Keeping Found Things Found is a NSF funded project at the Information School at the University of Washington. The classic concern of information retrieval has been to help people find the relatively small number of things they are looking for from a very large set of possibilities. This project studies how things, once found, are organized for re-access and re-use later on.
| Categorized in: Form: Research Project , Library: Digital/Web , Process: Indexing , Process: Records ManagementI haven't read through this Yahoo Keyword Density Analysis Comparison to Google yet, but thought I'd pass it along.
| Categorized in: Form: Case Study , Library: Digital/Web , Process: Indexing , Topic: Search EnginesALiNUS is a directory of academic library newsletters. I've just come across it (after somehow finding it in my bookmarks), and it has already proved to be a great resource for environmental scanning of academic libraries, ideas for programs, and job postings. While not entirely comprehensive, the database already includes 600+ links, which are checked monthly for freshness.
| Categorized in: Form: Website , Library: AcademicIt's been a little quiet here recently, for a number of reasons.
First, I'm suffering through a stretch of carpal tunnel syndrome that is just killing me. Spending time in front of a computer is the worst thing I can possibly do right now, but there are things I must be getting done, while other things (this site included) have fallen by the way-side. I've got in excess of 140 emails in a folder that are waiting to be read, and if appropriate, posted here. I've just been in too much pain to deal with them lately.
The second reason it's been quiet is because like many small websites with big ideas, the things the “users” have found to be important are subtly different than what I thought would be most important when I started things. From linkage and server reports, the job board and scholarship/grant boards have been getting the most notice, which probably should have been obvious.
I will be redesigning the site to reflect the greater importance of those aspects of the site. Rather than a weblog with job postings, etc, the “new” site will be a general resource that includes job postings, news, etc. If time and pain levels permit, I should be able to relaunch by the end of next week.
| Categorized in: Site NewsThe Electronic Records Policy Working Group is inviting interested persons to provide their written views on issues relating to implementing section 207(e)(1)(A) of the E-Government Act of 2002. That section calls for ``the adoption by agencies of policies and procedures to ensure that chapters 21, 25, 27, 29, and 31 of title 44, United States Code, are applied effectively and comprehensively to Government information on the Internet and to other electronic records.''
The Working Group is seeking feedback on the following topics in their meetings and this notice.
1. The definition of "Government information on the Internet and other electronic records.'' The operating definitions currently used by the Working Group are as follows:
A. Government information on the Internet includes:
** Information posted on Government web sites,
** Information exchanged between Federal agencies,
** Information exchanged between Federal agencies and the public,
** Information exchanged between Federal agencies and other governments,
** Government-enabled web services,
** Standard government forms,
** E-government business transactions.
B. Other electronic records--electronic information meeting the definition of a Federal record per 44 U.S.C. 3301. Records include:
** All books, papers, maps, photographs, machine readable materials, or other documentary materials,
** regardless of physical form or characteristics
** made or received by an agency of the United States Government,
** under Federal law or
** in connection with the transaction of public business,
** and preserved or appropriate for preservation by that agency or its legitimate successor,
** as evidence of the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations or other activities of the Government or,
** because of the informational value of the data in them (44 U.S.C. 3301).
2. Perceived barriers to effective management of ``Government information on the Internet and other electronic records.'' The operating definition of effective management currently used by the Working Group includes:
** managing through the life cycle,
** providing for accessibility and retrieval,
** providing sufficient security,
** ensuring consistency (ability to reproduce record),
** providing for the integrity of records over time,
** ensuring no loss of records,
** ensuring compatibility with standard formats,
** managing format changes over time,
** providing for long-term record storage and migration of formats,
** managing the location of records over time,
** appropriate long-term custodianship.
3. Guidance tools for Federal agencies that would assist in overcoming the identified barriers.
In order to solicit the opinions of those stakeholders who could not attend the focus group or public meetings, this message is being sent to relevant lists. Any comments concerning this topic should be sent to ERPWG@nara.gov no later than April 5.
| Categorized in: Library: Digital/Web , Library: Government , Process: Archiving , Process: Digitization , Process: Records Management , Topic: Gov Docs , Topic: Knowledge ManagementIf you are here now reading this, it's a safe bet that you’ve got an interest in weblogs and librarianship. Well, Steven Cohen, creator of Library Stuff is offering what claims to be the only hands-on, online workshop about Weblogs and RSS. I'm not sure I believe that, but as RSS is being touted as the "next big thing" (and it certainly could be), it would be worth both our whiles to learn a little more about it than you already do.
| Categorized in: Form: WorkshopThe New York Academy of Medicine offers regular, inexpensive classes. The topics range on a variety of medical topics, but of particular interest to information professionals would be the Introduction to the NYAM library, and the intro and advanced Medline classes, all for under $10.
I spoke to someone recently who'd attended one of the classes (forget which topic) and they were very satisfied.
| Categorized in: Form: Workshop , Library: MedicalStudent Learning through Ohio School Libraries , a large-scale study on the effects of school librarians on the education of students has recently presented their results. The study was a research project on how school libraries help students learn. Dr. Ross Todd and Dr. Carol Kuhlthau, conducted the research for this study.
The goals for the study were: 1. to provide comprehensive and detailed empirical evidence of how school libraries help students learn, and 2. to provide recommendations for further research, educational policy development and tools for the school librarian to chart how their school library impacts learning.
I have about as much interest in children and School Libraries as W.C. Fields might, but it seems like a worth link to pass along.
| Categorized in: Form: Case Study , Library: School Media Center , Topic: YA LiteratureACRL's Effective Practices Clearinghouse is now ready to accept your submissions
The goal of the Effective Practices Clearinghouse is to recognize effective practices in academic libraries in areas such as programs, services, facilities, technology, and initiatives and share them so they are accessible to academic librarians and the entire education community.
This is a wonderful project, just getting off the ground. I don't have any experience to prove otherwise, but I get the distinct impression that thos in the information professions are much more willing to share their experience and expertise with others. Perhaps it is because one library doesn't compete with another library the same way that one auto manufacturer competes with another auto manufacturer. Perhaps it is because our relationship with our patrons is all about sharing information. Whatever the reason, the level of cooperation is a beautiful thing.
| Categorized in: Form: Best Practice , Library: AcademicDoes anyone here watch ABC's Extreme Makeover? The li'l woman called me into the living room last night to watch as
young, frumpy Amanda, attempts to shake off the librarian stereotypes with thousands of dollars of cosmetic surgery. At least they didn't make her dress up with horn-rimmed glasses and a bun for the "before" pictures.
This is bound to be all over the blogosphere, so I am trying to catch it early with hopes that you can say you saw it here first! March 18th is Internet2 Day. National Internet2 Day will consist of various participating institutions hosting virtual presentations, demonstrations and performance events across many disciplines, so be sure to tune in.
For those involved in School Media Centers, or just interested in YA literature, here is an excellent website that consolidates 15 prestigious children's book awards into a list. "Every year, many organizations select the finest books for children. [They] have combined all these prize winning books into one comprehensive list." They have more than 1,300 books going back 50+ years.
| Categorized in: Form: Website , Library: School Media Center , Topic: YA LiteratureI just stumbled across this painting of The Librarian by 16th century Italian artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo. You are probably familiar with Arcimboldo's work - his portraits are of people represent ideas (summer, fire) made up of items representing those ideas. It's all very meta, 500 years before anyone knew what that meant. It is also hard to explain, and you propbably have no idea what I'm talking about so go check out this gallery of many (all?) of Arcimboldo's variations on this theme for further explanation.
| Categorized in: Topic: Librarian StereotypeIf you are a librarian and aren't concerned with digital licensing issues, well, you should be a librarian who is concerned with digital licensing issues. CopyRightLaws.com is sponsoring a 9 week online course on digital licensing which looks to be an interesting experience.
CopyRightLaws.com is run by Lesley Ellen Harris, a laywer with years of experience dealing with copyright issues. In addition to running the online workshop, she also offers several articles and other resources for free on her website.
| Categorized in: Form: Workshop , Library: Digital/Web , Process: Content Management , Process: Digitization , Topic: Intellectual PropertyAn article in this week's Chronicle, takes a look at Collegiate Ethic Bowls. The primary example in the article centers on a case of a small town librarian who has just helped a patron find information about cyanide and local water supplies. What is her responsibility to protect her community (contact authorities?) vs. the rights of the patron (privacy? what is his intended use of the information?)?
I know what I'd do, and I know why.
The interesting thing about the article, though, is that these Ethics Bowls are supposed to build the moral character of the student's involved, by making them think through tough decisions. The problem is, like debate contests, is that winning the Bowl isn't about picking the best solution, but providing the best support for that position, sometimes two very different things. As one of the contestants admits, "I don't believe half the stuff I say." It seems this is all an exercise in creating bureaucrats, not ethiticians.
| Categorized in:April 20 has been declared National Library Worker's Appreciation Day. Who is doing the declaring? The American Library Association Allied Professional Association. I suppose this sort of self-promotion has worked for cheese ("Ah, the power of cheese") and pork ("the other white meat"), among others, so why not librarians?
| Categorized in: Form: News