Visualization and OCLC

20Mar08

I’ve said it before: I LOVE MAPS. 
Somebody at OCLC has been eavesdropping because those fine folks recently launched a prototype for OCLC WorldMap.  Using data generated from WorldCat, OCLC’s new interactive mapping tool allows users to design visual comparisons for a variety of library-related information.  Compare holdings, patrons, expenditures, library types, and other data for up to four countries at a time.  You’ll need Adobe Flash [...]

Filed under: By: Librarian About Town, change or die, libraries   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: Maps, OCLC

A letter to the unfettered.

20Mar08

Further evidence that librarians are the coolest kids on the block.  Check out the language in this job listing that came through ALA’s ili-listserve today:
User Communication & Instruction Librarian
UC Merced Library seeks a creative, innovative, and intellectually unfettered reference and instruction librarian to shape a library where in-person reference and instruction are the exception, not the [...]

Filed under: A Day in the Life, By: Librarian About Town, MLIS, libraries   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: Jobs

I’m so relieved

19Mar08

As the morning call phrased it “The most mild-mannered action hero in TV history, will be back on TNT late this year. That’s right, The Librarian is back. Co-stars Bob Newhart and Jane Curtain are reprising their roles, along with Noah Wyle (the thinking woman’s hottie) geeking it up in The Librarian: The Curse [...]

Filed under: A Day in the Life, By: The Librarienne, News   |  4 Comments
Tags: excalibur, Noah Wyle, The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice, TNT

A question of ethics

18Mar08

The library profession has always been about ethics.  The ALA code of ethics gets invoked frequently in MLIS programs (as I’ve mentioned before), and it is logical that when dealing with the public, issues of privacy, and intellectual freedom– ethics play a very large role. 
In Barrington, RI, a man with Tourette Syndrome was recently ejected [...]

Filed under: A Day in the Life, By: The Librarienne, Intellectual Freedom   |  2 Comments
Tags: Barrington RI, Gwinnett, Lindsay, porn

Thieving and Dating: The Problem of Books and Reputation

17Mar08

Question of the day: Should I spend another nanosecond of my life reading College and Research Libraries News?

If you are unfamiliar with the publication, I’ll summarize. FLUFF! I am going to assume that the librarians writing for this publication are in desperate need of promotion, tenure, or a stiff drink. At least it’s [...]

Filed under: By: Librarian About Town, News, change or die, libraries   |  2 Comments

Library Security

02Mar08

From the middle ages to the 18th century, many libraries employed the use of chains to keep their books from being stolen. Prior to the employment of chains, most books were kept in locked chests and rarely used by anyone, due to their great expense. The occasional scholar would be allowed to borrow them, [...]

Filed under: By: The Librarienne, library history   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: chained libraries, library cages, library security, middle ages

How you found us: or randomly mashing buttons into Google

01Mar08

I find it highly entertaining to look at how people came upon this blog. I actually got this idea from Woeful’s blog. These are a sample of actual searches:
“youve got what i need” “just a friend” — gotta love Biz Markie
american libraries 2007 year in review– yes, that was a post
manga libraries and [...]

Filed under: A Day in the Life, By: Hip Shhusher   |  5 Comments
Tags: google, kindle, searches