[LISNews] The LISNews For February 24th 2009

Tue Feb 24 10:59:03 CST 2009

On Tuesdays we take a look at the stories that got the most comments in the last week.

-[1] - Koran and Bible Moved To the Top Shelves in U.K.
   http://lisnews.org/node/32816/
-[2] - Snark: It's Mean, It's Personal, and It's Ruining Our Conversation
   http://lisnews.org/node/32801/
-[3] - Do We Need a New Internet? 
   http://lisnews.org/node/32802/
-[4] - Booksellers Discuss the Value of E-books and Print Books
   http://lisnews.org/node/32817/
-[5] - Pico Projectors
   http://lisnews.org/node/32849/

And here's the latest from LISNews:

--Media-Morphosis: How the Internet Will Devour, Transform, or Destroy Your Favorite Medium
- http://lisnews.org/node/32880/
-Front Page Story by Blake Posted Tuesday February 24th at 10:16 AM
-Read 83 times - 4 Comments
Cory Doctorow isn't writing about libraries, but I can't help but want to apply this to libraries: But just because an
industry is socially worthy, it doesn't follow that it is commercially viable. Today, besides newspapers, three other media
are thrashing over their futures in a networked world, and as with newspapers, the rhetoric is mostly of the nonproductive
"But I like it!" and "It's good for society!" variety, with not enough thought given to whether these media are commercially
viable in the Internet age.

--Can High Density Barcodes Connect the Mobile Library User?
- http://lisnews.org/node/32879/
-Front Page Story by Blake Posted Tuesday February 24th at 9:15 AM
-Read 77 times - 0 Comments
Eric Schnell Wonders, Can High Density Barcodes Connect the Mobile Library User? High density bar codes like QR codes and
Microsoft Tag can both serve a similar function: linking the physical to networked resources for either objects or
locations. Librarians could put these bar codes on handouts could direct customers directly to databases, a journal article
or a current bibliography. Codes on various physical services could lead customers to help and tip sheets. Codes on
promotional and marketing materials could lead customers to library resources.

--Keep libraries free!
- http://lisnews.org/node/32878/
-Front Page Story by Blake Posted Tuesday February 24th at 8:13 AM
-Read 108 times - 0 Comments
Keep libraries free!  So Say The Censors, So Say The Kids Yesterday Indexed took a funny little look a library censorship.

--Indiana Library consolidation bill includes voter opt-out
- http://lisnews.org/node/32877/
-Front Page Story by Blake Posted Tuesday February 24th at 8:02 AM
-Read 88 times - 0 Comments
A  measure now before the Indiana Senate would allow library districts to opt out of proposed reorganization efforts with a
little help from voters.  Senate Bill 348 would establish a service planning committee in each county to craft a plan for a
consolidated county library system or draw up -- and defend -- a proposal to maintain multiple library districts.  The
effort is a product of the Kernan-Shepard local government reform commission, which found that 6.5 percent of the state's
population -- in pockets of 38 counties -- does not have access to library services. 

--Hanging Up On Uncontrolled Vocabulary
- http://lisnews.org/node/32876/
-Front Page Story by Blake Posted Tuesday February 24th at 7:49 AM
-Read 112 times - 0 Comments
A weekly live interactive roundtable discussion of all things library, Greg: In short, it’s time to devote more of my
headspace to being daddy. Toward that end, and with a heavy heart, I’m putting the show on hiatus. I’m hesitant to declare
it a permanent vacation, as situations change and I’ve been known to change my mind, but that’s a distinct possibility.

--Publisher speculates about Amazon/Google e-book "duopoly"
- http://lisnews.org/node/32874/
-Front Page Story by Blake Posted Tuesday February 24th at 7:29 AM
-Read 75 times - 0 Comments
Speaking at Princeton on Thursday, Richard Sarnoff, chairman of the Association of American Publishers, discussed the
landmark settlement in the Google Book Search case. Sarnoff speculated that the agreement could effectively give Google and
Amazon a "duopoly" in the online book market.  

--ARL Recommends Community-Wide Process to Develop New OCLC Policy for Use & Transfer of WorldCat Records
- http://lisnews.org/node/32873/
-Front Page Story by Blake Posted Tuesday February 24th at 7:18 AM
-Read 79 times - 0 Comments
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Ad Hoc Task Force to Review the Proposed OCLC Policy for Use and Transfer of
WorldCat Records has issued its final report, which calls on OCLC to develop a new policy to replace the one released in
November 2008. The report is freely available on the ARL Web site http://www.arl.org/bm~doc/oclc-report-jan09.pdf. 

--Why Kindle Should Be An Open Book
- http://lisnews.org/node/32872/
-Blog Entry by birdie Posted Monday February 23rd at 8:05 PM
-Read 68 times - 0 Comments
Why Kindle Should Offer an Open Book Policy...some thoughts from Tim O'Reilly.

--Tough Times Ahead for Law Library Budgets
- http://lisnews.org/node/32871/
-Blog Entry by webdonkey Posted Monday February 23rd at 5:08 PM
-Read 137 times - 0 Comments
On January 26th Law Librarian Blog launched a little poll on the financial situation law libraries are finding themselves
in because of the dismal state of the US economy. I would like to thank the 220-plus participants from all types of law
libraries. The results look grim for the current and next fiscal years.

--One fitness story with two librarians
- http://lisnews.org/node/32870/
-Blog Entry by Anonymous Patron Posted Monday February 23rd at 4:57 PM
-Read 177 times - 0 Comments
Sometimes, saying yes instead of no, or veering right when the map says left, turns our lives onto a trail we never even
saw. And we are changed forever.  Such is the way it can happen with fitness, as it did for the four people you're about to
meet. For the most part, we let them do the talking. So read on. Then let us know how you got started. 

--Visual Libraries - Leave your Mark
- http://lisnews.org/node/32868/
-Blog Entry by Anonymous Patron Posted Monday February 23rd at 3:57 PM
-Read 125 times - 0 Comments
Portsmouth Central Library and The University of Portsmouth in the UK have collaborated on Visual Libraries. For the first
time the library members are encouraged to leave their mark inside visual library books. A collaborative, visual project
which encourages you to sign out a Visual Library Book and ‘Leave Your Mark’.  45 Visual Library Books have been placed in
Portsmouth Central Library and each has its own theme ranging from; Portsmouth, My City, When I Open My Eyes, Whilst I Was
Waiting, Love, What’s in My Pocket and Memories. The intention is for you to feel free to explore the Visual Library Books
and choose a theme that you like.   A Visual Library Book is whatever you want it to be, a sketchbook, a journal, a diary, a
notepad.  You can ‘Leave Your Mark’ in whatever way you want, ranging from drawing, writing, sewing, adding photographs,
markings, printing and sticking. How you make your marks is entirely up to you. All we ask is that you have fun with the
different themes.    For Further Details: claire.sambrook at port.ac.uk In Association with: Rhodia, Seawhite, Portsmouth City
Council, University of Portsmouth, COPIC Pens  http://www.visuallibraries.com

--It looks more and more like the Clinton era
- http://lisnews.org/node/32867/
-Blog Entry by mdoneil Posted Monday February 23rd at 3:32 PM
-Read 194 times - 7 Comments
Now the stock market looks Clintonian.   Yipee, I can retire at 63 now!  I am so glad I get to work those 13 extra years  
OK as soon as the tax and spend group is gone it will start to get better, but retirement in 8 years seems doubtful now.  So
were we not supposed to work hard and save for retirement by investing in equities and thus increasing our GDP?   Was there
a memo that I was supposed to chuck it all and suckle at the public teat? 

--There's a Book Under Her Bed
- http://lisnews.org/node/32866/
-Front Page Story by birdie Posted Monday February 23rd at 1:46 PM
-Read 283 times - 3 Comments
I (Elizabeth Davies) have a confession to make: There's an overdue library book under my bed.  If you are my librarian,
that confession doesn't come as any surprise. In fact, I'm fairly certain the library is thinking of naming its next
addition, "The Elizabeth Davies Overdue Fine Center."  It's not that I intend to be delinquent, of course. But I seem to
have trouble getting through an entire book in just two weeks. I always think I can do it, but since having children, I
consistently find myself re-reading the same paragraph over and over again. It seems to take days to turn the page.  It's
just a darned good thing that I don't live in Independence, Iowa. That's where a 39-year-old woman was arrested on a charge
of failing to return a library book over the course of nine months. Ironically, the $14 book was "The Freedom Writers Diary"
-- and it cost the library patron $250 to free herself from jail.  Hopefully, the threat of being jailed for that book under
the bed won't keep people out of libraries. It's only in recent years that I found out what awesome places libraries are.
Growing up, we lived outside the city limits so we didn't qualify for a free library card. Thus, I only really thought of
the library as a place to do research for homework.  More from TH Online.

--Very expensive Kindle title
- http://lisnews.org/node/32865/
-Front Page Story by Bibliofuture Posted Monday February 23rd at 10:42 AM
-Read 476 times - 6 Comments
Before you click the link to see the book take a guess at the cost. See how close you are.  Very expensive Kindle ebook
title: Practical Variable Speed Drives and Power Electronics (Practical Professional Books)  The sales rank for the book is
32,000. I wonder if Amazon really sold a copy or if certain Amazon employees have free downloads and they got the book just
to say they had a title this expensive or just to see what a book that cost this much looks like.  

--The Law Formerly Known as 'No Child Left Behind'?
- http://lisnews.org/node/32864/
-Front Page Story by birdie Posted Monday February 23rd at 10:20 AM
-Read 235 times - 0 Comments
Report from the NYTimes: Two years ago, an effort to fix No Child Left Behind, the main federal law on public schools
provoked a grueling slugfest in Congress, leading Representative George Miller, Democrat of California, to say the law had
become “the most negative brand in America.”    Education Secretary Arne Duncan agrees. “Let’s rebrand it,” he said in an
interview. “Give it a new name.”  And before Mr. Duncan has had time to float a single name, scores of educators, policy
wonks and assorted rabble-rousers have rushed in with an outpouring of proposals.   A blog contest to rename the No Child
Left Behind law has received entries like the Rearranging the Deck Chairs Act and the Teach to the Test Act.  Here's the
website sponsoring the contest. So far, 216 suggestions have been made.  

--Paper Cut: Missouri College Embraces E-Textbooks
- http://lisnews.org/node/32863/
-Front Page Story by Bibliofuture Posted Monday February 23rd at 10:19 AM
-Read 216 times - 0 Comments
The college textbook is on track to becoming a relic of the paper-and-ink era. On campuses around the country, professors
and students are selecting digital versions of books that can be read off of a computer screen.  Most college students are
used to going online for music, videos and news — so why not textbooks?  One college in rural Missouri is the first trying
to go entirely book-free.  Full story at NPR

-------------------------
If you need to take yourself off the LISNews email you can hit this page: 
 http://lishost.net/mailman/listinfo/lisnews 
 Or, just send an email to lisnews-request at lishost.net and make the subject unsubscribe.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

LISNews is powered by LISHost.org, the librarian web services company
http://lishost.org

-----------------------------------------------------------------