From the LibraryThing blog via Library Geek Woes, this insightful explanation of everything that is wrong with the world of locating books online: "You can't Google a book and find out where in town to get a copy. You can't Google a book and find out whether your public library has a copy. Your library... Continue Reading →
lulu self publishing marketplace.
I read one of those 7 Things You Should Know About... Educause Learning Initiative publications on Lulu recently, an online self-publishing platform that incorporates an Amazon-like marketplace model. I'm all for the idea of self publishing, particularly when it comes to cookbooks: Published by the official Rick Springfield fanclub, this is one of the many... Continue Reading →
confessions of a luddite technophile.
Upon discovering that I’ve never had an internet connection at home, a friend of mine recently described this as “unbelievable.” Although I feel like I know plenty of people that don’t have household web access (especially now that most wireless signals are password protected), she’s technically right – a large majority of of American homes... Continue Reading →
food for thought on the “researcher of the future.”
I wanted to include a few quotes from a recent SLAIS/CIBER briefing on the complicated half-myths surrounding the "Google generation." I also can't resist showing the TERRIFYING cover on this thing: Apparently, the researcher of the future is a Vader-hater. From the Executive Summary: "Academic [library] users have strong consumer instincts and research shows that... Continue Reading →
for and against facebook applications.
The topic of library Facebook applications having been thoroughly explored by numerous library bloggers over the past year or so, most of this post will be no revelation. That said, because it's based on some preliminary feedback we've gotten from a monster (as in 3400 responses and counting) student technology survey we're administering at OU... Continue Reading →
dimdim open source webconferencing
I've been testing out a web-based videoconferencing tool that approximates the features and functionality of Adobe Connect (formerly known as Macromedia Breeze) - DimDim is freely available via the web or through an open source platform. Not having quite enough time (yet) to mess around with the open source version, my experience thus far has... Continue Reading →
blackboard acquires mobile text company
An article in Inside Higer Ed this week reported course management software giant Blackboard's acquisition of a mobile text messaging company - among other things, this move will eventually give instructors the capability of sending SMS alerts to students.
top tech trends discussion at midwinter.
I arrived a bit late and therefore couldn't elbow myself into the tiny room that contained the LITA Top Tech Trends discussion, but Karen Schneider's blog features a good writeup of topics covered.
much, much, better.
I just got a look at the draft ALA website redesign, which appears to be a vast improvement. Now, what to do with those 30,000 committee pages? Also, one of the navigation tabs up top should be "Acronym Decoder" or something along those lines.
when open source is not actually open source, or what i learned at midwinter.
I typically recycle every last bit of vendor flotsam I receive before the ALA Midwinter and Annual conferences, not being patient or seizure-resistant enough to handle the exhibits floor in any meaningful way. This time around, however, I decided to take part in an extremely lucrative focus group on (anonymous) new software for "Making Database... Continue Reading →
info-mational 