technology Archives | Page 31 of 34 | American Libraries Magazine

New ProQuest Platform Improves Interface, Expands Access

By Sean Fitzpatrick | July 16, 2010

ProQuest unveiled plans at the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., to roll out a completely redesigned platform this summer. The ground-up redesign promises to unify all ProQuest content into a single framework, while also connecting users to non-ProQuest databases through ProQuest Extended Search, and adding infrastructure to aid users in gathering, sharing, and creating … Continue reading New ProQuest Platform Improves Interface, Expands Access →

Hope, Hype, and VoIP: Riding the Library Technology Cycle

By Char Booth | July 15, 2010

After the initial hype is past, the real value of an emerging technology unfolds as librarians adopt, test, and learn from it on the ground. By understanding a tool’s practical library affordances and how they are adopted, adapted, and rejected, we can better evaluate its local promise critically, creatively, and with an eye toward sustainability. … Continue reading Hope, Hype, and VoIP: Riding the Library Technology Cycle →

Books and Literacy in the Digital Age

By Ralph Raab | July 13, 2010

I’d like to admit something to you upfront: I love books. I don’t mean the “isn’t-the-new-Stephen-King-great” type of love. I’m talking about a real passion here: I love the way the binding cracks the first time you open a new hardcover book; the little globules of glue that cling to the corners of the binding; … Continue reading Books and Literacy in the Digital Age →

There’s More to “Like” as AL Delves into Facebook

July 12, 2010

A couple weeks ago I was experimenting with FBML AL site (that's how we get those "Like" buttons on the blog posts, for example) and at the same time experimenting with Dlvr.it to push out content. Well, one thing led to another, and now we have a Facebook Page. Because I'm on Facebook at least … Continue reading There’s More to “Like” as AL Delves into Facebook →

I’m Sorry, You’re Out

by Joseph Janes | July 6, 2010

Let’s see, which of my various forms of geekdom have I copped to in this column? Game shows? Check. Olympics? Check. On to reality TV, I guess. Not the Bachelorette / Real Housewives / Jersey Shore type of show (ick); think more Amazing Race, Dancing with the Stars, and of course Project Runway. I love Runway because … Continue reading I’m Sorry, You’re Out →

Four Major Trends the Tech Vendors Are Talking About

June 30, 2010

I feel like I spent most of my time at Annual meeting up with techie vendors discussing their product plans and strategies. I believe the ideas they share play an important part in shaping trends in librarianship, for those trends almost always have an antecedent technology component, and the technology the vendors provide must always fill … Continue reading Four Major Trends the Tech Vendors Are Talking About →

Top Technology Trends at ALA10 Part 3: Long-term Trends

June 29, 2010

LITA's trendsters seemed to have some fun—and words of caution—with their predictions for libraries 3–5 years out. All the trend predictions had a clear emphasis on end-user experience over back-end library technology and future-proof, forward-thinking information services over preserving old workflows. For a complete re-cap of the entire panel discussion, see the ustream video. Jason … Continue reading Top Technology Trends at ALA10 Part 3: Long-term Trends →

Top Technology Trends at ALA10 Part 2: Imminent Trends

June 28, 2010

Part 2 of the Trends panel focused on trends in the next six months to a year. This is where things seemed to get a little sci-fi-spooky, with predictions ranging from Star Trek–style materialization of common objects (in six months to a year) to computer screens that have better quality display than print magazines. Here's … Continue reading Top Technology Trends at ALA10 Part 2: Imminent Trends →

Top Technology Trends at ALA10 Part One: Current Technology

June 28, 2010

Maybe it was the cavernous ballroom, but this year's ALA10 Top Technology Trends panel seemed to have the biggest attendance I've seen. It was also the most information-dense, so much so that I'll split the coverage into three parts. The Trendsters had three minutes to project trends for each of current, imminent, and long-term time … Continue reading Top Technology Trends at ALA10 Part One: Current Technology →

New Library Internet Use Study Spotlighted on NPR’s All Things Considered

June 22, 2010

Released this week as a digital supplement to American Libraries, a new study from ALA's Office for Research and Statistics, inspired a four-minute story on the "All Tech Considered" segment of National Public Radio's All Things Considered yesterday. Omar Gallaga discussed the study and said libraries are going through a period of mixed blessing as … Continue reading New Library Internet Use Study Spotlighted on NPR’s All Things Considered →

Unquiet Library Has High-Schoolers Geeked

By Brian Mathews | June 21, 2010

The students are skeptical when the librarian says, “I want everyone to take out their cell phones and check to see if you can get reception in the library.” The young scholars hesitantly pull out their mobile devices unsure of what to make of this request. “Your assignment is to charge up your phones for … Continue reading Unquiet Library Has High-Schoolers Geeked →

Social Eyes

Brian Mathews | June 10, 2010

“Library fines got you down? Help build our Facebook page to 500 people & I'll waive fines of two students.” This message streamed across the Luria Library’s Twitter feed. In less than 140 characters, it perfectly portrays the playful and forgiving nature of its library director, and demonstrates the rising value of social capital, which … Continue reading Social Eyes →

Latest Library Links

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Kevin Maher writes: “With so much going on in government, now is the time to take stock of progress on library priorities, particularly when it comes to federal funding and the upcoming budget showdown. Here’s where things stand with federal budgeting for FY2026.” Maher explains the status and importance of appropriations bills, recissions, the recent reconciliation bill, the reauthorization of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and recent court cases for federal library funding.

AL: The Scoop, July 15
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David Lemmons writes: “The gray area of whether a source is useful or whether you can trust it has become grayer and grayer over time, with the advent of accessing most of our information online. Checklists, like CRAAP, RADAR, and SIFT, are designed to help students navigate this gray area and are very commonly used across library instruction sessions. For me, though, the simplification afforded by this checklist approach misses a lot of the nuance. So, instead of relying on a specific checklist, I follow an approach I call asking crucial questions.”

Info Literal, July 9
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Geraldine Castro writes: “Sonia Beatriz Hernández never imagined she would one day be using a computer to digitize memories that included her. A transgender woman and a senior citizen, she learned everything she knows about being an archivist at her current job. Hernández is part of the Trans Memory Archive of Argentina (Archivo de la Memoria Trans Argentina), an initiative that not only preserves the history of gender and sexual dissidence, but has also inspired others throughout Latin America and the Caribbean to create their own collections.”

Wired, July 13
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Len Bryan writes: “People generally fall into one of two camps when it comes to weeding library collections. Either a person approaches weeding with great enthusiasm and a desire to clean up the collection and make it more accessible for students, make the space more inviting, create places for displays, and secure additional library funding. Or they approach weeding with great dread and trepidation, afraid they are going to throw away something that someone might need someday, that they may never get the funding needed to replace weeded books, and of possible pushback from teachers or parents about the process.”

Knowledge Quest, July 14
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Chelsea Heinbach writes: “The Librarian Parlor team knows how important it is to foster connection and community with fellow researchers, so we developed Research Community Bingo as an open resource that can be adapted for various contexts. I tested Research Community Bingo at my institution, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. After a brief introduction explaining the rules, participants received their bingo cards and began mingling. The energy in the room quickly shifted from initial hesitation to enthusiastic conversations.”

The Librarian Parlor, July 11
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Michael Blackwell, Jennie Rose Halperin, Catherine Mason, and Carmi Parker write: “The data forces us to conclude, reluctantly, that not only does print still offer libraries a far better bang-per-book than digital, but that for most popular titles, digital collections are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. Some smaller and independent publishers are, however, now more likely to be present in the market and offer some hope for long-term and cost-effective holdings.” ReadersFirst has additional data and analysis that was cut for space from the published article.

Computers in Libraries, July/Aug.; ReadersFirst, July 7
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“Disability Pride Month is a time to honor the history, achievements, and diverse experiences of people with disabilities. This curated collection features fiction and nonfiction titles for all ages that explore disability through the lens of pride, empowerment, and identity. Highlighting both visible and invisible disabilities, these stories reflect the richness and resilience of the disability community and the ongoing movement for inclusion and equal rights. Explore the display and celebrate the voices that challenge stigma, expand understanding, and inspire change.”

Baltimore County Public Library, July 1

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