The time for Libraries is NOW 03.14.11

TED Talks – Social

The Real Life Social Network…03.14.11

Generating Ideas…03.14.11

MIT Center for Future Civic Media – Junkyard Jumbotron Project…03.13.11

 

The Evolution of Google’s Rankings…03.13.11

Preserving Our Digital Heritage: National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Report…03.12.11

Preserving Our Digital Heritage: National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Report

First Look at th iPad 2…03.12.11

E-books in Libraries A Practical Guide…03.11.11

E-books in Libraries A Practical Guide

“Despite the fact that e-books have been in existence for decades in various guises and added to library collections for several years now, there has been a noticeable lack of published manuals on the subject. This is doubtless owing to the rapidly evolving nature of the market. There is now a plethora of different types of digital object that may be termed ‘e-books’ and a bewildering number of business and access models to match.   Moreover the pace of change shows no sign of abating, but there is an increasing amount of popular interest in e-books, and what is needed is practical information to assist library and information professionals managing collections of e-books and doing their best to inform their users right now.   This timely book, the first of its kind to provide a practical appraisal of e-books, aims to fill that need by addressing the key questions: Where do e-books come from and what are the key business models that support them? What needs to change before e-books become universally and easily used? What will the e-book landscape look like in ten years’ time? How can you be sure you are building a good collection that your users can access easily? What about money and budgets?

The book is divided into five parts:

• The production and distribution of e-books

• Planning and developing an e-book collection

• Delivering e-books to library readers

• Engaging readers with e-books

• The future of e-books.

This book is a ready reference source for any library and information professional with an interest in e-books and their development. It is essential background reading for library  managers wishing to develop an e-book collection from scratch or for those responsible for maintaining an existing e-book collection. It will also have plenty to interest publishers, who need to be aware of the issues faced by libraries managing e-book collections, and will be of great value to students of librarianship and information studies, and those on publishing related courses…”

U.S. Charities Preparing To Help Japan, Pacific Rim Quake Victims…03.11.11

To donate to Red Cross disaster relief efforts around the world can go to redcross.org or text “Red Cross” to 90999. If you text in, $10 will be automatically charged to your phone bill as a donation.

Non-Profit Times:

U.S charities and aid organizations are lining up to assist in the wake of a following 8.9-magnitude quake in Japan at hit at 1:46 p.m. local time and subsequent tsunamis expected to ripple across the Pacific Ocean, washing over small islands and making contact with Hawaii, northern California and Oregon.

Hundreds are reported dead. Statistics for those injured and missing were not immediately available.

As of 10:30 a.m. (EST) the tsunami had stated hitting Hawaii but no damage was reported. The main airports on Maui, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii were shut down. The U.S. Navy ordered all warships at Pearl Harbor to remain in port to support rescue missions.

Tsunami waves were reported to be as high as seven feet. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported a tsunami more than 5 feet above sea level on the Midway Atoll between Japan and Hawaii. There were no reports of damage. The last significant tsunami in Hawaii was in 1975. A 26-foot wave killed two people.

The quake was centered 130 kilometers off Japan’s coast and approximately 373 kilometers northeast of Tokyo. Aftershocks, some of which hit 6.4 on the Richter magnitude scale have been reported. Communication through Japan is spotty, particularly north or Tokyo, where most mobile communication is down, according to news reports from the area.

American Red Cross Hawaii deployed supplies around the islands, according to Chapter CEO Coralie Matayoshi. “The tourists were well cared for; the hotels prepare an exercise for these types of events. They evacuate vertically. If they don’t there is too much of a crowd,” she said.

The chapter is prepared after having responded last year in Peru and Chile. “We have about 600 trained volunteers who are ready to go when we need them. Have been working all night and haven’t slept yet,” she said.

The chapter is preparing cots and water for people in case they couldn’t get back to their home and comfort kits.

While there have long been so-called public benefit and private corporations in Japan, as actual tax-exempt sector was not a legal entity until December, 1998 when the national parliament passed he Nonprofit Organization Law. According to the Japan NPO Center in Tokyo, there have been more than 6,000 organizations incorporated as a Specified Nonprofit Corporation.

International groups are gearing up a response. “Our offices in Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands are on alert and staff in coastal areas have been advised,” said Geoff Shepherd, World Vision’s humanitarian and emergency affairs director for the Asia-Pacific region.
“We’ve also alerted our Global Rapid Response Team and have put team members on standby for possible deployment to affected areas. This could be a very serious disaster in multiple countries and our staff are prepared to respond,” he said.

World Vision has operations in Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Mexico, New Zealand, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru.

The Japanese Red Cross began an assessment exercise from its national headquarters and at branch level, mobilizing its staff and volunteers. The National Society deployed 11 national disaster response teams to carry out assessments and provide first aid and healthcare in the affected areas. Emergency relief planning is underway.

The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) activated its emergency center at its headquarters in Jakarta and mobilized four branches in affected areas to monitor the situation. Its emergency response teams (SATGANA) are assisting the local authorities to move people on the coast to higher ground.

The Japanese Red Cross has not requested assistance, but the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is working with the Japanese Red Cross and other National Societies in the region to monitor the situation closely.

Catholic Relief Services in Baltimore, Md., reported that homes in Natori City in northeaster Japan were swept by water following a tsunami and the earthquake. Catholic Relief Service personnel throughout the Pacific were on stand-by. “We know from 2004 the devastating impact that these tsunamis can have,” said Sean Callahan, CRS’ executive vice president for overseas operations.

Caritas Japan is beginning to assess the needs in that country where the tsunami has caused extensive damage. CRS has programs in the Philippines and Indonesia and works with Caritas Oceania that is active in numerous islands in the Pacific that might be affected. Central American countries where CRS works could also be in danger. “We will reach out to our Caritas partners to help them in any way we can,” Callahan said.

Is It Time To Rebuild & Retool Public Libraries And Make “TechShops”?…03.11.11

 

Is It Time To Rebuild & Retool Public Libraries And Make “TechShops”?

The Social Landscape…03.11.11

The CMO’s Guide to the Social Landscape

Libraries and Community…03.11.11

 

Librarians as Global Information Professionals…03.11.11

NEXT Mobile Trends 2011…03.11.11

Psychology of websites and social media campaigns…03.11.11

Libraries and the Digital Divide…03.10.11

iPad 2 Vs. Competitors…03.10.11

Facilitate – New Librarianship…03.10.11

 

Bridging Physical and Digital Preservation @ the Library of Congress…03.10.11

ALSO

You can read the March 2011 Library of Congress Digital Preservation Newsletter

Designing for the mobile form factor…03.10.11

Librarians and Readers Against DRM…03.09.11

BYOOK -New Enhanced eBook Format in iTunes…03.09.11

TED Talks – Using Video to Reinvent Education…03.09.11

Change is What Keeps it Interesting…03.09.11

2011 Library Design Showcase Preview…03.08.11

Awesome Libraries…03.08.11

NEW – The Social Learning Community…03.08.11

From Jane’s Pick of the Day (Jane Hart of the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies):

“Yesterday I launched the Social Learning Community – a new Community of Practice intended for those interested in the use of social media to work and learn smarter.  This is a place where you can join discussions, ask questions, share links, experiences and events with others about social learning – whether it be in education or in the workplace.  Jay Cross calls it ‘the living room for social learning conversations’!

Find out more about it and how to join here…”

 

Collections Futures…03.08.11

First workshop of the Digital Public Library of America planning initiative…03.08.11