RDA Train-the-Trainer Webcasts available

The Library of Congress is providing free access to a series of RDA "Train-the-Trainer" webcasts recorded at Northeastern University’s Snell Library on Jan. 15, 2010. The instructors are Barbara Tillett, Ph. D., chief of the Library of Congress Policy and Standards Division and the Library of Congress representative to the Joint Steering Committee for Development of RDA, and Judith Kuhagen, senior policy specialist in the Library of Congress Policy and Standards Division. The nine separate modules require RealPlayer, available freely from the RealMedia website at: http://www.real.com/realplayer/free-media-player. Links to the webcasts are available at: http://www.loc.gov/bibliographic-future/rda/trainthetrainer.html.

From: Autocat, 5/28/2010

Online Shelf Browse Tool

http://catalogablog.blogspot.com/2010/05/online-shelf-browse-tool.html

The North Carolina State University Library has released an open-source tool for browsing the shelf in the catalog that displays images of book covers.

Try it here (click on "browse shelf"):

http://www2.lib.ncsu.edu/catalog/record/NCSU2240490

Catalogablog, 5/20/2010

Upcoming RLG-sponsored Webcast (6/10): Transitioning with and Beyond MARC

June 10, 2010
2:30-4:00 PM (EDT)

The RLG Partners working group that gathered and analyzed evidence over the past two years about MARC tag usage to inform library metadata practices completed its work in March 2010 with the publication of the 72-page Implications of MARC Tag Usage on Library Metadata Practices report (http://www.oclc.org/research/publications/library/2010/2010-06.pdf). Among the working group's conclusions: MARC data cannot continue to exist in its own discrete environment. It will need to be leveraged and used in other domains to reach users in their own networked environments. RLG is presenting the Webcast on June 10 as part of its annual Partnership Meeting. The Webcast will feature a discussion of the next steps we need to take to transition towards a post-MARC future. To register for the webcast, go to: https://oclc.webex.com/oclc/j.php?ED=138245967&RG=1&UID=1136147882&RT=MiM3.

RLG Announcements list, 5/20/2010

Gutenberg 2.0

Shaw, Jonathan. "Gutenberg 2.0" Harvard Magazine (May-June 2010), at: http://harvardmagazine.com/2010/05/gutenberg-2-0

The author interviewed several professors and librarians (including John Palfrey at the Harvard Law Library) at Harvard University to hear their views on libraries. Issues brought up include: librarians' role as information brokers, the importance of being able to find relevant information when faced with overwhelming data, books and budget, "just in time" libraries, digital preservation, and the future for books.

Upcoming ALCTS e-forum: Using Web 2.0 Tools to Enhance Technical Services Work

ALCTS is sponsoring a free e-forum May 19-20 on "Using Web 2.0 Tools to Enhance Technical Services Work." Social software such as wikis, blogs, mashups, tagging, RSS feeds, instant messaging, Google Docs, etc. have been used successfully for several years now on the public services side of libraries. This forum is intended to be a two-day discussion where the following topics, as well as others can be addressed:
• How can technical services librarians and staff use social software to enhance their work?
• Are there applications of social software that can "bridge the gap" and increase communication between technical services and public services departments in libraries?
• What kinds of information problems do you see in your library/technical services unit(s) that could be solved by using Web 2.0 tools?
• Are there specific types of social tools you're hoping to learn more about? Hopefully other libraries can share examples of their applications of these tools to help you get started.
• How are you (or your library's technical services unit(s))making use of social software?
For a complete description of the e-forum, and registration information, go to:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alcts/confevents/upcoming/e-forum/051910enh.cfm

Posted on the OCLC-CAT list, 5/13/2010

Upcoming Webcast (5/12): It’s in the Mail: Improving the Physical Delivery of Library Resources

Upcoming Webcast (5/12): It’s in the Mail: Improving the Physical Delivery of Library Resources
May 12, 2010 at 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)

Many users assume that most information today is digital. As digital content increases, so does the information resources that are produced, consumed, and distributed in physical formats. Resource sharing of physical formats—whether books, DVDs, CDs, or audiocassettes—continues to play an important role in library services. Moving library materials between libraries has been a hidden component of resource sharing activities. Numerous activities have focused on improving resource sharing workflow, but little attention has been paid to how materials are moved from one library to another, and from a library directly to a patron (e.g., to a home or office). The issues around how to deliver library materials quickly, securely, and cost-effectively are equally immense. What are the best ways to provide physical delivery of library materials? 

In this webinar you will hear from three speakers. The first speaker will first provide an overview of library delivery services today; the second speaker will discuss the charge, current work plan and emerging recommended practices of NISO’s Physical Delivery of Library Resources Working Group; and the final speaker will talk about efforts to provide a delivery service directly to library patrons.

For more information or to register, visit the NISO website: http://www.niso.org/news/events/2010/resourcesharing/