 |
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
|
|  |
   
|
|||
|
February 2004 LibraryNet Monthly TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. RANDOM HOUSE & CNIB MAKE BOOKS FOR BLIND AVAILABLE FASTEROn February 17, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and Random House of Canada announced that they had reached an agreement by which Random House will be able to provide more of its books on an accelerated schedule for transcription into alternative formats such as braille or audio. Normally, the production process for alternative-format books can take up to eighteen months. Under the new agreement, Random House of Canada will supply electronic source files for titles selected by the CNIB Library at the same time that the book is printed for the general consumer. This will shorten the wait for Canadians who are blind or visually impaired by six to eight months. The first Random House of Canada titles to be part of this initiative include The Way the Crow Flies by Ann-Marie MacDonald, River of the Brokenhearted by David Adams Richards, and more forthcoming titles for this spring, including The Collected Stories of Carol Shields. "Random House of Canada has been very open to this initiative and a real role model," said Victoria Owen, the CNIB's Director of Library Services. "We are really pleased that we can now offer many major Canadian authors and titles to CNIB clients much faster than before." For more information: 2. PENNSYLVANIA LIBRARIES IN BUDGET BATTLEPennsylvania's libraries continue to struggle with steep cuts to state funding. Last year's state budget cut 36.5 percent ($27 million) from library funding. This year's budget proposal, submitted on February 3, calls for a 10 percent increase added on to last year's base amount. While the government is portraying this as a generous increase, Pennsylvania librarians point out that it is still a 30% cut from previous funding levels. In the space of two years, libraries have lost over $50 million dollars. Many libraries are closing on at least one additional day a week and staff have been laid off. Acquisitions of new materials and technology were also been sharply reduced. The Pennsylvania Library Association is leading an advocacy campaign urging librarians and citizens to contact their legislators. For more information: 3. GOOGLE TO DIGITIZE BOOKS?On February 1, an article on the search engine industry in the New York Times revealed a few details of the long-rumoured "Google Print" book search feature. A source quoted in the article referred to "Project Ocean," in which Google is said to be working with the Stanford University libraries to digitize most of the public domain works in the libraries' collection. This would include millions of books and other works published before 1923. The resulting text database would only be searchable through Google. Google representatives are also reported to be in continuing discussions with publishers about contributing materials to Google Print, much as publishers have allowed their titles to be added to Amazon's "Search Inside the Book" feature. Meanwhile, the U.S. National Writers Union (NWU) continues to raise concerns about "Search Inside the Book." According to an open letter to members posted on the NWU website, although Amazon has disabled the ability to print pages from Search Inside titles, it is still too easy to extract copyrighted material from books. The NWU is recommending that authors consider complaining to Amazon and their publisher in writing. The NWU is also concerned about Google Print, which they say might similarly infringe writers' copyrights. The letter "caution[s] Google.com to keep in mind the need to obtain permission from holders of electronic rights for distribution of their works." For more information: 4. AUDITOR GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS PROBLEMS AT NATIONAL LIBRARY AND ARCHIVESAccording to Auditor General Sheila Fraser's recent report, Canada's cultural heritage is at risk of being permanently lost if the federal government does not take action soon. Fraser singled out the lack of preservation and rapid deterioration of published and archival materials for specific mention. Her report points out that "more than 90 per cent of the National Libraries' collection is housed in buildings that do not meet current standards for temperature and humidity." National Librarian Roch Carrier has often spoken about the need for new facilities to house the Library's collections. During the last 16 years, the Library has experienced more than a hundred "environmental incidents" (including excessive heat and flooding) that have damaged around 30,000 documents. Overcrowding is also causing serious conservation problems, especially for the Library's newspaper and non-print (microfilm, sound recordings, videos, etc.) collections. The report blames problems on underfunding of the federal agencies responsible for protecting national heritage, while the scope of their responsibilities grew. To read the full text of the report: 5. HALIFAX LIBRARY WINS ALA AWARD - AGAINFor the second year in a row, Halifax Public Libraries has won the American Library Association's John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award honouring "outstanding achievement in library public relations for a particular program, celebration or campaign." The Libraries received this year's award for the promotion of its 2003 "Summer Reading Quest," based on a fantasy theme and featuring an original, interactive adventure. It was the Libraries' most popular summer reading program to date, with approximately 6,500 kids reading over 80,000 books (up almost 20 per cent from the previous year). For more information: 6. RURAL ALBERTA LIBRARY OFFERS WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESSBlackfalds Public Library recently became the first rural library in Alberta - and only the second one in the entire province - to offer wireless Internet access for their patrons with laptop computers. Volunteer Randy Nelson, who has used his knowledge of technology over the last decade to help the Library, was instrumental in setting up the wireless "hotspot" in the building. Now up to fifty patrons can access the Internet on their own laptop computers, without the use of cables or docking platforms. The Library plans to market the service to travelling business people and other mobile workers who need Internet access from their own computers. A one-time registration fee of $1 gets users a printout with a username and password good for one hour of Internet usage; once the hour is up, they can request another printout with new information, free of charge. If a patron isn't sure how to set up their computer for wireless access, printed instructions sheets are available, and wireless cards can be borrowed from the Library. Funding to install the system came from an Industry Canada Community Access Program (CAP) grant. For more information: 7. CNIB LAUNCHES LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGNThe Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) estimates that there are three million Canadians who are permanently unable to access print. Only five per cent of library print materials is available to these people in alternate formats such as audio, e-text, or braille. In June 2003 the Canadian Library Association unanimously endorsed a resolution stating in part: "Be it resolved that the Canadian Library Association recommends, through joint funding by Federal, Provincial, and Territorial governments, the establishment of a national network of public and private sector constituents to ensure that Canada provides an alternative format library service for Canadians unable to read print which is comparable to that provided by most developed countries in the world." In October 2003 the Council of Administrators of Large Urban Public Libraries passed the following motion: "That CALUPL support both the CLA and Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) directions requesting the Federal Government to provide annual funding to subsidize the production of alternate materials for the sight impaired in Canada." As a federal election is expected this spring, the CNIB is asking for help in moving the above resolutions onto the political agenda through a letter writing campaign. Between now and the election, weekly email letters will be sent to MP's and candidates asking them to commit to providing resources for the production of library content in alternate format. To join the letter writing campaign, please notify Bernard Nunan of CNIB's Consumer and Government Relations Office at bernard.nunan@cnib.ca. You will receive one email a week from him with a sample letter to send to your local candidates and any other appropriate contacts. For more information: 8. ANOTHER STUDY CONFIRMS IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL LIBRARIESNearly 100 percent of Ohio students who took part in a recent research study indicated that the school library and librarians have helped them learn. The "Student Learning through Ohio School Libraries" study complements the considerable research showing the positive impact of effective school library programs on test scores by providing students' own evaluation of their libraries. Researchers say it is the first statewide research study "to examine the multi-dimensional dynamics of learning through effective school libraries from the student's perspective." 96.8% of students said the school library had helped them "know the different steps in finding and using information"; 92.4% said computers in the school library had helped with their school work; and 85.7% said the school library had taught them to be more careful about information found on the Internet. Qualitative responses from students emphasized the school library's role in engaging students to build their own understanding and knowledge. More than 13,000 students in Grades 3-12 participated in the study between October 2002 and December 2003. The survey was conducted by Dr. Ross J. Todd and Dr. Carol C. Kuhlthau of Rutgers University and the Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries (CISSL). For more information: 9. HOW LIBRARIES STACK UP IN THE WORLD ECONOMYA recent OCLC report gives a snapshot of libraries and their impact on the American and world economies. "Libraries: How They Stack Up" considers libraries in their roles as economic engines, logistic experts, valued destinations, global information suppliers, and as home to a vibrant and sizable profession. Tables, graphs, and dozens of quirky and interesting statistics compare library services and activities with other sectors and professions worldwide. For example, one out of every six people in the world is a registered library user; and each day, American libraries circulate nearly 4 times more items than online bookseller Amazon handles. To read the full text of the report [in PDF format]: 10. TECHNOLOGY TRENDSPOTTING FOR LIBRARIANSA recent two-part article by Stephen Abram is an informative look at "key trends in the technology arena that will have a combined impact on libraries, our user populations, our students' futures... and therefore our services." While the article is from the perspective of a school librarian, it is valuable reading for any information professional. In general, part one of "No Librarians Left Behind: Preparing For Next-Generation Libraries" covers trends in searching and web technology, while the second part deals with the trend towards e-learning. Abram sees five key groups of trends over the next few years: developments in computer search technology; changes in the infrastructure of the Internet; popular new end-user devices; changes in our learning and work environments; and school library microtrends. According to Abram, "we're about to see the greatest mutation of the search paradigm ever;" and "within 5 years the PC will not be the dominant electronic tool, or even access device." To read the full text of the article: 11. EDMONTON PUBLIC LIBRARY ONLINE READING PROGRAMS FOR KIDS AND ADULTSLast month the Edmonton Public Library launched its first ever online book club for adults. The "Big Chill" program will run until April 30, and readers can participate by reading at least five books. The Big Chill website features lists of suggested titles in different genres and an online book discussion forum. Users can also vote on their favourite movies based on books, or work on interactive word puzzles and a "first line" quiz. Meanwhile, the Library's second annual online winter reading club for kids invites children to "read around the world" in 42 days. The more minutes they read for, the farther they help a hot air balloon travel around the world. Participants can enter a new contest every week to win prizes. In addition to recommended books and videos on world travel, the website features contests, games, puzzles, and pictures to color. Children can also write emails to be sent to well-known children's authors, including Marie-Louise Gay, Janet Lunn, and Robert Munsch. To visit the websites: 12. LIBRARIAN SHORTFALL: REALITY OR HYPE?An article in the January 15, 2004 edition of Library Journal takes a critical look at claims that librarianship is 'greying' faster than other professions and that hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs in the field will soon open up as current professionals retire. Rachel Singer Gordon, webmaster of the Lisjobs.com website, points out that not all librarians will retire at age 65, especially given the presently uncertain state of the U.S. economy. She contends that the aging of the profession is "a perennial issue," and that during previously predicted librarian shortages "the expected huge numbers of jobs never necessarily materialized." Gordon also quotes some interesting statistics (sources not provided), including that only about 12 percent of librarians are ages 25-34, as opposed to about 25 percent in comparable professions. She wraps up her article with some advice to younger librarians on how to build a career in a predominantly older profession. To read the full text of the article: 13. VIRTUAL REFERENCE CANADA REDESIGNEDVirtual Reference Canada (VRC) is a free, bilingual electronic network of libraries and other information centres that offer professional reference services to Canadians. Member institutions can ask and answer reference questions and participate in other collaborative activities. The VRC online interface for member libraries has recently been revised. This release includes several new functions and redesigned screens, based on comments received from users, that will make VRC easier to use. The number of steps in submitting questions or answers has been reduced. Members can now change question deadlines or cancel questions, and receive notification emails about overdue responses. For more information: 14. CALL FOR PAPERSJournal of Digital Contents The newly-launched Journal of Digital Contents (JCD) is a quarterly printed and online journal devoted to the rapid publication of concise, up-to-date new findings about the management, presentation and uses of content in digital environments. It will cover research, technical, design and practical issues aimed at researchers, developers and teachers; publish full and mini-reviews; and print editorials on the hottest topics of the moment. The Journal of Digital Contents is designed to be a truly international journal, and invites contributors from all continents to submit their best original manuscripts. In addition to regular submissions, several special issues are planned in the near future on the themes of Protection of Digital Contents; Digital Libraries; and Learning and Knowledge Objects. For more information: 15. CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENTSComputers in Libraries Computers in Libraries is the leading conference for librarians and information professionals who need to know about the latest technologies, equipment, software, and services available. More than one hundred speakers on four simultaneous tracks during the conference, plus pre- and post-conference workshops. This conference caters to all interests and all levels of knowledge and provides many exciting networking opportunities. For more information or to register: The Joint Technical Symposium The Joint Technical Symposium (JTS) is an international conference for organizations and individuals involved in the preservation and restoration of original image and sound materials. For more information or to register: 16. CONTINUING EDUCATIONProfessional Writing For Librarians The Association of Research Libraries' newest online course is designed to help librarians develop and enhance the research and writing skills that lead to publication. The course will review the entire writing process, from getting started to submitting a manuscript. Topics covered will include selecting a topic; assessing publishing opportunities and markets; and the fundamentals of drafting, editing, and proofing a text. The registration deadline is April 9, 2004. The fee is US$500 for ARL members, $550 for nonmembers. For more information or to register: Measuring Library Service Quality This online course covers the background, theory, and methods of measuring service quality. The course content has been updated to keep current with new developments in the field, and includes practical guidance on how to apply measurement in the local setting. A case-study approach provides the context for developing and understanding measurement techniques. Participants will need to have access to the book Assessing Service Quality: Satisfying the Expectations of Library Customers, by Peter Hernon and Ellen Altman (Chicago: American Library Association Editions, 1998; ISBN 0-8389-3489-7). The registration deadline is April 9, 2004. The fee is US$500 for ARL members, $550 for nonmembers. For more information or to register: 17. USEFUL INTERNET RESOURCESBookBrowse.com Science Fiction and Fantasy Research Database "Conducting Research Surveys via E-mail and the Web" Theses Canada Portal Purportal.com HistoryWorld
Reading Online New Dictionary Of Cultural Literacy Expo 67 Middle East Research and Information Project Accessibility in Distance Education PBS: In Search of Shakespeare Creative Chemistry Digital Saskatchewan See YA Around: Library Programming for Teens If you have information you would like featured in the next issue of LibraryNet
Monthly,
|
|||||
|
||||||||
