[LISNews] It's Back! The LISNews For January 12th 2011
The LISNews Librarian News By Email
lisnews at lishost.net
Wed Jan 12 07:53:22 CST 2011
I finally found some time to get the LISNews mailer pieced back together. I upgraded LISNews to a newer version of Drupal, which means just about everything done gone and broke. The email is still missing a few little things, but it's more or less working now, so I thought I'd send one out today! Do let me know if anything on the site or in this email is wrong, broken, ugly or missing!
Thanks for your patience,
Blake Carver
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] - If Oprah can't save libraries...
http://lisnews.org/node/38393/
-[2] - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
http://lisnews.org/node/38423/
-[3] - British Library Launches Treasures app for Smart Phones
http://lisnews.org/node/38421/
And here's the latest from LISNews:
--Women's underwear discussion now open to men, with reservations
- http://lisnews.org/node/38431/
The Lake Villa District Library had scheduled a discussion, to be led by Ellie Carlson, titled, "Unmentionables: the Rise and Fall of Ladies' Underwear," at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 20. The program
was limited only to women, but as of Monday, the library had opened it to men, as well, with a caveat. A note on the library's website now says, "This program is designed for ladies only. Men may attend
(but that may put a damper on the discussion!") WLS radio has story Chicago Tribune article Library's website of adult programs Presenter's website: Speaking of Unmentionables: The Rise and Fall of
Ladies Underwear
--Berkshire vice chair gives $3M of stock to library
- http://lisnews.org/node/38430/
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s Vice Chairman Charlie Munger gave stock worth nearly $3 million to the nonprofit Huntington Library in southern California. Full article
--LISTen: An LISNews.org Podcast -- Episode #136
- http://lisnews.org/node/38429/
This week's tardy podcast brings discussion of the upgrade to the LISNews back-end and a news miscellany. As referenced in the episode, your podcatcher should be pointed at the following target to best
receive the program in case we have to switch to any backup systems through the technical wizardry of variable endpoints: http://feeds.feedburner.com/LISNewsNetcasts Related links: The Register on the
net neutrality debate at CES 2011 Larry Downes on the net neutrality debate at CES 2011 Nate Anderson of Ars Technica on a short-coming to the net neutrality order Wikipedia on FidoNet Wikipedia on UUCP
LockerGnome on Internet Alternatives Megan McCardle on Borders The Register on Overwhelming Smut Online in Australia
--New Librarian for Yale Beinecke Library
- http://lisnews.org/node/38428/
The new year is bringing a new librarian to the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library according to the Yale Daily News. Edwin C. Schroeder will serve a five-year term as Librarian of the Beinecke
and Associate University Librarian, which began Jan. 1. Schroeder has filled a number of positions of increasing responsibility in Sterling Memorial Library and Beinecke library since arriving at Yale in
1989. He began as a catalogue librarian in Sterling, and most recently has been head of technical services for Beinecke library since 2004. University President Richard Levin notified the Yale community
of the appointment a Dec. 20 email, just five weeks after the death of University Librarian and former head of Beinecke library Frank Turner GRD '71. “E.C. looks forward to building on Frank Turner’s
accomplishments,” Levin said in the e-mail. “We look forward to sustaining the unique excellence of the Beinecke.” Levin added that Schroeder, who was the chair of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section
of the Association of College and Research Libraries, brings an “impressive breadth of rare book and managerial experience” to his new post.
--L. A.'s Mystery Books to Close; Can't Compete with Amazon
- http://lisnews.org/node/38427/
>From LA Observed: Owners Kirk Pasich and Pamela Woods say they can no longer compete with Amazon - and a sour economy hasn't helped. The decision to close comes just as the Borders' store in Westwood is
in the process of shutting down. That leaves Westwood without any bookstore, chain or independent. I also believe it's the last mystery bookstore in L.A. From an email being sent out: We simply cannot
compete with the Amazons of the world and the impact of the economy. We love the bookstore and mysteries and the relationships we've formed with authors and publishers and agents and publicists. But, we
do have retirement to think about (not in the near future!), and family and, well, all of those things that require money. So, it is with considerable sadness that we announce that The Mystery Bookstore,
Los Angeles, will--after many years (and as apparently the last-standing bookstore in Westwood, other than UCLA's student store)--be closing. Last day is Jan. 31.
--Out with The Old, In With the New 'Young Hip Librarians'
- http://lisnews.org/node/38426/
SAN DIEGO — The American Library Association capped its national conference at the San Diego Convention Center by honoring creators of children's books. One recurring theme at the conference was how
libraries stay relevant in the lives of young readers as many librarians near retirement. Stand-up comedian Meredith Myers (above) is part of a new group of young librarians who are busting stereotypes
about who is a "typical librarian." “I think we need cool librarians,” said Myers, who sports a stylish hat, bright red hair and black biker boots. “Image is important. (Younger patrons) are more likely
to ask for help from people who they can identify with.” Myers is part of a growing number of young librarians who are busting stereotypes of the “typical librarian” and forcing change within their own
libraries. They said it is not uncommon today to see librarians wearing Doc Martin boots, tattoos and dreadlocks. And some new librarians say they are more interested in pop culture than historical text.
Library advocates said it is all part of the 21st Century library – a place with cool technology and cool people. “For 32 years we’ve been fighting this stereotype of the typical librarian who is old,
has a bun and glasses. We haven’t been that way for a long time,” said Audra Caplan, president of the Public Library Association. “I think the excitement of new technologies and new ways to respond make
it really exciting to this upcoming generation.”
--Librarian: The iPhone / iPad Game?
- http://lisnews.org/node/38425/
Finally, a iPhone / iPad game just for library workers: http://speakquietly.blogspot.com/2011/01/librarian-game.html
--Scientific Data Stewardship
- http://lisnews.org/node/38424/
Lessons Learned from a Satellite-Data Rescue Effort Article in the September 2007 issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
--The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
- http://lisnews.org/node/38423/
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is listed as one of the best books of 2010 in several places. Here is an article discussing the book: Why Not Take All of Me? Reflections on The Immortal Life of
Henrietta Lacks and the Status of Participants in Research Using Human Specimens
--After Death, Protecting Your 'Digital Afterlife'
- http://lisnews.org/node/38422/
Chances are good that you have hundreds, maybe thousands of e-mails stored on remote servers or in your computer. You might have a Facebook page, or a Tumblr or Twitter account. And you might have
countless photos in a Flickr album. All that information amounts to a digital profile of sorts, which raises an interesting question: What happens to that online material when we die? That depends on how
you prepare beforehand, says John Romano. Romano and a colleague, Evan Carroll, edit The Digital Beyond, a website that helps users plan what happens to their online content after their death. Romano and
Carroll both join Dave Davies for a discussion about online digital legacies. Full piece on NPR
--British Library Launches Treasures app for Smart Phones
- http://lisnews.org/node/38421/
Over 100 highlights, including literary, historical, music-related and scientific documents - alongside illuminated manuscripts and sacred texts. Each is presented through high-resolution images,
allowing the viewer to zoom in and explore in detail. Literary highlights include Charles Dickens’s handwritten draft of Nicholas Nickleby and Jane Austen’s teenage writings, while key historical
documents include 2000-year-old Oracle Bones from China and an original Magna Carta of 1215. The section devoted to music includes manuscript scores from some of the best-known classical composers, such
as Handel, Purcell, Mozart and Schubert. Available across multiple mobile platforms: iPhone, iTouch, Android and, in an HD version, the iPad. More info here: http://www.bl.uk/app/index.html
--Book piracy Less DRM more data
- http://lisnews.org/node/38420/
Book piracy: Less DRM, more data As digital book publishing continues to expand at a rapid pace to meet reader demands, piracy rears its head at the forefront of many a discussion in publisher circles.
Many publishers respond to the perceived threat with strict digital rights management (DRM) software. But is this the best solution? And does it even provide protection from piracy?
--Buy India a Library
- http://lisnews.org/node/38419/
Buy India a Library About the project Buy India a Library is an appeal from four librarians on Twitter. We want to raise enough money via PayPal donations, to buy a mobile library in India, or even a
permanent library with books, furniture and staff! Please get involved, give as much as you can, and spread the word to as many people as possible. Let's make this happen!
--What's Still Broken On LISNews.org?
- http://lisnews.org/node/38418/
I did an upgrade recently and I'm still trying to get things pieced back together again. If you spot something missing or broken, please do let me know!
--Newbery & Caldecott Medals Awarded at ALA Midwinter
- http://lisnews.org/node/38416/
>From the LA Times/ Jacket Copy Blog: The American Library Assn. presented its top honors for books for children and young adults at a ceremony in San Diego Monday morning. The highest award, the Newbery
Medal, is awarded each year to the most distinguished book for children; it went to "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool. The Caldecott Medal, the top award for illustration, went to the book "A Sick
Day for Amos McGee," illustrated by Erin E. Stead and written by Philip C. Stead. The ALA award medallions, which can be found on the covers of later editions of the winning books, not only signify
excellence, they also can mean a longer commercial life for the books, as well as assure they find a place in libraries. Finalists also receive the medallions. The hour-long ceremony, which began at 7:45
a.m., included the announcement of dozens of awards and finalists before an audience attending the ALA's midwinter conference. The roster of winners was too long to invite the authors, illustrators or
publishers to the podium to accept their awards.
--Introducing: Walking Paper Shop
- http://lisnews.org/node/38414/
Introducing: Walking Paper Shop Visit the Walking Paper Shop to check out the new Creating the Future for Libraries notebooks, pencils, and, for the first time, a calendar! As usual, free shipping. Check
out all the neat stuff!
--11 answers for libraries in 2011
- http://lisnews.org/node/38413/
11 answers for libraries in 2011 Kathryn Greenhill: Will libraries, museums, archives, public broadcasters and art galleries converge? How do we force publishers to give us ebook content that includes
works that our users want and that they find easy to download to their chosen device? Gartner claimed in April 2007 that by the end of 2011, 80% of our users would have avatars in a virtual world. What
happened? Aaron Has One Answer.
--Playing Catch-Up in a Digital Library Race
- http://lisnews.org/node/38409/
As Japan and European countries are digitizing collections for national one-stop searching, efforts in the United States have been scattered. Full article in the NYT
--Library Leaders Face Tough Choices
- http://lisnews.org/node/38408/
America's libraries are being forced to redefine and advocate for their continuing value in society, and library hours are being cut when library use is at an all time high. At ALA Mid-Winter in San
Diego, Roberta Stevens, President of the American Library Association, talks about the organization's plans to address challenges and identify solutions. When asked how libraries are faring around the
country, she answered, “The good news is that there is no longer any question about why do we have libraries, why do we need them.” On the other hand, she said, “Just like other parts of the country,
libraries are being affected by cuts in funding.” Stevens said libraries are doing more with less already. “I think at some point you can reach the juncture where you can’t do any more than you’re doing.
What libraries have been doing is what you have seen in San Diego, cuts in hours to accommodate the lower budget. But the problem is every time you cut hours, you’re shutting out thousands and thousands
of people.”
--Ion Book Scanner
- http://lisnews.org/node/38407/
More info here
--ProQuest Buys Ebrary
- http://lisnews.org/node/38406/
Ebrary, one of the pioneers in aggregating books and other print content online, has been acquired by ProQuest for an undisclosed price. Founded in 1999 by Christopher Warnock and Kevin Sayar, ebrary
hosts more than 273,000 digital books, handbooks, reports, maps, journals and other content from about 500 publishers. Full story
--BISG Survey Finds Students Prefer Print
- http://lisnews.org/node/38405/
The Book Industry Study Group has released the results of a new survey it conducted, called Student Attitudes Toward Content in Higher Education. Among the findings are that 75% of college students say
they prefer textbooks in printed rather than e-text form, citing print's look and feel, as well as its permanence and ability to be resold. Full story
--If you believe in things like libraries and used-book stores
- http://lisnews.org/node/38404/
Story on NPR about a recent court decision about the resale of promo music CDs. Legal issue involves the first sale doctrine and the piece has this line in it - "First Sale is incredibly important if you
believe in things like libraries and used-book stores." 'For Promotional Use Only - Not For Resale' — Oh Yes It Is
--Suspect Nabbed in Portsmouth VA Library Arson
- http://lisnews.org/node/38403/
Authorities have a suspect in custody in connection with the Christmas Day arson at the Portsmouth VA Public Library as reported by Hampton Roads. Brannon Godfrey, a deputy city manager, said in an
e-mail to city officials Friday that the man was in police custody on an unrelated case and confessed to setting the fire. The Fire Department identified him as Tyrone Donte Taylor of Portsmouth. He was
being held in the Portsmouth jail without bond. The fire was set about 6 p.m. in the book drop at the rear of the building and damaged the area near the book drop. But soot and ash spread through the
building, and the library will be closed for at least 90 days for cleanup and repairs.
--Awww....Cats and Books
- http://lisnews.org/node/38402/
Some fine bookstore cats for your Friday from Mental Floss.
--Book Em: Library Bandits
- http://lisnews.org/node/38401/
Book ’Em: Library Bandits Literature ennobles and enlightens. Most of the time. But when outlaws and crooks turn reading and writing into accessories to their crimes, we Book ’Em.
--Shuffling Away from Buffalo...to Queens
- http://lisnews.org/node/38400/
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - One day after announcing she would be leaving her post at the end of her contract, Buffalo and Erie County Library Director Bridget Quinn-Carey has accepted a job in Queens. The
Library Board announced Tuesday that Quinn-Carey would leave her post at the end of her three-year contract on March 4th. Quinn-Carey has now accepted a job with the library system in Queens. For nearly
three years she's overseen the libraries as they dealt with major budget cuts. She told "Business First," she doesn't blame the money crunch for her departure. Additional coverage on Quinn-Carey's move
here (whoa, she's 'commuting' from Buffalo to NYC). Does there seem to be more movement among library directors as of late?
--Selling a Book by Its Cover
- http://lisnews.org/node/38398/
In the digital age, the printed book has received a stay of execution from an unlikely source: designers. Full article
--The Mark Twain Controversy Continues, and Nancy Pearl Weighs In
- http://lisnews.org/node/38397/
As we've heard recently, in NewSouth Book's new edition of Huckleberry Finn, they will replace the "n-word" and "injun" with the word slave. More on the forthcoming edition from The New York Times.
Nancy Pearl, just named Librarian of the Year says "I think it's a mistake, because books are written at a particular time in history, and we need to read them with the knowledge that they're written at
those times. This is the way the world was then, and this is the way the world is now, when that kind of language isn't acceptable." Pearl told KIRO Radio's Frank Shiers that if readers are offended by
the use of such language in the book they simply don't get it (below). More audio at MyNorthwest.com
--Library Journal's Librarian of the Year, a Logical Choice
- http://lisnews.org/node/38395/
LJ has chosen it's Librarian of 2011, and no surprise, it's the one and only Nancy Pearl. No one other than Nancy Pearl has so convinced Americans that libraries, books, and reading are critical to
our communities. Her passionate advocacy has done that nationwide for thousands of individual readers and library workers in the trenches at the local level. She has spread book lust via broadcasts to the
nation on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition and from local radio and TV outlets and through her blog posts and tweets. She has done it in hundreds of workshops and performances for library patrons,
library staff at all levels, and small groups of readers who want to be with her to discuss what they’ve read and what they have written. She has taught the skills and techniques of collection
development, readers’ advisory (RA), and booktalking to the LIS students at the University of Washington Information School, and honed RA skills across staffing lines in the public libraries of Detroit,
Tulsa, and Seattle.
--Unlike Tyrants, The Revolution May Not Be Digitized
- http://lisnews.org/node/38394/
From bloggers of Myanmar's 2007 Saffron Revolution to tweeters of the protests that followed Iran's 2009 election, the Internet has proven itself to be a tool in promoting change and democracy in the
world. But Evgeny Morozov, author of The Net Delusion, argues that it doesn't always work out that way. "The change is not always positive," Morozov tells NPR's Neal Conan. "Yes, [social media] are
affecting the world. But it also looks like the other side — the authoritarian governments — are getting empowered as well." Full story
--If Oprah can't save libraries...
- http://lisnews.org/node/38393/
There is another. He's blue. He's furry. And he's hungry. Join the movement. I think he can help. http://on.fb.me/gfXWdW yes, this is a link to the corporate behemoth that is facebook, so I
apologize in advance.
--And the podcast audio payloads have disappeared...
- http://lisnews.org/node/38392/
Due to circumstances beyond our control, podcast payloads have been temporarily disabled. From a suitably equipped Macintosh or Linux computer bearing the curl package, the following command will
download the audio of LISTen #135 for you: curl -C - -L -o “LISTen-135.mp3“ http://ubuntuone.com/p/WgV/ A duplicate of the episode audio is being hosted on Ubuntu One
temporarily during this period of transition for the back-end to LISNews.
--Librarian Contestant On Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
- http://lisnews.org/node/38391/
Will Erhard Konerding become a millionaire? The Wesleyan librarian may know already, but the rest of us will have to wait until the April 14 broadcast of ABC’s “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire” quiz show.
Konerding, a documents specialist in Olin Library, is a contestant in the episode tentatively scheduled for broadcast then. It taped Nov. 17 in New York City. The top prize is $1 million.
--The Iowa City Bike Library
- http://lisnews.org/node/38390/
A new project from Iowa City Bike Library, which has a mission of increasing the number bicyclists and supports that through a free bike loan program, will assess if there is demand to offer regular bike
maintenance classes to the community. For $5/hour you can use the bike library's tools, books, and equipment to tune up or repair your bike. Rental bench is free for Environmental Advocates, Bicyclists of
Iowa City, or Bike Library volunteers. Rental Bench hours are from 12noon to 3pm on Saturdays.
--Publib: Compilation of Library Songs
- http://lisnews.org/node/38389/
A Neat Thread over on PUBLIB ended up with a collection of library songs. This website has a list of songs about librarians and libraries is given in a link in the wikipedia article about librarians in
popular culture: http://www.blisspix.net/library/songs.html
--Books aren't dead at university libraries
- http://lisnews.org/node/38388/
Books aren't dead at university libraries To understand why so much money is being poured into the modern university library (the U.'s library costs more than $18 million a year to run), you have to
expand your concept of a library beyond print. This isn't to say the modern university library doesn't have books. They do. But the way students use a library goes beyond books to include e-books,
research databases, classes, studying and socializing.
--Towards a National Library Transition Plan
- http://lisnews.org/node/38387/
Public libraries are undergoing huge changes in the shift from analog to digital media. Some large city libraries have hired digital strategists to help them take appropriate steps in this transition.
Smaller or poorer libraries don't have the benefit of having a full-time staff person working on the transition. To keep those libraries from falling behind, it makes sense to devise a national plan for
this transition – a plan that will unfold in increments over the next ten years. http://www.pcworld.com/article/215445/article.html
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