intellectual freedom Archives | Page 30 of 31

10 Reasons Why the Internet Is No Substitute for a Library

By Mark Y. Herring | January 20, 2010

Read the updated version of this article. Reading, said the great English essayist Matthew Arnold, “is culture.” Given the condition of reading test scores among school children nationwide, it isn’t surprising to find both our nation and our culture in trouble. Further, the rush to internetize all schools, particularly K–12, adds to our downward spiral. … Continue reading 10 Reasons Why the Internet Is No Substitute for a Library →

Google Settlement Opponents Ask Congress for Nonprofit Alternative

By Gordon Flagg | January 19, 2010

A month before the February 18 final fairness hearing for the proposed settlement of lawsuits challenging Google’s Book Search project, the Open Book Alliance called on Congress to instead help establish a digital book database operated by a neutral, nonprofit organization. In a January 19 letter sent to members of Congress and digitization advocates, OBA … Continue reading Google Settlement Opponents Ask Congress for Nonprofit Alternative →

A New Deal for Privacy?

January 16, 2010

“We need a New Deal about privacy,” said Hal Niedzviecki, author of The Peep Diaries, at the Office for Intellectual Freedom's kickoff for Choose Privacy Week, which will be first observed May 2–8, 2010. Niedzviecki discussed his flirtation with what he called “Peep Culture”—the willingness of people to share and consume the details of each … Continue reading A New Deal for Privacy? →

Info the Woods

by Joseph Janes | December 29, 2009

As anyone who knows me well will testify, I am not by inclination the outdoorsy type. I mean, it’s fine for those who like that sort of thing, but I’ve always maintained that civilization is here for a reason, and I see no reason to go back to a time before grocery stores and flush … Continue reading Info the Woods →

That’s News to Me

By Will Manley | December 29, 2009

Maybe I should quit writing this column and start a blog. How about “Crazy Melvil” as a nom de plume? Think of the advantages I’d gain from an intellectual freedom standpoint. I wouldn’t have to adhere to standards of accuracy, etiquette, or even self-respect. I wouldn’t have to hold anything back, and would be free … Continue reading That’s News to Me →

Libraries Get Broadband Stimulus Grants

By Gordon Flagg | December 21, 2009

Libraries in six states are among the beneficiaries of the first round of awards from the $7.2-billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act broadband grant and loan programs. The initial $183 million in awards, going to 18 broadband projects in 17 states, was announced by Vice President Joseph Biden December 17 and detailed in a National … Continue reading Libraries Get Broadband Stimulus Grants →

Stephen Abram to Leave SirsiDynix

By Leonard Kniffel | December 18, 2009

SirsiDynix today announced that Stephen Abram, who has been vice president of innovation since 2004, will leave the company December 31 but will “continue to be a resource for the SirsiDynix Institute and for SirsiDynix User Groups, among other programs in the future.” In a phone interview yesterday, Abram told American Libraries that he was leaving SirsiDynix … Continue reading Stephen Abram to Leave SirsiDynix →

Digital Renewal

By Tom Peters | December 17, 2009

Before the current wave of mass digitization ventures were even a gleam in the eye of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, many libraries were already engaged in their own endeavors. These early projects often involved digitization of historical images, maps, and documents centered on a place or historical period. The projects were innovative at the time and … Continue reading Digital Renewal →

Brand Perception 2.0

By Meredith Farkas | December 16, 2009

Many librarians have tried to play a role in educating young adults about developing a presence on social networking sites. They have warned teens that nothing online ever really disappears and that compromising photographs or derogatory posts can impact their future job prospects. Online identity is built upon all of the things we have put … Continue reading Brand Perception 2.0 →

It’s the Content, Stupid

By Steven Escar Smith and Holly Mercer | December 1, 2009

Libraries and librarians have an important stake in the development of online scholarship. Many benefits will come from the growth of digital monographs and journals as well as the development of scholarly websites, online archives, blogs, wikis, and other outlets for research even farther afield from the traditional models. Chief among these advantages are lower … Continue reading It’s the Content, Stupid →

Opening Up Library Systems

By Marshall Breeding | December 1, 2009

In the current phase of library automation, we're inundated with the language of openness. Open source ILSs have promised to give libraries more control over their software than has been possible with proprietary products. Companies that produce and provide service for proprietary products have redoubled their efforts to offer more flexibility, openness, and interoperability through … Continue reading Opening Up Library Systems →

Your Desktop: The Movie

By Meredith Farkas | October 26, 2009

In virtually all libraries today, there will be many more people using the library than just those who come through the door. Our patrons are increasingly accessing our resources and services virtually, to the point where some never use the physical library at all. This has challenged libraries to find creative ways to provide comparable … Continue reading Your Desktop: The Movie →

Latest Library Links

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Dominic Bayley writes: “I used to be clunky in Microsoft Excel, not knowing the most efficient way to do things. That was before I learned some helpful shortcuts. Now I move around my tables super quickly and efficiently. Here are some Excel shortcuts every user should know.”

PCWorld, Feb. 9
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Martin Holland writes: “The Central Intelligence Agency has taken The World Factbook, one of the oldest and most well-known sites on the internet, offline. Old pages are still accessible via the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine. The World Factbook has been around for more than 60 years and went online in 1994.” The Trump administration has discontinued collection of or cut off access to an estimated 3,000 data sets.

Heise Online, Feb. 5; NOTUS, Feb. 2
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Maya Marchel Hoff writes: “Iowa public and charter schools would not be able to enter into agreements with public libraries providing students with access to books and other materials, under a bill advanced by Iowa lawmakers February 4. The legislation, House Study Bill 636, was advanced by the Iowa House Education Committee, 14–9. It is the latest effort by Republicans in the legislature to limit children’s access to content and materials they view as obscene.” ALA President Sam Helmick and 10 other people testified against the bill, while two spoke in support.

The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Feb. 4
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Jaimie Seaton writes: “The Institute of Museum and Library Services is now accepting applications for its 2026 grant cycle. But this time, it has unusually specific criteria. In cover letters accompanying the applications, the institute said it ‘particularly welcomes’ projects that align with President Donald Trump’s vision for America. The solicitation marks a stark departure for the agency, whose guidelines were previously apolitical and focused on merit. Former agency leaders from both political parties, as well as those of library, historical, and museum associations, expressed concern that funded projects could encourage a more constrained or distorted view of American history.”

ProPublica, Feb. 6
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Matthew Carey writes: “The Librarians premiered on PBS February 9, after a robust theatrical and festival run that saw Kim A. Snyder’s documentary earn awards across the country. The film examines the coordinated effort by conservative groups like Moms for Liberty to ban a wide range of books at public schools and public libraries nationwide, and the abuse librarians have received for defending the right of children to access reading material, including books with antiracist or LGBTQ themes.” The film is streaming free on the PBS website until May 9.

Deadline, Feb. 4
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Amanda Galliton writes: “When people talk about leadership in schools, the focus often lands on titles: principals, administrators, and department heads. Yet some of the most impactful leadership happens without a formal title. For school librarians, leadership frequently begins with self-leadership: the ability to intentionally guide our own actions, mindset, and professional growth in service of students and the school community. For school librarians, self-leadership is not optional. Without strong self-leadership, it is easy to become reactive rather than intentional.”

Knowledge Quest, Feb. 3
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Violet Fox writes: “To be unexpectedly unemployed in the US is to be in a state of desperation. If you haven’t been out of work lately, it’s a particularly challenging time. The labor market is cooling, and people are struggling to find work, especially younger workers and people of color. There has been a sharp increase in the number of ‘ghost jobs,’ job listings that never result in a hiring. The job search is inherently demoralizing and difficult; consider making changes in your workplace processes that make it less dehumanizing.”

ACRLog, Feb. 5

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