MOBIUS Libraries

This sounds like a good choice, and makes me even more excited for what the DPLA could have in store.

Well, that's an interesting development.

Really neat ideas from Harvard Libraries!

A set of recommendations from BOAI (Budapest Open Access Initiative) for open access to research, including self archiving and open access journals.

Two important new developments in access to public funded research, the FASTR Act that requires copies of articles done under NIH research to be deposited into PubMed, and a White House directive for federal agencies to develop public access policies for research and digital data.

I'm not certain if all these are necessary (such as a personal voice in social media) but others are (creating a basic mobile website) and show some of the ideas currently in vogue.

Some of the latest developments in the ongoing copyright infringement case with Georgia State going back to 2008. A judge last year had granted a nearly complete victory ruling that only 5 of the 99 instances broke copyright. However, the ruling has been appealed and there is some question if the DOJ may file a brief siding with the publishers.

A hopeful article about the manuscripts in Timbuktu. Many historical manuscripts have been kept in private collections or libraries and never been transcribed, and several have been burned during the ongoing civil war.

In good news for readers and libraries, Macmillan, the last of five major publishers in an anti-trust lawsuit, have settled with the DOJ. This means that retailers can begin discounting digital titles they have for sale. Apple is the only publisher still outstanding in the lawsuit.

An interesting article about how the Warsaw Ghetto in World War Two was carefully documented and stored in metal milk cans in the foundations of buildings; the largest cache of which still has not been found.

An interesting technical development of a flexible "PaperTab" that allows both handling of documents like paper but also allows each "tab" (equivalent to a sheet) to to be used like a touchscreen and to share data by tapping them together. Intriguing, but I noticed a computer cable connected to each Tab which means several would require a mess of wiring, and the display contrast wasn't impressive.

A brief video from the ALA about eBooks, mainly useful for information resources the ALA provides about eBooks.

An interesting article that mentions slightly over half of Americans 16 or over have visited a library in the past year, and that the proportions of patrons who felt collections should be moved to make way for tech centers and cultural events was less than those who wanted to keep books. Some interesting ideas libraries have started to use include Redbox style lending machines and Rokus with accounts for Internet streaming video services already on them.

Another article about what may be the short term existence of dedicated e-readers compared to tablets. Realistically an e-reader only offers a lightweight dedicated platform and for some models an e-Ink display that isn't practical for most tablets that do video and color.

A twofold interest in this article, one that we forget we don't own or manage website content services. With older software installed on a PC we could continue as long as it was supported or useful, an online service can simply be pulled. The other is that with multiple sources and sites now that aggregate material RSS feeds may finally be declining in popularity and use.

Amazon is acquiring Goodreads. They already own Shelfari and a portion of LibraryThing.

Penguin Group announced that on Tuesday, April 2, they will begin allowing libraries to purchase and lend ebook titles the day that hardcover editions are released.

"Text to speech removes barriers for auditory learners, learners who are visually impaired and those who are learning English as a second language."

A TED presentation from Sugata Mitra about designing a "School in the Cloud," to create a SOLE or Self Organized Learning Environment.

A ruling was held against the "Meltwater News Service" that using articles from the Associated Press as a "clipping service" violated copyright. Meltwater is a 12 year old service that helped clients monitor how they are covered in the press.