Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Library System suffers from "Mission Creep"

I've just read an interesting editorial on "mission creep" and the need to re-examine libraries and library systems. It makes for an interesting read.

Find this article at:

http://www.tbo.com/news/opinion/editorials/MGBJFIEIN4F.html

Friday, July 20, 2007

Author reversal

Due to administration problems the authors of all posts prior to Friday June 29, 2007 were reversed. Prior to that date all posts that are listed as Mary Kate Boyd Byrnes were actually by Laura Manzari and vice versa.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Abandoning the Dewey Decimal System

Dewey? At This Library With a Very Different Outlook, They Don’t

An Arizona library has forsaken the Dewey Decimal System, and is arranging books in a manner similar to the approach taken by Barnes & Noble.

Sunday, July 8, 2007

Hip Librarians and Usability

A Hipper Crowd of Shushers
A new type of librarian is emerging: think Dewey Decimal meets Generation X.

Technology's Untanglers: They Make It Really Work
The work of usability professionals, who bridge the gap between the makers and users of a product, has recently developed into a solid career track.

Monday, July 2, 2007

Check out LibraryU

LibraryU provides free, web-based training for library staff. According to its website, LibraryU is supported cooperatively by the Illinois Library Systems and the Illinois State Library with special funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In a nutshell, it provides quality online instruction in a convenient and cost-effective manner. The overall project goal is to meet the training and continuing education needs of library patrons and staff with online instruction available through the web.

Check it out at:

http://learning.libraryu.org/home/

Sunday, July 1, 2007

NY Times article on Wikipedia

"Depending on your lights, it is either one of the noblest experiments of the Internet age or a nightmare embodiment of relativism and the withering of intellectual standards."

All the News That’s Fit to Print Out