The Internet as Right?
A case for open internet.
The Internet - In a box!
I can't embed this video, but follow the link for hilarity.
The IT Crowd - Series 3 (The Internet)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Impress Your Professor: Lose the Books
NPR has a rather interesting story posted on its website about how a school library is saying goodbye to its print collection. It seems to me like this yet another tipped domino in an increasing move towards digital collections and e-books.
NPR quotes the schools Academic Dean as stating, "Part of our desire to move in this direction is to meet the students where they are most comfortable... And it's our responsibility as well to help students understand the emerging technologies that they are going to be faced with."
But with great new power comes great responsibility. (Oh, Spiderman.) This week, NPR also posted a story about a Vision Group requesting that a school stop buying Kindles until Amazon comes up with better way to turn on the vocal reading option.
So, my question to everyone is, how do we continue to move forward with our digital and electronic tools without leaving people behind?
NPR quotes the schools Academic Dean as stating, "Part of our desire to move in this direction is to meet the students where they are most comfortable... And it's our responsibility as well to help students understand the emerging technologies that they are going to be faced with."
But with great new power comes great responsibility. (Oh, Spiderman.) This week, NPR also posted a story about a Vision Group requesting that a school stop buying Kindles until Amazon comes up with better way to turn on the vocal reading option.
So, my question to everyone is, how do we continue to move forward with our digital and electronic tools without leaving people behind?
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Impress Your Professor: Unprepared
I was not prepared to post anything on the blog today. No stories stuck out in my mind. I didn't come across any incredibly interesting articles. Frankly, I was drained of all my energy because I had to teach two courses of library instruction / information literacy yesterday. (After 3 hours, I have a new found respect for teachers who stand up and talk all day.)
So, here I sit, blanking on any information to type. I could discuss more about Google Wave (named after a communications method from my beloved and bygone space cowboy show Firefly), but it's been done and will continue to be done. I could peruse the ASIST journal and bulletin for articles, but I'm not in the mood. Ultimately, I've decided to do what most people do when they're stuck: procrastinate.
(1 hour later)
Success! In my procrastination, I decided to clean out my e-mail files. Look what I came across: Library101.
A large part of working in an academic library is teaching to undergraduates. We have to make the library look all sorts of awesome while still teaching them how to use all our (awesome!) tools and resources. Library101 offers a (somewhat hokey) crash course in what it means to remain relevant in a changing and technologically innovative society.
So, here I sit, blanking on any information to type. I could discuss more about Google Wave (named after a communications method from my beloved and bygone space cowboy show Firefly), but it's been done and will continue to be done. I could peruse the ASIST journal and bulletin for articles, but I'm not in the mood. Ultimately, I've decided to do what most people do when they're stuck: procrastinate.
(1 hour later)
Success! In my procrastination, I decided to clean out my e-mail files. Look what I came across: Library101.
A large part of working in an academic library is teaching to undergraduates. We have to make the library look all sorts of awesome while still teaching them how to use all our (awesome!) tools and resources. Library101 offers a (somewhat hokey) crash course in what it means to remain relevant in a changing and technologically innovative society.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
YouTube Tuesday: Overload, Part II
Facts and Stats
Just how much overload is overload?
The Cure?
Has anyone found Bing to be the cure to IO?
Just how much overload is overload?
The Cure?
Has anyone found Bing to be the cure to IO?
Friday, October 30, 2009
Hey, at least they're saving trees!
It's not news that libraries are considering digital alternatives to print, but to replace an entire collection with Amazon's proprietary Kindle reader? Today? In the Fall of 2009? Is the future really here, or has Cushing Academy jumped the gun?
USA Today reports that the Massachusetts school began removing its print collection entirely last summer and replaced it with a fully digital collection accessible through Kindle readers and through databases on student laptops. A few books still remain, but those are also slated to be removed.
Format may be less important than content, and getting reliable resources into the hands of the patron is goal number one, but is putting faith in a proprietary system this early in a very competitive game really wise? It's a question for the accountants. Is it cheaper to upgrade this technology if and when it gets outpaced by its (possibly open source) competitors than it is to wait? And from a research standpoint, has content been recreated digitally, or has it simply been replaced by something more palatable to high schoolers?
Whether or not it helps the school's bottom line, it does show that libraries are willing to grow with the culture and embrace technologies that will expand the information and services they are able to offer. It's a bold step forward by a boarding school that, USA Today tells us, was the first in the US to admit both boys and girls.
USA Today reports that the Massachusetts school began removing its print collection entirely last summer and replaced it with a fully digital collection accessible through Kindle readers and through databases on student laptops. A few books still remain, but those are also slated to be removed.
Format may be less important than content, and getting reliable resources into the hands of the patron is goal number one, but is putting faith in a proprietary system this early in a very competitive game really wise? It's a question for the accountants. Is it cheaper to upgrade this technology if and when it gets outpaced by its (possibly open source) competitors than it is to wait? And from a research standpoint, has content been recreated digitally, or has it simply been replaced by something more palatable to high schoolers?
Whether or not it helps the school's bottom line, it does show that libraries are willing to grow with the culture and embrace technologies that will expand the information and services they are able to offer. It's a bold step forward by a boarding school that, USA Today tells us, was the first in the US to admit both boys and girls.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
YouTube Tuesday: Overstuffed
Information Overload
How does it affect you?
Do You Suffer From IOS?
Side affects include...
How does it affect you?
Do You Suffer From IOS?
Side affects include...
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