Google has been digitizing books for some time and putting them in their online library for everyone to read. There was a lot of controversy surrounding this due to copyright protections and author's rights....etc.

Google has recently come to an agreement for different types of books. Books out of copyright will be available for the public to read and print in full. Books out of print will be made available online only through the permission of the author and can be purchased. In-print books will show a preview and guide the reader to where to buy the book.

I think it's so fascinating and I'm so excited that I can go on google and look up old classics, print them or make a pdf and send it to my palm device (or iphone) and read it!


http://books.google.com/googlebooks/agreement/#1

I don't know anyone who has a large personal library. I absolutely do not know anyone who has a personal library like what you are about to see:

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/16-10/ff_walker?currentPage=all

I wish I could go on vacation there. Like a library bed and breakfast.

Thanks to the librarygrrrls livejournal.

Librarian by My Morning Jacket

What is a Librarian?

Scott Nicholson is a Library Scientist and Library Science professor at Syracuse University. This is his brief overview of what a librarian is. He's silly and very informative. He has a very progressive expectation for modern libraries, including video games. I find his ideas interesting.




In addition, here is his site: http://scottnicholson.com/ He also has a livejournal which you can access through a link at the top of his site.

I'm in my senior year of undergrad and have been doing a lot of research about schools in the Northeast where I live. What is the deciding factor for you in choosing a school in your area?

Also, where are you from and are you considering any other careers than library science? If so, what are they?

Thanks,

Jamie

I apologize in advance to those of you who are also on the Library_Mofo group. I am re-posting a youtube video that was posted on the Library_Mofo group. I can't help myself. It's too funny.

Just awesome.

Humor and Books-Two seperate but equally amusing library culture items:

1. One day doing some library research I came upon this comic strip entitled, "Unshelved" by Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum. They have published several books dedicated to the funnier side of libraries. I'm so poor right now, but I'd love to get my hands on these books. I find it's so interesting to examine the opinions of librarians that work in the field, even the most facetious of opinions. I am subscribed to the RSS feed for Unshelved so I get a new comic everytime they come out. I don't "get" them all the time, because I don't work in a library. Boy I must be a geek if I like to read about libraries. hehe.....

Here's an example:



Go here to see More or subscribe to their feed. (They also have some cool shirts for sale) http://www.unshelved.com/

There is also a livejournal blog: http://community.livejournal.com/unshelvedreader/

2. The Librarian Live Action Figure! Need I say more? She is based off of a famous librarian named Nancy Pearl who has published from what I've read some of the best books of book reviews. her personal site: http://www.nancypearl.com/

AND (drum roll please) much more importantly, the librarian action figure based on her:



I want this sooooo bad. And I want to ceate miniature library with bookshelves and readers. hehe. I have not left my dollhouse days behind me.

In the past few years Google has made arrangements with several libraries. Google borrows books, scans them into their digital database and then also gives the library a copy of the digital book. http://books.google.com/

There are a lot of organizations involved in the digitization of books. The main repository is http://www.hathitrust.org/ (Hathi means Elephant in Hindi) There are currently copyright issues that are being worked out. Most of the books currently available are those that are old enough to not require copyright law.

I wonder when a main digital library will come to be. Will be it government run? Perhaps all the libraries in the country will invest in such a project to offer the largest library in the world, accessible online? Fascinating that a book would never be "out", as many people as wanted could borrow a copy of the book digitally at any time.

I think that a device like Kindle is needed for this to be successful. The kindle is the first of its kind and I think we will see devices like this becoming central to reading and the library. Perhaps the library will rent them out to readers in communities. So many possibilities for this! I am very excited.

Here is a great article about current ongoings between Google, Hathi and Libraries. http://chronicle.com/free/2008/10/5061n.htm

I certainly don't think that the digitization of books and information will rid of community libraries or librarians. With the information world becoming more complex and plentiful, librarians are needed by the public to organize, understand and weed through all of it. Among the other things that librarians do. Books are not their only job.

While I do love a physical book in my hand, the smell and the feel of the paper, I think that the direction this is taking is so exciting.  Even libraries need to change, ok?

What do you think?

I found this article very amusing. It is about library scenes in movies. Not necessarily the most educational article, but I can't help myself. Are there any others you can think of that were not in the gallery? I personally love the Harry Potter scene and Evie from the Mummy.

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20190897,00.html

I recently made a new website for myself where I will be posting various ramblings and personal photos, music etc......so I have decided to take my livejournal and make it specifically for library related items that I come across. I am considering a career as a librarian and will use this blog to research. Join in!

My new website/blog in case you are interested: www.holdyourpeas.com


A funny video about libraries that I found posted on the group Library_Mofo...........HILARIOUS

Joy And Meaning In Everything=JAMIE

What to write about. Hmm. It's 4:39 in the morning. Michael and Seymour are sleeping, together I might add. Seymour betrays me, warm legs and down covers are his weakness. Yes, I know I justify his scandalous behavior and allow myself to be alienated and exploited. But he's so cute, and I have a weakness for brunettes with big brown eyes. He is pretty good in bed I might add. This is him:



























There are worse things in life than being in love with a dog.

Blatantly frustrated, she double clicks, opening the client for her livejournal account and types aggressively, the tapping reverses the flow of blood from her fingertips to her elbows until it reaches her hot red cheeks.

"I need a job."

There are two types of hero archetypes that come to mind.

1. The person that despite opposition, pursues justice and safety for other living creatures, even when their personal safety is at risk. (Martin Luther King Jr, Ghandi, Rosa Parks)

2. 6 inch whole wheat, with spicy italian meats, lettuce, and vinegar (no tomatoes, I don't want salmonella)

Cheese Popcorn. Let me correct that. Anything with cheese. Macaroni and Cheese, Pizza, Greek Salad, Tacos, Nachos. I can sit with a family size bag of cheese popcorn and eat it until my tongue is numb and I still want to eat it. Disgusting, I know........