Take One Down and Pass It Around - Book Mooch

Let's say that you had a burning desire for a book. But you didn't want to go into a store and you don't really want to visit Amazon.com or Powells.com. It is not about selling. It is more of making sure your book is going to a good loving home. Have I got a place for you.

Book Mooch is an extension of a growing idea of recycling information and culture. You have a book that you've read and enjoyed but your not going to read it again. You can post your book or certain magazines on Book Mooch and trade with other people. You pay for the shipping if you are the sender but you pay nothing if you are the receiver of the book.

But wait, there is more. You earn points for sending books and receiving books. You can also donate books to certain charities that are on the lookout for what you have, such as prisons, libraries and hospitals. Cool, huh?

You can sign up for a free membership. You earn or lose your reputation by the number of books you give and take. For more information visit: http://www.bookmooch.com

Dr. Angelou's Book and Fond du Luc High School

I was catching up on my library reading and Maya Angelou's book "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" is being challenged, again. This time in Fond du Lac Wisconsin.

You can read the local news paper articles:

• Parents Want Angelou Book Banned from Fondy High
• Caged Bird Debate Continues in Fond du Lac
  
• Caged Bird Will Remain In the Classroom

My understanding based on the news articles is that the parents objected to their child reading the book. The high school made an accommodation to the parents by allowing the child to read another book.

The parents wanted the book removed from the English reading list but it would remain available in the library.

There are a number of side issues but this is a question that school libraries continues to face on a semester basis. What is appropriate reading material for, in this case, high school students?

Is a true factual story of childhood rape too intense for contemporary teenagers?

At what point does a society begin to engage young people on difficult real life issues? Do school libraries have a role to play in that process. Or is it a matter of community standard must be respected and upheld?

Sorry folks, I have far more questions than answers for you today.

Library Freedom PSA

I am currently taking an online cyber-ethics class. My instructor posted this video for the class to consider. It was originally created by the Ad Council, it is no longer on their site, nor is this particular campaign active.

This is the QuickTime Version

How much security? How much regulation? What is the balance of intellectual access version national and civic security?

You are studying to be library assistants. Does this concern you or do you pass the buck to the librarian in charge? Or are you the de facto librarian in charge?

Zotero - Firefox extension to cite, manage, collect research sources

http://www.zotero.org/

"Zotero [zoh-TAIR-oh] is a free, easy-to-use Firefox extension to help you collect, manage, and cite your research sources. It lives right where you do your work — in the web browser itself."

This tool works well with LibX another Firefox extension that integrates library resources.

Liszen - A Library Blog Search Engine

When I am searching for library specific blogs I general use Google Blog Search http://blogsearch.google.com It helps but I still have to wade through a bunch of junk to find the types of blogs that I am searching for.

Liszen makes it easier to find library based blogs. You just type in the search term and it will only look at a subset of library specific blogs. What is interesting about Liszen is that it is built using Google's search engine architecture.

To simplify, users get to make your own search engine with the power of Google behind you. So if you wanted to create a search engine that looked for natural science web sites you can construct it with help from Google.

I don't want to mislead you. You need a certain level of technical skill to pull this off. For more information on how to get started visit http://www.google.com/coop

In the meantime I'm diving into http://www.liszen.com

Urban Dictionary – Putting the Funk in Your Wagner's

Keeping up the the latest slang can be a full time job. Just when you think you know your "Boo" from "fo shizzle" here comes a piece of dandruff to make you go whack. Fear not, help is at hand.

The Urban Dictionary is a catalog of past, present and just created about 10 minutes ago words and terms used by the young, the gifted and the scatologically inclined. If you are easily offended you do not want to visit this site.

The Urban Dictionary is a safe way to figure out what is on the minds of folks and how the language, in this case English is being recreated. Text messaging, emoticons and mashed in standard English are giving birth to a new strain of communication.

For example:

• Shoulder surfing – talking to one person but on the look out for someone better to talk to.
• D & D – Drug and Disease Free (for posting on a dating site).
• I Ain't Fronting Holmes – I'm telling you the truth, my friend.
  

Not to be confused with the other meaning of Holmes which you will have to research for yourself.

You can sign up for RSS feeds to keep you in the know on new words as they appear. You can also receive them via your cell phone or post the word of the day on your site or blog.
http://www.urbandictionary.com

Sunnyvale Library Assistant and Specialist III

For our visitors from up north and anyone else who is interested here is a position in Sunnyvale courtesy of Ken Lin. Tight deadline on this one folks so if you are interested hurry, the deadline is Friday, November 17, 2006

The Sunnyvale Public Library is currently recruiting for Library Assistant and Library Specialist III positions.

Library Assistant
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/sunnyvale/job_bulletin.cfm?JobID=50770

The Library Assistant helps prepare library materials for the public by adding materials to the library's online catalog and modifying and deleting records to update the catalog. In addition, the Library Assistant coordinates the physical processing of materials, develops procedures as appropriate, provides general office management support such as maintaining records and files, preparing meeting minutes, and other reports, as well as monitoring, ordering and receiving supplies.

Library Specialist III
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/sunnyvale/job_bulletin.cfm?JobID=50794
The Library Specialist III position, under general supervision,performs library and related clerical tasks of moderate difficulty;work is of a routine and non-professional nature and may involve varying degrees of public contact, and performs related work as required.

If you are interested in either of these exciting opportunities,please submit your City of Sunnyvale employment application to the Human Resources Department no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, November 17, 2006. Electronic applications may be submitted online through the City's employment page at http://jobs.inSunnyvale.com.

Contact Person:
Steve Sloan, Administrative Librarian
Sunnyvale Public Library (408) 730-2768