2017 Week 40-44,45-48 & 49-52 : EveryLibrary To Build A National Base of Library Supporters, RedLink’s Library Dashboard Awarded, Europeana Publishes “Impact Playbook”,Google Refers Users to Library Ebooks from OverDrive, SJSU-Led Team Researches Blockchain in Libraries

How Libraries can Build Communities with Minecraft (YALSA blog)
“On Thursday afternoons, in the heart of the Beacon Hill Library in Seattle, you might find an animated group of youth on laptops designing parkour courses, rendering torch lit dungeons or co-constructing capture the flag arenas—all in Minecraft, the popular world-building game. To some, this scene might seem somewhat out of place in a library: Aren’t video games and lively teen banter fundamentally at odds with an institution whose core identity markers are books and silence? Not according to Juan Rubio, the Digital Media and Learning Program Manager for the Seattle Public Library (SPL).”

SJSU-Led Team Explores Blockchain in Libraries (Library Journal)
“A group led by San José State University iSchool (SJSU) Director Sandra Hirsh and SJSU lecturer Susan Alman is exploring how the library field could use blockchain, the open source, secure distributed database system originally developed to validate and record Bitcoin cryptocurrency transactions. Funded with a recent $100,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), SJSU is planning an online Library 2.0 conference on the topic on June 7, 2018, and a Blockchain National Forum gathering library leaders, blockchain innovators, and urban planners for mid-2018. This month, the project also launched Blockchains for the Information Profession, a new website that will serve as a landing spot for ideas, conversation, and education on the topic, as well as information about the upcoming conference and forum.”

Micromanaging Library Leaders Rarely Know the Damage They Do [Library Journal] (Library Link of the Day)
“It’s little coincidence that micromanaging bosses lack the basic self-awareness to know the damage they’re doing to staff morale, because they are often completely unaware of their own micromanaging behavior. The good news is that it may be possible for the habitual micromanager to do something about it, but recognizing it must the first step to change.”

Cultural Heritage: Assessment: Europeana Publishes “Impact Playbook: For Museums, Libraries, Archives and Galleries” (INFOdocket)
“Do you need to demonstrate the impact of your work? Are you curious to know what effect it has on people’s lives, and how the daily activities of your museum, library or archive contribute to create that change? Are you looking for tools to help you measure it? If you’ve found yourself asking these questions, we’ve got just the thing to help you out.

The State of Law Library eBooks 2017-18 Part One: The Landscape (LLRX)
“Ellyssa Kroski is the Director of Information Technology at the New York Law Institute and an award-winning editor and author of 36 books. In Part One of a three part series for LLRX, she describes the current landscape of eBooks relevant to the law library field, the benefits and challenges of offering eBooks in law libraries, the different ways to purchase law-related eBooks, and how to get started choosing a solution.”

DPLA Welcomes Digital Maine (DPLA)
“As we prepare to ring in a new year, we are pleased to share the collections of Digital Maine, which joins Oklahoma, Florida, Montana, Maryland, Michigan, and Illinois, as the seventh new partner whose collections have been added to DPLA in 2017. With Maine State Library at the helm, Digital Maine contributes state documents and records, dating back to the Revolutionary War, as well as materials from local libraries and historical societies across the state.”

Demco Software Reinvents its Boopsie Library Mobile App with Demco DiscoverMobile? (E Content)
“Demco DiscoverMobile is the next generation of the Boopsie mobile app. The new app presents library information in the increasingly popular at-a-glance format, streamlining how patrons browse collections, check out titles, and register for upcoming events via their smartphones.”

Community Map of Canada Now Available ( New Stephen’s Lighthouse)
“The Community Map of Canada is the first uniform, detailed and accessible digital basemap of Canada that’s free for everyone to use,” says Alex Miller, president, Esri Canada. “It’s built from data contributions as well as open data from local authorities across the country”

EveryLibrary Prepares To Build a National Base of Library Supporters (Library Journal)
“Marking its fifth anniversary on September 5, EveryLibrary, a nonprofit political action committee dedicated to building voter support for libraries, announced its One Million Americans For Libraries Campaign. The initiative, intended to promote the importance of libraries nationwide, aims to garner one million Likes on EveryLibrary’s Facebook page—allowing it to reach more than seven million Americans every week, inspiring them to sign petitions, attend rallies, and vote yes for library budgets and funding.”

Charleston Advisor Reader’s Choice Awards Names RedLink’s Library Dashboard Best New Product/Service for 2017 ( Library Technology Guides)
“RedLink’s Library Dashboard, which helps librarians and institutions by providing a complete, normalized overview of usage and turn-away statistics, has been named Best New Product/Service in the 2017 Charleston Advisor Readers’ Choice Awards.”

4 ways to extend the library’s presence into the community ( New Stephen’s Lighthouse)
“Meeting patrons where they spend most of their time is a fantastic way to extend the library’s presence into the community and to make the public aware of all the great opportunities they can have at a library. Also, local citizens want libraries to be in places where people can combine the library service with other activities such as shopping or other leisure activities.”

Minnesota: Hennepin County Public Library Launches “MnSpin” Streaming Service Featuring a Curated Collection of Music by Local Artists and Groups (INFOdocket)
“Discover Minnesota musicians on MnSpin, Hennepin County Library’s new music streaming and download platform that will give music lovers and seekers access to 50-plus curated albums by local artists and groups.”

New York City Public Libraries Offer One-Time Fine Amnesty on Kids’ and Teens’ Library Cards ( INFOdocket)
New York, Brooklyn and Queens Library in NYC decided to forgive approximately $2.25 million in outstanding fines.

The Problems With Searching the Deep Web (Information Today)
“A variety of search engines are working to provide improved access to key information otherwise hidden inside of websites or behind paywalls. Methods to get to this deep web are currently still under development—and are not regulated to protect users from unethical practices. Deep web search engines are able to uncover more information and links and improve the results of a search to include an estimated 500% more information than traditional search engines.”

The Best Free Online File Converters for All Your Formatting Needs ( New Stephen’s Lighthouse)
“Have you ever received a file or created one of your own that needed to be in a different format? Whether it’s from PDF to DOC, JPG to BMP, or MP3 to WAV, documents, images, audio and video files can be converted easier than you think.”

LexisNexis Implements Critical Mention’s Broadcast Media Monitoring API
“Critical Mention is the world’s leading aggregator of real-time television and radio content. Every day, Critical Mention collects and indexes online news articles, social media posts, and broadcast programming so that communications and public relations professionals at corporations, non-profits, and marketing agencies can stay on top of their media coverage.”

Las Vegas-Clark County Library District implements Patron Point (Library Technology Guides)
“Patron Point is a totally new patron relationship management system that produces web-driven marketing programs. Combining user demographic and activity-based data with marketing automation technology, Patron Point delivers a new level of personalization to library marketing. ”

The Job Outlook: In 2030, Librarians Will Be in Demand | Editorial ( Library Journal)
“A fascinating new report takes a fresh look at what the workforce is going to look like in the future and which skills will be highly sought after. According to “The Future of Skills: Employment in 2030”, there will be an increased call for librarians, curators, and archivists, among other occupations.”

DPLA Exchange offers library-centered ebook marketplace ( Library Technology Guides)
“The launch of the Exchange represents a major milestone in the DPLA ebook pilot announced earlier this year. The goal of the program is to demonstrate how DPLA can help libraries maximize access to ebooks for their patrons”

Google Directs Users to Library Ebooks from OverDrive (Library Journal)
“OverDrive is enabling Google to display library ebooks prominently in open web search results. Announced in a tweet last month by Google, and reported by media outlets including Slate, Fortune.com, and TheVerge, the new feature displays a “Borrow ebook” option highlighting the searched for title and linking to libraries within a user’s geolocated range.”

A Visit to the Best Buy Teen Tech Center at the Minneapolis Central Library (via Minnesota Public Radio) (INFOdocket)
“The center is loaded with the latest technology, from virtual reality headsets to a green screen to a soundproof recording studio. A bank of computers on one end of the space features photo and video editing software. Nearby is a small music station housing guitars and a keyboard, while a row of printers — big and small and 3-D — churn out banners and photos and chess pieces. The center also includes what some could consider low-tech equipment, like a button maker, T-shirt press and sewing machines. But their purpose is the same as their high-tech cousins — to give members a chance to develop their know-how that could later come in handy.”

Gale and Texas Public Libraries deliver program to give residents access to accredited high school diplomas ( Library Technology Guides)
“Five Texas libraries have partnered with Gale, a leading provider of library resources and a Cengage company, to offer the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma and career certificate at public libraries across the state. Qualifying Texas adults can enroll in the Career Online High School program starting today through the following public library systems: Houston, Dallas, Frisco, Grapevine and Sulphur Springs.”

Library Visits Have Gone Way Up Over the Last Two Decades. Here’s Why… ( New Stephen’s Lighthouse)
“Possibly the biggest reason that library visits have grown so drastically in the last two decades is that libraries have become the go-to places for computer classes, help with devices like tablets and e-readers, and access to free ebooks and audiobooks. Over time, people have come to understand that the role of libraries is not on the bleeding-edge of technology, but focused rather on the needs of their communities”

NYPL Unveils Plans for Schwarzman Building  (Library Journal)
“At a November 15 board of trustees meeting, New York Public Library (NYPL) administration unveiled the master plan for renovations to its main branch, the Steven A. Schwarzman Building on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street in Manhattan. The work is part of NYPL’s Midtown Campus renovation, which includes the gut renovation of the Mid-Manhattan Library across Fifth Avenue, currently in progress.These represent the second round of plans for the Schwarzman Building, undertaken after NYPL’s original Central Library Plan (CLP), first announced in 2008, was abandoned in 2014.”

Notable Lectures & Presentations:

Thanks Ohio Library Council! Adopt or Adapt? (Tame The web)
Adopt or Adapt: Approaches to Emerging Tech and Trends
Presenter: Michael Stephens, San Jose State University
“There’s no doubt about it. Library Information Science has become a technology-driven field. Information technology is impacting every industry right now, and libraries are no different. Note the influx of job descriptions for emerging tech librarians, user experience specialists, and others who guide technology-focused projects and departments”

Instagram: Effective Use for Libraries ( Lone Wolf Librarian)
David Lee King on effective use of Instagram for libraries.

VIDEO: Recording of IMLS NDP (National Digital Platform) at Three Meeting
(INFOdocket)
“As IMLS concludes its third year of National Digital Platform funding through the National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program and the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, the agency takes a look back at what has been accomplished and explores future directions for increasing the digital capacity of libraries and museums.”

New Video Recording: OCLC’s Lorcan Dempsey Speaks at Washington University in St. Louis on “Libraries, Library Users, and Collections” (INFOdocket)
Lorcan Dempsey, vice president of membership and research, and chief strategist at the OCLC discusses “Libraries, Library Users, and Collections”.

TVO: Ontario Hubs: Our Changing Libraries ( New Stephen’s Lighthouse)
“From 3D printers to mental health services, public libraries across the province are evolving to meet a changing society and a digital age. For Ontario Public Library Week, Ontario Hubs presents a round table on the changing role of libraries.”

Smart Spaces for Small Libraries ( Lone Wolf Librarian)
Presentation by Betha Gutsche and Pattie Mayfield

Sex, Drugs and the Public Library [NBC Southern California] ( Library Link of the Day)
“The NBC4 I-Team went undercover for three months to investigate and what we found has the LAPD taking a closer look. Joel Grover reports for the NBC4 News at 11”

2017 Week 27-31,32-35 & 36-39 : More Toronto Public Library Branches Open On Sundays, Aspen Institute With New Action Guide, Libraries As Publishers JEP Special Issue, IFLA Releases Library Map of the World, Training Librarians as Evaluators to Show Library Value

As Part of New City Strategy Six More Toronto Public Library Branches to Open Sundays Year-Round (INFOdocket)
“Six more Toronto Public Library branches will be open Sundays year-round thanks to a City of Toronto strategy. Mayor John Tory says the move means investing in people by bringing library access to neighborhoods which need it most.”

collectionHQ and SOLUS announce joint initiative  (Library Technology Guides) “collectionHQ, the world’s leading collection performance improvement solution and SOLUS, a global library technology provider, announced a new joint initiative to support collection management in public libraries. The joint initiative surrounds the launch of SOLUS’ Gizmo mobile device and the compatibility of collectionHQ Action Plans with the SOLUS Staff App. Gizmo, an Android-powered handheld tool, supports the SOLUS Staff App to allow librarians to deliver better customer service by responding to patron queries, searching the collection and placing hold requests all from the library floor.”

The Aspen Institute Publishes Rising to the Challenge: Re-Envisioning Public Libraries, Version 2.0

“To help library and community leaders use the report, Rising to the Challenge: Re-Envisioning Public Libraries, the Aspen Institute created the Action Guide for Re-Envisioning Your Public Library, version 2.0 a set of resources for convening a community dialogue and helping communities take action to re-envision their own public library.”

360° Advocacy: Engage Stakeholders in What Libraries Really Deliver | Editorial  (Library Journal)
“For those not in the trenches, however, it can be difficult to know when and how to engage. LJ’s feature package “Be Heard: Advocacy in Action” gives a full update on efforts from several fronts and offers a time line to prepare your own activities and raise awareness in your circles for the key moments ahead.

What Happened to Google’s Effort to Scan Millions of University Library Books? 
( Library Link of the Day)
“For Mike Furlough, HathiTrust’s executive director, it’s up to the library community to figure out where to go with what Google helped start. He points to an evolving national digital infrastructure, funded in part by entities like the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services as well as private groups like the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Sloan Foundation.”

Microsoft Plans Use of White Spaces to Bridge Digital Divide   ( Information Today)
“The New York Times reports that Microsoft is working to combat the digital divide. It plans to harness “the unused channels between television broadcasts, known as white spaces, to help get more of rural America online.
A rural broadband strategy: connecting rural America to new opportunities – Microsoft on the Issues from The Official Microsoft Blog – Microsoft ”

A New Special Issue of The Journal of Electronic Publishing (JEP) Devoted to Libraries as Publishers is Now Online ( INFOdocket)
A new issue (Summer 2017; Vol. 20, No.2) of The Journal of Electronic Publishing (JEP) was published online today and contains the proceedings of the IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations) 2016 Satellite Meeting, “Libraries as Publishers: Building a Global Community.”

This new tool could help you save on health care. ( Research Buzz)
The https://www.youcanplanforthis.org, “offers options for calculating costs in New York based on a single procedure or a full episode of care.”

Academic Library Impact: Improving Practice and Essential Areas to Research.  ( ACRL) ACRL announces the release of Academic Library Impact: Improving Practice and Essential Areas to Research. Developed for ACRL by OCLC Research, this valuable resource investigates how libraries can increase student learning and success and effectively communicate their value to higher education stakeholders. The full report is freely available for download on the ACRL website.

Training Librarians as Evaluators to Show Library Value   ( Library Journal)
“In 2015, we launched a national training event for public librarians, the Research Institute for Public Libraries (RIPL). During this three-day data boot camp, participants learn how to evaluate their programs and services and use data for management, strategic planning, and demonstrating their impact. After the first event, we received an Institute of Museum and Library Services Laura Bush 21^st Century Librarian Program Grant, and are using the funds to develop new models for expanding RIPL training, including regional events throughout the United States as well as an online Community of Practice, open to anyone interested in public library data and evaluation.”

IFLA Releases Library Map of the World ( New Stephen’s Lighthouse)
““In an effort to strengthen advocacy for libraries at the global, regional and national levels, IFLA officially launched the Library Map of the World project at IFLA’s WLIC 2017 in Wrocław. The purpose of the map is to provide basic information about the state of the libraries around the world.”

Notable Lectures & Presentations:

Annual Institute of Library as Place: Presentation – The Mindful Library: Developing Placemaking in Contemporary Libraries  ( New Stephen’s Lighthouse)

Highly recommended presentation with abundance of  resources for community-led master planning process for public libraries.

2017 Week 14-17,18-22 & 23-26 : ALA and ACRL Support Net Neutrality; Library Hours in NYC Still Lag Behind Other Big Cities, Fact Vs.Fake News Librarian Resources, New Technology Library Systems Report 2017, Nashville Public Library Named Library of the Year, Overdrive Starts Libby, AASL With 2017 List of Best Apps for Teaching & Learning

A Queens Library Branch is Hosting 31-Hour Open House 
I am very proud to announce that our Corona Community Library will host a very cool 31-hour open house. The event is part of  the “Queens Library is for Everyone” campaign.

American Association of School Libraries  (AASL) Releases 2017 List of Best Apps for Teaching & Learning (INFOdocket)
“The apps recognized as Best Apps for Teaching & Learning are of exceptional value to inquiry-based teaching and learning as embodied in the AASL’s Standards for the 21st-Century Learner.”

OverDrive Rolls Out New App for Streamlined Reading Experience (Information Today)    “Libby, the new one-tap reading app built by OverDrive, is the quickest and easiest way to get started reading and discovering digital library content from anywhere in the world. Libby was designed based on guidance from librarians and the feedback of thousands of beta users to provide a reading experience perfect for all users. At the same time, Libby makes bringing new users to the library a snap through its intuitive and simple interface.”

Toronto Reference Library gets in on vinyl craze, buys 100 records ( Library Stuff)
“The Toronto Reference Library is kicking it old school, buying vinyl records for the first time in three decades. The library is adding 100 titles. You can’t take the albums home, but there are two record players on the fifth floor, free for anyone to use.”

Microsoft, Google, Baidu, and Paul Allen’s AI2 Form Open Academic Search Group (INFOdocket)
“Microsoft, Google and Baidu may be competitors in the business world, but when it comes to open-access academic resources, they’re all working together – thanks to a collaboration created by Seattle’s Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence. The Open Academic Search working group, or OAS, was set up to unite a wide spectrum of researchers working on academic search tools.”

Nashville Public Library Named 2017 Library of the Year by Library Journal and Gale (Library Stuff)
“Great libraries find compelling solutions to the challenges in their communities. Nashville Public Library stands out for its range of services, innovation in partnerships, and commitment to evolving as its community does, while keeping a keen eye on what’s important from the past,” said Rebecca T. Miller, editorial director of Library Journal. “We are very excited to have Nashville join the stellar Library of the Year roster. Nashville Public Library has a strong partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) to put public library materials and technology into students’ hands. The Limitless Libraries initiative has infused millions of dollars into school libraries and helped local schools meet or exceed state collection requirements.”

Winds of Change | ALA 2017 Preview (Library Journal)
Preview of the upcoming  American Library Association (ALA) annual conference in Chicago from June 22–27.

UPDATE: Russian Court Convicts Ukrainian Library Chief Of Inciting Hatred, Receives 4 Year Suspended Sentence (INFOdocket)
“As IFLA’s Statement on Libraries and Intellectual Freedom of 1999 underlines, ‘libraries contribute to the development and maintenance of intellectual freedom and help to safeguard basic democratic values and universal civil rights. […] To this end, libraries shall acquire, preserve and make available the widest variety of materials, reflecting the plurality and diversity of society’. The selection and availability of library materials and services should, therefore, be ‘governed by professional considerations and not by political, moral and religious views’.

‘Subway Library’ offers riders a read on their commute (Library Stuff)
““At least straphangers will have something to read while they’re stuck on a train.Modal TriggerThe “Subway Library” is a special promotion providing riders access to hundreds of free e-books, e-shorts and extensive excerpts. The MTA has remade a subway train to look like the inside of the New York Public Library’s Rose Main Reading Room — and is offering riders free e-books starting today.”

Fact vs Fake: Resources to Help Librarians Navigate Digital Literacy ( New Stephen’s Lighthouse)
Stephen Abram has compiled 5 must see resources to identify the accuracy of news resources and recognize ” fake news”.

The Chatty Librarians: Podcasting | Field Reports ( Library Journal)
“The podcasts highlighted here target two different audiences. Sachem Public Library’s (SPL) Chris DeCristofaro’s “The Library Pros” features talks with librarians, for librarians. And Ellen Druda’s “In the Stacks,” produced with Half Hollow Hills Community Library’s (HHHCL) assistant director Charlene Muhr, features book talks for patrons. In this column, they explain how and why they podcast. Also, check out a special edition of The Library Pros podcast in which DeCristofaro, Druda, Chris Kretz of The Long Island History Project podcast, and LJ‘s Matt Enis discuss the ideas in this column, and more.”

State of America’s Libraries Report 2017  (ALA News)
“Our 9,082 public libraries play a vital role in such community services as early childhood literacy, computer training, and workforce development. In addition, they provide a safe place for everyone, reflecting and serving the diversity of their communities in their collections, programs, and services. The thousands of public libraries in towns and neighborhoods across the United States invite community conversations and actions that further understanding and address local needs.”

Directory of 120-Plus Free Business Resources Available From BestBizWeb (Information Today)
“The Best of The Best of the Business Web 2015-2016, a directory of more than 120 free business information sources, “including advertising, Big Data, financial information, market research, statistical information, venture capital information”, is essential for business librarians and corporate research centers.

Valuing Library Services Calculator What is your library worth to your healthcare institution? (New Stephen’s Lighthouse)
“The calculator uses a “replacement value” methodology, where the retail cost to replace the librarian and the materials in your library, including print and electronic journals and monographs, reference services, instruction, etc. You can also define your own service or resource to calculate the value.”

MARKETING LIBRARY SERVICES: TECH TOOLS AND HACKS: Finding Free Stock Video Footage and Music (Information Today)
“Techie and tool lover Jennifer E. Burke reveals four sites that offer free stock video and six sites where you can download stock music and even sound effects. These tools will allow you to enhance your videos without using “legally questionable” clips.”

Oklahoma State University and Four Public Libraries Team Up to Bridge ‘Digital Divide’ in Rural Oklahoma (INFOdocket)

The pilot program, supported by Mobile Beacon, “an organization focused on providing broadband to nonprofit entities throughout the country” allows customers  to check out a mobile WiFi hot spot device.

Report: Florida Governor Signs School Censorship Bill into Law (INFOdocket)
“Florida governor Rick Scott yesterday approved legislation that will facilitate challenges to classroom materials, allowing any county resident to lodge a challenge against textbooks or supplemental materials that they claim fail to present “a noninflammatory, objective, and balanced viewpoint on issues.” Intellectual freedom advocates are bracing for challenges on multiple topics of public contention, from evolution and climate change to fictional works featuring Muslim or LGBTQIA characters.”

Community Led Libraries Toolkit ( New Stephen’s Lighthouse)
An excellent Community Led Libraries Toolkit, developed by Canadian Libraries that explores “the application of community development techniques in developing more inclusive public library services”  with the awareness that ” public libraries need to find new and better ways of understanding and serving socially excluded community members”  if libraries are “to play the important social and economic roles we aspire to fulfill.”

Library Systems Report 2017 ( New Stephen’s Lighthouse)
Marshall Breeding annual Library Systems Report published by American Libraries reveals a new trend :” the library technology industry has entered a new phase: business consolidation and technology innovation. Development of products and services to support the increasingly complex work of libraries remains in an ever-decreasing number of hands. Not only have technology-focused companies consolidated themselves, they have become subsumed within higher-level organizations with broad portfolios of diverse business activities.”

More Time in the Stacks: Library Hours in NYC Still Lag Behind Other Big Cities (Library Stuff)
Public Libraries in NYC are open ” more hours per week than at any point in the past decade”. A study by  Center for an Urban Future,  found out that ” New York City’s libraries are still open fewer hours than most of the largest library systems in the nation—including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas—and most of the large counties in New York State.”

Public Partners | Collaboration ( Library Journal)
An interesting overview of the most successful collaborations between schools and public libraries.

Prison Libraries Network: Right to Read” position statement ( New Stephen’s Lighthouse)
“This Right to Read statement clearly asserts the value of libraries and access to information resources in correctional institutions, echoing recommendations set out in the most recent report of the Office of the Correctional Investigator. In the report, the Office recommends that Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) “update and renew inmate libraries so that they are compliant with policy and comparable to the services, materials, and technologies available in the communities.”

Bookmobiles and Beyond: new library services on wheels serve newborns through teens [School Library Journal] ( Library Link of The Day)

““All aspects of library outreach are on the rise as part of a larger discussion on how libraries can remain relevant,” says Ann Plazek, president of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Association of Bookmobiles and Outreach (ABOS). In 2014, 690 bookmobiles were operating across the United States, according to a study from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. ”

ALA and ACRL join higher education, library groups to urge FCC and Congress to uphold net neutrality ( ALA News)

“Network neutrality is essential to ensuring open and nondiscriminatory access to information for all.  The American Library Association is proud to stand with other education and learning organizations in outlining core principles for preserving the open Internet as a vital platform for free speech, innovation, and civic engagement.”

We Need Librarians Today More Than Ever – How an ancient profession stays on top of the digital age (LLRX)
“Journalist and librarian Marcus Banks discusses the role, relevancy and impact of librarians in all sectors as we are increasingly overwhelmed with information and yet access to actionable resources is often blocked by fees and paywalls, and the goal of knowledge sharing is subsumed and often ill served by conflicting agendas. Librarians remain critical advocates for open access, teachers of digital literacy skills, proponents of services to all Americans, and touchstones for identifying truth in an increasingly growing sphere of fake news and information that fails to serve democracy, education, and commerce.”

Notable Lectures & Presentations:

David Lee King on videos in libraries at Computers in Libraries 2017  (David Lee King)

Emerging Technology Trends in Libraries for 2017 presented by David Lee King at  Computers in Libraries 2017 (Lone Wolf Librarian)

How to design a library that makes kids want to read TED presentation by Michael Bierut

Eulogy for the Information Age: The Future is Impact Not Access (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Presentation by David Lankes at University of South Carolina.

International Image Interoperability Framework – IIIF  (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Presentation by Tom Cramer, Chief Technology Strategist, Stanford University Libraries.

2017 Week 10,11,12 & 13 : Best Free Reference Websites & Apps,Trump’s Budget Eliminates Funding For IMLS, Cheatsheet to Live Video, NYC with new page for the NYC Open Data web portal,At U Chicago You Can Checkout Materials With Camera on Your Phone

Best Free Reference Websites & Apps ( Library Journal)
Gary Price editor INFOdocket highlights the best free reference websites and apps.

The 2017 Cheatsheet to Live Video  (Research Buzz)
““Live video continues to be popular for other platforms too – Instagram Stories, Twitter Periscope, YouTube Live, and others. So how do you know how to experiment for each platform? We put together this cheatsheet to help”

National Library of Medicine (NLM) Announces Four Changes to PubMed Records (INFodocket)
In short: records will now include Conflict of Interest Statements (COIS) When Supplied by the Publisher, Change to Editorial Expressions of Concern, Change to Results Display and Change to Status Tag.

NMC Horizon Report > 2017 Higher Ed Edition (14th ed.) Released ( Stephen’s Lighthouse)
“What is on the five-year horizon for higher education institutions? Which trends and technology developments will drive educational change? What are the critical challenges and how can we strategize solutions? These questions regarding technology adoption and educational change steered the discussions of 78 experts to produce the NMC Horizon Report: 2017 Higher Education Edition”

Google site search is on the way out. Now what? ( Search Engine Land)
If search is a problem for your library website, here are some alternative solutions for small and medium sized libraries.

De Blasio Administration Unveils New Open Data Homepage As New York City Celebrates 5 Years Of Open Data (Research Buzz)
“The de Blasio Administration today celebrated the 5-year anniversary of the Open Data Law by launching a new homepage for the NYC Open Data web portal. To date, the City has published more than 1,600 free municipal datasets, ranging from 311 complaints to crime incidents by neighborhood to the location of every street tree in the city. The new home for the Open Data Portal provides more support to data novices on how to get started with City data, empowering more New Yorkers to understand how their city works through the information it produces.”

Texas: A Third “Bibliotech” All-Digital Public Library Location (Largest One Yet) to Open in San Antonio ( INFOdocket)
Kudos to Bexar County in Texas for opening a third all-digital location . Checkout the video here.

Trump’s Budget Proposal Eliminates Funding For IMLS, NEA, NEH, CPB, and More
(INFOdocket)
“The President’s proposal to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services in his FY2018 budget just released, and with it effectively all federal funding for libraries of all kinds, is counterproductive and short-sighted.
America’s more than 120,000 public, school, college and university and many other libraries aren’t piles of archived books. They’re trusted centers for technology, job counseling, retraining, veterans services, entrepreneurship, education, teaching and learning and free inquiry at the cores of communities in every state in the country – and in every congressional district.”

Local libraries are true immigrant sanctuaries (Library Stuff)
“There is a powerful, effective and meaningful way to uplift and protect immigrant New Yorkers right now: support public libraries, institutions that proudly wear the sign of “everyone is welcome here” each and every day. These sanctuaries within our sanctuary city need our investment now more than ever.”

Ontario: A Staff-Less Public Library Pilot Project to Take Place in Toronto ( INFOdocket)
Toronoto Public Library is planning to open Swansea Memorial Public Library iand Todmorden Public Library as a staff-less public libraries.

edX Adds More MicroMasters Programs (Information Today)
Want to advance your career? Enroll in a MicroMaster at edX.

UXF: Where’s the Friction at Your Library (Designing Better Libraries)
Stephen Bell is revewing the concept of User Experience Friction and offering  solutions.

New app lets users check out Library materials with their phones ( Library Stuff)
“Checkout UChicago lets UChicago students, faculty, staff, and others with borrowing privileges check out material from the University of Chicago Library using the camera on their phones.
To enable the app once downloaded, scan or enter your library barcode (on the back of your UChicago ID) and enter your last name. In the checkout screen, use the “+” button to check out library items. Touch the “Finish” button when done. No further action is needed if you wish to store your loans in a locker or faculty study within the library. If you want to leave the library with your items, deactivate your materials at the Deactivation Station at the Regenstein circulation desk. ”

7 amazing technologies we’ll see by 2030 ( Stephen’s Lighthouse)
A thought provoking short video by Business Insider on the development of technologies in the next 15 years.

Libraries are a safe haven for homeless people – but locals seek to exclude them [The Guardian] ( Library Link of the Day)
“Of all the places associated in the popular imagination with homelessness – park benches, skid rows, the undersides of freeways – libraries are probably low on the list. Yet the Castro branch, like others across California and elsewhere in the western US, is treated by many homeless people as a sanctuary from streets that can be cold, wet and dangerous. Some residents, however, have urged making libraries or their environs less attractive to homeless visitors.”

Douglas County Libraries Face Closure ( Library Journal)
“The 11-branch Douglas County Library System (DCLS), OR, is facing closure later this spring after a ballot measure to create an independent tax district was defeated in the November 2016 election.”

Minnesota: Sound Recording Booth Opens Inside Rochester Public Library (INFOdocket)
“It’s a sound booth now installed on the library’s main floor for use in recording, first and foremost, oral histories. But the booth can also be used in the future to record podcasts, poetry, readings and music. Or maybe you could just go in there and vent.”

Protecting Patron Privacy ( Library Journal)
“The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives have both voted to repeal restrictions on the sale of customer data by internet service providers (ISPs). President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill into law. The restrictions were short-lived, enacted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in October 2016, days before the election. Still, as Gary Price, editor of LJ infoDOCKET notes, “This troubling event is an opportunity for the library community to become a clearinghouse of awareness, education, and knowledge about digital privacy to those we serve.”

Notable Lectures & Presentations:  Jason Griffey, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Matthew Bollerman, David Lankes

Blockchain for Libraries (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Jason Griffey highlights the pros and cons of blockchain for libraries.

What happens to libraries and librarians when machines can read all the books?
 (Library Blogs Buzz) Presentation of Chris Bourg at Harvard Library Leadership in a Digital Age program

Sustainable Thinking for the Future of Libraries (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Rebekkah Smith Aldrich and Matthew Bollerman webinar offers tools for librarians through the NYLA Sustainability Initiative.

The Future of VR, AR and Self-Driving Cars – Study Results (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Inetresting study results from LinkedIn about wearabales, VR and self-driving cars.

Lankes: Creating Better Libraries for Today’s Complex World – USC ( Stephen’s Lighthouse)
A must see presentation by David Lankes at University of South Carolina.

Emerging Tech Trends in Libraries (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Laura Solomon reviews emerging tech trends in libraries.

 

2017 Week 6,7,8 & 9: First Cyber Library To Be Build By A Theme Park Company In Florida?,”Anythink Libraries Develops The One Kind Word Project, Best Reference Titles of 2016, Measuring the True Impact of Public Libraries, ProQuest Starts Displaced Researchers Program, Artificial Intelligence And The Future Of Work

Toronto Public Library shedding light on Seasonal Affective Disorder (Library Stuff)
Kudos to Toronto Public Library for their innovative approach to improve customer experience by introducing “light therapy lamps, designed to mimic the sun and treat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression that some people experience during the dark winter months.

Big Read in the Big Apple: NYC Launches Reading initiative ( Library Journal)
“At the end of January, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment announced One Book, One New York, a reading program that urges residents of all five boroughs to read the same book, starting in early March. If successful, this will form the largest reading community in the country. But can New Yorkers agree on the same book?  Fifteen years ago, as the New York Times reported, a similar initiative collapsed because the organizers were unable to pick a title. This year, city officials asked an advisory panel of public library heads, publishers, and academics to suggest possible candidates, which they then winnowed down to five books. The public have until February 28 to vote online for the winner.”

A Theme Park Company and City of Homestead, Florida are Building the World’s First “Cybrary” (Library of the Future) ? ( INFOdocket)
“Virtual reality simulations, talking robots and a magic school bus — this is what happens when a theme park company designs a library.Landmark Entertainment Group — the company responsible for the Spider-Man and Jurassic Park rides at Universal Orlando and Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas — has partnered with the city of Homestead to create the world’s first “Cybrary,” or cyber library.”

AR, VR Lead Top Tech Trends Discussion | ALA Midwinter 2017 ( Library Journal)
“Augmented reality (AR) technology is not new, but the growing ubiquity of smartphones is making it possible for libraries and other cultural institutions to create new applications that allow patrons to explore collections in new and exciting ways, Cynthia Hart, emerging technologies librarian, Virginia Beach Public Library, explained during the Library Information Technology Association’s (LITA) Top Tech Trends at the American Library Association’s Annual Midwinter conference in Atlanta”.

The State of Ebooks 2017 ( New Stephen’s Lighthouse)
“According to the Association of American Publishers, in January 2016, ebooks sales were down 6.7% from the year before.
With the exception of Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service, subscription ebook services continued to struggle in 2016. Oyster shut down operations early in the year. And, in a move designed to compete with Amazon, Scribd introduced Scribd Selects, in which members now get unlimited access to selected titles plus three books of their choice per month.”

Anythink Libraries Spreads Kindness (Information Today)
“Anythink Libraries developed the One Kind Word Project, which is running from Feb. 6 to Feb. 11, 2017, to “help spread kindness and compassion throughout the community,” It was inspired by the Japanese proverb, “One kind word can warm three winter months.” As part of the project, each Anythink location is providing materials for creating custom cards with kind messages that will be distributed to organizations in the community who have people in need of cheering up. ”

ProQuest launches Displaced Researchers Program ( Library Technology Guides)
“ProQuest has launched a program to provide no-cost access to its databases for students and researchers who have been separated from their universities and libraries because of travel bans or other immigration changes. The company has an email hotline ContinueMyResearch@proquest.com where these displaced researchers can arrange for access to the materials they need to continue their work.”

Roundup: 20 New or Recently Updated Reports From the Congressional Research Service (CRS) (INFOdocket)
Gary Price from INFOdocket has always highlighted the latest Congressional Research Service Reports, which are an excellent reasearch tool for library customers.

Academic and Scholar Search Engines and Sources 2017 (LLRX)
Marcus Zillman has compiled an excellent guide of  academic and scholar search engines and sources with the goal  “to be able to find the important academic and scholarly information both in the visible and invisible world wide web.”

The Metropolitan Museum of Art makes 375,000 images of public art freely available under Creative Commons Zero (Library Stuff)
“Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, known by many as the Met, announced that it is placing more than 375,000 images of public-domain works in the museum’s collection under a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) dedication. The release, which covers images of the great majority of the museum’s holdings, is part of the Met’s Open Access initiative and will enable anyone, anywhere to freely access, use, and remix photos of some of the world’s most well-known works of art.

Digital Library Federation Introduces New and Improved Digitization Cost Calculator (INFOdocket)
“The DLF Assessment Interest Group’s Cost Assessment working group unveiled the new and improved version of the Digitization Cost Calculator at the recent DLF conference. The calculator is a tool that runs on community-contributed data and provides estimates of time and cost to those planning digitization projects.”

Best Reference Titles of 2016 ( Library Journal)
“This year’s list, compiled by a group of LJ’s top reference reviewers and editors, spans a wide range of subject areas, from a dictionary of Shakespearean vocabulary and a journey through classic sf films to an encyclopedia of cheese and a collection of the year’s best infographics. While some selections are more relevant for scholars working in colleges and universities, several works also bring great appeal for more casual browsers and public library users.”

Notable Lectures & Presentations: Samantha Lopez, David Lankes, Megan Lotts,Volker Hirsch

Measuring the True Impact of Public Libraries ( Lone Wolf Librarian)
A must see presentation by Samantha Lopez, PLA Project Coordinator and Beth Anderson, Director at Burnsville Public Library for anyone interested in data driven programs and library services.  ““

A Knowledge Organization in an Age of Alternative Facts by David Lankes ( New Stephen’s Lighthouse)
Presentation by David Lankes during  Sarasota County Public Library Staff Development Day in Sarasota, Florida.

AI & The Future of Work (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Volker Hirsch at TEDx in Manchester about the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the future of work.

Hands-On Learning and Makerspaces: How to Implement a Culture of Creativity in Your Library ( Lone Wolf Librarian)
Presentation by Megan Lotts, Art Librarian at Rutgers State University.

 

2017 Week 1,2,3,4 & 5 : Americans Are Reading Books At Nearly The Same Rate As 15 Years Ago, Free Public Databases, ALA Midwinter 2017: Not Business as Usual, ALA and Google Launch “Ready to Code University” Pilot Program, How to Fix the Internet

Gallup Releases Survey Findings on Americans and Book Reading (Stephen’s Lighthouse)
Did you know that Americans are reading books at nearly the same rate as 15 years ago ? “More than one in three (35%) appear to be heavy readers, reading 11 or more books in the past year, while close to half (48%) read between one and 10 and just 16% read none.”

Not Business as Usual | ALA Midwinter 2017 ( Library Journal)
“While looking forward has been a common theme throughout ALA’s conferences, the Symposium on the Future of Libraries, organized by the ALA Center for the Future of Libraries, convened nearly 40 sessions devoted to the subject. Three plenary sessions featured local civic leaders, educators, innovators, and library leaders; breakout sessions covered subjects ranging from library labor to sustainability, building civic engagement to library ethics.”

List of Free Public Databases ( Stephen’s Lighthouse)
City Colleges of Chicago assembled a comprehensive list of free public databases.

Essential voice search strategies for 2017 ( Search Engine Land)
Voice search is becoming more and more popular and if your library has a mobile friendly website the next step is to optimize it for voice search and discoverability.

Pew Research Releases New Data About Americans and Cybersecurity ( INFOdocket)
“A majority of Americans (64%) have personally experienced a major data breach, and relatively large shares of the public lack trust in key institutions – especially the federal government and social media sites – to protect their personal information.”

App Provides Federal Regulatory Information – InfoToday.com (Information Today)
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) “released RegInfo Mobile, a new app for iOS and Android phones that helps the public research current and past regulatory information, view public meeting logs (as well as the Executive Office Meetings Calendar), check the status of federal information collection, read agencies’ mission statements, and more. OIRA plans to make updates to the app in the future.”

IMLS: REPORT DESCRIBES NEW FRAMEWORKS FOR MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (Stephen’s Lighthouse)
“Across the country, changing community needs and priorities along with new modes of engagement have created an imperative to connect with and serve the public in ways that extend beyond traditional institutional formats and settings. Museums and libraries have begun to respond to this imperative. In so doing, they are connecting with the public in new and deeper ways, strengthening the social and institutional networks that support community wellbeing, and even acting as catalysts to spark positive change.”

ALA and Google Launch “Ready to Code University” Pilot Program (Phase Two) (INFOdocket)
“Today, the American Library Association (ALA) and Google, Inc., announced a call for Library and Information Science (LIS) faculty to participate in Phase Two of the Libraries Ready to Code project. This work will culminate in graduate level course models that equip MLIS students to deliver coding programs through public and school libraries and foster computational thinking skills among the nation’s youth.”

Winners of the Library Awards for Innovation Announced ( Library Journal)
Kay Marner , project coordinator, Ames Public Library, IA. Marner was chosen  as a winner for “Small Talk Story County”. Runners-up include Janet Brown, library services representative, Windsor Public Library, Ont., for “Library Live! Teen Leader/Mentor Program”; Syntychia Kendrick-Samuel, head of teen services, Uniondale Public Library, NY, and a 2016 LJ Mover & Shaker, for “UPL Empowerment Academy for Teens”; Jessica Link, volunteer coordinator, Cedar Rapids Public Library, IA, for “Summer Dare Everywhere”; Keenon McCloy, director, Memphis Public Library & Information Center, for “CLOUD 901 Teen Learning Lab”; Linda Osuna, CEO manager, Hillsboro Public Library, OR, for “Community Engagement & Outreach”; and Tracy Green, director of development, Louisville Free Public Library, KY, for “Innovative, Inclusive and Impactful Partnerships.”

Notable Lectures & Presentations: Cindy Fesemyer, David Lee King,Dr. Steve Albrecht,Walter Isaacson

Engaged Planning: Ask What You Can Do For Your Rural Community  ( Library Blogs Buzz Weekly)
Cindy Fesemyer, Director, Columbus (WI) Public Library highlights the  library’s journey to assess community needs and implement new community engagement ideas.

Web Trends to Watch in 2017  (Lone Wolf Librarian)
David Lee King introduces the web trends in 2017 at the Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference .

How to Respond to a Security Incident in Your Library  (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Expert advice from workplace violence prevention specialist Dr. Steve Albrecht on how to respond to a security incidents in your library .

How to Fix the Internet – Walter Isaacson’s big idea for 2017  (Lone Wolf Librarian)
5 simple ideas from Walter Isaacson on how to fix the Internet.

Week 49,50,51 & 52: Why Public Libraries Must Use Customer Experience To Improve Services for Their Communities, Deep Web Research and Discovery Resources 2017, Texas A&M University Opens Virtual Learning Lab With zSpace Virtual Reality (VR) Technology, How Employees Shaped Strategy At The New York Public Library, Becoming an Open Library Leader?

Why Public Libraries Must Use Customer Experience To Improve Services for Their Communities ( Library Blogs Buzz Weekly)

Customer Experience is often defined as “the product of an interaction between an organization and a customer over the duration of their relationship.” This interaction consists of three parts: the customer journey, the library service touchpoints the customer interacts with, and the environments the customer experiences, (including the user experience with specific products like the library website ) during their overall experience. In order for the customer experience to be effective, customer experience must be managed and library customers must be actively involved and engaged in the development of  new library services. To better understand customer experience and why libraries must use it to improve services for their communities, take a look at this presentation on “Fourteen Reasons Why Federal Agencies Must Improve Their Customer Experience” by Rick Parrish, Senior Analyst at Forrester Research.

Harvard Business Review on “How Employees Shaped Strategy at the New York Public Library” (INFOdocket)
Kudos to NYPL on engaging staff with strategic initatives. The library’s management team created three innovation communities with each one focusing on a core library function: circulation, collections, and reference. Each community was structured as three embedded circles. The smallest was the “core team” consisting of five to seven staff members from each of the three boroughs served (the Bronx, Staten Island and Manhattan). Their expectation was to spend about a day a week for the next six months  on the identification, design, and testing of a business model innovation.The next larger circle was made up of “testers,” approximately fifty staff members who piloted the solutions. Finally, all staff were invited to be “conversationalists” and participate by providing their ideas, critiques, expertise, and encouragement.”

COMPUTERS IN LIBRARIES: Texas A&M University-Commerce Libraries: Check Out Our State-of-the-Art Virtual Learning Lab ( Computers in Libraries)
“The Virtual Learning Lab was created with the needs of an academic library in mind, but given the educational applications of the zSpace K–12 STEM pack—which is perfect for use in public schools—and the popularity of makerspaces and similar creative services across all types of libraries, almost any library could find that a Virtual Learning Lab, or similar endeavor, is applicable to their situation. There is no doubt that 3D and VR technology is increasingly mainstream, and the quicker libraries accept that, the sooner patrons of all backgrounds and situations can have access to this incredible tech that will be impacting the way in which we live on a daily basis, in our schools and in our homes. As any early adopter knows, the price of catching technology as it hits the market is not cheap. But consider the fact that libraries are preparing patrons for the future and introducing them to technologies that they may have no other way of accessing. That impact is priceless.”

Becoming an Open Library Leader | Leading from the Library ( Library Journal)
“The basic premise is that open leaders are authentic and transparent. Their work is guided by those two primary qualities, yet they retain the organizational control necessary to avoid dysfunction. What does that mean in practice? Leaders are open about their vision, the roadmap to get there, and what defines success. Staff participate to shape the outcome and share responsibility to achieve it. The democratic leadership style is the primary vehicle for giving staff more ownership of organizational decision making”

Maine State Library study finds that Librarian is one of the most trusted professions
(Stephen’s Lighthouse)
“A recent survey by the Maine State Library shows that librarians are the second most trusted professionals out of the 22 professions studied. The purpose of this research was to determine the perceived trustworthiness of librarians compared to other professions and to assess perceptions of librarians across demographic groups.The only profession viewed as more trustworthy is nursing”

Ohio: Columbus Metropolitan Library Will End Overdue Fines Beginning on January 1, 2017

(INFOdocket)
“The Columbus Metropolitan Library is the most recent library system to stop fines as a way to get patrons to return overdue books and other materials.The library board approved the measure, which will take effect on Jan. 1, on Thursday.”

LJ’s Best Books of 2016 ( Library Journal)
“A jury of our peers discussed, debated, disagreed, and finally declared LJ’s annual Top Ten Best Books of the year, selected by our editors, as well as Top Five lists for genre fiction, nonfiction, poetry, graphic novels, and SELF-e titles”

Making the Library an Asset for Your Local Elected Officials ( Stephen’s Lighthouse)
A must see article from Library Journal for every library administrator who wants to find out how to nurture their relationship with elected officials by offering library research services, calculating taxpayer return on investment (ROI) and creating effective infohraphics and marketing campaigns.

Iowa startup Terva wants to be Zillow for farmland ( Reserach Buzz)
“When you’re looking to buy residential property, it’s easy to use a site like Zillow to find out almost everything you would want to know about a home. If you’re a farmer looking to expand your acreage, the process isn’t quite as simple. The Ames startup Terva is hoping to simplify the process and to become the destination site for agricultural real estate.”

Libraries Deliver: Ambition for Public Libraries in England 2016 to 2021 ( Stephen’s Lighthouse)
“Nearly 60% of the population holds a current library card; in the financial year 2014 to 2015, libraries in England received 224.6 million physical visits, more than visits to Premier League football games, the cinema, and the top 10 UK tourist attractions combined.  This report challenges both central and local government to think and act differently to transform library services. Libraries should be integral to all public service strategies. They must demonstrate their value to service commissioners – promoting themselves as an asset not a cost. In turn, we are urging commissioners to consider a ‘libraries first’ approach when planning services for their communities.

Deep Web Research and Discovery Resources 2017 ( LLRX)
“The Deep Web covers trillions of pages of information in various files and formats that the current search engines on the internet either cannot find or have difficulty indexing in their respective search results. This report and guide by internet guru Marcus P. Zillman provides researchers with a comprehensive and wide ranging bibliography of “deep web” data, information, documents, code, papers, applications and cutting edge tools. They may be used individually, in groups and in combination, as key drivers to build approaches and queries to harness knowledge and information services that create strategic, actionable results for your clients, users and customers, across all communities of best practice.”

Why do Customers Unfollow You? ( David Lee King)
“It’s a really good article – click through and give it a read. Some highlights include:

• People are turned off by too many promotional posts
• People like it when you show personality
• People don’t like it when you’re too quiet!
• They’ll follow you if they are interested in what you’re doing (well … duh)

Big reminder – don’t use social media as a broadcast medium where you primarily post promotions. Social media channels are used to start conversations – not post billboards.”

ChaCha closes its doors ( Phil Bradley’s weblog)
“A human moderated search engine is one where you can ask your question, and it will be passed onto a real live person to give you an answer. In total ChaCha answered about 2.25 billion questions, had 100,000 guides and employed about 440 people. At its peak it had about 370 million page views in August 2012, and this had dropped to 6 million in November 2016. It really does seem that this type of engine doesn’t work. Mahalo tried and failed, as did TrueKnowledge and we’re currently left with AskJelly and Answerbag with probably the best being WikiAnswers.”

LexisNexis to Retire lexis.com Service, Upgrade Customers to Lexis Advance Legal Information Solution Over Next 12 Months ( Library Stuff)
““LexisNexis®announced today that it will retire its legacy online legal research service, lexis.com® and upgrade U.S. legal professionals to the company’s Lexis Advance® solution.Lexis Advance is an innovative legal information solution offering with an impressive array of content, current awareness, analytics and decision tools. The time is right to retire lexis.com and open up the significant advantages of Lexis Advance to all of our customers.”

Online Learning:  Coursera’s Most Popular Courses and Specializations of 2016
( INFOdocket)
The free online learning platform Coursera offers 1,800 courses and specializations Take a look at 2016  most popular courses and specializations  .

Say Hello to Hoaxy: “Indiana University Researchers Launch Tool to Understand Spread of Fake News” (INFOdocket)
“The tool, called Hoaxy, visualizes how claims in the news — and fact checks of those claims — spread online through social networks. The tool is built upon earlier work at IU led by Filippo Menczer, a professor and director of the Center for Complex Networks and Systems Research in the IU School of Informatics and Computing.”

Brand new, $32.4 million Elmhurst Community Library opens (Times Ledger)
I am very proud with the opening of our new 32,000 square feet Elmhurst Community Library with additional  “13,000 square feet of outdoor space with two green roofs, a learning garden and features a sleek and modern glass cube reading room. Construction of the new terraclad structure began in 2011 and it replaces the smaller library built in 1906.”

Notable Lectures & Presentations: Library of Congress, Arnold Hirshon, Tara Radniecki, Chrissy Klenke, Sue Mehrer, Andy Priestner

VIDEO of “BIBFRAME on the Move” Event at Library of Congress ( Library Journal)
Video presentation from Library of Congress on the  BIBFRAME linked data initative.

Key trends in academic libraries (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Arnold Hirshon, Associate Provost and University Librarian at Case Western Reserve University  identifies key trends in academic libraries.

Beyond Books: How Libraries of the Digital Age Can Foster Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Chrissy Klenke and Tara Radniecki from University of Nevada on how their academic library is fostering innovation.

From industry to academia: user-centred design driving library service innovation (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Sue Mehrer, Deputy Librarian and Andy Priestner Futurelib Programme Manager at Cambridge University Library highlight the development of Spacefinder  web service using
customer experience and user design techniques.

TED Talks: How AI can bring on a second Industrial Revolution (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Kevin Kelly, executive editor of Wired magazine on how Artificial intelligence (AI) can bring on a second Industrial Revolution.

An Introduction to the Digital Public Library of America (dp.la) (Lone Wolf Librarian)
A webinar introducing the Digital Library of America (DPLA) organized by the Arizona Library Association.

 

Week 45,46,47 & 48 :California State Library Starts Veterans Connect @ the Library, New Digital Literacy Strategic Brief Released, PLA Publishes The First Project Outcome Annual Report, Linked Data: Building the Future for Libraries, Internet Archive Enhances Its Search Functionality

California State Library Starts Veterans Connect @ the Library   (Library Blogs Buzz Weekly)
“The California State Library developed a project to bring Veterans Resource Centers (VRCs) to public libraries in the state. Working in partnership with the California Department of Veterans Affairs, this project was supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the state librarian. Staffed by volunteers and AmeriCorps members, there are now 38 VRCs open in libraries statewide. According to the Veterans Connect @ the Library website, they aim to “provide information to reintegrate California veterans into the California workforce and our communities in order to provide veterans the quality of life of other Americans.”

Released by New Media Consortium: “Digital Literacy: An NMC Horizon Project Strategic Brief” (Stephen’s Lighthouse)

Here are briefly the most important recommendations of the new brief:”

* Colleges, universities, libraries, and museums need to level up their digital literacy work beyond the current state of play, which is resigned to individual units, individual persons, or nothing at all.
*Colleges and universities must realize that students are increasingly producers and makers, not just knowledge consumers. They will have to create policies and practices that not only recognize, but also celebrate this historical shift.
*Unfolding technologies and, more importantly, emergent uses and practices require new kinds of collaborations. Governments at all levels (federal, state, and municipal), public and academic libraries, museums, and cultural heritage organizations must work together, from information-sharing initiatives and online communities of practice to developing joint digital literacy projects.”

InstantFlix—Providing a Voice for Independent Filmmakers (Library Journal)
“IndieFlix, the premier platform for independent film, was founded by filmmakers for fellow filmmakers and their audiences around the world. With over 8,000 films representing over 85 countries and showcased at thousands of film festivals around the world, IndieFlix has helped give a voice to independent directors and producers. The proprietary IndieFlix distribution platform collects thousands of short and feature-length films in an easy-to-use interface that compensates filmmakers for every minute of viewing.”Google opens up its new product for business file sharing “Team Drives” to early adopters ( TechCrunch)
“Google is opening up applications to businesses interested in testing its new file-sharing product called Team Drives. Announced earlier this fall, the focus of Team Drives is to offer companies an easier way to share files across their organization, along with more granular access controls over the content those shared folders contain. Some people may need to have rights to actually edit the documents, while others may only need to view them, of course, but there also needs to be controls in place that would prevent users from removing or deleting files, either intentionally or by accident.”

Book Cleaning  (Library Journal)
An overview of  five deacidification and vacuum companies “specializing  in preservation of all kinds of materials, from books and newspapers to maps and other unique documents. “

Some DuckDuckGo tricks Google doesn’t have ( Phil Bradley’s weblog)
I always read very carefully Phil Bradley’s tips and insights on search engines.

Public Libraries: Public Library Association (PLA) Publishes First Project Outcome Annual Report (INFOdocket)
“The Public Library Association (PLA) has launched the first Project Outcome Annual Report. PLA’s Project Outcome is a FREE toolkit designed to help public libraries understand and share the true impact of essential library services and programs by providing simple surveys and an easy-to-use process for measuring and analyzing outcomes.Within the first year, Project Outcome aggregated over 17,000 patron surveys. Nearly 80% of those library users surveyed report that library programs and services have had some kind of positive impact on their lives in the last year.”

Licking County Library opens EnvisionWare 24-Hour Library Location ( Library Technology Guides)
“EnvisionWare, a leading provider of self-service and library efficiency solutions, announced today that Licking County Library has opened the first 24-Hour Library location in Ohio.The 24-Hour Library opened in partnership with Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) to provide 24 Hour Public Library Service in the Licking Heights School District. This location will enhance public library service in an area without a close branch, offering a collection of 340 items including books, DVD’s and audiobooks. The 24-Hour Library also offers digital e-books, holds pick-up and returns, and serves as a Wi-Fi Hotspot.”

America’s Star Libraries, 2016: Top-Rated Libraries ( Library Journal)
“The LJ Index rates U.S. public libraries based on selected per capita output measures.Eligible libraries are grouped by total operating expenditures and then, within each of those groups, rated based on how their five measures compare to the peer group’s means (or averages) of these five measures: library visits, circulation, program attendance, and public Internet terminal use—and, now, electronic circulation.”

COMPUTERS IN LIBRARIES: Digital Video – Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily Wading Into the Stream ( Information Today)
A must see article for academic and public librarians considering to move into streaming video services.Deg Farrelly, a media librarian at Arizona State University explores  licensing models, pricing , access, hosting and options for discovery of streaming video content.

 Designs For a $200 Million Renovation of New York Public Library’s Mid-Manhattan Branch Approved ( INFOdocket)
“The Library also shared some new details about the renovated branch. Highlights include:

• It will have 35 percent more public space than the current Mid-Manhattan Library, which opened in the 1970s in a space designed to be a department store.

• A “Long Room”—the largest element in the new branch which is depicted in the rendering— will offer five floors of open, browsable book stacks, and two floors of meeting rooms. The shelves will all be located on one side of the building, maximizing capacity and efficiency.

• It will have the only rooftop terrace in midtown that will be free and open to the public

• Children and teen libraries will be added to the branch

• It will include an adult learning center (for ESOL classes, workforce development, etc) and a business library”

Partnerships: Public Libraries: San Antonio Public Iibrary Opens New Branch Inside YMCA Facility ( INFOdocket)
“Residents of San Antonio City Council District 6 have a new site where they can go to exercise their minds and bodies.The city recently unveiled the Mays Family YMCA and Potranco Branch Public Library at 8764 Highway 151. It’s the city’s first branch library within a YMCA. The Northwest Side facility was built with $4 million from the 2012-2017 bond project to serve the growing Alamo Ranch community.”

Tell Your Story: Video ( Stephen’s Lighthouse)
“Your library is the heart of your community. To give back, SirsiDynix created a video to help you show, share, and celebrate!”

code.gov Offers Resources on Open Source for Federal Agencies ( Information Today)
“According to FedScoop, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) launched code.gov, a repository for federal agencies’ open source projects. The open source code on the site can be used by other agencies as part of the new Federal Source Code Policy, which requires agencies to release at least 20% of their custom code as open source. There are nearly 50 projects from 10-plus agencies currently on the site, with more being added in the coming months.”

Ohio: Wright Memorial Public Library Launches Election 2016 Oral History Project (NFODocket)
“Wright Memorial Public Library is inviting local residents to share their thoughts and reactions to the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election in an oral history project .Those interested in participating in the project should contact the library, where “a librarian will audio record your impressions and reactions to be compiled with other community voices and shared on our website at a later date.”

New Australian Public Library Standards Launched, Documents Available Online
(INFOdocket)
“This transformation in public libraries is not about ‘flipping a switch’. It is about evolving purposefully, and figuring out how to leverage what already works well in our libraries as significant community institutions to steer users through a world of constant change. For libraries to thrive in this new environment, Library Managers and staff have to step outside of their comfort zone. They need to stay on top of innovation in the sector, identify ways to maximise community engagement, and make the library experience even more interactive and influential.”

Internet Archive Enhances Its Search Functionality ( Information Today)
“The Internet Archive introduced two features that are designed to improve searching its 20 million items in various collections: faceted filtering and full-text search. With the addition of faceted filtering, each search now features checkboxes on the left-hand side of search results for filters such as media type and topics and subjects. Full-text search, which is currently in beta, allows users to search across and within 9 million text items by checking the option “Search full text of books” underneath the text field of the search bar.”

Crowd Funding Resources 2016 ( LLRX)
“This white paper link dataset compilation by Marcus Zillman focuses on reliable and actionable sources and sites on crowd funding from around the world. For many entrepreneurs in the planning stages or for those already creating startups and seeking to develop monetary sources, crowd funding has become an essential part of a financial game plan. This white paper lists many of these sources in alphabetical order to assist researchers and entrepreneurs to leverage a wide range of opportunities specific to their requirements.”

Notable Lectures & Presentations: Cassie Guthrie, Maria McCauley, Tom Tobin, Patrick Loftus, Julie Walker, Duncan Smith, Lesley Andres

The Proper Care and Feeding of Your Library Director (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Cassie Guthrie reviews the relationship between the library director and the library board.

Dream Big: Future of Public Libraries ( Lone Wolf Librarian)
Maria McCauley, Director of Cambridge Public Library invites a panel to discuss the future of public libraries discussed.

Copyright Made Simple for Digital Educators ( Lone Wolf Librarian)
Tom Tobin from Northeastern Illinois University and Patrick Loftus from 3Play Media go over the basics of copyright law.

Linked Data: Building the Future for Libraries NoveList NoveList (Lone Wolf Librarian)
A must see presentation on linked data by Julie Walker, State Librarian of Georgia  and Duncan Smith, co-founder of NoveList.

IT Security for Librarians (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Important presentation on IT Security for libraries by Blake Carver, Systems Administrator at LYRASIS .

Survey Tips for Librarians (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Lesley Andres from University of British Columbia provides tips on how to build effective surveys.

Week 40,41,42,43 &44 : Only 24% of Americans Approve Moving Books To Make Way For Tech Spaces, Urban Libraries Council Selects 2016 Top Innovators, Alexander Street Is Beta Testing The Open Music Library,User-Designed Libraries?

New PEW Study Shows That Only 24% of Americans Approve Moving Books To Make Way For Tech Spaces ( Library Blogs Buzz Weekly)
“Public libraries, many Americans say, should offer programs to teach people digital skills (80% think libraries should definitely do this) and help patrons learn how to use new creative technologies like 3-D printers (50%). At the same time, 57% of Americans say libraries should definitely offer more comfortable places for reading, working and relaxing.Yet, Americans are also divided on a fundamental question about how books should be treated at libraries: 24% support the idea of moving books and stacks in order to make way for more community- and tech-oriented spaces, while 31% say libraries should not move the books to create such spaces. About four-in-ten think libraries should maybe consider doing so.”

MARKETING LIBRARY SERVICES: Writing Tools That Motivate, Correct, Sync, and Structure ( Information Today)
“Jennifer E. Burke shares seven products that can help improve your writing. Some promise to free you from distraction; some sync across devices; and some claim to find more errors than your usual word-processing software.”

The Future of Stuff | Designing the Future (Library Journal)
“The trend of circulating “stuff” other than books and DVDs is not new, but a few libraries have begun to embrace it more fully. For example, the “Library of Things” at Hillsboro Public Library, OR—inspired partly by tool libraries like Berkeley’s and the Library of Things at Sacramento Public Library, CA—offers patrons access to musical instruments, tools such as infrared thermometers and thermal leak detectors, gold panning kits, bakeware and kitchen appliances, karaoke machines, and even commercial-grade popcorn and cotton candy machines.”

Proactive Librarianship | Designing the Future (Library Journal)
“We need to assess and reward outcomes and impacts, not processes and outputs. Focus on what needs to be done and then provide staff with the resources (including training) to make it happen. There have been too many times where I have seen a director wondering why staff is not more innovative when the director has not changed the way their staff is reviewed. Open every door in the place. While there are still reasons why library professionals need physical space, a lot of our work can be done with devices and a good internet connection”

NoveList?Announces?NoveList Select for Linked Data (EContent)
“The latest addition to the NoveList product line, NoveList Select for Linked Data builds upon linked data resources such as Linked Library Service, which helps libraries reach both users and non-users who are searching in their favorite search engine. NoveList Select for Linked Data combines rich metadata from author, series, and genre information with read-alike recommendations, appeal terms, and reviews from NoveList which allows libraries to provide even more information about their collections to patrons and potential patrons who are searching online.”

Niles PL Invites Kids to Be Library President for a Day (Library Journal)
“On September 1, Niles Public Library District (NPLD), IL, opened its Library Board President for a Day Contest to local students in grades K–8, asking for five to ten sentences explaining why they want to be library president. Winners will receive a “key to the library,” recognition at the November board of trustees meeting, front row seats at events, and the chance to help plan some of the library’s programming. Contestants must either hold a Niles Public Library District card or attend a school served by the district. Deadline for entries is October 23, and the winner will be announced on November 18, Election Day.”

Urban Libraries Council (ULC) Announces Recipients of 2016 Top Innovators and Honorable Mentions Awards at Annual Forum (Library Journal)
10 US and Canadian public libraries  were recognized by the Urban Libraries Council ULC  as 2016 Top Innovators for  “public library programs focused on education, digital inclusion, healthy communities and library operations. ”

Open Music Library Combines Free and Subscription Databases ( library Journal)
“Academic database and streaming media publisher Alexander Street is beta testing the Open Music Library (OML), a new online resource that will eschew database paywalls, enabling non-subscribers to discover and use high-quality open access and public domain content from contributors such as the Library of Congress (LC) and the British Library (BL), while offering subscribers a seamless experience discovering and using free and for-fee content together. OML is still in development and won’t officially launch until 2017, but the open beta is live at openmusiclibrary.org, allowing interested users to explore OML and join a discussion forum for music researchers and librarians to submit comments, suggestions, and requests. Currently, the OML beta features more than 200,000 digitized scores, 33,000 articles (including paid and open access), and content from more than 100 journals.”

Usability and Desirability | The User Experience (Library Journal)
“Customer service is the first touch point that comes to mind when thinking about desirability. Nothing can ruin a user’s experience quite like a bad service interaction.”

Innovative introduces new APIs and broad functionality enhancements in Sierra Release 2.4 ( Library Technology Guides)
“The wide-reaching enhancements in Sierra Release 2.4 include:

• Improved user experience with Sierra Web Application style and design updates;
• Greater feature parity between Sierra Web Application and Sierra Desktop Application, with the ability to search across MARC tags in Create Lists;
• Expanded SIP2 support for patron-initiated activities – enables, for example, offline mode for checking materials in and out at self-check machines;
• Enhanced support for wildcard certificates using Web Access Management, so libraries can simplify workflows by managing proxied access to secure websites using a single static wildcard certificate.”

Librarian of the People | LJ Interview (Library Journal)
“Dr. Carla Hayden was sworn in as the new Librarian of Congress. The first African American and the first woman to hold the position in American history, she is also only the third to have worked in a library prior to her appointment.”

Librarians’ Picks | Library by Design, Fall 2016 (Library Journal)
Take a look at the recent design choices by librarians who have recently completed building projects.

Placements & Salaries 2016: Explore All the Data (Library Journal)
Details on jobs and pay for 2015 LIS grads, broken down by region, type of role, school, and more.

Taiwan: Taipei Public Library Expands Services Through 10,000 Convenience Stores (INFODocket)
“The service, however, is not free. Users must have a library card, must register online as a convenience store service user, and must pay a deposit of NT$200 (US$6.29), according to the library. Members can borrow up to five books each time but also have to pay a distribution fee of NT$50 for the delivery, the library said.”

Illinois: Mayor Wants to Co-Locate New Chicago Public Library Branches in Public Housing Developments (INFODocket)
“The new libraries would replace existing branches and be of normal size, ranging from 10,000 square feet to 16,000 square feet.  They would likely be located on the ground floor of the housing developments and would offer programs targeted to children and families from public housing as well as those living in the surrounding area.”

User-Designed Libraries | Design4Impact (Library Journal)
“These days, collecting deep public input before the design phase of a new construction or renovation of a library is de rigueur, with methods ranging from focus groups to community outreach to social media. But a few libraries are taking it to the next level, not just finding out what patrons need or value and filtering that through the lens of librarian and architect expertise but also letting users directly drive design decisions in collaboration with the professionals.”

Notable Lectures & Presentations: Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, Ellyssa Kroski, R. David Lankes, S.L.Faisal, Laurie Brown

Learn About Fair Use in New Video From Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society (INFOdocket)
The video produced by the  Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society  explains the basic principles of Fair Use.

Makerspaces in Libraries: Embracing DIY Culture in Your Library (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Ellyssa Kroski , Director of Information Technology at The New York Law Institute reviews maker spaces in libraries.

The Future of Libraries: Predicting Through Invention (Lone Wolf Librarian)
According to R David Lankes “the best way to predict the future of libraries is to invent it.”

The Library Experience: 10 Trends that define Libraries for a new age (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Excellent presentation by S.L.Faisal from the Library at Kendriya Vidyalaya Pattom on the 10 trends defining future libraries.

How to Deliver Great Library Customer Service (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Laurie Brown’s expert advise on delivering great library customer service.

Week 36,37,38, & 39: Blockchain Is The Technology Behind The Next Generation Of The Internet, Human Centered Design Is Gaining Popularity In Libraries, Join The “Library 2.016: Libraries of the Future” Mini-Conference,Only 17% of Adult Americans Are Digital Ready, EBSCO Develops Stacks, A Turnkey Web Content Management System for Public Libraries

Blockchain Is The Technology Behind The Next Generation Of The Internet ( Library Blogs Buzz Weekly)
“What is the blockchain? In this TED talk Don Tapscott is  “demystifying this world-changing, trust-building technology which, he says, represents nothing less than the second generation of the internet and holds the potential to transform money, business, government and society.”

 You Can Now Rent a ZipCar at Nine Branches of the Brooklyn Public Library (INFOdocket)
Brooklyn Public Library card holders can join Zipcar and get $30 in free driving. In addition, customers can borrow a car named after their favorite Brooklyn based author.

The Future of Futures | Designing the Future (Library Journal)
“This highly creative approach to problem solving is gaining popularity in libraries as they plan for what lies ahead. Human-centered design, also known as design thinking, focuses on defining and then resolving concerns by paying attention to the needs, aspirations, and wishes of people—in the case of libraries, not only a library’s patrons but its staff, administration, and members of the community who may not be library customers…yet.While human-centered design has been around in one form or another since the 1970s, primarily in the tech and retail sectors, it got the library world’s attention in the mid-2010s, building on the momentum around user experience (UX) design.”

3 Ways to Measure Your Social Media Results Using Hootsuite (Stephen’s Lighthouse)
Hootsuite allows you to manage your social media accounts with free, paid or custom reports.

NMC and COSN Release Horizon Report > 2016 K-12 Edition & Digital Toolkit (INFOdocket)
“The NMC/CoSN Horizon Report > 2016 K-12 Edition identifies “Coding as a Literacy” and “Students as Creators” as short-term trends accelerating the adoption of educational technology in K-12 education over the next one to two years. “Collaborative Learning” and “Deeper Learning Approaches” are mid-term trends expected to drive technology use in the next three to five years; meanwhile, “Redesigning Learning Spaces” and “Rethinking How Schools Work” are long-term trends anticipated to impact institutions for the next five years or more.”

Explore Libraries of the Future at Free, Online Library 2.016 Conference  (Stephen’s Lighthouse)
“Take a break from your day-to-day work and shift your thoughts to the future at the Library 2.016 mini-conference on Thursday, October 6, 2016, from noon to 3 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time. Sponsored by our school, the “Library 2.016: Libraries of the Future” will be a unique opportunity to learn from library experts and civic leaders, meeting at the intersection of information, education, technology, and community.”

Only 17% of American Adults confident in their ability to use digital tools to pursue learning ( Library Blogs Buzz Weekly)
A recent study ” Digital Readiness Gaps” by Pew Research Center shows that only 17% of American Adults are confident in their ability to use digital tools to pursue learning.  The study assessed specifically “American adults according to five main factors: their confidence in using computers, their facility with getting new technology to work, their use of digital tools for learning, their ability to determine the trustworthiness of online information, and their familiarity with contemporary “education tech” terms. It is important to note that the findings here just cover people’s learning activities in digital spaces and do not address the full range of important things that people can do online or their “readiness” to perform them.”

collectionHQ Dashboard available now (Library Technology Guides)
“The Dashboard introduces new performance metrics that are displayed through a series of interactive charts and graphs, offering a unique way for collectionHQ users to identify areas of high performance and where improvements need to be made. Not only are the performance charts visually appealing and easy to understand, but they can also be filtered to show performance by location, collection and time period.”

New Six Digital BiblioTech Library Kiosks Installed At VIA San Antonio Bus Stations  (Library Blogs Buzz Weekly)
“Branded the Ride and Read initiative, Bexar County’s all-digital public library, BiblioTech, is partnering with VIA Metropolitan Transit to provide public transit users free access to more than 40,000 e-books and other media to enjoy on their bus routes. At VIA’s Centro Plaza Wednesday morning, representatives from both organizations revealed one of six digital library kiosks to be stationed at various transit centers around the city. The machine looks and functions like an ATM, complete with its own bank of digital books, comics, movies, and more, ready to be downloaded to readers’ tablets, smartphones, and e-readers.”

Video: All Aboard! Take a Look at NYPL’s New State of the Art Conveyor System (aka “Book Train”) in Action (INFOdocket)
“The New York Public Library has installed a new, state-of-the-art conveyor system in its Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street to transport requested research materials from newly-expanded storage under Bryant Park to researchers throughout the library.”

NYC public wi-fi terminals learn tough lessons about the Internet (ReadWriteWeb)
“The Alphabet Inc. subsidiary focused on urban innovation, Sidewalk Labs, suffered a setback as porn and privacy concerns beset its public web terminals on New York City streets. Bloomberg says the web-surfing component of the experimental LinkNYC project is being scaled back after four years. The project lead is CityBridge, a consortium of companies led by Google’s Sidewalk Labs.”

The University of Toronto Libraries Zero-to-Low Cost Course Project “Takes the Cost Burden Out of Course Packs” (INFOdocket)
“The project  connects professors with librarians to find ways of sourcing course material digitally.  “Students were paying exorbitant prices for these course packs for things that were already available for free,” says Graeme Slaght, copyright outreach librarian at U of T libraries’ scholarly communications and copyright office. The program, run by the copyright office, is estimated to have saved students over $400,000 since 2015. ”

EBSCO Gives Libraries More Control Over Their Websites (Information Today)
“EBSCO Information Services and Stacks, Inc. announced the release of Stacks, a web content management system for libraries. EBSCO is an exclusive reseller of this platform, which allows libraries to change the look and feel of their websites by choosing customizable themes, drag-and-drop layouts, social media integrations, support for 60-plus languages, and other features. They can also market their programs and services, manage event registrations, conduct surveys, and create research guides.”

Notable Lectures & Presentations: Lynn Connaway, Lorcan Dempsey 

Anticipating library user needs in 2030: Preparing for the next generation library  (Lone Wolf Librarian)
Lynn Connaway, Director of Research at OCLS explores the customer needs in the next generation libraries.

Library futures: converging and diverging  (Lone Wolf Librarian)
“Our traditional model was one in which we thought of the user in the life of the library…but we are now increasingly thinking about the library in the life of the user.                                                                                                                                               Lorcan Dempsey”

A video introduction to Yandex (Phil Bradley’s weblog)
Helpful introduction to the Russian search engine Yandex by Phil Bradley. You can get more information about For more info you can go toPhil Bradley’s training site at http://philbradleytraining.weebly.com/ .