There are no bricks, architect, or blueprint for the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA). But as John Palfrey, codirector of Harvard University’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society, says, the DPLA has built a strong foundation through a growing and vibrant community. The project, hatched in October 2010 by the Berkman Center, hopes to … Continue reading Building the Digital Public Library
One of the interesting conversations that has emerged from ALA’s Digital Content and Libraries Working Group (DCWG) is a comparison of Publishing with a capital P and publishing with a lowercase p. Or, to be blunt, commercial Publishing vs. self-publishing. But is there something in the middle? Something between a capital P and a lowercase … Continue reading [P/p/?]ublishing
Many librarians have embraced the use of active learning in their teaching. Moving away from lectures and toward activities that get students using the skills they’re learning can lead to more meaningful learning experiences. It’s one thing to tell someone how to do something, but to have them actually do it themselves, with expert guidance, … Continue reading The Guide on the Side
In a new report released this morning, Pew Internet looks at “The rise of e-reading.” The major points? 1 in 5 adult Americans has read an ebook in the last year. Additionally, digital readers read more books (24 to 15) in the past year as compared to print readers; 30% of readers say they now … Continue reading E-Reading Status Check from Pew
To modify the saying . . . Where does a 300lb gorilla apply DRM (digital rights management)? Wherever he wants. And in the case of many publishers that is everywhere. But what exactly is this seemingly ever-present DRM? As a broad definition, DRM refers to a technology that works to protect digital content. This could … Continue reading Ebooks 101: DRM (Digital Rights Management)
Technical services librarians are invited to participate in a survey that examines the value and use of the Library of Congress bibliographic data and cataloging products. The library will use the results to guide its strategic responses to this constantly changing bibliographic environment, and help it to effectively define its future role, adopt a sustainable … Continue reading Catalogers, Take This Library of Congress Survey
About a week ago, an ALA colleague popped into my office with an epiphany. “Libraries will never die out. You know why? If they didn’t exist, people would be inventing them.” As you might imagine, that got us to talking and finding examples—and it certainly wasn’t hard. Little Free Libraries, anyone? They are springing up … Continue reading Why Ebooks Need Libraries
Librarians who teach are always looking for ways to get patrons more actively engaged in instruction sessions. Research has shown that active learning can have positive effects on student learning and certainly helps to get students to reflect on the application of what they’re learning. In large lecture classes, most active learning exercises simply aren’t … Continue reading Click Here to Engage
ALA President Molly Raphael prepared this summary of the meetings of members of the ALA Digital Content and Libraries Working Group with ebook distributors at the Public Library Association Conference in Philadelphia, as well as a panel she moderated at the Association of American Publishers meeting: At last week’s Public Library Association (PLA) conference in … Continue reading Ebook Talks Continued: ALA Meets with Distributors
As the Public Library Association Conference (PLA) gets underway this week, I’m just a little jealous to be missing all the fun. Not that I don’t want to be hanging out with my mom during her spring break enjoying the great weather and checking out Washington’s first-blush cherry blossoms, I’d just like to do both! … Continue reading Working Group Rolls Up Its Sleeves at PLA Conference
Most librarians are educators in one sense or another, even when the role is not explicit. The best teachers learn from others and learn by doing. This is a good rule for improving at virtually anything: Seeking inspiration and accepting criticism makes your work richer and more well rounded. Many of the ideas I present … Continue reading Reflective Teaching for Librarians
Author Scott Turow and US Court of Appeals Judge Richard Posner discussed the future of authors, books, and libraries at the Newberry Library in Chicago February 22 at the second of the “Conversations at the Newberry” series. Turow, currently in his second term as president of the Author’s Guild, spoke passionately about the rights of … Continue reading A Conversation at the Newberry
