The World's Library

Imagine, a library designed to provide knowledge not to just a community, but the entire world. A virtual library, anyone with access to a computer can visit. Not too long ago this idea was just that, an idea. Not anymore.

"For the first time in history, all the significant literary, artistic, and scientific works of mankind can be digitally preserved and made freely available, in every corner of the world, for our education, study, and appreciation and that of all our future generations."

All this thanks to the Universal Digital Library, whose mission is to "create a digital library which will foster creativity and free access to all human knowledge." Check it out here...
Universal Digital Library


Matt Marshall

RFID = More efficient libraries???

What is RFID? RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. Read on...

As explained on the Frequently Asked Questions page of the web site for the RFID Journal , Radio Frequency Identification, or RFID, is "a generic term for technologies that use radio waves to automatically identify individual items." RFID has been evolving into a more effective, convenient, and cost-efficient technology since World War II. American companies, especially those in the automotive, packaging and handling, and retail industries, began to integrate RFID technology into the structure of their businesses in the late 1990s. In 2000, several libraries around the world announced their intent to integrate RFID technology into their library systems, pioneering its use for contemporary library functions, including the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Lied Library; the National University of Singapore Library; the New Hanover County Public Library of Wilmington, North Carolina; and the Santa Clara City Library of Santa Clara, California.

The theory here is that RDIF technology will benefit libraries in a number of ways.

*Libraries are moving to RFID systems in place of (or sometimes supplemental to) their bar code systems because of the streamlined workflows that become possible. Some have found that inventory-related tasks can be done in a fraction of the time with RFID. Many use inventory wands are used to locate lost books and to find misshelved or missing items.

*RFID-based circulation systems can process many more books in a shorter period of time with little or no staff intervention. Self-check systems have become very popular with both patrons and staff, and RFID self-check systems allow patrons to check-in or check-out several books at a time. RFID-enabled self-check systems reduce the number of staff needed at the circulation desk. Because the readers do not require line-of-site, multiple items can be read simultaneously by passing a stack of books near the reader. Some say that the RFID self-check systems are easier to use than their optically-based counterparts, making it easer for patrons to serve themselves.

*For archivists handling sensitive materials, the ability to inventory items without handling them is another benefit of RFID.

*And while it has net yet been proven, some librarians believe RFID systems will reduce repetitive stress injuries associated with checking out books using barcode systems.

Of course some say the use of RFID technology in libraries could result in a problem that possibly outweighs the benefits...

"One snag facing RFID, however, is that consumer advocates are in an uproar. They say the unchecked spread of the devices in libraries and elsewhere could spell disaster for privacy. They envision a future in which a network of hidden RFID readers track consumers' every move, their belongings and their reading habits, though most agree that such a scenario is largely impossible today for technical reasons." Lorie Gilbert, CNet News.

I guess only time will tell. Until next time...

Matt Marshall

Gaming in Libraries

While many libraries around the country are adding more technology to get little ones more attracted to the library, there have been some down sides to the whole idea. See the story below.

In an attempt to attract youngsters, employees of one Nebraska public library recently instituted a gaming workshop, until, that is, constroversy paralyzed the effort.One local taxpayer caught wind of the Omaha librarians' unorthodox event via the above video, which shows the librarians playing the game 'Rock Band' in what appears to be the library's study room. The librarians had posted the video in hopes of promoting the workshops. Apparently outraged, the whistleblower put a call in to Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley's office. In no time, Foley had launched an investigation."It was state employees, on state time, during work hours, playing with and setting up a PlayStation video game system," Foley told Omaha's Action 3 News. We wouldn't imagine he thinks that's a good thing.Foley went on to say that a six-member board has been appointed by Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman to further investigate the case and determine whether or not these gaming workshops are a waste of taxpayers' money. Is it just us or is it terribly ironic that the state's investigation will, no doubt, cost a lot more taxpayer money than the librarians may or may not have wasted?

from: http://www.switched.com/2009/02/27/librarians-busted-for-playing-rock-band-on-the-job/


I guess playing Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and Dance Dance Revolution is a no-no one the clock. Oh, well guess I'll actually have to work...at work.

Dogs in the library?

Let the Games Begin!!!

When I think of a library, the word "fun" usually doesn't come to mind. Libraries typically involve work, whether through studying, research, homework, etc. You get the idea, it's usually not by choice to visit, but rather by necessity. I'm an adult and these are my feelings, imagine then, how a typical teenager feels about visiting a library!

Libraries have begun to understand this, and have started searching for ways to get kids more interested in visiting the local libraries in their area. What does almost every kid in the world like to do? Play of course! And what form of technology has become the media in which kids entertain themselves these days? Games, or gaming.

Libraries around the country have begun to introduce gaming in to their curriculum in hopes of attracting more kids, and even adults, to visit their libraries. So far this move has been met with outstanding success. Case in point...



Until next time...Matt Marshall

Library Technologies slice of the pie...

Will the Stimulus Package save LT's future? Library Technology is in constant motion. Changing, adapting, continually evolving to keep up with the times. As with anything, this takes money. As most of us are aware, our nation's economy has seen better days. Funding for education and public services is being drastically reduced, or eliminated all together. Unfortunately this includes libraries. This very week, President Obama signed off on his $775 billion dollar stimulus package, a package that claims to help spur our countries economy, and restore order to what has become a financial nightmare.

Daniel A. Freeman wrote an article "Where is Library Technology in the Stimulus?", addressing this question on so many librarians and library technicians minds. According to his article, "the slowdown in economic growth has not slowed the growing popularity of new, bandwidth intensive technology." This is unfortunate for libraries because public library use is rapidly on the rise due to this sluggish economy, forcing people to cut back on luxuries such as broadband internet access at home. In a functioning economy this wouldn't present a problem, but the funds libraries typically have set aside for library improvements are having to be spent to keep faciltites open and ensure that basic services can be provided.

In a recent interview with Alan Inouye, the director of ALA's Office of Information Technology Policy, Mr. Inouye stated, "Of course in the near-term, many states and localities and private sector organizations are experiencing difficult financial conditions, adversely affecting public, academic, school, and other libraries. But there is some hope as the Obama Administration’s stimulus package is expected to place some emphasis (and provide some cash!) on national broadband infrastructure build-out and aid to states and localities. And ALA’s Washington Office is working vigorously to include libraries in the relevant parts of the stimulus package. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation continues its hardware grants under its Opportunity Online program and just announced its intention to make broadband grants under this program. Finally, OITP continues its efforts to increase library participation in the E-rate program, both helping applicants through the application process and advocating for program simplification."

So in the end it seems only time will tell if Library Technology will weather the storm that we all face.

Until next time...Matt Marshall

On this day in history:

Carson McCullers, Carl Van Vechten, photographer, July 31, 1959.Creative Americans: Portraits by Van Vechten, 1932-1964
Novelist Carson McCullers, noted for her exploration of the dilemmas of modern American life in the context of the twentieth-century South, was born on February 19, 1917, in Columbus, Georgia.

My first blog!!!!

Hello fellow bloggers. This is new to me, but here I go! Our blog will be looking into library tecnology: past, present and future. I'm sure we all remember the good ol days of card catalogs, which are now obselete. Computers have taken over the library (as well as the rest of the world) and for the few, like myself, have to figure things out along the way. I work in an elementary school library so the questions I get asked like "Where are the Junie B. Jones books?", are quite easy for me to handle. Anything above those "elementary" questions may take me some time to investigate for the answer. With all that said, I look forward to this class and this assignment to teach me how to become more "tech savvy"!!! Soon I hope to be posting images and becoming an expert blogger!

Reader's Advisory

Once I added "Google Books" and "Amazon Books" to the blog, it got me thinking about how reader's advisory has changed in libraries. Before the web, if a patron came in asking for a suggestion on what to read, the librarin would have to rely on either their own reading experiences or rely on books such as "The Reader's Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction' or "Mystery Readers' Advisory: The Librarian's Guide to Murder and Mayhem" or booklists previously and laboriously compiled by staff.


Today however, librarians can, at a click of the key access a host of online sources to help patrons find new or similar subject books to read. Barnesandnoble.com and Amazon.com both offer features that allow regular readers to review and rate books online as well as posting professional reviews. This allows the patron to see instantly if others liked a book, and what they did or did not like about the book. Also listed on both sites are what books were bought along with a specific title, as well as subject searches that will help find similar books.


In addition to these popular sites there are pay sites that libraries can subscribe to such as Novelist, Novelist k-8, and Reader's Advisor Online etc, that offer similar but perhaps more professional and comprehensive searches.


It's amazing to me that what once took a large amount of staff work to compile, or was out of date because of publishing time, can now be found easily and as soon as a book is published!

Heather W.

Updates

Hey Group 1,

Just a quick note to let you all know that I have added a couple new gadgets (google books and amazon books), a few links( Escondido Library, a library comic, worldcat etc.) and a picture to our blog . Let me know what you think.

Heather W.