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The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) announces the availability of a draft update of SERU: A Shared Electronic Resource Understanding for public comment (NISO RP-7-201X) through February 19, 2012. SERU offers publishers and libraries the opportunity to save both the time and the costs associated with a negotiated and signed license agreement for e-resources by both content provider and customer agreeing to operate within a framework of shared understanding and good faith. The SERU framework provides a set of common understandings for parties to reference as an alternative to a formal license when conducting business.

We are pleased to announce publication of the new Visual Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education (pdf) by the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL). The Visual Literacy Standards include: · an introduction to and definition of visual literacy · a brief discussion of visual literacy and higher education · a brief discussion of visual literacy and information literacy · suggestions for implementing the Standards · key sources and bibliography · 7 standards, 24 performance indicators, and 90 learning outcomes

The Association of Research Libraries might have a solution to what some librarians call "the VHS-cassette problem." Here's the scenario: An academic library has a collection of video tapes that is slowly deteriorating, thanks to the fragile nature of analog media.

An interesting opinion piece on the future of the LMS.  Try reading this and replacing "LMS" with "library database" ... what would that look like? 

So, apparently we need a link resolver.

Providing a unified interface through which patrons can access nearly all of your library's collection has an obvious appeal on all sides. Users get the googley familiarity and convenience of a singular, wide-ranging search box and, according to a recent case study done at Grand Valley State University, the reduced friction patrons face when using library resources correlates to an increase - potentially dramatic - in the frequency with which they access them. If the new tool is like Google, then why does it require instruction?

SirsiDynix CEO interviewed by LJ

"We've recently launched a new feature on the blog - the Pathways to Best Practice guides. This series of documents brings together the resources we've been collecting during the project as well as examples of initiatives and the lessons learned which should help you if you are thinking of implementing something similar."

Now here's a new take on the "digital native" debate. I once bought into that whole concept, but find myself rethinking it. Perhaps the landscape has just changed so much that I'm on the path of deportation? I love this quote: Digital native is a fantasy invented by the fans of silicon valley to pigeonhole a generation for the sake of selling technology, but the truth is far less convenient. Not only the digital natives, but many people take on a feral state in their interactions with the internet, as it constantly shifts its boundaries, its cities and deserts. Likewise, the library is a place where we ought to allow for the feral. The ACRL information literacy standards are only useful to the domesticated to promote their efficient and purposeful use of the library.

Some surprises for me:  39% of students wish instructors would use email more?? I've often heard the same from instructors, so... ? 31% of students wish their instructors used e-books 88% of students reported using the institution's library website wait a minute... 48% want to learn programming languages? Who are these people?  73% still think printers are important for academic success ::sigh:: 

I especially liked this quote: I'll call attention once again to the University of Wisconsin-Madison's House Party as an example of an excellent new year kick-off event. There's no bait-and-switch, but they have built-in incentives to keep students coming back to use the library for its intended purpose. For example, the winner of the Texas Hold'Em tournie wins their own study table in the library for the year, complete with a nice sign designating it their table. The first interaction most new students have with a librarian is having their palm read or playing ninja tag with them, not finding out about resources which they don't yet need. We do much the same with our button-making booth and CARNinfoVAL. It's a strong, unexpected first impression.