RIAA Apparently Willing to Cut Off Its Nose: The Shifted Librarian: Tuesday, July 29, 2003
I just put my home radio in the closet because I never used it. I listen to music on my laptop because it’s so much more convenient.

Internet Censorship in Libraries has been updated with a link to the final rules.
7/27/03- And another update to more open-source solutions.

MacMegasite – Yet another critical Windows security flaw
Joke unneccasary.

Library Journal | Reed Business Information- The Open Source Option
Frank Cervone discusses the benefits and drawbacks of open-source software. The article’s tone seems a little negative but he does a good job of outlining the facts.

Tim Bray, The Door Is Ajar, co-created XML 1.0 and he’s a respected voice in online tech circles. His analysis of the future of web browsers is based on 20 years of experience in the industry. He considers this a good time to try to start getting web surfers to switch to browsers other than [...]

Microsoft TechNet
There’s a flaw in the Windows code from 98 on up that leaves it open to the attack of the hacker’s choice. They recommend running the patch immediately.
Must resist Windows joke.

long live the king?

AOL officially kills Netscape

Netscape No More
Netscape R.I.P.
Netscape Dead
Sorting it Out
Mozilla Lives

AOL has discontinued the work on the Netscape browser. But to keep from completely alienating all of the users and the independent developers who contributed to the open-source project Mozilla (Netscape was almost Mozilla with a corporate wrapper around it), they have [...]

Buyers Bewildered By Techno-Speak
Not news to librarians who deal with the general public, but it does reinforce the idea that there is a section of our population who need beginner classes in modern technology and might be more willing to trust their local librarians than other strangers. As our technology and culture both evolve, [...]

NLG Project Planning: A Tutorial “is provided to assist you in developing a project plan for a National Leadership Grant application. While we hope you find it helpful in preparing your application, your use of the tutorial is not a requirement of applying for a National Leadership Grant.”

EFF Opposes Printer Manufacturer’s Broad DMCA Claims
In a nutshell, Lexmark is trying to use the DMCA to keep people from using printer toner cartridges manufactured by other companies in their printers. When will companies realize that trying to monopolize customers’ choices just makes their products less attractive.
Oh wait, it works for Microsoft…

Marketing is an important task that seems to be overlooked in many libraries. Just offering useful services doesn’t work if your patrons don’t know they’re available. Even a simple marketing strategy can make your library and your services much more visible in your organization, giving you extra leverage when it’s budget time.
Act Your Age delivers [...]

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (as explained in the link) was written using several characters that had passed into the public domain. It makes a good demonstration of the value of expiring copyright.

Aaron’s Censorware
Ed Felten half-seriously suggests that we create censorware that doesn’t overblock and has an open list, so that US libraries who want to receive federal funding can do so without unduly harming free speech.
Up for the challenge, I’ve written a simple censorware program (the censor code is only a couple of lines): censor.py
It looks [...]

Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines

Usability testing of library websites: Selected resources