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Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
News in Information Today's Weekly News Digest from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL):
ACRL Issues New Strategic Thinking Guide for Academic Librarians [in the new economy]
http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/wndReader.asp?ArticleId=53121
Here is a direct link to the 9 page Guide:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/issues/future/acrlguide09.pdf
ACRL Issues New Strategic Thinking Guide for Academic Librarians [in the new economy]
http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/wndReader.asp?ArticleId=53121
Here is a direct link to the 9 page Guide:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/issues/future/acrlguide09.pdf
Article in the BMJ: Google Needs Better Control of Its Advertisements and Suggested Links http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/338/mar18_1/b1083
The authors discuss the need for Google to strengthen its filters to better match ads to search terms.
If you have ever experienced searches on Google displaying inappropriate ads, please submit your comment as a Rapid Response to BMJ.
My personal aside - our job as librarians to teach our customers to be better human filters of the Internet is not over, not by a long shot.
The authors discuss the need for Google to strengthen its filters to better match ads to search terms.
If you have ever experienced searches on Google displaying inappropriate ads, please submit your comment as a Rapid Response to BMJ.
My personal aside - our job as librarians to teach our customers to be better human filters of the Internet is not over, not by a long shot.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Friday, March 06, 2009
Can one stop customers from using web 2.0 technology to rate services? There are some doctors that are trying to do this:
Docs Seek Gag Orders To Stop Patients' Reviews
http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090304/ap_on_hi_te/med_gagging_patients
I view ratings in Amazon when I am considering purchases of appliances, for example - but only for consideration, not as the final word. Personally, I don't trust rating sites, doctor or otherwise. Ratings can be skewed. Those that rate may have the best intentions, or they could be working for the competition, or simply be humans with a grudge. Maybe if the AMA and the AOA would develop an official site that showed evaluative material for physicians, the customer-driven sites would fade into the background.
What would our profession think of a new library/librarian rating site? If ALA and the Medical Library Association came up with rating sites for our customers to check out our scores, how would we deal with that professionally and personally? (note: academic librarians may already be rated on sites like http://ratemyprofessors.com)
Docs Seek Gag Orders To Stop Patients' Reviews
http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090304/ap_on_hi_te/med_gagging_patients
I view ratings in Amazon when I am considering purchases of appliances, for example - but only for consideration, not as the final word. Personally, I don't trust rating sites, doctor or otherwise. Ratings can be skewed. Those that rate may have the best intentions, or they could be working for the competition, or simply be humans with a grudge. Maybe if the AMA and the AOA would develop an official site that showed evaluative material for physicians, the customer-driven sites would fade into the background.
What would our profession think of a new library/librarian rating site? If ALA and the Medical Library Association came up with rating sites for our customers to check out our scores, how would we deal with that professionally and personally? (note: academic librarians may already be rated on sites like http://ratemyprofessors.com)
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Op-ed piece on value of academic libraries in March 4th edition of The Seattle Times:
Academic Libraries Foster Key Skills In Next Generation
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008812914_opinc05libraries.html
(as seen on the academicpr.ala.org mailing list-th)
Academic Libraries Foster Key Skills In Next Generation
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008812914_opinc05libraries.html
(as seen on the academicpr.ala.org mailing list-th)
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Scholarly Communication 101 - a 2009 ACRL roadshow
CHICAGO – The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) is taking scholarly communication on the road in 2009 with “Scholarly Communication 101: Starting with the Basics.” Recognizing that scholarly communication issues are central to the work of all academic librarians and all types of institutions, ACRL is pleased to offer this free three-hour workshop to libraries across the country. Complete details on “Scholarly Communication 101: Starting with the Basics” are available on the ACRL Web site at http://acrl.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/issues/scholarlycomm/roadshow.cfm.
Led by two expert presenters, this structured interactive overview of the scholarly communication system highlights individual or institutional strategic planning and action. Four modules focus on new methods of scholarly publishing and communication, copyright and intellectual property, economics and open access. As a result of the workshop, participants will understand scholarly communication as a system to manage the results of research and scholarly inquiry, enumerate new modes and models of scholarly communication and select and cite key principles, facts and messages relevant to current or nascent scholarly communication plans and programs at their institutions. “Scholarly Communication 101” is appropriate for those with new leadership assignments in scholarly communication as well as liaisons and others who are interested in the issues and need foundational understanding.
Institutions interested in hosting “Scholarly Communication 101” should apply by Monday, April 13. Hosts must partner with, and invite staff from, at least one other institution. The ACRL Scholarly Communication Committee will review applications and select several locations for the workshop, based on the number of requests and capacity. The committee will aim for geographic diversity and notify applicants of their status by Friday, April 24.
The application form and complete details, including additional qualifications and hosting responsibilities, are available on the ACRL Web site at http://acrl.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/issues/scholarlycomm/roadshow.cfm.
##
ACRL is a division of the American Library Association, representing more than 13,000 academic and research librarians and interested individuals. ACRL is the only individual membership organization in North America that develops programs, products and services to meet the unique needs of academic and research librarians. Its initiatives enable the higher education community to understand the role that academic libraries play in the teaching, learning and research environments.
CHICAGO – The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) is taking scholarly communication on the road in 2009 with “Scholarly Communication 101: Starting with the Basics.” Recognizing that scholarly communication issues are central to the work of all academic librarians and all types of institutions, ACRL is pleased to offer this free three-hour workshop to libraries across the country. Complete details on “Scholarly Communication 101: Starting with the Basics” are available on the ACRL Web site at http://acrl.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/issues/scholarlycomm/roadshow.cfm.
Led by two expert presenters, this structured interactive overview of the scholarly communication system highlights individual or institutional strategic planning and action. Four modules focus on new methods of scholarly publishing and communication, copyright and intellectual property, economics and open access. As a result of the workshop, participants will understand scholarly communication as a system to manage the results of research and scholarly inquiry, enumerate new modes and models of scholarly communication and select and cite key principles, facts and messages relevant to current or nascent scholarly communication plans and programs at their institutions. “Scholarly Communication 101” is appropriate for those with new leadership assignments in scholarly communication as well as liaisons and others who are interested in the issues and need foundational understanding.
Institutions interested in hosting “Scholarly Communication 101” should apply by Monday, April 13. Hosts must partner with, and invite staff from, at least one other institution. The ACRL Scholarly Communication Committee will review applications and select several locations for the workshop, based on the number of requests and capacity. The committee will aim for geographic diversity and notify applicants of their status by Friday, April 24.
The application form and complete details, including additional qualifications and hosting responsibilities, are available on the ACRL Web site at http://acrl.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/issues/scholarlycomm/roadshow.cfm.
##
ACRL is a division of the American Library Association, representing more than 13,000 academic and research librarians and interested individuals. ACRL is the only individual membership organization in North America that develops programs, products and services to meet the unique needs of academic and research librarians. Its initiatives enable the higher education community to understand the role that academic libraries play in the teaching, learning and research environments.
Check out this post on BoingBoing about the proposed H.R.801 by Rep. Conyers, which would allow publishers to charge for access to taxpayer-supported research:
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/03/03/proposal-to-allow-pu.html
The comments appear to include librarians, scientists, and a publisher.
I have added a widget from Open Congress on the right side of this blog so you can track the status of the bill.
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/03/03/proposal-to-allow-pu.html
The comments appear to include librarians, scientists, and a publisher.
I have added a widget from Open Congress on the right side of this blog so you can track the status of the bill.
Monday, March 02, 2009
The Dartmouth public library board is the latest group discussing if they should outsource their library. They began considering privatization back last August:
Library Board discusses privatization
AID=/20080806/PUB02/808060412
Here are some recent op/ed pieces about the planning:
Library professional speaks out on possible library privatization
Private library may cost more, deliver less
No "white knight" for our libraries
Bring facts to discussion of outsourcing
And if you wish to see other posts in this blog about outsourcing, here is a link that should show them:
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