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The new librarianship goes beyond the traditional value of librarianship. We want to define a library outside of a room or a building---a walless haven of knowledge and information, without boundaries. We want to define a librarian outside of a degree or a license that certifies we are information professionals. We want to tell the world what a librarian is, not merely by what we do now, or by the degree we hold, but by WHY we do what we do.
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Some 90 librarians, architects, and vendors gathered to talk about how to build for flexibility in uncertain times and brainstorm solutions to a handful of design challenges. One of the challenges: do more with less—space, that is—but in a new building.
Read more of the other challenges and the results of the brainstorm here: http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/05/buildings/lbd/design-institute-six-space-challenges-from-six-libraries-library-by-design/ 
"Ebooks have been running along in the background for some time now, but with the development of good-quality readers (Kindle, Nook, iPad, and many more) and the ability of consumers to acquire ebooks instantly, the game has changed. Just as libraries have always responded to the consumer market and the demands of our users, we now need to meet the demand for ebooks."
This article looks into the issues involving ebook acquisition, lending, and access/ownership, and working out the pros and cons of new models of ebook lending that will satisfy publishers, distributors, and libraries and their patrons. More here: http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/features/05222012/warning-you-are-about-enter-ebook-zone 
The Pacific University Library has published the first issue of the Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication, a quarterly, peer-reviewed open-access publication for original articles, reviews and case studies that analyze or describe the strategies, partnerships and impact of library-led digital projects, online publishing and scholarly communication initiatives. (http://jlsc-pub.org/jlsc/)
The Journal of eScience Librarianship (JESLIB) is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that advances the theory and practice of librarianship with a special focus on services related to data-driven research in the physical, biological, and medical sciences. (http://escholarship.umassmed.edu/jeslib/) 
Open Culture claims to be the "best free cultural and educational media on the web." The website offers audio books, about 450 online courses, and ebooks for download, all for FREE. 
CNN: Google announces big change to how search results are delivered, says new search tool will think more like a human.
Google has introduced the "Knowledge Graph" — or semantic analysis — to its most fundamental tool, search. Here's what that means: http://mashable.com/2012/05/16/google-knowledge-graph/ 
It's a truism in library circles today to say that Google and web search engines (I will use "Google" as a stand in for web search engines) have changed the way users search which in turn affects what they expect from searches in the library.
This article discusses the differences in default searches starting from features that are totally accepted: http://musingsaboutlibrarianship.blogspot.com/2012/05/how-is-google-different-from.html 
"Handle a book as a bee does a flower: extract its sweets but do not injure it," (attributed to Charles Caleb Colton)
One of the many inscriptions in the Old Main Library -- the San Francisco Public Library's former home in a Beaux-Arts building that opened in 1917 and formed part of the city's ornate post-earthquake Civic Center. The main library moved into a brand-new building across the street years ago, and the Old Main was converted to a museum. The inscriptions were selected by Dr. Edward Robeson Taylor, former Mayor of San Francisco sometime in 1915, when the library's inscriptions were being planned.
To view more library inscriptions, go to: http://pinterest.com/famverzosa/library-inscriptions/ 
Earlier this month the Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a study - "Exploring the Digital Nation: Computer and Internet Use at Home." It confirms the digital divide between different racial and ethnic groups and between urban and rural areas in the U.S. The report notes that socio-economic differences, such as income and education, explain much-but not all – of this divide.
The study reports that at least 20 percent of individuals without broadband service at home rely on public libraries for access. The study has so much rich information, with many illuminating graphs and can be downloaded here: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/exploring_the_digital_nation_computer_and_internet_use_at_home_11092011.pdf 
The plans to renovate the flagship building of the New York Public Library are forward-thinking. But the essence of this cultural landmark should be preserved.
The plan calls for selling the Mid-Manhattan branch and the Science, Industry and Business Library and folding their collections into the central branch.
The Rose Main Reading Room and other special collections will remain as they are. About two million volumes will be moved elsewhere, probably to a facility in New Jersey, with the promise of getting off-site books to take about a day.
Massive cuts show us that the work of librarians and archivists are crucial to the nation’s interest. We are not mere record keepers, and neither do we spend our days merely dusting cobwebs off of old books. We are the people who maintain collections of public information, and we are the people who provide and nurture access to information. Many of us see ourselves as guardians of the public’s right to access information.
Budget cuts to the nation’s libraries and archives do not serve the public good. These cuts may help balance the financial books, but they create an information deficit that inhibits research, stymies dialogue and criticism, and makes government more distant from the people. 
Books at last are going digital – bringing to an end the futile period of paper books losing out to digital journals. With prices falling and instant availability leading to the growth of people reading ebooks, the writer, Patrick Dunleavy, foresees a renaissance of books as a major format in social science teaching, research, and impacts work. This push-back is strongly supported by the increasing emphasis on the impacts agenda; by increased attention to citations and real audience sizes; and by improved professionalism in the communication of the social sciences. 
11 Fabulous Libraries in South America
Photo of the library above was designed by four nearby college students, and focuses on natural ventilation and plenty of shade to keep the interior nice and cool. All of these cost-cutting measures went a long way in helping a truly impoverished area secure a much-needed library. View more here: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/125697 |
This web site is an online gateway to information on PAARL as an association of librarians working in academic and research libraries in the Philippines that promotes the collection, organization and dissemination of information on research and academic library work. 
The American Library Association (ALA) has just released a new report entitled “E-content: The Digital Dialogue,” which examines critical issues underlying equitable access to digital content through our nation’s libraries. In the report, authors "explore an unprecedented and splintered landscape in which several major publishers refuse to sell e-books to libraries; proprietary platforms fragment our cultural record; and reader privacy is endangered."
The report, published as a supplement to American Libraries magazine, explores various licensing models and the state of librarian-publisher relations. It also provides an update on the ALA-wide effort to promote access to digital content. The effort includes meeting with publishers, distributors and other important stakeholders; championing public advocacy, and writing position papers that advance practical business models without compromising library values. View/download here: http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/f8ac9caa#/f8ac9caa/1
"The purpose of this Guide is to help develop an awareness of the key issues that every library will need to consider and address in developing an e-portfolio. The Guide is not intended to be exhaustive, but is written to provide a reasonable and informed introduction to the wide range of issues presented by electronic resources."
This Guide focuses exclusively on electronic resources whether acquired via purchase or license, free from the web, born digital or multiple format materials (e.g., CD-ROM combined with a book). It is arranged in four broad sections, each focusing on a key aspect or critical sub-aspect of the electronic resource process in libraries: collection development, selection and evaluation, licensing and review/renewals. There is an appendix providing a definition of terms which appears within this document, as well as a list of resources.
Download the document here: http://www.ifla.org/files/acquisition-collection-development/publications/IFLA_ELECTRONIC_RESOURCE_GUIDE_FINAL_May2nd%5B1%5D.pdf
"New librarians are entering the job market fresh from receiving their master's degree (MLIS). The months and years spent in the classroom are behind them and they are anxious for the next chapter of their lives to begin. Some have already found job opportunities. Others are still in the job hunt and wondering when a job offer will appear. For them, this is a time of doubt. Was getting an MLIS the right thing to do? Weren't a ton of librarians suppose to be retiring? Is this the right time to be a librarian?"
Jill Hurst-Wahl, a digitization consultant and Assistant Professor of Practice in Syracuse University's School of Information Studies, offers her insight into the current job market in the field of librarianship to new graduates here: http://hurstassociates.blogspot.com.es/2012/05/is-now-time-for-librarians.html 
The 74 percent accurate, only slightly messy, story of the publishing process: find out how an idea gets turned into a book in this clever infographic. 
Some academic librarians are incredibly enthusiastic about lobbying for library funding and legislative causes. Just not enough of them. We all need to take this seriously.
Steven Bell (as ACRL president-elect) blogs about library advocacy: "In the great scheme of all things political, the library profession is a perennial underdog. Academic librarians can help make a difference. Not every time. But nothing changes if too many of us choose to ignore the issues of the day." (http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/05/opinion/steven-bell/academic-librarians-could-be-better-lobbyists-from-the-bell-tower/) Presentation about special collections librarianship compiled for the CILIP New Professionals Day 2012 (11 May, London).
This presentation is all about special collections, what they are, the functions of a special collections librarian, how to get into special collections, and the role of special collections librarianship. 
Accepting that libraries should be able to lend books means accepting that they should be able to lend them in any format. To claim otherwise is illogical and exposes a deep unease both with what "owning" an ebook actually entails, and with the whole concept of public libraries. Librarians, publishers and authors share an interest in getting people reading. They need to work together to sort out e-lending.
The decision to pursue a master’s degree can be a difficult one. Whether it is your first master’s degree in library science or your second master’s degree, there are inherent challenges in balancing all of life’s priorities. A master’s degree can provide an opportunity to achieve professional advancement, personal achievement and even the realization of a life-long passion. Though beneficial, obtaining a master’s degree while working as a library professional further complicates our efforts for a work / life balance with the addition of a third priority – school.
This article offers tips on balancing priorities while working on a master's degree. 
Academic publisher Versita launched a new program of 100 Open Access emerging science journals, to debut in 2012 (http://versitaopen.com/). The program’s focus is on young and rapidly developing fields in life sciences, chemistry, medicine, physics and mathematics, which have not yet been covered by a designated journal.
The new journals will join the nearly 200 scholarly journals already hosted on Versita Open, one of the world’s leading Open Access platforms, hosting full texts of scholarly journals that concurrently belong to many societies, universities and research institutes.
Read a related article here: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/versita-launches-largest-ever-open-access-journal-program-2012-05-10 
This study broadly examines factors impacting work-life experiences of library faculty of color (who identifies with a traditionally underrepresented group, such as African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, or Native Americans) within the framework of tenure policies and processes. An online survey was sent out to academic librarians of color to gauge perceptions of tenure and promotion policies and processes, professional activities and productivity, organizational climate and culture, and job satisfaction and retention. Results of the survey showed mixed findings regarding the impact of race on the tenure and promotion process. Findings can be used to inform future discussions of recruitment and retention for academic librarians of color and to improve the overall tenure experience.
Check out the latest issue of College and Research Libraries (May 2012) here: http://crl.acrl.org/content/73/3/279.full.pdf+html 
Times are changing in university campuses. Campus bookstores are not only filled with books, but also laptops and iPads. Twelve million students take at least one class online today — in five years, that number is projected to exceed 22 million. By 2014, analysts say, more than 3.5 million students will take all of their classes online. More here: http://mashable.com/2012/05/06/tech-college-infographic/ “Open Access to published scholarly research offers significant benefits to the UK, according to two reports released today by the UK Open Access Implementation Group. The UK public sector already saves £28.6 million by ...
These findings are borne out across all three reports in this series, and this body of new, quantitative work provides compelling evidence that increasing open access to research articles will have direct financial and practical benefits for the UK as a whole, benefits that are especially valuable in a time of austerity. Read the full reports here: http://open-access.org.uk/news |
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