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Archive for April, 2003

The British Library Launches Large Digitization Project

Digitization–United Kingdom
Source: Managing Information
The British Library Launches Large Image Digitization Project
From the article, “The British Library have launched their biggest ever digitisation programme for a new website called ‘In Place’. The site will go online on May 21st and by 2004 you’ll be able to see and hear 100,000 images and sounds from BL’s world-renowned collections - without ever coming to London.”
See Also: The BL Just Opened a Fee-Based Service For Image Content
“A new service offers easy access to thousands of unique and unusual images from the illuminated manuscripts, archive photographs, maps and engravings held by the British Library. Images Online (www.bl.uk/imagesonline) enables users to search thousands of items from Library collections and currently contains around 8,000 images, ranging from medieval depictions of witchcraft to Lewis Carroll’s original drawings for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”

Promoting Online Resources

Online Databases
“Drowning not Waving? Promoting Online Resources”
In a new issue of the xrefer newsletter, Peter Bolger, a Reference and Information Manager in the U.K., offers a few suggestions for promoting online databases and services. Btw, I love what the New York Public Library says on their electronic resources page, “Search the Branch Libraries’ e-resources for great information you won’t find on Google.” How’s that for short and to the point. It goes on to list many types of material including full-text magazine and journal articles, biographies, and reliable encyclopedias. Actually, another large challenge reamins, getting potential users to go to library web site and click on the e-resources page.

Monroe County Library’s Name Used in Anti-Abortion Web Address

Public Libraries
Domain Names
Source: Bloomington Herald Times
“Monroe County [Indiana] Library’s Name Used in Anti-Abortion Web Address”
Here’s another one for your “domain names aren’t always as easy as typing in the name” folder. From the article, When surfing the Web, don’t enter www.monroecountylibrary.com. Not unless you want to access an anti-abortion Web site, featuring a purported photograph depicting an aborted fetus. Anybody can purchase rights to Internet domain addresses, and an organization called abortionismurder.org apparently owns www.monroecountylibrary.com. The Monroe County Public Library’s real Web address is www.monroe.lib.in.us.
Note: A WHOIS search (not always reliable) shows that it’s registered to a company in the Bronx, NY called Pro-Life Domains inc.
See Also: We’ve Learned that WinnipegPublicLibrary.Com also Returns the Same Page as Discussed in the Article (Thanks G.T. )
See Also: The Associated Press Has A Short Article

Trustees defy library chief’s order to keep quiet on Net porn issue

Internet Filtering–Canada
Source: Ottawa Citizen
“Trustees defy library chief’s order to keep quiet on Net porn issue”
From the article, Ottawa Public Library trustees are being told to remain silent on the controversial issue of Internet access on library computers until a final decision is made this week. The order was issued by chief librarian Barbara Clubb in an e-mail sent yesterday to the library’s 15 board members — including six Ottawa city councillors…The directive effectively shuts down public debate on an issue that has divided the board between those who believe in limiting children’s access to pornography on library computers and those who oppose the move on the basis of intellectual freedom and access to information.

AllTheWeb as a Simple Calculator

Web Search–AllTheWeb
Source: Search Engine Showdown
AllTheWeb as a Simple Calculator
Greg points out that you can use ATW as a calculator. He also mentions that this might not be new. Regardless, thanks to GN for publishing the info. Make sure to use the proper syntax. Example: (2 * 100) / 50 +4-3

200221784

Professional Reading Shelf
New, A Full Issue of The Journal of Digital Information is Online (Vol.4)
Articles include:
“Towards a Core Ontology for Information Integration”
“Macro Approaches to Digital Searching and Secondary Research”
“Scholarly Associations and the Economic Viability of Open Access Publishing”

List: Information Industry Trade and Professional Associations

Resources, Reports, Tools, and Full-Text Documents (5 Items)
Information Industry–Associations
Source: el.Pub
List: Information Industry Trade and Professional Associations
A long list with direct links. Global in scope.

Terrorism
Source: U.S. State Department
New, Full-Text, Patterns of Global Terrorism (2002)
Available in html and pdf.

Information Sharing
Source: GAO
New, Full-Text Report, Information Technology: Terrorist Watch Lists Should Be Consolidated to Promote Better Integration and Sharing
Summary ||| Direct to Full-Text

The 84 page report includes several charts and tables.

Documents in the News–Middle East Peace Process
Source: U.S. State Department
Full-Text: A Performance-Based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Wiretaps
Source: U.S. Courts
Wiretap Report 2002
Summary ||| Direct to Full-Text

Another Article About the Possible Cut in Funding to ERIC

ERIC
Source: Education Week (Registration Required, Free)
Another Article About the Possible Cut in Funding to ERIC
From the article, Supporters of the existing structure acknowledge the need for improvement and say they have been working to smooth the system. But the department’s plan, they say, does not recognize the contributions of the clearinghouses in expanding customer services and bringing subject-area expertise to those collections.
See Also: “Two information centers at IU in jeopardy” (via The Herald Times, Bloomington, IN)
See Also: Additional ResourceShelf Coverage

More About Multimedia Searching With Singingfish

Multimedia Search–Singingfish
Source: EContent
More About Singingfish
Learn more about this search tool that allows you to find and access streaming audio and video content. Singingfish is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thomson.
See Also: Direct to Singingfish ||| Direct to Singingfish Advanced Search Interface
See Also: “Singingfish Grows As Multimedia Search Provider” (via Search Engine Watch)
See Also: A ResourceShelf 8/02 Posting About Singingfish

ALA Still Hasn’t Decide What To Do About Annual Conference

American Library Association
ALA and the Annual Conference in Toronto: Still No Decision
A new message from ALA is online this afternoon about the Annual Conference in Toronto. It includes the following passage:
“The Executive Board has determined that it needs more time to review information and conclude its deliberations. Further discussion has been scheduled for Friday morning. Information on the 2003 Annual Conference will be posted on the ALA home page and disseminated widely as soon as a decision is reached. You can read the full-text of the statement here.

A New Library for Zines in Seattle

Alternative Literature
Source: Seattle Times
“ZAPPed: Collecting ‘zines’ as a document of our times”
From the article, Most people are a little overwhelmed when they first come in,” says Alissa Nielsen, curator and librarian of the Zine Archives and Publishing Project (ZAPP) at Seattle’s Richard Hugo House literary center. She’s right…For those unfamiliar with zines, Nielsen points to Factsheet Five, a zine reference and review magazine, which offers the following definition: “a small, handmade, amateur publication done purely out of passion, rarely making a profit or breaking even. Sounds like ‘zeen.’..The more than 7,000 zines housed at ZAPP exhibit tremendous variety in format and topic. Some are professionally printed, glossy affairs; others are handwritten and guerrilla-photocopied at work. Some have the look and feel of your average alternative weekly, others arrive scrolled up in a prescription pill bottle.

Scirus Introduces Toolbar

Specialized Search Tools–Scirus
Scirus Introduces Toolbar
Something new from Elsevier’s science only search tool. It offers access to open web and proprietary “science” related content.
See Also: From February 2003: White Paper, “How Scirus Works”

E-books arrive in UK public libraries

E-Books
Libraries–U.K.

Source: IT-Director.Com
E-books arrive in UK public libraries
From the article, “E-books have moved beyond the confines of academic and specialist libraries and have now arrived in public libraries in the UK, though they have already been introduced in the USA, Canadian and Australian public libraries.” The article does not cite any specific examples.

netLibrary Introduces Redesigned Book Reader

Information Industry Briefs (2 Items)
netLibrary…Company Introduces Redesigned Book Reader

ebrary..Institutional Repository Pilot Program Announced

The American Library Association Annual Report, 2001-2002, is Online

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