Tuesday, August 31, 2010

ALCTS webinar: Introduction to RDA

Description: This introductory webinar on the proposed cataloging rules, Resource Description and Access (RDA), will highlight the critical differences between the current cataloging rules, AACR2, and RDA. It is designed as a primer for both front line catalogers and library administrators in all types of libraries who need to learn how bibliographic and authority records will change when RDA is implemented. The session would be an excellent introduction to record changes for both original catalogers and copy catalogers.

Note: This webinar will not cover the elements of the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Data (FRBR) on which RDA is based nor will the RDA Toolkit interface be demonstrated.

Presenter: Robert Ellett is the Catalog Librarian at the Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia. He is also an instructor for the online LIS program at San Jose State University’s School of Library and Information Science and a trainer for the Program for Cooperative Cataloging. Robert serves on the ALCTS Cataloging & Classification Section Executive Committee and is a member of the Resource Description & Access (RDA) Planning and Programming Task Force. He received his library degree from UNC Chapel Hill and his PhD from the Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences at Nova Southeastern University.

Date: September 22, 2010

Note special time for this session only: 5pm Eastern, 4pm Central, 3pm Mountain, and 2pm Pacific Time.

This is the first in a planned series of workshops on RDA. Additional information and dates to be announced soon.

To Register, complete the online registration form at http://www.ala.org/ala/onlinelearning/reg/webinar.cfm for the session you would like to attend.

Fees:Group Rates - ALCTS Members & Non-Members: $99Individuals - ALCTS Members: $39; Non-Members: $49

Participants outside the United States may register at the ALCTS member rate.
The one-time fee includes unlimited access to the webinar recording.
For questions about registration, contact Tom Ferren, ALA Senior Registration Coordinator at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4293 or tferren@ala.org.

From: ALA Connect, 8/17/2010

Monday, August 30, 2010

"Data" are not the same as "information"

A recent blog post by Steven B. Levy on "Slaw," the Canadian weblog, resonated with me, as I work on compiling my library's annual ABA statistics. Levy makes the often-ignored point that "data" without context are not the equivalent of "information." He talks about metrics and the validity (or lack thereof) of their use in organizational decision-making. He concludes the post by describing a format for status reports called "3 x 3" ("three by three") which consists of three sets of up to three bullets points each:
* What I/we did since the last 3×3
* What I/we will do before the next 3×3
* Issues I/we need help with or want to raise an alert on

You can read the original blog post on Slaw at: http://www.slaw.ca/2010/08/26/the-disappointment-of-data/.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Cloud Computing Explained

Matz, Rosalyn. "Cloud computing explained" EDUCAUSE Quartely, 33(2) (2010). At: http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Quarterly/EDUCAUSEQuarterlyMagazineVolum/CloudComputingExplained/206526
While there are several definitions of cloud computing out there, Matz chooses to use the NIST definition as it is concise and uses standard terms. NIST defines cloud computing as: "...a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. This cloud model promotes availability and is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models." Matz further explains the different characteristics, service and deployment models, and provides some examples of cloud-based technologies.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

GPO Hires First Preservation Librarian

GPO Hires First Preservation Librarian by David Rapp.

The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) announced July 14 that it has hired Yale University preservation librarian David Walls its first preservation librarian, to aid the GPO's ongoing digital initiatives.

Walls will be involved with the GPO's ongoing migration of materials from its GPOAccess interface, first launched in 1994, to its current Federal Digital System (FDsys).

The GPO wants FDsys to not only provide public access to government information, but also to preserve that information as technology changes. During his 12 years as a preservation librarian at Yale, Walls was primarily involved with converting materials from "analog"--books, papers, obsolete audio formats--to digital. Today most materials are born digital, and the GPO is exploring using FDsys as a preservation repository for the federal government's digital information.

You may read more about the article at: Library Journal.com July, 19, 2010

The GPO full news release is available at: http://www.gpo.gov/pdfs/news-media/press/10news23.pdf

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Marshall Breeding's Guide to the SkyRiver vs OCLC Lawsuit

The lawsuit between SkyRiver and OCLC has generated a great deal of interest in the library community. Marshall Breeding wrote a  story for Library Journal that describe the suit, largely based on the complaint filed by SkyRiver, joined by Innovative Interfaces as a co-plaintiff. Marshall Breeding has also created a Guide to the SkyRiver vs OCLC Lawsuit that provides access to the primary documents, plus the articles and major blog posts related to this event. In his guide you will find links to the court documents, including the original complaint and other materials referenced in the complaint. This is a great resource to keep abreast of the suit.(Library Technology Guides)