move forward, or even the *intention* to move forward. Like the "report" that concluded only a few libraries have implemented open source OPACs, I don't think a nose count of actual change paints an accurate picture here. I recently evaluated the library landscape (and I am not the only person to have done this of late) and found that quite a few libraries are somewhere fairly far along on the spectrum of "committed to change," many to the point of committing significant resources. Some of the hesitation is quite well-founded. There are some very interesting paths to follow, and key library leaders creating new directions. Many projects are in rapid development. If your OPAC is not the only problem you're coping with (or even if it is), "watchful waiting" is not a bad strategy. Is WorldCat Local the correct path? Or xCatalog? Or LibraryFind? Or one of the commercial solutions (Primo, Encore, etc.)? Or Scriblio? Some of the "killer apps" are still in the early design stages! We're trying to turn a slow-moving barge... and at full speed, to many, that will seem very slow. K.G. Schneider From pdeanda at libraryassociates.com Mon Nov 5 20:03:54 2007 From: pdeanda at libraryassociates.com (Patty De Anda) Date: Mon Nov 5 20:03:57 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Position Available: Web Services Librarian Message-ID: <2490B2A4A4320D43B3C2AB11B542177CBBEDC3@hosted.netfusion.mail> LAC seeks qualified candidates for the position of Web Services Librarian to provide web development and support services for a major government library in Maryland. This exciting position would be ideal for recent graduates looking to kick start their careers. Responsibilities: * Select materials for inclusion on subject-specific resources databases according to established criteria; build web pages for assigned topics according to established format * Create metadata records based on Dublin Core for selected materials; assign keywords from in-house Thesaurus * Identify agency-produced documents in commercial databases and create metadata for addition to library's digital repository; create preliminary records in OCLC * Identify and evaluate appropriate web sites to link to library web site; add to library web site using in-house content management system * Build and edit web pages, establish page organization and taxonomy, generate and apply appropriate graphics; maintain links; monitor usage and user feedback * Facilitate end-user retrieval of information, develop help pages, tutorials, and other training materials Qualifications: * ALA-accredited MLS * Previous experience with web-based library and information services * Demonstrated knowledge of or familiarity with scientific literature and resources * Demonstrated experience with Dreamweaver, HTML, FTP and similar tools highly desirable * Excellent communication skills To Apply: For immediate consideration please apply using our online registration at www.libraryassociates.com, or send your cover letter and resume to Joanne Schwarz (jschwarz@libraryassociates.com ) with a copy to Patty DeAnda (pdeanda@libraryassociates.com ) . Please remember to include the job title and number (#794) in your email or cover letter. The information contained in this e-mail message is privileged, confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination or copying is strictly prohibited. If you think that you have received this e-mail message in error, please e-mail the sender. From anders.ericson at norskbibliotekforening.no Tue Nov 6 07:26:26 2007 From: anders.ericson at norskbibliotekforening.no (Anders Ericson) Date: Tue Nov 6 07:26:48 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitization programs Message-ID: <006e01c82070$40577ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> Libraries and others do a lot of digitization these days. But one of the (unintended) consequences is an increasing amount of very easily available texts in Google - however old and often unreliable and false information. (Not unlike the new, but you get my point?) I'm looking for digitization efforts that include some "consumer's information" on the quality of digitized documents. Like links to Wikipedia articles or librarians' input. Anders Ericson, Web editor, Norwegian Libr. Assoc. From jtgorman at uiuc.edu Tue Nov 6 08:09:15 2007 From: jtgorman at uiuc.edu (Jonathan Gorman) Date: Tue Nov 6 08:09:27 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitization programs Message-ID: <20071106070915.BAT25252@expms4.cites.uiuc.edu> ---- Original message ---- >Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 13:26:26 +0100 >From: "Anders Ericson" >Subject: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitization programs >To: > >Libraries and others do a lot of digitization these days. But one of the >(unintended) consequences is an increasing amount of very easily available >texts in Google - however old and often unreliable and false information. >(Not unlike the new, but you get my point?) > >I'm looking for digitization efforts that include some "consumer's >information" on the quality of digitized documents. Like links to Wikipedia >articles or librarians' input. > I guess I'm a little confused here by what you mean by quality. It seems that you're asking if anyone has reviewed or looked over the material. That's an interesting question, after all, bad books have always been published. Maybe the author was considered a quack. I'm not sure of any projects attempts to do anything like that. The interesting part I've found as I've played with these works though is that I've found references to the books I'm looking for in other books. At some point we might be able to datamine those connections, but it can be a tricky issue. Of course, I might be misreading you. There are usually quality metrics associated with scanning books, such as the number of errors per page or the average run of correctly converted words. If you're asking if anyone has done sampling or displays estimated error rates, I don't think so. Sorry, no answers, but good questions ;). Good luck on finding some information. Jon Gorman > >Anders Ericson, >Web editor, Norwegian Libr. Assoc. > > > > >_______________________________________________ >Web4lib mailing list >Web4lib@webjunction.org >http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From vctinney at sbcglobal.net Tue Nov 6 08:39:40 2007 From: vctinney at sbcglobal.net (Chris Tinney) Date: Tue Nov 6 08:39:44 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitization programs In-Reply-To: <006e01c82070$40577ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> Message-ID: <254342.49005.qm@web56115.mail.re3.yahoo.com> I have a sub section on digitized documents at: http://www.academic-genealogy.com/bookspublicationsgenealogical.htm#Edpub Nevertheless, from a webmaster standpoint, for many years, in my subject interest, I have found the only way to correct old and often unreliable, or false information, was by the process of cross comparison of link sites. Over a period of time, the bad links simply die out and are replaced by the better ones. Anders Ericson wrote: Libraries and others do a lot of digitization these days. But one of the (unintended) consequences is an increasing amount of very easily available texts in Google - however old and often unreliable and false information. (Not unlike the new, but you get my point?) I'm looking for digitization efforts that include some "consumer's information" on the quality of digitized documents. Like links to Wikipedia articles or librarians' input. Anders Ericson, Web editor, Norwegian Libr. Assoc. _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From FelkerK at wlu.edu Tue Nov 6 09:10:05 2007 From: FelkerK at wlu.edu (Kyle Felker) Date: Tue Nov 6 09:10:39 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Feed builder Message-ID: <47302F62.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> Hi all; Are there any libraries out there using the Innovative Interfaces Feed Builder product? We are considering purchasing this thing, but I have reservations about it and would like to look at the feeds it produces. If you'd be willing to point me to any feeds you are putting out with it, that would be a big help. Also, if anyone feels a burning desire to send me a testimonial on the product (good or bad), I will send you warm fuzzies for your efforts. Thanks, -K ********************************************** Kyle Felker Technology Coordinator Washington and Lee University Library Phone: 540-458-8653 Email: felkerk@wlu.edu Chat: geeklibrary (aol) techbookgeek (yahoo) ********************************************* From anders.ericson at norskbibliotekforening.no Tue Nov 6 09:30:32 2007 From: anders.ericson at norskbibliotekforening.no (Anders Ericson) Date: Tue Nov 6 09:31:34 2007 Subject: SV: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitizationprograms In-Reply-To: <20071106070915.BAT25252@expms4.cites.uiuc.edu> References: <20071106070915.BAT25252@expms4.cites.uiuc.edu> Message-ID: <00c001c82081$aa86f360$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> Yes, why not as well be concerned about the NEW bad - or controversial - books that are published. Why not then link from the Opac to (good) Wikipedia articles and even good debates at web forums or in articles about controversial books? Re the old scanned ones: Heaps of e.g. incorrect history and genealogy from the 19th century are on their way to the web. Some of these books are subject to Wikipedia articles. Others should be. Why not link to them? My point is: Mainly the old books appear in full text on the open web, searchable by Google. The new (bad or good) ones are in print only or within closed e-book portals. Anders e > -----Opprinnelig melding----- > Fra: Jonathan Gorman [mailto:jtgorman@uiuc.edu] > Sendt: 6. november 2007 14:09 > Til: Anders Ericson; web4lib@webjunction.org > Emne: Re: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitizationprograms > > > > ---- Original message ---- > >Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 13:26:26 +0100 > >From: "Anders Ericson" > >Subject: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitization programs > >To: > > > >Libraries and others do a lot of digitization these days. But one of the > >(unintended) consequences is an increasing amount of very easily > available > >texts in Google - however old and often unreliable and false information. > >(Not unlike the new, but you get my point?) > > > >I'm looking for digitization efforts that include some "consumer's > >information" on the quality of digitized documents. Like links to > Wikipedia > >articles or librarians' input. > > > > > I guess I'm a little confused here by what you mean by > quality. It seems that you're asking if anyone has reviewed > or looked over the material. That's an interesting question, > after all, bad books have always been published. Maybe the > author was considered a quack. I'm not sure of any projects > attempts to do anything like that. The interesting part I've > found as I've played with these works though is that I've > found references to the books I'm looking for in other books. > At some point we might be able to datamine those connections, > but it can be a tricky issue. > > Of course, I might be misreading you. There are usually > quality metrics associated with scanning books, such as the number of > errors per page or the average run of correctly > converted words. If you're asking if anyone has done sampling > or displays estimated error rates, I don't think so. > > Sorry, no answers, but good questions ;). Good luck on finding > some information. > > > Jon Gorman > > > > > >Anders Ericson, > >Web editor, Norwegian Libr. Assoc. > > > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > >Web4lib mailing list > >Web4lib@webjunction.org > >http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From alnisa at nonprofit-tech.org Tue Nov 6 09:59:57 2007 From: alnisa at nonprofit-tech.org (Alnisa Allgood) Date: Tue Nov 6 10:00:05 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Feed builder In-Reply-To: <47302F62.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> References: <47302F62.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> Message-ID: Innovative Interfaces doesn't seem to have any product information about it. What's the big selling point over any other RSS Feed Generator? Alnisa On 11/6/07, Kyle Felker wrote: > Hi all; > > Are there any libraries out there using the Innovative Interfaces Feed > Builder product? We are considering purchasing this thing, but I have > reservations about it and would like to look at the feeds it produces. > If you'd be willing to point me to any feeds you are putting out with > it, that would be a big help. Also, if anyone feels a burning desire to > send me a testimonial on the product (good or bad), I will send you warm > fuzzies for your efforts. > > Thanks, > > -K > > ********************************************** > Kyle Felker > Technology Coordinator > Washington and Lee University Library > Phone: 540-458-8653 > Email: felkerk@wlu.edu > Chat: geeklibrary (aol) techbookgeek (yahoo) > ********************************************* > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > From rballiot at oceanstatelibrarian.com Tue Nov 6 11:19:08 2007 From: rballiot at oceanstatelibrarian.com (Robert L. Balliot) Date: Tue Nov 6 11:19:52 2007 Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?RE:_=5BWeb4lib=5D_prove_that_library_2.0_isn=B4t_usele_ss?= In-Reply-To: References: <668dcc760711021520s9927d8fscea5703f27b82c7c@mail.gmail.com><6.2.3.4.2.20071103075423.02e69fb8@postoffice8.mail.cornell.edu> Message-ID: <000001c82090$c23b1310$6401a8c0@junior> Greetings, How did it come about that there is a consensus that libraries are now 'service oriented' entities? When librarians created card catalogs that guided us to materials that they collected, categorized, processed, and arranged - the focus was on products with added value. The catalog card is a physical product. The bibliographic citation itself is an intellectual product. The material that it references - bound, tagged, and labeled - is a product. Without those things, the library does not exist. It seems to me that 2.0 technologies are also intellectual products - sometimes expanding functionality of bibliographic citations that may enhance service - but in essence still products. As librarians give up creation of bibliographic citations, catalogs, websites, 2.0 technologies and the like to for-profit interests it seems that all that will be left over is 'service'. I know many new librarians who are ready, willing, and able to be productive innovators. Does a consensus of those who are unwilling to embrace innovation and change and are satisfied with just facilitating a service mean that they will never have the chance? ************************************************* Robert L. Balliot 1-401-441-5763 Skype: RBalliot Bristol, Rhode Island http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm ************************************************* From kt32 at drexel.edu Tue Nov 6 11:18:34 2007 From: kt32 at drexel.edu (Turner,Kathleen) Date: Tue Nov 6 11:21:18 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Feed builder In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <6C5331B39A8B1343BA05E22EBC9C265F0C1AE733@ace.drexel.edu> It's an "Optional Enhancement" of their WebPac Pro package: Feed Builder & My Record Feeds Feed Builder is an optional product available with WebPAC Pro that publishes RSS feeds directly from Millennium to any web portal or feed reader. Library staff can create complex searches of the database or review files that generate the outbound feeds. To help patrons stay in close contact with their library transactions, Innovative also offers My Record Feeds, which send timely alerts about holds, overdues and more to any feed reader. Kathleen Kathleen H. Turner Web/Education Librarian W.W. Hagerty Library 33rd and Market Streets Philadelphia, PA 19104-2875 Tel: 215.895.6783 Fax: 215.895.2070 khturner@drexel.edu -----Original Message----- From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Alnisa Allgood Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 10:00 AM To: Kyle Felker Cc: web4lib@webjunction.org Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Feed builder Innovative Interfaces doesn't seem to have any product information about it. What's the big selling point over any other RSS Feed Generator? Alnisa On 11/6/07, Kyle Felker wrote: > Hi all; > > Are there any libraries out there using the Innovative Interfaces Feed > Builder product? We are considering purchasing this thing, but I have > reservations about it and would like to look at the feeds it produces. > If you'd be willing to point me to any feeds you are putting out with > it, that would be a big help. Also, if anyone feels a burning desire > to send me a testimonial on the product (good or bad), I will send you > warm fuzzies for your efforts. > > Thanks, > > -K > > ********************************************** > Kyle Felker > Technology Coordinator > Washington and Lee University Library > Phone: 540-458-8653 > Email: felkerk@wlu.edu > Chat: geeklibrary (aol) techbookgeek (yahoo) > ********************************************* > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From HUTCHINSONA at si.edu Tue Nov 6 11:34:45 2007 From: HUTCHINSONA at si.edu (Hutchinson, Alvin) Date: Tue Nov 6 11:34:58 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Style Sheet for RefWorks Display Message-ID: Please excuse the cross posting . . . . I am creating a bibliography of staff publications using the web-based bibliographic management software, RefWorks which can export to tab-delimited or XML formats (among other things). Of course I can import a delimited file into a SQL database and serve the content up via scripting language, but I am wondering whether the XML format might offer some more flexibility or other advantages. Any ideas? My questions: The master_bibliography.xml file will probably grow to 30-50mb or more. Is this too large to adequately filter and display data on several dozen different pages using XSLT or some other method? Has anyone worked with RefWorks-exported XML? Sample data is shown here: Author, First Author, Second Author, Third Etc. Title of article or book chapter Pub Year Etc. I have written simple style sheets but I'm afraid I don't know how to display repeated elements like . Any hints? Thanks in advance for any advice and please pardon me if this is a dumb question. Alvin Hutchinson Smithsonian Institution Libraries (202) 633-1031 From mindspiral at gmail.com Tue Nov 6 11:35:18 2007 From: mindspiral at gmail.com (Brian Gray) Date: Tue Nov 6 11:35:24 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitization programs In-Reply-To: <006e01c82070$40577ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> References: <006e01c82070$40577ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> Message-ID: Are you looking for information about the quality of the digitizations or quality of the information available? It seems to me these are very different. You start off suggesting you are interested in the quality of the data with the comment about the "often unreliable and false information". But I do not see how Google's efforts are any different than what all our libraries do already in form of collection policies, especially since they are just using what libraries make available to them. Are we not ourselves by levels of participation determining what goes online? We do not identify in our catalogs now what is considered good or bad information, so do we expect to hold Google-like projects to a different expectation? Or, are you specifically interested in the actual visual quality of the scans? Brian Gray mindspiral@gmail.com On Nov 6, 2007 7:26 AM, Anders Ericson wrote: > Libraries and others do a lot of digitization these days. But one of the > (unintended) consequences is an increasing amount of very easily available > texts in Google - however old and often unreliable and false information. > (Not unlike the new, but you get my point?) > > I'm looking for digitization efforts that include some "consumer's > information" on the quality of digitized documents. Like links to Wikipedia > articles or librarians' input. > > > Anders Ericson, > Web editor, Norwegian Libr. Assoc. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > -- Brian Gray mindspiral@gmail.com From andrew.nagy at villanova.edu Tue Nov 6 11:44:33 2007 From: andrew.nagy at villanova.edu (Andrew Nagy) Date: Tue Nov 6 11:44:39 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Position: Programmer at Villanova University Library Message-ID: <294949F5411DFC418D1DEC84BE825AE11FC3E7D44E@VUEX2.vuad.villanova.edu> The Falvey Memorial Library at Villanova University is currently seeking a Library Software Development Specialist to work with the Technology Development Team. This position reports to the Technology Management Team and is responsible for designing, developing, testing and deploying new technology methods, tools and resources to extend and enhance digitally-mediated or digitally-delivered library services, including but not limited to, Web interfaces, digital reference and research assistance, digitization and digital library development, institutional repository services, "portalization" and personalization of library resources, the integration of handheld devices into the library service environment, Web content management, collaboration software, staff Intranet services, online knowledge base development, and related areas. This person will also serve as trainer and mentor to librarians and other library staff involved in new technology initiatives, with an emphasis on skill transfer, skill development, and the expansion of the library's technology base in support of continuously improving digital services for library users. Requirements include: Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems or a related field required; 1 year of professional experience developing and implementing technology projects in a collaborative, team-based, goal-oriented environment; ability to work independently on programming and technology implementation projects; ability to listen to and act upon the needs and suggestions of others, in support of user-oriented systems design and development; excellent analytical skills to support problem solving, systems analysis, software functional specification, and debugging; ability to juggle multiple competing priorities; excellent writing skills for the preparation of clear, user-oriented documentation; capacity for higher-level strategic analysis of technology trends; working knowledge of PC and Unix-based computing platforms and operating systems; working knowledge of web development tools and technologies, including PHP, ASP, .Net, Java, HTML and CSS, AJAX, XML, XSLT and XQuery; working knowledge of Unix server administration and related scripting languages; working knowledge of SQL, database systems, and basic principles of database design. You may email resumes, but please include a cover letter, resume and references in only one attachment. Please submit resumes to hr@villanova.edu, or fax to (610) 519-6667. Please send only one resume. For further information, call Barbara Kearns at ext. 9-4235 or the Villanova Job Hotline at (610) 519-5900 From joasia1127 at gmail.com Tue Nov 6 11:57:15 2007 From: joasia1127 at gmail.com (Joanna Kolendo) Date: Tue Nov 6 11:57:21 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Webfeat Message-ID: <780309650711060857r566d6331tfc411e8e723f5c8e@mail.gmail.com> Hello Everyone: I am trying to implement WebFeat from www.webfeat.org at my public library--a very small and budget limited library. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this software or with setting up any similar software? We really want to our public to start using our databases, which they currently aren't, and I was thinking that being able to look for articles, books, etc at one time would really help . I'm really really trying to get this done, but budget and web design issues are really hard to deal with. Also does any one have price estimates? etc? Any info anyone can share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Joanna From anders.ericson at norskbibliotekforening.no Tue Nov 6 11:59:14 2007 From: anders.ericson at norskbibliotekforening.no (Anders Ericson) Date: Tue Nov 6 11:59:52 2007 Subject: SV: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitization programs In-Reply-To: References: <006e01c82070$40577ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> Message-ID: <00ec01c82096$5e083ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> I'm not interested in visual quality, but the texts. The attitudes; the biases of e.g. 19th century authors. Those that are more and more likely to pop up into our faces when searching the web. When someone is about to borrow a 3 years old book about the Iraqi war, you do inform her about the newer ones, don't you? ae > -----Opprinnelig melding----- > Fra: Brian Gray [mailto:mindspiral@gmail.com] > Sendt: 6. november 2007 17:35 > Til: Anders Ericson > Kopi: web4lib@webjunction.org > Emne: Re: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitization programs > > Are you looking for information about the quality of the digitizations > or quality of the information available? It seems to me these are very > different. > > You start off suggesting you are interested in the quality of the data > with the comment about the "often unreliable and false information". > But I do not see how Google's efforts are any different than what all > our libraries do already in form of collection policies, especially > since they are just using what libraries make available to them. Are > we not ourselves by levels of participation determining what goes > online? We do not identify in our catalogs now what is considered good > or bad information, so do we expect to hold Google-like projects to a > different expectation? > > Or, are you specifically interested in the actual visual quality of the > scans? > > Brian Gray > mindspiral@gmail.com > > On Nov 6, 2007 7:26 AM, Anders Ericson > wrote: > > Libraries and others do a lot of digitization these days. But one of the > > (unintended) consequences is an increasing amount of very easily > available > > texts in Google - however old and often unreliable and false > information. > > (Not unlike the new, but you get my point?) > > > > I'm looking for digitization efforts that include some "consumer's > > information" on the quality of digitized documents. Like links to > Wikipedia > > articles or librarians' input. > > > > > > Anders Ericson, > > Web editor, Norwegian Libr. Assoc. > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Web4lib mailing list > > Web4lib@webjunction.org > > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > > > > > -- > Brian Gray > mindspiral@gmail.com From adelle.frank at emory.edu Tue Nov 6 12:14:54 2007 From: adelle.frank at emory.edu (Adelle Frank) Date: Tue Nov 6 12:15:06 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Emory University Libraries Open Positions In-Reply-To: <20071105170028.4A167189AE6@lists.webjunction.org> References: <20071105170028.4A167189AE6@lists.webjunction.org> Message-ID: <00cc01c82098$8c982c40$a5c884c0$@frank@emory.edu> We are advertising the following positions at Emory Libraries: Application Developer/Analyst, Sr. Application Developer/Analyst, Sr. (Rights Mgmnt) Chief Information Technologist Department Computing Support Specialist II Digital Imaging Technician Electronic Resources Librarian Manuscript Archivist Metadata Librarian (2) Software Engineer, Sr. Web Development Specialist, Part Time http://web.library.emory.edu/services/hr/jobs.html See this link for the details. Adelle Frank Web Development Specialist Business & University Libraries Emory University -----Original Message----- From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org] On Behalf Of web4lib-request@webjunction.org Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 12:00 PM To: web4lib@webjunction.org Subject: Web4lib Digest, Vol 32, Issue 5 Send Web4lib mailing list submissions to web4lib@webjunction.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/web4lib or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to web4lib-request@webjunction.org You can reach the person managing the list at web4lib-owner@webjunction.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Web4lib digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Job Posting: Electronic Resources Management Librarian (Karen Tschanz) 2. Job Posting: METADATA LIBRARIAN (Karen Tschanz) 3. RE: prove that library 2.0 isn?t usele ss (Lars Aronsson) 4. Job Posting: Web/Graphic Designer (Scott Hollander) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2007 13:34:41 -0500 From: "Karen Tschanz" Subject: [Web4lib] Job Posting: Electronic Resources Management Librarian To: "'Web4Lib'" Message-ID: <005201c81f11$5de234f0$efefff04@karen1cc944820> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Dear Listers: We are pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for the position described below. Please reply to marbrown@mail.mcg.edu. Thanks! Karen S. Tschanz Chair, Content Management Robert B. Greenblatt Library Medical College of Georgia Augusta GA 30909 Ph: 706-721-9912 ktschanz@mail.mcg.edu Electronic Resources Management Librarian - Assistant or Associate Professor The Robert B. Greenblatt, M.D. Library invites applications for Electronic Resources Management (ERM) Librarian, a position responsible for integrated acquisitions, management, access and delivery of electronic resources. The position assumes a leadership role in managing resource access, monitors current trends in access and electronic resource management, and administers use of electronic resource management systems and tools, especially Verde and MetaLib. The ERM Librarian serves as a resource expert for access and management of electronic resources and shares responsibility for training and oversight of staff involved in e-resource support. The Medical College of Georgia (MCG) is the only academic institution in Georgia dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. It has over 2,000 students in its Schools of Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Studies, Medicine and Nursing, a hospital with over 80 specialty clinics and centers and an award winning Children's Medical Center. Augusta, located along the banks of the Savannah River adjacent to South Carolina, has a population of over 200,000. It is the second oldest city in Georgia and is rich in history and architectural diversity. Host of the renowned Masters Golf Tournament, the springtime display of azaleas and dogwoods has earned the city the title of the "Garden City." With mild winters and tropical summers, Augusta attracts history buffs, nature lovers, art and museum visitors and sports fans. Responsibilities The ERM Librarian functions within the Greenblatt Library's Collection Management team, contributing leadership and expertise with emphasis on electronic resource management systems and tools. Assuming a point position in expanding the Library's electronic collections, this librarian coordinates and arranges e-resource trials, obtains licenses and electronic resource agreements, and conducts pre-license reviews. The ERM Librarian identifies data useful to acquisitions, collection development and institutional reporting and extracts the data from a variety of sources including electronic resource management tools, Voyager, Library and vendor websites. Responsibilities of the position include organizing, analyzing, and preparing data for use in acquisitions, collection development and institutional reporting. Collaboratively with other team members, the librarian participates in ongoing processes to assure optimal access to the Library's collections and to enhance the Library's interface to digital resources. As part of the technical team, the librarian spearheads troubleshooting of ERM systems and tools, collaborating with staff on access management problem identification and resolution. Qualifications The Electronic Resources Management Librarian must have a Masters degree in Library or Information Science from an ALA-accredited program, a minimum of two years of experience in an academic or research library, and the ability to function as a faculty member in areas of education, scholarship and research. Appointment as an Associate Professor requires meeting the criteria established by MCG for promotion to that rank. The successful candidate will have experience administering an electronic resource management system and other resource management tools and software. The experience will include e-resource data analysis and reporting, experience working with publishers and vendors of electronic resources, licensing and shared electronic resource agreements, and experience in troubleshooting electronic resources. Knowledge of electronic materials, services, licenses and pricing models; understanding of practices and trends in scholarly publishing and communication, technology, Library and Web 2.0 developments; and understanding of the legal, business and open access issues involved in the licensing and management of electronic resources are expected. The successful candidate will be collaborative, analytical and a skillful communicator capable of multitasking and effective project management. Additional Preferred Qualifications Skill in the use of electronic resource management tools, preferably EZProxy and ExLibris products, familiarity with SQL/MySQL, and experience working in an academic health sciences library are preferred. Further information about this position and the Medical College of Georgia Greenblatt Library can be found at http://www.lib.mcg.edu/ Salary and Benefits This position has faculty rank and status (non-tenure track). Benefits include a competitive health package, and TIAA/CREF and other retirement options. Minimum salary is $42,000. Review of applications will begin January 15, 2008 and continue until the position is filled. Send letter of application, curriculum vitae, and three letters of professional reference to: Marianne Brown, Head Library Business Services Greenblatt Library, AB-217 Medical College of Georgia Augusta, GA 30912-4400 Ph. 706.721.4677 Fax 706.721.2018 Email: marbrown@mail.mcg.edu AA/EEO/Equal Access/ADA Employer ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2007 13:53:45 -0500 From: "Karen Tschanz" Subject: [Web4lib] Job Posting: METADATA LIBRARIAN To: "'Web4Lib'" Message-ID: <005c01c81f14$07b134c0$efefff04@karen1cc944820> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Dear Listers: We are pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for the position described below. Please reply to marbrown@mail.mcg.edu. Thanks! Karen S. Tschanz Chair, Content Management Robert B. Greenblatt Library Medical College of Georgia Augusta GA 30909 Ph: 706-721-9912 ktschanz@mail.mcg.edu **************************************************************************** ****************************************************************** Metadata Librarian - Assistant or Associate Professor The Robert B. Greenblatt, M.D. Library invites applications for Metadata Librarian. As a member of the Content Management team, the Metadata Librarian assumes a leadership role in cataloging and metadata creation, and in management and quality assurance for bibliographic and digital projects and databases. The Medical College of Georgia (MCG) is the only academic institution in Georgia dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. It has over 2,000 students in its Schools of Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Studies, Medicine and Nursing, a hospital with over 80 specialty clinics and centers and an award winning Children's Medical Center. Augusta, located along the banks of the Savannah River adjacent to South Carolina, has a population of over 200,000. It is the second oldest city in Georgia and is rich in history and architectural diversity. Host of the renowned Masters Golf Tournament, the springtime display of azaleas and dogwoods has earned the city the title of the "Garden City." With mild winters and tropical summers, Augusta attracts history buffs, nature lovers, art and museum visitors and sports fans. Responsibilities The Metadata Librarian develops and streamlines processing models and workflows in support of print and digital initiatives, creates digital collections and develops online finding aids and preservation efforts utilizing digital technology. This librarian performs original cataloging of monographs, serials, theses, historical and archival materials, media and databases. Working within the team environment, the Metadata Librarian oversees staff performing copy cataloging and serves as a resource expert for metadata, cataloging, historical collection and preservation, and digital databases. The Metadata Librarian cooperatively plans, initiates and implements projects involving digital collections, digital preservation, digital or institutional repositories, enhancement of information resource and database access, usability and improvement of data quality. This librarian ensures quality of bibliographic and digital databases through application of national and local metadata standards, best practices, schemas, taxonomies, thesauri and data elements. The Metadata Librarian is the primary in-house expert for the online public access catalog and in this capacity collaborates to design and implement enhancements to the catalog and its interfaces. Qualifications The Metadata Librarian must have a Masters degree in Library or Information Science from an ALA-accredited program, minimum of two years of experience in an academic or research library, and the ability to function as a faculty member in areas of education, scholarship and research. Appointment as an Associate Professor requires meeting the criteria established by MCG for promotion to that rank. The successful candidate will have knowledge of metadata formats and standards, recent experience working with a major integrated library management system, experience cataloging resources in a variety of formats, including original cataloging, and library database management experience. Familiarity with current trends, best practices and emerging issues in metadata, cataloging, digitization, preservation, repositories, and scholarly communication is expected. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of metadata formats and standards, such as MARC, Dublin Core, EAD, XML, METS, MIX, MODS, VRA, and commonly applied cataloging and classification schemes. The successful candidate will be collaborative, analytical and a skillful communicator capable of multitasking and effective project management. Additional Preferred Qualifications Experience cataloging and classifying health sciences resources and experience working with Ex Libris Voyager are preferred. Also preferred are candidates with experience working with historical and archival materials and development of finding aids, digitization project management, and use of a digital repository tool such as D-Space. Further information about this position and the Medical College of Georgia Greenblatt Library can be found at http://www.lib.mcg.edu/ Salary and Benefits This position has faculty rank and status (non-tenure track). Benefits include a competitive health package, and TIAA/CREF and other retirement options. Minimum salary is $42,000. Review of applications will begin January 15, 2008 and continue until the position is filled. Send letter of application, curriculum vitae, and three letters of professional reference to: Marianne Brown, Head Library Business Services Greenblatt Library, AB-217 Medical College of Georgia Augusta, GA 30912-4400 Ph. 706.721.4677 Fax 706.721.2018 Email: marbrown@mail.mcg.edu AA/EEO/Equal Access/ADA Employer ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2007 20:53:19 +0100 (CET) From: Lars Aronsson Subject: RE: [Web4lib] prove that library 2.0 isn?t usele ss To: Web4lib@webjunction.org Message-ID: Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII John Fereira wrote: > To do that a better definition of ROI is required. What exactly > is the return? Libraries are essentially a services oriented > "business". I recently discussed the Google Book Search project with a library person. It's amazing how much money Google is investing in scanning books, and the library person was quite envious. It struck me then, that librarians are used to see funding and investment as a resource. The more you get, the happier you are. The book scanning people at Google get more money, so they must be happier than people at most libraries. We got funding. Yay! But in the commercial world, where Google operates, an investment is a debt, something you will one day be required to pay back and with an interest. If you can manage a project with less funding, you're all the merrier, because the sooner and easier will you be able to reach break-even and return a profit. It is indeed worrisome that Google makes such large investments in book scanning. How on earth are they going to recover those costs? By closing down the entire thing to paying subscribers? Perhaps these different views on "investment" is something that should be kept in mind when discussing "return on investment". -- Lars Aronsson (lars@aronsson.se) Aronsson Datateknik - http://aronsson.se ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2007 08:00:15 -0800 (PST) From: Scott Hollander Subject: [Web4lib] Job Posting: Web/Graphic Designer To: web4lib@webjunction.org Message-ID: <3920.82614.qm@web84109.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: The University at Buffalo Libraries is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Web/Graphic Designer. This position requires a Bachelors degree in a visual design-related discipline such as graphic design, communications design, digital design, new media design, visual communication, media arts or media studies. Also required is two to three years of website development experience. We are accepting applications through November 28, 2007. Fuller information about the position as well as the mandatory online application can be found at: https://www.ubjobs.buffalo.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=51385. The University at Buffalo is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We are particularly interested in identifying prospective minority candidates to further enrich and diversify our staff. ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ End of Web4lib Digest, Vol 32, Issue 5 ************************************** From waltcrawford at gmail.com Tue Nov 6 12:23:14 2007 From: waltcrawford at gmail.com (Walt Crawford) Date: Tue Nov 6 12:24:06 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Re: One consequence of the digitization programs In-Reply-To: <1dc292630711060922mc24d974re2e569830a0c7276@mail.gmail.com> References: <006e01c82070$40577ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> <00ec01c82096$5e083ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> <1dc292630711060922mc24d974re2e569830a0c7276@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <1dc292630711060923p164146f3o21e9747395f414b0@mail.gmail.com> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Walt Crawford Date: Nov 6, 2007 9:22 AM Subject: Re: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitization programs To: Anders Ericson This could be getting off-topic, but: "When someone is about to borrow a 3 years old book about the Iraqi war, you do inform her about the newer ones, don't you?" I must admit, I've never had that experience in a public OR academic library--that is, selecting a book from the shelf (or an article from an aggregator), getting ready to check it out or print it out, and having a librarian (or virtual librarian, or system message) say "Wait: That may not be the most current or best information on the topic." Now, if I took a resource to the reference desk (if there are reference desks...) or its online equivalent and asked, "Is this the best resource on Topic X?" I might expect an answer--but what percentage of users will or should do that, especially with online resources? I most certainly do not expect (nor would I welcome) librarians or avatars to get in my face and say "Stop! In the name of Dewey! Before you take that book. Think it over." Nor, frankly, do I expect Google Book Search, the Open Library/Open Content Alliance, MS Live Book Search, or Worldcat.org to point me to--really? Wikipedia?--to evaluate a digital resource before I use it. (Presumably with a warning that Wikipedia itself isn't inherently reliable...) Bibliographic Instruction is lovely. I don't see how it can or should happen at the point of transaction unless a user asks for it. And most of us won't. walt crawford On Nov 6, 2007 8:59 AM, Anders Ericson < anders.ericson@norskbibliotekforening.no> wrote: > I'm not interested in visual quality, but the texts. The attitudes; the > biases of e.g. 19th century authors. Those that are more and more likely > to > pop up into our faces when searching the web. > > When someone is about to borrow a 3 years old book about the Iraqi war, > you > do inform her about the newer ones, don't you? > > ae > > > -----Opprinnelig melding----- > > Fra: Brian Gray [mailto:mindspiral@gmail.com] > > Sendt: 6. november 2007 17:35 > > Til: Anders Ericson > > Kopi: web4lib@webjunction.org > > Emne: Re: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitization programs > > > > Are you looking for information about the quality of the digitizations > > or quality of the information available? It seems to me these are very > > different. > > > > You start off suggesting you are interested in the quality of the data > > with the comment about the "often unreliable and false information". > > But I do not see how Google's efforts are any different than what all > > our libraries do already in form of collection policies, especially > > since they are just using what libraries make available to them. Are > > we not ourselves by levels of participation determining what goes > > online? We do not identify in our catalogs now what is considered good > > or bad information, so do we expect to hold Google-like projects to a > > different expectation? > > > > Or, are you specifically interested in the actual visual quality of the > > scans? > > > > Brian Gray > > mindspiral@gmail.com > > > > On Nov 6, 2007 7:26 AM, Anders Ericson > > wrote: > > > Libraries and others do a lot of digitization these days. But one of > the > > > (unintended) consequences is an increasing amount of very easily > > available > > > texts in Google - however old and often unreliable and false > > information. > > > (Not unlike the new, but you get my point?) > > > > > > I'm looking for digitization efforts that include some "consumer's > > > information" on the quality of digitized documents. Like links to > > Wikipedia > > > articles or librarians' input. > > > > > > > > > Anders Ericson, > > > Web editor, Norwegian Libr. Assoc. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Web4lib mailing list > > > Web4lib@webjunction.org > > > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Brian Gray > > mindspiral@gmail.com > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > From mindspiral at gmail.com Tue Nov 6 12:49:26 2007 From: mindspiral at gmail.com (Brian Gray) Date: Tue Nov 6 12:49:33 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitization programs In-Reply-To: <00ec01c82096$5e083ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> References: <006e01c82070$40577ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> <00ec01c82096$5e083ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> Message-ID: Yes, we let them know of newer items, but that only occurs if they participate in a reference desk transaction. Most often patrons would conduct their own search and locate the items on their own. They would than use the self checkout machine or use the Circulation Desk that is often no manned by trained librarians. The staff at that service point do not do much in the way of recommendations. I also do not think we can rely solely on chronological date as a measure of accuracy as your examples seem to suggest. Brian Gray mindspiral@gmail.com On Nov 6, 2007 11:59 AM, Anders Ericson wrote: > When someone is about to borrow a 3 years old book about the Iraqi war, you > do inform her about the newer ones, don't you? From mfrances at gtu.edu Tue Nov 6 13:17:10 2007 From: mfrances at gtu.edu (Frances, Melodie) Date: Tue Nov 6 13:21:53 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitization programs In-Reply-To: <00ec01c82096$5e083ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> References: <006e01c82070$40577ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> <00ec01c82096$5e083ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> Message-ID: <4B45D45E632CB74489C288C28745922201AC8079@mail01.GTU.EDU> Actually the visual quality (or perhaps there is a different word for it) does have some problems - 'd' and '4' are interchanged a LOT, and I don't know what else - ask me for specifics if you want, but there are some very simple words that aren't reading correctly. I also don't know if there are any plans to fix this? Melodie Morgan Frances Head of Cataloging Graduate Theological Union mfrances@gtu.edu 510-649-2521 -----Original Message----- From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Anders Ericson Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:59 AM To: web4lib@webjunction.org Subject: SV: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitization programs I'm not interested in visual quality, but the texts. The attitudes; the biases of e.g. 19th century authors. Those that are more and more likely to pop up into our faces when searching the web. When someone is about to borrow a 3 years old book about the Iraqi war, you do inform her about the newer ones, don't you? ae > -----Opprinnelig melding----- > Fra: Brian Gray [mailto:mindspiral@gmail.com] > Sendt: 6. november 2007 17:35 > Til: Anders Ericson > Kopi: web4lib@webjunction.org > Emne: Re: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitization programs > > Are you looking for information about the quality of the digitizations > or quality of the information available? It seems to me these are very > different. > > You start off suggesting you are interested in the quality of the data > with the comment about the "often unreliable and false information". > But I do not see how Google's efforts are any different than what all > our libraries do already in form of collection policies, especially > since they are just using what libraries make available to them. Are > we not ourselves by levels of participation determining what goes > online? We do not identify in our catalogs now what is considered good > or bad information, so do we expect to hold Google-like projects to a > different expectation? > > Or, are you specifically interested in the actual visual quality of the > scans? > > Brian Gray > mindspiral@gmail.com > > On Nov 6, 2007 7:26 AM, Anders Ericson > wrote: > > Libraries and others do a lot of digitization these days. But one of the > > (unintended) consequences is an increasing amount of very easily > available > > texts in Google - however old and often unreliable and false > information. > > (Not unlike the new, but you get my point?) > > > > I'm looking for digitization efforts that include some "consumer's > > information" on the quality of digitized documents. Like links to > Wikipedia > > articles or librarians' input. > > > > > > Anders Ericson, > > Web editor, Norwegian Libr. Assoc. > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Web4lib mailing list > > Web4lib@webjunction.org > > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > > > > > -- > Brian Gray > mindspiral@gmail.com _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From rdavis at thomas.lib.me.us Tue Nov 6 13:35:07 2007 From: rdavis at thomas.lib.me.us (Rachel Davis) Date: Tue Nov 6 13:36:28 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] problems with display in Safari Message-ID: I am redesigning our library's website, and not at all an expert. I have been working in Dreamweaver, and using CSS plus tables for layout. My CSS style definitions show up just fine in Explorer and Firefox, but my line breaks and margins appear messed up in Safari, as do my some of my fixed table widths. Here's the link to my working draft: [ http://www.cape.k12.me.us/tml/index.html ]http://www.cape.k12.me.us/tml/index.html Like I said, I'm not at all an expert. Any insight you can offer would be much appreciated! Rachel Rachel Q. Davis Children's Librarian Thomas Memorial Library 6 Scott Dyer Road Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107 207-799-1720 From Karen.Vanterpool at sunywcc.edu Tue Nov 6 13:37:11 2007 From: Karen.Vanterpool at sunywcc.edu (Vanterpool, Karen) Date: Tue Nov 6 13:37:16 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] SUNY Westchester Community College, Valhalla, NY - Electronic Resource Librarian Message-ID: Please excuse cross-posting. TITLE OF POSITION/RANK: Electronic Resources Librarian - Instructor (tenure track) The Harold L. Drimmer Library seeks a highly self-motivated, creative, skilled librarian to assume responsibility for our electronic resources and library management system. RESPONSIBILITIES: * Responsible for on-site management and assistance with library applications of technology * Manage the library's integrated library system (Aleph) and remote databases * Troubleshoot problems with library-specific hardware and software * Compile statistics from various sources for use in assessment * Continue to build the library's web presence * Participate in traditional instructional classes on and off-campus * Provide traditional and virtual reference services * Serve as liaison to one or more academic departments * Be able to multitask and manage a complex workload in a timely manner * Serve on department, division, and campus-wide committees * Some evening and weekend hours required * Perform additional assigned duties QUALIFICATIONS: * Masters' degree in Library/Information Science from ALA accredited institution required * Experience in academic library preferred * Working knowledge of: * Electronic resources and services * LMS and CMS * Website management and development * Standard mark-up language (XML and HTML) * Familiarity and working knowledge with issues and trends related to library instructional and information services in an electronic environment * Capable of working effectively as part of a team, as well as independently * Excellent oral and written communication skills * Sensitivity to the needs of a diverse community college population POSITION EFFECTIVE: Spring 2008 SALARY & BENEFITS: Starting salary $52,545; excellent health and leave benefits. SEND COVER LETTER & RESUME TO: humanresources@sunywcc.edu Director, Human Resources SUNY/Westchester Community College Administration Building - Suite 111 75 Grasslands Road Valhalla, NY 10595 FAX: (914) 606-7838 DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Priority will be given to applications received by January 22, 2007. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Westchester Community College is committed to providing high-quality, low-cost, comprehensive education to meet the career, transfer, vocational, remedial, and recreational needs of the Westchester community. Westchester Community College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer ____________________________ Karen Vanterpool, Library Department Chair Westchester Community College Harold L. Drimmer Learning Resource Center 75 Grasslands Road Valhalla, NY 10595 914-606-8536 direct 914-606-6531 fax From PONSLM at UCMAIL.UC.EDU Tue Nov 6 14:03:10 2007 From: PONSLM at UCMAIL.UC.EDU (Pons, Lisa (ponslm)) Date: Tue Nov 6 14:03:16 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] problems with display in Safari References: Message-ID: A couple quick things: 1. I would say your using tables, plus some CSS for your layout. Tables are definitely defining your layout.You're also using nested tables, which could be a problem. 2. Validate and fix the html errors on your page. Your CSS does validate, so that's good! 3. You could/should take some of the inline css and other style definitions and put these in a style sheet. For example: could have a class assigned rather than a specific color. Then, see how safari does with this. -----Original Message----- From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org on behalf of Rachel Davis Sent: Tue 11/6/2007 1:35 PM To: Web4lib@webjunction.org Subject: [Web4lib] problems with display in Safari I am redesigning our library's website, and not at all an expert. I have been working in Dreamweaver, and using CSS plus tables for layout. My CSS style definitions show up just fine in Explorer and Firefox, but my line breaks and margins appear messed up in Safari, as do my some of my fixed table widths. Here's the link to my working draft: [ http://www.cape.k12.me.us/tml/index.html ]http://www.cape.k12.me.us/tml/index.html Like I said, I'm not at all an expert. Any insight you can offer would be much appreciated! Rachel Rachel Q. Davis Children's Librarian Thomas Memorial Library 6 Scott Dyer Road Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107 207-799-1720 _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From vctinney at sbcglobal.net Tue Nov 6 14:16:45 2007 From: vctinney at sbcglobal.net (Chris Tinney) Date: Tue Nov 6 14:16:48 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitization programs In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <283760.52499.qm@web56101.mail.re3.yahoo.com> This appears to be part of the ASK in Research and Learning. http://www.academic-genealogy.com/archives.htm#Research In my opinion, Sources and Experts in the various fields of education, need to be directly connected to Library reference consultants, to make the service effective. This would require a book/database reviews online interface, with higher education agencies, institutes and resources, as well as their individual school specialty departments. http://www.utwente.nl/cheps/links/alphabetical.doc/ Respectfully yours, Tom Tinney, Sr. Who's Who in America, Millennium Edition [54th] through 2004 Who's Who In Genealogy and Heraldry, [both editions] Family Genealogy & History Internet Education Directory http://www.academic-genealogy.com/ Brian Gray wrote: Yes, we let them know of newer items, but that only occurs if they participate in a reference desk transaction. Most often patrons would conduct their own search and locate the items on their own. They would than use the self checkout machine or use the Circulation Desk that is often no manned by trained librarians. The staff at that service point do not do much in the way of recommendations. I also do not think we can rely solely on chronological date as a measure of accuracy as your examples seem to suggest. Brian Gray mindspiral@gmail.com On Nov 6, 2007 11:59 AM, Anders Ericson wrote: > When someone is about to borrow a 3 years old book about the Iraqi war, you > do inform her about the newer ones, don't you? _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From andrew.hankinson at gmail.com Tue Nov 6 14:29:29 2007 From: andrew.hankinson at gmail.com (Andrew Hankinson) Date: Tue Nov 6 14:29:49 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] problems with display in Safari In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Rachel, For one of your problems, your nested table with your site body ("Did you know your books... etc..) have a margin of 20px, defined in your header1 class. Firefox, et al. is ignoring this outside of the table, whereas Safari is interpreting it as margin width from within the cell. I don't know which one's right here, but changing that should clear the margin problems in Safari. I think your problem is that you have 'header1' defined as the class for both the table cell AND the paragraph that's the header. You might also consider changing that, and marking up the headers as

's. You should definitely check out Firebug (a Firefox extension) that allows you to inspect these types of things in your webpage. It's a godsend. I also agree with Lisa. If it isn't too much of a pain, consider using divs+css instead of tables for layout. Cheers, Andrew On 6-Nov-07, at 1:35 PM, Rachel Davis wrote: > I am redesigning our library's website, and not at all an expert. I > have > been working in Dreamweaver, and using CSS plus tables for layout. > My CSS > style definitions show up just fine in Explorer and Firefox, but my > line > breaks and margins appear messed up in Safari, as do my some of my > fixed > table widths. > > Here's the link to my working draft: [ > http://www.cape.k12.me.us/tml/index.html > ]http://www.cape.k12.me.us/tml/index.html > > Like I said, I'm not at all an expert. Any insight you can offer > would > be much appreciated! > > Rachel > > Rachel Q. Davis > Children's Librarian > Thomas Memorial Library > 6 Scott Dyer Road > Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107 > 207-799-1720 > > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From margaret.e.hazel at ci.eugene.or.us Tue Nov 6 14:31:32 2007 From: margaret.e.hazel at ci.eugene.or.us (HAZEL Margaret E) Date: Tue Nov 6 14:32:02 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] eCommerce ROI? Message-ID: Hi folks, While I know this is not the main reason that libraries go to offering online payment of fines, I am being asked by our Finance folks, as they look at a grant proposal I've sent them, what the ROI would be on implementing that online payment of fines. I only ask the list because I have a vague memory that someone said at some point that they saw fine payments triple, or something, once they offered more anonymous payment options. I have had one concrete estimate of about 16% increase, based on just a few months, however. Can anyone confirm, or offer their own experience, to help my case? Thanks, all. -Margaret Margaret E. Hazel Principal Librarian, Technology Eugene Public Library Eugene, OR 541-682-6015 From Peter.Binkley at ualberta.ca Tue Nov 6 15:08:24 2007 From: Peter.Binkley at ualberta.ca (Binkley, Peter) Date: Tue Nov 6 15:10:06 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] RE: [XML4Lib] Style Sheet for RefWorks Display In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <908893006339C0409519E4065DF3B249031881A5@mailserver.ualibrary.ualberta.ca> Given the amount of data, you might want to look at indexing this all into Solr and coming up with a simple search interface (using one of the Solr client packages, e.g. for ruby or php). That would allow you to offer faceted searching by date of publication, author, etc. Regarding your xslt question: assuming you want output like "Author, First; Author, Second; Author, Third. Title. ...", the basic structure would be: . ; Or you could do the same thing with a template that matches "a1". I hope this helps! Peter Peter Binkley Digital Initiatives Technology Librarian Information Technology Services 4-30 Cameron Library University of Alberta Libraries Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6G 2J8 Phone: (780) 492-3743 Fax: (780) 492-9243 e-mail: peter.binkley@ualberta.ca ~ The code is willing, but the data is weak. ~ -----Original Message----- From: xml4lib-bounces@webjunction.org [mailto:xml4lib-bounces@webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Hutchinson, Alvin Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 9:35 AM To: web4lib@webjunction.org; xml4lib@webjunction.org Subject: [XML4Lib] Style Sheet for RefWorks Display Please excuse the cross posting . . . . I am creating a bibliography of staff publications using the web-based bibliographic management software, RefWorks which can export to tab-delimited or XML formats (among other things). Of course I can import a delimited file into a SQL database and serve the content up via scripting language, but I am wondering whether the XML format might offer some more flexibility or other advantages. Any ideas? My questions: The master_bibliography.xml file will probably grow to 30-50mb or more. Is this too large to adequately filter and display data on several dozen different pages using XSLT or some other method? Has anyone worked with RefWorks-exported XML? Sample data is shown here: Author, First Author, Second Author, Third Etc. Title of article or book chapter Pub Year Etc. I have written simple style sheets but I'm afraid I don't know how to display repeated elements like . Any hints? Thanks in advance for any advice and please pardon me if this is a dumb question. Alvin Hutchinson Smithsonian Institution Libraries (202) 633-1031 _______________________________________________ XML4Lib mailing list XML4Lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/xml4lib From rballiot at oceanstatelibrarian.com Tue Nov 6 15:45:00 2007 From: rballiot at oceanstatelibrarian.com (Robert L. Balliot) Date: Tue Nov 6 15:45:34 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Interdisciplinary Connections In-Reply-To: <283760.52499.qm@web56101.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <283760.52499.qm@web56101.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <000601c820b5$e980a230$6401a8c0@junior> Greetings, Many of the web tools currently being developed create the potential for making interdisciplinary connections. Alan Russell, Professor of Surgery and Chemical Engineering gave a highly engaging talk at TED on regenerative engineering that addresses the benefit and need to share information between disciplines. You can view the flash presentation of his talk - Why can't we grow new body parts? here: http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/fourth/health_sciences.htm (please note that some of the content is very graphic) I think he presents a very strong case for why we need to develop new tools and a wonderful perspective of the challenges of modern medicine. ************************************************* Robert L. Balliot 1-401-441-5763 Skype: RBalliot Bristol, Rhode Island http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm ************************************************* From listuser at chillco.com Tue Nov 6 19:34:13 2007 From: listuser at chillco.com (Cary Gordon) Date: Tue Nov 6 19:34:21 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] problems with display in Safari In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <11965AFA-8A56-483E-A4F5-C0503A2986E0@chillco.com> I noticed that your library hours are text displayed in an image. That is a major usability issue. Less of an issue but still to be avoided are the menu images. The type face looks pretty normal, so do you really need images for these? Also, if you must use images for text, then alt tags are even more necessary than usual. Usually, they are only totally necessary. IMHO, you don't need tables or divs for your content. Just style paragraph and heading tags to create that look. You will want to put that content in a div box for position. Another thing that you can do with css is style unordered lists so that you don't have to put an image link on each line (http:// www.cape.k12.me.us/tml/mission.html). That way, it doesn't clutter your code and reduce your usability, and, should you decide to change the image, you only have to do it in one place. Thanks, Cary Cary Gordon, MLS The Cherry Hill Company http://www.chillco.com On Nov 6, 2007, at 10:35 AM, Rachel Davis wrote: > I am redesigning our library's website, and not at all an expert. > I have > been working in Dreamweaver, and using CSS plus tables for layout. > My CSS > style definitions show up just fine in Explorer and Firefox, but my > line > breaks and margins appear messed up in Safari, as do my some of my > fixed > table widths. > > Here's the link to my working draft: [ > http://www.cape.k12.me.us/tml/index.html > ]http://www.cape.k12.me.us/tml/index.html > > Like I said, I'm not at all an expert. Any insight you can offer > would > be much appreciated! > > Rachel > > Rachel Q. Davis > Children's Librarian > Thomas Memorial Library > 6 Scott Dyer Road > Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107 > 207-799-1720 > From kcoyle at kcoyle.net Tue Nov 6 20:04:55 2007 From: kcoyle at kcoyle.net (Karen Coyle) Date: Tue Nov 6 20:05:30 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Re: One consequence of the digitization programs In-Reply-To: <1dc292630711060923p164146f3o21e9747395f414b0@mail.gmail.com> References: <006e01c82070$40577ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> <00ec01c82096$5e083ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> <1dc292630711060922mc24d974re2e569830a0c7276@mail.gmail.com> <1dc292630711060923p164146f3o21e9747395f414b0@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <47310F37.2000802@kcoyle.net> Walt Crawford wrote: > > Bibliographic Instruction is lovely. I don't see how it can or should happen > at the point of transaction unless a user asks for it. And most of us won't. > I, for one, would love for books to have self-knowledge, and to let me know when there is more information about them that is available. I want the memex, the shared database of connections, and I want it to be visible. When I get to a book online I want at least to see something like: Editions available: 1960 1980 (this one is 1970) 7 books cite this book: [link] This author also wrote..... etc. People don't think to ask for something that they don't know is there. This is why Amazon fills the book page with all kinds of information about the book, and links to other products that might not have occurred to you. If you aren't interested, you ignore it, but if you are browsing or unsure, then it can be invaluable. kc -- ----------------------------------- Karen Coyle / Digital Library Consultant kcoyle@kcoyle.net http://www.kcoyle.net ph.: 510-540-7596 skype: kcoylenet fx.: 510-848-3913 mo.: 510-435-8234 ------------------------------------ From lbspodic at ust.hk Tue Nov 6 21:09:30 2007 From: lbspodic at ust.hk (Edward Spodick) Date: Tue Nov 6 21:09:44 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Feed builder In-Reply-To: <47302F62.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> References: <47302F62.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> Message-ID: Kyle, For a sample feed, you can visit: http://ustlib.ust.hk/feeds/mediaonorder.xml which is a feed created by the FeedBuilder software to let our users know about a/v items currently on order. Feedbuilder feeds are extremely simplistic, with little ability to display additional fields. But they do allow for quite a bit of granularity on the creation side when determining which records should match the feed criteria. -Edward At 9:10 AM -0500 11/6/07, Kyle Felker wrote: >Are there any libraries out there using the Innovative Interfaces Feed >Builder product? We are considering purchasing this thing, but I have >reservations about it and would like to look at the feeds it produces. >If you'd be willing to point me to any feeds you are putting out with >it, that would be a big help. Also, if anyone feels a burning desire to >send me a testimonial on the product (good or bad), I will send you warm >fuzzies for your efforts. -- Edward F Spodick, Information Technology Manager Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library lbspodic@ust.hk tel:852-2358-6743 fax:852-2358-1043 From dcy_4430323 at hotmail.com Tue Nov 6 22:27:53 2007 From: dcy_4430323 at hotmail.com (maykin likitboonyalit) Date: Tue Nov 6 22:27:55 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] promote my blog about librarian in thailand Message-ID: hello everyone, I'm Y - webmaster from http://projectlib.wordpress.com I want to promote My blog about library & Information science in Thailand. In my blog, consist of my experience in librarian in academic library. story about library, librarian, education, library technology and other about its. My blog update everyday. Thank you web4lib for idea to create story about library science. To librarian around the world,member of web4lib. nice to meet you. take care _________________________________________________________________ šÍĄĩŅĮĩđĒͧĪØģīéĮ Window Live MessengerāĮÍÃėŠŅčđÅčŌĘØīäīéáÅéĮĮŅđđÕé ŋÃÕ!!! http://www.get.live.com/wl/allFrom jpwilkin at umich.edu Tue Nov 6 22:34:24 2007 From: jpwilkin at umich.edu (John Wilkin) Date: Tue Nov 6 22:34:01 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Feedback requested on metasearch/Google Scholar position paper Message-ID: I've got a couple of agendas here. First off, in our IT shop we've been batting around some ideas regarding metasearch and its relationship to Google Scholar, and I'd appreciate some solid feedback on what I've laid out in the paper online at: http://scholarlypublishing.org/jpwilkin/archives/6 Related to this, I'm exploring the use of CommentPress, a WordPress theme developed by the Institute for the Future of the Book. See http://www.futureofthebook.org/commentpress/ for more info. It's struck me that a lot of what we need to say doesn't fit neatly in a typical blog space, and that it would be helpful to have something that bridges conventional publishing and blogging, particularly with regard to structured or targeted feedback. CommentPress provides that, and could serve as a vehicle for elaborating an argument and getting targeted comments. So, comments and even brickbats welcome ;) John -- John Price Wilkin Associate University Librarian for Library Information Technology and Technical and Access Services University Library 818 Hatcher South University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1205 Phone: 734.764.8016 Fax: 734.763.5080 Email: jpwilkin@umich.edu From pierfranco.minsenti at gmail.com Wed Nov 7 05:36:52 2007 From: pierfranco.minsenti at gmail.com (Pierfranco Minsenti) Date: Wed Nov 7 05:36:58 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Re: One consequence of the digitization programs In-Reply-To: <47310F37.2000802@kcoyle.net> References: <006e01c82070$40577ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> <00ec01c82096$5e083ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> <1dc292630711060922mc24d974re2e569830a0c7276@mail.gmail.com> <1dc292630711060923p164146f3o21e9747395f414b0@mail.gmail.com> <47310F37.2000802@kcoyle.net> Message-ID: <4bec4eb30711070236q57b3b54flc693ffd1a00158d3@mail.gmail.com> Hi, the interesting issue posed by Anders Ericson reminds me of the (now old) discussion about the definition of a digital library and if the web is a digital library or not. For ex. Marilyn Deegan and Simon Tanner* in Digital Futures: Strategies for the information age* say that the web can't be considered a digital library because there are neither collection policies nor procedures for weeding collections, that is for deselection. Another reason is connected to the copyright regulations about books that can't be put in the public domain. These two, I think, are the real causes of the problems which Anders Ericson points at speaking of the consequences of the digitisations projects. Obviously this situation can't be compared to that of a physical library because these two problems are specific of digital collections. Infact, either in a public library or in an academic library there is no restrictions to access to copyrighted books and librarians undertake a regular assessment of collections in the open stacks for moving out-of-date books to a deposit (maybe even an off site deposit; obviuosly in an academic library the procedures for the assessment of out-to-date sources of information vary a lot dependant on the discipline). However, I think that the main problems connected to the free availability through the Google search engine of digitised books is an effect of the Google digitisation project because it concerns also out-of-date essays and research monographs. The problem is that the Google Books project risks to result in a very primitive digital library composed just of digitised texts, with no services apart from free access to collections which are in the public domain. Obviously if we speak of the real needs of the knowledge society, effective services are of crucial importance, not only collections of digital information. From an educational point of view I think that surely Wikipedia is a much more effective solution for providing up-to-date information and external links to digitized books which are worth reading, provided that somebody manages Wikipedia entries. But for providing external links, even Wikipedia needs somebody to put online digitised collections! So, it can't be denied that even simple digitisation can be worthwile. Simply we have also to recognize that this is not enough. Instead in my opinion libraries and digital humanities centres (such as IATH at the University of Virginia) have proven to be able to build much more interesting collections of digital materials in the public domain or of historical interest. They have realised complex archives of digital materials that enable the reader to navigate within a web of connections. These are not just scanned books. Also think of the Electronic Enlightenment initiative at the University of Oxford (http://www.e-enlightenment.info/) full of links to refence materials (Dictionaries, Encyclopedias). This certainly reminds more of Wikipedia than Google Books. Surely this requires the work of scholars and editors, is not just as easy as putting a book on a scanner. As for Amazon: they enrich their catalog through authomatic processing and crossing bibliographic data with other data about book purchases which should work as a kind of other readers' suggestions. It can be useful, but still this is neither collection management, nor reference service. Pierfranco Minsenti ------------------------------------- Pierfranco Minsenti Ca' Foscari University Venice (Italy) E-mail: minsenti@unive.it 2007/11/7, Karen Coyle : > > Walt Crawford wrote: > > > > > > Bibliographic Instruction is lovely. I don't see how it can or should > happen > > at the point of transaction unless a user asks for it. And most of us > won't. > > > > I, for one, would love for books to have self-knowledge, and to let me > know when there is more information about them that is available. I want > the memex, the shared database of connections, and I want it to be > visible. When I get to a book online I want at least to see something > like: > > Editions available: 1960 1980 (this one is 1970) > 7 books cite this book: [link] > This author also wrote..... > > etc. People don't think to ask for something that they don't know is > there. > > This is why Amazon fills the book page with all kinds of information > about the book, and links to other products that might not have occurred > to you. If you aren't interested, you ignore it, but if you are browsing > or unsure, then it can be invaluable. > > kc > > -- > ----------------------------------- > Karen Coyle / Digital Library Consultant > kcoyle@kcoyle.net http://www.kcoyle.net > ph.: 510-540-7596 skype: kcoylenet > fx.: 510-848-3913 > mo.: 510-435-8234 > ------------------------------------ > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > From david.fox at usask.ca Wed Nov 7 10:15:35 2007 From: david.fox at usask.ca (David Fox) Date: Wed Nov 7 10:15:46 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Position: Head, Library Systems and IT Message-ID: <004b01c82151$0f35a2a0$5b53e980@usask.ca> Head, Library Systems and Information Technology Tenure-Track Position The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) Library (library.usask.ca) is seeking to appoint a candidate to a tenure-track faculty position to add to its complement of Librarians. The Library Standards for Tenure and Promotion requires participation in research and scholarly activities as a component of the Practice of Professional Skills. Appointment is subject to a probationary period of three to five years and specific duties are assigned by the Dean of the Library. Librarians and archivists are members of the U of S Faculty Association. Accountabilities of the position: Reporting to the Assistant Dean of the Library, the incumbent is accountable for: Operations . Managing the effective implementation of change and new system and technology products and services . Effective deployment of resources assigned to Library Systems & Information Technology (LS&IT) . Ensuring that policies and procedures for the effective delivery of library systems and IT services are in place, understood by staff and applied in day-to-day operations . Identification and reporting of key success measures for the library systems and IT services . Ensuring effective systems integration with University applications Planning . Contributing to the Library's Strategic Planning Process, through the development of a unit plan, aligned with the Library Strategic Plan . Planning and advocacy for IT infrastructure renewal and expansion Development and Innovation . Leadership in the development and effective delivery of new and existing systems and technology services across the Library . Leadership and contribution of technical expertise to projects and priority areas as identified in the Library Strategic Plan Human Resources . Effective management and deployment of the LS&IT staff, including mentoring, career development and training, performance assessment, and providing feedback and coaching to staff reporting to this position Networking . Relationship building and links to institutional partners such as University Information Technology Services . Representing the Assistant Dean at appropriate meetings/forums within the Library and campus-wide; chairing and participating in Library committees, working groups and special projects . Representing the Library at local, regional, and national systems and information technology venues Research . Engaging in research and scholarly work within a formal programme of research Desired Qualifications, Experience and Competencies A Masters of Library Science or equivalent degree from a university/institution recognized by the University of Saskatchewan is required. Candidates should also possess: . A vision for the future development of library systems and IT, which incorporates awareness of trends in standards, protocols, service developments and emerging technologies and identifies and analyzes potential for local application and implementations . Previous experience leading high volume IT operational, programming and project development environments . A successful record as a leader, manager, and mentor during times of technological change . A strong commitment to communication and quality client services . A commitment to continuing development of professional knowledge and skills . Strong project management skills applied across various library functional groups . A proven record of success working in multi-level, multi-functional teams . Demonstrated capability for dealing with complexity and ambiguity Technical Skills/Knowledge: . An understanding of information architecture, interface design and usability for information delivery . Experience with current and emerging communication standards, such as HTML, XML, and OAI/PMH . Familiarity with SOA and modular service design . Familiarity with agile and iterative development protocols . Familiarity with user contribution and Web 2.0 feature set . Experience extracting, creating, and manipulating metadata using existing and developing standards, such as MARC, Dublin Core, EAD, METS, and MODS . Knowledge or experience of search, indexing and representational environments and technologies, including semantic web, faceting, cross-domain searching, and the related technologies . Knowledge of digital library and repository technologies (DSpace, Fedora, Greenstone, etc.) and current initiatives in ILS development . Formal project management training, including requirements gathering and definition . Working knowledge of Unix/Linux and Windows operating systems, . Familiarity with the Innovative Interfaces/Millennium library system would be desirable . Knowledge of object oriented and scripting languages would be an asset The position is available immediately. Salary and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience up to the rank of Librarian III. Salary scales for Librarians are located at library.usask.ca/employment/. This assignment contains administrative responsibility which attracts an administrative stipend. Librarians at the U of S enjoy an excellent benefits plan as well as research start-up support. About the University of Saskatchewan Library The U of S Library is one of Canada's leading research libraries and is a member of the Association of Research Libraries and the Canadian Association of Research Libraries. The Library's 150 FTE faculty and staff serve over 27,000 U of S faculty, staff and students from seven campus locations, and offer an extensive array of electronic information services. The automated library information systems support includes all core modules of the III Millennium integrated library system as well as a wide variety of networked and stand-alone bibliographic and full-text databases and numeric files. The Library Systems and Information Technology (LS&IT) unit consists of 2 programmer/analysts, 1 programmer, 2 technicians, 3 operations specialists, an information systems manager, and a systems librarian. The systems librarian reports to the Assistant Dean. The unit hosts one of the largest computer centers on campus operating 3 Unix, 2 Linux, and 5 Windows servers, and supports over 500 networked desktop computers allocated for Library patron and staff use. The Library Strategic Plan (2007-2012) sets an ambitious program for the transformation of library resources, facilities and services, designed to ensure the Library's continued growth and development over the course of the University's second century of development. The Murray Library is undergoing renovations to transform its usercentered space to create the Learning Commons - a collaborative initiative of the Library, the University Learning Centre, and Information Technology Services. The facility will house services for student success, research and learning reference support, computer workstations, group study rooms, community service learning, comfortable seating areas and a caf?, all within a technology-rich environment. Two other major initiatives currently underway include the establishment of a Statistics Canada Research Data Centre (RDC) in the Murray Library, and the construction of a new, state-of-the-art health sciences facility which will house a new Academic Health Sciences Library. About the University of Saskatchewan and the City of Saskatoon Celebrating its centenary in 2007, the University of Saskatchewan (usask.ca) is one of the leading medical-doctoral universities in Canada. Its Strategic Directions and Integrated Plan outline a vision focused on international standards in all activities, academic pre-eminence, and a sense of place. The opening of a Canadian Light Source synchrotron, the first-ever appointment of a Library Dean in Canada, host site for the 2006 Vanier Cup, construction for an International Vaccine Centre, the establishment of new graduate Schools of Public Health, Public Policy, and Environment and Sustainability, and significant capital building projects to revitalize Law, Veterinary Medicine, Health Sciences and Library buildings on campus are just some of the University's recent achievements. The University also boasts one of the most attractive campuses in the country. Saskatoon, a city of approximately 207,000, is situated on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, which is crossed by seven bridges within the city limits. The city offers a scenic riverbank, many parks, a diverse and thriving economic base, a vibrant cultural community, affordable living, and a high quality of life (saskatoon.ca). To Apply: The Search Committee comprises all Librarians holding probationary or tenured appointments within the Library. The CVs of all applicants will be made available in confidence to the Search Committee. Applicants wishing to apply should send their curriculum vitae, the names of three references, and a statement outlining their knowledge, experience, and abilities related to the position by November 22, 2007 to: Jill Mierke, Human Resources Manager University of Saskatchewan Library Murray Library University of Saskatchewan Room 156 Murray Building 3 Campus Drive Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A4 Fax: 306-966-5932 Email: library.jobs@usask.ca Confidential inquiries can be directed to Dr. Vicki Williamson, Dean Email: vicki.williamson@usask.ca or telephone 306-966-5942 Interviews for this opportunity are expected to be conducted in late January 2008. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. The University is committed to Employment Equity. Members of Designated Groups (women, aboriginal people, people with disabilities and visible minorities) are encouraged to self-identify on their applications. From LHackett at umuc.edu Wed Nov 7 10:45:01 2007 From: LHackett at umuc.edu (Luella Hackett) Date: Wed Nov 7 10:45:06 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Digital Services Librarian Position at University of Maryland University College Message-ID: POSITION TITLE: Digital Services Librarian (002376), Information and Library Services (ILS) CATEGORY: Librarian Faculty I, Full-time RESPONSIBILITIES: The Digital Services Librarian maintains SFX and ResearchPort for UMUC, including knowledgebase maintenance, upgrade testing, and troubleshooting through individual work and coordination with the University of Maryland's Information Technology Division. Specific responsibilities include: * Providing technical assistance to library patrons via telephone and email, and writing user documentation * Performing library Website, database gateway, authentication system, and database access maintenance and development in cooperation with the Systems Librarian and Library Web Specialist * Participating on project teams and working on projects related to improving the library's online services, as well as participating on library teams as required to improving, evaluating, and promoting overall library services and initiatives * Performing other job-related duties as assigned QUALIFICATIONS: Requires a MLS from an ALA accredited university; and internship or one year position experience working with Web development and/or library systems; proficiency with HTML and HTML editors (DreamWeaver preferred); ability to quickly and effectively proof and troubleshoot Web content; proficiency with Windows and Windows-based applications; familiarity with basic UNIX commands, FTP, and an understanding of database design and use; Candidates with working knowledge of the Ex Libris integrated library systems and associated technologies such as SFX, ResearchPort, and Verde; experience working in an academic library; hands-on knowledge of the development and maintenance of database-driven Websites; familiarity with bibliographic databases and academic library database vendors; working knowledge of learning management systems such as Blackboard or WebCT; experience with Web programming languages/platforms (for example, PHP, Perl, Cold Fusion, JavaScript, XML) for design of dynamic Web pages; project management experience and/or experience planning and implementing library systems are preferred. SALARY: Commensurate with experience POSITION AVAILABLE: Immediately TO APPLY: Please visit http://www.umuc.edu/employ.shtml for complete instructions for applying for this position. All submissions must be made by November 30, 2007, and should include a cover letter and r?sum?. UMUC offers an excellent benefits package to include tuition remission, a minimum of 28 days of leave, as well as a range of insurance options. For detailed information, please visit http://www.umuc.edu/personnel/exempt.shtml Students and employees of UMUC must apply for this position via PeopleSoft Self-Service. University of Maryland University College actively subscribes to a policy of equal employment opportunity, and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, religion, color, creed, gender, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, mental or physical disability, or sexual orientation. The University distributes an annual information report which includes campus security information that is available to prospective employees. Please contact the office of human resources for additional information. From sclapp at cslib.org Wed Nov 7 15:51:36 2007 From: sclapp at cslib.org (Sharon Clapp) Date: Wed Nov 7 15:45:30 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Anyone else using Snap Shots to preview links? Message-ID: <4731DF07.BBE7.0044.0@cslib.org> I'm thoroughly disgusted - have even blogged said disgust at http://librarywebhead.blogspot.com/. But for those who hadn't noticed, Snap Shots has now (proudly - see their newsletter announcing this - http://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:9054.799895472/rid:6d6e50c654943758bf6cc8d77fd1bb39) added advertising - Wordpress.com-based blogs and Blogger-based blogs, plus any websites that have deployed Snap Shots now feature ads in those previews (Snap Shots allows users to preview screenshots of where they'll be hyperlinked to). Not surprising, I know, but nonetheless... only .gov and .edu sites have been exempted. Not .org's. Is my irritation misplaced, did I misinterpret what's going on, is there some resolution? I know these firms MUST monetize, but why sneak it in without warning, why not exempt .orgs, etc., etc.... Thank you, Sharon Clapp, sclapp@cslib.org Web Resources Librarian Connecticut State Library 860-424-3617 http://www.cslib.org From oleonard at gmail.com Wed Nov 7 15:54:32 2007 From: oleonard at gmail.com (Owen Leonard) Date: Wed Nov 7 15:54:37 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Anyone else using Snap Shots to preview links? In-Reply-To: <4731DF07.BBE7.0044.0@cslib.org> References: <4731DF07.BBE7.0044.0@cslib.org> Message-ID: > I know these firms MUST monetize, but why sneak it in without warning, why not exempt .orgs, etc., etc.... Since anyone can register a .org, the TLD itself is not a real indicator of a site's non-profit status. -- Owen ---- Web Developer Athens County Public Libraries http://www.myacpl.org From dan.cornwall at alaska.gov Wed Nov 7 19:31:12 2007 From: dan.cornwall at alaska.gov (Cornwall, Daniel D (EED)) Date: Wed Nov 7 19:31:17 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Q: Where do you find server settings in unix sendmail? Message-ID: <15DAF56A25149D49B9666AF78A638FFE7AC6B1@SOAJNUMSG03.soa.alaska.gov> I have a linux-based web alerting program that sends me a monthly e-mail. When our institution switched from a smtp to an MS Exchange environment, my program (no surprise) stopped e-mailing. My linux box uses sendmail and I think it should be a simple matter of changing the mail server settings. But I can't find them. I've looked in /etc/mail and /etc/postix. I've looked through the Red Hat knowledge base and searched my favorite search engine. Nothing I can use turned up. Any ideas? I know I'm on the outer edge of appropriate messaging on this list, but the web alerting program is linked to a library service. And if people know of specific linux/unix mailing lists I can ask my newby questions on, please let me know. Thanks! - Daniel =============================== Daniel Cornwall Head of Information Services Alaska State Library PO Box 110571 Juneau AK 99811-0571 Ph: 907-465-1315 Fax: 907-465-2665 E-mail: dan.cornwall@alaska.gov Access and preserve Alaska state documents into the 22nd Century and beyond. See http://library.state.ak.us/asp for details. My opinions are my own unless otherwise stated. From kayiwa at uic.edu Wed Nov 7 21:50:56 2007 From: kayiwa at uic.edu (Francis Kayiwa) Date: Wed Nov 7 21:50:59 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Q: Where do you find server settings in unix sendmail? In-Reply-To: <15DAF56A25149D49B9666AF78A638FFE7AC6B1@SOAJNUMSG03.soa.alaska.gov> References: <15DAF56A25149D49B9666AF78A638FFE7AC6B1@SOAJNUMSG03.soa.alaska.gov> Message-ID: On Nov 7, 2007, at 6:31 PM, Cornwall, Daniel D (EED) wrote: > I have a linux-based web alerting program that sends me a monthly e- > mail. When our institution switched from a smtp to an MS Exchange > environment, my program (no surprise) stopped e-mailing. My linux > box uses sendmail and I think it should be a simple matter of > changing the mail server settings. But I can't find them. I've > looked in /etc/mail and /etc/postix. I've looked through the Red Hat > knowledge base and searched my favorite search engine. Nothing I can > use turned up. Any ideas? I'm thinking smarthost? Make your Linux-based prgram use your newly installed MS Exchange server to relay all your messages. I cannot recall if Red Hat (too lazy to google it :-)) uses the File Hierarchy Standard, but given the /etc/mail above I am wondering if you want to look at /etc/mail/ sendmail.mc ...Google time lapse... There's redhat's KB on smarthosts. http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/FAQ_81_2557.shtm and since I have the Google-Fu :-) http://tinyurl.com/235emb regards, ./fxk From mindspiral at gmail.com Thu Nov 8 00:37:51 2007 From: mindspiral at gmail.com (Brian Gray) Date: Thu Nov 8 00:37:53 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] One consequence of the digitization programs In-Reply-To: <283760.52499.qm@web56101.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <283760.52499.qm@web56101.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Am I missing something? What does this have to do with the digitization issues being discussed? On Nov 6, 2007 2:16 PM, Chris Tinney wrote: > This appears to be part of the ASK in Research and Learning. > http://www.academic-genealogy.com/archives.htm#Research From listuser at chillco.com Thu Nov 8 11:15:02 2007 From: listuser at chillco.com (Cary Gordon) Date: Thu Nov 8 11:15:09 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Q: Where do you find server settings in unix sendmail? In-Reply-To: <15DAF56A25149D49B9666AF78A638FFE7AC6B1@SOAJNUMSG03.soa.alaska.gov> References: <15DAF56A25149D49B9666AF78A638FFE7AC6B1@SOAJNUMSG03.soa.alaska.gov> Message-ID: Depending on the flavor of linux you are running, you might be able to: service --status-all (tells you what's running) look for sendmail in the list. If it is running, fine. If not: service sendmail start Set your program or script to use localhost for sending mail. Warning: if you do this, make sure that some sort of firewall is protecting the server against relaying outside email. The simplest way to do this is to deny all traffic on port 25. You can do this using iptables and/or selinux. If smtp wasn't running, you will want to set it to start at runlevels 2, 3, 4 & 5. Different linux flavors have different commands for doing this. In Redhat/CentOS it is chkconfig: chkconfig sendmail --add chkconfig sendmail on --level 2,3,4,5 Thanks, Cary Cary Gordon The Cherry Hill Company http://www.chillco.com On Nov 7, 2007, at 4:31 PM, Cornwall, Daniel D (EED) wrote: > I have a linux-based web alerting program that sends me a monthly e- > mail. When our institution switched from a smtp to an MS Exchange > environment, my program (no surprise) stopped e-mailing. My linux > box uses sendmail and I think it should be a simple matter of > changing the mail server settings. But I can't find them. I've > looked in /etc/mail and /etc/postix. I've looked through the Red > Hat knowledge base and searched my favorite search engine. Nothing > I can use turned up. Any ideas? > > I know I'm on the outer edge of appropriate messaging on this list, > but the web alerting program is linked to a library service. And if > people know of specific linux/unix mailing lists I can ask my newby > questions on, please let me know. Thanks! - Daniel > > =============================== > Daniel Cornwall > Head of Information Services > Alaska State Library > PO Box 110571 > Juneau AK 99811-0571 > Ph: 907-465-1315 > Fax: 907-465-2665 > E-mail: dan.cornwall@alaska.gov > From chodgson at niso.org Thu Nov 8 11:53:27 2007 From: chodgson at niso.org (Cynthia Hodgson) Date: Thu Nov 8 11:53:31 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] NISO Institutional Repository Forum -- Early Bird Registration Ends November 16 Message-ID: <47333F07.7000508@niso.org> [Cross-posted announcement] NISO Institutional Repository Forum -- Early Bird Registration Ends November 16 Early bird registration for the NISO forum, "Getting the Most Out of Your Institutional Repository: Gathering Content and Building Use," ends on November 16. Be sure to register by then to take advantage of the substantial discounts. NISO and PALINET members are eligible for additional discounts. This one-day event, cosponsored by PALINET, will take place December 3, 2007 at the National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, Maryland. The forum asks library and information service providers to think about how to take advantage of an organization's repository once it is implemented by looking at: -- Managing local, digital material -- Metadata and formatting challenges -- Rights management issues -- OAI Object Reuse and Exchange -- Faculty and librarian use and attitudes -- Electronic theses and dissertations Visit the event webpage (http://www.niso.org/news/events_workshops/ir07/) for details and to register. Contact Karen Wetzel (kwetzel@niso.org), NISO Standards Program Manager, for more information. The NISO Institutional Repository forum is cosponsored by PALINET with major sponsorship from ProQuest. Additional sponsorship is provided by The Berkeley Electronic Press (bepress). Cynthia Hodgson NISO Technical Editor Consultant National Information Standards Organization Email: chodgson@niso.org Phone: 301-654-2512 From peterson at amigos.org Thu Nov 8 13:18:28 2007 From: peterson at amigos.org (Christine Peterson) Date: Thu Nov 8 13:18:36 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Workshop/Data Transformation with XSLT - Austin, TX Message-ID: <5CAFE9325ADD6C40A1B8C8C4E58C43C450E50B@email.amigos.org> Data Transformation with XSLT Taught by seasoned XML/XSLT developers from the Brown University and University of Virginia libraries, this three-day workshop will explore XSLT with specific focus on the role of XSLT in digital library projects. The workshop will be mix of lecture and hands-on demonstration and experimentation, culminating in the creation of a XSLT based library application. Lectures, exercises and projects will allow the participant to gain experience using some of the more powerful components of XSLT 2.0 and XPath 2.0 in a library setting, including navigating the XML tree with XPath; using and creating functions; combining source documents and creating multiple result documents; sorting and grouping data; and using branching and control structures. Prerequisites: This workshop is designed for information professionals with a strong background in XML markup who would like to expand their understanding of XSLT. A basic understanding of XSLT technology is encouraged, as is a thorough familiarity with HTML markup. Instructors: Patrick Yott, Head, Digital Services, Brown University Library, Patrick_Yott@brown.edu Christine Ruotolo, Digital Services Manager, Alderman Library, University of Virginia, ruotolo@virginia.edu Date/Time: Wednesday - Friday, January 9-11, 2008, 9:00am - 5:00pm Location: The University of Texas at Austin School of Information George I. Sanchez Building, 5th Floor, Room 564 Austin, Texas Cost: Amigos Members Early Bird Fee: $700.00 (before December 18) Amigos Members: $725.00 Amigos Non-member Early Bird Fee: $1,050.00 (before December 18) Amigos Non-member Fee: $1,075.00 Registration: http://www.amigos.org/learning/catalog/shopping/product_details.php?id=2 52 For further information, please contact Christine Peterson, 800-843-8482 x2891, 512-671-1580, peterson@amigos.org. Christine Peterson Continuing Education Librarian, Technology Amigos Library Services, Inc. 14400 Midway Road Dallas, TX 75244-3509 www.amigos.org peterson@amigos.org From CLowery at coj.net Thu Nov 8 13:35:54 2007 From: CLowery at coj.net (Lowery, Clint) Date: Thu Nov 8 13:38:33 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Facebook app In-Reply-To: <5CAFE9325ADD6C40A1B8C8C4E58C43C450E50B@email.amigos.org> Message-ID: <1183B2BAF9BE724B85476AAB7B15D8FD03979B12@EVS2.coj.net> Has anyone created an application in Facebook to search their OPAC? I noticed one from Miami (OH), but I'm not sure how to create the code for one and I'd like to set one up for our library. I've created a bit of code for a MySpace search box, but the PHP code is slightly beyond me atm. Any help (or a push in the right direction) is appreciated. Thanks! Clinton Lowery, MLIS Integrated Library Systems Jacksonville Public Library 3435 University Blvd North Jacksonville, FL 32277-2464 (904) 744-2265 x 319 clowery@coj.net http://jpl.coj.net/ Please note that under Florida's very broad public records law, e-mail communications to and from city officials are subject to public disclosure. From gerrymck at iastate.edu Thu Nov 8 13:51:42 2007 From: gerrymck at iastate.edu (Gerry Mckiernan) Date: Thu Nov 8 13:55:11 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Facebook app [for OPACS] In-Reply-To: <1183B2BAF9BE724B85476AAB7B15D8FD03979B12@EVS2.coj.net> References: <5CAFE9325ADD6C40A1B8C8C4E58C43C450E50B@email.amigos.org> <1183B2BAF9BE724B85476AAB7B15D8FD03979B12@EVS2.coj.net> Message-ID: <4733065E.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> Clint/List My _Friends_ blog has full descriptions and links for several [ http://onlinesocialnetworks.blogspot.com/ ] There are others that will be added in the future. You (and List members) may wish to join my Facebook Group 'FacebookAppsForLibraries" [It's Open To All] [ http://iastate.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2469777131 ] Happy Thursday! /Gerry Gerry McKiernan Associate Professor Science and Technology Librarian Iowa State University Library Ames IA 50011 !!! Social Networking is People !!! [ http://www.facebook.com/p/Gerry_McKiernan/16926735 ] Iowa: Where the Tall Corn Flows and the (North)West Wind Blows ... [ http://alternativeenergyblogs.blogspot.com/ ] >>> "Lowery, Clint" 11/8/2007 12:35 PM >>> Has anyone created an application in Facebook to search their OPAC? I noticed one from Miami (OH), but I'm not sure how to create the code for one and I'd like to set one up for our library. I've created a bit of code for a MySpace search box, but the PHP code is slightly beyond me atm. Any help (or a push in the right direction) is appreciated. Thanks! Clinton Lowery, MLIS Integrated Library Systems Jacksonville Public Library 3435 University Blvd North Jacksonville, FL 32277-2464 (904) 744-2265 x 319 clowery@coj.net http://jpl.coj.net/ Please note that under Florida's very broad public records law, e-mail communications to and from city officials are subject to public disclosure. _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From tmehlin at u.washington.edu Thu Nov 8 14:06:29 2007 From: tmehlin at u.washington.edu (Tracy Mehlin) Date: Thu Nov 8 14:09:39 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Anyone else using Snap Shots to preview links? In-Reply-To: <4731DF07.BBE7.0044.0@cslib.org> References: <4731DF07.BBE7.0044.0@cslib.org> Message-ID: I have ads in our Snap Shots despite being at a .edu. I just sent them a message about that. And yet, I don't mind too much. Ads are everywhere now and I don't think patrons will think the library endorses the ads. People have learned to ignore ads. I think the service is worth it. Have you checked your account settings? You can apparently insert your own ad! I may write an ad for our Story Times. I wonder if it will appear in all our Snap Shot? Tracy L. Mehlin, MLIS Information Technology Librarian Elisabeth C. Miller Library University of Washington Botanic Gardens Box 354115 Seattle, WA 98195-4115 206-616-9481 ~ tmehlin@u.washington.edu ~ www.millerlibrary.org -----Original Message----- From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Sharon Clapp Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 12:52 PM To: web4lib@webjunction.org Subject: [Web4lib] Anyone else using Snap Shots to preview links? I'm thoroughly disgusted - have even blogged said disgust at http://librarywebhead.blogspot.com/. But for those who hadn't noticed, Snap Shots has now (proudly - see their newsletter announcing this - http://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:9054.799895472/rid:6d6e50c654943758bf6cc8d77fd1bb39) added advertising - Wordpress.com-based blogs and Blogger-based blogs, plus any websites that have deployed Snap Shots now feature ads in those previews (Snap Shots allows users to preview screenshots of where they'll be hyperlinked to). Not surprising, I know, but nonetheless... only .gov and .edu sites have been exempted. Not .org's. Is my irritation misplaced, did I misinterpret what's going on, is there some resolution? I know these firms MUST monetize, but why sneak it in without warning, why not exempt .orgs, etc., etc.... Thank you, Sharon Clapp, sclapp@cslib.org Web Resources Librarian Connecticut State Library 860-424-3617 http://www.cslib.org _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From Holley.Long at Colorado.EDU Thu Nov 8 15:06:39 2007 From: Holley.Long at Colorado.EDU (Holley Long) Date: Thu Nov 8 15:06:43 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] javascript question Message-ID: <20071108130639.AIN99020@joker.int.colorado.edu> Hi, I found a free javascript that displays the user's IP address in a pop-up box and saved it on a local server. It worked fine two weeks ago. Now, the pop-up box reads: "Your IP address is " I haven't made any changes to the script. If you know what is going on with this script or can suggest a simple alternative to capture the user's IP in a web page, I'd appreciate your suggestions. Thanks, Holley Here's the script from JavaScript Source (http://javascript.internet.com/user-details/ip-address.html)

Free JavaScripts provided
by The JavaScript Source

From jtgorman at uiuc.edu Thu Nov 8 15:24:05 2007 From: jtgorman at uiuc.edu (Jonathan Gorman) Date: Thu Nov 8 15:24:15 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] javascript question Message-ID: <20071108142405.BAX72424@expms4.cites.uiuc.edu> ---- Original message ---- >Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2007 13:06:39 -0700 (MST) >From: Holley Long >Subject: [Web4lib] javascript question >To: web4lib@webjunction.org > >Hi, > >I found a free javascript that displays the user's IP address in a pop-up box and saved it on a local server. It worked fine two weeks ago. Now, the pop-up box reads: > >"Your IP address is " > >I haven't made any changes to the script. > >If you know what is going on with this script or can suggest a simple alternative to capture the user's IP in a web page, I'd appreciate your suggestions. > Like the script says, it uses server-side includes. Has something changed with the webserver? New version of Apache? Some configuration changed? Modules removed/added? SSI's can be picky about spacing and the like as well. But if it worked before, it should work now. If the javascript has remained the same, it's likely something going on with the SSI. Jon Gorman >Thanks, >Holley > >Here's the script from JavaScript Source (http://javascript.internet.com/user-details/ip-address.html) > > > > > > > > > > > >

>Free JavaScripts provided
>by The JavaScript Source >

> > >_______________________________________________ >Web4lib mailing list >Web4lib@webjunction.org >http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From tdowling at ohiolink.edu Thu Nov 8 15:35:15 2007 From: tdowling at ohiolink.edu (Thomas Dowling) Date: Thu Nov 8 15:35:22 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] javascript question In-Reply-To: <20071108130639.AIN99020@joker.int.colorado.edu> References: <20071108130639.AIN99020@joker.int.colorado.edu> Message-ID: <47337303.1010001@ohiolink.edu> That's a snippet of Javascript that depends on having Server-Side Includes (SSI) enabled on the server. In your case, it has apparently been disabled (or you're looking at it on your desktop and not going through a web server). I'd be dumbstruck if there was a server-side scripting language that didn't give you a way to determine the user's IP, so the question is, what do you have access to on your server? And why do you want to show the user his or her own IP address? (There are reasons, it just isn't clear what yours is.) Thomas Dowling tdowling@ohiolink.edu Holley Long wrote: > Hi, > > I found a free javascript that displays the user's IP address in a pop-up box and saved it on a local server. It worked fine two weeks ago. Now, the pop-up box reads: > > "Your IP address is " > > I haven't made any changes to the script. > > If you know what is going on with this script or can suggest a simple alternative to capture the user's IP in a web page, I'd appreciate your suggestions. > > Thanks, > Holley > > Here's the script from JavaScript Source (http://javascript.internet.com/user-details/ip-address.html) > > > > > > > > > > > >

> Free JavaScripts provided
> by The JavaScript Source >

> > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > From jbrian at boonvillelib.net Fri Nov 9 11:42:05 2007 From: jbrian at boonvillelib.net (Judy McBrian) Date: Fri Nov 9 11:54:20 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Social networking sites Message-ID: <47348DDD.2030908@boonvillelib.net> At the risk of starting a long discussion on the merits, or lack thereof.... Our small library has had an ongoing problem of young people taking up all the available computers for social networking sites like MySpace, and has decided, as an experiment, to block these sites from a small group of computers using our CIPA related filtering software (Yep, we get money from the feds for our T1) Our main objective is to free up 4 pc's for other use, leaving the majority (10) free for those popular sites. While I'm familiar with MySpace and Facebook I know there are other popular sites (I don't need a "comprehensive" list) I can't seem to recall the one or two others I will need to "block" A little help please, from the knowledgeable will be much appreciated. Thank you Judy McBrian. From aramirez at hplibrary.org Fri Nov 9 13:17:11 2007 From: aramirez at hplibrary.org (Al Ramirez) Date: Fri Nov 9 13:17:14 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] automated response Message-ID: <10711091217.AA01257@hplibrary.org> I will be out of the office until Monday November 19th. Please send your urgent request to Donna Beer (dbeer@hplibrary.org) and I will take care of the request that can wait until I return. Thanks, Al Ramirez Computer Specialist Highland Park Public Library 494 Laurel Avenue Highland Park, IL 60035 (847) 432-1573 ext 138 From pfa at umich.edu Fri Nov 9 14:12:37 2007 From: pfa at umich.edu (Anderson, Patricia) Date: Fri Nov 9 14:12:43 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Social networking sites References: <47348DDD.2030908@boonvillelib.net> Message-ID: Orkut, Bebo, Xanga, Hi5, Yafro, Friendster, Facebox. Don't block Eons or Saga Zone -- they are only for folks over 50. - Patricia Anderson, pfa@umich.edu -----Original Message----- From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org on behalf of Judy McBrian Sent: Fri 11/9/2007 11:42 AM To: web4lib@webjunction.org Subject: [Web4lib] Social networking sites At the risk of starting a long discussion on the merits, or lack thereof.... Our small library has had an ongoing problem of young people taking up all the available computers for social networking sites like MySpace, and has decided, as an experiment, to block these sites from a small group of computers using our CIPA related filtering software (Yep, we get money from the feds for our T1) Our main objective is to free up 4 pc's for other use, leaving the majority (10) free for those popular sites. While I'm familiar with MySpace and Facebook I know there are other popular sites (I don't need a "comprehensive" list) I can't seem to recall the one or two others I will need to "block" A little help please, from the knowledgeable will be much appreciated. Thank you Judy McBrian. _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From gerrymck at iastate.edu Fri Nov 9 16:51:04 2007 From: gerrymck at iastate.edu (Gerry Mckiernan) Date: Fri Nov 9 16:51:48 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] The Big Juicy Twitter Guide In-Reply-To: <47348182.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> References: <472C7AFB.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> <47348182.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> Message-ID: <473481E7.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> ***APOLOGIES FOR RECEIPT OF DUPLICATE POSTINGS*** Friends/ A Great Guide to Twitter [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter ] The Big Juicy Twitter Guide: All About Twitter Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows users to send updates via SMS, instant messaging, email, to the Twitter website, or any one of the multitude of Twitter applications now available*. [ http://www.caroline-middlebrook.com/blog/twitter-guide/ ] Part #1 - What is Twitter? What is Twitter? What*s the Point? Twitter is a Broadcasting Service Twitter is a Mobile Communication Tool Part #2 - Socialising With Twitter Is This Business or Personal? How Can Twitter Help My Business? How to Get Twitter Followers Useful Twitter Accounts to Follow Keeping the Noise Down Part #3 - Using Twitter Properly Twitter Technicalities Twitetiquette Using Twitter for Marketing Part #4 - Twitter Tools | Platform-Specific Mobile Tools Windows Tools Mac Tools Firefox Plugins Part #5 - Twitter Tools | Web Applications Productivity / Useful Apps Map Mashups Just for Fun Part #6 - Hacking Twitter Pimp Out Your Twitter Profile Funky Twitter Mashups Twitter Groups Part #7 - Multiply Your Twitter Audience Publicize Your RSS Twitter Feed Twitter / BloggingMashup Third Party Twitter Integration How Twitter Promotion Can Go Viral /Gerry Gerry McKiernan Associate Professor Science and Technology Librarian Iowa State University Library Ames IA 50011 !!! Social Networking is People !!! [ http://www.facebook.com/p/Gerry_McKiernan/16926735 ] Iowa: Where the Tall Corn Flows and the (North)West Wind Blows ... [ http://alternativeenergyblogs.blogspot.com/ ] From crlibrarian at gmail.com Fri Nov 9 18:01:51 2007 From: crlibrarian at gmail.com (Aubri Keleman) Date: Fri Nov 9 18:01:53 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Website Redesign Message-ID: We are looking to redesign our website and are trying to determine how much money to put into this project. We know that the cost will be based on what we want from the site, and how extensive our design will be, but still wanted to get an idea of what other libraries have spent redoing their sites. We want to use a CMS, and we want to have a site that is standards compliant. If you would be willing to email information about your own redesign, and ball park range for cost and staff time, that would be fantastic. We would also love to know whether or not your redesign increased traffic to your website, and by how much. To put funds towards this, we need to show that our site has the potential to be more than just a window to our catalog. (Which it is now!) Please send your comments to akeleman@wcls.org. Thank you very much. Aubri Keleman Whatcom County Library System From jamihaskell at gmail.com Fri Nov 9 19:59:48 2007 From: jamihaskell at gmail.com (Jami Haskell) Date: Fri Nov 9 19:59:51 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Website Redesign In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <11e9ee320711091659w7e156ccek3010437026fdf203@mail.gmail.com> I'd be interested in these responses as well. Thanks! Jami On Nov 9, 2007 3:01 PM, Aubri Keleman wrote: > We are looking to redesign our website and are trying to determine how > much money to put into this project. We know that the cost will be > based on what we want from the site, and how extensive our design will > be, but still wanted to get an idea of what other libraries have spent > redoing their sites. > > We want to use a CMS, and we want to have a site that is standards > compliant. If you would be willing to email information about your > own redesign, and ball park range for cost and staff time, that would > be fantastic. We would also love to know whether or not your redesign > increased traffic to your website, and by how much. To put funds > towards this, we need to show that our site has the potential to be > more than just a window to our catalog. (Which it is now!) > Please send your comments to akeleman@wcls.org. > > Thank you very much. > > Aubri Keleman > Whatcom County Library System > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > From slknight at eiu.edu Sat Nov 10 11:27:07 2007 From: slknight at eiu.edu (Knight-Davis, Stacey L.) Date: Sat Nov 10 11:25:36 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Facebook pages and Library apps problem Message-ID: I've tried the Developers group, Facebook Tech support (waiting to hear back), and I've checked the Facebook Apps for Libraries group and came up blank. Has anyone been able to successfully add a library app to the new Facebook Pages? I've been trying since Wednesday, and can't get them to display. I also can't find a way to remove them to try again. Anyone had a similar experience? Here's the page: http://eiu.facebook.com/profile.php?id=5904843585 You can see InfoBooth, EIU Library Search, and Booth Library Ask?Away in our mini-feed, but they don't appear on the Page. They also aren't in the administrative module for the Page. The Facebook developed apps I've installed on the Page work fine. My library apps are working great on Profiles, just not on Pages. Any ideas? Stacey Knight-Davis Booth Library Eastern Illinois University 600 Lincoln Ave. Charleston, IL 61920 217-581-7549 slknight@eiu.edu From caryn.anderson at simmons.edu Sat Nov 10 13:43:32 2007 From: caryn.anderson at simmons.edu (Caryn Anderson) Date: Sat Nov 10 13:44:41 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Website Redesign Message-ID: <20071110134332.jk4nq3bnk0g0804w@email.simmons.edu> Hi Aubri, I'm sorry that I cannot give you financial/staff estimates, but you might consider contacting folks at the University of Washington School of Information (http://www.ischool.washington.edu/) as I think you are in Bellingham, WA, right? I work at the Simmons Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) in Boston (http://www.simmons.edu/gslis). This semester we have a team of 11 students working with faculty and staff conducting a whole bunch of usability research (stakeholder interviews, user personas, card sorting, paper prototyping and more) to propose a new information architecture for the GSLIS website(s). It has been *amazing*! We've been able to collect much more data than the web services office would ever have been able to do on their own (nearly 400 participations from key stakeholder groups in six different activities so far). In addition, six of the students have been doing additional academic work to get credit for the project as an "independent study" (supervised by a participating faculty member). Project wiki: http://gslis.simmons.edu/wikis/iaproject/ My point is that whatever budget/plan you come up with, I would encourage you to take advantage of the graduate students at the School of Information. If their students are anywhere near as motivated and intelligent as ours at Simmons, you'll get an extraordinary amount of useful data, feedback and guidance and know that you are giving your future colleagues some invaluable learning experience. Our project is currently restricted to the information architecture of our sites, but you may find more technologically focused students to help you with the more technical aspects of your endeavor as well. If there are others in similar situations, I encourage you to talk to the library and information science faculty and students near you. There's a great list of programs that Tom Wilson has been keeping (financial contributions are welcome I believe - and he deserves it): http://informationr.net/wl/ And if you are a school, I'm happy to talk to you about how we managed our highly successful project. Cheers! Caryn -- Caryn Anderson Doctoral Studies Program Manager GSLIS, Simmons College 300 The Fenway, P-310H Boston, MA 02115 caryn.anderson@simmons.edu 617.521.2829 http://www.simmons.edu/gslis/ **************** Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 16:59:48 -0800 From: "Jami Haskell" Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Website Redesign To: "Aubri Keleman" Cc: web4lib@webjunction.org Message-ID: <11e9ee320711091659w7e156ccek3010437026fdf203@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 I'd be interested in these responses as well. Thanks! Jami On Nov 9, 2007 3:01 PM, Aubri Keleman wrote: [Hide Quoted Text] We are looking to redesign our website and are trying to determine how much money to put into this project. We know that the cost will be based on what we want from the site, and how extensive our design will be, but still wanted to get an idea of what other libraries have spent redoing their sites. We want to use a CMS, and we want to have a site that is standards compliant. If you would be willing to email information about your own redesign, and ball park range for cost and staff time, that would be fantastic. We would also love to know whether or not your redesign increased traffic to your website, and by how much. To put funds towards this, we need to show that our site has the potential to be more than just a window to our catalog. (Which it is now!) Please send your comments to akeleman@wcls.org. Thank you very much. Aubri Keleman Whatcom County Library System From gerrymck at iastate.edu Sat Nov 10 20:19:45 2007 From: gerrymck at iastate.edu (Gerry Mckiernan) Date: Sat Nov 10 20:20:14 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] _Studying Students: The Undergraduate Research Project at the University of Rochester_ In-Reply-To: <473603D5.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> References: <473602F6.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> <473603D5.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> Message-ID: <47360451.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> ***APOLOGIES FOR RECEIPT OF DUPLICATE POSTINGS*** Colleagues/ Earlier this year, the _Chronicle of Higher Education_ published a most interesting story titled "An Anthropologist in the Library: The U. of Rochester takes a close look at students in the stacks" [http://chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i50/50a02601.htm ] Recently the full results of the study were reported in _Studying Students: The Undergraduate Research Project at the University of Rochester_ _Studying Students: The Undergraduate Research Project at the University of Rochester_ provides a view into the groundbreaking application of ethnographic tools and techniques to the understanding of undergraduate students and their use of information. The publication describes findings of the work at the University of Rochester River Campus Libraries and provides insight into how academic librarians might use these techniques on their own campuses. [ http://www.alastore.ala.org/SiteSolution.taf?_sn=catalog2&_pn=product_detail&_op=2434 ] ***Table of Contents*** Introduction to the Undergraduate Research Project Nancy Fried Foster and Susan Gibbons 1. Faculty Expectations of Student Research Barbara Alvarez and Nora Dimmock 2. Asking Students about Their Research Vicki Burns and Kenn Harper 3. Night Owl Librarians: Shifting the Reference Clock Suzanne Bell and Alan Unsworth 4. Library Design and Ethnography Susan Gibbons and Nancy Fried Foster 5. Dream Catcher: Capturing Student-Inspired Ideas for the Libraries* Website Jane McCleneghan Smith and Katie Clark 6. Photo Surveys: Eliciting More Than You Knew to Ask For Judi Briden 7. Mapping Diaries, or Where Do They Go All Day? Katie Clark 8. What an Experience: Library Staff Participation in Ethnographic Research Helen Anderson and Ann Marshall 9. Then and Now: How Today*s Students Differ Sarada George 10. The Mommy Model of Service Nancy Fried Foster 11. Conclusion: Creating Student-Centered Academic Libraries Susan Gibbons and Nancy Fried Foster References Price: $28.00 ALA Member Price: $25.20 100 pages 8.5" X 11" Softcover ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-8437-6 ISBN-10: 0-8389-8437-1 ***Also Available As a Open Access Downloadable File*** [ http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/downloadables/Foster-Gibbons_cmpd.pdf] ***Podcast Available*** [MOST EXCELLENT] College & Research Libraries News Editor-In-Chief David Free talks with Judi Briden, Katie Clark, and Ann Marshall of the University of Rochester River Campus Libraries about their use of ethnographic tools and techniques to understand undergraduate students and their use of information. Briden, Clark, and Marshall are contributors to the ACRL publication *Studying Students: The Undergraduate Research Project at the University of Rochester*. [16:37] [ http://blogs.ala.org/acrlpodcast.php?title=studying_students_the_undergraduate_rese&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 ] Enjoy! /Gerry Gerry McKiernan Associate Professor Science and Technology Librarian Iowa State University Library Ames IA 50011 !!! Social Networking is People !!! [ http://www.facebook.com/p/Gerry_McKiernan/16926735 ] Iowa: Where the Tall Corn Flows and the (North)West Wind Blows ... [ http://alternativeenergyblogs.blogspot.com/ ] From gerrymck at iastate.edu Sun Nov 11 18:14:57 2007 From: gerrymck at iastate.edu (Gerry Mckiernan) Date: Sun Nov 11 18:15:31 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] LibAds(sm): Facebook SocialAds To Promote Library Information Sources In-Reply-To: <47373834.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> References: <47373834.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> Message-ID: <47373891.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> ***APOLOGIES FOR RECEIPT OF DUPLICATE POSTINGS*** Friends/ A major online computer library center should consider the launch of a new library advertising service. "Called LibAds(sm) the new program would be threefold: information service providers can create branded pages, run targeted advertisements, and have access to intelligence and analytics pertaining to the site's more than 50 million users. Partners can participate in all three components of LibAds(sm), or a combination of them. [snip] Through the branded pages program, information service providers can design custom pages with information, content, and custom applications--"any application that was written for users on the Facebook Platform," Zuckerberg explained. Facebook patrons can sign up as "fans" of a database, install branded applications, and other activities that will all show up in their profiles' "mini feeds" and on the "news feeds" that are broadcast to their friends lists. "When people engage your page on Facebook, that's going to spread information about a database database virally through the social graph," Zuckerberg said. "It becomes a trusted source." [snip] Additionally, Facebook has unveiled targeted advertisements that will allow individual libaries to target by any information inside Facebook profiles, from academic major, courses, and required and optional reading [snip] "With this interface, you'll be able to target information sources exactly the people that you want," Zuckerberg said. "This is some really powerful stuff, and nothing like this has ever been seen before." Finally, Zuckerberg showed how LibAds(sm) will also give libraries access to tracking and analytics information about exactly who they're reaching and what kind of trends are appearing all over the site. "As you run LibAds(sm), you'll be able to see the exact mindshare that your brand is getting." [MORE] For More Details and Links Visit [ http://onlinesocialnetworks.blogspot.com/2007/11/libadssm-facebook-socialads-to-promote.html ] A LibAds(sm) Facebook has been created and is Open To All [ http://iastate.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5806989543 ] NOTE: Apologies to OCLC and Caroline McCarthy [ http://onlinesocialnetworks.blogspot.com/2007/11/facebook-socialads.html ] /Gerry Gerry McKiernan Associate Professor Science and Technology Librarian Iowa State University Library Ames IA 50011 !!! Social Networking is People !!! [ http://www.facebook.com/p/Gerry_McKiernan/16926735 ] Iowa: Where the Tall Corn Flows and the (North)West Wind Blows ... [ http://alternativeenergyblogs.blogspot.com/ ] From maxlibris at gmail.com Mon Nov 12 10:39:03 2007 From: maxlibris at gmail.com (Max Anderson) Date: Mon Nov 12 10:39:08 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] XHTML, Web Searching and Greener Libraries - Class Offerings from SOLINET Message-ID: <520a6f0c0711120739i337c5cf5qdfd9cfd6282d2bf1@mail.gmail.com> Hello all, Please excuse cross-posting! Here are some upcoming opportunities for educational advancement from SOLINET, the Southeastern Library Network. XHTML: The Future of Web Design (Live Online) 12/10 - 12/12/2007, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (three day class) Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?doc_id=4344&WKSHPID=26XHTMLLO Xtreme Web Searching (Live Online) 12/10 - 12/11/2007, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm (two day class) Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?doc_id=4058&WKSHPID=26XWSLO Basic MARC Tagging for Books (Live Online) 12/10-12/11/2007, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm (two day class) Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?mode=preview&doc_id=3936&WKSHPID=05BMTBLO Using Technology in Information Literacy Programs (Live Online) 12/11 - 12/12/2007, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (two day class) Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?doc_id=4355&WKSHPID=26UTILPLO The Library as Place (Live Online) 12/11/2007, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?mode=preview&doc_id=3928&WKSHPID=26LAP Management and Leadership Skills for First Time Supervisors (Face to Face, Southeastern Louisiana University) 12/12 - 12/13/2007 (two day class), 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?doc_id=4361&WKSHPID=26GL Institution Records in OCLC Connexion (Live Online) 12/12/2007, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?mode=preview&doc_id=4691&WKSHPID=05IRCCOLO Promoting Library Services Using Blogs and RSS (Live Online) 12/12 - 12/13/2007, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm (two consecutive days) Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?doc_id=3610&WKSHPID=26PLSBR Metadata for Digitization and Preservation (Live Online) 12/12/2007, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?doc_id=3216&WKSHPID=26MDP Digital Photograph Collections: Access and Standards (Live Online) 12/12/2007, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?mode=preview&doc_id=4690&WKSHPID=12DPCLO Evaluating Technical Services (Face to Face, Longwood College) 12/13/2007, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?doc_id=3127&WKSHPID=26ETS Podcasting for Libraries (Live Online) 12/13/2007, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?doc_id=4052&WKSHPID=26PL The Green(er) Library (Face to Face, Greenville County Library, SC) 12/14/2007, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?doc_id=4361&WKSHPID=26GL WebJunction: Using TechAtlas to Manage the Technology in your Library (Live Online ** FREE!! **) 12/14/2007, 10:00 am - 11:00 am Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?doc_id=4343&WKSHPID=26WJTA Thanks, Max Anderson, SOLINET -- "Dewey, you fool! Your decimal system has played right into our hands!" --Large floating brain (without hands), Futurama, "The Day the Earth Stood Stupid" From mfrances at gtu.edu Mon Nov 12 16:13:35 2007 From: mfrances at gtu.edu (Frances, Melodie) Date: Mon Nov 12 16:13:40 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] open source catalogs that will truly allow you to export a marc record from OCLC Message-ID: <4B45D45E632CB74489C288C28745922201B7EC74@mail01.GTU.EDU> All, My apologies if this has been covered ... does anyone know of an open source catalog software that actually lets you export a record from OCLC into the catalog? I'm looking into this and noticed folks saying that they are marc compatible, but I'm wondering if it's actually possible to just click on export like we do with our III system. Thanks! Melodie Morgan Frances Head of Cataloging Graduate Theological Union mfrances@gtu.edu 510-649-2521 From listuser at chillco.com Mon Nov 12 18:11:02 2007 From: listuser at chillco.com (Cary Gordon) Date: Mon Nov 12 18:11:09 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] open source catalogs that will truly allow you to export a marc record from OCLC In-Reply-To: <4B45D45E632CB74489C288C28745922201B7EC74@mail01.GTU.EDU> References: <4B45D45E632CB74489C288C28745922201B7EC74@mail01.GTU.EDU> Message-ID: <86BAB5B5-31C7-40D6-ADE1-8DFCC2A99672@chillco.com> Evergreen imports from OCLC. Thanks, Cary On Nov 12, 2007, at 1:13 PM, Frances, Melodie wrote: > All, > > > > My apologies if this has been covered ... does anyone know of an open > source catalog software that actually lets you export a record from > OCLC > into the catalog? I'm looking into this and noticed folks saying that > they are marc compatible, but I'm wondering if it's actually > possible to > just click on export like we do with our III system. > > > > Thanks! > > > > Melodie Morgan Frances > > Head of Cataloging > > Graduate Theological Union > > mfrances@gtu.edu > > 510-649-2521 > > > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > From mfrisque at northwestern.edu Mon Nov 12 18:58:38 2007 From: mfrisque at northwestern.edu (Michelle Frisque) Date: Mon Nov 12 18:58:44 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Library Website Privacy Statement Message-ID: <3683FAE2-1381-4AA6-A1DB-825C72A5B275@northwestern.edu> The Galter Health Sciences Library website includes many customization features. When a user first logs into the site it is already customized for them based on the specialty interest they chose when they registered. The specialty profile is created by library staff. If the user did not like the resources in the specialty profile they can customize the list by adding and deleting resources. This site was launched over four years ago and we are working on updating the customization features of our site. We want to offer more user based recommendations. For instance show users what other people in their specialty are including in their profiles or what other pages on our site people in a specialty are using. We also want to allow users to share resources and specialty profiles with their colleagues. We also want to have some remembering systems. If you always click on ILL article have that link appear in a quicklinks list on their customized home page. Our users will be able to opt out of these services. These additional features that we want to add in the future go against our current privacy policy so I have been asked to draft an updated policy for approval by Library Administration, the Library Committee, etc. Do any of you have a policy that you could share that I could use as a template or do you know of one that may be helpful. Thanks, Michelle Michelle Frisque Head, Information Systems Galter Health Sciences Library Northwestern University 312.503.7074 mfrisque@northwestern.edu From lbell927 at yahoo.com Tue Nov 13 06:52:28 2007 From: lbell927 at yahoo.com (Lori Bell) Date: Tue Nov 13 06:52:34 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Book Discussion for Tweens in Virtual World of Whyville Message-ID: <158580.85674.qm@web52812.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Whyville, the American Association for School Librarians, Alliance Library System, the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, and TAP Information Services are pleased to announce a library book discussion of Voyage of the Dawn Treader by Clive Staples Lewis for tweens ages 9-13. The book discussions will be held on Wed. Dec. 5 at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. central; Thurs. Dec. 6 at 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. central; and Fri. Dec. 7 at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. central in the Greek Theater in Whyville. The discussions are being held as a kickoff activity to offer library services for children at a Whybrary which is currently under construction. There is no cost to participate in the discussion; however interested public and school libraries that would like to participate need to contact Valerie Brandon at Alliance Library System ( vbrandon@alliancelibrarysystem.com, 309-694-9200 ext. 2119 to reserve spaces?each discussion can only accommodate 25 students. After reserving a space, they should have their students visit Whyville ( http://www.whyville.net) at least 3 days in advance to set up an account and earn their text chat license. Libraries will also need participating children have their parents sign a permission form that should be sent to Whyville before participation. In addition to the debut of the Whybrary and the book discussion group in Whyville, the event will launch a fund raising initiative so that additional programs and activities can be planned for participating libraries. Interested librarians may also join a google group for ongoing discussion of Whyville at http://groups.google.com/group/whybrary. WHAT IS WHYVILLE? Since its inception in 1999, Whyville has grown to a population of almost 3 million registrants and a run rate of 35 million page views per month. Every day, tens of thousands of children from around the world visit to interact, have, and explore topics in science, economics, citizenship, and more. They become Whyville citizens by creating avatar-base personas and earning virtual ?clam? salaries by participating in educational activities. They design rocket engines, fly hot air balloons, start their own virtual businesses, and even campaign for a seat in the Whyville Senate. The Whyville Times, the town newspaper, is filled with articles written by the citizens on town issues as well as world events. Whyville?s activities are interactive, open ended, and foster creativity. Whyville has also been rated ?Best on the Internet? for child safety by iParenting for two years in a row. A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT ?We hope this will be the beginning of a collaborative effort between libraries of all kinds to promote books in all formats, information and fun for kids and young adults spending their time online,? said Dr. James Bower, Founder and CEO of Numedeon Inc., the company that runs Whyville. ?This is where many of our next generation and future tax payers are, on the net in social networking sites with their friends,? state Kitty Pope, Executive Director of the Alliance Library System. ?We have worked with librarians from all over the world to pioneer library services in virtual worlds for teens and adults. It?s now time to reach out to kids.? ?Whyville is a perfect fit for libraries since it?s such a safe and educational platform. Adapting library services to where youth are is a win-win for all!? said Kelly Czarnecki, Teen Education Librarian at PLCMC. JUST IMAGINE?THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS Imagine a virtual world filled with library materials in all formats (print, audio, video) and programs of all types, from story hours and book discussions to natural history to art to science and technology. Children from around the world visit regularly, exploring materials and participating in activities together. The education in Whyville is designed to be hands-on, inquiry based and constructivist. They can attend a live or video story hour, browse stories in many formats, and look at exhibits. They can meet other children from all over the world. They go on a virtual dig as archaeologists in a museum of natural history. They attend a live discussion session on carbon dating at a virtual open air theater. They can create their own stories and share them in whatever format they choose. Libraries are about books, stories, and community?books and stories in a variety of formats be it print, a movie, a video, a cd-rom, DVD, or storytelling. This favorite web destination for children serves as a virtual space where experiences from a recent library visit can be shared and extended. It supports a ?between-visit? experience that strengthens the relationship between libraries and the communities they serve. Sound far fetched? Not all! Whybrary is an extension of Whyville.net, the premier educational virtual community for children. ABOUT NUMEDON AND WHYVILLE Numedeon specializes in the design and operation of virtual worlds. It is the parent company of Whyville.com which remains the only learning-based virtual world for today?s digital kids. Whyville is about to surpass 3 million registered users, and is an environment that engages its vested ?citizens? to learn about life, while having fun. Numedeon?s technology enables organizations to be on the inside of virtual worlds, and in the case of Whyville, providing them with the means to truly interact with the hard-to-reach demographic of 8 to 15 year olds. Sponsored programs in Whyville include: Reading programs (supported by Scholastic); pop music concerts (EMI, Virgin records, Hollywood Records, Radio Disney); investigations of important issues like global warming (An Inconvenient Truth/Penguin Books), and immersive activities involving automobile engineering (Toyota), human disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and biotechnology (Texas Workforce Commission), to name only a few. Numedeon was created by scientists from Caltech to invent innovative new ways to harness the engagement power of the Internet. Numedeon already supports a number of ?private label? virtual worlds using its proprietary technology and will soon be launching several new virtual worlds of its own. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES For more information about the project, contact Lori Bell at lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com. Lori Bell Director of Innovation Alliance Library System 600 High Point Lane East Peoria, IL 61611 (309)694-9200 ext. 2128 lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com --------------------------------- Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. From CLowery at coj.net Tue Nov 13 10:43:09 2007 From: CLowery at coj.net (Lowery, Clint) Date: Tue Nov 13 10:43:15 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Social networking sites In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <1183B2BAF9BE724B85476AAB7B15D8FD03979B29@EVS2.coj.net> There is a list on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites Clinton -----Original Message----- From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Anderson, Patricia Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 2:13 PM To: Judy McBrian; web4lib@webjunction.org Cc: Anderson, Patricia Subject: RE: [Web4lib] Social networking sites Orkut, Bebo, Xanga, Hi5, Yafro, Friendster, Facebox. Don't block Eons or Saga Zone -- they are only for folks over 50. - Patricia Anderson, pfa@umich.edu -----Original Message----- From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org on behalf of Judy McBrian Sent: Fri 11/9/2007 11:42 AM To: web4lib@webjunction.org Subject: [Web4lib] Social networking sites At the risk of starting a long discussion on the merits, or lack thereof.... Our small library has had an ongoing problem of young people taking up all the available computers for social networking sites like MySpace, and has decided, as an experiment, to block these sites from a small group of computers using our CIPA related filtering software (Yep, we get money from the feds for our T1) Our main objective is to free up 4 pc's for other use, leaving the majority (10) free for those popular sites. While I'm familiar with MySpace and Facebook I know there are other popular sites (I don't need a "comprehensive" list) I can't seem to recall the one or two others I will need to "block" A little help please, from the knowledgeable will be much appreciated. Thank you Judy McBrian. _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From rballiot at oceanstatelibrarian.com Tue Nov 13 11:53:01 2007 From: rballiot at oceanstatelibrarian.com (Robert L. Balliot) Date: Tue Nov 13 11:53:09 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Intellectual Property and Creativity References: <283760.52499.qm@web56101.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <000b01c82615$a6d429b0$6401a8c0@junior> Greetings, Stanford Professor of Law Larry Lessig presents 'How creativity is being strangled by the law' here: http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/fourth/government_law.htm The video in Flash - click on 'Click to Play' to start. Professor Lessig provides great insight into the current friction between intellectual property law and those who would create. The current impact of technology has changed the landscape of IP law and librarians need to be cognizant of those changes. ************************************************* Robert L. Balliot 1-401-441-5763 Skype: RBalliot Bristol, Rhode Island http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm ************************************************* From redfernshaw at gmail.com Tue Nov 13 13:31:24 2007 From: redfernshaw at gmail.com (Jocelyn Shaw) Date: Tue Nov 13 13:39:22 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Social networking sites Message-ID: You will probably want to block Bebo as well. Jocelyn -- Jocelyn Shaw Librarian Hackley Public Library 316 W Webster Muskegon MI 49440 The Smartest Card. Get it. Use it. @ the Hackley Public Library From primarydat at aol.com Tue Nov 13 14:04:51 2007 From: primarydat at aol.com (primarydat@aol.com) Date: Tue Nov 13 14:05:06 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Results from The International Survey of Institutional Digital Repositories Message-ID: <8C9F43F3448C14F-D4-617D@webmail-md13.sysops.aol.com> ? Primary Research Group has published The International Survey of Institutional Digital Repositories (ISBN # 1-57440- 090-8) and would like to share some of its research results. ? Just a few of the study?s many findings are that: ? The average institutional digital repository spent $78,802 (US) in start up costs. ? Close to 41% of survey participants purchased software to develop their digital repositories. US-based institutions were much more likely than others to purchase software for this purpose. ? The average repository in the sample has been in existence for 2.85 years, with a range of ?just newly started? to ten years. ? On average, a drop more than 12% of the content in the repositories came from pre-existing repositories maintained by academic departments or some other institutional unit. ? A sixth of the libraries in the sample used Digital Commons software, and 28% of US-based repositories used this product. ? 14.81% of the institutions in the sample plan to purchase new repository software within the next two years. ? Only 5.56% of the repositories in the sample use blogs to publicize the repository while close to 41% use a paper promotional brochure. ? Those repositories in the sample that required less than 500 hours of labor per year had budgets of just less than $9,000 US. The largest repositories, those requiring 3,600 hours or more annually, had budgets averaging $145,444. ? 5.21% of the overall labor required to run the digital repositories in the sample came from academic departments not connected to the library. ? The art, architecture and music category was considered a heavy contributor by 4.88% of the repositories in the sample, and a significant contributor by 9.76%. 41.47% considered art, architecture or music to be modest contributors. Most significant and all heavy contributors from these fields were from the USA. Once again, the BA/MA granting colleges were more likely to have significant or heavy contributors in this subject area. ? The mean number of journal articles held by the repositories in the sample was 772 with a mean of 162. ? 4.88% of the journal articles in the repositories were subject to page view limits. ? 15.56% of the repositories in the sample were funded largely through grants. ? The study presents data from 56 institutional digital repositories from eleven countries, including the USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, South Africa, India, Turkey and other countries.? The 121-page study presents more than 300 tables of data and commentary and is based on data from higher education libraries and other institutions involved in institutional digital repository development. The report covers costs, budgets, software, personnel, open access policies, marketing, relations with faculty and other contributors of content, and many other issues relevant to those managing or designing an institutional digital depository. Data is broken out by geographic region, type of college or institution, and scope of the repository, defined by the number of man-hours per year needed for operation. ? James Moses, Research Director Primary Research Group Inc. www.primaryresearch.com ________________________________________________________________________ Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - http://mail.aol.com From rballiot at oceanstatelibrarian.com Tue Nov 13 14:06:40 2007 From: rballiot at oceanstatelibrarian.com (Robert L. Balliot) Date: Tue Nov 13 14:06:50 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Social networking sites In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <000001c82628$52f8e610$6401a8c0@junior> For some reason, all of the recommendations from librarians about what social networking sites should be censored end up in my junk mail folder. Has Outlook become self-aware? ************************************************* Robert L. Balliot 1-401-441-5763 Skype: RBalliot Bristol, Rhode Island http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm ************************************************* -----Original Message----- From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Jocelyn Shaw Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 1:31 PM To: web4lib@webjunction.org Subject: [Web4lib] Social networking sites You will probably want to block Bebo as well. Jocelyn -- Jocelyn Shaw Librarian Hackley Public Library 316 W Webster Muskegon MI 49440 The Smartest Card. Get it. Use it. @ the Hackley Public Library _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From kmunro at library.berkeley.edu Tue Nov 13 15:42:30 2007 From: kmunro at library.berkeley.edu (Karen Munro) Date: Tue Nov 13 15:42:36 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Conversion tool for .swf to .mpg or .avi Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20071113124000.04666cb0@calmail.berkeley.edu> Hello all, I'm looking to convert .swf files to a more YouTube-friendly file type, such as .avi or .mpg. There seem to be plenty of free converters available, but I wonder whether anyone has a favorite? Thanks and best wishes, Karen Karen Munro E-Learning Librarian University of California, Berkeley Doe/Moffitt Libraries Berkeley, CA 94720-6000 kmunro@library.berkeley.edu 510-643-1636 From michael_whitchurch at byu.edu Tue Nov 13 15:47:46 2007 From: michael_whitchurch at byu.edu (Michael Whitchurch) Date: Tue Nov 13 15:47:50 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Mudge Award Nomination due by 15 December 2007 Message-ID: <6C7F03E5F84A884DA0FBBC018578850375FBB50F23@tiller.exch.ad.byu.edu> $5,000 Award & Citation: Do you know someone who has significantly influenced reference librarianship? Isadore Gilbert Mudge Award, sponsored by Gale Cengage Learning An annual cash award of $5,000 and a citation will be presented to an individual who has made a distinguished contribution to reference librarianship. This contribution may include, but is not limited to, programming in a particular library or authorship of a significant book or articles in the reference field. The award is presented by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). To nominate an individual, write a letter of nomination explaining why the individual is deserving of this recognition, citing specific achievements. Each nomination packet must include three to five letters of recommendation, a copy of the nominee's resume or curriculum vitae, and any other appropriate supporting documentation. Please send nominations to: Michael J. Whitchurch, Chair Isadore Gilbert Mudge Award Committee 3326 Harold B. Lee Library Brigham Young University Provo, UT 84602 From mindspiral at gmail.com Tue Nov 13 16:21:36 2007 From: mindspiral at gmail.com (Brian Gray) Date: Tue Nov 13 16:21:39 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Conversion tool for .swf to .mpg or .avi In-Reply-To: <6.2.1.2.2.20071113124000.04666cb0@calmail.berkeley.edu> References: <6.2.1.2.2.20071113124000.04666cb0@calmail.berkeley.edu> Message-ID: Here are two I have used in the past: http://www.media-convert.com/ http://vixy.net/ Brian Gray mindspiral@gmail.com On Nov 13, 2007 3:42 PM, Karen Munro wrote: > Hello all, > > I'm looking to convert .swf files to a more YouTube-friendly file type, > such as .avi or .mpg. There seem to be plenty of free converters > available, but I wonder whether anyone has a favorite? > > Thanks and best wishes, > Karen > > > > Karen Munro > E-Learning Librarian > University of California, Berkeley > Doe/Moffitt Libraries > Berkeley, CA 94720-6000 > kmunro@library.berkeley.edu > 510-643-1636 > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > -- Brian Gray mindspiral@gmail.com From scahilla at baypath.edu Tue Nov 13 17:47:23 2007 From: scahilla at baypath.edu (Sandra Cahillane) Date: Tue Nov 13 17:47:29 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] self-populating ILL form Message-ID: Hi everyone, Can anyone give me instructions on how to take our existing ILL page (at http://library.baypath.edu/illpage.htm) so that it self-populates from the serials solutions 360 link results page? I also want to use the form to feed information from PubMed records but that would still be after they go through the 360 link. As always, thanks in advance for your help. Sandy Sandy Cahillane Systems and Reference Librarian Bay Path College Hatch Library 588 Longmeadow Street Longmeadow, MA 01106 (413) 567-4529 or (413) 565-1376 fax-(413) 567-8345 From gerrymck at iastate.edu Tue Nov 13 17:56:10 2007 From: gerrymck at iastate.edu (Gerry Mckiernan) Date: Tue Nov 13 17:56:33 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Medical Librarian 2.0: Use of Web 2.0 Technologies in Reference Services In-Reply-To: <4739D5D5.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> References: <4739D4C8.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> <4739D5D5.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> Message-ID: <4739D72A.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> ***APOLOGIES FOR RECEIPT OF DUPLICATE POSTINGS*** Colleagues/ If Medical Librarians Can Be W-2 So Can We ... [:-) _Medical Librarian 2.0: Use of Web 2.0 Technologies in Reference Services_ eclipsed many other technological advances. Next-generation tools like Web 2.0 sit on the cutting edge of profound changes that will-and have already begun to-transform librarianship. Medical Librarian 2.0 is a vital resource for understanding and implementing these revolutionary technologies. The essays in this groundbreaking collection offer a comprehensive look at the potential uses and effects of Web 2.0 in reference services. Designed not only as an examination of current technology but as a resource for practical applications as well, Medical Librarian 2.0 is both comprehensive and accessible. This important collection includes informative, in-depth essays that cover the evolving spectrum of digital resources. Through detailed explorations of current tools and programs, as well as the ways institutions have implemented them to better serve both patrons and staff, this text provides the insight and necessary awareness required for libraries to flourish in the 21st century. Medical Librarian 2.0 is an essential resource for librarians, especially those in medical settings, library science educators and students, and those looking to stay at the forefront of emerging reference technology. _Table of Contents_ * Introduction (M. Sandra Wood) * Library 2.0: An Overview (Elizabeth Connor) * Virtual Reference Services for the Academic Health Sciences Librarian 2.0 (Ana D. Cleveland and Jodi L. Philbrick) * Applications of RSS in Health Sciences Libraries (Alexia D. Estabrook and David L. Rothman) * P.O.D. Principles: Producing, Organizing, and Distributing Podcasts in Health Sciences Libraries and Education (Nadine Ellero, Ryan Looney, and Bart Ragon) * Streams of Consciousness: Streaming Video in Health Sciences Libraries (Nancy T. Lombardo, Sharon E. Dennis, and Derek Cowan) * Social Networking (Melissa L. Rethlefsen) * Content Management and Web 2.0 with Drupal (Chad M. Fennell) * It*s a Wiki Wiki World (Mary Carmen Chimato) * Mashing Up the Internet (Michelle A. Kraft) * Index * Reference Notes Included [ http://www.haworthpress.com/store/PDFFiles/ForReps/Wood-Medical.pdf ] Published simultaneously as _Medical Reference Services Quarterly*_, Volume 26, Supplement No. 1. Please note that this supplement is not a part of the regular journal subscription.) BTW: Thanks to my colleague Andrea D. for The HeadsUp! /Gerry Gerry McKiernan Associate Professor Science and Technology Librarian Iowa State University Library Ames IA 50011 !!! Social Networking is People !!! [ http://www.facebook.com/p/Gerry_McKiernan/16926735 ] Iowa: Where the Tall Corn Flows and the (North)West Wind Blows ... [ http://alternativeenergyblogs.blogspot.com/ ] From drweb at san.rr.com Tue Nov 13 18:19:52 2007 From: drweb at san.rr.com (DrWeb) Date: Tue Nov 13 18:19:59 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] San Diego Fires: Rebuilding, Home, Garden, Landscaping Databases? Message-ID: <19187061.178031194995992247.JavaMail.root@cdptpa-web02-z02> As you probably read about or saw on the news, we had some severe wildfires last month here in San Diego. The public library is attempting to gain a grant or two for more resources for our patrons - those re-building, or wanting to landscape or design differently for the future. Please let me know if you know of good databases, ebooks, and other online resources we may wish to subscribe to or purchase for this "home rebuilding collection." I am aware of RSMeans and building codes there. Any suggestions welcomed. Posted from my personal account.. please e-mail any suggestions to me at work if you want to discuss offlist, mmcculley@sandiego.gov Best, DrWeb -- P. Michael McCulley drweb@san.rr.com San Diego, CA From christopher.barr at villanova.edu Tue Nov 13 18:25:28 2007 From: christopher.barr at villanova.edu (Chris Barr) Date: Tue Nov 13 18:25:25 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Conversion tool for .swf to .mpg or .avi In-Reply-To: <6.2.1.2.2.20071113124000.04666cb0@calmail.berkeley.edu> References: <6.2.1.2.2.20071113124000.04666cb0@calmail.berkeley.edu> Message-ID: <473A3268.5090407@villanova.edu> For Flash to movie conversion I typically use FFMpegX (on Mac): http://www.ffmpegx.com/ This is a great tool for converting avi & mpeg to FLV files, which is what Youtube uses in the end. If you want to host your own content and display an FLV on your site you can then use a youtube like player, such as: http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=JW_FLV_Player (free) If you are willing to shell out a few clams for a nice conversion utility, Sorenson Squeeze is a very good solution (the best in my opinion) for compressing web video. It allows you to do batches and really makes your life easier. http://www.sorensonmedia.com/ One final option is to export from Flash as a Quicktime movie and use Quicktime Pro ($30) to convert to an mpg to upload to youtube. Good luck, Chris Barr Villanova University Karen Munro wrote: > Hello all, > > I'm looking to convert .swf files to a more YouTube-friendly file type, > such as .avi or .mpg. There seem to be plenty of free converters > available, but I wonder whether anyone has a favorite? > > Thanks and best wishes, > Karen > > > > Karen Munro > E-Learning Librarian > University of California, Berkeley > Doe/Moffitt Libraries > Berkeley, CA 94720-6000 > kmunro@library.berkeley.edu > 510-643-1636 > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > From rossfsinger at gmail.com Tue Nov 13 18:46:13 2007 From: rossfsinger at gmail.com (Ross Singer) Date: Tue Nov 13 18:46:29 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] self-populating ILL form In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <23b83f160711131546jc6f00ehd4b8558b853edf5e@mail.gmail.com> Sandy, What do you use for ILL? I would be pretty surprised if it couldn't accept OpenURLs (which SerSols 360 should be able to send it). -Ross. On 11/13/07, Sandra Cahillane wrote: > > Hi everyone, > > Can anyone give me instructions on how to take our existing ILL page (at > http://library.baypath.edu/illpage.htm) so that it self-populates from the > serials solutions 360 link results page? I also want to use the form to > feed information from PubMed records but that would still be after they go > through the 360 link. > > As always, thanks in advance for your help. > > Sandy > > > Sandy Cahillane > Systems and Reference Librarian > Bay Path College > Hatch Library > 588 Longmeadow Street > Longmeadow, MA 01106 > (413) 567-4529 or (413) 565-1376 > fax-(413) 567-8345 > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > From lars at aronsson.se Tue Nov 13 19:07:16 2007 From: lars at aronsson.se (Lars Aronsson) Date: Tue Nov 13 19:16:54 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Re: One consequence of the digitization programs In-Reply-To: <1dc292630711060923p164146f3o21e9747395f414b0@mail.gmail.com> References: <006e01c82070$40577ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> <00ec01c82096$5e083ac0$7b00a8c0@anders30b85ebf> <1dc292630711060922mc24d974re2e569830a0c7276@mail.gmail.com> <1dc292630711060923p164146f3o21e9747395f414b0@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Walt Crawford wrote: > I most certainly do not expect (nor would I welcome) librarians > or avatars to get in my face and say "Stop! In the name of > Dewey! Before you take that book. Think it over." But if you're hired to acquire reference literature for a new college library reading room, you're not starting out with an 11th edition Encyclopaedia Britannica (1911) and say "that should be fine for everyone". You first make sure you have one of the more recent editions, and then you might add a classic edition as well. Whether this applies to Anders' question, I don't know. -- Lars Aronsson (lars@aronsson.se) Project Runeberg - free Nordic literature - http://runeberg.org/ From vctinney at sbcglobal.net Tue Nov 13 20:40:09 2007 From: vctinney at sbcglobal.net (Chris Tinney) Date: Tue Nov 13 20:40:13 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] San Diego Fires: Rebuilding, Home, Garden, Landscaping Databases? In-Reply-To: <19187061.178031194995992247.JavaMail.root@cdptpa-web02-z02> Message-ID: <203573.45606.qm@web56111.mail.re3.yahoo.com> TRY: http://www.academic-genealogy.com/livingfamilyfun.htm#Home DrWeb wrote: As you probably read about or saw on the news, we had some severe wildfires last month here in San Diego. The public library is attempting to gain a grant or two for more resources for our patrons - those re-building, or wanting to landscape or design differently for the future. Please let me know if you know of good databases, ebooks, and other online resources we may wish to subscribe to or purchase for this "home rebuilding collection." I am aware of RSMeans and building codes there. Any suggestions welcomed. Posted from my personal account.. please e-mail any suggestions to me at work if you want to discuss offlist, mmcculley@sandiego.gov Best, DrWeb -- P. Michael McCulley drweb@san.rr.com San Diego, CA _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From library.lisle at gmail.com Tue Nov 13 20:50:01 2007 From: library.lisle at gmail.com (library.lisle@gmail.com) Date: Tue Nov 13 20:50:05 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] San Diego Fires: Rebuilding, Home, Garden, Landscaping Databases? In-Reply-To: <203573.45606.qm@web56111.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <19187061.178031194995992247.JavaMail.root@cdptpa-web02-z02> <203573.45606.qm@web56111.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: My evil little mind said, "they need the Avery Online, maybe the Grove; definitely one or two auction price resources. Take your pick." My e.l.m. thinks I should use its evil for the good, some times. Hope all are safe and well. Lisle On 11/13/07, Chris Tinney wrote: > > TRY: > http://www.academic-genealogy.com/livingfamilyfun.htm#Home > > DrWeb wrote: As you probably read about or saw on the > news, we had some severe wildfires last month here in San Diego. The public > library is attempting to gain a grant or two for more resources for our > patrons - those re-building, or wanting to landscape or design differently > for the future. > > Please let me know if you know of good databases, ebooks, and other online > resources we may wish to subscribe to or purchase for this "home rebuilding > collection." I am aware of RSMeans and building codes there. > > Any suggestions welcomed. > > Posted from my personal account.. please e-mail any suggestions to me at > work if you want to discuss offlist, mmcculley@sandiego.gov > > Best, > DrWeb > > -- > > P. Michael McCulley > drweb@san.rr.com > San Diego, CA > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > -- Lisle (rhymes with weasel) McKenty "...me figuraba el Para?so bajo la especie de una biblioteca" --Jorge Borges From david.rothman at gmail.com Tue Nov 13 20:53:00 2007 From: david.rothman at gmail.com (David Rothman) Date: Tue Nov 13 20:53:04 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Medical Librarian 2.0: Use of Web 2.0 Technologies in Reference Services In-Reply-To: <4739D72A.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> References: <4739D4C8.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> <4739D5D5.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> <4739D72A.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> Message-ID: It was pointed out to methat the book is available at a better price via Amazon.com: http://tinyurl.com/2kuhd7 David Rothman Community General Hospital Medical Library Syracuse, NY On Nov 13, 2007 5:56 PM, Gerry Mckiernan wrote: > ***APOLOGIES FOR RECEIPT OF DUPLICATE POSTINGS*** > Colleagues/ > > If Medical Librarians Can Be W-2 So Can We ... [:-) > > _Medical Librarian 2.0: Use of Web 2.0 Technologies in Reference > Services_ > > eclipsed many other technological advances. Next-generation tools like > Web 2.0 sit on the cutting edge of profound changes that will-and have > already begun to-transform librarianship. Medical Librarian 2.0 is a > vital resource for understanding and implementing these revolutionary > technologies. The essays in this groundbreaking collection offer a > comprehensive look at the potential uses and effects of Web 2.0 in > reference services. > > Designed not only as an examination of current technology but as a > resource for practical applications as well, Medical Librarian 2.0 is > both comprehensive and accessible. This important collection includes > informative, in-depth essays that cover the evolving spectrum of digital > resources. Through detailed explorations of current tools and programs, > as well as the ways institutions have implemented them to better serve > both patrons and staff, this text provides the insight and necessary > awareness required for libraries to flourish in the 21st century. > > Medical Librarian 2.0 is an essential resource for librarians, > especially those in medical settings, library science educators and > students, and those looking to stay at the forefront of emerging > reference technology. > > _Table of Contents_ > > * Introduction (M. Sandra Wood) > * Library 2.0: An Overview (Elizabeth Connor) > * Virtual Reference Services for the Academic Health Sciences > Librarian 2.0 (Ana D. Cleveland and Jodi L. Philbrick) > * Applications of RSS in Health Sciences Libraries (Alexia D. > Estabrook and David L. Rothman) > * P.O.D. Principles: Producing, Organizing, and Distributing Podcasts > in Health Sciences Libraries and Education (Nadine Ellero, > Ryan Looney, and Bart Ragon) > * Streams of Consciousness: Streaming Video in Health Sciences > Libraries (Nancy T. Lombardo, Sharon E. Dennis, and Derek Cowan) > * Social Networking (Melissa L. Rethlefsen) > * Content Management and Web 2.0 with Drupal (Chad M. Fennell) > * It*s a Wiki Wiki World (Mary Carmen Chimato) > * Mashing Up the Internet (Michelle A. Kraft) > * Index > * Reference Notes Included > > [ http://www.haworthpress.com/store/PDFFiles/ForReps/Wood-Medical.pdf > ] > > Published simultaneously as _Medical Reference Services Quarterly*_, > Volume 26, Supplement No. 1. Please note that this supplement is not a > part of the regular journal subscription.) > > BTW: Thanks to my colleague Andrea D. for The HeadsUp! > > /Gerry > > Gerry McKiernan > Associate Professor > Science and Technology Librarian > Iowa State University Library > Ames IA 50011 > > !!! Social Networking is People !!! > [ http://www.facebook.com/p/Gerry_McKiernan/16926735 ] > > Iowa: Where the Tall Corn Flows and the (North)West Wind Blows ... > [ http://alternativeenergyblogs.blogspot.com/ ] > > > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > From Elder.James at ocls.info Wed Nov 14 08:37:18 2007 From: Elder.James at ocls.info (Elder, James) Date: Wed Nov 14 08:38:06 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Video Tutorials for Teen Patrons Message-ID: <23BF35A30308FB46968CB3F393EEE2610322801A@exch2k3.ocls.info> Hello, I thought I'd share with you a project we recently rolled out here at the Orange County Library System in Orlando, FL. We thought it would be fun to have video tutorials, aimed at our teen audience, about how to use some of the features in our catalog and our homepage. So we created the first in a series of videos to do just that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvrzstc-caE - The first one, "Hip Music. Hip Library", is about finding your favorite music CD in the catalog. We were inspired by comics and graphic novels, flavored with a dash of high school educational films of the 50's. We plan on having Timmy return for the remainder of the videos. Let me know what you guys think of this type of approach to helping our teen patrons. I'd love to get some other libraries' feedback. Thanks! James Elder Web Design Specialist Orange County Library System www.ocls.info ****Florida has a very broad Public Records Law. Virtually all written communications to or from State and Local officials are public records available to the public and media upon request. The Orange County Library System policy does not differentiate between personal and business emails. E-mail sent via any Library-owned system will be considered public and will only be withheld from disclosure if deemed confidential pursuant to State Law.**** From salvatore_vassallo at tin.it Wed Nov 14 11:05:11 2007 From: salvatore_vassallo at tin.it (Salvatore Vassallo) Date: Wed Nov 14 11:05:18 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Conversion tool for .swf to .mpg or .avi In-Reply-To: <6.2.1.2.2.20071113124000.04666cb0@calmail.berkeley.edu> References: <6.2.1.2.2.20071113124000.04666cb0@calmail.berkeley.edu> Message-ID: <1195056311.5888.0.camel@fawkes> Il giorno mar, 13/11/2007 alle 12.42 -0800, Karen Munro ha scritto: > Hello all, > > I'm looking to convert .swf files to a more YouTube-friendly file type, > such as .avi or .mpg. There seem to be plenty of free converters > available, but I wonder whether anyone has a favorite? ffmpeg or mencoder ffmpeg -i filename.swf filename.avi Another solution is Avisynth + virtualdub From mindspiral at gmail.com Wed Nov 14 11:23:49 2007 From: mindspiral at gmail.com (Brian Gray) Date: Wed Nov 14 11:23:53 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Joomla Message-ID: Has anyone had experience with Joomla (http://www.joomla.com/)? What do you think? Was it easy for non-techies to understand and add content? I have a personal project I need to work on and am considering it to manage the site. i would build the site and let others add content. Thanks, Brian Brian Gray mindspiral@gmail.com From p.j.van.rees at rug.nl Wed Nov 14 12:11:35 2007 From: p.j.van.rees at rug.nl (Peter van Rees) Date: Wed Nov 14 12:12:19 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Conversion tool for .swf to .mpg or .avi In-Reply-To: <1195056311.5888.0.camel@fawkes> References: <6.2.1.2.2.20071113124000.04666cb0@calmail.berkeley.edu> <1195056311.5888.0.camel@fawkes> Message-ID: <473B2C47.6080705@rug.nl> For windows there's a free utility on http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html, which does batches and supports swf as input (well, any video format really). It's nothing more than a windows GUI for ffmpeg and mencoder and quite a few other encoders. peter Salvatore Vassallo schreef: > Il giorno mar, 13/11/2007 alle 12.42 -0800, Karen Munro ha scritto: > >> Hello all, >> >> I'm looking to convert .swf files to a more YouTube-friendly file type, >> such as .avi or .mpg. There seem to be plenty of free converters >> available, but I wonder whether anyone has a favorite? >> > > ffmpeg or mencoder > > ffmpeg -i filename.swf filename.avi > > > Another solution is Avisynth + virtualdub > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > From davidleeking at gmail.com Wed Nov 14 12:54:11 2007 From: davidleeking at gmail.com (David King) Date: Wed Nov 14 12:57:09 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Conversion tool for .swf to .mpg or .avi In-Reply-To: <473B2C47.6080705@rug.nl> References: <6.2.1.2.2.20071113124000.04666cb0@calmail.berkeley.edu> <1195056311.5888.0.camel@fawkes> <473B2C47.6080705@rug.nl> Message-ID: My favorite is zamzar.com - it works wonders with practically any file. -- David King davidleeking.com - blog http://davidleeking.com/etc - videoblog On Nov 14, 2007 11:11 AM, Peter van Rees wrote: > For windows there's a free utility on > http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html, which does batches and supports > swf as input (well, any video format really). It's nothing more than a > windows GUI for ffmpeg and mencoder and quite a few other encoders. > > peter > > Salvatore Vassallo schreef: > > Il giorno mar, 13/11/2007 alle 12.42 -0800, Karen Munro ha scritto: > > > >> Hello all, > >> > >> I'm looking to convert .swf files to a more YouTube-friendly file type, > >> such as .avi or .mpg. There seem to be plenty of free converters > >> available, but I wonder whether anyone has a favorite? > >> > > > > ffmpeg or mencoder > > > > ffmpeg -i filename.swf filename.avi > > > > > > Another solution is Avisynth + virtualdub > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Web4lib mailing list > > Web4lib@webjunction.org > > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > From listuser at chillco.com Wed Nov 14 13:12:10 2007 From: listuser at chillco.com (Cary Gordon) Date: Wed Nov 14 13:15:45 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Joomla In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <0EDBF280-F0B4-49FE-A0C0-44972711B21C@chillco.com> You might want to consider Drupal. It is also easy to configure, has a ton of useful contributed functionality (modules) and it is gaining traction in the library community. At one time, Drupal was considerably harder to install and configure than Joomla, but this isw no longer the case. http://drupal.org http://litablog.org/2007/06/24/building-public-library-websites-with- drupal/ http://drupalib.interoperating.info/ I am tentatively on the books to do a preconference Drupal training at ALA in Anaheim. Thanks, Cary Cary Gordon The Cherry Hill Company http://www.chillco.com On Nov 14, 2007, at 8:23 AM, Brian Gray wrote: > Has anyone had experience with Joomla (http://www.joomla.com/)? What > do you think? Was it easy for non-techies to understand and add > content? > > I have a personal project I need to work on and am considering it to > manage the site. i would build the site and let others add content. > > Thanks, > Brian > > > Brian Gray > mindspiral@gmail.com From stubaker at northwestern.edu Wed Nov 14 14:32:05 2007 From: stubaker at northwestern.edu (Stu Baker) Date: Wed Nov 14 14:36:29 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Job Opening: Systems Analyst/Programmer: Northwestern University Library Message-ID: (This job posting is being sent to multiple lists; please excuse any duplication.) Systems Analyst/Programmer Interested applicants need to apply online via Northwestern's eRecruit web site, referencing Job Opening ID #12456, at: JOB SUMMARY: Working with the University Library, Digital Library Systems Development Team, this position will assist in the administration of a number of the library and university enterprise systems and databases for the Library. This position will work in a highly collaborative environment with Library colleagues and external partners on the analysis, design, coding and testing of differently functional systems in support of the Library's enterprise applications. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES: - Coordinate and perform activities related to the analysis, design, coding, testing, implementation, maintenance and support of the Library's enterprise applications; maintain an understanding of the different functional system components as they relate to operational units of the library and the university; - Design and develop and maintain, data conversion, software integration and external interfaces to other University and external partner systems; - Assist with troubleshooting for the Library's enterprise applications; inform library staff of system developments and works with appropriate individuals and vendors to implement upgrades, enhancements and modifications; - Perform, monitor and troubleshoot routine database record import, export and manipulation procedures; prepare data analysis and statistical reports; - Act as a liaison between vendors and the University community in order to maintain and support components of the systems environment; - Perform routine system administration tasks and other related duties as required or assigned - Prepare documentation to effect knowledge transfer of application systems and local software development. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 1. A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Science, or a related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired 2. A minimum of three years of professional experience in managing systems including Voyager Integrated Library System or an equivalent large-scale integrated library system. MINIMUM COMPETENCIES: 1. Working knowledge of MARC 21 bibliographic data format in addition to other library standards and protocols; 2. Strong database (Oracle, MySQL) management and maintenance skills; 3. Extensive knowledge of Perl programming, Unix shell scripts or other related programming experience with languages such as Java, PHP, Python, Ruby; 4. Demonstrated experience with Unix or Linux server platforms, related software, and basic system administration utilities; 5. Strong analytical and problem solving skills. 6. Collaboration - Facilitates open and effective communication, cooperation and teamwork within and outside of one's own team; respects the needs and contributions of others. 7. Efficiency/Dependability - Effectively performs duties and responsibilities; displays attention to detail; supports organizational policies; anticipates demands/pressures of assignments and adjusts accordingly. 8. Initiative - Exhibits energy and desire to achieve; sets ambitious goals and acts decisively; takes action that no one has requested to improve or enhance job results and avoid problems. 9. Organization - Plans, organizes and schedules in an efficient, productive manner; anticipates contingencies and pays attention to detail; targets projects or initiatives that require special attention and focuses on key tasks when faced with limited time and/or resources 10. Problem Solving - Formulates realistic plans and contingencies and establishes appropriate measurements of anticipated results. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: (EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE) 1. MLS degree or equivalent; 2. Hands on experience implementing next-generation library enterprise systems such as federated search, electronic resource management systems, open-linking resolvers. 3. Experience with metadata standards, crosswalk applications and information exchange protocols such as Z39.50, OAI-PMH, SRU, and OpenURL. PREFERRED COMPETENCIES: (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES) 1. Knowledge and experience with functional aspects of integrated library systems, including, cataloging, circulation, acquisitions and OPACs; 2. Working knowledge of computer networking technologies, web-based services, and current developments in library applications of information technologies; 3. Project management experience; 4. Knowledge and practical skills with Microsoft Access or equivalent database application, HTML and web technology. ENVIRONMENT: Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, is a major private university with an extensive library system. This includes the Northwestern University Library, three branch libraries on the Evanston Campus, and three libraries on the Chicago Campus. Northwestern University Library is a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and participates in programs of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC). The holdings of the libraries total over 4 million volumes. See more information about the Library at: . TO APPLY: Interested applicants need to apply online via Northwestern's eRecruit web site, referencing Job Opening ID #12456, at: Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Employment eligibility verification required upon hire. From ranti.junus at gmail.com Wed Nov 14 16:41:13 2007 From: ranti.junus at gmail.com (Ranti Junus) Date: Wed Nov 14 16:41:16 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Joomla In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <7b496ff80711141341t148ef229o86ebea06ae417d83@mail.gmail.com> The tricky part of Jomlaa is the administration and back-end configuration (the actual content management.) It would take a bit more time configuring the site's structure and modules. Once you set it up, the front-end's user interface is quite straigh forward for non-techies to use. ranti. On 11/14/07, Brian Gray wrote: > Has anyone had experience with Joomla (http://www.joomla.com/)? What > do you think? Was it easy for non-techies to understand and add > content? > > I have a personal project I need to work on and am considering it to > manage the site. i would build the site and let others add content. > > Thanks, > Brian > > > Brian Gray > mindspiral@gmail.com > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > -- Bulk mail. Postage paid. From k7v339 at gmail.com Wed Nov 14 17:07:05 2007 From: k7v339 at gmail.com (Hon Bin) Date: Wed Nov 14 17:07:07 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Any one use SharePoint for Library Website? Message-ID: <9ef738000711141407t47f55b04xaf28eb821255f7ed@mail.gmail.com> Hi, I am wondering if anyone can give me some insights on how SharePoint as a CMS working for your library public interface? Thanks, hb From abrin at brynmawr.edu Thu Nov 15 13:09:06 2007 From: abrin at brynmawr.edu (Adam Brin) Date: Thu Nov 15 13:09:12 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] [REMINDER] Tri-Colleges Web Developer Message-ID: <00e201c827b2$9c747940$d55d6bc0$@edu> Reminder: applications due by 11/19 The Tri-College Library Consortium of Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore Colleges seeks a talented web developer to help expand its digital initiatives. The ideal candidate has strong interpersonal skills, proficiency with the LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, Perl/PHP), and a keen interest in working in a highly-collaborative academic environment. The successful candidate will play a central role in designing, integrating, and improving services in support of library users. The Consortium's digital initiatives include the library catalog, image databases, institutional repository software, blogs, wikis, and other applications. TO APPLY: http://trilogy.brynmawr.edu/tricojob.html Adam Brin _____________________________________ Tri-Colleges Systems Coordinator Bryn Mawr | Haverford | Swarthmore 610.526.5294 From jhack at umbc.edu Thu Nov 15 16:36:32 2007 From: jhack at umbc.edu (Janet Hack) Date: Thu Nov 15 16:36:37 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Personalizing library offerings in Blackboard Message-ID: <473CBBE0.50307@umbc.edu> Hi all, I am also interested in any new and innovative ways of providing library services through course management systems (Blackboard specifically, but innovations in other systems are also of interest). I am particularly interested in any efforts to personalize the content for individual students based on the courses they are currently enrolled in. Does anybody know if this is even possible? Thanks in advance for any assistance. I'll summarize for the list if I get any off-list replies -- Janet Hack Reference/Web Services Librarian Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery University of Maryland, Baltimore County Tel: 410-455-8130; Fax: 410-455-1906 e-mail: jhack@umbc.edu From smulewi at rci.rutgers.edu Thu Nov 15 18:39:03 2007 From: smulewi at rci.rutgers.edu (Gracemary Smulewitz) Date: Thu Nov 15 18:37:11 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Important reminder: ALCTS Outstanding Collaboration Award Message-ID: <473CD897.3000500@rci.rutgers.edu> *Important reminder: * Second Annual: ALCTS Outstanding Collaboration Citation ALCTS Outstanding Collaboration Citation recognizes and encourages collaborative problem-solving efforts in the areas of acquisition, access, management, preservation or archiving of library materials. It recognizes a demonstrated benefit from actions, services, or products that improve and benefit providing and managing library collections. The citation may be presented to two or more individuals or groups who have participated jointly in an appropriate achievement. Accomplishments that expose problems may be as valuable as successes. The citation will be presented in a year when an achievement of merit has occurred. Recognized forms of collaboration must be between library personnel and other individuals or groups such as: publishers, vendors, cultural organizations, government agencies, philanthropic organizations, and the like. Results of a collaborative effort must demonstrate advancement in collection management or technical services working environments. Examples (descriptive, not inclusive): - Development of industry standards (licensing, COUNTER, technology) - Breaking barriers to enable budget conscientious actions (inflation control, setting serials pricing far enough in advance of renewals, cooperative cataloging or preservation initiatives) - Innovative publications products or services that meet an industry need (ERMI, first link resolver, software to enhance productivity or user access) The deadline for nominations and supporting materials is December 1, 2007. For additional information, visit the ALCTS Web site at http://www.ala.org/alcts. ALCTS is a division of the American Library Association (ALA). Send nominations, along with written justification for the citation in terms of demonstrated outcomes in work achieved through actions, services, or products; how the achievement contributed to the fulfillment of needs in the work of collection management or technical services and any other factors relevant to the merit of the achievement and two letters of recommendation to Gracemary Smulewitz, Citation Jury chair, smulewi@rci.rutgers.edu If there are questions about the award, please contact Gracemary Smulewitz by email or phone. Again: smulewi@rci.rutgers.edu or 732-932-7388 ext 161. -- Gracemary Smulewitz Head, Distributed Technical Services Rutgers University Libraries 169 College Avenue New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901 Email: smulewi@rci.rutgers.edu Phone: 732-932-7388 ext 161 Fax: 732-932-8141 From dvanarsd at uafortsmith.edu Fri Nov 16 09:18:33 2007 From: dvanarsd at uafortsmith.edu (Dennis G. Van Arsdale) Date: Fri Nov 16 09:18:45 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] sequential numbering of receipts? Message-ID: <473DA6B9.4060801@uafortsmith.edu> I'm appealing for help: We are required (NO getting around it) to have sequentially numbered receipts for all financial transactions such as fines, fees, etc. No arguments, no negotiations, that's it. So, we have to use these numbered receipt books, automation be hanged. We're getting a new Star Micronics SP500 printer for doing date due slips, but would love to be able to print $ receipts too, except for that pesky sequencial requirement. We're on Innovative Interfaces, and their numbering for stuff has gaps between each record number for anything, so we can't use anything from them. The Release 2007 doesn't look to have anything for sure in the customization. Rasmussen's Anzio site lists the abilities of Print Wizard, which do not include anything like this. Anybody know of a printer program that would allow something like that, even a stand-alone program, with sequential numbering for receipts? Thanks for looking! -- =============================== Dennis G. Van Arsdale Technical Services Librarian Boreham Library, University of Arkansas - Fort Smith P.O. Box 3649 Fort Smith ARkansas 72913-3649 email: dvanarsd@uafortsmith.edu phone: 479-788-7206 or 1-800-935-9341 From kdevine at euclidlibrary.org Fri Nov 16 12:06:24 2007 From: kdevine at euclidlibrary.org (Kevin Devine) Date: Fri Nov 16 12:06:28 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] sequential numbering of receipts? In-Reply-To: <473DA6B9.4060801@uafortsmith.edu> References: <473DA6B9.4060801@uafortsmith.edu> Message-ID: <473DCE10.7020701@euclidlibrary.org> Are the financials printed on one computer or all the circulation computers. We have a program written in-house that modifies the output of receipts so that certain things can be modified. For us, it allows us to extract the patron's name for a reserve and put it bold and big at the top of the receipt. I know it was programmed here and for TSP100s, but I don't know about customizing it... Kevin Devine Euclid Public Library PS - If you find something that does this, I'd be interested to hear. Dennis G. Van Arsdale wrote: > I'm appealing for help: > > We are required (NO getting around it) to have sequentially numbered > receipts for all financial transactions such as fines, fees, etc. No > arguments, no negotiations, that's it. > So, we have to use these numbered receipt books, automation be hanged. > > We're getting a new Star Micronics SP500 printer for doing date due > slips, but would love to be able to print $ receipts too, except for > that pesky sequencial requirement. We're on Innovative Interfaces, > and their numbering for stuff has gaps between each record number for > anything, so we can't use anything from them. The Release 2007 > doesn't look to have anything for sure in the customization. > > Rasmussen's Anzio site lists the abilities of Print Wizard, which do > not include anything like this. > > Anybody know of a printer program that would allow something like > that, even a stand-alone program, with sequential numbering for receipts? > > Thanks for looking! > From margaret.e.hazel at ci.eugene.or.us Fri Nov 16 12:58:02 2007 From: margaret.e.hazel at ci.eugene.or.us (HAZEL Margaret E) Date: Fri Nov 16 12:58:35 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Disappearance of RFID_LIB Message-ID: Hi all, apologies for cross-posting - Those of you also subscribed to the RFID_LIB email list know that it is facing a move of hosting. At 8:30 this morning, I discovered that in fact the list has already been deactivated, despite having been told "several business days" before that would occur. I sincerely apologize. If anyone on these lists who isn't on RFID_LIB but is a non-commercial venture that could possibly host RFID_LIB, and rather quickly, please let me know. Please do stay tuned for further developments, check http://libraryrfid.org/wordpress/. Thank you for your support. -Margaret Margaret E. Hazel Principal Librarian, Technology Eugene Public Library Eugene, OR 541-682-6015 From jpwilkin at umich.edu Fri Nov 16 13:52:57 2007 From: jpwilkin at umich.edu (John Wilkin) Date: Fri Nov 16 13:56:49 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] NextGen library systems blog posting Message-ID: I want to start by expressing my genuine gratitude for the feedback I got on my previous posting. Just for background, I used the CommentPress theme for WordPress to author something called "Metasearch vs. Google Scholar," and asked for feedback. I got a bunch. This is, for me, partly an experiment in design of communication mechanisms. The sorts of comments that several of you made were tied to specific assertions or lines of reasoning in what I wrote, and that helped me in refining the argument--I'll be able to expand on some ideas, eliminate others, and clarify some things. There were also comments on the comments, which was also great to see. I hope I can find time to return to the basic idea of blogging and the ways that it does or doesn't support the a structured argument and responses to that argument. At any rate, folks were very generous in their feedback and using the vehicle I put out there for exploring this experiment. So, I'm back and doing it again, and promise not to do it too much more for a while! This time I've written something on next generation library systems. Maybe too ambitious, but something that I used for discussions with the library IT managers and their chief developers here at Michigan. We're in the midst of those discussions now, planning for future investments. I'm hoping I can elicit some comments on this piece as well, both for the experiment of this mechanism for feedback targeted to various parts of the argument, and even more significantly for the feedback itself. The piece is online at: http://scholarlypublishing.org/jpwilkin/archives/7 Thanks again. John -- John Price Wilkin Associate University Librarian for Library Information Technology and Technical and Access Services University Library 818 Hatcher South University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1205 Phone: 734.764.8016 Fax: 734.763.5080 Email: jpwilkin@umich.edu From Tim_Bucknall at uncg.edu Fri Nov 16 14:47:47 2007 From: Tim_Bucknall at uncg.edu (Tim Bucknall BUCKNALL) Date: Fri Nov 16 14:47:42 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Personalizing library offerings in Blackboard In-Reply-To: <473CBBE0.50307@umbc.edu> Message-ID: At UNCG, we have built a library web service that works with a locally constructed Blackboard building block to pull relevant databases, journals, and subject specialists and make them appear in relevant Blackboard classess on-the-fly. So, when a student enters a Blackboard class, the relevant library resources appear within that class context. Tim Bucknall Assistant Director - University Libraries, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Founder and Convener - Carolina Consortium 336-256-1216 bucknall@uncg.edu Janet Hack Sent by: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org 11/15/2007 04:38 PM To web4lib@webjunction.org cc Subject [Web4lib] Personalizing library offerings in Blackboard Hi all, I am also interested in any new and innovative ways of providing library services through course management systems (Blackboard specifically, but innovations in other systems are also of interest). I am particularly interested in any efforts to personalize the content for individual students based on the courses they are currently enrolled in. Does anybody know if this is even possible? Thanks in advance for any assistance. I'll summarize for the list if I get any off-list replies -- Janet Hack Reference/Web Services Librarian Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery University of Maryland, Baltimore County Tel: 410-455-8130; Fax: 410-455-1906 e-mail: jhack@umbc.edu _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From mbfaccioli at yahoo.com Fri Nov 16 16:27:40 2007 From: mbfaccioli at yahoo.com (Mary Beth Faccioli) Date: Fri Nov 16 16:27:44 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] public libraries - web content for literacy programs In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <637156.21260.qm@web56708.mail.re3.yahoo.com> I am new to a public library web job. My background has primarily been in the academic context. I am doing a content review for a redesign and am in the process of talking with various stakeholders about their areas. When talking to the librarian who runs the literacy program, she brought up the issue of reaching people via the website when they can't read, or read well. I am wondering how other public library folks deal with this issue in your libraries when putting up content for literacy programs. Thanks for any info! Mary Beth Faccioli, MLIS Web Services Specialist Boulder Public Library ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs From scalpest at library.berkeley.edu Fri Nov 16 17:48:41 2007 From: scalpest at library.berkeley.edu (Suzanne Calpestri) Date: Fri Nov 16 17:48:33 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Program for 2008 NFAIS Annual Conference and 50th Anniv. Gala Message-ID: <6.2.3.4.2.20071116144153.037bc4a0@calmail.berkeley.edu> > > >PROGRAM FOR 2008 NFAIS ANNUAL CONFERENCE & > > > >50th ANNIVERSARY GALA > > > > >NFAIS will mark the 50th Anniversary of its >founding in 2008, and the celebration begins on >February 24th with the opening of the Annual >Conference - The New Information Order: Its >Culture, Content and Economy. The preliminary >program, registration forms and general >information are now available at: >http://www.nfais.org/events/event_details.cfm?id=44 > > >The conference will look at how the rapid >adoption of information technology is creating a >user-centric, technology-driven society with its >own unique culture, value propositions, behavior >and economy, and will highlight the >opportunities for all information providers ? >publishers, librarians and educators - to adapt >their products, services and business practices to this new society. > >Highlights include: > >? A provocative opening keynote by >David >Weinberger, noted author of >Everything >is Miscellaneous: The Power of the New Digital >Disorder and co-author of Cluetrain Manifesto, >on how the principles of the new information >order are transforming the perception and use of >traditional information and are reshaping our >culture, business practices and economy. > >? Key results of recent surveys on the >market perception of the value of traditional >information from >Outsell, Inc. and on >the use of new technologies and media for >communication from >Lee >Rainie, Founding Director of the Pew Internet and American Life Project. > >? Innovative uses of current >technologies to meet end user needs and increase >the value of content from publishing executives >such as >Brian >Nairn, CEO, Elsevier Health Sciences and Matt >Dunie, former President, CSA, as well as from >leading librarians such as >Aaron >Schmidt, Director, North Plains Public Library and author of Walkingpaper.org. > >? A look at emerging information >technologies followed by a glimpse of the future >of information discovery presented by >Dr. Ben >Shneiderman, Professor, Computer Science and >Founding Director of the Human-Computer >Interaction Laboratory, University of Maryland, >who will discuss how cloud computing, along >with collaborative searching techniques and >social networking, may potentially harness the world?s collective intelligence. > >? Insights on new business practices >such as the use of virtual communities for >marketing and product development, collaborative >efforts in publishing, and new business models >for the end user market from industry experts >such as Caspar de Bono, Managing Director, B2B, >The Financial Times, >Kate >Wittenberg, Director of the Electronic >Publishing Initiative, Columbia University, and >Marisa Westcott, Vice President, Marketing, Thomson Scientific. > >? A look at the geographic shift of the >information economy from West to East, the >publishing opportunities offered by information >created in China, and what you need to know >about the flow of the information to/from China >in order to maximize those opportunities from >industry experts such as >Dr. >James Chan, President, Asia Marketing and >Management, >Karen >Christensen, CEO Berkshire Publishing Group, and >Victor >Camlek, Director, Market Intelligence, Thomson Scientific > > >? Insights from Corporate, Academic and >Government executives such as >Karen >Abramson, President/CEO, Medical Research, >Wolters Kluwer Health, on the strategies that >are required for success in the New Information Order > >If you want to learn more about the user >behavior and expectations that are driving the >new information order and the technologies, >business practices and strategies required to >adapt your products and services to a new >generation of information seekers - join us and >find out how your organization can thrive in the New Information Order! > >And remember, the NFAIS 50th Annual Conference >will be a very special event. The City of >Philadelphia will proclaim the opening day, >February 24, 2008, as ?NFAIS Day,? the Gala >celebration will be held in the ballroom of the >historic >Academy >of Music, the oldest grand opera house in the >U.S. that is still used for its original >purpose, and the meeting itself will be held in >the >Park >Hyatt at the Bellevue, a national historic hotel. > > For more information, contact Jill O'Neill, > NFAIS Director of Communication and Planning > (jilloneill@nfais.org > or 215-893-1561) or visit the NFAIS Web site at > http://www.nfais.org/events/event_details.cfm?id=44 > >Jill O'Neill >Director, Planning & Communication >NFAIS >(v) 215-893-1561 >(email) jilloneill@nfais.org > > >Suzanne H. Calpestri >The John H. Rowe Librarian and Director >The George and Mary Foster Anthropology Library >230 Kroeber Hall >University of California >Berkeley, CA 94720-3710 > >e-mail: scalpest@library.berkeley.edu >ph: (510) 642-5339 >fax: (510) 643-9293 Suzanne H. Calpestri The John H. Rowe Librarian and Director The George and Mary Foster Anthropology Library 230 Kroeber Hall University of California Berkeley, CA 94720-3710 e-mail: scalpest@library.berkeley.edu ph: (510) 642-5339 fax: (510) 643-9293 From lbell927 at yahoo.com Mon Nov 19 08:12:08 2007 From: lbell927 at yahoo.com (Lori Bell) Date: Mon Nov 19 08:12:21 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Virtual World Library Services for Tweens in Whyville Message-ID: <55364.29902.qm@web52801.mail.re2.yahoo.com> VIRTUAL WORLD LIBRARY BOOK DISCUSSIONS FOR TWEENS Whyville, the American Association for School Librarians, Alliance Library System, the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, and TAP Information Services are pleased to announce a library book discussion of Voyage of the Dawn Treader by Clive Staples Lewis for tweens ages 9-13. The book discussions will be held on Wed. Dec. 5 at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. central; Thurs. Dec. 6 at 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. central; and Fri. Dec. 7 at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. central in the Greek Theater in Whyville. The discussions are being held as a kickoff activity to offer library services for children at a Whybrary which is currently under construction. There is no cost to participate in the discussion; however interested public and school libraries that would like to participate need to contact Valerie Brandon at Alliance Library System ( vbrandon@alliancelibrarysystem.com, 309-694-9200 ext. 2119 to reserve spaces?each discussion can only accommodate 25 students. After reserving a space, they should have their students visit Whyville ( http://www.whyville.net) at least 3 days in advance to set up an account and earn their text chat license. Libraries will also need participating children have their parents sign a permission form that should be sent to Whyville before participation. In addition to the debut of the Whybrary and the book discussion group in Whyville, the event will launch a fund raising initiative so that additional programs and activities can be planned for participating libraries. Interested librarians may also join a google group for ongoing discussion of Whyville at http://groups.google.com/group/whybrary. WHAT IS WHYVILLE? Since its inception in 1999, Whyville has grown to a population of almost 3 million registrants and a run rate of 35 million page views per month. Every day, tens of thousands of children from around the world visit to interact, have, and explore topics in science, economics, citizenship, and more. They become Whyville citizens by creating avatar-base personas and earning virtual ?clam? salaries by participating in educational activities. They design rocket engines, fly hot air balloons, start their own virtual businesses, and even campaign for a seat in the Whyville Senate. The Whyville Times, the town newspaper, is filled with articles written by the citizens on town issues as well as world events. Whyville?s activities are interactive, open ended, and foster creativity. Whyville has also been rated ?Best on the Internet? for child safety by iParenting for two years in a row. A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT ?We hope this will be the beginning of a collaborative effort between libraries of all kinds to promote books in all formats, information and fun for kids and young adults spending their time online,? said Dr. James Bower, Founder and CEO of Numedeon Inc., the company that runs Whyville. ?This is where many of our next generation and future tax payers are, on the net in social networking sites with their friends,? state Kitty Pope, Executive Director of the Alliance Library System. ?We have worked with librarians from all over the world to pioneer library services in virtual worlds for teens and adults. It?s now time to reach out to kids.? ?Whyville is a perfect fit for libraries since it?s such a safe and educational platform. Adapting library services to where youth are is a win-win for all!? said Kelly Czarnecki, Teen Education Librarian at PLCMC. JUST IMAGINE?THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS Imagine a virtual world filled with library materials in all formats (print, audio, video) and programs of all types, from story hours and book discussions to natural history to art to science and technology. Children from around the world visit regularly, exploring materials and participating in activities together. The education in Whyville is designed to be hands-on, inquiry based and constructivist. They can attend a live or video story hour, browse stories in many formats, and look at exhibits. They can meet other children from all over the world. They go on a virtual dig as archaeologists in a museum of natural history. They attend a live discussion session on carbon dating at a virtual open air theater. They can create their own stories and share them in whatever format they choose. Libraries are about books, stories, and community?books and stories in a variety of formats be it print, a movie, a video, a cd-rom, DVD, or storytelling. This favorite web destination for children serves as a virtual space where experiences from a recent library visit can be shared and extended. It supports a ?between-visit? experience that strengthens the relationship between libraries and the communities they serve. Sound far fetched? Not all! Whybrary is an extension of Whyville.net, the premier educational virtual community for children. ABOUT NUMEDON AND WHYVILLE Numedeon specializes in the design and operation of virtual worlds. It is the parent company of Whyville.com which remains the only learning-based virtual world for today?s digital kids. Whyville is about to surpass 3 million registered users, and is an environment that engages its vested ?citizens? to learn about life, while having fun. Numedeon?s technology enables organizations to be on the inside of virtual worlds, and in the case of Whyville, providing them with the means to truly interact with the hard-to-reach demographic of 8 to 15 year olds. Sponsored programs in Whyville include: Reading programs (supported by Scholastic); pop music concerts (EMI, Virgin records, Hollywood Records, Radio Disney); investigations of important issues like global warming (An Inconvenient Truth/Penguin Books), and immersive activities involving automobile engineering (Toyota), human disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and biotechnology (Texas Workforce Commission), to name only a few. Numedeon was created by scientists from Caltech to invent innovative new ways to harness the engagement power of the Internet. Numedeon already supports a number of ?private label? virtual worlds using its proprietary technology and will soon be launching several new virtual worlds of its own. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES For more information about the project, contact Lori Bell at lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com. Lori Bell Director of Innovation Alliance Library System 600 High Point Lane East Peoria, IL 61611 (309)694-9200 ext. 2128 lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com --------------------------------- Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you with Yahoo Mobile. Try it now. From maxlibris at gmail.com Mon Nov 19 09:21:30 2007 From: maxlibris at gmail.com (Max Anderson) Date: Mon Nov 19 09:21:38 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] CSS, Management and Advocacy Classes from SOLINET! Message-ID: <520a6f0c0711190621t7d18e36ep28994b92a88c5236@mail.gmail.com> Hello all! Please excuse any cross-postings. Wouldn't you love, just LOVE to finish out your year with some educational advancement!!??? Here are some fab opportunities: Cascading Style Sheets with Dreamweaver (Live Online) 12/18/2007 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?doc_id=4346&WKSHPID=26CSSD8LO OCLC WorldCat Resource Sharing Basics (Live Online) 12/18 - 12/20/2007 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (three conseq. days) Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?doc_id=2960&WKSHPID=05OWRBDE Advocacy: The Media (Live Online) 12/18/2007 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?mode=preview&doc_id=3935&WKSHPID=26AMLO Introduction to Institutional Repositories (Live Online) 12/18/2007 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?mode=preview&doc_id=4603&WKSHPID=12IIRLO Web Design with Advanced Cascading Style Sheets (Live Online) 12/18/2007 - 12/19/2007 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm (two conseq. days) Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?doc_id=3923&WKSHPID=26AWDCCLO Management 101: Leadership (Argosy University in Tampa, FL) 12/19/2007 @ 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?doc_id=3208&WKSHPID=26M101L Web 2.0: Social Software Applications for Libraries (Live Online) 12/19/2007 - 12/20/2007 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (two conseq. days) Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?doc_id=4341&WKSHPID=26WSLO Advocacy: Public Officials (Live Online) 12/19/2007 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Register: http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?mode=preview&doc_id=3934&WKSHPID=26APOLO Thanks much, and Happy Thanksgiving! Max and the rest of the team here at SOLINET. -- "Dewey, you fool! Your decimal system has played right into our hands!" --Large floating brain (without hands), Futurama, "The Day the Earth Stood Stupid" From chodgson at niso.org Mon Nov 19 11:47:49 2007 From: chodgson at niso.org (Cynthia Hodgson) Date: Mon Nov 19 11:48:00 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Early Bird Registration Extended to November 23 for NISO Institutional Repository Forum Message-ID: <4741BE35.9080704@niso.org> Cross-posted announcement Early Bird Registration Extended to November 23 for NISO Institutional Repository Forum Early bird registration for the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) forum, "Getting the Most Out of Your Institutional Repository: Gathering Content and Building Use," has been extended to November 23. Be sure to register by then to take advantage of the substantial discounts. NISO and PALINET members are eligible for additional discounts. This one-day event, cosponsored by PALINET, will take place December 3, 2007 at the National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, Maryland. The forum asks library and information service providers to think about how to take advantage of an organization's repository once it is implemented by looking at: Featured speakers and program topics include: -- An "Opening Plenary" by Greg Zick , Vice President, Digital Collection Services, OCLC -- "The Third Wave of Library's Information Stewardship: Managing Local, Digital Material" by Peter Murray, Assistant Director for New Service Development, OhioLINK: the Ohio Library and Information Network -- "The Future of DSpace: Making It Personal" by John S. Erickson, Principal Scientist, Media and Information Systems Group, HP Labs -- "Rights Management" by Trisha L. Davis, Associate Professor, Rights Management Coordinator, and Head, Serials & E-Resources Department, The Ohio State University Libraries -- "OAI Object Re-Use & Exchange (ORE)" by Herbert Van de Sompel, Team Leader, Digital Library Research and Prototyping Team, Research Library of the Los Alamos National Laboratory -- "What You're Up Against" by Dorothea Salo , Digital Repository Librarian, University of Wisconsin at Madison -- "Distilling Strategic Directions for Repositories from Faculty and Librarian Attitudes" by Roger C. Shonfeld , Manager of Research, Ithaka -- "Electronic Theses and Dissertations: A Logical Addition to Your Digital Repository?" by Terry M. Owen, DRUM Coordinator, Digital Repository at the University of Maryland Visit the event webpage (http://www.niso.org/news/events_workshops/ir07/) for details and to register. Contact Karen Wetzel (kwetzel@niso.org), NISO Standards Program Manager, for more information. The NISO Institutional Repository forum is cosponsored by PALINET with major sponsorship from ProQuest. Additional sponsorship is provided by The Berkeley Electronic Press (bepress). Cynthia Hodgson NISO Technical Editor Consultant National Information Standards Organization Email: chodgson@niso.org Phone: 301-654-2512 From Athena at mail.ucf.edu Mon Nov 19 14:04:17 2007 From: Athena at mail.ucf.edu (Athena Hoeppner) Date: Mon Nov 19 14:07:28 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Networking and Collaboration Survey References: <473C8939.C988.00C3.0@mail.ucf.edu> Message-ID: <474197E5.490A.007D.0@mail.ucf.edu> Sent on behalf of Timothy Bottorff - - - - - Dear Colleagues, I am part of a team conducting research on networking and collaboration among academic librarians, particularly those at multi-campus institutions. We are conducting a brief survey as part of our research and are asking for your participation if you are an academic librarian. This survey is completely voluntary, and participants must be 18 years of age or older to participate. There are no anticipated risks or compensation associated with taking this survey, and it will take less than 15 minutes to complete. The survey is anonymous and has received Institutional Review Board approval. The results of this study may be published and/or used in a conference presentation. However, all results will be analyzed and reported in the aggregate. The survey will be available until November 23, 2007. Thanks in advance to all who can participate. The survey is available at: http://library.ucf.edu/Rosen/RCSurveyWeb.asp Research at the University of Central Florida is carried out under the oversight of the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Questions or concerns about research participants? rights may be directed to the UCF Institutional Review Board Office at University of Central Florida, Office of Research & Commercialization, 12201 Research Parkway, Suite 501, Orlando, FL 32826, 407-823-3778. Thank you, Tim Bottorff Interim Head / Reference Librarian University of Central Florida Universal Orlando Foundation Library Rosen College of Hospitality Management 9907 Universal Blvd., Orlando FL 32819 Phone: 407-903-8004 Email: tbottorf@mail.ucf.edu Webpage: http://library.ucf.edu/rosen Athena Hoeppner Electronic Resources Coordinator athena@mail.ucf.edu (407)823-5049 From winona.salesky at uvm.edu Mon Nov 19 16:09:36 2007 From: winona.salesky at uvm.edu (Winona Salesky) Date: Mon Nov 19 16:09:02 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Position Announcement: Director of Information Resource Management Message-ID: <200711192108.lAJL8lTF015320@pony.uvm.edu> Please excuse any cross-posting. ****************** POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT Director of Information Resource Management University of Vermont The University of Vermont Libraries invites applications for the position of Director of Information Resource Management. The successful candidate will be an energetic and visionary senior manager responsible for assessing and transforming existing technical service workflow processes and leading the organization in the development and implementation of projects and initiatives related to the rapid integration of next-generation discovery, access, and resource management technologies into library operations. Reporting to the Dean of University Libraries, the Director of Information Resource Management serves as a member of the Libraries' senior management team and provides leadership in strategic planning, administration, and resource allocation for information management activities. This position directs a department of 5 library faculty and 16 staff members in Bailey/Howe Library operations related to collection development, acquisitions, cataloging, collection management, and preservation activities. With a collection size of 1.5 million volumes and an annual acquisitions budget of $5.6 million, the University Libraries consists of Bailey/Howe Library (including Special Collections/Archives and Government Documents/Maps), Dana Medical Library, Cook Chemistry/Physics Library, and two remote storage facilities, all supported by the Ex Libris/Endeavor Voyager ILS. The Director of Information Resource Management has budgetary and financial management authority for collection activities within Bailey/Howe Library and works closely with other department heads in the creation of collaborative collection development priorities and acquisition strategies. The position also participates in the development and expansion of the Libraries' digital collections and initiatives. Further information about the position can be found at http://library.uvm.edu/about/jobs/ The University of Vermont (UVM) is home to 11,000 undergraduate, graduate, and medical school students and more than 1,250 full- and part-time faculty. UVM is located in the thriving urban center of Burlington in the beautiful Champlain Valley, an area distinguished by spectacular scenery, year-round outdoor recreational opportunities, vibrant music and arts scene, and overall high quality of life. Burlington International Airport offers frequent jet access to major Atlantic and Midwest hubs, and the city of Montreal, Canada, is an easy drive 100 miles/160 km to the northwest. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Master's degree from an ALA-accredited program or international equivalent; minimum of 7 years relevant professional experience, with strong record of leadership and accomplishment directing and managing technical services operations in a research or academic library; substantive experience in resource allocation and budget preparation, projection and analysis; demonstrated knowledge of best practices and current trends in scholarly communication and digital resource management, as well as in traditional technical service functions; significant experience in the acquisition, management, and control of a broad spectrum of information resources; demonstrated success in human resources management, including the ability to lead and engage staff through processes of organizational improvement and change; broad understanding of current information technologies and patron services in academic libraries; demonstrated experience in team-oriented project management; commitment to fostering a diverse educational environment and workplace; excellent analytical, planning, interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated record of leadership and achievement within the library profession, including mentoring, scholarly work, and professional/institutional service, commensurate with appointment to the level of Library Associate Professor or higher. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: supervisory experience in a work environment governed by a collective bargaining agreement; demonstrated understanding of specialized mission and resource needs of health science libraries; knowledge of trends in archives/records management and cataloging/processing of rare books and special collections materials. APPOINTMENT AND APPLICATION INFORMATION: Appointment will be made at the faculty rank of Library Associate Professor or Library Professor (non-tenure track). Salary is commensurate with experience, not less than $70,000 at the rank of Library Associate Professor or $80,000 at the rank of Library Professor. Benefit package includes TIAA/CREF or alternate plan, managed health care plan, and 22 days of annual vacation leave. The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through their practice of librarianship, scholarly work, and/or service. Applicants are requested to include in their letter of application information about how they will further this goal. Apply online at http://www.uvmjobs.com with letter of application, vita, and names and contact information for three professional references. Requisition number for the position is 032138. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Questions about the position may be directed to the chair of the search committee at keith.gresham@uvm.edu. The University of Vermont is an AA/EO employer. ---------------------- Winona Salesky Digital Initiatives Librarian The University of Vermont Libraries winona.salesky@uvm.edu (802)656-3292 From bhunter at uidaho.edu Mon Nov 19 17:11:14 2007 From: bhunter at uidaho.edu (Ben Hunter) Date: Mon Nov 19 17:11:20 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Position Announcement: Head of Public Services, University of Idaho Library Message-ID: <1A1FBFF8920BA14894B508031FD40CF629AE8B@EXVS1.its.uidaho.edu> Job Title: Head, Public Services Rank: Associate Professor or Full Professor, tenure-track; Full-time, 12 month appointment The University of Idaho Library has created a new position and seeks a public-spirited, forward-thinking individual who champions excellent library service for library users, who is committed to the academic success of students and scholars alike, and who can provide leadership and vision for services that enhance the learning and research experience. The successful candidate will oversee planning, implementation, marketing, outreach, and assessment of all user service functions and is a member of the senior administrative team of the Library. We seek someone who shares our values of working collaboratively and in a climate of mutual respect and will ensure that our services meet the needs of multiple and diverse constituencies. Responsibilities: As the leader of the Public Services department, this individual will engage faculty and staff in planning, implementing, and assessing services in the areas of Reference, Instruction, Liaison, Outreach, U.S. Government Documents, and Access Services. This person ensures the efficient and effective provision of excellent user services through a clearly communicated vision for public services. As a member of the administrative team, this individual works with the Head of Technical Services, the Head of Special Collections and Archives, and the Dean to provide vision, direction, and operational management for the library. As a member of the University of Idaho faculty, the successful candidate is expected to participate in planning and governance, to be able to work comfortably in a shared decision-making environment, and to be active professionally in service and research. Salary and Benefits: Appointment will be at the Associate or Professor rank; salary and rank commensurate with experience and ability to meet expectations for faculty rank. Benefits include standard state life and health insurance, generous annual leave and retirement options including TIAA-CREF. Required qualifications: Master's degree in library science from an ALA-accredited institution or an ALA recognized international equivalent; substantial (5 years) experience in public services; supervisory experience in an academic or research library, including a record of leading and motivating staff; excellent interpersonal and communications skills (oral and written) and a commitment to exemplary public service; must meet requirements for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or above as defined by the Faculty/Staff Handbook (http://www.webs.uidaho.edu/fsh/). Desired qualifications: A second advanced degree (required for appointment at the rank of Professor); experience with assessment of library services, strategic planning, and project management; experience with technology to enhance effectiveness of public service operations; experience in a land-grant or research university; experience working with diverse populations; success with grants writing or development. Application Process: Screening begins on January 18, 2008 and continues until the position is filled. The preferred starting date is April 1, 2008. Applicants should submit a letter of application that addresses the position description and qualifications; curriculum vitae; and the names, addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of at least three references, online at www.hr.uidaho.edu . Printed materials can be sent to: Susan Mueller, Search Committee Chair, PO Box 442350, Library, University of Idaho, Moscow ID 83844-2350. The University of Idaho http://www.uidaho.edu/ is a high research activity, land-grant institution committed to undergraduate and graduate-research education with extension services responsive to Idaho and the region's business and community needs. The University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The main campus is located in Moscow http://www.moscowchamber.com/ , eight miles from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. The University of Idaho is an equal opportunity/affirmative action educator and employer with an institution-wide commitment to diversity, human rights, multiculturalism and community. The University expresses that commitment by actively recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and student body, and by building and sustaining a welcoming, supportive campus environment. The University of Idaho provides outstanding leadership opportunities for people interested in promoting and enhancing diversity, nurturing creativity and building community. ************************************************ -- Ben Hunter Reference/Instruction Librarian Social Sciences Bibliographer University of Idaho Library Rayburn Street--Room 416U PO Box 442350 Moscow, ID 83844-2350 208/885-5858 bhunter@uidaho.edu From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Mon Nov 19 18:08:19 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Mon Nov 19 18:08:21 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader Message-ID: <456072.91857.qm@web57110.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Newsweek has a cover story about Amazon's Kindle e-book reader: http://www.newsweek.com/id/70983 Bernie Sloan --------------------------------- Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. From tim at librarything.com Mon Nov 19 20:24:28 2007 From: tim at librarything.com (Tim Spalding) Date: Mon Nov 19 20:24:31 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <456072.91857.qm@web57110.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <456072.91857.qm@web57110.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <63d3c8ce0711191724r339d6d10i7092cb454a27fb79@mail.gmail.com> See also NYT technology blog, Bits: Enough About Kindle 1.0. What About Kindle 2.0? http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/19/enough-about-kindle-10-what-about-kindle-20/ When people rave about what your product *could* do on the day of its release, you have a hype/reality mismatch! On 11/19/07, B.G. Sloan wrote: > > Newsweek has a cover story about Amazon's Kindle e-book reader: > > http://www.newsweek.com/id/70983 > > Bernie Sloan > > > --------------------------------- > Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > -- Check out my library at http://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding From rw at ncf.ca Mon Nov 19 20:35:22 2007 From: rw at ncf.ca (R. Wood) Date: Mon Nov 19 20:33:09 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <456072.91857.qm@web57110.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <456072.91857.qm@web57110.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <20071120013522.GD29135@ncf.ca> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Allegedly, on Mon, Nov 19, 2007 at 03:08:19PM -0800, B.G. Sloan stated: > Newsweek has a cover story about Amazon's Kindle e-book reader: > > http://www.newsweek.com/id/70983 > > Bernie Sloan Interesting, but is this just another proprietary, DRM-ridden format? I did not see any reference to 'format' in the article... R. - -- "Be Nice, or Leave - By Order of the Management" (Sign above door, Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield) GPG Fingerprint: 2E4D 8605 DD48 E80F F893 1C02 B65D 86D9 3B3C 0E03 Encrypted E-mail Preferred | http://www.yeeguy.com/freefall/ Bush-whacked 2004! Try to relax and enjoy the Chaos :-) --^ -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFHQjm6tl2G2Ts8DgMRAuCBAJ4jh1+v2jn0h4T0htPi9cBkAulI2QCgqLFb DweDmOVYqXQv3lpcpuhvb9E= =4oKP -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- From tennantr at oclc.org Mon Nov 19 23:30:47 2007 From: tennantr at oclc.org (Roy Tennant) Date: Mon Nov 19 23:31:12 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <63d3c8ce0711191724r339d6d10i7092cb454a27fb79@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Hmmm...let me see...spend $400 on a device where the only thing I can do is read books, or spend the same amount on a different device where I can read books, visit any web site I want, make phone calls, listen to tunes, etc. Hmmm.... Yes, I understand that one requires a service plan and the other does not (although at least $9 for every book you want to read). But come on. After watching the video I thought the interface was actually kind of annoying, again especially in contrast with the iPhone. My advice to libraries: don't rush out and jump on this bandwagon. Roy On 11/19/07 5:24 PM, "Tim Spalding" wrote: > See also NYT technology blog, Bits: > > Enough About Kindle 1.0. What About Kindle 2.0? > http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/19/enough-about-kindle-10-what-about-kin > dle-20/ > > When people rave about what your product *could* do on the day of its > release, you have a hype/reality mismatch! > > On 11/19/07, B.G. Sloan wrote: >> >> Newsweek has a cover story about Amazon's Kindle e-book reader: >> >> http://www.newsweek.com/id/70983 >> >> Bernie Sloan >> >> >> --------------------------------- >> Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. >> _______________________________________________ >> Web4lib mailing list >> Web4lib@webjunction.org >> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ >> > -- From tim at librarything.com Mon Nov 19 23:39:45 2007 From: tim at librarything.com (Tim Spalding) Date: Mon Nov 19 23:39:48 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: References: <63d3c8ce0711191724r339d6d10i7092cb454a27fb79@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <63d3c8ce0711192039g7c8647ddxf37f11e445f9821a@mail.gmail.com> Has anyone mentioned selling these to libraries yet? I'm not sure they're set up for it?you can't take the book off it or move it between them, can you? Tim On 11/19/07, Roy Tennant wrote: > Hmmm...let me see...spend $400 on a device where the only thing I can do is > read books, or spend the same amount on a different device where I can read > books, visit any web site I want, make phone calls, listen to tunes, etc. > Hmmm.... > > Yes, I understand that one requires a service plan and the other does not > (although at least $9 for every book you want to read). But come on. After > watching the video I thought the interface was actually kind of annoying, > again especially in contrast with the iPhone. My advice to libraries: don't > rush out and jump on this bandwagon. > Roy > > > On 11/19/07 5:24 PM, "Tim Spalding" wrote: > > > See also NYT technology blog, Bits: > > > > Enough About Kindle 1.0. What About Kindle 2.0? > > http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/19/enough-about-kindle-10-what-about-kin > > dle-20/ > > > > When people rave about what your product *could* do on the day of its > > release, you have a hype/reality mismatch! > > > > On 11/19/07, B.G. Sloan wrote: > >> > >> Newsweek has a cover story about Amazon's Kindle e-book reader: > >> > >> http://www.newsweek.com/id/70983 > >> > >> Bernie Sloan > >> > >> > >> --------------------------------- > >> Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Web4lib mailing list > >> Web4lib@webjunction.org > >> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > >> > > > > -- > > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > -- Check out my library at http://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding From leo at leoklein.com Mon Nov 19 23:52:56 2007 From: leo at leoklein.com (Leo Robert Klein) Date: Mon Nov 19 23:52:58 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <47426828.7000101@leoklein.com> Roy Tennant wrote: > Hmmm...let me see...spend $400 on a device where the only thing I can do is > read books, or spend the same amount on a different device where I can read > books, visit any web site I want, make phone calls, listen to tunes, etc. > Hmmm.... > > Yes, I understand that one requires a service plan and the other does not > (although at least $9 for every book you want to read). But come on. After > watching the video I thought the interface was actually kind of annoying, > again especially in contrast with the iPhone. My advice to libraries: don't > rush out and jump on this bandwagon. > Roy > I got the impression it was a slow week at Newsweek. I mean, when the author brags about downloading Dickens' 'Bleak House' for a mere $1.99 ("You can also get classics for a song"), I'm afraid I lost it. The stuff about paper vs. electronic and the joys of hypertext (the "always-on book") could have been written by Vannevar Bush. It's scary what passes for popular tech writing these days. The whole piece was an uncritical paean to Amazon. LEO -- ------------------- www.leoklein.com (site) www.ChicagoLibrarian.com (blog) aim/msn/yhoo/goog: 'leorobertklein' -- ------------------------------- From andrew.hankinson at gmail.com Mon Nov 19 23:59:15 2007 From: andrew.hankinson at gmail.com (Andrew Hankinson) Date: Mon Nov 19 23:59:27 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <47426828.7000101@leoklein.com> References: <47426828.7000101@leoklein.com> Message-ID: I don't know if anyone reads John Gruber's blog, but he's got a great post about Kindle. http://daringfireball.net/2007/11/dum Cheers, Andrew On 19-Nov-07, at 11:52 PM, Leo Robert Klein wrote: > Roy Tennant wrote: >> Hmmm...let me see...spend $400 on a device where the only thing I >> can do is >> read books, or spend the same amount on a different device where I >> can read >> books, visit any web site I want, make phone calls, listen to >> tunes, etc. >> Hmmm.... >> Yes, I understand that one requires a service plan and the other >> does not >> (although at least $9 for every book you want to read). But come >> on. After >> watching the video I thought the interface was actually kind of >> annoying, >> again especially in contrast with the iPhone. My advice to >> libraries: don't >> rush out and jump on this bandwagon. >> Roy > > I got the impression it was a slow week at Newsweek. I mean, when > the author brags about downloading Dickens' 'Bleak House' for a mere > $1.99 ("You can also get classics for a song"), I'm afraid I lost it. > > The stuff about paper vs. electronic and the joys of hypertext (the > "always-on book") could have been written by Vannevar Bush. > > It's scary what passes for popular tech writing these days. The > whole piece was an uncritical paean to Amazon. > > LEO > > -- ------------------- > www.leoklein.com (site) > www.ChicagoLibrarian.com (blog) > > aim/msn/yhoo/goog: 'leorobertklein' > -- ------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From gsennema at wlu.ca Tue Nov 20 09:24:04 2007 From: gsennema at wlu.ca (Greg Sennema) Date: Tue Nov 20 09:24:15 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Google in libraries Message-ID: Greetings. I am preparing a conference presentation on how Google * as a type of vendor * is affecting library services. While I will touch upon the various advanced search features that are described on the Google web site, I am more interested in understanding the impact that other Google services such as Enterprise (gmail, calendar, etc.), Documents, Analytics, Maps, Earth, Scholar, Book Search etc. are affecting decisions on how libraries provide web-based services to their patrons and staff, and the software and services they purchase from traditional library vendors. If you have ANY examples of how you are using any Google service within your library (or trickled down from the parent institution) or library web site, could you send me any links or documentation you might have? Please send this info to me off the list. If there is enough interest, I will post to the list after the conference next February. thanks in advance ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Greg Sennema / electronic services librarian Wilfrid Laurier University Library 75 University Ave. W. Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 (p) 519-884-0710 x.2812 (f) 519-884-8023 (e) gsennema@wlu.ca http://library.wlu.ca/blogs/gsennema/ From richard.wiggins at gmail.com Tue Nov 20 09:49:40 2007 From: richard.wiggins at gmail.com (Richard Wiggins) Date: Tue Nov 20 09:49:47 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: References: <47426828.7000101@leoklein.com> Message-ID: Did anyone listen to Jeff Bezos pitch the product on All Things Considered last night? The npr.org Web site is undergoing a serious meltdown right now, serving up broken links and content from 2005, but it's worth a listen. Bezos gently chided a blogger who dismissed the new device based on a fuzzy photo in an FCC filing. One of the key points he made was that the display technology is a kind of electronic ink, not like the backlit LCD displays on the $400 laptops that Roy alludes to. It uses very little power; it can last a week without recharge if you're not downloading using the Wi-Fi. I think it's useful to think of the history of the PDA. The Newton was a disaster; Doonesbury even made fun of its handwriting recognition. Millions of us actually tried to learn another form of handwriting when wrestling with our Palm Pilots. It took Treos, Blackberries, and now iPhones for the PDA to really come into its own. But it eventually did. I think there is no doubt that the purpose-specific e-book will come into its own as well, and I think people who nay-say it without seeing it, touching it, feeling it, and using it will someday look foolish. They may not look foolish with this attempt, but someday they will. The only development that I see derailing that possibility is a Star Trek: Next Generation level of tablet, weighing the same as the Amazon device, using equivalent display technology, costing no more, and as easy to use for the purpose of reading books. /rich PS -- I am biased here because in 1997 when SLA was in Seattle, Jeff Bezos spoke at the conference. A room of 200 librarians interacted with him, and gave him suggestions. Unfailingly he said "that's a great idea, let me take that back" and he seemed to mean it. Afterwards he consented to an interview with me. He spent much more time than a guy who'd already been on the cover of national magazines needed to, and he arranged for a separate visit for my wife and me to Amazon HQ. He is truly a nice guy, probably the nicest CEO you'll ever encounter. I wish him the best. See: http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue6_5/wiggins/ On Nov 19, 2007 11:59 PM, Andrew Hankinson wrote: > I don't know if anyone reads John Gruber's blog, but he's got a great > post about Kindle. > > http://daringfireball.net/2007/11/dum > > Cheers, > Andrew > > On 19-Nov-07, at 11:52 PM, Leo Robert Klein wrote: > > > Roy Tennant wrote: > >> Hmmm...let me see...spend $400 on a device where the only thing I > >> can do is > >> read books, or spend the same amount on a different device where I > >> can read > >> books, visit any web site I want, make phone calls, listen to > >> tunes, etc. > >> Hmmm.... > >> Yes, I understand that one requires a service plan and the other > >> does not > >> (although at least $9 for every book you want to read). But come > >> on. After > >> watching the video I thought the interface was actually kind of > >> annoying, > >> again especially in contrast with the iPhone. My advice to > >> libraries: don't > >> rush out and jump on this bandwagon. > >> Roy > > > > I got the impression it was a slow week at Newsweek. I mean, when > > the author brags about downloading Dickens' 'Bleak House' for a mere > > $1.99 ("You can also get classics for a song"), I'm afraid I lost it. > > > > The stuff about paper vs. electronic and the joys of hypertext (the > > "always-on book") could have been written by Vannevar Bush. > > > > It's scary what passes for popular tech writing these days. The > > whole piece was an uncritical paean to Amazon. > > > > LEO > > > > -- ------------------- > > www.leoklein.com (site) > > www.ChicagoLibrarian.com (blog) > > > > aim/msn/yhoo/goog: 'leorobertklein' > > -- ------------------------------- > > _______________________________________________ > > Web4lib mailing list > > Web4lib@webjunction.org > > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > From tennantr at oclc.org Tue Nov 20 10:24:12 2007 From: tennantr at oclc.org (Roy Tennant) Date: Tue Nov 20 10:24:15 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: Message-ID: It's nice that Jeff Bezos is such a nice guy. That and $3.40 (in California, at least) will buy him a cup of coffee. The question is whether the Kindle has a life. I still think it doesn't. It gets kudos for the display that can be seen in sunlight and long battery life. But I don't think those qualities are enough to overcome that you've just spent $400 on something that only reads books. The device to which I was alluding earlier was not a PC of any kind, but the iPhone. The iPhone makes the Kindle look like last century's technology in a couple key ways. One is simply the "wow" factor. I'm sorry, but I think the Kindle looks dorky. If I'm not the only one, then who is going to want to be seen carrying it around? The other reason is more substantive. First Blackberries and now the iPhone have demonstrated the kind of unification of functions that has been predicted for many years -- you will no longer have a PDA and a phone and a music player and perhaps even a laptop as separate devices -- they would be all one. And the fact that the same amount of money will buy you either a book reading device or a phone and a music player and a web browser and a ...makes the Kindle a complete non-starter in my book (sorry for the pun). And to think folks were complaining about the price of the iPhone. Roy On 11/20/07 6:49 AM, "Richard Wiggins" wrote: > Did anyone listen to Jeff Bezos pitch the product on All Things Considered > last night? The npr.org Web site is undergoing a serious meltdown right > now, serving up broken links and content from 2005, but it's worth a > listen. Bezos gently chided a blogger who dismissed the new device based on > a fuzzy photo in an FCC filing. > > One of the key points he made was that the display technology is a kind of > electronic ink, not like the backlit LCD displays on the $400 laptops that > Roy alludes to. It uses very little power; it can last a week without > recharge if you're not downloading using the Wi-Fi. > > I think it's useful to think of the history of the PDA. The Newton was a > disaster; Doonesbury even made fun of its handwriting recognition. Millions > of us actually tried to learn another form of handwriting when wrestling > with our Palm Pilots. It took Treos, Blackberries, and now iPhones for the > PDA to really come into its own. But it eventually did. > > I think there is no doubt that the purpose-specific e-book will come into > its own as well, and I think people who nay-say it without seeing it, > touching it, feeling it, and using it will someday look foolish. They may > not look foolish with this attempt, but someday they will. > > The only development that I see derailing that possibility is a Star Trek: > Next Generation level of tablet, weighing the same as the Amazon device, > using equivalent display technology, costing no more, and as easy to use for > the purpose of reading books. > > /rich > > PS -- I am biased here because in 1997 when SLA was in Seattle, Jeff Bezos > spoke at the conference. A room of 200 librarians interacted with him, and > gave him suggestions. Unfailingly he said "that's a great idea, let me take > that back" and he seemed to mean it. Afterwards he consented to an > interview with me. He spent much more time than a guy who'd already been on > the cover of national magazines needed to, and he arranged for a separate > visit for my wife and me to Amazon HQ. He is truly a nice guy, probably the > nicest CEO you'll ever encounter. I wish him the best. See: > http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue6_5/wiggins/ From BBrigell at skokielibrary.info Tue Nov 20 10:42:22 2007 From: BBrigell at skokielibrary.info (Bruce Brigell) Date: Tue Nov 20 10:42:27 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <20071120013522.GD29135@ncf.ca> Message-ID: "I have seen the future" and I don't think it will be Kindle-- Take a look at this: http://www.plasticlogic.com/products.php Display looks like a flexible report cover--reader unit in spine! Bruce Brigell Skokie Public Library -----Original Message----- From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org] On Behalf Of R. Wood Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007 7:35 PM To: web4lib@webjunction.org Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader Allegedly, on Mon, Nov 19, 2007 at 03:08:19PM -0800, B.G. Sloan stated: > Newsweek has a cover story about Amazon's Kindle e-book reader: > > http://www.newsweek.com/id/70983 > > Bernie Sloan From richard.wiggins at gmail.com Tue Nov 20 11:11:35 2007 From: richard.wiggins at gmail.com (Richard Wiggins) Date: Tue Nov 20 11:11:43 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I haven't seen a Kindle so I do not claim that it is the embodiment of the sweet spot for the e-book. I have bought more handheld devices than you've bought coffee this month, and most failed to live up to the hype. But past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future failure. I don't see how I could embrace the Kindle without seeing it. Nor do I see how you can dismiss it without seeing it. The price, today, is virtually irrelevant. It is common for products to launch with prices much higher than the eventual street price. Look at, ahem, the iPhone, for example. It is in Amazon's interest to practically give the thing away since they will follow the model of HP toner and Gilette razor blades ultimately. (HP makes 1/3 of its revenue on ink.) Avid readers will make up the cost of the device by buying books at less than 1/2 the cost of print editions. Setting aside the price, if the screen is readable and the battery life lives up to the claims, there are a lot of people that would be THRILLED to carry around 200 books in a 10 ounce package. The iPhone is wonderful, marvelous, truly amazing technology. Several friends and colleagues swear by theirs. Maybe younger eyes will read books on them, but the presbyopics among us need more screen space. /rich PS -- Geez, Roy, if you want to debate the postscript, fine, but don't lead with that rebuttal. :-) On Nov 20, 2007 10:24 AM, Roy Tennant wrote: > It's nice that Jeff Bezos is such a nice guy. That and $3.40 (in > California, > at least) will buy him a cup of coffee. The question is whether the Kindle > has a life. I still think it doesn't. > > It gets kudos for the display that can be seen in sunlight and long > battery > life. But I don't think those qualities are enough to overcome that you've > just spent $400 on something that only reads books. The device to which I > was alluding earlier was not a PC of any kind, but the iPhone. The iPhone > makes the Kindle look like last century's technology in a couple key ways. > One is simply the "wow" factor. I'm sorry, but I think the Kindle looks > dorky. If I'm not the only one, then who is going to want to be seen > carrying it around? > > The other reason is more substantive. First Blackberries and now the > iPhone > have demonstrated the kind of unification of functions that has been > predicted for many years -- you will no longer have a PDA and a phone and > a > music player and perhaps even a laptop as separate devices -- they would > be > all one. And the fact that the same amount of money will buy you either a > book reading device or a phone and a music player and a web browser and a > ...makes the Kindle a complete non-starter in my book (sorry for the pun). > And to think folks were complaining about the price of the iPhone. > Roy > > > On 11/20/07 6:49 AM, "Richard Wiggins" wrote: > > > Did anyone listen to Jeff Bezos pitch the product on All Things > Considered > > last night? The npr.org Web site is undergoing a serious meltdown right > > now, serving up broken links and content from 2005, but it's worth a > > listen. Bezos gently chided a blogger who dismissed the new device > based on > > a fuzzy photo in an FCC filing. > > > > One of the key points he made was that the display technology is a kind > of > > electronic ink, not like the backlit LCD displays on the $400 laptops > that > > Roy alludes to. It uses very little power; it can last a week without > > recharge if you're not downloading using the Wi-Fi. > > > > I think it's useful to think of the history of the PDA. The Newton was > a > > disaster; Doonesbury even made fun of its handwriting recognition. > Millions > > of us actually tried to learn another form of handwriting when wrestling > > with our Palm Pilots. It took Treos, Blackberries, and now iPhones for > the > > PDA to really come into its own. But it eventually did. > > > > I think there is no doubt that the purpose-specific e-book will come > into > > its own as well, and I think people who nay-say it without seeing it, > > touching it, feeling it, and using it will someday look foolish. They > may > > not look foolish with this attempt, but someday they will. > > > > The only development that I see derailing that possibility is a Star > Trek: > > Next Generation level of tablet, weighing the same as the Amazon device, > > using equivalent display technology, costing no more, and as easy to use > for > > the purpose of reading books. > > > > /rich > > > > PS -- I am biased here because in 1997 when SLA was in Seattle, Jeff > Bezos > > spoke at the conference. A room of 200 librarians interacted with him, > and > > gave him suggestions. Unfailingly he said "that's a great idea, let me > take > > that back" and he seemed to mean it. Afterwards he consented to an > > interview with me. He spent much more time than a guy who'd already > been on > > the cover of national magazines needed to, and he arranged for a > separate > > visit for my wife and me to Amazon HQ. He is truly a nice guy, probably > the > > nicest CEO you'll ever encounter. I wish him the best. See: > > http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue6_5/wiggins/ > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > From leo at leoklein.com Tue Nov 20 11:28:54 2007 From: leo at leoklein.com (Leo Robert Klein) Date: Tue Nov 20 11:29:13 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <47430B46.30900@leoklein.com> Roy Tennant wrote: [snip] > The other reason is more substantive. First Blackberries and now the iPhone > have demonstrated the kind of unification of functions that has been > predicted for many years -- you will no longer have a PDA and a phone and a > music player and perhaps even a laptop as separate devices -- they would be > all one. And the fact that the same amount of money will buy you either a > book reading device or a phone and a music player and a web browser and a > ...makes the Kindle a complete non-starter in my book (sorry for the pun). > And to think folks were complaining about the price of the iPhone. > Roy I think this unit makes sense only if you ignore the vastly successfully alternatives now available to people. People want Nokias and SideKicks. They use their phones to text-message, take pictures and surf the web. Amazon has made a single-purpose device and it's pretty obvious from their standpoint why they did it. It's less obvious why people should suddenly dump their smart phones for this. It just doesn't make sense. It's like thinking people are going to dump their color tv's for b&w units because the WWI documentaries look so much better. "Richard Wiggins" wrote: [snip] >> I think there is no doubt that the purpose-specific e-book will come into >> its own as well, and I think people who nay-say it without seeing it, >> touching it, feeling it, and using it will someday look foolish. They may >> not look foolish with this attempt, but someday they will. I'm perfectly happy to look foolish! LEO -- ------------------- www.leoklein.com (site) www.ChicagoLibrarian.com (blog) aim/msn/yhoo/goog: 'leorobertklein' -- ------------------------------- From tennantr at oclc.org Tue Nov 20 11:54:13 2007 From: tennantr at oclc.org (Roy Tennant) Date: Tue Nov 20 11:54:15 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: Message-ID: By the way, since Rich and I seem to be getting into a friendly debate again, for those of you keeping score at home the record from the past when we have disagreed is Richard: 1, Me: 0. We debated at Computers in Libraries and elsewhere over whether a library such as the Library of Congress would or could ever be fully digitized. I took the side that it would not. Sure, back then we had no idea that billions of someone else?s dollars would be burning a hole in Google?s pocket, but nonetheless I was wrong. So keep that in mind as you choose up sides. I was wrong once and will be wrong again ? it?s anyone?s guess as to whether this is one of those times. ;-) In any case, I assume you simply absorb all the information and arguments and decide for yourself, as is right and proper. Meanwhile, Richard is too much the gentleman to point out the above facts. And I?ll try to be more gentlemanly next time and not lead with a rebuttal to a postscript. ;-) Roy On 11/20/07 8:11 AM, "Richard Wiggins" wrote: > I haven't seen a Kindle so I do not claim that it is the embodiment of the > sweet spot for the e-book. I have bought more handheld devices than you've > bought coffee this month, and most failed to live up to the hype. But past > performance is not necessarily an indicator of future failure. > > I don't see how I could embrace the Kindle without seeing it. Nor do I see > how you can dismiss it without seeing it. > > The price, today, is virtually irrelevant. It is common for products to > launch with prices much higher than the eventual street price. Look at, ahem, > the iPhone, for example. It is in Amazon's interest to practically give the > thing away since they will follow the model of HP toner and Gilette razor > blades ultimately. (HP makes 1/3 of its revenue on ink.) Avid readers will > make up the cost of the device by buying books at less than 1/2 the cost of > print editions. > > Setting aside the price, if the screen is readable and the battery life lives > up to the claims, there are a lot of people that would be THRILLED to carry > around 200 books in a 10 ounce package. > > The iPhone is wonderful, marvelous, truly amazing technology. Several friends > and colleagues swear by theirs. Maybe younger eyes will read books on them, > but the presbyopics among us need more screen space. > > /rich > > PS -- > > Geez, Roy, if you want to debate the postscript, fine, but don't lead with > that rebuttal. :-) > From andrew.hankinson at gmail.com Tue Nov 20 12:18:25 2007 From: andrew.hankinson at gmail.com (Andrew Hankinson) Date: Tue Nov 20 12:20:44 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <47430B46.30900@leoklein.com> References: <47430B46.30900@leoklein.com> Message-ID: It's not the form factor, or the price that's a problem for me. Yes, eventually books will go digital, and yes, the price will come down. That's inevitable. It's the DRM that they're putting in there, and the fact that they're artificially limiting it. It's EVDO, which is not WiFi, so expect to pay a monthly fee just to have the wireless connection. Mark Pilgrim has another take on it on his blog post, and I think his leading 'act' sums it up best: "When someone buys a book, they are also buying the right to resell that book, to loan it out, or to even give it away if they want. Everyone understands this." --Jeff Bezos, Open letter to Author?s Guild, 2002 "You may not sell, rent, lease, distribute, broadcast, sublicense or otherwise assign any rights to the Digital Content or any portion of it to any third party, and you may not remove any proprietary notices or labels on the Digital Content. In addition, you may not, and you will not encourage, assist or authorize any other person to, bypass, modify, defeat or circumvent security features that protect the Digital Content." --Amazon, Kindle Terms of Service, 2007 (http://diveintomark.org/archives/2007/11/19/the-future-of-reading) So, yes, while Jeff Bezos may be a really nice guy, with the direction his company is taking with Kindle we're setting ourselves up for another RIAA/MPAA DRM nightmare with book publishers now. That's not something that I'm particularly comfortable with encouraging. -Andrew On 20-Nov-07, at 11:28 AM, Leo Robert Klein wrote: > Roy Tennant wrote: > > [snip] > >> The other reason is more substantive. First Blackberries and now >> the iPhone >> have demonstrated the kind of unification of functions that has been >> predicted for many years -- you will no longer have a PDA and a >> phone and a >> music player and perhaps even a laptop as separate devices -- they >> would be >> all one. And the fact that the same amount of money will buy you >> either a >> book reading device or a phone and a music player and a web browser >> and a >> ...makes the Kindle a complete non-starter in my book (sorry for >> the pun). >> And to think folks were complaining about the price of the iPhone. >> Roy > > I think this unit makes sense only if you ignore the vastly > successfully alternatives now available to people. People want > Nokias and SideKicks. They use their phones to text-message, take > pictures and surf the web. > > Amazon has made a single-purpose device and it's pretty obvious from > their standpoint why they did it. It's less obvious why people > should suddenly dump their smart phones for this. > > It just doesn't make sense. It's like thinking people are going to > dump their color tv's for b&w units because the WWI documentaries > look so much better. > > > "Richard Wiggins" wrote: > > [snip] > >>> I think there is no doubt that the purpose-specific e-book will >>> come into >>> its own as well, and I think people who nay-say it without seeing >>> it, >>> touching it, feeling it, and using it will someday look foolish. >>> They may >>> not look foolish with this attempt, but someday they will. > > I'm perfectly happy to look foolish! > > LEO > > > -- ------------------- > www.leoklein.com (site) > www.ChicagoLibrarian.com (blog) > > aim/msn/yhoo/goog: 'leorobertklein' > -- ------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From PONSLM at UCMAIL.UC.EDU Tue Nov 20 12:25:48 2007 From: PONSLM at UCMAIL.UC.EDU (Pons, Lisa (ponslm)) Date: Tue Nov 20 12:28:19 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <47430B46.30900@leoklein.com> Message-ID: I don't get it: who's talking about dumping iphones, blackberry's etc... for this? It's an ebook reader, not a tricorder! For my part, I think this is cool. WAY too pricey for me, so I will wait and see if it goes the way of the iPhone and the price goes down. One thing I know- as much as I LOVE my 30GB iPod, I do not want to read books on it, nor my phone, or palm. Screens are just too small. So, I might give this a try,and if the display is good-yeah! If not, well, I can return it, or put it in my "Museum of Now Useless Though at One Time Cool Things", like my first 3 palms, my first two mp3 players (256mb!!), my first laptop (1 GB Harddrive!!),and assorted modems, scanners, and monitors. For me, the jury is out.Knowing this is the first generation- I see the good as someone who reads non-stop, I love the idea of 9.99 for books-( though I wonder if I can put a restriction on myself to or my credit card: nomore than 20.00 month?) As someone who gets their news online (due to lack of good paper here), I would love to read the NYT, Washington Post, and blogs and more on a smaller device, where I want to, instead of the computer. (Yes, I have wireless, but still hard to read sitting on my deck in the sunlight). So, I look forward to reading what other actual users of it say. Lisa > -----Original Message----- > From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org > [mailto:web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Leo Robert Klein > Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 11:29 AM > To: web4lib > Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader > > Roy Tennant wrote: > > [snip] > > > The other reason is more substantive. First Blackberries > and now the > > iPhone have demonstrated the kind of unification of > functions that has > > been predicted for many years -- you will no longer have a > PDA and a > > phone and a music player and perhaps even a laptop as > separate devices > > -- they would be all one. And the fact that the same amount > of money > > will buy you either a book reading device or a phone and a music > > player and a web browser and a ...makes the Kindle a > complete non-starter in my book (sorry for the pun). > > And to think folks were complaining about the price of the iPhone. > > Roy > > I think this unit makes sense only if you ignore the vastly > successfully alternatives now available to people. People > want Nokias and SideKicks. > They use their phones to text-message, take pictures and > surf the web. > > Amazon has made a single-purpose device and it's pretty > obvious from their standpoint why they did it. It's less > obvious why people should suddenly dump their smart phones for this. > > It just doesn't make sense. It's like thinking people are > going to dump their color tv's for b&w units because the WWI > documentaries look so much better. > > > "Richard Wiggins" wrote: > > [snip] > > >> I think there is no doubt that the purpose-specific e-book > will come > >> into its own as well, and I think people who nay-say it without > >> seeing it, touching it, feeling it, and using it will someday look > >> foolish. They may not look foolish with this attempt, but > someday they will. > > I'm perfectly happy to look foolish! > > LEO > > > -- ------------------- > www.leoklein.com (site) > www.ChicagoLibrarian.com (blog) > > aim/msn/yhoo/goog: 'leorobertklein' > -- ------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > From Abullen at ILSOS.NET Tue Nov 20 12:36:26 2007 From: Abullen at ILSOS.NET (Bullen, Andrew) Date: Tue Nov 20 12:43:06 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Random thoughts kindled by the Kindle In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <589FDF4DF91307439D211F7404B00E879E3A19@exc01.ILSOS.ORG> Thoughts on how an e-book system might work in a library setting, in my very very H.O. A library (which, of course, can be bricks/mortar, virtual, etc.) purchases a title from a publisher for a small fee. When a patron/user/whatever of the library "checks out" the title, the publisher receives an additional small fee. The title is downloaded to an electronic device of some sort; the most useful type of device to my mind (reflecting my poor 47 year old eyes) would be something that is about A4 sized, either a tablet or digital paper. The title has an expiry of 2 weeks, or whatever the "loan" period is, renewable, of course. ILL can work in a similar manner. Another library is given temporary rights to a title you own. This approach would work best for certain classes of titles: auto repair manuals, computer manuals, etc. I don't think that I would like to read a novel in this format. Taking it further, a library could subscribe to a publisher (Chilton, SAM, O'Reilly...) for ALL of their titles, available through the library's own catalog. Each title in the catalog would be available on demand, paid for only when used. For archival purposes, arrangements could be made with publishers so that titles that are born digital and never see the analog world could be deposited in a trusted repository for perpetuity (perhaps a new mission for the Center for Research Libraries?). Library "cards" might instead become a registered device that could be accessed through SSL over the Internet, at a phone number, etc., or might be a token stored in a secure manner on a thumbdrive. "Checking out" a title would involve plugging the device into a USB port (or whatever the Next Big Thing is) and authenticating the user's privileges. Obviously, this just in time library concept has a million holes in it; however, I DO think something like this will become a model of future libraries. Thoughts before lunch... Andrew Bullen Illinois State Library James R. Thompson Center 100 West Randolph Street Suite 5-400 Chicago, Illinois 60601 E-Mail: abullen@ilsos.net Telephone: 312-814-4386 FAX: 312-814-2954 From PONSLM at UCMAIL.UC.EDU Tue Nov 20 12:58:40 2007 From: PONSLM at UCMAIL.UC.EDU (Pons, Lisa (ponslm)) Date: Tue Nov 20 13:07:30 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: Message-ID: You know, to me it's the same thing: the same media companies that are forcing draconian DRM on music, movies, etc... Are requiring this of amazon. They try it with books: ever see the notice on paperbacks: "If you bought this book without a cover, you could be..."? When I worked at a bookstore, we were required to throw away paperbacks after stripping the cover; couldn't give them to nursing homes, hospitals, etc.. Under threat of being fired. See: http://www.stopbigmedia.com/chart.php?chart=radio > -----Original Message----- > From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org > [mailto:web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Hankinson > Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 12:18 PM > To: web4lib > Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader > > It's not the form factor, or the price that's a problem for > me. Yes, > eventually books will go digital, and yes, the price will > come down. > That's inevitable. > > It's the DRM that they're putting in there, and the fact that > they're artificially limiting it. It's EVDO, which is not > WiFi, so expect to pay a monthly fee just to have the > wireless connection. > > Mark Pilgrim has another take on it on his blog post, and I > think his leading 'act' sums it up best: > > "When someone buys a book, they are also buying the right to > resell that book, to loan it out, or to even give it away if > they want. > Everyone understands this." > > --Jeff Bezos, Open letter to Author's Guild, 2002 > > "You may not sell, rent, lease, distribute, broadcast, > sublicense or otherwise assign any rights to the Digital > Content or any portion of it to any third party, and you may > not remove any proprietary notices or labels on the Digital > Content. In addition, you may not, and you will not > encourage, assist or authorize any other person to, bypass, > modify, defeat or circumvent security features that protect > the Digital Content." > > --Amazon, Kindle Terms of Service, 2007 > > (http://diveintomark.org/archives/2007/11/19/the-future-of-reading) > > So, yes, while Jeff Bezos may be a really nice guy, with the > direction his company is taking with Kindle we're setting > ourselves up for another RIAA/MPAA DRM nightmare with book > publishers now. That's not something that I'm particularly > comfortable with encouraging. > > -Andrew > > On 20-Nov-07, at 11:28 AM, Leo Robert Klein wrote: > > > Roy Tennant wrote: > > > > [snip] > > > >> The other reason is more substantive. First Blackberries > and now the > >> iPhone have demonstrated the kind of unification of functions that > >> has been predicted for many years -- you will no longer have a PDA > >> and a phone and a music player and perhaps even a laptop > as separate > >> devices -- they would be all one. And the fact that the > same amount > >> of money will buy you either a book reading device or a > phone and a > >> music player and a web browser and a ...makes the Kindle a > complete > >> non-starter in my book (sorry for the pun). > >> And to think folks were complaining about the price of the iPhone. > >> Roy > > > > I think this unit makes sense only if you ignore the vastly > > successfully alternatives now available to people. People > want Nokias > > and SideKicks. They use their phones to text-message, take > pictures > > and surf the web. > > > > Amazon has made a single-purpose device and it's pretty > obvious from > > their standpoint why they did it. It's less obvious why > people should > > suddenly dump their smart phones for this. > > > > It just doesn't make sense. It's like thinking people are going to > > dump their color tv's for b&w units because the WWI > documentaries look > > so much better. > > > > > > "Richard Wiggins" wrote: > > > > [snip] > > > >>> I think there is no doubt that the purpose-specific e-book will > >>> come into > >>> its own as well, and I think people who nay-say it > without seeing > >>> it, > >>> touching it, feeling it, and using it will someday look > foolish. > >>> They may > >>> not look foolish with this attempt, but someday they will. > > > > I'm perfectly happy to look foolish! > > > > LEO > > > > > > -- ------------------- > > www.leoklein.com (site) > > www.ChicagoLibrarian.com (blog) > > > > aim/msn/yhoo/goog: 'leorobertklein' > > -- ------------------------------- > > _______________________________________________ > > Web4lib mailing list > > Web4lib@webjunction.org > > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > From PONSLM at UCMAIL.UC.EDU Tue Nov 20 12:59:38 2007 From: PONSLM at UCMAIL.UC.EDU (Pons, Lisa (ponslm)) Date: Tue Nov 20 13:07:32 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Better link: http://www.stopbigmedia.com/chart.php?chart=pub From cu195450 at comcast.net Tue Nov 20 13:18:31 2007 From: cu195450 at comcast.net (cu195450@comcast.net) Date: Tue Nov 20 13:29:15 2007 Subject: Always-on and Hypertexted Books (was: Re: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader) Message-ID: <112020071818.1351.474324F70007ED39000005472215593414CFCACBCAC7CE9A0C@comcast.net> I don't agree with Gruber's narrow-minded and rather ungenerous wish that this device "flops". Kindle is obviously an "early draft" for what will likely be better versions later on, and it has some features now that strikes me as visionary and important, as is seen in an excellent, even-handed and detailed "first impressions" of Kindle at Techcrunch today: http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/19/kindle-first-impressions/ An example from the article of somebody at Amazon's having some real vision in what they engineered into this device refers to the hypertext possibilities of it: "The fact that it has a functioning Web browser, though, means that you can follow links in the feeds you subscribe to. More importantly, it opens up the world of linking to book authors. Now books can have links, and not just for citations. Authors who take advantage of the electronic book format will start to include hyperlinks for curious readers to follow, and books could become more tightly interwoven with the culture of the Web in general. Reading a book will no longer need to end with the final chapter. Rather, it could literally open up a whole world of information on the Web, just as blog posts or online news article do today." This reminds me of something Kevin Kelly wrote yesterday in writing about the Kindle: "And in Scan This Book (New York Times Magazine, 2006) I speculated on what happens when all the books of the world are digitized: they begin to leak into each other until there is only one very large super book." http://kk.org/ct2/2007/11/the-always-on-book.php. K elly also sees significant vision in this device: "The key revolutionary trait in the Kindle, however, is its wireless connection. The frequency of connection is neither local wifi or bluetooth, but cellular -- which means you can be online anywhere you can get a cellular signal (and you are off the net whereever there ain't a signal.) As a result of this connection the book is always on. As Jeff Bezos says, it turns the book into "a service, not a device." " Another interesting feature will be of interest to reference/research librarians: "The other cool experimental feature is called “Ask Kindle NowNow.” You can ask any question you like and you get a response from a human researcher. This is done through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk service. I asked “Who was the first person to ever write about the Kindle?” And I git a response in a few minutes pointing me to an “early” September 11, 2007 post on Engadget. While that post does come up high in a Google search on Kindle, the New York Times had this story on September 5 (and that might not have even been the first mention of it). So NowNow was close, but did not give the best answer. Still, what do you want for free research?" Cliff Urr, MLS cu195450@comcast.net -------------- Original message -------------- From: Andrew Hankinson > I don't know if anyone reads John Gruber's blog, but he's got a great > post about Kindle. > > http://daringfireball.net/2007/11/dum > > Cheers, > Andrew > > On 19-Nov-07, at 11:52 PM, Leo Robert Klein wrote: > > > Roy Tennant wrote: > >> Hmmm...let me see...spend $400 on a device where the only thing I > >> can do is > >> read books, or spend the same amount on a different device where I > >> can read > >> books, visit any web site I want, make phone calls, listen to > >> tunes, etc. > >> Hmmm.... > >> Yes, I understand that one requires a service plan and the other > >> does not > >> (although at least $9 for every book you want to read). But come > >> on. After > >> watching the video I thought the interface was actually kind of > >> annoying, > >> again especially in contrast with the iPhone. My advice to > >> libraries: don't > >> rush out and jump on this bandwagon. > >> Roy > > > > I got the impression it was a slow week at Newsweek. I mean, when > > the author brags about downloading Dickens' 'Bleak House' for a mere > > $1.99 ("You can also get classics for a song"), I'm afraid I lost it. > > > > The stuff about paper vs. electronic and the joys of hypertext (the > > "always-on book") could have been written by Vannevar Bush. > > > > It's scary what passes for popular tech writing these days. The > > whole piece was an uncritical paean to Amazon. > > > > LEO > > > > -- ------------------- > > www.leoklein.com (site) > > www.ChicagoLibrarian.com (blog) > > > > aim/msn/yhoo/goog: 'leorobertklein' > > -- ------------------------------- > > _______________________________________________ > > Web4lib mailing list > > Web4lib@webjunction.org > > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From leo at leoklein.com Tue Nov 20 13:47:25 2007 From: leo at leoklein.com (Leo Robert Klein) Date: Tue Nov 20 13:47:28 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <47432BBD.8060203@leoklein.com> Pons, Lisa (ponslm) wrote: > I don't get it: who's talking about dumping iphones, blackberry's etc... > for this? It's an ebook reader, not a tricorder! > > For my part, I think this is cool. WAY too pricey for me, so I will wait > and see if it goes the way of the iPhone and the price goes down. > > One thing I know- as much as I LOVE my 30GB iPod, I do not want to read > books on it, nor my phone, or palm. Screens are just too small. So, I > might give this a try,and if the display is good-yeah! If not, well, I > can return it, or put it in my "Museum of Now Useless Though at One Time > Cool Things", like my first 3 palms, my first two mp3 players (256mb!!), > my first laptop (1 GB Harddrive!!),and assorted modems, scanners, and > monitors. > > For me, the jury is out.Knowing this is the first generation- I see the > good as someone who reads non-stop, I love the idea of 9.99 for books-( > though I wonder if I can put a restriction on myself to or my credit > card: nomore than 20.00 month?) As someone who gets their news online > (due to lack of good paper here), I would love to read the NYT, > Washington Post, and blogs and more on a smaller device, where I want > to, instead of the computer. (Yes, I have wireless, but still hard to > read sitting on my deck in the sunlight). > Smartphones and laptops are the obvious competitors to this contraption. People use those devices for very similar activities. Unless Amazon is aiming for a niche market, some thought about alternatives should be made. Many people, just to take one example, already do read the NYT and WaPo on their Smartphones -- and contrary the the Kindle, the pictures are in color! What's so 'cool' about a device that has all the form fact of an Apple Newton, can't do color for the life of it, doesn't do networking -- but only to, um, certain destinations and for certain kinds of transactions? The jury may still be out but Steve Levy's article proclaimed this device as the dawn of a new age. It's not by accident that he dedicated a significant portion of his lengthly article to the demise of the book. It's only natural then to want to measure these claims with the competition. LEO -- ------------------- www.leoklein.com (site) www.ChicagoLibrarian.com (blog) aim/msn/yhoo/goog: 'leorobertklein' -- ------------------------------- From msimon at desu.edu Tue Nov 20 14:09:33 2007 From: msimon at desu.edu (Matthew J. Simon) Date: Tue Nov 20 14:16:20 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <25973749.697341195585773066.JavaMail.root@zimbra1.desu.edu> I am surprised by the negativity I have read about this promising new product.? I would hope that at a few people on this board actually try it out before damning it.? I travel frequently, on business and for pleasure.? And by the time I pack my laptop, my overnight bag, my yummy lunch or snack for the plane, remember my coat, keys, and?envelope of boarding passes, hotel reservations, discount coupons for off-airport long term parking, etc., my choice of reading material has been severely limited by my capacity to shoulder weight. The mewling about the initial cost? is pathetic and ill-informed about the diminishing price of maturing technologies.? If you want it, but think you can't afford it, amortize the expense over a two or a three year period.? And it will come out to a couple of bucks a week--or less than a Starbucks Grande.? And if you still think you can't hack it, wait a year or two and order it from J&R Electronics.? Or Amazon.? Or trade for the one owned by the kid down the block.? He or she will already have moved on to Wave II or III. M. J. Simon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lisa Pons (ponslm)" To: "web4lib" Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 12:25:48 PM (GMT-0500) America/New_York Subject: RE: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader I don't get it: who's talking about dumping iphones, blackberry's etc... for this? It's an ebook reader, not a tricorder! For my part, I think this is cool. WAY too pricey for me, so I will wait and see if it goes the way of the iPhone and the price goes down. From FelkerK at wlu.edu Tue Nov 20 14:57:52 2007 From: FelkerK at wlu.edu (Kyle Felker) Date: Tue Nov 20 14:58:30 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <20071120183013.41AAC189AE6@lists.webjunction.org> References: <20071120183013.41AAC189AE6@lists.webjunction.org> Message-ID: <4742F5EF.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> I did a few hours worth of digging and reading on the Kindle...if anyone is interested, here is my own analysis of what I see. In short, I don't see that this does anything substantial to make ebooks a practical, affordable alternative to paper for the average consumer. Read on if you want to know why. I saw the announcement about the product when I went to check on the status of an order at Amazon, and was initially excited. However, my enthusiasm abruptly caught cold and died when I read some of the technical information (and saw the price tag!). Kindle uses a proprietary e-book format (.azw files), which makes the kindle store and the kindle ebook reader inextricably coupled. It can read files in a few other formats (text and Mobi), but anything you buy from Amazon will only be readable on the kindle. There are a great many vendors selling consumer ebooks, but they are doing so using an alphabet soup of formats, many of which are entirely proprietary, and/or ruthlessly "protected" by DRM. What the consumer ebook market needs is an ebook version of the MP3 file format: something that's supported by the majority of the ebook reader hardware, and in which most content can be obtained or easily converted to. Until we have this, ebook usage is too tied to a particular vendor and service model and too limited in what you can do with it to be appealing. Put another way: vendors and publishers are going to have a hard time selling a lot of ebooks until they stop strangling the market with proprietary file formats and draconian DRM restrictions. Until this happens, ANY ebook platform is going to have a hard time succeeding. One of the reasons I like buying electronic music is because the selection is better than in any physical store. Ebooks, however, have a long way to go in that regard. The Kindle store has better selection than any online ebook store I've been to yet, but there are still titles I can't get in electronic format. So even if I had the money to convert my seven plus bookcases worth of physical books to ebooks, it would be impossible to do so completely. And even if I could find all the books from different e-book vendors, again, they are in so many different formats, many "protected" by draconian DRM, that I'd have to buy multiple expensive devices just to access them, or spend time working with format converters. The Kindles other features sounded cool until I really examined them. Sure, it sounds great to get newspapers delivered wirelessly to your kindle...until I remembered that a lot of that stuff is free on the web, and I can already access it on my handheld. And why, oh why would I pay to read blogs when I can get the content for free via RSS? That leaves magazine subscriptions...and I don't read popular magazines. Even if I did, a $400 magazine reader is...pretty hard for me to justify to myself. It doesn't help that the devices are so expensive. The sony Reader is $300, and the kindle is $400. I can buy a lot of paper books for $400. Add to that the fact that if I really wanted to convert my physical library to ebooks, I'd have to repurchase all my existing books in digital format, and the price tag rockets skyward faster than the space shuttle. Making the transition from a physical music collection to a digital one was easy, painless, and almost entirely free. Making the transition to ebooks will be none of those things. Until the consumer ebook market has something that functions as a standard format, so that I can choose the device and the content service separately, and so that I can be assured the content I'd purchase will be readable on most devices, I'm not interested. Until consumer ebook readers cost $200 or less, I'm not interested. Until converting my physical library to digital format is as easy and cheap as converting my music library was, I'm not interested. Electronic paper displays and "whispernet" do not solve any of these problems. And that is why I think Kindle is unlikely to succeed. I certainly won't be buying one. ********************************************** Kyle Felker Technology Coordinator Washington and Lee University Library Phone: 540-458-8653 Email: felkerk@wlu.edu Chat: geeklibrary (aol) techbookgeek (yahoo) ********************************************* From amutch at waterford.lib.mi.us Tue Nov 20 15:18:45 2007 From: amutch at waterford.lib.mi.us (Andrew Mutch) Date: Tue Nov 20 15:18:48 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader Message-ID: <20071120151845.AUT21387@mozart.merit.edu> Matt, In fairness, I would say that there's been equal amounts praise and criticism of the Kindle reader. Still, based on the feedback I've read so far from people who've actually used it, I would say it has some serious shortcomings. In some ways, Amazon Reader sounds like a step back from the previous readers which is quite a feat. You also have to remember that over their history, e-book promoters and sellers have overhyped and underdelivered on their products in a way that is hard to match in the technology world. Every one of them has been a commercial failure. So any new product coming forward promising to replace the book should be greeted with skepticism. It's unfortunate that Amazon hasn't managed to learn from the fate of past e-book readers (clunky interfaces, proprietary formats, over priced content) as their size might have allowed them to overcome the obstacles that other e-book producers have faced. But I feel safe in saying that the Kindle Reader is definitely not the "next new thing" and in a couple of years, you'll be able to get them for a steep discount at Amazon. Andrew Mutch Library Systems Technician Waterford Township Public Library Waterford, MI ---- Original message ---- >Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:09:33 -0500 (EST) >From: "Matthew J. Simon" >Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader >To: web4lib@webjunction.org > > > >I am surprised by the negativity I have read about this promising new product.? I would hope that at a few people on this board actually try it out before damning it.? I travel frequently, on business and for pleasure.? And by the time I pack my laptop, my overnight bag, my yummy lunch or snack for the plane, remember my coat, keys, and?envelope of boarding passes, hotel reservations, discount coupons for off-airport long term parking, etc., my choice of reading material has been severely limited by my capacity to shoulder weight. > >The mewling about the initial cost? is pathetic and ill-informed about the diminishing price of maturing technologies.? If you want it, but think you can't afford it, amortize the expense over a two or a three year period.? And it will come out to a couple of bucks a week--or less than a Starbucks Grande.? And if you still think you can't hack it, wait a year or two and order it from J&R Electronics.? Or Amazon.? Or trade for the one owned by the kid down the block.? He or she will already have moved on to Wave II or III. > >M. J. Simon From leo at leoklein.com Tue Nov 20 15:24:11 2007 From: leo at leoklein.com (Leo Robert Klein) Date: Tue Nov 20 15:24:16 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <25973749.697341195585773066.JavaMail.root@zimbra1.desu.edu> References: <25973749.697341195585773066.JavaMail.root@zimbra1.desu.edu> Message-ID: <4743426B.4090505@leoklein.com> Matthew J. Simon wrote: > > I am surprised by the negativity I have read about this promising new product. "Negativity" is a bit loaded. At the moment all we have to compare the thing to is what we know from similar or competing devices. The Kindle isn't being released in a vacuum. There's no reason to act as if it were. LEO -- ------------------- www.leoklein.com (site) www.ChicagoLibrarian.com (blog) aim/msn/yhoo/goog: 'leorobertklein' From jessica.hess at gmail.com Tue Nov 20 15:27:29 2007 From: jessica.hess at gmail.com (Jessica Hess) Date: Tue Nov 20 15:27:33 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <4742F5EF.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> References: <20071120183013.41AAC189AE6@lists.webjunction.org> <4742F5EF.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> Message-ID: <78b9d8300711201227nc3e297bgaaa9fd463bdb8c69@mail.gmail.com> On Nov 20, 2007 2:57 PM, Kyle Felker wrote: > > What the consumer ebook market needs is an ebook > version of the MP3 file format: something that's supported by the > majority of the ebook reader hardware, and in which most content can be > obtained or easily converted to. If only there were a mailing list full of librarians, many of whom knew how to program ... ;) I understand that that's not the only hurdle. But, you know, just sayin': librarians could make this idea take off. -- Jessica Hess From Kathryn.Silberger at marist.edu Tue Nov 20 15:31:21 2007 From: Kathryn.Silberger at marist.edu (Kathryn Silberger) Date: Tue Nov 20 15:31:32 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: Message-ID: One of my first reactions to Kindle was that Bezos should have hired an Apple designer. I feel sort of shallow for reacting that way, but there you have it. You said, "I don't see how I could embrace the Kindle without seeing it. Nor do I see how you can dismiss it without seeing it." I think that may be a problem for Amazon. Folks won't see it at their local electronics store, or at Barnes & Noble. The only public space where Kindle will be used will be airports, planes and trains. And we know the good vibes airports generate. The price is just high enough that most people are going to want to see it and touch it, before parting with their money. Without some physical marketing outlets, I think they may have a problem. Electronic books also take an important social element out of reading. How many people on this list swap paperback leisure reading? Some books I own, but with many books I just visit. You can't do that with Kindle. On the plus side, I think its smart not to have any monthly bills attached to it. And the long battery life and variable font sizes are important as well. It certainly was a bold move on the part of Amazon. I would love it if it could boost leisure reading in this country, but I'm skeptical at this point. Katy Kathryn K. Silberger Automation Resources Librarian James A. Cannavino Library Marist College 3399 North Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Kathryn.Silberger@marist.edu (845) 575-3000 x.2419 "Richard Wiggins" To Sent by: "Roy Tennant" web4lib-bounces@w cc ebjunction.org web4lib Subject Re: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle 11/20/2007 11:11 e-book reader AM I haven't seen a Kindle so I do not claim that it is the embodiment of the sweet spot for the e-book. I have bought more handheld devices than you've bought coffee this month, and most failed to live up to the hype. But past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future failure. The price, today, is virtually irrelevant. It is common for products to launch with prices much higher than the eventual street price. Look at, ahem, the iPhone, for example. It is in Amazon's interest to practically give the thing away since they will follow the model of HP toner and Gilette razor blades ultimately. (HP makes 1/3 of its revenue on ink.) Avid readers will make up the cost of the device by buying books at less than 1/2 the cost of print editions. Setting aside the price, if the screen is readable and the battery life lives up to the claims, there are a lot of people that would be THRILLED to carry around 200 books in a 10 ounce package. The iPhone is wonderful, marvelous, truly amazing technology. Several friends and colleagues swear by theirs. Maybe younger eyes will read books on them, but the presbyopics among us need more screen space. /rich PS -- Geez, Roy, if you want to debate the postscript, fine, but don't lead with that rebuttal. :-) On Nov 20, 2007 10:24 AM, Roy Tennant wrote: > It's nice that Jeff Bezos is such a nice guy. That and $3.40 (in > California, > at least) will buy him a cup of coffee. The question is whether the Kindle > has a life. I still think it doesn't. > > It gets kudos for the display that can be seen in sunlight and long > battery > life. But I don't think those qualities are enough to overcome that you've > just spent $400 on something that only reads books. The device to which I > was alluding earlier was not a PC of any kind, but the iPhone. The iPhone > makes the Kindle look like last century's technology in a couple key ways. > One is simply the "wow" factor. I'm sorry, but I think the Kindle looks > dorky. If I'm not the only one, then who is going to want to be seen > carrying it around? > > The other reason is more substantive. First Blackberries and now the > iPhone > have demonstrated the kind of unification of functions that has been > predicted for many years -- you will no longer have a PDA and a phone and > a > music player and perhaps even a laptop as separate devices -- they would > be > all one. And the fact that the same amount of money will buy you either a > book reading device or a phone and a music player and a web browser and a > ...makes the Kindle a complete non-starter in my book (sorry for the pun). > And to think folks were complaining about the price of the iPhone. > Roy > > > On 11/20/07 6:49 AM, "Richard Wiggins" wrote: > > > Did anyone listen to Jeff Bezos pitch the product on All Things > Considered > > last night? The npr.org Web site is undergoing a serious meltdown right > > now, serving up broken links and content from 2005, but it's worth a > > listen. Bezos gently chided a blogger who dismissed the new device > based on > > a fuzzy photo in an FCC filing. > > > > One of the key points he made was that the display technology is a kind > of > > electronic ink, not like the backlit LCD displays on the $400 laptops > that > > Roy alludes to. It uses very little power; it can last a week without > > recharge if you're not downloading using the Wi-Fi. > > > > I think it's useful to think of the history of the PDA. The Newton was > a > > disaster; Doonesbury even made fun of its handwriting recognition. > Millions > > of us actually tried to learn another form of handwriting when wrestling > > with our Palm Pilots. It took Treos, Blackberries, and now iPhones for > the > > PDA to really come into its own. But it eventually did. > > > > I think there is no doubt that the purpose-specific e-book will come > into > > its own as well, and I think people who nay-say it without seeing it, > > touching it, feeling it, and using it will someday look foolish. They > may > > not look foolish with this attempt, but someday they will. > > > > The only development that I see derailing that possibility is a Star > Trek: > > Next Generation level of tablet, weighing the same as the Amazon device, > > using equivalent display technology, costing no more, and as easy to use > for > > the purpose of reading books. > > > > /rich > > > > PS -- I am biased here because in 1997 when SLA was in Seattle, Jeff > Bezos > > spoke at the conference. A room of 200 librarians interacted with him, > and > > gave him suggestions. Unfailingly he said "that's a great idea, let me > take > > that back" and he seemed to mean it. Afterwards he consented to an > > interview with me. He spent much more time than a guy who'd already > been on > > the cover of national magazines needed to, and he arranged for a > separate > > visit for my wife and me to Amazon HQ. He is truly a nice guy, probably > the > > nicest CEO you'll ever encounter. I wish him the best. See: > > http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue6_5/wiggins/ > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From FelkerK at wlu.edu Tue Nov 20 15:39:35 2007 From: FelkerK at wlu.edu (Kyle Felker) Date: Tue Nov 20 15:39:57 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <20071120183013.41AAC189AE6@lists.webjunction.org> References: <20071120183013.41AAC189AE6@lists.webjunction.org> Message-ID: <4742FFB5.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> >I think there is no doubt that the purpose-specific e-book will come into >its own as well, and I think people who nay-say it without seeing it, >touching it, feeling it, and using it will someday look foolish. They may >not look foolish with this attempt, but someday they will. Um, I don't see people here saying that consumer ebooks are not viable. I want them so bad I can taste it. But *this* product, *this* service model, *this* way of distributing them...it's not going to work. At least, I hope people are smart enough to realize the shortcomings of a proprietary file format completely tied to one device. Please [deity] help them if they are not. Kindle can be a bonehead move without invalidating the entire concept of consumer ebooks. It just means nobody has done it right *yet*. >Has anyone mentioned selling these to libraries yet? I'm not sure >they're set up for it?you can't take the book off it or move it >between them, can you? The device has a USB port and also has support for SD cards. So yes, you can move the content around. It won't do you much good, though...the content is in a proprietary format and is DRMed, so it can only be read on the Kindle. >It's the DRM that they're putting in there, and the fact that they're >artificially limiting it. It's EVDO, which is not WiFi, so expect to >pay a monthly fee just to have the wireless connection. To be fair, the Kindle documentation states that a "lifetime membership" to whispernet is included in the purchase price. And I still think it's too expensive. Kindle documentation link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200127470 > I don't know if anyone reads John Gruber's blog, but he's got a great > post about Kindle. > > http://daringfireball.net/2007/11/dum Oh how I wish Amazon had adopted some of the alternate business models Gruber suggests! I would be bouncing off the walls about Kindle if it were less expensive, and the kindle version came free with every print book you ordered! They could DRM it into oblivion then and I wouldn't give two hoots. I might even be willing to pay a nominal fee on top of the purchase cost of the book if it got me the digital version as well. I could pay extra for books I like to travel with. -Kyle ********************************************** Kyle Felker Technology Coordinator Washington and Lee University Library Phone: 540-458-8653 Email: felkerk@wlu.edu Chat: geeklibrary (aol) techbookgeek (yahoo) ********************************************* From jessica.hess at gmail.com Tue Nov 20 15:41:31 2007 From: jessica.hess at gmail.com (Jessica Hess) Date: Tue Nov 20 15:41:36 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <4743426B.4090505@leoklein.com> References: <25973749.697341195585773066.JavaMail.root@zimbra1.desu.edu> <4743426B.4090505@leoklein.com> Message-ID: <78b9d8300711201241u5672b0bau1cd8c0acc0ec5f01@mail.gmail.com> On Nov 20, 2007 3:24 PM, Leo Robert Klein wrote: > > > At the moment all we have to compare the thing to is what we know from > similar or competing devices. > > The Kindle isn't being released in a vacuum. There's no reason to act > as if it were. Actually, does anyone have a list or comparison-blog or something of the different readers that are out there? Or is searching Engadget the only real way to compare, right now? -- Jessica Hess From FelkerK at wlu.edu Tue Nov 20 16:09:58 2007 From: FelkerK at wlu.edu (Kyle Felker) Date: Tue Nov 20 16:10:10 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader References: <20071120183013.41AAC189AE6@lists.webjunction.org> <4742F5EF.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> <78b9d8300711201227nc3e297bgaaa9fd463bdb8c69@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <474306D5.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> ********************************************** Kyle Felker Technology Coordinator Washington and Lee University Library Phone: 540-458-8653 Email: felkerk@wlu.edu Chat: geeklibrary (aol) techbookgeek (yahoo) ********************************************* >>> "Jessica Hess" 11/20/2007 3:27 PM >>> On Nov 20, 2007 2:57 PM, Kyle Felker wrote: > >> What the consumer ebook market needs is an ebook >> version of the MP3 file format: something that's supported by the >> majority of the ebook reader hardware, and in which most content can be >> obtained or easily converted to. >If only there were a mailing list full of librarians, many of whom >knew how to program ... >;) Actually, there are already perfectly good formats designed for or readily adaptable to ebooks that are open, easy to parse, and DRM free. RTF, for example. Or IDPF. The reason publishers come up with their own is not because there aren't good, freely available formats, it's that they want complete control over how and where and on what their content gets used and viewed, and that means a format that incorporates DRM and can only be read on one platform. They are designing this incompatability in *on purpose*. >I understand that that's not the only hurdle. But, you know, just >sayin': librarians could make this idea take off. I so wish this were true, but it comes down to the fact that the content is legally and practically in control of the publishers and authors. Creating a universal, open e-book format is *easy*, in fact it's *already been done*, but getting publishers and distributors to *all use* it...that's the hurdle. We'd need the clout of, for example, Apple in the digital music marketplace, and I don't think we have that. Or, we could change the business model, as someone else suggested. Make ebooks a fun extra that you get with the printed book. Then it's not a replacement for the physical volume, and it's okay that the use is restricted. -Kyle From listuser at chillco.com Tue Nov 20 16:21:09 2007 From: listuser at chillco.com (Cary Gordon) Date: Tue Nov 20 16:21:16 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <22081AFA-5F53-4142-8915-0369B811C690@chillco.com> Hallelujah! I am sure they wanted to, but I guess that the Trabant designer had more time available. Actually, I am just waiting for the Kindle to come out in gerund format, then sign me up. Cary Gordon, MLS The Cherry Hill Company http://www.chillco.com On Nov 20, 2007, at 12:31 PM, Kathryn Silberger wrote: > One of my first reactions to Kindle was that Bezos should have > hired an > Apple designer. From larry.campbell at ubc.ca Tue Nov 20 16:30:20 2007 From: larry.campbell at ubc.ca (Larry Campbell) Date: Tue Nov 20 16:30:25 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <20071120151845.AUT21387@mozart.merit.edu> References: <20071120151845.AUT21387@mozart.merit.edu> Message-ID: <474351EC.5090300@ubc.ca> I haven't noticed those "equal amounts praise and criticism" in this thread, though it's not been entirely one-sided. It may well be, of course, that Amazon simply doesn't know what it's doing, hasn't researched its market or the history of similar devices, and doesn't know how to sell hardware. On the other hand, it may be that they do. Without doubt, they're taking a risk, however calculated. Based on what I've read so far, in any case, the Kindle looks interesting, primarily because of the wireless subscription aspect, which I haven't heard of in similar devices before. As I understand it, and contrary to one comment in this thread, the cost of the wireless access itself is borne by Amazon. Contrary to another comment, the price of the downloaded books themselves is (usually) substantially below print prices. And contrary to a third comment, the device will display html as well as other formats, besides the proprietary format used for the material Amazon sells. Since one of the chief appeals of these sorts of readers, to my mind, is that they make accessible the huge and steadily growing mass of freely available etext, on a device that's more manageable than a laptop and more readable than a Palm/Blackberry/cellphone, etc., that last aspect is critical. Add that to the ability to port around a substantial library, markup text and still leave it pristine, search across whole works or whole collections, among other advantages, and you can begin to see why people continue to be willing to take risks with these gadgets. Larry Campbell Librarian, Information Systems and Technology UBC Library Andrew Mutch wrote: >Matt, > >In fairness, I would say that there's been equal amounts praise and criticism of the Kindle reader. Still, based on the feedback I've read so far from people who've actually used it, I would say it has some serious shortcomings. In some ways, Amazon Reader sounds like a step back from the previous readers which is quite a feat. You also have to remember that over their history, e-book promoters and sellers have overhyped and underdelivered on their products in a way that is hard to match in the technology world. Every one of them has been a commercial failure. So any new product coming forward promising to replace the book should be greeted with skepticism. It's unfortunate that Amazon hasn't managed to learn from the fate of past e-book readers (clunky interfaces, proprietary formats, over priced content) as their size might have allowed them to overcome the obstacles that other e-book producers have faced. But I feel safe in saying that the Kindle Reader is definitely not the "next new thing" and in a couple of years, you'll be able to get them for a steep discount at Amazon. > >Andrew Mutch >Library Systems Technician >Waterford Township Public Library >Waterford, MI > > >---- Original message ---- > > >>Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:09:33 -0500 (EST) >>From: "Matthew J. Simon" >>Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader >>To: web4lib@webjunction.org >> >> >> >>I am surprised by the negativity I have read about this promising new product. I would hope that at a few people on this board actually try it out before damning it. I travel frequently, on business and for pleasure. And by the time I pack my laptop, my overnight bag, my yummy lunch or snack for the plane, remember my coat, keys, and envelope of boarding passes, hotel reservations, discount coupons for off-airport long term parking, etc., my choice of reading material has been severely limited by my capacity to shoulder weight. >> >>The mewling about the initial cost is pathetic and ill-informed about the diminishing price of maturing technologies. If you want it, but think you can't afford it, amortize the expense over a two or a three year period. And it will come out to a couple of bucks a week--or less than a Starbucks Grande. And if you still think you can't hack it, wait a year or two and order it from J&R Electronics. Or Amazon. Or trade for the one owned by the kid down the block. He or she will already have moved on to Wave II or III. >> >>M. J. Simon >> >> >_______________________________________________ >Web4lib mailing list >Web4lib@webjunction.org >http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > > From gagnew at rci.rutgers.edu Tue Nov 20 16:43:38 2007 From: gagnew at rci.rutgers.edu (Grace J. Agnew) Date: Tue Nov 20 16:43:43 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4743550A.20207@rci.rutgers.edu> I also would like to see more of an effort on the part of e-book promoters to stratify their markets and take more of a "niche" approach than a "one size fits all" approach. University and college textbooks are a niche market that would really benefit from an e-book approach, particularly an approach that let a faculty member annotate a reading, associate readings and assignments with each chapter, and enabled students to share notes and discussion within the e-book. It would also allow students to carry all their textbooks on a single device. It should therefore interface with CMS technologies such as WebCT/Blackboard and Sakai. Textbooks are an expensive and ungainly process currently. E-books could really streamline textbooks and bring some of the best aspects of distance education into the physical classroom. And not just for universities, but for K20. I buy paperback copies of books I love for tub reading. I have a whole shelf of tub reading. There is no greater pleasure after a rough day than a steaming bath, a glass of wine and a book. I also have an idiosyncratic habit of a book for every room. There's the book (usually professional reading) waiting for me in the living room, the aforementioned tub book, and the book by my bedside that I read until I am sleepy and that I can read in the morning to help me wake up and focus. I like to pick up my chosen books in each room, and not carry one device around with me. Perhaps the e-book reader exists to solve the room issue but until an e-book solves the tub problem, there is one niche market (even if I am a niche of one!) that they won't conquer. Grace Agnew Kathryn Silberger wrote: > One of my first reactions to Kindle was that Bezos should have hired an > Apple designer. I feel sort of shallow for reacting that way, but there > you have it. You said, "I don't see how I could embrace the Kindle without > seeing it. Nor do I see how you can dismiss it without seeing it." I > think that may be a problem for Amazon. Folks won't see it at their local > electronics store, or at Barnes & Noble. The only public space where > Kindle will be used will be airports, planes and trains. And we know the > good vibes airports generate. The price is just high enough that most > people are going to want to see it and touch it, before parting with their > money. Without some physical marketing outlets, I think they may have a > problem. > > Electronic books also take an important social element out of reading. How > many people on this list swap paperback leisure reading? Some books I own, > but with many books I just visit. You can't do that with Kindle. > > On the plus side, I think its smart not to have any monthly bills attached > to it. And the long battery life and variable font sizes are important as > well. It certainly was a bold move on the part of Amazon. I would love it > if it could boost leisure reading in this country, but I'm skeptical at > this point. > > > Katy > > Kathryn K. Silberger > Automation Resources Librarian > James A. Cannavino Library > Marist College > 3399 North Road > Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 > Kathryn.Silberger@marist.edu > (845) 575-3000 x.2419 > > > > "Richard Wiggins" > gmail.com> To > Sent by: "Roy Tennant" > web4lib-bounces@w cc > ebjunction.org web4lib > Subject > Re: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle > 11/20/2007 11:11 e-book reader > AM > > > > > > > > > > I haven't seen a Kindle so I do not claim that it is the embodiment of the > sweet spot for the e-book. I have bought more handheld devices than you've > bought coffee this month, and most failed to live up to the hype. But past > performance is not necessarily an indicator of future failure. > > > > The price, today, is virtually irrelevant. It is common for products to > launch with prices much higher than the eventual street price. Look at, > ahem, the iPhone, for example. It is in Amazon's interest to practically > give the thing away since they will follow the model of HP toner and > Gilette > razor blades ultimately. (HP makes 1/3 of its revenue on ink.) Avid > readers will make up the cost of the device by buying books at less than > 1/2 > the cost of print editions. > > Setting aside the price, if the screen is readable and the battery life > lives up to the claims, there are a lot of people that would be THRILLED > to carry around 200 books in a 10 ounce package. > > The iPhone is wonderful, marvelous, truly amazing technology. Several > friends and colleagues swear by theirs. Maybe younger eyes will read books > on them, but the presbyopics among us need more screen space. > > /rich > > PS -- > > Geez, Roy, if you want to debate the postscript, fine, but don't lead with > that rebuttal. :-) > > On Nov 20, 2007 10:24 AM, Roy Tennant wrote: > > >> It's nice that Jeff Bezos is such a nice guy. That and $3.40 (in >> California, >> at least) will buy him a cup of coffee. The question is whether the >> > Kindle > >> has a life. I still think it doesn't. >> >> It gets kudos for the display that can be seen in sunlight and long >> battery >> life. But I don't think those qualities are enough to overcome that >> > you've > >> just spent $400 on something that only reads books. The device to which I >> was alluding earlier was not a PC of any kind, but the iPhone. The iPhone >> makes the Kindle look like last century's technology in a couple key >> > ways. > >> One is simply the "wow" factor. I'm sorry, but I think the Kindle looks >> dorky. If I'm not the only one, then who is going to want to be seen >> carrying it around? >> >> The other reason is more substantive. First Blackberries and now the >> iPhone >> have demonstrated the kind of unification of functions that has been >> predicted for many years -- you will no longer have a PDA and a phone and >> a >> music player and perhaps even a laptop as separate devices -- they would >> be >> all one. And the fact that the same amount of money will buy you either a >> book reading device or a phone and a music player and a web browser and a >> ...makes the Kindle a complete non-starter in my book (sorry for the >> > pun). > >> And to think folks were complaining about the price of the iPhone. >> Roy >> >> >> On 11/20/07 6:49 AM, "Richard Wiggins" wrote: >> >> >>> Did anyone listen to Jeff Bezos pitch the product on All Things >>> >> Considered >> >>> last night? The npr.org Web site is undergoing a serious meltdown >>> > right > >>> now, serving up broken links and content from 2005, but it's worth a >>> listen. Bezos gently chided a blogger who dismissed the new device >>> >> based on >> >>> a fuzzy photo in an FCC filing. >>> >>> One of the key points he made was that the display technology is a kind >>> >> of >> >>> electronic ink, not like the backlit LCD displays on the $400 laptops >>> >> that >> >>> Roy alludes to. It uses very little power; it can last a week without >>> recharge if you're not downloading using the Wi-Fi. >>> >>> I think it's useful to think of the history of the PDA. The Newton was >>> >> a >> >>> disaster; Doonesbury even made fun of its handwriting recognition. >>> >> Millions >> >>> of us actually tried to learn another form of handwriting when >>> > wrestling > >>> with our Palm Pilots. It took Treos, Blackberries, and now iPhones for >>> >> the >> >>> PDA to really come into its own. But it eventually did. >>> >>> I think there is no doubt that the purpose-specific e-book will come >>> >> into >> >>> its own as well, and I think people who nay-say it without seeing it, >>> touching it, feeling it, and using it will someday look foolish. They >>> >> may >> >>> not look foolish with this attempt, but someday they will. >>> >>> The only development that I see derailing that possibility is a Star >>> >> Trek: >> >>> Next Generation level of tablet, weighing the same as the Amazon >>> > device, > >>> using equivalent display technology, costing no more, and as easy to >>> > use > >> for >> >>> the purpose of reading books. >>> >>> /rich >>> >>> PS -- I am biased here because in 1997 when SLA was in Seattle, Jeff >>> >> Bezos >> >>> spoke at the conference. A room of 200 librarians interacted with him, >>> >> and >> >>> gave him suggestions. Unfailingly he said "that's a great idea, let me >>> >> take >> >>> that back" and he seemed to mean it. Afterwards he consented to an >>> interview with me. He spent much more time than a guy who'd already >>> >> been on >> >>> the cover of national magazines needed to, and he arranged for a >>> >> separate >> >>> visit for my wife and me to Amazon HQ. He is truly a nice guy, >>> > probably > >> the >> >>> nicest CEO you'll ever encounter. I wish him the best. See: >>> http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue6_5/wiggins/ >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Web4lib mailing list >> Web4lib@webjunction.org >> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ >> >> > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > -- ________________________________________________________________ Grace Agnew Associate University Librarian for Digital Library Systems Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey Library Technical Services Building 47 Davidson Road Piscataway, NJ 08854-5603 gagnew@rci.rutgers.edu PH: (732) 445-5908 FAX: (732) 445-5888 From PONSLM at UCMAIL.UC.EDU Tue Nov 20 16:51:55 2007 From: PONSLM at UCMAIL.UC.EDU (Pons, Lisa (ponslm)) Date: Tue Nov 20 16:52:01 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <474351EC.5090300@ubc.ca> Message-ID: Well said! > -----Original Message----- > From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org > [mailto:web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Larry Campbell > Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 4:30 PM > To: Andrew Mutch > Cc: web4lib@webjunction.org > Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader > > > I haven't noticed those "equal amounts praise and criticism" > in this thread, though it's not been entirely one-sided. It > may well be, of course, that Amazon simply doesn't know what > it's doing, hasn't researched its market or the history of > similar devices, and doesn't know how to sell hardware. On > the other hand, it may be that they do. > Without doubt, they're taking a risk, however calculated. > > Based on what I've read so far, in any case, the Kindle looks > interesting, primarily because of the wireless subscription > aspect, which I haven't heard of in similar devices before. > As I understand it, and contrary to one comment in this > thread, the cost of the wireless access itself is borne by > Amazon. Contrary to another comment, the price of the > downloaded books themselves is (usually) substantially below > print prices. And contrary to a third comment, the device > will display html as well as other formats, besides the > proprietary format used for the material Amazon sells. Since > one of the chief appeals of these sorts of readers, to my > mind, is that they make accessible the huge and steadily > growing mass of freely available etext, on a device that's > more manageable than a laptop and more readable than a > Palm/Blackberry/cellphone, etc., that last aspect is > critical. Add that to the ability to port around a > substantial library, markup text and still leave it pristine, > search across whole works or whole collections, among other > advantages, and you can begin to see why people continue to > be willing to take risks with these gadgets. > > Larry Campbell > Librarian, Information Systems and Technology UBC Library > > Andrew Mutch wrote: > > >Matt, > > > >In fairness, I would say that there's been equal amounts > praise and criticism of the Kindle reader. Still, based on > the feedback I've read so far from people who've actually > used it, I would say it has some serious shortcomings. In > some ways, Amazon Reader sounds like a step back from the > previous readers which is quite a feat. You also have to > remember that over their history, e-book promoters and > sellers have overhyped and underdelivered on their products > in a way that is hard to match in the technology world. Every > one of them has been a commercial failure. So any new product > coming forward promising to replace the book should be > greeted with skepticism. It's unfortunate that Amazon hasn't > managed to learn from the fate of past e-book readers (clunky > interfaces, proprietary formats, over priced content) as > their size might have allowed them to overcome the obstacles > that other e-book producers have faced. But I feel safe in > saying that the Kindle Reader is definitely not the "next new > thing" and in a couple of years, you'll be able to get them > for a steep discount at Amazon. > > > >Andrew Mutch > >Library Systems Technician > >Waterford Township Public Library > >Waterford, MI > > > > > >---- Original message ---- > > > > > >>Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:09:33 -0500 (EST) > >>From: "Matthew J. Simon" > >>Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader > >>To: web4lib@webjunction.org > >> > >> > >> > >>I am surprised by the negativity I have read about this > promising new product. I would hope that at a few people on > this board actually try it out before damning it. I travel > frequently, on business and for pleasure. And by the time I > pack my laptop, my overnight bag, my yummy lunch or snack for > the plane, remember my coat, keys, and envelope of boarding > passes, hotel reservations, discount coupons for off-airport > long term parking, etc., my choice of reading material has > been severely limited by my capacity to shoulder weight. > >> > >>The mewling about the initial cost is pathetic and > ill-informed about the diminishing price of maturing > technologies. If you want it, but think you can't afford it, > amortize the expense over a two or a three year period. And > it will come out to a couple of bucks a week--or less than a > Starbucks Grande. And if you still think you can't hack it, > wait a year or two and order it from J&R Electronics. Or > Amazon. Or trade for the one owned by the kid down the > block. He or she will already have moved on to Wave II or III. > >> > >>M. J. Simon > >> > >> > >_______________________________________________ > >Web4lib mailing list > >Web4lib@webjunction.org > >http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > From robert.g.sullivan at gmail.com Tue Nov 20 17:02:14 2007 From: robert.g.sullivan at gmail.com (Robert Sullivan) Date: Tue Nov 20 17:02:19 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <474351EC.5090300@ubc.ca> References: <20071120151845.AUT21387@mozart.merit.edu> <474351EC.5090300@ubc.ca> Message-ID: <32c265400711201402x6a998ed0s8399786b90c3068e@mail.gmail.com> > print prices. And contrary to a third comment, the device will display > html as well as other formats, besides the proprietary format used for > the material Amazon sells. Since one of the chief appeals of these sorts > of readers, to my mind, is that they make accessible the huge and > steadily growing mass of freely available etext, on a device that's more > manageable than a laptop and more readable than a > Palm/Blackberry/cellphone, etc., that last aspect is critical. Add that I looked at the Basic Web documentation: but did not see anything about CSS support. Has anyone heard anything about that? -- Bob Sullivan Schenectady Digital History Archive Schenectady County (NY) Public Library From waltcrawford at gmail.com Tue Nov 20 17:54:22 2007 From: waltcrawford at gmail.com (Walt Crawford) Date: Tue Nov 20 17:54:25 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Cites & Insights 7:13 available In-Reply-To: <2059346849-1463747838-1195597613@boing.topica.com> References: <2059346849-1463747838-1195597613@boing.topica.com> Message-ID: <1dc292630711201454r3281bb52r1901f2208febc90d@mail.gmail.com> Cites & Insights 7:13, December 2007, is now available for downloading at http://citesandinsights.info/civ7i13.pdf This 22-page issue--PDF as usual, but each essay is also available at http://citesandinsights.info is another All-Perspectives Issue: * Bibs & Blather Perspective: On Charting New Courses In which I write off five decades in library automation with a 1.5-page non-memoir, summarize the start of an ongoing career in another 1.5 pages, and discuss new directions and what they may mean for the near-term future of Cites & Insights. * Following Up: On the Literature Various threads on the state of the professional literature of librarianship. * Trends & Quick Takes Perspective: On Shoes and Ships and Sealing Wax With the help of Charles Lutwidge Dodson, a baker's dozen assorted mini-perspectives. * Making it Work Perspective: On the Middle If you're not 100% with us, you're against us. If you believe that to be true, you should just skip this essay altogether. NOTE: While this is the final issue for 2007, it is not the end of Volume 7. There will be the usual volume index and title sheet, for those who might be binding C&I as a print publication. When? Hard to say; see Walt at Random for reasons why. - From richard.wiggins at gmail.com Tue Nov 20 22:17:39 2007 From: richard.wiggins at gmail.com (Richard Wiggins) Date: Tue Nov 20 22:17:43 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Roy, You are kind, and I am not a gentleman, at least not in this regard. I held that arrow in my quiver. :-) And of course the jury remains out on Google Books and the various digitization projects that unfolded since our first debate on the subject of digitizing all the books in a major library -- back in 2001 believe it or not. Steve Levy, who wrote the Newsweek piece discussed in this thread, was on NPR's "Day to Day" and with another guest, a man of letters whose name I did not catch. Levy dominated. Our friend of letters sailed forth with the dangers of the hyperlink and how it had ruined reading in the land, and begged for someone to defend the citadel of the book. He called himself a Luddite. He was. Levy made a simple point. Computers are 50 years old. They used to fill rooms (and I add, they didn't have GUIs). Within 50 years, e-books will be a dominant form of reading books. Whether that's embodied in a specialized device or a tablet PC of some sort, isn't the point. The only question is when, not whether. Levy pointed out that as an author of 6 books, he wants his readers' undivided attention. But whether he achieves that depends on his words, not on the medium. As for Leo's argument as to whether special-purpose devices have a place in this world, good grief, isn't that settled by now? This year I bought a combo blender / food processor. It's a competent blender and weak as food processor. Multi-purpose devices are seldom the choice for all purposes. Cell phone cameras serve social networking needs, not fine photography desires. This month I was in Barcelona with three cameras: a 1 megapixel cell phone camera, and two Canon cameras at about the same megapixel rating, an SD-1000 that is smaller than a pack of cigarettes, and an EOS Rebel XT that is a digital SLR. Guess what? I didn't use the cell camera, because the results are too low quality. I left the SLR in the hotel safe, because it's too big to carry around. I took over 500 photos with the pocket camera, which has the same image processor as its cousin D-SLR, and good enough glass for the purpose. If the device serves a purpose, people will adopt it, and they will use it. Here's the analogy. A PDA or iPhone is too small to comfortably read books. A laptop is too heavy and too slow to boot and too general purpose to serve as a pure reading machine. I won't ever read a book on an iPhone screen, and youir laptop is slow to boot into your reader app. Yes, Leo, color matters, and could be a killer. Yes, maybe the Kindle is a niche device. But it could be a large niche, and it could pave the way to the real killer e-book readers. /rich PS -- Roy, my photos from Barcelona are at: http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2086582725 This is the soon to be late and lamented Sony Imagestation site, shutting down in 73 days due to lack of a business model. Please feel free to rebut my arguments, or my photos, as you wish. :-) On Nov 20, 2007 11:54 AM, Roy Tennant wrote: > By the way, since Rich and I seem to be getting into a friendly debate > again, for those of you keeping score at home the record from the past > when > we have disagreed is Richard: 1, Me: 0. We debated at Computers in > Libraries > and elsewhere over whether a library such as the Library of Congress would > or could ever be fully digitized. I took the side that it would not. Sure, > back then we had no idea that billions of someone else?s dollars would be > burning a hole in Google?s pocket, but nonetheless I was wrong. So keep > that > in mind as you choose up sides. I was wrong once and will be wrong again ? > it?s anyone?s guess as to whether this is one of those times. ;-) In any > case, I assume you simply absorb all the information and arguments and > decide for yourself, as is right and proper. > > Meanwhile, Richard is too much the gentleman to point out the above facts. > And I?ll try to be more gentlemanly next time and not lead with a rebuttal > to a postscript. ;-) > Roy > > > On 11/20/07 8:11 AM, "Richard Wiggins" wrote: > > > I haven't seen a Kindle so I do not claim that it is the embodiment of > the > > sweet spot for the e-book. I have bought more handheld devices than > you've > > bought coffee this month, and most failed to live up to the hype. But > past > > performance is not necessarily an indicator of future failure. > > > > I don't see how I could embrace the Kindle without seeing it. Nor do I > see > > how you can dismiss it without seeing it. > > > > The price, today, is virtually irrelevant. It is common for products to > > launch with prices much higher than the eventual street price. Look at, > ahem, > > the iPhone, for example. It is in Amazon's interest to practically give > the > > thing away since they will follow the model of HP toner and Gilette > razor > > blades ultimately. (HP makes 1/3 of its revenue on ink.) Avid readers > will > > make up the cost of the device by buying books at less than 1/2 the cost > of > > print editions. > > > > Setting aside the price, if the screen is readable and the battery life > lives > > up to the claims, there are a lot of people that would be THRILLED to > carry > > around 200 books in a 10 ounce package. > > > > The iPhone is wonderful, marvelous, truly amazing technology. Several > friends > > and colleagues swear by theirs. Maybe younger eyes will read books on > them, > > but the presbyopics among us need more screen space. > > > > /rich > > > > PS -- > > > > Geez, Roy, if you want to debate the postscript, fine, but don't lead > with > > that rebuttal. :-) > > > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > From ras at anzio.com Tue Nov 20 23:01:09 2007 From: ras at anzio.com (Bob Rasmussen) Date: Tue Nov 20 23:02:06 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I have enjoyed reading the well thought out comments. Obviously there are many factors that will play in to the success (or not) of these products. I'd like to talk about the technologies involved. The Amazon device sounds like it has a bistable monochrome screen. If so, that makes it like the Sony Reader, a device you can see at the Sony Style store in your local mall. An intriguing aspect of these is that the screen consumes no power while it is static. It requires power only to "turn the page". It is monochrome, however. As are most paperback books. Another technology to watch is Organic Light Emitting Doides (OLEDs). These are full-color devices; in fact, with very vibrant colors. They can be produced on flexible plastic substrate, and they consume low power. Imagine an e-book that you unroll to read. (I know, you could call them ScrOLEDs). Finally, there has been some work on very tiny projectors. Image a cell phone or PDA, standing up on a tabletop, projecting an image of a book page onto a plain white piece of paper. But I still want books with moving pictures, like in the Harry Potter movies. It could happen... Regards, ....Bob Rasmussen, President, Rasmussen Software, Inc. personal e-mail: ras@anzio.com company e-mail: rsi@anzio.com voice: (US) 503-624-0360 (9:00-6:00 Pacific Time) fax: (US) 503-624-0760 web: http://www.anzio.com From amutch at waterford.lib.mi.us Tue Nov 20 23:20:11 2007 From: amutch at waterford.lib.mi.us (Andrew Mutch) Date: Tue Nov 20 23:20:14 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader Message-ID: <20071120232011.AUT69599@mozart.merit.edu> Rich, The problem with your analogy is that the e-book reader is a problem in search of a solution. You made the point yourself: "If the device serves a purpose, people will adopt it, and they will use it." So what purposes does an e-book reader serve that isn't fulfilled by the good old fashioned book? Is it cheaper? No. Is it more portable? For the vast majority of titles - No. Is it sturdier? No. Is it easier to read? No. Is it longer lasting? No. Does it have a longer "battery" life? Of course not and no electronic device is likely ever to match the book in this regard in the short or long-term. E-book readers keep coming up short both as technology and as a business model because they are trying to replace a product that works with one that doesn't work as well. We all know that the best product doesn't always win out. But outside of technophiles who want to digitize their entire libraries and carry them around with them wherever they go, how many users in the consumer market will this appeal to? I'm not going to say that there's no place for something like the Kindle Reader. But as it has been, I think it's a very niche product. In an earlier comment, someone alluded to the fact that if it was Amazon who produced this, it must have been thoroughly researched. But after seeing several generations of these products and their inherent shortcomings, I'm convinced that whatever market research has been done, it hasn't included very much with the people who come into our libraries every day and check out the books that we buy for our collections. Amazon might know best the people who buy books but I'm not sure that they know best the people who read books. If Amazon or the next e-book manufacturer spent 3 months watching and talking to patrons at public libraries large and small, I think they would come to some very different conclusions about what readers want from an e-book reader. Lest anyone think I'm anti e-book reader, I'm not. I think there is a place for them but I think the people who have been making them, and this includes Amazon's Kindle Reader, are pretty clueless about the best application of this technology. Grace Agnew touched on one application that seems a no-brainer for e-books - college (and high school) textbooks. Bob Rasmussen touched on another one - the interactive story book. Many public libraries offer such titles on their children's computers where a child can have a popular children's story read to them, or read along with it or interact with the characters in various ways. This is the perfect combination of book and technology where the e-reader can really deliver what the printed book does not - sound, motion and interactivity. Load up a full color reader with sound and basic interface controls and a dozen children's titles and you could have a holiday hit on your hand. But the e-book manufacturers aren't interested in such ni! che markets. They have their eyes on the big dollars that would come with convincing the James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell readers to set aside their hardcovers and paperbacks and settle back for an e-read (just as long as the battery stayed charge). Until they start to understand who reads what and why they do, I think we'll be destined to a line of "next great things" that will become relics sitting gathering dust in the basement (anyone interested in a REB1100? Hardly ever used) Andrew Mutch Library Systems Technician Waterford Township Public Library Waterford, MI ---- Original message ---- >Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:17:39 -0500 >From: "Richard Wiggins" >Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader >To: "Roy Tennant" >Cc: web4lib > >Roy, > >You are kind, and I am not a gentleman, at least not in this regard. I held >that arrow in my quiver. :-) > >And of course the jury remains out on Google Books and the various >digitization projects that unfolded since our first debate on the subject >of digitizing all the books in a major library -- back in 2001 believe it or >not. > >Steve Levy, who wrote the Newsweek piece discussed in this thread, was on >NPR's "Day to Day" and with another guest, a man of letters whose name I did >not catch. Levy dominated. Our friend of letters sailed forth with the >dangers of the hyperlink and how it had ruined reading in the land, and >begged for someone to defend the citadel of the book. He called himself a >Luddite. He was. > >Levy made a simple point. Computers are 50 years old. They used to fill >rooms (and I add, they didn't have GUIs). Within 50 years, e-books will be >a dominant form of reading books. Whether that's embodied in a specialized >device or a tablet PC of some sort, isn't the point. The only question is >when, not whether. > >Levy pointed out that as an author of 6 books, he wants his readers' >undivided attention. But whether he achieves that depends on his words, not >on the medium. > >As for Leo's argument as to whether special-purpose devices have a place in >this world, good grief, isn't that settled by now? This year I bought a >combo blender / food processor. It's a competent blender and weak as food >processor. Multi-purpose devices are seldom the choice for all purposes. >Cell phone cameras serve social networking needs, not fine photography >desires. > >This month I was in Barcelona with three cameras: a 1 megapixel cell phone >camera, and two Canon cameras at about the same megapixel rating, an SD-1000 >that is smaller than a pack of cigarettes, and an EOS Rebel XT that is a >digital SLR. > >Guess what? I didn't use the cell camera, because the results are too low >quality. I left the SLR in the hotel safe, because it's too big to carry >around. I took over 500 photos with the pocket camera, which has the same >image processor as its cousin D-SLR, and good enough glass for the purpose. >If the device serves a purpose, people will adopt it, and they will use it. > > >Here's the analogy. A PDA or iPhone is too small to comfortably read >books. A laptop is too heavy and too slow to boot and too general purpose >to serve as a pure reading machine. I won't ever read a book on an iPhone >screen, and youir laptop is slow to boot into your reader app. Yes, Leo, >color matters, and could be a killer. Yes, maybe the Kindle is a niche >device. But it could be a large niche, and it could pave the way to the >real killer e-book readers. > >/rich > >PS -- Roy, my photos from Barcelona are at: >http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2086582725 > >This is the soon to be late and lamented Sony Imagestation site, shutting >down in 73 days due to lack of a business model. Please feel free to rebut >my arguments, or my photos, as you wish. :-) From mindspiral at gmail.com Tue Nov 20 23:40:51 2007 From: mindspiral at gmail.com (Brian Gray) Date: Tue Nov 20 23:40:53 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I agree with all your points. I currently have a phone and a PDA, but on my next phone upgrade will be going to a single device. We are seeing a combining of electronics as the tools improve in functionality and/or size. The dent in your comparison is the monthly service fees you have with iPhone and other devices. I think if they can cut the price in half for the Kindle there will be a market for it. I wonder what problems people will experience on flights if flight staff are not familiar with the technology, especially since it works like a cellular for transmission. Brian Gray midnspiral@gmail.com On Nov 20, 2007 10:24 AM, Roy Tennant wrote: > It's nice that Jeff Bezos is such a nice guy. That and $3.40 (in California, > at least) will buy him a cup of coffee. The question is whether the Kindle > has a life. I still think it doesn't. > > It gets kudos for the display that can be seen in sunlight and long battery > life. But I don't think those qualities are enough to overcome that you've > just spent $400 on something that only reads books. The device to which I > was alluding earlier was not a PC of any kind, but the iPhone. The iPhone > makes the Kindle look like last century's technology in a couple key ways. > One is simply the "wow" factor. I'm sorry, but I think the Kindle looks > dorky. If I'm not the only one, then who is going to want to be seen > carrying it around? > > The other reason is more substantive. First Blackberries and now the iPhone > have demonstrated the kind of unification of functions that has been > predicted for many years -- you will no longer have a PDA and a phone and a > music player and perhaps even a laptop as separate devices -- they would be > all one. And the fact that the same amount of money will buy you either a > book reading device or a phone and a music player and a web browser and a > ...makes the Kindle a complete non-starter in my book (sorry for the pun). > And to think folks were complaining about the price of the iPhone. > Roy From mindspiral at gmail.com Tue Nov 20 23:45:59 2007 From: mindspiral at gmail.com (Brian Gray) Date: Tue Nov 20 23:46:02 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: References: <47430B46.30900@leoklein.com> Message-ID: If the fees come into play, it is not being promoted that way currently. >From Amazon: "No monthly wireless bills, service plans, or commitments?we take care of the wireless delivery so you can simply click, buy, and read." Brian Gray mindspiral@gmail.com On Nov 20, 2007 12:18 PM, Andrew Hankinson wrote: t's the DRM that they're putting in there, and the fact that they're > artificially limiting it. It's EVDO, which is not WiFi, so expect to > pay a monthly fee just to have the wireless connection. From mindspiral at gmail.com Tue Nov 20 23:57:57 2007 From: mindspiral at gmail.com (Brian Gray) Date: Tue Nov 20 23:58:00 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <4742F5EF.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> References: <20071120183013.41AAC189AE6@lists.webjunction.org> <4742F5EF.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> Message-ID: I think were ebooks, kindle, and future readers will excel is not the people that grew up on paper books and already have existing locations. It is catching the newer generations now, so they grow up in this style of information consumption. I hate all these restrictive formats and lock down restrictions. But does Amazon already have enough locked in customers that may consider this alternative? If they already have enough potential customers, the format restrictions probably gives them more power to negotiate with publishers. I have not seen it, but does the kindle and the format allow for searching within a document? I am thinking does it have a use as reference tool. Brian Gray mindspiral@gmail.com On Nov 20, 2007 2:57 PM, Kyle Felker wrote: > > I did a few hours worth of digging and reading on the Kindle...if > anyone is interested, here is my own analysis of what I see. In short, > I don't see that this does anything substantial to make ebooks a > practical, affordable alternative to paper for the average consumer. > Read on if you want to know why. > > I saw the announcement about the product when I went to check on the > status of an order at Amazon, and was initially excited. However, my > enthusiasm abruptly caught cold and died when I read some of the > technical information (and saw the price tag!). Kindle uses a > proprietary e-book format (.azw files), which makes the kindle store and > the kindle ebook reader inextricably coupled. It can read files in a > few other formats (text and Mobi), but anything you buy from Amazon will > only be readable on the kindle. There are a great many vendors selling > consumer ebooks, but they are doing so using an alphabet soup of > formats, many of which are entirely proprietary, and/or ruthlessly > "protected" by DRM. What the consumer ebook market needs is an ebook > version of the MP3 file format: something that's supported by the > majority of the ebook reader hardware, and in which most content can be > obtained or easily converted to. Until we have this, ebook usage is too > tied to a particular vendor and service model and too limited in what > you can do with it to be appealing. > > Put another way: vendors and publishers are going to have a hard time > selling a lot of ebooks until they stop strangling the market with > proprietary file formats and draconian DRM restrictions. Until this > happens, ANY ebook platform is going to have a hard time succeeding. > > One of the reasons I like buying electronic music is because the > selection is better than in any physical store. Ebooks, however, have a > long way to go in that regard. The Kindle store has better selection > than any online ebook store I've been to yet, but there are still titles > I can't get in electronic format. So even if I had the money to convert > my seven plus bookcases worth of physical books to ebooks, it would be > impossible to do so completely. And even if I could find all the books > from different e-book vendors, again, they are in so many different > formats, many "protected" by draconian DRM, that I'd have to buy > multiple expensive devices just to access them, or spend time working > with format converters. > > The Kindles other features sounded cool until I really examined them. > Sure, it sounds great to get newspapers delivered wirelessly to your > kindle...until I remembered that a lot of that stuff is free on the web, > and I can already access it on my handheld. And why, oh why would I pay > to read blogs when I can get the content for free via RSS? That leaves > magazine subscriptions...and I don't read popular magazines. Even if I > did, a $400 magazine reader is...pretty hard for me to justify to > myself. > > It doesn't help that the devices are so expensive. The sony Reader is > $300, and the kindle is $400. I can buy a lot of paper books for $400. > Add to that the fact that if I really wanted to convert my physical > library to ebooks, I'd have to repurchase all my existing books in > digital format, and the price tag rockets skyward faster than the space > shuttle. Making the transition from a physical music collection to a > digital one was easy, painless, and almost entirely free. Making the > transition to ebooks will be none of those things. > > Until the consumer ebook market has something that functions as a > standard format, so that I can choose the device and the content service > separately, and so that I can be assured the content I'd purchase will > be readable on most devices, I'm not interested. Until consumer ebook > readers cost $200 or less, I'm not interested. Until converting my > physical library to digital format is as easy and cheap as converting my > music library was, I'm not interested. Electronic paper displays and > "whispernet" do not solve any of these problems. And that is why I > think Kindle is unlikely to succeed. I certainly won't be buying one. > > > ********************************************** > Kyle Felker > Technology Coordinator > Washington and Lee University Library > Phone: 540-458-8653 > Email: felkerk@wlu.edu > Chat: geeklibrary (aol) techbookgeek (yahoo) > ********************************************* > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > -- Brian Gray mindspiral@gmail.com From FelkerK at wlu.edu Wed Nov 21 08:37:28 2007 From: FelkerK at wlu.edu (Kyle Felker) Date: Wed Nov 21 08:38:00 2007 Subject: Fwd: Re: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader Message-ID: <4743EE47.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> >I don't get it: who's talking about dumping iphones, blackberry's etc... >for this? It's an ebook reader, not a tricorder! Think about it this way: for $400, you can buy the Kindle, which reads ebooks, and plays audiobooks and MP3 files. It also has a limited web browser. OR You can spend $99 on a low-end palm pilot, which can display ebooks, play audio and MP3 files, and has a limited web browser. PLUS it can organize your calendar, keep track of tasks and shopping lists, display color pictures, etc. Which purchase makes more sense? *That's* the point people are trying to make about Kindle versus multi-use gadgets. It does less and it costs more. Amazon seems to be betting that people will think that E-Ink display is worth the extra money. I'm not sure they will. -Kyle ********************************************** Kyle Felker Technology Coordinator Washington and Lee University Library Phone: 540-458-8653 Email: felkerk@wlu.edu Chat: geeklibrary (aol) techbookgeek (yahoo) ********************************************* ********************************************** Kyle Felker Technology Coordinator Washington and Lee University Library Phone: 540-458-8653 Email: felkerk@wlu.edu Chat: geeklibrary (aol) techbookgeek (yahoo) ********************************************* From mindspiral at gmail.com Wed Nov 21 08:53:25 2007 From: mindspiral at gmail.com (Brian Gray) Date: Wed Nov 21 08:53:34 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <4743EE47.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> References: <4743EE47.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> Message-ID: It depends on your goal and style of information consumption. If you want to read full books, a small PDA screen may not be best and you are willing to pay the money. I have a Dell Axim, and I do read emails, websites, blogs, etc. from it. I would not use it to read a book. I would consider something like kindle for about half the price they are charging now if it was easy to read and depending on availability of items I needed. There is some cost saving with going with a multi-use gadget, but it cannot be great at everything. It depends on what is most important to the consumer and if they like to keep a hobby, work, or other tasks separate from one another or always tied together. I would like to see on in person to see what it is all about, but not for $400. Brian Gray mindspiral@gmail.com On Nov 21, 2007 8:37 AM, Kyle Felker wrote: > Think about it this way: for $400, you can buy the Kindle, which reads > ebooks, and plays audiobooks and MP3 files. It also has a limited web > browser. > > OR > > You can spend $99 on a low-end palm pilot, which can display ebooks, > play audio and MP3 files, and has a limited web browser. PLUS it can > organize your calendar, keep track of tasks and shopping lists, display > color pictures, etc. > > Which purchase makes more sense? *That's* the point people are trying > to make about Kindle versus multi-use gadgets. It does less and it > costs more. Amazon seems to be betting that people will think that > E-Ink display is worth the extra money. I'm not sure they will. From Kathryn.Silberger at marist.edu Wed Nov 21 10:03:01 2007 From: Kathryn.Silberger at marist.edu (Kathryn Silberger) Date: Wed Nov 21 10:03:10 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] RE:Kindle Message-ID: Can you read an ebook in the bathtub? What happens if you get it wet? (coffee, juice, etc). That's not as frivolous as question as it seems. I wonder what sort of guarantee and service plan they are offering. We tend to do leisure reading around food and drink and in outdoor settings. If you spill tea on a book, you can still read it. If you drop the book in the bathtub, you can dry it out. It won't look great, but you can finish reading it. And the monetary loss is much less than the price of a Kindle. Can you take it to the beach? Can it travel in a backpack? I'd want to know how durable it is before paying $400. Katy Kathryn K. Silberger Automation Resources Librarian James A. Cannavino Library Marist College 3399 North Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Kathryn.Silberger@marist.edu (845) 575-3000 x.2419 From gagnew at rci.rutgers.edu Wed Nov 21 10:16:27 2007 From: gagnew at rci.rutgers.edu (Grace J. Agnew) Date: Wed Nov 21 10:16:31 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <20071120232011.AUT69599@mozart.merit.edu> References: <20071120232011.AUT69599@mozart.merit.edu> Message-ID: <47444BCB.802@rci.rutgers.edu> Andrew, I'm not sure about this. I agree that a better business model is focus on niche markets, as I stated in an earlier post. We also need to understand how much of a cultural icon the book is, the needs that it serves beyond the mere reading. I get a "little lift" every time I enter my door and see all my books, on their shelves, that surround me. And I am sure I am not the only one who makes a beeline for the bookshelves in a stranger's house to see what kind of person he or she is. Book as artifact of life may change and become quaint, and we may be looking at what is displayed on flat screens to gauge our new acquaintances, but I am not sure the change will be fast, or that the dropping of the Kindler e-reader price to $50 will make it happen more quickly. However, as a former public librarian, I was thinking that a great niche market would be precisely to replace all those best sellers that public libraries had to buy or lease in multiple copies, but a year later, couldn't even give them away in a booksale. I hate to think how many hard cover Danielle Steeles (or Steels, depending on the year) are adding to landfill. In a large public library, it might be cost effective to loan out the kindles along with the books, just to zip through the hold queue and release the book back into the ether. My sister owns a used bookstore and she literally can't give away the old best sellers that had their moment but simply aren't the books you read twice. She's thinking about donating them to prisons now that even the hospitals and court waiting rooms are refusing them. I remember McNaughton lease books as being a lot of work, between maintaining the subscription, guesttimating the number of copies needed, shelving them, etc. The Kindle and its ilk could be a lifesaver for those kinds of books. And it sure helped to have a canny head of collection development. I remember when Rushdie's Satanic Verses came out and the local bookstores refused to stock it, our advance holds went through the roof, but we didn't buy that many copies. I asked the head of Collection Development if she was afraid of attracting terrorists if they saw a mound of the books. She said no, that she took an advance copy home and the first chapter was almost incomprehensible. She said everyone who checked out the book to see what the fuss was about would return it in a day or two when they couldn't get through the first chapter and we would move through the hold queue quickly. She was right. But that was one of the books we kept, in multiple copies, again because she herself had read it past the first chapter. All this talk of books gets me reminiscing! Grace Agbew Andrew Mutch wrote: > Rich, > > The problem with your analogy is that the e-book reader is a problem in search of a solution. You made the point yourself: > > "If the device serves a purpose, people will adopt it, and they will use it." > > So what purposes does an e-book reader serve that isn't fulfilled by the good old fashioned book? Is it cheaper? No. Is it more portable? For the vast majority of titles - No. Is it sturdier? No. Is it easier to read? No. Is it longer lasting? No. Does it have a longer "battery" life? Of course not and no electronic device is likely ever to match the book in this regard in the short or long-term. > > E-book readers keep coming up short both as technology and as a business model because they are trying to replace a product that works with one that doesn't work as well. We all know that the best product doesn't always win out. But outside of technophiles who want to digitize their entire libraries and carry them around with them wherever they go, how many users in the consumer market will this appeal to? I'm not going to say that there's no place for something like the Kindle Reader. But as it has been, I think it's a very niche product. > > In an earlier comment, someone alluded to the fact that if it was Amazon who produced this, it must have been thoroughly researched. But after seeing several generations of these products and their inherent shortcomings, I'm convinced that whatever market research has been done, it hasn't included very much with the people who come into our libraries every day and check out the books that we buy for our collections. Amazon might know best the people who buy books but I'm not sure that they know best the people who read books. If Amazon or the next e-book manufacturer spent 3 months watching and talking to patrons at public libraries large and small, I think they would come to some very different conclusions about what readers want from an e-book reader. > > Lest anyone think I'm anti e-book reader, I'm not. I think there is a place for them but I think the people who have been making them, and this includes Amazon's Kindle Reader, are pretty clueless about the best application of this technology. Grace Agnew touched on one application that seems a no-brainer for e-books - college (and high school) textbooks. Bob Rasmussen touched on another one - the interactive story book. Many public libraries offer such titles on their children's computers where a child can have a popular children's story read to them, or read along with it or interact with the characters in various ways. This is the perfect combination of book and technology where the e-reader can really deliver what the printed book does not - sound, motion and interactivity. Load up a full color reader with sound and basic interface controls and a dozen children's titles and you could have a holiday hit on your hand. But the e-book manufacturers aren't interested in such n > i! > che markets. They have their eyes on the big dollars that would come with convincing the James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell readers to set aside their hardcovers and paperbacks and settle back for an e-read (just as long as the battery stayed charge). Until they start to understand who reads what and why they do, I think we'll be destined to a line of "next great things" that will become relics sitting gathering dust in the basement (anyone interested in a REB1100? Hardly ever used) > > Andrew Mutch > Library Systems Technician > Waterford Township Public Library > Waterford, MI > > > > ---- Original message ---- > >> Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:17:39 -0500 >> From: "Richard Wiggins" >> Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader >> To: "Roy Tennant" >> Cc: web4lib >> >> Roy, >> >> You are kind, and I am not a gentleman, at least not in this regard. I held >> that arrow in my quiver. :-) >> >> And of course the jury remains out on Google Books and the various >> digitization projects that unfolded since our first debate on the subject >> of digitizing all the books in a major library -- back in 2001 believe it or >> not. >> >> Steve Levy, who wrote the Newsweek piece discussed in this thread, was on >> NPR's "Day to Day" and with another guest, a man of letters whose name I did >> not catch. Levy dominated. Our friend of letters sailed forth with the >> dangers of the hyperlink and how it had ruined reading in the land, and >> begged for someone to defend the citadel of the book. He called himself a >> Luddite. He was. >> >> Levy made a simple point. Computers are 50 years old. They used to fill >> rooms (and I add, they didn't have GUIs). Within 50 years, e-books will be >> a dominant form of reading books. Whether that's embodied in a specialized >> device or a tablet PC of some sort, isn't the point. The only question is >> when, not whether. >> >> Levy pointed out that as an author of 6 books, he wants his readers' >> undivided attention. But whether he achieves that depends on his words, not >> on the medium. >> >> As for Leo's argument as to whether special-purpose devices have a place in >> this world, good grief, isn't that settled by now? This year I bought a >> combo blender / food processor. It's a competent blender and weak as food >> processor. Multi-purpose devices are seldom the choice for all purposes. >> Cell phone cameras serve social networking needs, not fine photography >> desires. >> >> This month I was in Barcelona with three cameras: a 1 megapixel cell phone >> camera, and two Canon cameras at about the same megapixel rating, an SD-1000 >> that is smaller than a pack of cigarettes, and an EOS Rebel XT that is a >> digital SLR. >> >> Guess what? I didn't use the cell camera, because the results are too low >> quality. I left the SLR in the hotel safe, because it's too big to carry >> around. I took over 500 photos with the pocket camera, which has the same >> image processor as its cousin D-SLR, and good enough glass for the purpose. >> If the device serves a purpose, people will adopt it, and they will use it. >> >> >> Here's the analogy. A PDA or iPhone is too small to comfortably read >> books. A laptop is too heavy and too slow to boot and too general purpose >> to serve as a pure reading machine. I won't ever read a book on an iPhone >> screen, and youir laptop is slow to boot into your reader app. Yes, Leo, >> color matters, and could be a killer. Yes, maybe the Kindle is a niche >> device. But it could be a large niche, and it could pave the way to the >> real killer e-book readers. >> >> /rich >> >> PS -- Roy, my photos from Barcelona are at: >> http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2086582725 >> >> This is the soon to be late and lamented Sony Imagestation site, shutting >> down in 73 days due to lack of a business model. Please feel free to rebut >> my arguments, or my photos, as you wish. :-) >> > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > -- ________________________________________________________________ Grace Agnew Associate University Librarian for Digital Library Systems Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey Library Technical Services Building 47 Davidson Road Piscataway, NJ 08854-5603 gagnew@rci.rutgers.edu PH: (732) 445-5908 FAX: (732) 445-5888 From gagnew at rci.rutgers.edu Wed Nov 21 10:33:08 2007 From: gagnew at rci.rutgers.edu (Grace J. Agnew) Date: Wed Nov 21 10:33:14 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Position Available: E-Monographs and Multimedia Catalog and Metadata Librarian, Rutgers University Libraries Message-ID: <47444FB4.5000703@rci.rutgers.edu> The Cataloging and Metadata Services (CMS) Department of the Rutgers University Libraries seeks a dynamic and proactive individual to join an outstanding group of librarians and support staff to provide leadership in the areas of special formats cataloging, electronic monographs, and digital projects. Under the direction of the Head of CMS, the successful candidate supervises the original and complex cataloging of two full-time support staff catalogers who catalog scores, sound recordings, videorecordings, cartographic materials, and monographic electronic resources. Provides leadership in the cataloging of electronic monographs and other networked electronic resources. This position will establish standards and develop strategies to integrate electronic monographs in the Libraries' online catalog and institutional repository; expand commercial e-book and digital video collections in IRIS, the Libraries' online catalog. As part of the Libraries' institutional repository team, will provide leadership in digital projects, including metadata strategies for moving images, music, women's studies and the arts, and participates in the ongoing development of the libraries' data model and metadata strategy. The candidate will participate in the METS application for special formats to support digital collections in University Archives, the Margery Somers Foster Center, and the Institute of Jazz Studies. QUALIFICATIONS: Required: ALA accredited MLS and three years' experience applying AARC2 cataloging standards, LC Classification and LCSH, with a minimum of two years' experience cataloging nonbook formats. Experience with OCLC Connexion and a major integrated library system, preferably Sirsi, required. Knowledge of nationally recognized metadata schemas, such as METS, MODS, PREMIS, Dublin Core required. The successful candidate must demonstrate commitment to continual professional development through scholarly research relevant to areas of responsibility including publications, presentations and participation and leadership in the work of relevant professional association. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Strong project management skills. Ability to mentor and manage staff. Desired: Reading fluency in a Western European language; experience with metadata creation, familiarity with XML. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. SALARY: Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience for a tenure track faculty position. STATUS/BENEFITS: Faculty status, calendar year appointment, retirement plans, life/health insurance, prescription drug, dental and eyeglass plans, tuition remission, one month vacation. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey is a dynamic, multi-campus institution. This position is located on the New Brunswick campus which is located between Philadelphia and New York City, in a vibrant multicultural community. Rutgers University has a distinguished history as a colonial college, a land-grant institution, and a state university. Rutgers fills its mission as New Jersey's state university by educating a diverse student body of over 48,000. Rutgers ranks sixth among the public AAU institutions in the percentage of total minority enrollment, third in percentage of African-American students enrolled, and eighth in percentage of Asian students enrolled. Over fifteen percent of full-time faculty are members of a minority group, ranking the university twelfth among AAU public research institutions. Rutgers is committed to fostering a diverse and multicultural environment that values intercultural awareness. For more information, please check the RUL website: http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu TO APPLY: REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY AND CONTINUE UNTIL THE POSITION IS FILLED. SUBMIT RESUME, COVER LETTER, AND NAMES OF THREE REFERENCES TO: Sandra Troy (APP. 175), University Libraries Human Resources Manager, Rutgers University Libraries, 169 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1163, email: rulhr@rci.rutgers.edu, FAX: 732-932-7637 Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action employer. The Libraries are strongly and actively committed to diversity, and seek candidates who will contribute creatively to the University's multicultural environment. To view the entire job description: http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/hr/libpersonnel/libpersonnel.shtml -- ________________________________________________________________ Grace Agnew Associate University Librarian for Digital Library Systems Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey Library Technical Services Building 47 Davidson Road Piscataway, NJ 08854-5603 gagnew@rci.rutgers.edu PH: (732) 445-5908 FAX: (732) 445-5888 From Bob.Hassett at fcps.edu Wed Nov 21 10:35:12 2007 From: Bob.Hassett at fcps.edu (Hassett, Bob E.) Date: Wed Nov 21 10:35:20 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <47444BCB.802@rci.rutgers.edu> Message-ID: <1EF54042F80B62429F7C72A6D57DD8FC4BF462@MB11.mail.fcps.edu> Thoughtful post on the 37 Signals blog: http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/712-kindle-ignites-the-flames plus 71 comments and counting. /************************************************/ /* Bob Hassett, Head Librarian */ /* Luther Jackson Middle School (081) */ /* 3020 Gallows Road */ /* Falls Church, Virginia 22042 */ /* (703) 204-8133 */ /* Bob.Hassett@fcps.edu */ /************************************************/ From schwartz at mnstate.edu Wed Nov 21 10:46:37 2007 From: schwartz at mnstate.edu (Larry Schwartz) Date: Wed Nov 21 10:46:43 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <47444BCB.802@rci.rutgers.edu> References: <20071120232011.AUT69599@mozart.merit.edu> <47444BCB.802@rci.rutgers.edu> Message-ID: <474452DD.6010100@mnstate.edu> O.K., the discussion has now reached the point where I can say that the Kindle is this month's/week's/year's microcard; you remember microcards, the amazing LIBRARY IN A BOX. Everybody has 'em, and they have the special readers -- for which spare parts can be found on eBay. Only the passage of time made it clear that folks _not_ in charge of libraries or their funding agencies didn't necessarily want libraries in boxes. The Kindle _may_ rival pre-separated pieces of bread, but prudence dictates caution -- and vice-versa (as Baron Frankenstein would've counseled, if only he had the time). And does no-one remember the marketing concept of "planned obsolescence?" ls. -- Larry Schwartz, Collection Management Librarian Livingston Lord Library Minnesota State University Moorhead 1104 7th Ave., S. Moorhead, MN 56563 (218) 477-2353 (vox) (218) 477-5924 (fax) http://www.mnstate.edu/schwartz Find me on Facebook! "People read books in order to gain the privilege of living more than one life." --Garrison Keillor Directory of Open Access Journals: http://www.doaj.org From yitzchas at touro.edu Wed Nov 21 10:55:26 2007 From: yitzchas at touro.edu (Yitzchak Schaffer) Date: Wed Nov 21 10:55:36 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Library Website Development Message-ID: <474454EE.4060009@touro.edu> Greetings web4libns: Touro has decided that it's time to overhaul our libraries' website. Can anyone recommend literature relating to website/IA design process (user studies, log analysis from existing site, web committees...), or share experience? Thank you very much IA, -- Yitzchak Schaffer Systems Librarian Touro College Libraries 33 West 23rd Street New York, NY 10010 Tel (212) 463-0400 x230 Fax (212) 627-3197 yitzchas@touro.edu From calhambra at gmail.com Wed Nov 21 12:27:44 2007 From: calhambra at gmail.com (Chris Alhambra) Date: Wed Nov 21 12:28:08 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Library Website Development In-Reply-To: <474454EE.4060009@touro.edu> References: <474454EE.4060009@touro.edu> Message-ID: I like the following books: Web ReDesign: Workflow that Works by Kelly Goto and Emily Cotler Web Design on a Shoestring by Carrie Bickner Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug The ALA has published several books on library web design. I've never read them, but check the ALA online store: http://www.alastore.ala.org/SiteSolution.taf?_sn=catalog2&_pn=sub_category&_op=29 --------------------------------------------------- Christopher Alhambra Electronic Text Editor Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project The George Washington University On Nov 21, 2007 10:55 AM, Yitzchak Schaffer wrote: > Greetings web4libns: > > Touro has decided that it's time to overhaul our libraries' website. > Can anyone recommend literature relating to website/IA design process > (user studies, log analysis from existing site, web committees...), or > share experience? > > Thank you very much IA, > -- > Yitzchak Schaffer > Systems Librarian > Touro College Libraries > 33 West 23rd Street > New York, NY 10010 > Tel (212) 463-0400 x230 > Fax (212) 627-3197 > yitzchas@touro.edu > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > From amostrom at gmail.com Wed Nov 21 12:35:50 2007 From: amostrom at gmail.com (Amy Drayer) Date: Wed Nov 21 12:36:52 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Library Website Development In-Reply-To: <474454EE.4060009@touro.edu> References: <474454EE.4060009@touro.edu> Message-ID: <2dfe2dd0711210935u5002873cl89e3c243d1e34895@mail.gmail.com> Dear Yitzchak: We recently redesigned our library site; a summary document can be found at: http://e.jocolibrary.org/library/docs/pdf/JoCoLibraryWebRedesignResults.pdf or from the article at: http://www.jocolibrary.org/templates/JCL_NewsListItem.aspx?id=3359 For literature, I would recommend: "Web ReDesign 2.0: Workflow That Works" by Goto & Cotler "Don't Make Me Think! A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability" by Steve Krug (for inspiration) "Web Site Usability Handbook" by Mark Pearrow (for actual usability guidelines) Good luck! :-) -- In peace, Amy M. Drayer Web Interface Designer amostrom@gmail.com http://www.puzumaki.com On Nov 21, 2007 9:55 AM, Yitzchak Schaffer wrote: > Greetings web4libns: > > Touro has decided that it's time to overhaul our libraries' website. > Can anyone recommend literature relating to website/IA design process > (user studies, log analysis from existing site, web committees...), or > share experience? From hannont at ohsu.edu Wed Nov 21 13:07:32 2007 From: hannont at ohsu.edu (Todd Hannon) Date: Wed Nov 21 13:09:16 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Online Northwest 2008 Message-ID: WHAT IS ONLINE NORTHWEST? Online NW is a one-day conference focusing on the use of technology in libraries. The conference attracts librarians from the Pacific Northwest and beyond and is sponsored by the Oregon University System Library Council. HOW DO I REGISTER? Use the online registration form available via http://www.ous.edu/onlinenw/ WHEN IS THE CONFERENCE? Friday, February 22, 2008 WHERE IS THE CONFERENCE? CH2M Hill Alumni Center on the Oregon State University campus, Corvallis, Oregon WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS BEING OFFERED? This year's topics will include: - Usability - Learning 2.0 - Next Generation Catalogs - Remote Public services Keynote: Jared Spool Jared Spool is one of today?s most effective, knowledgeable and entertaining communicators on the subject of usability. He?s been working in the field since 1978, before the term "usability" was ever associated with computers. He is the founder of User Interface Engineering (http://www.uie.com/), a company whose research teams help clients understand how to solve their design problems. Spool is a top-rated speaker at more than 20 conferences every year and is a faculty member at Tufts University?s Gordon Institute. Spool?s Online Northwest keynote is titled Why Good Content Must Suck: Designing for the Scent of Information. WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR EARLY REGISTRATION? Early registration ($100) is due on or before Monday, January 28, 2008 WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION? Visit http://www.ous.edu/onlinenw/ Email: online.northwest@gmail.com ONLINE NW DATES AT A GLANCE: Conference: Feb. 22, 2008 Early bird registration deadline: Jan. 28, 2008 Refund deadline: Jan. 28, 2008 Todd Hannon, MLS Reference & Instruction Librarian Oregon Health & Science University Library Research & Reference Dept. PO Box 573 Portland, OR 97207-0573 p:503.494.3474 f:503.494.3322 hannont@ohsu.edu From tim at librarything.com Wed Nov 21 14:30:09 2007 From: tim at librarything.com (Tim Spalding) Date: Wed Nov 21 14:35:37 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] RE:Kindle In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <63d3c8ce0711211130y6943c98al5aba68ec593be8d9@mail.gmail.com> Does anyone know what happens to your books if the device goes? Clearly you're not allowed to make copies, but if you leave your Kindle on a train is there a way to cut the lost one off and re-load all your books onto a new device? T On 11/21/07, Kathryn Silberger wrote: > Can you read an ebook in the bathtub? What happens if you get it wet? > (coffee, juice, etc). That's not as frivolous as question as it seems. I > wonder what sort of guarantee and service plan they are offering. We tend > to do leisure reading around food and drink and in outdoor settings. If > you spill tea on a book, you can still read it. If you drop the book in > the bathtub, you can dry it out. It won't look great, but you can finish > reading it. And the monetary loss is much less than the price of a Kindle. > Can you take it to the beach? Can it travel in a backpack? I'd want to > know how durable it is before paying $400. > > Katy > > Kathryn K. Silberger > Automation Resources Librarian > James A. Cannavino Library > Marist College > 3399 North Road > Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 > Kathryn.Silberger@marist.edu > (845) 575-3000 x.2419 > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > -- Check out my library at http://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding From Kathryn.Silberger at marist.edu Wed Nov 21 14:45:20 2007 From: Kathryn.Silberger at marist.edu (Kathryn Silberger) Date: Wed Nov 21 14:49:37 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] RE:Kindle In-Reply-To: <63d3c8ce0711211130y6943c98al5aba68ec593be8d9@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: I believe that in the video introduction they said that Amazon will keep a list of all the items you have purchased. If you lose the device or if it malfunctions in anyway, you can recover your previous purchases. It could be very convenient to have Amazon keep a personal electronic library for you. I haven't read much discussion of this, but the ability to have newspapers uploaded to the device every day could be quite convenient. I prefer to read newspapers on the web, and it is the one thing I would like to have on a portable device. When I go to the summer cottage in small town in the northern midwest, getting a copy of the New York Times is not easy. I can't imagine that the subscription fee would be that high. After all, a large part of the cost of the newspaper is printing and delivering it. I wonder how ads will work on this. Will they develop annoying popups for the Kindle? That would be a deal breaker. Katy Kathryn K. Silberger Automation Resources Librarian James A. Cannavino Library Marist College 3399 North Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Kathryn.Silberger@marist.edu (845) 575-3000 x.2419 "Tim Spalding" To "Kathryn Silberger" 11/21/2007 02:30 PM cc web4lib@webjunction.org Subject Re: [Web4lib] RE:Kindle Does anyone know what happens to your books if the device goes? Clearly you're not allowed to make copies, but if you leave your Kindle on a train is there a way to cut the lost one off and re-load all your books onto a new device? T On 11/21/07, Kathryn Silberger wrote: > Can you read an ebook in the bathtub? What happens if you get it wet? > (coffee, juice, etc). That's not as frivolous as question as it seems. I > wonder what sort of guarantee and service plan they are offering. We tend > to do leisure reading around food and drink and in outdoor settings. If > you spill tea on a book, you can still read it. If you drop the book in > the bathtub, you can dry it out. It won't look great, but you can finish > reading it. And the monetary loss is much less than the price of a Kindle. > Can you take it to the beach? Can it travel in a backpack? I'd want to > know how durable it is before paying $400. > > Katy > > Kathryn K. Silberger > Automation Resources Librarian > James A. Cannavino Library > Marist College > 3399 North Road > Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 > Kathryn.Silberger@marist.edu > (845) 575-3000 x.2419 > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > -- Check out my library at http://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding From campbell at virginia.edu Wed Nov 21 15:18:56 2007 From: campbell at virginia.edu (Jim Campbell) Date: Wed Nov 21 15:20:16 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] RE:Kindle In-Reply-To: <63d3c8ce0711211130y6943c98al5aba68ec593be8d9@mail.gmail.com> References: <63d3c8ce0711211130y6943c98al5aba68ec593be8d9@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <00c901c82c7b$bea5b6f0$1ac18f80@library.virginia.edu> Amazon keeps a copy of everything you buy through them on a server. That's to allow you to make room for new books but still be able to get back to the old ones when you want them. Presumably they'd be able to deactivate the address of the lost Kindle and replace it with a new connection so you could access your titles. Most of the questions I've seen on this list are pretty easily answered at the Amazon Web site - just go to Amazon and you won't have any trouble finding the Kindle information. You will however have trouble finding a Kindle - they're sold out despite only getting 2 1/2 stars from reviewers. Me, I think I'd rather have the ASUS Eee PC. - Jim Campbell Digital Access Librarian | Librarian for German University of Virginia Library 513 Alderman Library E-Mail: Campbell@Virginia.Edu | Voice: 434-924-4985 > -----Original Message----- > From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org > [mailto:web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Tim Spalding > Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 2:30 PM > To: Kathryn Silberger > Cc: web4lib@webjunction.org > Subject: Re: [Web4lib] RE:Kindle > > Does anyone know what happens to your books if the device goes? > Clearly you're not allowed to make copies, but if you leave > your Kindle on a train is there a way to cut the lost one off > and re-load all your books onto a new device? > > T > > On 11/21/07, Kathryn Silberger wrote: > > Can you read an ebook in the bathtub? What happens if you > get it wet? > > (coffee, juice, etc). That's not as frivolous as question > as it seems. I > > wonder what sort of guarantee and service plan they are > offering. We > > tend to do leisure reading around food and drink and in outdoor > > settings. If you spill tea on a book, you can still read > it. If you > > drop the book in the bathtub, you can dry it out. It won't look > > great, but you can finish reading it. And the monetary > loss is much less than the price of a Kindle. > > Can you take it to the beach? Can it travel in a backpack? > I'd want > > to know how durable it is before paying $400. > > > > Katy > > > > Kathryn K. Silberger > > Automation Resources Librarian > > James A. Cannavino Library > > Marist College > > 3399 North Road > > Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 > > Kathryn.Silberger@marist.edu > > (845) 575-3000 x.2419 > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Web4lib mailing list > > Web4lib@webjunction.org > > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > > > > > -- > Check out my library at > http://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Wed Nov 21 15:21:10 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Wed Nov 21 15:21:15 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] RE:Kindle In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <867395.34641.qm@web57106.mail.re3.yahoo.com> I think the concept of subscribing to a newspaper via Kindle is kind of an interesting concept, especially since newspapers are moving away from subscription models for online access, e.g., the NY Times recent cessation of subscription pricing for Times Select, etc. Bernie Sloan Kathryn Silberger wrote: I believe that in the video introduction they said that Amazon will keep a list of all the items you have purchased. If you lose the device or if it malfunctions in anyway, you can recover your previous purchases. It could be very convenient to have Amazon keep a personal electronic library for you. I haven't read much discussion of this, but the ability to have newspapers uploaded to the device every day could be quite convenient. I prefer to read newspapers on the web, and it is the one thing I would like to have on a portable device. When I go to the summer cottage in small town in the northern midwest, getting a copy of the New York Times is not easy. I can't imagine that the subscription fee would be that high. After all, a large part of the cost of the newspaper is printing and delivering it. I wonder how ads will work on this. Will they develop annoying popups for the Kindle? That would be a deal breaker. Katy Kathryn K. Silberger Automation Resources Librarian James A. Cannavino Library Marist College 3399 North Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Kathryn.Silberger@marist.edu (845) 575-3000 x.2419 "Tim Spalding" .com> To "Kathryn Silberger" 11/21/2007 02:30 PM cc web4lib@webjunction.org Subject Re: [Web4lib] RE:Kindle Does anyone know what happens to your books if the device goes? Clearly you're not allowed to make copies, but if you leave your Kindle on a train is there a way to cut the lost one off and re-load all your books onto a new device? T On 11/21/07, Kathryn Silberger wrote: > Can you read an ebook in the bathtub? What happens if you get it wet? > (coffee, juice, etc). That's not as frivolous as question as it seems. I > wonder what sort of guarantee and service plan they are offering. We tend > to do leisure reading around food and drink and in outdoor settings. If > you spill tea on a book, you can still read it. If you drop the book in > the bathtub, you can dry it out. It won't look great, but you can finish > reading it. And the monetary loss is much less than the price of a Kindle. > Can you take it to the beach? Can it travel in a backpack? I'd want to > know how durable it is before paying $400. > > Katy > > Kathryn K. Silberger > Automation Resources Librarian > James A. Cannavino Library > Marist College > 3399 North Road > Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 > Kathryn.Silberger@marist.edu > (845) 575-3000 x.2419 > > _______________________________________________ > Web4lib mailing list > Web4lib@webjunction.org > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ > -- Check out my library at http://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ --------------------------------- Get easy, one-click access to your favorites. Make Yahoo! your homepage. From tim at librarything.com Wed Nov 21 15:39:36 2007 From: tim at librarything.com (Tim Spalding) Date: Wed Nov 21 15:39:42 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] RE:Kindle In-Reply-To: <00c901c82c7b$bea5b6f0$1ac18f80@library.virginia.edu> References: <63d3c8ce0711211130y6943c98al5aba68ec593be8d9@mail.gmail.com> <00c901c82c7b$bea5b6f0$1ac18f80@library.virginia.edu> Message-ID: <63d3c8ce0711211239m41d7b4b9x8adee250a613f7b8@mail.gmail.com> "Most of the questions I've seen on this list are pretty easily answered at the Amazon Web site." Yes, but sometimes it's more fun to talk to intelligent, convivial people who mix information with commentary and humor, than it is to digest marketing prose. From campbell at virginia.edu Wed Nov 21 15:43:46 2007 From: campbell at virginia.edu (Jim Campbell) Date: Wed Nov 21 15:45:19 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] RE:Kindle In-Reply-To: <63d3c8ce0711211239m41d7b4b9x8adee250a613f7b8@mail.gmail.com> References: <63d3c8ce0711211130y6943c98al5aba68ec593be8d9@mail.gmail.com> <00c901c82c7b$bea5b6f0$1ac18f80@library.virginia.edu> <63d3c8ce0711211239m41d7b4b9x8adee250a613f7b8@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <00ca01c82c7f$36d8b660$1ac18f80@library.virginia.edu> True, but some of the answers have been speculation rather than fact and were simply wrong. - Jim Campbell Campbell@Virginia.edu > -----Original Message----- > From: Tim Spalding [mailto:tim@librarything.com] > Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 3:40 PM > To: campbell@virginia.edu > Cc: web4lib@webjunction.org > Subject: Re: [Web4lib] RE:Kindle > > "Most of the questions I've seen on this list are pretty > easily answered at the Amazon Web site." > > Yes, but sometimes it's more fun to talk to intelligent, > convivial people who mix information with commentary and > humor, than it is to digest marketing prose. > From Kathryn.Silberger at marist.edu Wed Nov 21 16:01:49 2007 From: Kathryn.Silberger at marist.edu (Kathryn Silberger) Date: Wed Nov 21 16:01:57 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] RE:Kindle In-Reply-To: <00ca01c82c7f$36d8b660$1ac18f80@library.virginia.edu> Message-ID: The same may be true of marketing literature as well. ;} Katy Kathryn K. Silberger Automation Resources Librarian James A. Cannavino Library Marist College 3399 North Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Kathryn.Silberger@marist.edu (845) 575-3000 x.2419 "Jim Campbell" To Sent by: "'Tim Spalding'" web4lib-bounces@w ebjunction.org cc web4lib@webjunction.org Subject 11/21/2007 03:43 RE: [Web4lib] RE:Kindle PM Please respond to campbell@virginia .edu True, but some of the answers have been speculation rather than fact and were simply wrong. - Jim Campbell Campbell@Virginia.edu > -----Original Message----- > From: Tim Spalding [mailto:tim@librarything.com] > Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 3:40 PM > To: campbell@virginia.edu > Cc: web4lib@webjunction.org > Subject: Re: [Web4lib] RE:Kindle > > "Most of the questions I've seen on this list are pretty > easily answered at the Amazon Web site." > > Yes, but sometimes it's more fun to talk to intelligent, > convivial people who mix information with commentary and > humor, than it is to digest marketing prose. > _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From wprice at utpa.edu Wed Nov 21 20:24:23 2007 From: wprice at utpa.edu (Ward Price) Date: Wed Nov 21 20:24:27 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] PLATO? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: We've been discussing gaming in libraries recently, which caused a flashback. When I was an undergraduate student at Indiana University, perhaps around 1974-75, the University of Illinois had something called PLATO, which was some kind of ancient Internet game or program running at their campus in Urbana-Champaign. IU students in Bloomington, Indiana, would go to the library and log on via an Internet connection (I guess they were telnetting) to UIUC to play the game. I had no idea what they were doing back then; the Internet was only about 5 years old at the time, fifteen years before the World Wide Web. The IU students who were using it thought it was pretty cool. I wonder what they'd think about it now. Anyway, does this sound familiar? Does anyone know what the heck I'm talking about? Just curious. Ward Price Reference Librarian The University of Texas-Pan American Edinburg, TX 78541 wprice@utpa.edu (956) 316-7046 From amutch at waterford.lib.mi.us Wed Nov 21 21:27:13 2007 From: amutch at waterford.lib.mi.us (Andrew Mutch) Date: Wed Nov 21 21:27:18 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] PLATO? Message-ID: <20071121212713.AUV10522@mozart.merit.edu> http://thinkofit.com/plato/dwplato.htm and http://www.geocities.com/jim_bowery/spasim.html Andrew Mutch Library Systems Technician Waterford Township Public Library Waterford, MI ---- Original message ---- >Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:24:23 -0600 >From: "Ward Price" >Subject: [Web4lib] PLATO? >To: > >We've been discussing gaming in libraries recently, which caused a >flashback. When I was an undergraduate student at Indiana University, >perhaps around 1974-75, the University of Illinois had something called >PLATO, which was some kind of ancient Internet game or program running >at their campus in Urbana-Champaign. IU students in Bloomington, >Indiana, would go to the library and log on via an Internet connection >(I guess they were telnetting) to UIUC to play the game. I had no idea >what they were doing back then; the Internet was only about 5 years old >at the time, fifteen years before the World Wide Web. The IU students >who were using it thought it was pretty cool. I wonder what they'd >think about it now. Anyway, does this sound familiar? Does anyone know >what the heck I'm talking about? Just curious. > > > > > >Ward Price > >Reference Librarian > >The University of Texas-Pan American > >Edinburg, TX 78541 > >wprice@utpa.edu > >(956) 316-7046 > > > >_______________________________________________ >Web4lib mailing list >Web4lib@webjunction.org >http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From rcmason at rsproductions.net Wed Nov 21 21:30:04 2007 From: rcmason at rsproductions.net (Rick Mason) Date: Wed Nov 21 21:30:11 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] PLATO? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4744E9AC.4050206@rsproductions.net> I hadn't heard of PLATO before, but the info on these pages suggest that it was way ahead of its time: http://www.physics.uiuc.edu/history/PLATO.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLATO http://thinkofit.com/plato/dwplato.htm http://www.platopeople.com/about.html Rick Mason http://blog.librarysupportstaff.org/ Ward Price wrote: > We've been discussing gaming in libraries recently, which caused a > flashback. When I was an undergraduate student at Indiana University, > perhaps around 1974-75, the University of Illinois had something called > PLATO, which was some kind of ancient Internet game or program running > at their campus in Urbana-Champaign. IU students in Bloomington, > Indiana, would go to the library and log on via an Internet connection > (I guess they were telnetting) to UIUC to play the game. I had no idea > what they were doing back then; the Internet was only about 5 years old > at the time, fifteen years before the World Wide Web. The IU students > who were using it thought it was pretty cool. I wonder what they'd > think about it now. Anyway, does this sound familiar? Does anyone know > what the heck I'm talking about? Just curious. > > Ward Price > Reference Librarian > The University of Texas-Pan American > Edinburg, TX 78541 > wprice@utpa.edu > (956) 316-7046 From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Wed Nov 21 23:23:30 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Wed Nov 21 23:23:32 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] PLATO? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <563515.92165.qm@web57111.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Yep, I remember it well...late at night in the UIUC Undergrad library, sitting at PLATO terminals, playing games. My favorite game was some sort of artillery game where the participants entered artillery coordinates and tried to take out the opponent's cannon before they got you. This would have been about 1974-1975...I was in library school at the time. The games would probably seem very primitive now, but they seemed pretty cutting edge back then. :-) Bernie Sloan Ward Price wrote: We've been discussing gaming in libraries recently, which caused a flashback. When I was an undergraduate student at Indiana University, perhaps around 1974-75, the University of Illinois had something called PLATO, which was some kind of ancient Internet game or program running at their campus in Urbana-Champaign. IU students in Bloomington, Indiana, would go to the library and log on via an Internet connection (I guess they were telnetting) to UIUC to play the game. I had no idea what they were doing back then; the Internet was only about 5 years old at the time, fifteen years before the World Wide Web. The IU students who were using it thought it was pretty cool. I wonder what they'd think about it now. Anyway, does this sound familiar? Does anyone know what the heck I'm talking about? Just curious. Ward Price Reference Librarian The University of Texas-Pan American Edinburg, TX 78541 wprice@utpa.edu (956) 316-7046 _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ --------------------------------- Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. From kt32 at drexel.edu Thu Nov 22 06:44:42 2007 From: kt32 at drexel.edu (Turner,Kathleen) Date: Thu Nov 22 06:46:16 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Library Website Development References: <474454EE.4060009@touro.edu> <2dfe2dd0711210935u5002873cl89e3c243d1e34895@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <6C5331B39A8B1343BA05E22EBC9C265F06625E04@ace.drexel.edu> Yitzchak, The books already recommended are great suggestions, but also check out John Kupersmith's web site "Library Terms that Users Understand", http://www.jkup.net/terms.html. Visual design is one thing, but choosing the best terminology to label the links for your services and resources is another. This won't necessarily give you the answers, but will give you a lot of ammunition for the inevitable debates about "what to call those things we used to call indexes that you use to find journal articles". Kathleen Kathleen Turner Hagerty Library Drexel University khturner@drexel.edu ________________________________ From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org on behalf of Amy Drayer Sent: Wed 11/21/2007 12:35 PM To: Yitzchak Schaffer Cc: web4lib@webjunction.org Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Library Website Development Dear Yitzchak: We recently redesigned our library site; a summary document can be found at: http://e.jocolibrary.org/library/docs/pdf/JoCoLibraryWebRedesignResults.pdf or from the article at: http://www.jocolibrary.org/templates/JCL_NewsListItem.aspx?id=3359 For literature, I would recommend: "Web ReDesign 2.0: Workflow That Works" by Goto & Cotler "Don't Make Me Think! A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability" by Steve Krug (for inspiration) "Web Site Usability Handbook" by Mark Pearrow (for actual usability guidelines) Good luck! :-) -- In peace, Amy M. Drayer Web Interface Designer amostrom@gmail.com http://www.puzumaki.com On Nov 21, 2007 9:55 AM, Yitzchak Schaffer wrote: > Greetings web4libns: > > Touro has decided that it's time to overhaul our libraries' website. > Can anyone recommend literature relating to website/IA design process > (user studies, log analysis from existing site, web committees...), or > share experience? _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From kgs at bluehighways.com Thu Nov 22 08:49:13 2007 From: kgs at bluehighways.com (K.G. Schneider) Date: Thu Nov 22 08:49:21 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] PLATO? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20071122134915.92DF575B8@heartbeat1.messagingengine.com> > perhaps around 1974-75, the University of Illinois had something called > PLATO, which was some kind of ancient Internet game or program running > at their campus in Urbana-Champaign. IU students in Bloomington, > Indiana, would go to the library and log on via an Internet connection > (I guess they were telnetting) to UIUC to play the game. I had no idea > what they were doing back then; the Internet was only about 5 years old > at the time, fifteen years before the World Wide Web. The IU students > who were using it thought it was pretty cool. I wonder what they'd > think about it now. Anyway, does this sound familiar? Does anyone know > what the heck I'm talking about? Just curious. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLATO Karen G. Schneider kgs@freerangelibrarian.com From kgs at bluehighways.com Thu Nov 22 08:58:42 2007 From: kgs at bluehighways.com (K.G. Schneider) Date: Thu Nov 22 08:58:49 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Kindle Message-ID: <20071122135845.4DB385369@heartbeat1.messagingengine.com> > Roy Tennant wrote: > > Hmmm...let me see...spend $400 on a device where the only thing I > > can do > is > > read books, or spend the same amount on a different device where I > > can > read > > books, visit any web site I want, make phone calls, listen to tunes, > etc. > > Hmmm.... No "hmmm" for me here. The point is that Kindle converges reading onto a lightweight book-sized device over which one can read books, magazines, and (some) blogs. I don't want to read a postage stamp, not even a shiny pretty Apple-designed postage stamp. I panned the Kindle on my blog, but not for its size, attractiveness, or its failure to be a phone. After all, I have hundreds (and have owned thousands) of multiple "devices" (books, magazines, etc.). Lugging multiple "devices" as I travel is what makes the Kindle tempting. For a certain class of business traveler, Kindle makes a lot of sense. A Times subscription is so much cheaper it would pay for the Kindle in a year. If you like to read hardcover best-sellers, you can read them at almost half-off. The disturbing qualities of Kindle have to do with how it hoses fair use, narrows the world of books and reading to an Amazon-approved collection, and finds ways to charge you for your own content (and conditions you to pay for blogs). It's definitely not a library purchase; it's a library killer, intended to restructure the world around one book, one owner. My guess is it's not intended to be a real product as much as it is intended to proselytize the early adopters into a new way of seeing ownership and DRM (a game Apple knows quite well... part of my hesitation about the iPhone is my concern about the significance of a world where Apple can even dictate my phone carrier. It ain't THAT pretty). Here, Mr. Influential, have a $400 toy, now write about it. Humans are so predictable. A meta-observation: I followed the discussion on Amazon closely for a day. it fascinated me to see so many reviews on a product most of the reviewers hadn't seen or touched. That's not to pan the reviewers, but to note that the reviews were happening on a different mesa, as it were. It was (and is) an interesting discussion, and yes I don't really consider marketing lit to be a discussion. I'd still like to get my hands on a Kindle! (Tim, will you be adding a format tag to LibraryThing? ;> ) K.G. Schneider Free Range Librarian AIM/Email: kgs@freerangelibrarian.com http://freerangelibrarian.com From gerrymck at iastate.edu Thu Nov 22 14:39:12 2007 From: gerrymck at iastate.edu (Gerry Mckiernan) Date: Thu Nov 22 14:39:45 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] PLATO? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <47458681.B59E.0067.0@lib.iastate.edu> Ward/List Wikipedia has the details [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLATO] I was in library school at the time and had an opportunity to briefly use PLATO - It was Magic/Magical ... ! /Gerry Gerry McKiernan Associate Professor Science and Technology Librarian Iowa State University Library Ames IA 50011 !!! Social Networking is People !!! [ http://www.facebook.com/p/Gerry_McKiernan/16926735 ] Iowa: Where the Tall Corn Flows and the (North)West Wind Blows ... [ http://alternativeenergyblogs.blogspot.com/ ] >>> "Ward Price" 11/21/2007 7:24 PM >>> We've been discussing gaming in libraries recently, which caused a flashback. When I was an undergraduate student at Indiana University, perhaps around 1974-75, the University of Illinois had something called PLATO, which was some kind of ancient Internet game or program running at their campus in Urbana-Champaign. IU students in Bloomington, Indiana, would go to the library and log on via an Internet connection (I guess they were telnetting) to UIUC to play the game. I had no idea what they were doing back then; the Internet was only about 5 years old at the time, fifteen years before the World Wide Web. The IU students who were using it thought it was pretty cool. I wonder what they'd think about it now. Anyway, does this sound familiar? Does anyone know what the heck I'm talking about? Just curious. Ward Price Reference Librarian The University of Texas-Pan American Edinburg, TX 78541 wprice@utpa.edu (956) 316-7046 _______________________________________________ Web4lib mailing list Web4lib@webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ From lars at aronsson.se Thu Nov 22 23:20:08 2007 From: lars at aronsson.se (Lars Aronsson) Date: Thu Nov 22 23:27:40 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <4742F5EF.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> References: <20071120183013.41AAC189AE6@lists.webjunction.org> <4742F5EF.B6BE.004A.0@wlu.edu> Message-ID: Kyle Felker wrote: > Kindle uses a proprietary e-book format (.azw files), which > makes the kindle store and the kindle ebook reader inextricably > coupled. Aha, similar to iPod+iTunes. Or your phone + a subscription with the phone company. For total liberty from the phone company, you should only use CB (or ham) radio. Unfortunately, there are so few people you can call that way. Bell might have invented the phone (some argue about this), but did he also invent the subscription? The money doesn't come from the phone, it comes from the subscription. That's the important innovation. > What the consumer ebook market needs is an ebook version of the > MP3 file format: something that's supported by the majority of > the ebook reader hardware, and in which most content can be > obtained or easily converted to. Until we have this, ebook > usage is too tied to a particular vendor and service model and > too limited in what you can do with it to be appealing. > Put another way: vendors and publishers are going to have a > hard time selling a lot of ebooks until they stop strangling the > market with proprietary file formats and draconian DRM > restrictions. Until this happens, ANY ebook platform is going > to have a hard time succeeding. This might be your wishful dream (and mine), but is there any data to prove your point? We have had "plain text", HTML and PDF for ages, which are excellent DRM-free formats for reading text on any kind of device, but even if there might be demand, there is very little supply. It's so easy to make perfect pirate copies of a TXT file, that commercial publishers don't dare to sell a single copy. Judging from how much larger and more profitable phone companies (including equipment makers like Sony-Ericsson and Nokia) are than companies that sell CB equipment or even Palm Pilots, I'm not so sure that open formats/open solutions will have any future in the commercial market. Skype gets a lot of users, but they don't take in a lot of revenue, compared to traditional phone companies. > than any online ebook store I've been to yet, but there are > still titles I can't get in electronic format. The relevant comparison is: Can you get more with or without DRM? > kindle...until I remembered that a lot of that stuff is free on > the web, and I can already access it on my handheld. But how much longer will newspaper publishers provide that free service, with only advertising money, if they can get more money through a subscription deal? > I certainly won't be buying one. Me neither. But I don't really have the choice to buy DRM-free e-books instead. -- Lars Aronsson (lars@aronsson.se) Aronsson Datateknik - http://aronsson.se From MNorman at unity.edu Mon Nov 26 09:29:28 2007 From: MNorman at unity.edu (Melora Norman) Date: Mon Nov 26 09:29:39 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Kindle In-Reply-To: <20071122135845.4DB385369@heartbeat1.messagingengine.com> References: <20071122135845.4DB385369@heartbeat1.messagingengine.com> Message-ID: <0B0853C1734C944A948CFDEE899C85B9AE9598@EXCH01.campus.unity.edu> I agree that Kindle sounds like a decent business travel companion: if I were in and out of airports & wanting to be sure I had something handy to read while unexpectedly stuck out on the tarmac for several hours, Kindle would probably make a good toy for me. My eyes tire quickly while reading on computers, phones, and PDAs, and their batteries don't last long enough. Since the device doesn't interact at all with a computer, it does not seem like a useful academic product. Some of the ebooks I've purchased for my PC are equally useless for the same reason--they are so locked down, I can't even cut-and-paste a brief quote from them. When it comes right down to it, an ebook can be even less accessible than a paper book--at least we can OCR printed paper!! I'm leery of digital rights management software that causes a title to *expire* so as to mimic a loan; it's a poor substitute for actually being able to borrow a physical item which can easily be shared with family, friends, and colleagues. As long as lending books is a significant social pastime, it will be hard to come up with a viable substitute for a paper book. Melora Ranney Norman, director Quimby Library Unity College 90 Quaker Hill Road Unity, ME 04988 207.948.3131 x233 mnorman@unity.edu From suethoma at iusb.edu Mon Nov 26 10:47:04 2007 From: suethoma at iusb.edu (Thomas, Susan Elaine) Date: Mon Nov 26 10:47:15 2007 Subject: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader In-Reply-To: <20071120232011.AUT69599@mozart.merit.edu> References: <20071120232011.AUT69599@mozart.merit.edu> Message-ID: What is really interesting is to look at some of the research on using electronic text. Surprisinly studies and surveys with e-textbooks and college students still indicates a preference for print. Studies in the field of education on the use of computers in classrooms have been going on for over 30 years with some results indicating that using e-books actually decreases or has a negative impact on learning. There is some promise for books that are infused with media. One thing that stands out clear from all the research is that more research is needed. We don't have enough data to say for certain how e-books impact reading or cognitive ability. Perhaps researchers continue to note a need for more research because preliminary results are not favorable for this medium and there is this tremendous pressure to make it work. I sometimes suspect that we are all being conditioned to believe that everything has to be elctronic because we have been told that is what the future is supposed to look like - paperless. Susan E. Thomas Head of Collection Development Schurz Library Indiana University South Bend (574) 520-5500 suethoma@iusb.edu ________________________________________ From: web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org [web4lib-bounces@webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Mutch [amutch@waterford.lib.mi.us] Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 11:20 PM To: web4lib Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Amazon's Kindle e-book reader Rich, The problem with your analogy is that the e-book reader is a problem in search of a solution. You made the point yourself: "If the device serves a purpose, people will adopt it, and they will use it." So what purposes does an e-book reader serve that isn't fulfilled by the good old fashioned book? Is it cheaper? No. Is it more portable? For the vast majority of titles - No. Is it sturdier? No. Is it easier to read? No. Is it longer lasting? No. Does it have a longer "battery" life? Of course not and no electronic device is likely ever to match the book in this regard in the short or long-term. E-book readers keep coming up short both as technology and as a business model because they are trying to replace a product that works with one that doesn't work as well. We all know that the best product doesn't always win out. But outside of technophiles who want to digitize their entire libraries and carry them around with them wherever they go, how many users in the consumer market will this appeal to? I'm not going to say that there's no place for something like the Kindle Reader. But as it has been, I think it's a very niche product. In an earlier comment, someone alluded to the fact that if it was Amazon who produced this, it must have been thoroughly researched. But after seeing several generations of these products and their inherent shortcomings, I'm convinced that whatever market research has been done, it hasn't included very much with the people who come into our libraries every day and check out the books that we buy for our collections. Amazon might know best the people who buy books but I'm not sure that they know best the people who read books. If Amazon or the next e-book manufacturer spent 3 months watching and talking to patrons at public libraries large and small, I think they would come to some very different conclusions about what readers want from an e-book reader. Lest anyone think I'm anti e-book reader, I'm not. I think there is a place for them but I think the people who have been making them, and this includes Amazon's Kindle Reader, are pretty clueless about the best application of this technology. Grace Agnew touched on one application that seems a no-brainer for e-books - college (and high school) textbooks. Bob Rasmussen touched on another one - the interactive story book. Many public libraries offer such titles on their children's computers where a child can have a popular