digital.brarian

reinvention

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:54:00 +0000

Hello subscribers,

I know it's been a while since I last posted anything significant, but my time and energy was focused on my MLIS.

You may have noticed the name of this blog has changed.
(formerly 'Brary Web Diva)

I left the URLs and feeds unchanged so as not to break a lot of other weblinks about the various posts.

I plan to do some conference blogging while at ALA, wifi permitting.

iTunes pricing to change

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:12:00 +0000

Apple announced new iTunes pricing which will begin in April, 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29, with most albums still priced at $9.99.

Seems the long tail of iTunes could become much cheaper. I guess I'll hold off on getting those old tracks I've been wanting.... but anything new will likely be $1.29
:-(

Get Out the Vote Posters

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:55:00 +0000

The elections are just around the corner now.

Wouldn't it be great if there were some professional designed attention getting posters available for free?

There are!

The AIGA (The professional association for graphic designers) has posters from their 2008 contest available on their website. You can download the PDFs and print them. There are even a few that seem especially appropriate to libraries or education.

Wouldn't this one appeal to graphic novel readers of voting age?

http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/get-out-the-vote

Bragging about a coworker

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:48:00 +0000

Check out the "book trailer" my coworker made yesterday afternoon.

She had been wanting to do something like this for a while, but the time involved in video editing was going to be an issue. Then Aaron told us all in a staff training day about a cool tool, and Brandi came up with this!

Firefox 3.0 Tips

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:31:00 +0000

Here's a screencast (with audio) explaining some of the new features and functionality in Firefox 3.0

Here's a video tour (with audio) also about new features.

Here's a list of how do to tasks.

New features explained.

Tips & tricks

Firefox Field Guide

Firefox Download Day!

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 02:47:00 +0000

Firefox 3 arrives.
Be a part of the attempt at a Guinness world record for downloads on Tuesday!

Congrats Glenn!

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 04:43:00 +0000

Glenn Peterson is the 2008 recipient of the LITA/Brett Butler Entrepreneurship Award for his development of EngagedPatrons.org

Congrats Glenn! :-)

Wine Blog

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:28:00 +0000

A former co-worker (now working at a wine shop) has a blog about wine: At First Glass.

Actually, she's no stranger to blogging, as she posted book reviews on our library blogs.
Note, her Jan. 14th post actually mentions the book Blood and Wine about the Gallo family!

Welcome to the blogosphere Nancy!

Cheers!

WISE Teaching Awards

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:16:00 +0000

Congrats to Prof. Mary Minow on receiving an Excellence in Teaching Award from WISE!

CODI Conference 2007

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:24:00 +0000

Sorry this took so long to get posted--
Papers and a digital library prototype took precedence, but are now (finally) turned in and awaiting grades.

By now, you've probably heard the general news about upgrades, pricing, release dates, etc.

600 attendees at CODI 2007, representing 340 institutions.

At the opening session, they stated SirsiDynix is committed to the Horizon platform for 4-6 years and stated that when the time is right to consider Horizon end of life, 24 months notice will be given to users.

Notes (pdf) from:

Horizon 7.4 & 7.4.1 Enhancements
Symphony Acquisitions Overview
Symphony Circulation Overview

Good Idea

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:59:00 +0000

This was part of an email I got from Apple on 11-29-07

Wouldn't this be a great shirt for library staff?
It reads: "I'm here to help"
Simple & to the point.

I want one. :-)

"What Do You Know About Copyright?" Survey Results and Answers

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:42:00 +0000

Full results of the "What do you know about copyright?" survey are available online.
Thank you to everyone who participated! Only half of respondents were comfortable with their knowledge of copyright.

Here's the answers, with where to find additional information.
Copyright Advisory Network (from ALA)
ALA Washington Office: Copyright
Copyright Code
U.S. Copyright Office
Stanford Copyright Renewal Database

1. Are you comfortable with your copyright knowledge level?
Popular answer: No, 50.4%

2. If you wanted to learn more about copyright, and copyright as it pertains to libraries, where would you look for information? Check all that apply.
Popular answers:
Books (about copyright, written for librarians) 70.0%
Websites 61.2%
Articles 56.3%
ALA 54.0%

3. How long does copyright protection last today?
Correct answer: the author's lifetime + 70 years, 80.5%
Exceptions:
(1)works made for hire (120 years from creation of the work, or 95 years from publication)
(2)U.S. government works are in the public domain
(3)Older works may be in the public domain. View a chart of public domain works.

4. In order to get a copyright, the author must publish the work.
Correct answer: False, 77.9%
Copyright begins when an original work is fixed in a tangible medium. Section 102(a)

5. In order to use someone's copyrighted work, you must get permission from them.
Correct answer: It depends...,69.9%
Several sections of copyright law afford special rights to libraries.
Section 107: Fair Use, Section 108: Library copying, Section 109(a): The first-sale doctrine, Section 109(c): Exception for public display, Section 110(1): Displays and performances in face-to-face teaching, Section 110(2): Displays and performances in distance learning, Section 117: Computer software, Section 120: Architectural works, and Section 121: Special formats for persons who are blind or have other disabilities.

6. The library can protect itself from liability when patrons use library equipment for copying by posting a notice to users that making copies may be subject to copyright law.
Popular answer: True, 73.3%
If a library qualifies under Section 108 this is true. Section 108(f)(1) Protects libraries from copyright infringements by unsupervised patrons using library reproduction equipment IF a notice is posted informing users that making copies may be subject to copyright law.

7. Do you currently work in a library?
Popular answer: Yes, 81.1%

8. Does your library have a copyright notice posted on each photocopier?
Popular answer: Yes, 57.5%

9. Does your library have a copyright notice posted on: (check all that apply)
Popular answers:
Public printers, 94.2%
Public Scanners, 26.9%
Public Computers with USB ports, 21.2%
Public Computers with CD/DVD drives, 21.2%
Public Computers with Floppy drives, 19.2%

10. Does your library use a FAIR USE checklist, which is kept on file for instances of item use deemed within the scope of fair use?
Popular answers:
No, 50.5%
I don't know, 41.4%
You can find a Fair Use checklist here.

11. Libraries can avoid liability for copyright infringement by patrons who use the library's unsupervised reproducing equipment (note: not only photocopiers...any reproducing equipment) if such equipment displays a notice that the making of a copy may be subject to copyright law.
Popular answer: True, 47.1%
If a library qualifies under Section 108 this is true. Section 108(f)(1) Protects libraries from copyright infringements by unsupervised patrons using library reproduction equipment IF a notice is posted informing users that making copies may be subject to copyright law.

12. You can pretty much be assured that if you copy a small portion of a long work, it's FAIR USE.
Popular answer: False, 62.4%
Fair use is a gray area, interpreted on a case by case basis. You can find a Fair Use checklist here.

13. Which four are listed in the law as factors to be considered when determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use? Choose 4:
Correct answers from Section 107:
The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes, 96.7%
The amount and substance of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole, 86.2%
The effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work, 77.2%
The nature of the copyrighted work, 58.5%

14. The TEACH Act extends additional permissions to schools. This applies to all libraries as well.
Popular answer: I don't know, 65.2%
Correct answer: False, 24.1%
The TEACH Act applies to governmental bodies or accredited non-profit educational institutions. Generally, accredited colleges, universities, elementary and secondary schools recognized under state law will qualify. Programs offered by federal, state or local government agencies, including public libraries may also qualify. A checklist for the TEACH Act can be found here.

15. Placing a Creative Commons license on your work is an easy way to copyright it.
Popular answer: I don't know, 58.7%
Correct answer: False, 25.0%
Creative Commons gives copyright holders an opportunity to grant limited permission for certain types of use of their work. Visit Creative Commons for details.

16. Works with a Creative Commons license are free to use for any purpose.
Popular answer: I don't know, 51.4%
Correct answer: It depends on the type of Creative Commons license, 31.2%
For details, visit the Creative Commons website for an explanation of license types.

17. Pictures on the Internet are not protected by copyright and may be used however I wish.
Correct answer: False, 94.5%
Copyright begins when an original work is fixed in a tangible medium. Section 102(a)

18. If a webpage does not display the copyright symbol (c) or a copyright notice, it is not protected by copyright.
Correct answer: False, 79.5%
Copyright begins when an original work is fixed in a tangible medium. Section 102(a) No copyright notice is required for protection.

19. Libraries may make copies of frequently requested articles to keep at the reference desk.
Correct answer: False, 57.5%
As outlined in Section 108, a library may make copies for private study, but the copy must become the property of the user.

20. Libraries may make copies of sheet music for interlibrary loan.
Correct answer: False, 42.5%
Section 108(i) lists musical works as an exception, and they may not be reproduced, except for purposes of preservation and replacement.

Vote Posters

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 03:26:00 +0000

Is your library planning a big voter registration drive before the upcoming elections?
Are you looking for eye catching posters?

Did you know... AIGA, the American Institute of Graphic Arts, is once again asking graphic designers to create nonpartisan posters encouraging people to vote. Details on the 2008 posters, when available, will be on the AIGA website.

Don't want to wait?
Posters from Get Out the Vote 2004 are available for free download.

SURVEY for Research Paper

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 01:44:00 +0000

Hi everybody. I'm writing a paper on "what do librarians/library staff (and MLIS students) know about copyright?"

I've put together a short survey, I'd appreciate anybody who can help out by responding! Thanks!

Click Here to take survey

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=9phMtJ_2bYf_2fvqg8AYx7srgQ_3d_3d

Survey closes Dec. 3rd

does anybody know?

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 04:12:00 +0000

words at the Pittsburgh convention center
is this public art or...?

Creative Commons

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 16:43:00 +0000

Is your Creative Commons license up to date?

3.0 debuted in February... don't forget to change your CC settings in Feedburner too!

What Type of Internet User Are You?

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 18:20:00 +0000

I'm not sure how long this has been up, but have you seen Pew's Internet Typology Test?

I wasn't all that surprised by my results, but it is a good reminder of how small this group really is, especially when we're part of the group that gets excited about tech.

Which group are you?

I'm an omnivore, which makes up 8% of the American public.

Schmap

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 01:55:00 +0000

is Anne home?
Originally uploaded by nomextra

Have you seen the Schmap worldwide travel guides? Interesting use of flickr's api.

I found out about this when Schmap contacted me via flickr to tell me one of my photos had made the short list for inclusion in the next revision of the New Orleans guide. I had the option to agree to the licensing agreement, which allowed me to retain my creator rights.

Digital divide alive and well in Sauk Village

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 02:12:00 +0000

Daily Southtown article criticizes computer access fee at public library.
A second editorial addresses differences between the haves and the have nots.

The most disturbing part though is the failed partnership between the library and the school district. Here was a chance for a small-budget library to add 6 computer terminals.
The library currently has 4 + 1 OPAC.

Nancy McConathy Library Director Nannette Wargo said:

"You can do a lot of learning without a computer," said Wargo, who said the usage fees merely are a way to offset the cost of maintaining the library's four computers on a tight budget. She points to neighboring communities such as Harvey and Dolton that also charge similar fees.

She should have said neighboring POOR communities. As I'm unaware of any communities that actually border Sauk Village that charge for computer use, and budget probably does figure prominently.

They'll spend my tax dollars on ~~downloadable audiobooks~~ (link denied), but won't jump at the chance to get more computers?

For once, district 168 was going to spend money on something important and useful, and try to help the community, which is still bitter from the gross misuse of funds 2 years ago.

The library should be partnering with the schools in any way possible to enhance the kids' learning experiences. Where are these kids accessing online applications for jobs & school? Where are their parents accessing the internet, to fill out the online forms for gov't aid, apply for jobs, download tax forms, etc? (Well, some are using our hassle-free temporary internet cards to get online at Lansing.)

Arrrrgh!

Website Feedback Wanted!

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:56:00 +0000

Interestingly, over the past few weeks there have been a few blogs posting about Lansing Library's website. (positive ones)

I'm working on a re-design right now, with a launch in September. To meet that deadline, I won't get to clean up all the code on the back end on all the pages, (so resist the urge to view source--LOL)

We've added SO MUCH CONTENT since the website began in 2001.
Back then we never could have imagined we'd have blogs, IM, online fine payment, online registration for programs, and 2 online newsletters.

We had too many requests for things to be linked from the home page, but as new things were added we wanted to promote it all.

It was time to put the whole website in a blender, pulse, and dump it out and build from scratch.

The old site was created in FrontPage, the new one in Notepad++ with new XHTML and CSS skills (thanks Prof. Steve for teaching something practical!!)

I've got the upper tier of pages pretty much complete except for meta & tracking codes. Gail's working on rewriting the youth & teen dept pages, so those will be updated before the launch.

Early staff criticism: they are not fond of the category "user tools." Does anybody have a better label for that section?

Compare the old with the new, and please comment!

SWAN search in Firefox!

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 03:16:00 +0000

SWAN launched their new catalog interface last month.

Search 78 SWAN member libraries from your Firefox search box!

[disclaimer: I'm not the first to make a SWAN firefox search. Chris Deweese made a SWAN firefox search a couple of years ago, but it was not uploaded to http://mycroft.mozdev.org]
New plugins created with mycroft are are based on the OpenSearch standard.

Feel free to share this new version with your patrons!
Direct them to http://tinyurl.com/yomn9n

iTunes and DRM... no more!

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Thu, 31 May 2007 03:28:00 +0000

Just saw this on fox news... and I see it's already on PC World.

iTunes started selling DRM FREE songs today, in their new iTunes Plus!

Fox said its 30cents more per song for DRM free. ($1.29)

What a super idea... sell MP3s through iTunes that can be played on the Zune, and still make more Apple money.

They also announced iTunes U with lectures and such from Universities.

Is iTunesLib next?

Library 2.0 Delivering Twice the Value

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Fri, 04 May 2007 17:00:00 +0000

Hi to everybody at
Library 2.0: Delivering Twice the Value!

You'll find my presentation here.

Last month's presentation from MLS' Emerging Tech is there too.

Questions not addressed in the session?

Post them here in the comments, and we'll continue the conversation!

Thanks Wiley Publishing!

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:27:00 +0000

First-Runner up! :-)

Our new cover girl has gotten lots of exposure too... Viewed 2,174 times on flickr so far.

Congrats to the other libraries selected as winners!

We're happily selecting 40 'for dummies' books now!

Watch for photos of our trophy!

Social Software Book Cover Contest

noreply@blogger.com (digital.brarian) — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:57:00 +0000

Social Software Book Cover Contest Submission
Originally uploaded by nomextra.

I got a message this morning from Meredith that I am one of 3 winners! Congrats to the other 2! It must have been difficult to choose, there were a lot of great entries in the flickr pool.

Thanks Meredith! :-)