[LISNews] The LISNews For December 10th 2008
The LISNews Librarian News By Email
lisnews at lishost.net
Wed Dec 10 10:43:46 CST 2008
Sorry about yesterday, I accidentally sent the list out twice!
-Blake Carver
LISNews.org
It's Wednesday and time to highlight the most popular LISNews user blog posts from the past week.
Everyone gets a blog @LISNews.org!
-[1] - Pondering Maple Leaf Circumstances
http://lisnews.org/node/32092/
-[2] - THE HAND THAT SHELVES THE BOOKS
http://lisnews.org/node/32099/
-[3] - Philadelphians Resist Free Library Branch Closings
http://lisnews.org/node/32123/
-[4] - Visual Bookmarking
http://lisnews.org/node/32090/
-[5] - Gael Greene
http://lisnews.org/node/32101/
And here's the latest from LISNews:
--Drupal Users: Help get CCK functionality into Drupal 7.
- http://lisnews.org/node/32160/
-Front Page Story by Blake Posted Wednesday December 10th at 9:28 AM
-Read 65 times - 0 Comments
During the week of December 15, Dries Buytaert is organizing a 5-day Fields in Drupal core code sprint at Acquia! The goal
is to get CCK functionality into Drupal 7. To help them fund the sprint, please consider making a donation using the ChipIn
widget on this page. They need money for airline tickets, hotel rooms, food and transportation. It would also be great to
fly in a few additional people with extensive core and CCK experience. I kicked in a few bucks, and as of right now
they're at about 62% of the modest goal of $7,000.
--Good source of book reviews
- http://lisnews.org/node/32159/
-Blog Entry by nbruce Posted Wednesday December 10th at 8:59 AM
-Read 14 times - 0 Comments
I read more reviews than books--occasionally even send a suggestion to my local PL. Found a great souce the other day.
Studies in Intelligence at the CIA website. The physical journal is quite handsome too.
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/index.html Maybe Daniel has
already mentioned this source. Each issue has an "Intelligence Officer's Bookshelf"
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol52no3/the-intelligence-officer2019s-bookshelf.html
with really well balanced reviews. The reviewer makes careful note of things that matter to me--summaries, footnotes,
bibliography, index, etc. I don't want a reviewer who writes like the new best friend of the author, or someone who only
picks it apart. Another book review source I really enjoy is JAMA--any issue. If you're not reading those, you're
missing some excellent, thoughtful writing, even if the book may not be suitable for your clientele. Plus, the poetry and
essays are good, even if some of the medical stuff is over your head.
--IWF backs down on Wiki censorship
- http://lisnews.org/node/32158/
-Front Page Story by Blake Posted Wednesday December 10th at 8:31 AM
-Read 93 times - 0 Comments
The online watchdog, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), has withdrawn its objection to a Wikipedia page that contained an
image of a naked girl. The page of the online encyclopaedia shows an album cover of German heavy metal band Scorpions,
released in 1976.
--Librarian tip leads to sex charges against RI man
- http://lisnews.org/node/32157/
-Front Page Story by Blake Posted Wednesday December 10th at 8:30 AM
-Read 116 times - 1 Comments
An investigation that began with a librarian's tip produced an indictment against a 59-year-old local man who now faces
charges of sexual assault, child molestation and possessing child pornography. The library employee notified the police
after she discovered that he had been trying to engage others in "explicitly sexual chat" on one of the library's public
computers.
--Page through old magazines on Google Book Search
- http://lisnews.org/node/32156/
-Front Page Story by Bibliofuture Posted Wednesday December 10th at 3:07 AM
-Read 135 times - 0 Comments
Google's book search is no longer limited to just books—now, users can turn up magazine results when hunting through the
electronic versions of dead trees. The company announced Tuesday that it had begun an initiative to add magazine archives
(in addition to current issues) to its online collection, with full articles now showing up alongside search results for
various keywords. Full article here.
--Clueless book publishers miss huge opportunity
- http://lisnews.org/node/32155/
-Front Page Story by Bibliofuture Posted Wednesday December 10th at 3:01 AM
-Read 168 times - 1 Comments
Facing a downturn in book buying, and competition from online e-books, publishers are increasingly turning to cell phones.
No, they're not publishing new books on phones, as they obviously should. They're trying to market paper books via cell
phones. Full article here.
--Apple should add books to the iTunes Store
- http://lisnews.org/node/32154/
-Front Page Story by Bibliofuture Posted Wednesday December 10th at 2:50 AM
-Read 115 times - 0 Comments
With Tribune Company’s announcement yesterday that it is seeking bankruptcy protection it’s hard to find much good news in
the world of print publishing these days. One glimmer of hope is the migration of traditional media from atoms to bits.
The combination of rising cost and the worldwide economic slowdown are forcing print publishers to find ways to reduce
expenses and many are re-inventing themselves as digital publishers. Two major book publishers recently announced mobile
phone initiatives as part of the transition to a digital future. Penguin Group USA has launched Penguin Mobile (iTunes) a
free iPhone application which enables users to read about new releases from the company and listen to the Penguin Podcast.
Unfortunately the application falls short of being able to download and read full books, instead you’ll have to settle for
downloading chapter excerpts of select titles. Full article here.
--Philly Citizens Won't Quit Til They Keep Their Libraries
- http://lisnews.org/node/32153/
-Front Page Story by birdie Posted Tuesday December 9th at 7:33 PM
-Read 185 times - 1 Comments
Another story on the determined Philadelphians who want Mayor Nutter to assure them that they'll have libraries in their
neighborhood. MyFoxPhilly: They marched the two blocks from Genesis II Montessori School to 34th and Haverford, arriving
just as the Charles L. Durham library was opening for the day. "It's fun, reading, and it's fun telling stories," one boy
said. "Listen for the consequences of closing libraries today," said Katrina Clark, their teacher, reading a book to the
participants. They called the event a "Read-In" in the spirit of civil disobedience. Clark read aloud a book about
a town that closes a place just like the Durham branch. "'That's where the library used to be,' she said. 'What's a
library?'" she read. [Anyone know the title of the book?] Later, the kids bundled up again and trekked the more than 2.5
miles roundtrip to the library at 40th and Walnut just to make a point.
--Best Books For A Transformative New Year
- http://lisnews.org/node/32152/
-Front Page Story by Bibliofuture Posted Tuesday December 9th at 5:32 PM
-Read 179 times - 1 Comments
Maureen Corrigan on Fresh Air recommends some books: Allow me to begin by stating the obvious: there's something different
in the air this 2008 holiday season — and it's not just the Scrooge-like damper on spending cast by the financial crisis.
The holidays this year also serve as prelude to the inauguration of the nation's first African-American president. This is
such a milestone that most people I know are still walking around saying, "I can't believe it really happened." So this
year, I'm recommending some terrific books that can help anyone, whatever his or her politics, gain a deeper understanding
of what we've had to come through as a country —what we're still struggling through — to reach this moment. Listen to full
piece here.
--RezLibris, December 2008 issue
- http://lisnews.org/node/32151/
-Blog Entry by BunnyBurnstein Posted Tuesday December 9th at 4:08 PM
-Read 77 times - 2 Comments
Hello all! I just wanted to announce that the second issue of RezLibris, a library magazine created in Second Life, is
out! Check it out at http://rezlibris.com/ No...you don't have to be involved in Second Life to read it...or even to
enjoy it. So, take a glimpse...let us know what you think! Bunny Burnstein
--National Archivist Allen Weinstein Resigns
- http://lisnews.org/node/32150/
-Front Page Story by Blake Posted Tuesday December 9th at 2:49 PM
-Read 178 times - 0 Comments
National Archivist Allen Weinstein Resigns: On December 7, historian Allen Weinstein, Archivist of the United States,
submitted his resignation to the president, effective December 19, 2008. Professor Weinstein, who has Parkinson's disease,
cited health reasons for his decision. Deputy Archivist of the United States, Adrienne Thomas, will serve as Acting
Archivist until a new Archivist is appointed, in accordance with the National Archives governing statute, 44 USC 2103(c).
--George Bush library: Rooms available
- http://lisnews.org/node/32148/
-Front Page Story by Blake Posted Tuesday December 9th at 12:01 PM
-Read 360 times - 5 Comments
Suspend your partisan ties for the moment, and take a virtual tour through the library that the retiring president is
planning at the alma mater of the outgoing First Lady, Southern Methodist University. And, when you're finished, design
your own room. There is... "The Hurricane Katrina Room, which is still under construction. "The Alberto Gonzales Room,
where you won't be able to remember anything. "The Texas Air National Guard Room, where you don't even have to show up.
--Yellow pages struggle with Google threat
- http://lisnews.org/node/32147/
-Front Page Story by Blake Posted Tuesday December 9th at 11:57 AM
-Read 264 times - 5 Comments
Libraries aren't the only ones feeling the pressure from Google. YP publisher woes are symptomatic of an industry in which
once vital publications -- like Encyclopedia Britannica or the Official Airline Guide -- have had to adapt to the Web. In
the case of directories, high debt has compounded the challenge. Internet giant Google and other online outlets can offer
more flexible and far cheaper advertising than print media. Google also offers free listings linked to its popular maps to
the small businesses on which directories depend.
--Every Executive Should Have a Kindle
- http://lisnews.org/node/32146/
-Front Page Story by Bibliofuture Posted Tuesday December 9th at 10:00 AM
-Read 556 times - 26 Comments
I think that every executive should have a Kindle. I don't think the Kindle is a complete solution to meeting the
information needs of an executive but I think it can be extremely useful. There are currently 200,000 books available for
the Kindle. With it's ability to download books over the Sprint EVDO network the Kindle provides quick access to the books
that are not available on the Internet. When I talk about availability on the Internet I am not talking about the ability
to purchase a paper copy online but the ability to read the full text online. Full blog post at Nonstopbooks
--SFWA Update on proposed Google Books/Author's Guild settlement
- http://lisnews.org/node/32145/
-Front Page Story by Blake Posted Tuesday December 9th at 9:02 AM
-Read 180 times - 0 Comments
At this time, SFWA's initial and primary concern remains: this settlement reverses the long, legal standard of requiring
that rights to written work be obtained prior to their publication in any form, and forces authors to opt-out if they wish
to protect their rights.
--Why the Kindle is off my Christmas list
- http://lisnews.org/node/32144/
-Front Page Story by Blake Posted Tuesday December 9th at 9:00 AM
-Read 329 times - 3 Comments
Zack Whittaker: For the physical design, it looks ugly, it feels flimsy, and seems a bit tacky. You can’t even hold the
device in your hand without accidently pushing one of the buttons. It’s not a case of having sausage fingers, it’s more the
palms of your hands which end up mashing the buttons. Whilst I’m aware this is a technology website, I never thought I’d
recommend people stick to their books rather than a device which is meant to revolutionise reading.
--Women Librarians Who Settled the Wild West
- http://lisnews.org/node/32143/
-Front Page Story by birdie Posted Tuesday December 9th at 8:18 AM
-Read 277 times - 0 Comments
A timid, hair-wrapped-in-a-bun, pince-nez-wearing spinster (with a cardigan sweater). Is that the image you have of a
librarian from 100 years ago? Hell no, they were gun-toting, horseback-riding, walk-2-miles-to-work-in-a-blizzard type of
woman. Those were the kind of librarians who settled the West. Fascinating bit of history via the Chicago Tribune. Around
the turn of the 20th century, graduates of the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science
(then called the Illinois Library School) headed to places like Texas, North Dakota, Idaho and Oregon. Lisa Renee Kemplin,
senior library specialist at the University of Illinois, looks through Ida Kidder's 1908 letter from Salem, Ore., at the
Archives Research Center in Urbana. The letter and other documents catalog UI librarians' trips to the West 100 years ago.
--Douglas Winship (1953-2008), Rest in Peace
- http://lisnews.org/node/32142/
-Front Page Story by StephenK Posted Tuesday December 9th at 12:25 AM
-Read 285 times - 0 Comments
The long-time former listowner for AUTOCAT, Douglas Winship, appears to have passed away. Condolences can be sent to:
Carol Winship c/o Marsha Cerney Legislative Reference Library of Texas PO Box 12488 Austin, Texas 78711-2488
--Useful repository lines for your /etc/apt/sources.list on Ubuntu
- http://lisnews.org/node/32139/
-Front Page Story by StephenK Posted Tuesday December 9th at 3:03 AM
-Read 22 times - 0 Comments
For librarians thinking about maybe trying out Ubuntu or Xubuntu, the question may pop up as to what comparable tools are
available so you are not lost. While there is not necessarily a non-beta version of Adobe AIR available for Linux yet,
other tools are available. An example set of lines to add at the end of your /etc/apt/sources.list file to gain access to
these tools includes: # Gwibber -- Microblog platforms client akin to Twhirl deb
http://ppa.launchpad.net/gwibber-team/ubuntu intrepid main deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/gwibber-team/ubuntu intrepid
main # Unetbootin -- Universal netboot installer that makes bootable USB keys deb
http://ppa.launchpad.net/gezakovacs/ubuntu intrepid main deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/gezakovacs/ubuntu intrepid main
# Skype deb http://download.skype.com/linux/repos/debian/ stable non-free # Virtualbox -- Virtualization solution by Sun
Microsystems deb http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian intrepid non-freeThere are no warranties that any of the
applications listed above will work for anyone's particular circumstances. For those migrating away from Windows, though,
these tools may make the transition easier. In these strange economic times, trying out things does not have to be
catastrophic.
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