Image was created using the Web2.0 Logo Creatr. A sort of informal book club it taking shape. From the code4lib post: So a bunch of us in #code4lib are thinking of starting up a book club to read tech books together, learn from each other in the process, and hopefully use a bit of peer pressure to propel ourselves into actually finishing a book. The first book we’re proposing we read is Practical Common Lisp which is available in print and also online.
Probably one of the most amazing uses of YouTube that’s I’ve seen. A 78-year-old man tells his story. Probably something that would fall under DOPA. Check out his YouTube profile for more of his content and to see how quickly he’s adapted to the technology. Are any libraries helping document local stories? via Waxy links
Library Stuff has another post on worldcat and borrowing policies. I still believe that a policy rethink is in order, but I think WorldCat could provide some warning similar to “Library policies differ and you may not be able to checkout this item directly. Contact the library to find out more…”, but more thought out. I don’t think this is just a WorldCat problem though. As more and more OPAC’s become searchable and findable online, it’s likely worthwhile to put some sort of policy statement right on the OPAC or the record display to prevent confusion.
Dchud has a nice post about using OCLC’s resolver API to integrate other institutions' resolvers with your application. The end result being that any user that comes across your site would be able to find it locally if they have an institution IP. One step closer to what I think Dan’s OneBigLibrary idea might be. Ross has also played with the idea in his metasearch/resolver and the idea opens some possibilities for users.
An article on search methods and tools that may be of interest to reference and other librarians. This article examines alternative engines with unique features that might improve search quality. I also advocate the use of search engines that graphically illustrate what searchers miss when they use only one engine. Finally, the article explores the possibilities for using social bookmarking communities as the ultimate search engine alternative. Developing good search skills requires study, experimentation, exploration, and a routine for keeping up with the latest developments in search engine technology.
I’ve seen a few posts about it but LiB goes over the use of the MeeboMe widget in libraries pretty well. One of the big benefits of such a widget is that you can include it at problem points. An OPAC search bring up zero results? Display the widget in the sidebar. It’s also anonymous and doesn’t require anyone to add you to their buddy list, providing an easy virtual reference for those who don’t use IM.
Bloglines has released a namespace for specifying access control for your feed, presuming you provide RSS 2.0 or ATOM. To 'allow' access means a feed may be redistributed to other public sources, including search. To 'deny' access means a feed should not be redistributed to other public sources, including search. The default relationship is to allow access. However, if a feed is currently set to 'deny', the relationship must be explicitly set back to 'allow' for it to be registered (Simply ommiting it from the feed is not sufficient to turn access back on).
For those libraries posting videos online and who want to save some bandwidth by posting to video sites, YouTube looks like it may be the one to try out. I checked Google Video but they don’t seem to have an API up yet (I presume they will in the future). YouTube has a page describing their API which supports REST and XML-RPC. The feature most will be interested will be the ability to pull videos by user.
Amazon has launched their Librarian Store They now offer approval ordering, corporate accounts for libraries and also “Library Processing”. Amazon is pleased to introduce Library Processing for Corporate Account customers. With this feature, you can receive mylar covers, MARC records, labels, and more with your Amazon.com orders. Reduce the time and effort it takes to get your books from the Amazon box to your library shelves. What’s interesting to me is that some of this is making it’s way into the Amazon API.
Lifehack.org has a post on 8 Expenses to Cut and How. One of the suggestions is to use a local library. Libraries have changed. Most libraries are now connected into a big sharing consortium, expanding the collection of what you can take out and what they’ll have that you might want. Further, most now have an online catalog that you can use to browse and request from home. Libraries now frequently stock DVDs (mine favors Hollywood movies, and the one in the next town features mostly highbrow independent stuff).