The author of the “Disconnect…” article made some pretty valid points. If we want to keep-up our user base and attract new generations of users, we need to meet the expectations of our users. Hoping that non-users will eventually realize that the old-school library is a great place to get information and resources just won’t cut it. We’ll become even more obsolete to our users – just as the public libraries in the UK have become. The author also challenged the library’s strict policies on copyright – I think he specifically mentions the practice of recombination and personalization of information resources by the outside world. While this would be a super awesome feature to add to library resources or the OPAC, copyright laws still have a considerable strangle hold on libraries. Libraries have historically received a lot of flack regarding copyright concerns (the photocopier was a big scary invention back in the day), and, I think, libraries are hyper concerned about copyright because of this history. Litigation is expensive and reputation damaging. Also, the author mentions the library’s “obsession” with individual privacy – I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing. Information can be a very personal thing, and without privacy policies in place, potential harm or embarrassment can be done to an individual.

This brave new web is pretty exciting – the concept of linked data is really intriguing, and it seems, as Berners-Lee envisions it, to be a potentially important invention for the advancement of science and medicine. That’s the part that I find intriguing. The part about sharing or using my personal data, to whom I’m married, what stores I shop at, etc, is kinda scary. In order for his vision to play out (at least the Lucy story mentioned in this article: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2102852,00.asp), people would have to opt to share a lot of personal information. I’m not sure many people will be totally comfortable doing this. Right now, there is a lot of personal information sharing, but it’s not done with overt user control. The default settings on Facebook are to share (or allow Facebook to sell) all your information. Users have to search around to change this setting – a task that many non-native social media users overlook or find confusing.

One more thing before this gets too long. I know in previous posts I’ve mentioned various Google projects, but this one is kinda cool. The Google Goggles app allows users to search for information by submitting a photograph. In my experience, it doesn’t really work. BUT, it’s a great step forward into web 3.0 territory. Click on the “Watch a Video” button to learn more about it.
http://www.google.com/mobile/goggles/#text

Hey. Saw this on reddit this morning, enjoy:

Post #2

Has anyone seen the old television series ”Connections?” (You can watch it for FREE on Youtube: I’ll attach a link as a reply to this post) It was first aired on BBC in the late ‘70s. James Burke, a science historian, explains how each major invention throughout history has shaped the next, and, ultimately, our current society. Sharing of technological findings and accomplishments has been so important for the advancement of our society, that without the simplest finding in the long chain of historic technological advances we would not be where we are today. If sharing is so important for technological advancement, it’s just as important for cultural advancement.

In ”Steal This Film Part 2,” Sebastian Lutgert makes an interesting point: when a new technology or mechanism for copying is invented, it shapes people’s habits. It changes the way people create, share, and what they can relate to (14:20). It seems that the shift from an overly copyright protected society to a society of remix and sharing is inevitable. The technology and behavior is already here, and has been here for awhile (even longer in the context of print media sharing and publishing).

The fourth principle of the ”Code of Ethics of the American Library Association” states that “[w]e respect intellectual property rights and advocate balance between the interests of information users and rights holders” (www.ifmanual.org/codeethics). We also, however, uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and are stewards of our society’s collective knowledge and culture. How can we, then, not facilitate or advocate for this culture of remix and sharing? As Lessig said in his interview, intellectual property rights should currently be respected, but maybe we, as a profession, should make a stand for the advancement of a remix/sharing culture.
As always when I read something about copyright, I was surprised about the extent of copyright on the web. I had not even considered that code could be copyrightable, even though it is an artistic expression. This is something extremely important for librarians to be aware of – not only for educating patrons, but also for maintaining a (legal) website. As libraries of all types increase their web presence, awareness of internet copyright laws are extremely important.

Here’s a link to my fifth exercise:

http://www.natebitatibetan.com/exercise05/exercise05.html

Hi guys!

Thought I’d join in and share my second exercise:
http://www.natebitatibetan.com/exercise02/exercise02.html

Hello!

My name is Annie. I’m in my fourth semester at Dominican, but probably won’t be graduating until December 2011. I’m not entirely sure where I’d like to end up after graduation, but I’m leaning more toward a career in public librarianship.

I recently had my first child; she’s about 3 1/2 weeks right now and very demanding.

I’m super excited to start this class!