2005 Librarian awards

The New York Times Announces Winners of the 2005 Librarian Awards;

27 Librarians From Around the Country are Recognized in the Fifth Year of the Program
-- The New York Times announced today the names of the 27 winners of the 2005 New York Times Librarian Awards. Now in its fifth year, the program honors librarians from around the country who have provided outstanding public service and have had a strong and positive impact on their nominators.  Article continues

Delhi University library goes digital

Delhi University library all set to go digital
The Delhi University's Library System (DULS) is all set to go digital. Besides launching a separate library website, which will help in getting all electronic resources available in the public domain, the library resources, including the books which are out of the Copyright Act, will also be digitised soon.   Article continues

Worldcat

RedLightGreen and Open WorldcatBoth OCLC and the Research Libraries Group (RLG) are doing something that would have been unthinkable a few years ago. They're making information from their union catalogs available via the web to the general public. The two vendors have taken decidedly different approaches. OCLC offers it's Worldcat records via Yahoo and Google, while RedLightGreen offers a full-featured, search-able, union catalog. According to a recent article by David Mattison, "RedLightGreen and Open Worldcat","RedLightGreen gets right down to it, just like Google, with an in-your-face keyword search field. Once I viewed the search results and individual bibliographic records display, the site gave me the impression of working with a really cool library OPAC (online public access catalog), one that even found Google search results within some bibliographic records."   Post continues

Library web design

November 11, 20055 Factors for Library Web Site Redesign5 Factors for Library Web Site RedesignThis week, as part of Chicago Public Library's Scholars in Residence Program, Stephen, Jenny and I spent time discussing strategies and planning for a public library Web site redeign.I pointed the group we were with to this press release: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/9/prweb285788.htm that I linked to a few weeks ago concerning what factors large public libraries face in a redesign.I also presented this brief list:#1 Your web Site is a Cyber-Branch: Your Web site should be viewed as your location in cyberspace, the ___nth branch if you will. It should be staffed accordingly and not forgotten when major marketing or PR initiatives occur. Stephen Abram made a point as well: staff it with some techie folk but have a seasoned librarian in charge to insure the site isn't controlled exclusively by the tech folk.I also pointed out that your PL Web site cannot be an afterthought. It should convey your mission, goals and objectives for services. It should be localized and useful.#2 Have a Voice & a Face The library web site cannot be flat and lifeless. Find your voice and use it! It may be via blogs or other tools that make communicating a message oh so easy, but whatever you do, make your Web presence HUMAN.Podcasts...image feeds...wiki pages can help.Share stories. Highhlight your staff and their knowledge. Use your librarians as guides, and see # 8 in this recent post: http://www.tametheweb.com/ttwblog/archives/001862.html#3 Don't ignore the value of conversations: Cluetrain time! Markets...conversations...internally and externally. Participate! Offer a place for these conversations to take place or they will take place without you. In other locations on other servers. They will take place, I promise!#4 Be Transparent: Whoever had the foresight and wherewithall to develop a site devoted to planning, with a domain I heart, at AADL, rocks! http://planning.aadl.org Put your planning out there for your users and your staff. Involve both in the decision making process.#5 Prioritize your Resources: Mine your Web stats for trends and focus development on pages that get the hits. David King writes about this here. Balance requests for new pages with how useful they may be for your users. It's ok to say NO to a request for a page that may never be visited.

Add AIM presence to your blog or website

Jenny has made this excellent little feature available to Librarians on her blog.  Visit the article by clicking on: Presence of Mind
Add AIM Presence to Your Website with a Simple IMG Tag!
“I spent a little time this afternoon working on my AIM Presence project. A lot of people want to put online/offline status icons on their websites so patrons and/or readers can see if the person is online and likely available.

The OTHER Book Project

Paula J Hane has written an article The OTHER Book Projects discussing online book access projects.

"With all the press coverage lately about the Google Print project, as well as our two NewsBreaks this week, which cover the Open Content Alliance and Microsoft MSN Search book digitization projects, it looks like books may have achieved the status of "the next big thing," as Barbara Quint suggested. But, as we talked about these recent developments, she and I agreed that many other worthy book search and access projects seem to be lost from view. So, here’s a brief roundup of others that deserve recognition, including homegrown and commercial efforts."

This is a link to the whole article.

Google not yet scanning

Google Not Yet Scanning, Cites "Operational" Conflict

Contrary to earlier reports, Google has not yet resumed its plan to scan the books of four major universities as well as the New York Public Library, according to a Cnet report.

The company said it would resume scanning on Tuesday, but Google spokesperson Nate Tyler confirmed that the company had yet to do so. Tyler declined to be specific, saying only "It's an operational thing." He did say Google would scan older sections of the libraries first, which usually include public domain and out-of-print books--presumably, to avoid further conflict with copyright holders. Five major publishers sued Google last month over its plans to make searchable the collections of five libraries, saying the company would be violating copyright law. - Read the whole story...

Google books online

Google has started to make its library books availablePreserving public domain booksThe world's libraries are a tremendous source of knowledge, much of which has never been available online. One of our goals for Google Print is to change that, and today we've taken an exciting step toward meeting it: making available a number of public domain books that were never subject to copyright or whose copyright has expired. We can show every page because these books are in the public domain. (For books not in the public domain we only show small snippets of the work unless the publisher or copyright holder has given us permission to show more.)  Article continues

Random House Goes HollywoodWSJRandom House Goes Hollywood In an effort to optimize the value of its literary acquisitions, Random House has signed a deal with Focus Features to create films based on the publisher's titles. Focus, a unit of NBC Universal, will codevelop, coproduce, and cofinance the pictures, according to the Wall Street Journal. The deal reportedly gives Focus access to the back titles of Random's worldwide imprints, as well as books in current circulation. Under the terms of the deal, the film company--its recent releases include "The Motorcycle Diaries" and "The Constant Gardener"--will not have automatic rights to every book from Random House, as the publisher will still negotiate subrights separately for every title it buys. Of course this is not the first time a U.S. publisher has attempted to create a symbiotic relationship with the film industry. Earlier, in an attempt that ultimately failed, Miramax Books, under the direction of Tina Brown, was supposed to funnel hit titles to Bob and Harvey Weinstein's Manhattan-based film company. In the end, there was little to show for the experiment, and Brown left the company. - Read the whole story...

Google debate online

From Lessig blog
the “discussion” will be webcast
The debate Thursday night at the New York Public Library about Google Print will be webcast. Here’s the link.

Whitbread Book Awards 2005 Shortlists Announced


· Record number of entries (476)
· Shortlists include three previous Whitbread Award winners
· First Novel Award category features a London waitress and Orange Award for New Writers winner, Diana Evans
· Former postman on Biography Award shortlist
· Poetry Award shortlist includes two debut collections

Whitbread today announces the shortlists for the Whitbread Book Awards 2005 in the Novel, First Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children’s Book Award categories.

Webinar on library service for older adults

Join us for a special and exciting webinar on Library Services for Older Adults!
 
On Thursday, November 17, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 2:00 p.m. Central, 1:00 p.m. Mountain, and Noon Pacific, OPAL (Online Programs for All Libraries—And All Library Users) will host a free web-based program on “Library Services for Older Adults:  Preview of the White House Conference on Aging.” 

Allan M. Kleiman from the Westfield Memorial Library in New Jersey, Chair of the ALA RUSA RSS Library Service to an Aging Population Committee, and is one of the few librarian delegates participating in the December White House Conference on Aging, is the featured speaker.  During the program, he will discuss themes and anticipated outcomes of the WHCoA. The purpose of this fifth WHCoA is to make recommendations to the President and Congress to help guide national aging policies for the next ten years and beyond. Allan will review the key points of a position paper prepared by the American Library Association for this conference. He also will lead a discussion of the long-term challenges and opportunities of providing library services for older adults.

Allan is an internationally known librarian with expertise in library services for older adults.  He just returned from an exciting month of traveling and speaking on issues of library services for older adults to library groups and associations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and completed a series of workshops for the Texas State Library and Archives on, Texas is Aging! Is Your Library Ready, around the state.

There is no charge for this webinar, and no need to register.   All you need to attend is a computer with an Internet connection, sound card and speakers.  If you wish to participate via audio (voice-over-IP), you can purchase a pc microphone at discount stores for approximately $10.

To attend, go to the OPAL auditorium at
http://67.19.231.218/v4/login.asp?r=67955673&p=0.  Type your name and click enter.  The first time you enter, a small software applet will download to your computer.  Attendees are encouraged to try to get into the room ahead of time to make sure they have no problems.

For more information on OPAL or this program, contact Tom Peters, OPAL Coordinator at 816-228-6406 or tpeters@tapinformation.com.  OPAL offers a variety of web-based programs for the public and librarians. To check out the full schedule of OPAL programs, go to http://www.opal-online.org/progschrono.htm

Google infinite library, copyright pirate or monopolist?

Google: infinite library, copyright pirate, or monopolist?

From the ALIALIBTEC list.  Thanks Sharon.

The National Institute of Social Sciences and The Law The AustralianNational UniversityGoogle: infinite library, copyright pirate, or monopolist?The Innovations Building, ANU, 12:00-2:00pm, Friday 9 December 2005In the past year, there has been much debate about Google and itsimplications of the search engine's activities for copyright law,privacy, and competition.On 14 December 2004, Google announced that it had entered intoagreements with four university libraries and the New York PublicLibrary to "digitally scan books from their collections so that usersworldwide can search them in Google."  The search engine claimed thatthis would be an "expansion of the Google Print program, which assistspublishers in making books and other offline information searchableonline."In September and October 2005, the Authors Guild and the Association ofAmerican Publishers filed lawsuits in the United States, alleging thatthe Google Library program had infringed copyright in literary worksthrough its unauthorised scanning and copying of books.In response, Google declared that it respected copyright:  "The use wemake of all the books we scan through the Library Project is fullyconsistent with both the fair use doctrine under U.S. copyright law andthe principles underlying copyright law itself, which allow everythingfrom parodies to excerpts in book reviews."The search engine has also attracted other law suits.  The AgenceFrance-Presse has alleged that Google News infringed on its copyrightbecause "Google includes AFP's photos, stories and news headlines onGoogle News without permission from Agence France Presse."  TheCalifornian company, Perfect 10, has filed a lawsuit against Google,claiming that the reproduction of its images infringes the company'scopyright, trade marks, and publicity rights.   Furthermore, there havealso been concerns about the privacy implications of Google services *such as Gmail, and Google Earth.  Some also worry that the company hasthe potential to become a commercial monopolist.This forum explores the legal issues surrounding Google from theperspective of lawyers, librarians, authors, publishers, and consumers. Will the search engine become an infinite library?  Is it the saviour ofthe public domain?  Or is Google violating the copyright of authors andpublishers?  Does the search engine respect privacy? Or does itencourage surveillance?  Does Google have the potential to become amonopolist?  Or will the search engine provide much needed competitionfor Microsoft?SpeakersThe speakers and discussants will include:Mr Chris Creswell, Consultant, Copyright Law Branch Information Law andHuman Rights Division, Attorney-General's Department.Mr Michael Handler, Lecturer, ACIPA, Faculty of Law, the AustralianNational University.Ms Moyra McAllister, Copyright Officer, the Australian Library andInformation Association.Dr Matthew Rimmer, Senior Lecturer, ACIPA, Faculty of Law, theAustralian National University.Ms Sarah Waladan, Executive Officer, the Australian Digital Alliance,and Copyright Advisor, the Australian Libraries Copyright Committee.Also invited:Mr Roger Clarke, Visiting Professor, Faculty of Engineering andInformation Technology, the Australian National University, and XamaxConsultancy

Find in a Library search tools

Find in a Library lets you use Web search sites such as Yahoo! and Google to locate books, videos and other materials in a library near you. When your search term matches words associated with a library-owned item—such as the title or the author's name—your search results can include a link for that item with the prefix "Find in a Library."

Bookheads winner announced

Bookheads winner announced
November 8th, 2005
Century by Sarah Singleton has won the 2005 Booktrust UK Teenage Prize. The book is described as a dark fantasy. Century is published by Simon & Schuster.
Geraldine Brennan, chair of the judging panel describes Century as:“… a perfectly formed, highly visual and intriguing novel in the gothic tradition, with the timeless feel of Frankenstein or Dracula. It keeps the reader guessing as it moves through layers of time and rewards a careful reader with its many hints and clues, yet the language is accessible and the story draws the reader in”.
The Bookheads prize is in its third year. The shortlist included Meg Rosoff’s how i live now, Bali Rai’s The Whisperer and Sugar Rush by Julie Burchill. The Bookheads prize has the knack for identifying books with strong contemporary flavour. The prize is supported by the Booktrust UK.

The Renaissance Library Collection is designed specially for librarians, information specialists & book lovers. It includes unique calendars, greeting cards, quality prints and posters based on full colour photos of beautiful, magical old libraries. They have just released The Renaissance Library Calendar 2006

Blooker rewards books from blogs

The best books based on blogs are to be recognised in their own literary prize.
Dubbed the Blooker Prize, the annual award will reward the best writers of literary works that started life as online journals. Article continues