One of the new ways that libraries can serve their communities is by hosting online services such as message boards and email lists. The fact they are library-supported gives them a built-in trust factor and boundaries of interest. Someone in Alaska, say, is unlikely to subscribe to the mailing list of a Tennessee library, which [...]

43 Folders: RSS of Public Library Check-outs and Requests Available for SF
Just last night, I requested that ELF add San Francisco’s public library to their collection of systems, and, bang, there it is when I wake up this morning: free RSS feeds of (and emails about) checked-out and on-request books with configurable reminders, mobile [...]

Boing Boing: DVD licensing cartel sued under anti-trust
The cartel that controls patents on DVD technologies is being sued by Chinese DVD makers, who are ebing forced to pay $20 per player, much higher than US manufacturers pay. The DVD makers have a good anti-trust case that could seriously bust this cartel.

I’d be happier about this [...]

LibraryTechtonics: Libraries in Philly managed by library assistants *instead of* librarians
My SO’s response, “It’s like trying to operate a hospital with nothing but nurses.”
Forgive me for forgetting who originated the idea, but it looks like the ALA does indeed need to start certifying libraries for standards of service.

Understanding Faculty to Improve Content Recruitment for Institutional Repositories
…the findings of our work-practice study suggest that with a faculty-centric approach to the design and marketing of repositories, IRs could become a compelling and useful tool. If properly aligned with the existing practices of faculty, IRs have the potential to fulfill many of their so far [...]

The Shifted Librarian: Gaming Google Group
Come and chat. Gamers are a loyal, passionate group who appreciate good service.

The Risks of Closed Source Computing
One large vendor likes to talk about the risks of Open Source software, but the strange thing is, the risk is actually in closed technologies. This article looks at the real risks in following a proprietary software path.

It’s well-written and easy to follow.

PLA Blog – Saturday, January 15, 2005
When the Santa Monica Public Library held a LAN party (linked 30 computers together so kids playing the game Counterstrike could play against one another), over 60 teens lined up outside the library an hour before the program began, eager to play

That would be so cool. Something most people [...]

The Globe and Mail: How copyright could be killing culture
As Americans commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy today, no television channel will be broadcasting the documentary series Eyes on the Prize. Produced in the 1980s and widely considered the most important encapsulation of the American civil-rights movement on video, the documentary series can [...]

Weird, I know, but true. I’ve been playing World of Warcraft since just after Thanksgiving. I got it because it looked like fun and because a couple of friends of mine had played in the beta test and were planning on getting it.
All of my friends have left town in the last couple of [...]

This was the answer to a problem of mine. I like it because it keeps the website dynamic and interesting while also providing a service to my users by aggregating content of interest to them.
The Problem
I manage the website of a local non-profit group. There is a section of the frontpage set aside for news [...]

In Information Wants To Be Free » Maslow and library technology, Meredith gives her view of the tech needs pyramid

Google As Walmart fromRetrofitted Librarian has a great explanation of why Internet sources aren’t the best way to find scholarly information.

walking paper: tech needs pyramid
Below is a diagram illustrating the levels of technology needs for libraries. Just as in Maslow’s scale, those at the base are core, essential needs that must be met for survival. As we look up the pyramid, we see technologies that can be considered higher functions.

It’s an interesting method of sifting [...]

Cory Doctorow has posted a point by point response to the common arguements for digital rights management.

What’s Your Brand Mantra?: Blogging the Tsunami
“(Blogs) are helping us understand the impact of this event in a way that other media just can’t,” with an intimate voice and an unvarnished perspective, with the richness of local context, Ms. Jardin said.
There has been an incredible sense of community and cooporation to assist the victims. It’s [...]