Raising awareness of how the library supports teaching and research staff is key to demonstrating library value in developing countries, concludes a new report published today. The findings are the result of a six-month research study with twelve developing country institutions conducted by SAGE exploring perceptions of the value of academic libraries by teaching and research staff in developing countries.
‘Library Value in the Developing World’ reports that developing country librarians are beginning to recognize the importance of evaluating their value for research and teaching staff. Communicating the value of their role however remains a key challenge. Librarians noted that whilst they receive positive feedback about the resource collections they provide, there is limited awareness of how librarians can better support research and teaching staff beyond these traditional parameters.
Outlined in the report are examples of best practice from the case study institutions, along with recommendations on how working relations between academic libraries and stakeholders could be enhanced.
* Direct link to document (PDF)
*Press Release
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Why it matters that you can't own an electronic copy of the OED
From BoingBoing:
In Cory Doctorow's latest Guardian column, he talks about "the digital versions of the Oxford English Dictionary and the Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary, the two most important lexicographic references to the English language ... [he] was disturbed to learn that the digital editions of these books are only available as monthly rentals, services that come with expansive data-collecting policies and which cannot be owned.
"OUP – which has been selling dictionaries and thesauri since the 19th century – will not sell you a digital OED or HTOED. Not for any price.
"Instead, these books are rented by the month, accessed via the internet by logged-in users. If you stop paying, your access to these books is terminated.
"[He] mentioned this to some librarians at the American Library Association conference in Chicago this spring and they all said, effectively: 'Welcome to the club. This is what we have to put up with all the time.'"
In Cory Doctorow's latest Guardian column, he talks about "the digital versions of the Oxford English Dictionary and the Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary, the two most important lexicographic references to the English language ... [he] was disturbed to learn that the digital editions of these books are only available as monthly rentals, services that come with expansive data-collecting policies and which cannot be owned.
"OUP – which has been selling dictionaries and thesauri since the 19th century – will not sell you a digital OED or HTOED. Not for any price.
"Instead, these books are rented by the month, accessed via the internet by logged-in users. If you stop paying, your access to these books is terminated.
"[He] mentioned this to some librarians at the American Library Association conference in Chicago this spring and they all said, effectively: 'Welcome to the club. This is what we have to put up with all the time.'"
Friday, August 23, 2013
E-Books vs. Print Books
Text from New Strategist.com
Three out of four Americans aged 16 or older read a book in the past 12 months, according to a Pew Internet and American Life survey. The figure peaks at 90 percent among 16-to-17-year-olds (many of whom are required to read books in high school) and bottoms out at 67 percent among people aged 65 or older.
Print still rules the book world, even in the younger age groups. Among 18-to-24-year-old book readers, 93 percent read a print book and 31 percent read an e-book in the past year. E-books are most popular among 30-to-49-year-old book readers, 41 percent having read an e-book and 85 percent a print book in the past year.
Three out of four Americans aged 16 or older read a book in the past 12 months, according to a Pew Internet and American Life survey. The figure peaks at 90 percent among 16-to-17-year-olds (many of whom are required to read books in high school) and bottoms out at 67 percent among people aged 65 or older.
Print still rules the book world, even in the younger age groups. Among 18-to-24-year-old book readers, 93 percent read a print book and 31 percent read an e-book in the past year. E-books are most popular among 30-to-49-year-old book readers, 41 percent having read an e-book and 85 percent a print book in the past year.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Black or African American? Hispanic or Latino?
From the New Strategist:
Which term do African Americans prefer? According to a Gallup survey, 65 percent of blacks say it does not matter whether the term "black" or "African American" is used.
There is little variation by age in this attitude, with the proportion of blacks who say either term is okay ranging from a low of 62 percent among 18-to-29-year-olds (with 20 percent preferring African American and 17 percent black) to a high of 73 percent among those aged 65 or older (with 16 percent preferring African American and 11 percent black).
Which term do Hispanics prefer? According to that same Gallup survey, 70 percent of Latinos say it does not matter whether the term "Latino" or "Hispanic" is used.
There is some variation by age in this attitude, however, with the proportion of Hispanics who say either term is okay ranging from a low of 53 percent among people aged 65 or older (with 33 percent preferring Hispanic and 14 percent Latino) to a high of 76 percent among 18-to-29-year-olds (with 16 percent preferring Hispanic and 7 percent Latino).
Which term do African Americans prefer? According to a Gallup survey, 65 percent of blacks say it does not matter whether the term "black" or "African American" is used.
There is little variation by age in this attitude, with the proportion of blacks who say either term is okay ranging from a low of 62 percent among 18-to-29-year-olds (with 20 percent preferring African American and 17 percent black) to a high of 73 percent among those aged 65 or older (with 16 percent preferring African American and 11 percent black).
Which term do Hispanics prefer? According to that same Gallup survey, 70 percent of Latinos say it does not matter whether the term "Latino" or "Hispanic" is used.
There is some variation by age in this attitude, however, with the proportion of Hispanics who say either term is okay ranging from a low of 53 percent among people aged 65 or older (with 33 percent preferring Hispanic and 14 percent Latino) to a high of 76 percent among 18-to-29-year-olds (with 16 percent preferring Hispanic and 7 percent Latino).
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Are Your Vaccinations Up to Date?
National Immunization Awareness Month is a reminder that people of all ages can protect their health by getting recommended vaccinations. Take a look at immunization schedules by age:
• Children (birth through age 6)
• Preteens and Teens (ages 7-18)
• Adults (ages 19 and older)
Under the Affordable Care Act, immunizations are a preventive service that will be covered by all plans within the Health Insurance Marketplace and by many other health insurance plans.
• Children (birth through age 6)
• Preteens and Teens (ages 7-18)
• Adults (ages 19 and older)
Under the Affordable Care Act, immunizations are a preventive service that will be covered by all plans within the Health Insurance Marketplace and by many other health insurance plans.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Use Google as a timer
Need a count-down timer? Just head on over to Google and enter “set timer for” and your length of time. You’ll get an on-screen count-down, a graphical status bar that fills in as your reach zero, and an audible alarm when your time’s up.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
35 Library Stories You May Have Missed in July
This summer has been fantastic for library news, blogs posts, and articles. If you’re just getting caught up, here’s a list of library-related stories that will keep you busy!
Monday, August 12, 2013
Copyright actually makes books disappear
From HERE:
A random sample of new books for sale on Amazon.com shows three times more books initially published in the 1850’s are for sale than new books from the 1950’s. Why? This paper presents new data on how copyright seems to make works disappear,” runs the abstract of the study, How Copyright Makes Books and Music Disappear (and How Secondary Liability Rules Help Resurrect Old Songs), by Professor Paul J. Heald (pictured at left), of the University of Illinois College of Law, and visiting professor at the Centre for Intellectual Property Policy & Management (CIPPM) at Britain’s Bournemouth University.
A random sample of new books for sale on Amazon.com shows three times more books initially published in the 1850’s are for sale than new books from the 1950’s. Why? This paper presents new data on how copyright seems to make works disappear,” runs the abstract of the study, How Copyright Makes Books and Music Disappear (and How Secondary Liability Rules Help Resurrect Old Songs), by Professor Paul J. Heald (pictured at left), of the University of Illinois College of Law, and visiting professor at the Centre for Intellectual Property Policy & Management (CIPPM) at Britain’s Bournemouth University.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
CDTA Title VI hearings
(Albany, NY) - The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) has announced that public hearings will be held with respect to its Title VI policies. Title VI is a federal requirement that seeks to ensure that equity is considered when transit systems use federal funds to operate. CDTA fully supports the objectives of Title VI requirements which seek to:
Ensure that the level and quality of transit service is provided in a nondiscriminatory manner.
Promote full and fair participation in transit decision-making without regard to race, color, or national origin.
Ensure meaningful access to transit-related programs and activities by persons with limited English proficiency.
Albany County – Tuesday, August 27, 2013 (5:00pm-7:00pm)
Albany Public Library – Main Branch
161 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12210
Click here for more information on hearing dates
Friday, August 09, 2013
The Barber of Birmingham; Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement: short documentary shown at APL,
On Wednesday, August 14, 6 pm, come to the Washington Ave. Albany Public Library to watch a short documentary, The Barber of Birmingham; Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement, about Mr. James Armstrong, one of the unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement. Armstrong ran a voter education program out of his barbershop for 50 years, was a flag bearer in the 1965 March from Selma to Montgomery and repeated that role annually until his death in 2009.
This FREE screening and forum on a brief history of laws on voting, boundaries and barriers that restrict registration and access to the polls, the Voting Rights Act, Voter ID laws, eligibility, deadlines, where to vote, who is on the ballot, absentee voting and more is for all ages and experience levels. Bring your questions and join in the conversation.
Sponsored by the Community Coalition for Safe Engagement, Graduate Student Employees Union/CWA 1104 and Filling in the Gaps in American History (FIGAH).For more information, contact ange.clarke11@gmail.com.
“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.” --Frederick Douglass
This FREE screening and forum on a brief history of laws on voting, boundaries and barriers that restrict registration and access to the polls, the Voting Rights Act, Voter ID laws, eligibility, deadlines, where to vote, who is on the ballot, absentee voting and more is for all ages and experience levels. Bring your questions and join in the conversation.
Sponsored by the Community Coalition for Safe Engagement, Graduate Student Employees Union/CWA 1104 and Filling in the Gaps in American History (FIGAH).For more information, contact ange.clarke11@gmail.com.
“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.” --Frederick Douglass
Infographic: Why Buy Used Books?
That's HERE
Used books are "often cheaper than an ebook, and when you know in advance that you will want to sell the book again (textbooks for example) the paper copy is often a much better deal."
Used books are "often cheaper than an ebook, and when you know in advance that you will want to sell the book again (textbooks for example) the paper copy is often a much better deal."
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