Inside ZSR
6 takeaways from the Charleston Conference — and not just for technical services. This conference, even online only, expanded my awareness on the current depths of some library profession challenges, particularly with AI. (Who can talk about anything without mentioning AI?) I didn’t write up the licensing stuff, but there definitely was some. A lawyer... more ›
Another joint meeting of the Music Library Association and the Theatre Library Association this year, with a program rich in interdisciplinary and DEI topics. In a session titled “Beyond the Land Acknowledgement,” we learned about the contributions Native Americans have made to the literatures libraries collect. Graduates of the notorious boarding schools pursued professional careers... more ›
I think a number of us have discovered one silver lining to a pandemic: the opportunity to take in additional professional-development events as they converted to a virtual format this year. For my part, I virtually attended conferences of my regional music library association, SEMLA, and a couple of other organizations that I’ve indirectly benefited... more ›
Between numerous required committee meetings on metadata and advocacy, I learned about Summon & Primo integration and discussed ebook record problems in several venues (exhibits, a session, a dinner, and a committee meeting). Discovery Tools from Ex Libris: Summon and Primo are gradually being integrated, which I likened to EBL and Ebrary integration. I sent... more ›
Contents: 1. short tidbits (e.g. Alma from Ex Libris, “screen reading” effects, take care in using downloads as a measure, shared print storage) and 2. the rising cost of e-book short-term loans with a DDA program 1. the short bits Alma – was the commercial ILS that I heard mentioned repeatedly, often in the context... more ›
Illinois State University spoke about their experience with Kanopy. Two key observations about impact: After starting DDA, they saw an increased number of requests to license non-DDA Kanopy titles – suggesting that some percentage of faculty users treat Kanopy as a standalone database. ISU had previously bought streaming rights to some individual titles, which they... more ›
Eleven-day-old daughter and sleep-deprived wife in tow, I attended the 2014 Charleston Conference flying arguably in the face of reason. I had the advantage of a free place to stay: my parents-in-law live out on James Island, a 15-minute drive to the Francis Marion Hotel where the conference is held. Given this fact and the... more ›
Three segments to my post: 1) Linked Data and Semantic Web, 2) Introverts at Work, and 3) Vendors and Books and Video — read just the part that interests you! 1. Linked Data and Semantic Web (or, Advances in Search and Discovery) Steve Kelley sparked my interest in the Semantic Web and Linked Data with... more ›
I spent a lot of time talking to vendors about e-books and library systems; saw a cool DVD dispenser by PIKinc.; went to a discussion group on offsite storage; and heard The Myth and the Reality of the Evolving Patron: The RUSA President’s Program with Lee Rainie (Director of the Pew Research Center’s Internet &... more ›
I have attended many, many sessions at ACRL so far but want to talk a bit about a couple that I thought were particularly of interest at ZSR. The first I attended Thursday and it was calledThe Almost Experts: Capstone Students and the Research Process. It was a study done at the University of Wisconsin... more ›