Amazon to Combine Rare Book Digitization and Print-on-Demand

from CNET News

 

http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9732767-7.html?tag=bl

 

Amazon.com's BookSurge subsidiary announced Thursday that it has partnered with book digitization company Kirtas Technologies on a project to archive and distribute hard-to-find books. This new initiative involves collaboration with public and university libraries to provide their collections of "rare and inaccessible" books; the titles will be digitized through Kirtas and then reproductions will be sold through Amazon through the BookSurge print-on-demand service.

In return, the partner libraries--initially consisting of Emory University, University of Maine, and the public libraries in Toronto, Ont. and Cincinnati, Ohio--will receive a cut of the revenue to fund further book preservation efforts, provided the titles are in the public domain or the libraries own the rights to them.

<snip>

Interesting development, especially the print-on-demand part.  Google already has a big lead in digitizing books from libraries.  I wonder if there will be any impact on Interlibrary Loan.

 

 

Vertical Mouse

I'm trying a new ergonomic mouse with buttons that are vertical rather than horizontal.  Think of it as using a mouse like you were shaking hands with it.  I have the lefty model, but I leave the mouse button settings in the Windows Control Panel set to right handed.  It works.  For more, go to http://www.evoluent.com .

[23 Things] # 6 - Libraries Using Web 2.0 Effectively

Some thoughts on the libraries listed in the Infopeople 23 Things Challenge

 

1) Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County - good use of RSS by both category and location.  The other feature I like on this site is that you can pay fines and fees online using credit cards on a secure server.  And don't forget to put in your reservation for the Tricycle Music Fest.  Well done.

 

2) Ann Arbor District Library - Clean Web site design with the feel of a blog.  There are a wide variety of posts available by following the link on the lower right of the opening screen.  The one I like ties a news item about the rivalry between Boeing and Airbus to a new book.  See http://www.aadl.org/node/4575 .

 

3) Denver Public Library has news about the library in the center of the page, complete with a rotating series of images about different events.  The only way I could find the podcast link was to do a search of the site.

 

4) Seattle Public Library - Look under the  "Library Collection" tab for Podcasts, as well as Digital Books and Media.

[National Journal] FCC's Martin Wants to Subsidize Rural Broadband

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said on Tuesday that the concept of universal service needs to be substantially upgraded to encompass financial support for high-speed Internet services in rural areas.

In a live video presentation at the NEXTComm industry show here, Martin said broadband policies should be updated so rural consumers could receive the same services as their urban counterparts. "But there's a limited amount of funding to do this," said Martin, who responded to questions from industry leaders. "We need ... a policy that is technologically neutral."

 

Martin said the FCC should move away from "subsidizing multiple voice carriers in rural areas" to subsidizing broadband. He added, "It's critical that the concept of universal service stays in place -- and that everyone stays connected."

The full story is available at  http://tinyurl.com/2hg4cn 

 

It will be interesting to see how this fits with efforts underway in California through the California Emerging Technology Fund and the Governor's Broadband Task Force.

[Book] Flickr Hacks

Database: CaliforniaCatalog
Query: ti: Flickr and ti: Hacks

Comment:
For those working on the 23 Things training, here are libraries in California that have this title.

Display All Libraries 

Libraries with Item: "Flickr hacks /"( Record for Item | Get This Item )

Location	Library	Code
US,CA	A K SMILEY PUB LIBR	SYY
US,CA	ALAMEDA CNTY LIBR	JQA
US,CA	BEVERLY HILLS PUB LIBR	BHP
US,CA	BRUGGEMEYER MEM LIBR	MEY
US,CA	CABRILLO COL LIBR	CC8
US,CA	CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIV, POMON	CPO
US,CA	CARLSBAD CITY LIBR	CCP
US,CA	CONTRA COSTA CNTY LIBR	JQJ
US,CA	GLENDALE PUB LIBR	CGL
US,CA	GLENDORA LIBR & CULTURAL CTR	CGF
US,CA	HUNTINGTON BEACH LIBR	HBL
US,CA	KERN CNTY LIBR SYST	KLC
US,CA	LONG BEACH PUB LIBR	CLB
US,CA	LOS ANGELES PUB LIBR	LPU
US,CA	MARIN CNTY FREE LIBR	JRG
US,CA	MENDOCINO CNTY LIBR	JTN
US,CA	MILL VAL PUB LIBR	MLV
US,CA	MOUNTAIN VIEW PUB LIBR	MVP
US,CA	MT. SAN ANTONIO COL LIBR	SAA
US,CA	OAKLAND PUB LIBR	JRK
US,CA	PASADENA PUB LIBR	CPP
US,CA	PLACER CNTY LIBR	APR
US,CA	RIVERSIDE PUB LIBR	CRP
US,CA	SAN BERNARDINO CNTY LIBR	CBL
US,CA	SAN FRANCISCO PUB LIBR	SFR
US,CA	SAN JOAQUIN DELTA COL	CTO
US,CA	SAN JOSE PUB LIBR	SJP
US,CA	SAN LUIS OBISPO CITY/CNTY LIBR	SLO
US,CA	SANTA BARBARA PUB LIBR	JRW
US,CA	SANTA CLARA CITY LIBR	JRZ
US,CA	SANTA CLARA CNTY FREE LIBR	JRY
US,CA	SANTA CRUZ PUB LIBR, THE	JTA
US,CA	SOLANO CNTY LIBR	JTD
US,CA	SONOMA CNTY LIBR	JTH
US,CA	STOCKTON-SAN JOAQUIN CNTY PUB LIBR	CSP
US,CA	YOLO CNTY LIBR	YOL

Record for Item: "Flickr hacks /"( Libraries with Item )

Flickr hacks / Paul Bausch;  Jim Bumgardner 2006 1st ed. English  Book xxv, 335 p. : ill. ; 23 cm. Sebastopol, Calif. : O'Reilly, ; ISBN: 0596102453 9780596102456 Get This Item Access:  http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0715/2006280382-d.html Availability: Check the catalogs in your library. Libraries that Own Item: All California Libraries: 36 Worldwide: 340 External Resources:  Cite This Item Find Related Find Items About: Bausch, Paul. (1) Title: Flickr hacks / Author(s): Bausch, Paul.  Bumgardner, Jim.  Publication: Sebastopol, Calif. : O'Reilly, Edition: 1st ed. Year: 2006 Description: xxv, 335 p. : ill. ; 23 cm. Language: English Contents: Sharing photos -- Tagging photos -- Viewing photos -- Community -- Maintenance -- API basics -- Custom applications. Standard No: ISBN: 0596102453; 9780596102456 LCCN: 2006-280382 Access: Materials specified: Publisher description http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0715/2006280382-d.html SUBJECT(S) Descriptor: Photography -- Digital techniques.  Image processing -- Digital techniques.  Note(s): "Tips & tools for sharing photos online"--Cover./ Includes index. Class Descriptors: LC: TR267; Dewey: 006.686; 775 Responsibility: Paul Bausch & Jim Bumgardner. Vendor Info: Baker & Taylor Baker and Taylor YBP Library Services (BKTY BTCP YANK) 24.99 Status: active Document Type: Book Entry: 20060403 Update: 20070510 Accession No: OCLC: 65429723 Database: CaliforniaCatalog

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Yahoo Flickers a Moment for Flickr

Setting up a Flickr account is part of the 23 Things series of learning events. The hardest part was setting up a Yahoo account, perhaps because it was the middle of the afternoon and the site may have been busy. It took about three tries before Yahoo responded, and set up the account. After that, the Flickr part went smoothly. Uploading was easy. As you "catalog" your photos, think through how you want to describe the image.

Using Email to Update in Blogger

This is a quick and easy way to update your blog from any email program.  Here are the steps after signing in to Blogger.

 

1) Click on the "Settings" tab.

2) Click on "Email". 

3) The second part of the screen will say "Mail-to-Blogger Address".  Put the name of your blog in the box before the @ symbol.

4) Check the box just below it that says "Publish".

5) Click "Save Settings".

 

Very easy.

Getting Started

Recently, Infopeople in California created a Web 2.0 23 Things Challenge, and sponsored a webcast by Helene Blowers covering " Web 2.0: What Library Managers Need to Know." As a result, many library employees starting working on this effort. While this blog will cover other topics outside of this particular challenge, the long term goal is to have such topics and ways of working become second nature. Here goes.