Librarianship After Google

"Isn’t it remarkable how quickly Google got adopted and became seemingly indispensable to many librarians? It seems like only yesterday that we all had a different favorite search engine every few months. I admit to dalliances with the likes of HotBot and AltaVista and Lycos and then AltaVista again—not to mention the occasional metasearch fling with Dogpile—but once I met Google, infatuation set in and I never looked back....

It seems inevitable that Google, and its successors, will profoundly affect search practice, and, in a smaller way, librarianship. Perhaps the more important question is how we might be able to affect them. Our imprimatur could drive even more traffic their way and vice versa (imagine 'Your Library' on the Google toolbar), we could help them to make their 'Answers' service work (are the Question Pointpeople listening?), and heaven knows they could help us too. They also seem like darn nice people having a good time and doing good work; we’d have little to lose in approaching them." [American Libraries, via The Virtual Acquisition Shelf and News Desk]

And don't forget librarian-based pagerank. One of the best things about Google is its pagerank algorithm, so imagine how much more powerful a parallel algorithm based on librarian expertise would be when it comes to finding valid, authenticate, and accurate information. The Google Toolbar could have pagerank and librarian pagerank!

Library Cards Get a Makeover

"Patrons are being asked to come in, fill out a new application and be given one of four new library card designs. The cards come with a duplicate key fob thought to be particularly useful for children and young people who carry keys but not cards, according to Elaine Cline, assistant library director for information literacy.

The four new card styles depict a baby frog with bright orange feet, an abstract colorful design, a map and gold compass and a section of the famous mural in the city's main library on the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

"Coming up with four different designs means that now we can speak to a variety of users . . . key fobs communicate that we understand your busy lifestyle," said Molly Raphael, D.C. Public Library director." [The Washington Post, via LISNews.com]

Sheree and I were discussing this very idea over the summer as a possibility for the Homer Township Public Library District. If publishers and media companies were smart, they would partner with libraries and sponsor designs on patron library cards. I encouraged her to contact publishers in order to do this, but she's been rather busy with trying to pass an expansion referendum and implement several grants.

How would such designs work on library cards? Well, how much would a young boy love a library card with Superman on it (a partnership between DC Comics and libraries - help libraries stock comic books)? What about kids cards with literary characters on them - Arthur, Harry Potter, Nancy Drew, etc.? What about cards with Matrix, Star Wars, or Lord of the Rings characters on them? For adults, maybe local sports heroes (perfect here in Chicago!), some big name authors, works by famous artists, etc.?

Of course, a library could work with other non-profits, too. The local Humane Society or animal shelter could partner on a card, as could the zoo, the historical society of a particularly history-rich community, and other information-rich institutions that want to help lend their expertise to maintain areas of the library's collection.

"Another Library Weblog!, this one, called The Reader's Connection, from the Readers' Advisory department at the Glenview Public Library in Illinois. Provides short book reviews, book and reading news and links, and some library news (more GPL library news available on another blog). The whole website is worth a look." [WPL: waterboro lib blog]

There's also a new blog called Keep the Change by a "future librarian," and a more established site called The Exploded Library.

And for all of you blogging librarians out there, Brig Eaton was kind enough to honor my request for a Librarian category over on her Eatonweb Portal of blogs, so hop on over and register your site!

SPACEWEATHER REPORT for September 19, 2002

ROCKET EXHAUST:Sky watchers in southern California saw something extraordinary just before sunset on Thursday: An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile blasted off from Vandenberg AFB (on a routine test flight) and left behind this colorful wind-twisted contrail.

This is exactly what I saw on my drive home. It was OUTSTANDING.

I'll be checking in periodically with the debate over at Slashdot about the Effects of the Patriot Act on Librarians.

"Quaryon writes "The Patriot Act apears to have some chilling effects with respect to libraries and booksellers. An FBI agent can get a warrant, without any evidence, in order to compel a librarian to reveal lending details on a suspect. The librarian cannot tell anyone about the search, including the target of the search, and the details of how many such searches are done are not made public. Articles at SFGate News and Common Dreams give more details." We had a related Ask Slashdot a few weeks ago."

Congratulations to Will and family! I love the name Olivia. :-)

New Bill: More Digital TV Limits

"After spending a year in closed-door sessions with industry leaders, Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-Louisiana) released a draft of his long-awaited DTV bill. The controversial measure calls for the adoption of a broadcast flag, an end to analog television compatibility and increased cable interoperability....

However, some groups believe that in his effort to jump-start the digital television industry, Tauzin has given Hollywood the keys to control what American viewers do in their living rooms.

The most contentious fight centers on the broadcast flag. Embedded in digital television signals, the technology would prevent people from recording a TV show or movie and then rebroadcasting it over the Internet.

The goal is to keep a Napster-like video service from developing, but one group believes the bill does more than that.

'The bill asserts that fair use will be protected at the same time as providing content providers with bulletproof piracy protection,' said a statement released by DigitalConsumer.org. 'But no such technology exists to meet both of these goals.'

The group worries that movie studios and television networks will force people to pay premium prices so they can record and transfer shows between devices -- something they have traditionally been able to do with their VCRs for free....

An addition to the bill also requires that analog ports no longer be added to digital televisions. That would render VCRs and other analog media obsolete, a concern for those who believe emerging technology restricts consumers' fair use of digital content....

With analog devices legislated out of existence, Electronic Frontier Foundation technologist Seth Schoen said Tauzin's bill would allow the government to control the next crop of consumer electronics." [Wired News]

I was just talking to my parents about this, and they don't believe me about the threat this poses to fair use, the ability of libraries to circulate digital content, and even your own rights to view and distribute your own content (home movies, garage band recordings, etc.)

Read this article and then ask yourself what happens when you're forced to buy a new [digital] TV and a new but far more restrictive digital VCR. After you've spent your own money on these items (just for the privilege of continuing to be able to watch television shows surrounded and embedded with advertising and maybe even recording it on that one machine to watch it later on that one machine), then think about your camcorder. Where are you going to play those videos of your kids if that video doesn't have a broadcast flag in it? It won't play on your spiffy new TV, and it certainly won't play on your siblings' TVs or your neighbor's TV.

This is serious stuff that affects average consumers, libraries, and video-related industries (hey Blockbuster - how do you think you're going to lend movies when they close the analog hole?). I'm still waiting for someone from the entertainment industry, technology industry, or Congress to explain how personal content and digital content from libraries will be able to retain their current abilities (lending, backups, fair use) under this and similar proposals.

Wait, let me clarify. I'm still waiting for anyone to explain how this will happen without using the word "somehow" or the phrase "figure that out later."