Re: [CODE4LIB] Randy Fischer....................................VACATION MISFORTUNE

[K.G. Schneider]

But look at the library advocacy opportunity: he's writing from a library cafe!

Karen G. Schneider

Sent from my iPad

On Jun 17, 2011, at 6:49 AM, Janet Stewart  wrote:

> Thomas,
> Could you please let me know when your Nigerian oil money comes through.
> From one Ohioan to another.
> 
> Janet Stewart
> 
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of
> Thomas Dowling
> Sent: Friday, June 17, 2011 9:39 AM
> To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Randy
> FischerVACATION MISFORTUNE
> 
> Won't we feel like heels if it turns out, this one time, a guy really
> got
> mugged and stranded in London.  I'd offer to help, but until my Nigerian
> oil money comes through, I'm strapped.
> 
> On 06/17/2011 09:28 AM, Carol Bean wrote:
>> Sooo, Another account hacked...
>> 
>> On Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 8:32 AM, Randy Fischer
> wrote:
>> 
>>> Hello,
>>> 
>>> This message may be coming to you as a surprise but I need your
>>> help.Few days back we made an unannounced vacation trip to London,UK
>>> .Everything was going fine until last night when we were mugged on
> our
>>> way back to the hotel.They Stole all our cash,credit cards and
>>> cellphone but thank God we still have our lives and passport.Another
>>> shocking is that the hotel manager has been unhelpful to us for
>>> reasons i don't know. I'm writing you from a local library
>>> cybercafe..I've reported to the police and after writing down some
>>> statements that's the last i had from them.i contacted the consulate
>>> and all i keep hearing is they will get back to me. i need your help
>>> ..i need you to help me out with a loan to settle my bills here so we
>>> can get back home, our return flight leaves soon. I'll refund the
>>> money as soon as i get back. All i need is $1,650 ..Let me know if
> you
>>> can get me the money then I tell you how to get it to me.
>>> 
>>> I'm freaked out at the moment
>>> 
>>> Randy
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 

Re: [CODE4LIB] AquaBrowser Libraries Group

[K.G. Schneider]

Actually, I didn't think the observations about the Aquabrowser mailing
list were snarky, and I think the comments were interesting and
list-appropriate. It's great that Aquabrowser will have a community
list--that will only help its users/implementors/customers. But once a
mailing list is closed to licensed users, you have then defined one of
the limitations of proprietary software and a strategic advantage of
open source. (Though a limitation that a proprietary-software vendor can
easily finesse, as described below.)

Some of the reasons for limiting the list do not hold water. In an NDA
environment, few people will get granular and frank on an "internal"
list, for the same reason that if they have privacy concerns they won't
post to a closed list: there's no such thing as private email. If you're
in the witness protection program, do not, I repeat do NOT post to the
Aquabrowser internal list. I don't even believe that this list could
offer enough discretion to warrant posts that the posters want to keep
moderately private. If I were contemplating a move from Vendor X, or had
serious issues I didn't want Vendor X to know about, I would do what
lawyers recommend, and which I have put into practice, which is not
write what I can share by phone, not share by phone what I can share
face-to-face, and not say what I can convey with a gesture. (With some
vendors that gesture might be NSFW, but I digress...) Is there anyone
among us who has never seen an email message go where it was not
intended to wander? 

As for winnowing the cruft, yes, that is the value of lists, but Edward,
despite other sound observations, has it a wee backwards. Lists for Koha
and Evergreen, and for that matter all open source projects I know of,
big and small, are open to anyone and are self-policing with respect to
topic discipline. It is the subscriber, not a list manager, who decides
if he or she wishes to participate (passively or actively) in list
communications. The lists may have very active participation from
vendors, but the Koha and Evergreen lists are not vendor-driven (and the
communities wouldn't let them get away with that anyway). 

The *advantages* to having an open list are worth considering for their
strategic value not only to a software community but also to the
vendors. First, you remove any confusion about the list's "privacy."
Things that should not be shared by email, will not be shared by email.
Second, you open the list to potential users/customers. I think some
vendors fear their underwear showing, but if you've got a good product
people understand it will have issues, and happy users, even when they
are discussing a product's issues, are the software's best salespeople.
The community itself can also be as broad as it needs to be. 

These days, a growing number of companies have very intentional
strategies for transparency and openness. The Aquabrowser mailing list
is a very welcome addition to the world of library communications, and
it will help make a good product better. I am not losing any sleep over
the decision to keep this list closed... I don't use the product, and in
the end, I don't care that much. That said, it's my professional
assessment that closing this list to licensed subscribers is a strategic
error. 

Karen G. Schneider

On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:03 +, "Chris Keene" 
wrote:
> Hi
> 
> I just want to backup Edward's comments.
> 
> I'm happy to discuss just about anything openly, though it is useful to 
> have product specific lists, and yes at times useful to know that 
> certain vendors or third party salesmen are not going to contact you as 
> a result of posting.
> 
> Aquabrowser has many good points, but has lacked any sort of community, 
> add to this the very limited documentation - which could lead to 
> confusion as to what is a feature and what is a bespoke addition that 
> another site has commissioned/developed. I even tried asking on the 
> Aquabrowser Facebook fan page discussion board - its only post!
> This mailing list is a very welcome addition.
> 
> Chris
> 
> On 22/10/2009 15:45, Edward M. Corrado wrote:
> > I don't see this as an interesting difference at all. Almost all
> > [larger] vendor-supplied products in the library world have their own
> > discussion lists that are limited to people that use/license their
> > products. We even see this with Open Source products such as Koha.
> > Although I do not use AquaBrowser, unlike almost all other library
> > specific-software of this magnitude I understand that AquaBrowser does
> > not have a user group (formal or informal). There currently is very few
> > ways (no way?) for users of this product to converse with each other and
> > share ideas.
> >
> > There are numerous reasons for wanting to share information on a closed
> > list that can range from not wanting to spam a larger community with a
> > "how do activate a widget in product A" to asking questions/sharing
> > information that for whatever reason you don't want 

Re: [CODE4LIB] Last day to nominate a keynote for C4L2010!

[K.G. Schneider]

> >> ...Today is the last day to nominate/defend/decry nominees for
> >> Code4Lib2010 in Asheville...
> 
> Is it pointless to nominate Tim O'Reilly?
> 
> Tim

No; all he can say is no, and he might be flattered to be asked.

Karen G. Schneider

Re: [CODE4LIB] Durability of PDFs

[K.G. Schneider]

> In one of my alternative incarnations, I am a zoological taxonomist.
> One of the big issues for taxonomy right now is whether to accept as
> nomenclaturally valid papers that are published only in electronic
> form, i.e. not printed on paper by a publisher.
> 
> In a discussion of this matter, a colleague has claimed

> 
> > [PDF files will not become unreadable] in the next 30-40 years.
> > Possibly not in the 20 years that will follow. After that, when only
> > 30-year and older documents are in the PDF format, the danger will
> > increase that this information will not be readable any more. It is
> > generally considered as quite unlikely that PDF will be readable in
> > 100 years.

Setting aside the paper/electronic argument, in terms of canonical files for
documents intended for long-term preservation, PDF seems a very weak choice.
Whether or not the actual files will "last" 100 years (I assume that we mean
that they won't degrade to the point of nonreadability), using a proprietary
binary format that doesn't readily convert to other formats seems a poor
choice. 

Why not have the documents be sourced in one of the XML-based formats such
as DocBook or DITA (well-documented, open, text-based, single-source
publication formats)? Then you can have your PDF and preserve it too.
(Donning tinfoil hat) You could even produce a handful of paper-based
documents and hide them in caves around the world. 

Karen G. Schneider

[CODE4LIB] Evergreen conference Early Bird deadline

[K.G. Schneider]

If you are planning to attend the Evergreen International Conference
(May 20-22, Athens, Georgia), please note that Early Bird registration
ends tomorrow, Friday, April 3. Also note the NEW conference web
address:

http://www.lyrasis.org/evergreen

We have 18 great programs lined up and two great keynote speakers (Joe
Lucia and Jessamyn West), plus many opportunities for user-directed
activities: lightning talks, table talks, dine-arounds, and hackfest (or
anythingfest) time. Athens is a lovely venue (home of 2007 Code4Lib)
with nice restaurants and pubs.

See the program lineup and more at the conference wiki:

http://evergreen-ils.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=eg09:main

Evergreen International Conference 2009 is jointly sponsored by Georgia
Public Library Service, LYRASIS, and Equinox Software, Inc. Hope to see
you there! 

Karen G. Schneider
Community Librarian
Equinox Software, Inc. "The Evergreen Experts"
http://esilibrary.com
k...@esilibrary.com 

Re: [CODE4LIB] Code4lib mugs?

[K.G. Schneider]

+1 for the idea of funding the audio/video (and I always need more
travel mugs, but I'd rather have the a/v :> )

Karen

On Mon, 3 Nov 2008 16:24:10 -0500, "Jonathan Rochkind"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> Aha, funding the audio and video is a great idea. Meets Code4Lib needs, 
> and also meets sponsor advertising needs, because all the videos and 
> audio could go up with a "capture of this content was sponsored by 
> Insert Vendor Here" link. I think Bill's idea is great.  Someone would 
> still need to be found to volunteer to recruit and supervise this 
> hypothetical student.
> 
> Jonathan
> 
> William Denton wrote:
> > On 3 November 2008, Jonathan Rochkind wrote:
> >
> >> Yeah, I'd rather the money were spent for a scholarship than for a 
> >> travel mug. I don't need any more travel mugs. Thanks for making this 
> >> point, Erik.
> >
> > It'd be nice if there was a box of them for people that need one, but 
> > I already have all the travel mugs I want.
> >
> > Funding someone's attendance--or paying a student to get the audio and 
> > video online quickly--would be great.
> >
> > Bill
> 
> -- 
> Jonathan Rochkind
> Digital Services Software Engineer
> The Sheridan Libraries
> Johns Hopkins University
> 410.516.8886 
> rochkind (at) jhu.edu

Re: [CODE4LIB] Code4lib mugs?

[K.G. Schneider]

A "green" travel mug, announced in advance, would be nice and would make
a great "green" statement. 

By travel mug, I assume we mean with a lid and nonbreakable. (The
nonbreakable part is as much for Talis as for C4L... way back in another
job I once inherited boxes and boxes of ceramic mugs, which were fragile
as well as expensive to ship. Boo.)

 Some SWAG companies are even selling SWAG made from recycled materials.
 I'm a big believer in greening the SWAG... and though I love the
 teeshirts, mine is only suitable for me as a nighty. 

Karen G. Schneider

Re: [CODE4LIB] creating call number browse

[K.G. Schneider]

On Wed, 1 Oct 2008 23:39:46 -0500, "Nate Vack" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> On Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 7:34 PM, Naomi Dushay <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> wrote:
> 
> > 1.  The user is not broken. Our faculty are very vocal in desiring a
> > "virtual shelf list" that will allow them to, given a specific item, look
> > for "closely located" items.  Call numbers have facilitated co-location of
> > (some) related physical materials, which facilitates a browsing experience
> > that users enjoy.  Maybe it's nostalgia, maybe it's something else ... but
> > they enjoy it and find it useful. They are used to call numbers, and by god,
> > they want call numbers.   Who are we to naysay?
> 
> I don't mean to naysay -- I just suspect that what what people think
> of when shelf browsing -- namely, the big set of books arranged in LC
> order -- may not be the part of the experience that makes shelf
> browsing so special.

One of the more interesting anecdotes from the Evergreen front lines I
heard of late has to do with shelf browsing. A librarian remarked that
though she personally never used it, she observed a patron
enthusiastically show another patron how to shelf-browse in the PINES
catalog. I don't use Evergreen's shelf-browse much myself, because I
typically hit a catalog with a list of known items and stick with that.
But I do have a weakness for craft and project books, with their
colorful jackets and tempting titles (not that I ever *do* any of these
crafts or projects), and I like to shelf-browse in the PINES catalog for
these. I definitely see how patrons would like this. 

So I'm with Genny. For a number of reasons, including analyses done in
previous jobs, I agree that people want browse. But of course, they want
GOOD browse -- easy, functional, attractive, and available. 

-- 
-- 
| Karen G. Schneider
| Community Librarian
| Equinox Software Inc. "The Evergreen Experts"
| Toll-free: 1.877.Open.ILS (1.877.673.6457) x712
| E-Mail/AIM: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
| Web: http://www.esilibrary.com

Re: [CODE4LIB] New Library Technology Blog from the University of Michigan Library

[K.G. Schneider]

I move to add this to the consent agenda. If there are no objections,
the blog is automatically added to planet code4lib.

Karen G. Schneider

On Fri, 30 May 2008 10:56:20 -0400, "Peter Murray" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
said:
> -BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
> Hash: SHA1
>
> All in favor of adding this to the Code4Lib Planet, say "aye"...
>
>
> Peter
>
> On May 30, 2008, at 9:49 AM, Ken Varnum wrote:
> > Visit [BLT] at http://mblog.lib.umich.edu/blt/
>
> - --
> Peter Murrayhttp://www.pandc.org/peter/work/
> Assistant Director, New Service Development  tel:+1-614-728-3600;ext=338
> OhioLINK: the Ohio Library and Information NetworkColumbus, Ohio
> The Disruptive Library Technology Jesterhttp://dltj.org/
> Attrib-Noncomm-Share   http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/
>
>
> -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-
> Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (Darwin)
>
> iD8DBQFIQBWY4+t4qSfPIHIRAhrwAKCh9x7tpLJj31E4XCO9YEyhWTxNAACglOOH
> LZZsGxrQWUGqyaJTTaekmDc=
> =Q8Tk
> -END PGP SIGNATURE-

[CODE4LIB] Shibboleth and Aleph?

[K.G. Schneider]

Sittin' in a tree? Anyone have comments on that implementation activity?

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] planet.code4lib.org -- 3 suggestions

[K.G. Schneider]

> >> My advice at this point would be to identify the editor(s) of
> >> planet.code4lib.org in the page itself (like it is displayed at
> >> http://planetcataloguing.org/) and to empower the editor(s) to adjust
> >> things as needed. The editors can then go about the business of
> >> managing the planet in the way that best suits them.
> >>

+1 , as a blog author who would prefer not to have to flag her content
for a feed she didn't design ("Hi, we created this feed. Now, we don't
like everything you write!" Well, then don't aggregate it...).

Karen S.

Re: [CODE4LIB] planet.code4lib.org -- 3 suggestions

[K.G. Schneider]

Alternatively, we could go Boolean and design a tag that would allow
blog authors to *exclude* posts.

Karen G. Schneider

On Thu, 22 May 2008 08:12:02 -0700, "Jeremy Frumkin"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> Just one comment -
>
> In regards to the Œcode4lib¹ tag, I like the idea in general, but there
> are
> some blogs on the planet where that tag will never be applied (because
> the
> author is unaware of code4lib per se, for instance). If we look at this
> approach, there should be a way of marking a particular blog
> Œcold-filtered
> for code4lib¹, or Œstraight from the tap¹
>
> -- jaf
>
>
> On 5/22/08 8:02 AM, "Jodi Schneider" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > /me raises hand for full posts.
> >
> > Nice ideas MJ!
> >
> >> >By the way, I'd be disappointed to see truncated posts, but there are
> >> >other options:-
> >> >
> >> >1. constrain posts to a maximum size with CSS like on planet sysadmin
> >> >http://www.sysadminblogs.com/planet/
> >> >
> >> >2. add a Javascript "Hide Author" to the template like on planet debian
> >> >http://planet.debian.net/
> >> >
> >> >3. add "Skip to next" links to the top of each post (not seen this
> >> >done on planetplanet sites yet)
> >> >
> >> >Any of those float the truncation-advocates' boat?
> >> >
> >> >Regards,
> >> >--
> >> >MJ Ray (slef)
> >> >Webmaster for hire, statistician and online shop builder for a small
> >> >worker cooperative http://www.ttllp.co.uk/ http://mjr.towers.org.uk/
> >> >(Notice http://mjr.towers.org.uk/email.html) tel:+44-844-4437-237
> >> >
> >
> > Jodi Schneider
> > Science Library Specialist
> > Amherst College
> > 413-542-2076
> >
>
>
>
> ===
> Jeremy Frumkin
> Head, Emerging Technologies and Services
> 121 The Valley Library, Oregon State University
> Corvallis OR 97331-4501
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> 541.602.4905
> 541.737.3453 (Fax)
> ===
> " Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing.
> "
> - Emerson

Re: [CODE4LIB] planet.code4lib.org -- 3 suggestions

[K.G. Schneider]

> > This would definitely take care of wide-ranging blogs that include
> > code4lib-ish content.
>
> I guess I'm alone here, but I actually like seeing posts that aren't
> just about dull library coding crap :-)
>
> //Ed

:-)

I feel self-conscious about seeing posts reflected in the "planet" that
are not related to library technology, only because I'm not willing to
break up my blog into sub-blogs and don't know if oysters and pace
layering really go together for the "planet." (These posts relate for
me, obviously; my blog is a logical continuum of thought in my head, and
if you don't see the relationship between oysters and pace layering,
well, you're just not paying *attention.*) I even worry about making
that comment in case someone says "code4lib is about code, period!"

K.G. Schneider

Re: [CODE4LIB] planet.code4lib.org -- 3 suggestions

[K.G. Schneider]

At the risk of being forward, might I suggest we tag what we consider
relevant posts with the term "code4lib" (no quotes)?

(Wordpress does indeed support tagging, and I've even generated tag
clouds. I have some questions about the theme I'm using and whether it
interferes with tagging, but I am certainly willing to experiment and if
need be even change themes -- mine has poor SEO optimization, methinks.)

K.G. Schneider

On Thu, 22 May 2008 08:29:08 -0400, "Edward M. Corrado"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> K.G. Schneider wrote:
> >>> I wonder if the planet can be configured to display only blog posts
> >>> that have certain tag(s)?
> >>>
> >
> > As someone who has an omnibus blog, I'd like that and would certainly be
> > willing to tag what I consider to be relevant posts. You might want to
> > define the tag well enough that we know when to apply it.
> >
> > K.G. Schneider
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> It should be easy enough to do this with most blogging software. For
> example, before I migrated my blog, the feed on Planet Code4Lib used the
> RSS feed for a specific category (I think it was either "library" or
> "technology" but I forget). I'm not sure how all blog software works,
> but I assume most of them can set up an RSS feed based on category or
> tag. In those situations, the Planet Code4Lib can be configured to just
> use those feeds.
>
> Edward

Re: [CODE4LIB] planet.code4lib.org -- 3 suggestions

[K.G. Schneider]

> > I wonder if the planet can be configured to display only blog posts
> > that have certain tag(s)?

As someone who has an omnibus blog, I'd like that and would certainly be
willing to tag what I consider to be relevant posts. You might want to
define the tag well enough that we know when to apply it.

K.G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Video update

[K.G. Schneider]

Outstanding job -- I'm watching Karen Coyle right now. Worth the wait!
Thanks for doing this -- this video collection is a national treasure!

Karen G. Schneider

On Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:50:28 -0700, "Noel Peden" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> Hi all,
>
> Video is a little over half done. Thanks to Ryan Eby for his support,
> doing all the trouble prone uploading to Google. Day one is on
> code4lib.org, linked in the schedule, and day 2 is part way. The first
> keynotes and a few more are on archive.org, which will catch up later.
> Sorry it is taking a while; there were several setbacks, and we're
> trying to put the real slides within the video when they are available,
> which takes time.
>
> See the videos under the schedule here:
> http://code4lib.org/conference/2008/schedule
>
> This Google video search should turn up all videos, with a little errata:
> http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=code4lib+2008&sitesearch=&start=0
>
> Here are the files on archive.org:
> http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=code4lib%20AND%20collection%3Aopensource_movies
>
> And here is an rss feed for the truly impatient that will show you the
> Quicktime movies as they are posted by me:
> http://pierce.eou.edu/code4lib08/feed.php?dir=video
>
> Noel

Re: [CODE4LIB] K&R (was: Gartner on OSS)

[K.G. Schneider]

> I now open up the vi vs. emacs discussion:
>
> http://xkcd.com/378/
>
> (personally, I'm a BBEdit user, but fall back to vi as needed ... and ex
> for those rare times when you have to tip into a Solaris box to fix the
> vfstab and your TERM is completely hosed)
>
> -Joe

Back when that was my choice, I used emacs exactly once, during which I
removed every instance of the letter "m" from a lengthy document. (When
I have to edit a file in my shell account, which is rare, I use pico...
yes, I know that makes me a sissy *and I don't care.*)

K.G. Schneider

Re: [CODE4LIB] Gartner on OSS

[K.G. Schneider]

> ...at the risk of upsetting *everybody*...
>
> Last I checked, this list is about code for libraries, not free/open
> source software for libraries.  If you want to discuss OSS for
> libraries, you might want to move threads like this onto one of the
> lists about OSS for libraries, or start your own new list about OSS
> for libraries if there aren't already enough for you.  :)

This list is about code for libraries. So edify me. Exactly when is a thread
appropriate for this list?  Is there anything more code-focused than a
discussion about open source? Or is this only about closed source? I think
not.

I agree with Alexander. That complaint felt like semantic nitpicking,
especially considering the discussions of the past several months: Amazon
covers for catalogs, records for Open Library, etc. But like Alexander, I'll
just back off. Enjoy your list.

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Gartner on OSS

[K.G. Schneider]

> > Gartner may sound creaky but under the starchy
> >  language, this is pretty revolutionary advice.
>
> I can't agree with the "revolutionary advice" part; business leaders,
> firms, advisers and abusers have been saying this already for years.
> That Gartner now is on the field saying it too shows nothing except
> how conservative they are; this is an old message, and certainly not
> aimed at people who's doing the actual work in their organisations.

No, the key is that they ARE very conservative and still influential.

> The only people that Gartner now is playing to are the business
> people, who will be surprised to learn that their organisations
> already use (and many fully embrace) OSS, and have done so for years.

Well, you and I know that two great arguments for OSS, from a
school-of-Gartner point of view, are a) commercial vendors already use it in
their products and b) people can make money from it. (In fact, I'm surprised
they didn't make those points.)

> OSS is already successful, and it's already working great even if the
> MBAs don't know it. And because Gasrtner now is playing to those
> people, that's why the porridge litmus test works so great; in
> reality, nothing will change, which for many is the perfect advice.

For those of us in the field pushing for new approaches, the Gartner report
does represent positive change. It's not that OSS isn't successful. It's
that some of us would really like it to be much more successful...

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Gartner on OSS

[K.G. Schneider]

> But that fact leads me to the thought that perhaps Gartner isn't as
> revolutionary as one might think.

Revolutionary *for Gartner* -- and therefore important in that sense, for
the people whose opinions are shaped by the Gartner Weltanschauung. These
people aren't reading NGC4LIB. (Um, neither am I, but that's another issue.)

I do think Joe Lucia's post could use broader attention. "What if, in the
U.S., 50 ARL libraries, 20 large public libraries, 20 medium-sized academic
libraries, and 20 Oberlin group libraries anted up one full-time technology
position for collaborative open source development. That's 110 developers
working on library applications with robust, quickly-implemented current Web
technology -- not legacy stuff."

That's excellent what-iffing. For those libraries to "ante up" requires a
commitment from the higher-ups. This is possible, and many library types,
*to their credit,* have a fundamentally anti-Gartner disposition that lends
themselves to understanding the value of such a skunk works and even
contributing to such activities. But for them what don't, and who are of
commercial-means-professional worldview, the Gartner report is more water
dripping on stone.

(It's not the only Gartner report favorable toward open source. I've read
most of their reports on Web 2.0, Wikipedia, open source, etc., and while
the reports are often unintentionally funny due to misreadings of the
cultural zeitgeist - remember the scene from "Brother from Another Planet"
where the two alien spies order beer on the rocks? - it's intriguing to
watch Enterprise Daddy-O loosen up a bit on these topics.)

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Gartner on OSS

[K.G. Schneider]

Sorry, Alexander, I disagree. Gartner may sound creaky but under the starchy
language, this is pretty revolutionary advice.

Look for a sustainable community - yes, for any product, that's key.

Cultural match - that one is an interesting observation. Introducing open
source development in organizations that have revolved around vendor-based
relationships requires change management. I happen to think that the biggest
culture shift needs to occur at the top, where it can be difficult to shift
from the smoke-filled-room model, based on scarcity and secrecy and lots of
money, to a more communitarian model, but it's also true that staff who have
always worked with traditional vendors may have to adapt engrained
practices.

The SOA-I'll yield on that one. I think there's a Gartner template that
requires the use of SOA every 500 words.

The question of OSS not built on open standards has *cough* come up just in
the past year. Of course, it could be pointed out that avoiding open
standards, period, is a bad thing, and that commercial software is rife with
such examples, far more than OSS... but still, it's not bad advice. (Cough
into your arm to avoid sharing the flu; you'll also avoid sharing other
airborne diseases, but the first statement still valid.)

The last one means figure out whether you'll hire support or build it from
within or (and perhaps this is the ideal advice) develop a blend of each.

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

> -Original Message-
> From: Alexander Johannesen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 1:37 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Cc: CODE4LIB@listserv.nd.edu
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Gartner on OSS
>
> Let's try the litmus test for enterprisey business bullshit : porridge ;
>
> "Recommendations for Users
>  * Look for a sustainable community that has a critical mass of skills
>supporting porridge.
>  * Look for a cultural match between the porridge community and
>your internal developers and user culture as it enhances communication
>and perceived user satisfaction.
>  * Prepare an SOA that can integrate IT services from many sources,
>including porridge.
>  * Avoid porridge that is not built on open standards.
>  * Make a conscious risk-based decision about whether you will depend on
>internal resources or external services for your porridge
> implementations."
>
> In short, another template piece where [insert your favourite thing
> here] is wrapped around generic advice. Do they say anything that's
> specific to what open-source is all about?
>
>
> Alex (without reading the darn article...)
> --
> --
> -
>  Project Wrangler, SOA, Information Alchemist, UX, RESTafarian, Topic Maps
> -- http://shelter.nu/blog/ ---
> -

[CODE4LIB] Gartner on OSS

[K.G. Schneider]

If you think of Gartner (as I do) as a kind of IT-for-squares company...
useful information on some issues, hilariously tone-deaf on others (though
in a way that can be extremely useful if you're trying to decipher how the
"enterprise corporate brain" currently thinks)... their recent article,
"Open Source in Higher Education, 2008," is intriguing in its positive
analysis of open source. The recommendations are interesting (and, I think,
mostly spot-on):

"Recommendations for Users
. Look for a sustainable community that has a critical mass of skills
supporting OSS.
. Look for a cultural match between the OSS community and your internal
developers and user culture as it enhances communication and perceived user
satisfaction.
. Prepare an SOA that can integrate IT services from many sources, including
OSS.
. Avoid OSS that is not built on open standards.
. Make a conscious risk-based decision about whether you will depend on
internal resources or external services for your OSS implementations."

K.G. Schneider
Free Range Librarian
AIM/Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://freerangelibrarian.com

Re: [CODE4LIB] Announcement: Open Source In Libraries Website

[K.G. Schneider]

Keep in mind that anti-OSS FUD has reached new levels, now that vendors
see that it is gaining traction. So OSS has to be presented
strategically and in context of the dumb statements I hear, which
include all the stereotypes and b.s. I discussed in my 2007 c4l keynote
but now go beyond it.

K.G. Schneider

[CODE4LIB] Shibboleth

[K.G. Schneider]

If you have been involved in investigating or implementing Shibboleth --
or alternative approaches -- I'd like to hear from you.

Wearing my official chapeau I am,

Karen G. Schneider
Research & Development
College Center for Library Automation
http://www.cclaflorida.org
Voice: 850-922-6044
AIM/Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

[CODE4LIB] Digitool as local DAM

[K.G. Schneider]

The answer might seem to be, "sure of course we do," but let me frame it
more specifically. Our organization's communications department needs a
DAM for its virtual shoeboxes of photos -- only for internal access, a
place where they could store, search, sort, tag, etc their digital
assets. We have licensed Digitool. Besides its obvious uses for digital
library services, is it in use anywhere simply as a local Digital Access
Management system?

K.G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] My code4lib slides

[K.G. Schneider]

But was it videotaped?!

Karen G. Schneider

> -Original Message-
> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
> Karen Coyle
> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 5:50 PM
> To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU
> Subject: [CODE4LIB] My code4lib slides
>
> I ended up combining text and images and recreated my code4lib talk in a
> PDF that is too wordy and not terribly attractive -- however, (;-) the
> content is there, and now I should be able to turn it into a real
> document with little effort.
>
> http://www.kcoyle.net/code4lib2008_w_text.pdf
>
> If I ever learn to do voice-overs, I will do so with this talk. (I took
> a look at the $699 Adobe video package and did the math: $699[hardware]
> v. $699[software] and bought a macMini, which is now my livingroom
> machine. First Mac in 15 years. The best thing about it is when bash
> opens up or I get to solve problems by typing in "smb://"  ;-) Most of
> the time I'm in "where the f**k is that" mode).
>
> kc
>
> p.s. I'm speaking tomorrow at ER&L in Atlanta. Any code4liber's going?
> I'll be around during the day before heading back to the coast.
> --
> -
> Karen Coyle / Digital Library Consultant
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] / http://www.kcoyle.net
> ph: 510-540-7596
> fx: 510-848-3913
> mo: 510-435-8234
> --

Re: [CODE4LIB] presentation files

[K.G. Schneider]

File me under the "I don't care as long as it happens" camp --

Karen G. Schneider

On Tue, 4 Mar 2008 09:44:26 -0500, "Dan Scott" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
said:
> In IRC a few of us kicked around the idea of uploading the video to the
> Internet Archive and letting them handle backup / streaming bandwidth /
> file format conversion (they accept high quality input and make a variety
> of formats, including the original, available) / etc - the likely
> destination would be a collection under
> http://www.archive.org/details/computersandtechvideos - and FAQs about
> videos are answered at http://www.archive.org/about/faqs.php#Movies
>
> So in that scenario, we would just link from the talk page to the
> location of each video on archive.org
>
> There seemed to be general support on IRC for using the Internet Archive
> as the destination of choice for the code4lib videos, but perhaps this is
> a good time to call for broader discussion.
>
> Dan
>
> >>> On Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at  4:31 PM, Roy Tennant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > I'd like to see the slides as well as the videos put on the talk page on the
> > c4l site. For example,  would be
> > where I would expect to find Rob's slides and the video of him speaking.
> > Roy
> >
> >
> > On 2/29/08 12:13 PM, "Jon Phipps" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> >> What would be the best method for making presentation files available
> >> to the community?
> >>   I'm afraid that I missed whatever instructions may have been
> >> mentioned.
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >>
> >> Jon
> >
> > --

Re: [CODE4LIB] C4L 2008 Presentations

[K.G. Schneider]

I am so with Roy! Plus I really need to see the "white underwear"
presentation and Karen C's keynote. I'm collecting info about RDA for
work and am slavering for good stuff.

Karen

On Mon, 3 Mar 2008 20:55:13 -0800, "Roy Tennant" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
said:
> I know a few of you have your Code4Lib 2008 slides up on the web site (on
> the page that describes your talk), but I want to encourage anyone who
> hasn't yet to feel free to send them to me. I'll make sure they get
> uploaded
> and linked to your page. This is not altruism, folks, it's naked,
> self-serving, full-blown selfishness. I couldn't go this year, so I'm
> climbing the walls until I can see the presentations and video. If I can
> grease the wheels on this train, then I'm there. Thanks,
> Roy

Re: [CODE4LIB] oca api?

[K.G. Schneider]

But why are there hurdles?

Karen G. Schneider

On Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:29:57 -0600, "Chris Freeland"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> Roy, do you have an answer in mind?
>
> To me & my project it's the content that is open, which is why it's worth
> the hurdles.  Once you 'crack the nut' you can grab metadata, scans, and
> derivatives and ingest, parse, recombine, remix...as we've done for BHL.
>
> Access to OCA content may not be standards-based, but it works.
>
> Chris
>
> -Original Message-
> From: "Roy Tennant" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: "CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU" 
> Sent: 2/27/2008 5:28 AM
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] oca api?
>
> So what, exactly, is "open" about this? Anyone care to guess?
> Roy
>
>
> On 2/26/08 10:29 AM, "Chris Freeland" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > My guess is that, yes, the query interface we've been discussing here
> > and the 'all sorts of interfaces that none of us knew about' are the
> > same.  It's not documented that I'm aware of.  We've found out about it
> > by literally sitting next to IA developers and asking questions.
> >
> > Chris
> > -Original Message-
> > From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
> > Jonathan Rochkind
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 12:18 PM
> > To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU
> > Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] oca api?
> >
> > So in answer to my question here at the Code4Lib conference, after
> > Brewster's keynote, Brewster suggests there are all sorts of interfaces
> > that none of us knew about. Or at least I didn't know about, and haven't
> > been able to figure out in months of trying!  I'm going to try and
> > corner him and ask for an email of who we should contact.
> >
> > Perhaps it's the XML interface that you guys know about already. Is that
> > documented anywhere? How the heck did you find out about it?
> >
> > Jonathan
> >
> >
>  Steve Toub <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 02/25/08 9:41 PM >>>
> > I'll add that when IA told me about
> > http://www.archive.org/services/search.php interface to return
> > XML, they asked that we not send more than 100 records at time since
> > doing more would adversely
> > affect production services. Which made it seem like OAI-PMH was a better
> > way to go.
> >
> > Chris, can you explain a bit more about what this means: "We found their
> > OAI interface to pull
> > scanned items inconsistently based on date of scanning"? I'm having
> > trouble parsing.
> >
> >
> >--SET
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --- Chris Freeland <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> >> Jonathan - No, I don't believe it's documented - at least not anywhere
> >> publicly.  If any IA/OCA folks are lurking, here's an opportunity to
> >> make a bunch of techies happy...
> >>
> >> Chris
> >>
> >> -Original Message-
> >> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf
> > Of
> >> Jonathan Rochkind
> >> Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 2:48 PM
> >> To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU
> >> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] oca api?
> >>
> >> I hadn't known this "custom query interface" existed! This is welcome
> >> news. Is this documented anywhere?
> >>
> >> Jonathan
> >>
> >>
> > Chris Freeland <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 02/25/08 2:51 PM >>>
> >> Steve & Tim,
> >>
> >> I'm the tech director for the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL),
> > which
> >> is a consortium of 10 natural history libraries who have partnered
> > with
> >> Internet Archive (IA)/OCA for scanning our collections.  We've just
> >> launched our revamped portal, complete with more than 7,500 books &
> > 2.8
> >> million pages scanned by IA & other digitization partners, at:
> >> http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
> >>
> >> To build this portal we ingest metadata from IA.  We found their OAI
> >> interface to pull scanned items inconsistently based on date of
> >> scanning, so we switched to using their custom query interface.
> > Here's
> >> an example of a query we fire off:
> >>
> >>
> > http://www.archive.org/services/search.php?query=collection:(biodiversit
> >>
> > y)+AND+updatedate:%5b2007-10-31+TO+2007-11-30%5d+AND+-contributor:(MBLWH
> >> OI%20Library)&limit=10&submit=submit
> >>
> >> This is returning scanned items from the "biodiversity" collection,
> >> updated between 10/31/2007 - 11/30/2007, restricted to one of our
> >> contributing libraries (MBLWHOI Library), and limited to 10 results.
> >>
> >> The results are styled in the browser; view source to see the good
> >> stuff.  We use this list to grab the identifiers we've yet to ingest.
> >>
> >> Some background: When a book is scanned through IA/OCA scanning, they
> >> create their own unique identifier (like "annalesacademiae21univ") and
> >> grab a MARC record from the contributing library's catalog.  All of
> > the
> >> scanned files, derivatives, and metadata files are stored on IA's
> >> clusters in a directory named with the identifier.
> >>
> >> Steve mentioned using their /details/ directive, then sniffing the
> > page
> >> to get the cluster location and the files for downloading. 

Re: [CODE4LIB] Records for Open Library

[K.G. Schneider]

I had another thought (ouch... hurts...) which is this: if OCLC had to
open up its data, then it would have to improve its services to survive.

K.G. Schneider

On Thu, 7 Feb 2008 10:28:14 -0600, "Danielle Plumer"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> Kevin Kelly had an interesting post on The Technium last week about these
> sorts of issues
> (http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2008/01/better_than_fre.php), and
> his conclusion is exactly along the lines of Karen's post.
>
> His assumptions are:
>
> When copies are super abundant, they become worthless.
> When copies are super abundant, stuff which can't be copied becomes
> scarce and valuable.
>
> So he concludes:
>
> When copies are free, you need to sell things which can not be copied.
>
> The things which cannot be copied are services -- he lists eight
> "generatives" that have value. These are immediacy, personalization,
> interpretation, authenticity, accessibility, embodiment, patronage, and
> findability. Trust is also mentioned as a intangible asset with
> significant value.
>
> I find that this is a compelling argument, and it seems to be in line
> with things I hear coming out of OCLC Research, at least, and from the
> folks at Open Library, too. It will take time for an organization with as
> much inertia as OCLC has to change its modus operandi, but I think it
> will come. However, unlike others, I tend to be an optimist in the
> morning and a cynic by nightfall, so we'll see...
>
> Danielle Cunniff Plumer, Coordinator
> Texas Heritage Digitization Initiative
> Texas State Library and Archives Commission
> 512.463.5852 (phone) / 512.936.2306 (fax)
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of
> K.G. Schneider
> Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 7:04 AM
> To: CODE4LIB@listserv.nd.edu
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Records for Open Library
>
>
> > Maybe Roy will answer that one -- but I doubt its that difficult to guess.
> > OCLC's primary value is its bibliographic database and the information
> > about its member's holdings.  Nearly all of it's services are built around
> > this.  If they gave that information up to the Open Library, it would most
> > certainly undermine their ILL, Cataloging and Grid Services initiatives.
> > However, if a handful of members in relation to their membership
> > participate in the program -- its no skin off their noses.
> >
> > --TR
> >
>
> You know, I realize that's the going-in thinking, and OCLC has shared
> that
> with me. I fully understand the need for OCLC to protect its services.
> But I
> remember with a previous job that people (even some very important
> people)
> thought our product was our data, but it really wasn't: it was the
> services
> we wrapped around the data, including maintenance, delivery, affiliated
> products, etc. It's true that the data had to be good, but that goodness
> didn't come with a core dump of one-time static data. Keeping our data
> closed ultimately harmed us, perhaps perniciously, and I wish I had done
> a
> better job of championing a different path. I didn't have the skills or
> vocabulary and to this day I regret that.
>
> Karen G. "Been there, done that, got the teeshirt" Schneider
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Records for Open Library

[K.G. Schneider]

> Maybe Roy will answer that one -- but I doubt its that difficult to guess.
> OCLC's primary value is its bibliographic database and the information
> about its member's holdings.  Nearly all of it's services are built around
> this.  If they gave that information up to the Open Library, it would most
> certainly undermine their ILL, Cataloging and Grid Services initiatives.
> However, if a handful of members in relation to their membership
> participate in the program -- its no skin off their noses.
>
> --TR
>

You know, I realize that's the going-in thinking, and OCLC has shared that
with me. I fully understand the need for OCLC to protect its services. But I
remember with a previous job that people (even some very important people)
thought our product was our data, but it really wasn't: it was the services
we wrapped around the data, including maintenance, delivery, affiliated
products, etc. It's true that the data had to be good, but that goodness
didn't come with a core dump of one-time static data. Keeping our data
closed ultimately harmed us, perhaps perniciously, and I wish I had done a
better job of championing a different path. I didn't have the skills or
vocabulary and to this day I regret that.

In fact, most of the gripes I hear about OCLC are service-based.

If OL built a database of 50 to 100 million records (as an example), it
would still need to address a lot of issues: the functionality of its
primary portal, the maintenance of the records, organizational structure,
etc. Someone recently compared my comments about ALA to Open Library: if we
set about to build a new professional association, in the end it would end
up looking an awful lot like ALA. Take the value proposition and walk it
down the road... a few billion records later, and a few years under its
belt, what would OL look like?

In fact it could help all of us, including OCLC (understanding OCLC here as
a membership organization, not as a vaguely vendorish entity) if a few
libraries gave OL some data and let them go to town with it. I'd surmise
OCLC could open its data and in the end come out ahead.

That is of course risky thinking, of which the comfortable compromise is the
middle ground of providing OL with a few big datasets (as our agreement
clearly allows... and sharing that information is GOOD for OCLC). In the
same vein, those who paw the ground and snort when pundits make valid
observations about OCLC need to chill out and study the observations, not
the source. After all, we ARE talking about the organization whose operating
philosophy seems to be "I came, I saw, I bought it" - and in some cases has
had an attitude of, "Pretty! Now I kill it." If OCLC wants to be perceived
as all cuddly and member-focused, it needs to cool its jets and train its
attention on improving its services and not acting all paranoid. Grid
Services is an example of OCLC trying hard to do that, and should be
broadened. The recent governance report which proposes members have even
LESS of a vote on the board is in the other direction. I have observed more
than once that OCLC internally is an organization with some interesting
conflicts going on; I consider the recent "privacy and sharing" report to be
in large part a roman a clef.

With no disrespect to OL, I think the impulses behind OL are worth studying
and thinking about in terms of how to improve OCLC. One of the questions is
do we understand what business OCLC (or any bib utility-as OL plans to be)
is really in? Does OCLC?

Ah, now I've probably ruffled a few feathers in various chicken coops, and
it's not even 8 a.m. I love the smell of napalm in the morning!

Karen G. "Been there, done that, got the teeshirt" Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Records for Open Library

[K.G. Schneider]

That's just a synonym for "Internet tubes."

Karen G. Schneider

> Be careful to stay on the right side of the language about "magnetic
> tape."
>
> Tim
>
> On 2/6/08, Reese, Terry <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > >>  Isn't sharing such records a no-no?
> > No, OCLC's guidelines for transfer
> (http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/records/guidelines/def
> ault.htm) specifically give unrestricted transfer rights to libraries and
> non-commercial entities.  The Open Library is both.  It's a registered
> library in California and a non-profit.  So in either situtation, it's not
> a  problem.
> >
> > --TR
> >
> > ***
> > Terry Reese
> > Cataloger for Networked Resources
> > Digital Production Unit Head
> > Oregon State University Libraries
> > Corvallis, OR  97331
> > tel: 541-737-6384
> > email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > http: http://oregonstate.edu/~reeset
> > ***
> >
> > 
> >
> > From: Code for Libraries on behalf of Peter Murray
> > Sent: Wed 2/6/2008 2:50 PM
> > To: CODE4LIB@listserv.nd.edu
> > Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Records for Open Library
> >
> >
> >
> > -BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
> > Hash: SHA1
> >
> > On Feb 5, 2008, at 12:11 PM, K.G. Schneider wrote:
> > > Has your library considered contributing records to Open Library (
> > > http://www.openlibrary.org/ )? If so I'd like to hear from you on or
> > > off
> > > list.
> >
> >
> > How would that work?  Most of the records in OhioLINK are probably
> > derived from OCLC Worldcat.  Isn't sharing such records a no-no?
> >
> >
> > Peter
> > - --
> > Peter Murrayhttp://www.pandc.org/peter/work/
> > Assistant Director, New Service Development  tel:+1-614-728-3600;ext=338
> > OhioLINK: the Ohio Library and Information NetworkColumbus, Ohio
> > The Disruptive Library Technology Jesterhttp://dltj.org/
> > Attrib-Noncomm-Share   http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/
> >
> >
> > -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-
> > Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (Darwin)
> >
> > iD8DBQFHqjmq4+t4qSfPIHIRAqggAKDGoUmRO/7tcmdTn7f8YEnaBTbhQQCfYSBy
> > yJU+FrMcWRUGURJk29iDx5w=
> > =CEg4
> > -END PGP SIGNATURE-
> >
>
>
> --
> Check out my library at http://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding

Re: [CODE4LIB] Records for Open Library

[K.G. Schneider]

For the record, I've clarified this with OCLC itself. It's exactly as Terry
Weese says.

Karen G. Schneider


> >>  Isn't sharing such records a no-no?
> No, OCLC's guidelines for transfer
> (http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/records/guidelines/def
> ault.htm) specifically give unrestricted transfer rights to libraries and
> non-commercial entities.  The Open Library is both.  It's a registered
> library in California and a non-profit.  So in either situtation, it's not
> a  problem.
>
> --TR
>
> ***
> Terry Reese
> Cataloger for Networked Resources
> Digital Production Unit Head
> Oregon State University Libraries
> Corvallis, OR  97331
> tel: 541-737-6384
> email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> http: http://oregonstate.edu/~reeset
> ***
>
> 
>
> From: Code for Libraries on behalf of Peter Murray
> Sent: Wed 2/6/2008 2:50 PM
> To: CODE4LIB@listserv.nd.edu
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Records for Open Library
>
>
>
> -BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
> Hash: SHA1
>
> On Feb 5, 2008, at 12:11 PM, K.G. Schneider wrote:
> > Has your library considered contributing records to Open Library (
> > http://www.openlibrary.org/ )? If so I'd like to hear from you on or
> > off
> > list.
>
>
> How would that work?  Most of the records in OhioLINK are probably
> derived from OCLC Worldcat.  Isn't sharing such records a no-no?
>
>
> Peter
> - --
> Peter Murrayhttp://www.pandc.org/peter/work/
> Assistant Director, New Service Development  tel:+1-614-728-3600;ext=338
> OhioLINK: the Ohio Library and Information NetworkColumbus, Ohio
> The Disruptive Library Technology Jesterhttp://dltj.org/
> Attrib-Noncomm-Share   http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/
>
>
> -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-
> Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (Darwin)
>
> iD8DBQFHqjmq4+t4qSfPIHIRAqggAKDGoUmRO/7tcmdTn7f8YEnaBTbhQQCfYSBy
> yJU+FrMcWRUGURJk29iDx5w=
> =CEg4
> -END PGP SIGNATURE-

[CODE4LIB] Records for Open Library

[K.G. Schneider]

Has your library considered contributing records to Open Library (
http://www.openlibrary.org/ )? If so I'd like to hear from you on or off
list.

Thanks!

Karen G. Schneider
College Center for Library Automation
http://www.cclaflorida.org
[EMAIL PROTECTED] / [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] low-cost software for prison libraries?

[K.G. Schneider]

I was thinking this morning about an appliance solution -- Koha or
Evergreen in a box -- something to make it as stir-and-pour as possible
for libraries with minimal resources.

K.G. Schneider


On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 08:54:15 -0500, "Edward Corrado" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
said:
> Hi Johnathan,
>
> I've been interested in solutions for small libraries (say liek Churtrhc
> or club libraries) as well. While if I was setting one up, Koha would be
> the way I'd go, I can see why it might not be the best solution for all.
> The e-mail from Mary really didn't talk about the requirements they
> have, but Koha, once configured would probably be pretty easy to deal
> with. If they don't need something Web-based,  and it is for one
> location, I'd look at some of the really nice Personal Library
> management programs out there. I'm not sure what is out there, but I
> personally really like Delicious Library
> (http://www.delicious-monster.com/). If you have $40 and  Mac, it is a
> great little program.
>
> Edward
>
> Jonathan Rochkind said the following on 01/30/2008 11:54 PM:
> > Hi all, this is forwarded from a prison librarian listserv.  Does
> > anyone know of any very low-cost (or open source?) library systems
> > that would be suitable for small and/or  low-staffed libraries?   I'm
> > thinking something like Koha or Evergreen would probably be overkill
> > and/or too hard to install without much/any tech/systems staff, but I
> > could very well be wrong, I don't know much about either system. I
> > also don't know much about the needs of that kind of small library.
> >
> > If anyone does have ideas, could you send them directly to Mary (in
> > addition to CCing the list if you want, because I'm interested too
> > and I bet other list members would be.).
> >
> > I've been curious for a while about solutions available to the very
> > small/limited-resource library in the way 'automation', but know
> > almost nothing about it and am not sure if there's an easy way to
> > find out.  If anyone happens to know something about this (or is
> > interested in researching it), I personally think the Code4Lib
> > Journal would be a great place to publish an essay or survey on that
> > topic.
> >
> > Jonathan
> >
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >> Date: January 30, 2008 9:12:19 PM EST
> >> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >> Subject: [prison-l] Library automation software
> >>
> >> Greetings:
> >>
> >> Last month there was some discussion here about cheap/free/
> >> reasonably priced automation software for correctional libraries.
> >> I am on a statewide committee which has just been formed to
> >> research and recommend a software package to replace Athena
> >> (formerly by Sagebrush, now Follett) in most of the correctional
> >> libraries in Virginia.  After years in public libraries I am very
> >> familiar with some of the big vendors, but they are simply
> >> financially out of the question for our agency, not to mention web-
> >> based.
> >>
> >> I have looked at the websites for LibraryThing, Auto Librarian, and
> >> ResourceMate, which were recommended here in the previous
> >> discussion.  If you know of or have a circ/cat system that is
> >> reasonably priced (or dirt cheap) and works well for you, please
> >> share the information with me, with pros and cons if you like.  All
> >> replies greatly appreciated, and thanks in advance.
> >>
> >>
> >> Mary Geist, librarian
> >> Dept. of Correctional Education
> >> Brunswick Correctional Center
> >> 1147 Planter's Road
> >> Lawrenceville, VA  23868
> >> 434.848.4131, ext. 1146
> >>
>
> --
> Edward M. Corrado
> http://www.tcnj.edu/~corrado/
> Systems Librarian
> The College of New Jersey
> 403E TCNJ Library
> PO Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718
> Tel: 609.771.3337  Fax: 609.637.5177
> Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Code4Lib http irc channel

[K.G. Schneider]

I'm sort of on, though after the first line I typed I can't seem to
enter anything. Then again I can't remember what I wanted to say. ;-)

Karen S.

On Mon, 7 Jan 2008 16:01:27 -0500, "Ross Singer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
said:
> Karen,
>
> The server should be changed to:
> irc.freenode.net
>
> and the channel is:
> #code4lib
>
> I guess we'll see in a minute if that works for you,
> -Ross.
>
> On Jan 7, 2008 3:55 PM, K.G. Schneider <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Yeah, I even saw my nick, but when I tried to type the error page showed
> > up.
> >
> > From trying the ircatwork.com site I got:
> >
> > *** Welcome to CGI:IRC 0.5.9 (2006/06/06)
> > *** Looking up linuxinlibraries.com
> > *** Connecting to linuxinlibraries.com [72.29.69.156] port 6667
> > *** An error occurred: Connecting to IRC: Connection refused connecting
> > to 72.29.69.156:6667
> >
> > Ideas?
> >
> > Karen S.
> >
> >
> > On Mon, 7 Jan 2008 12:39:43 -0800, "Wick, Ryan"
> > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> > > Your nick showed up in the room earlier today, and a few others have
> > > been using the linuxinlibraries.com site, but it does seem to be a
> > > little flaky.
> > >
> > > This site worked just now when I tried it: http://ircatwork.com/
> > >
> > > Ryan Wick
> > >
> > > -Original Message-
> > > From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
> > > K.G. Schneider
> > > Sent: Monday, January 07, 2008 11:59 AM
> > > To: CODE4LIB@listserv.nd.edu
> > > Subject: [CODE4LIB] Code4Lib http irc channel
> > >
> > > Hi folks -- for some time now I've been unable to use the http irc
> > > channel, which is the only one I can use at work. ("If you can't install
> > > a client, or if IRC traffic is blocked on your network, connect through
> > > the web at linuxinlibraries.com (choose #code4lib)")
> > >
> > > The error I get:
> > >
> > > "Not Acceptable
> > > An appropriate representation of the requested resource
> > > /cgi-bin/client-perl.cgi could not be found on this server.
> > >
> > > Apache/1.3.39 Server at www.linuxinlibraries.com Port 80"
> > >
> > > Sometimes I get the irc screen but if I type anything in I get the error
> > > page again.
> > >
> > > Just wondering... (oh, and gave the conference scholarships a plug last
> > > night on my blog)
> > >
> > > K.G. Schneider
> >

Re: [CODE4LIB] Code4Lib http irc channel

[K.G. Schneider]

Yeah, I even saw my nick, but when I tried to type the error page showed
up.

>From trying the ircatwork.com site I got:

*** Welcome to CGI:IRC 0.5.9 (2006/06/06)
*** Looking up linuxinlibraries.com
*** Connecting to linuxinlibraries.com [72.29.69.156] port 6667
*** An error occurred: Connecting to IRC: Connection refused connecting
to 72.29.69.156:6667

Ideas?

Karen S.

On Mon, 7 Jan 2008 12:39:43 -0800, "Wick, Ryan"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> Your nick showed up in the room earlier today, and a few others have
> been using the linuxinlibraries.com site, but it does seem to be a
> little flaky.
>
> This site worked just now when I tried it: http://ircatwork.com/
>
> Ryan Wick
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
> K.G. Schneider
> Sent: Monday, January 07, 2008 11:59 AM
> To: CODE4LIB@listserv.nd.edu
> Subject: [CODE4LIB] Code4Lib http irc channel
>
> Hi folks -- for some time now I've been unable to use the http irc
> channel, which is the only one I can use at work. ("If you can't install
> a client, or if IRC traffic is blocked on your network, connect through
> the web at linuxinlibraries.com (choose #code4lib)")
>
> The error I get:
>
> "Not Acceptable
> An appropriate representation of the requested resource
> /cgi-bin/client-perl.cgi could not be found on this server.
>
> Apache/1.3.39 Server at www.linuxinlibraries.com Port 80"
>
> Sometimes I get the irc screen but if I type anything in I get the error
> page again.
>
> Just wondering... (oh, and gave the conference scholarships a plug last
> night on my blog)
>
> K.G. Schneider

[CODE4LIB] Code4Lib http irc channel

[K.G. Schneider]

Hi folks -- for some time now I've been unable to use the http irc
channel, which is the only one I can use at work. ("If you can't install
a client, or if IRC traffic is blocked on your network, connect through
the web at linuxinlibraries.com
(choose #code4lib)")

The error I get:

"Not Acceptable
An appropriate representation of the requested resource
/cgi-bin/client-perl.cgi could not be found on this server.

Apache/1.3.39 Server at www.linuxinlibraries.com Port 80"

Sometimes I get the irc screen but if I type anything in I get the error
page again.

Just wondering... (oh, and gave the conference scholarships a plug last
night on my blog)

K.G. Schneider

Re: [CODE4LIB] Code4Lib Journal

[K.G. Schneider]

It's really quite excellent. Kudos! It's a tough week to grab anyone's
attention, but I'll try.

K.G. Schneider

On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:19:11 -0500, "Teresa Victoriana Sierra"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> Nice job Jonathan!
>
> Teri Sierra, Assistant Chief
> Serial and Government Publications Division
> Library of Congress
> 202-707-5277
> 202-707-6128 (fax)
>
> >>> Jonathan Rochkind <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 12/17/07 10:59 AM >>>
> The first issue of the Code4Lib Journal is now available.
> http://journal.code4lib.org
>
> Jonathan
>
> --
> Jonathan Rochkind
> Digital Services Software Engineer
> The Sheridan Libraries
> Johns Hopkins University
> 410.516.8886
> rochkind (at) jhu.edu

Re: [CODE4LIB] open source chat bots?

[K.G. Schneider]

On Mon, 3 Dec 2007 10:14:29 -0500, "Andrew Nagy"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> Hello - there was quite a bit of talk about chat bots a year or 2 back.
> I was wondering if anyone knew of an open source chat bot that works with
> jabber?
>
> Thanks
> Andrew

I'm afraid this isn't an answer, but several times last week I almost
posted a similar query to DIG_REF. I'm interested in this response and
in any responses that would lead to a discussion of an OSS virtual
reference solution with critical-path VR components such as multiple
logins, statistics, transcripts, etc.

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] [Fwd: [NGC4LIB] A Thought Experiment]

[K.G. Schneider]

> On 11/9/07 11:24 AM, "Joseph Lucia" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > At the recent OCLC Members Council meeting there was some strong support
> > voiced from the floor during OCLC management's general presentation for such
> > an API, but it is not clear where OCLC stands on the matter. The answers 
> > from
> > OCLC officers about this were hedgy, though they hinted at some sort of
> > development in progress.  Others may know more.   They (OCLC) are clearly
> > focused on the market position of WorldCat Local and a robust and extensive
> > API might undercut that -- but probably only with one market sector.  We 
> > need
> > to keep pressing the issue.
> >
> > *
> > Joe Lucia
> > University Librarian
> > Villanova University
> > 610-519-4290

Note that this is also a governance issue. Members Council is advisory,
except for appointing six of the fifteen trustees; the remaining nine
are self-appointed, and include the president of OCLC.

Like many organizations, OCLC is struggling with its own issues of
"sharing and trust" (I consider the recent, very excellent OCLC report
to be on some level an unconscious roman a clef). OCLC throwing small
bones such as "we might make an API available" while clearly not
actually *doing* this is one reason why even people fully committed in
principle to the idea of a global networked catalog--on paper, the
*only* sensible model--remain a bit coy about throwing their hat into
the WC Local ring. I do understand OCLC's fear--let go of the "goods",
and OCLC will cannibalize its own revenue stream--but I think they're
greatly underestimating the extent to which they are a service, not a
data, provider.

I hope this isn't read as too critical. Many library organizations are
struggling with similar change issues. Just wanted to bring up some of
hte organizational complexities underlying decision-making.

K.G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Interesting uses of WorldCat affiliate tools and search extensions

[K.G. Schneider]

Cool examples, all. This is indeed the sort of thing I was thinking
about. (Not this specific one, of course :> )

Karen G. Schneider

On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 06:30:03 -0400, "jean rainwater"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> Karen,
> We recently launched an application that provides a single user
> interface for requesting returnable items from our 4 shared resource
> systems.  We use the WorldCat search box as our starting point.
> Instead of passing the OpenURL from WorldCat directly to our link
> resolver, we intercept it and use the ISBN to 1) do a look-up in our
> catalog (we redirect if a circulating copy is available), 2) query our
> III INNReach catalog, 3) query two Sirsi-Dynix URSA consortium
> catalogs, and 4) default to our ILLiad system if the request can't be
> placed in one of the direct borrow systems. Instead of having to
> navigate different proprietary systems, each with its own search
> interface and login method, the user now searches once in WorldCat,
> authenticates once, and our application goes to work behind the
> scenes.
>
> The public description of the system is at:
> http://dl.lib.brown.edu/libweb/services/easyBorrow.php
>
> We're in the process of creating a site with technical details and
> code. The architecture is quite modular and webservice based and could
> be adapted/expanded by others. (We're currently using java, python,
> and php.)
>
> Two of our project team members will be signing up for
> "lightning/5-minute madness" talks at the upcoming Access (Birkin
> Diana) and LITA (Bonnie Buzzell) conferences.
>
> Jean Rainwater
> Co-leader, Integrated Technology Services
> Brown University Library
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 401.863.9031
>
> On 9/26/07, K.G. Schneider <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Originally posted elsewhere. Despite the direction of my original
> > request, I'm getting such good developer-level responses to this
> > question that I'm reposting to code4lib to say if you are doing
> > something interesting, I'm interested.
> >
> > Karen G. Schneider
> >
> > On Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:13:32 -0400, "K.G. Schneider"
> > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> > > For a report I'm writing, I'm hunting around for interesting and
> > > successful uses of end-user-oriented WorldCat affiliate tools and search
> > > extensions (or interesting and UNsuccessful deployments...), such as:
> > >
> > > * WorldCat Search Box. Creates a WorldCat search box on home pages,
> > > blogs, and other websites; available preconfigured in two sizes, but (I
> > > think) can be tweaked for other configurations. Requires (free) WorldCat
> > > registration.
> > >
> > > * WorldCat links with embedded search terms. OCLC provides syntaxes for
> > > deeplinking to WorldCat results, suitable for embedding in courseware,
> > > etc.
> > >
> > > * Other things: a Firefox browser search extension and a Yahoo! toolbar
> > > for Internet Explorer that allow WorldCat searches from browser
> > > toolbars, and a Google toolbar for either Internet Explorer or Firefox
> > > that links directly to WorldCat results when it detects ISBNs on web
> > > pages.
> > >
> > > (Interesting uses of xISBN, WorldCat registry search/detail, or the
> > > OpenURL Gateway also welcome, but not as central.)
> > >
> > > I see some of these tools on various library websites, and use a couple
> > > of them myself, but I'm looking more carefully for the benefits/payback
> > > of these tools beyond "yup, it's on our website" or "I use it myself."
> > >
> > > Writing under the umbrella of biblio-officialdom I am --
> > >
> > > Karen G. Schneider
> > > Research & Development
> > > College Center for Library Automation
> > > http://www.cclaflorida.org
> > > Voice: 850-922-3159
> > > AIM/Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > ___
> > > Web4lib mailing list
> > > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> >

[CODE4LIB] Interesting uses of WorldCat affiliate tools and search extensions

[K.G. Schneider]

Originally posted elsewhere. Despite the direction of my original
request, I'm getting such good developer-level responses to this
question that I'm reposting to code4lib to say if you are doing
something interesting, I'm interested.

Karen G. Schneider

On Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:13:32 -0400, "K.G. Schneider"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> For a report I'm writing, I'm hunting around for interesting and
> successful uses of end-user-oriented WorldCat affiliate tools and search
> extensions (or interesting and UNsuccessful deployments...), such as:
>
> * WorldCat Search Box. Creates a WorldCat search box on home pages,
> blogs, and other websites; available preconfigured in two sizes, but (I
> think) can be tweaked for other configurations. Requires (free) WorldCat
> registration.
>
> * WorldCat links with embedded search terms. OCLC provides syntaxes for
> deeplinking to WorldCat results, suitable for embedding in courseware,
> etc.
>
> * Other things: a Firefox browser search extension and a Yahoo! toolbar
> for Internet Explorer that allow WorldCat searches from browser
> toolbars, and a Google toolbar for either Internet Explorer or Firefox
> that links directly to WorldCat results when it detects ISBNs on web
> pages.
>
> (Interesting uses of xISBN, WorldCat registry search/detail, or the
> OpenURL Gateway also welcome, but not as central.)
>
> I see some of these tools on various library websites, and use a couple
> of them myself, but I'm looking more carefully for the benefits/payback
> of these tools beyond "yup, it's on our website" or "I use it myself."
>
> Writing under the umbrella of biblio-officialdom I am --
>
> Karen G. Schneider
> Research & Development
> College Center for Library Automation
> http://www.cclaflorida.org
> Voice: 850-922-3159
> AIM/Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> ___
> Web4lib mailing list
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/

Re: [CODE4LIB] Getting the site back up (was code4lib.org hosting)

[K.G. Schneider]

Concur, adding that going with #3 or #2 (no preference from me formally
between the 2, you guys know better here) adds a much-needed release valve
so you don't have to make a decision about the permanent home under
pressure.

Don't know that you need a formal RFP for permanent (well, longterm shackup)
home, but even a rough Mary Poppins-style list of mandatory/highly
desired/desired deliverables ("You must be kind, you must be witty; very
sweet and fairly pretty," etc.) will help lead to good long-term decisions
and can actually accelerate the decision process.

Karen

> I agree with this.  Expectations of anvil's return to duty shouldn't
> add to the pressure of getting it running again.
>
> -Ross.
>
> On 8/2/07, Kevin S. Clarke <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > > So, to that effect, here's what I think the current options are:
> > >
> > > 1) Get it back up on anvil
> > > 2) Get it up on Dan's Machine
> > > 3) Put it up here at OSU
> >
> > My order of preference would be #3 else #2... though Dan's machine
> > might be easier if he already has an older version on there.
> >
> > Kevin
> >
> >

Re: [CODE4LIB] code4lib.org hosting

[K.G. Schneider]

> >> Yes, I have a concern about a university hosting arrangement like what
> >> you've described, though it doesn't have anything to do with OSU or
> >> you. :)  ibiblio is in the business of being a neutral hosting space
> >> for sites like this (and, yes, they're at a university, but, their
> >> long-lived project there is long-dedicated to this).  Special
> >> arrangements to host code4lib.org at any particular university through
> >> the good graces of one or two people like you are just that - special
> >> arrangements, predicated on a generally favorable situation and the
> >> kindness of a couple of supportive individuals both in our "community"
> >> - presumably you and rordway - and at OSU (your boss and
> >> network/server support staff).

If I might pipe up a little... I've lived through the "orphaned university
hosting" scenario for two services (lii.org and the PUBLIB list).

To me, the big questions are:

* Who can provide the clearest, best-documented relationship (the
"deliverables" question) so it is not all based on handshakes and who knows
whom... Dan's "special arrangements" concern

* Which option provides the best service package

* Which option has the chance of lasting the longest (moving hurts)

* Which option has the clearest, easiest exit strategy (because eventually
everybody moves on... it's not a marriage, it's just a protracted date)

* Which option gives the community the most ownership of its content

* Which option has a proven track record with this kind of relationship
(which might also mean, which option has the most at stake for delivering
good service to this kind of arrangement)

I resisted several "special arrangements" for lii.org's move from Berkeley
SunSITE precisely because I had experience with them. When the person who
cares moves on, you can be left twisting in the breeze. (Plus in several
cases the suggested "arrangements" were ridiculous... moving to
poorly-maintained Windows servers with known bandwidth problems and suspect
security, etc.)

Having a "special arrangement" can be tough. Even when you DO know the
people and they have no intention of leaving, they can get very very busy,
and their organization always has to come first.

I don't have strong feelings about ibiblio versus OSU (without knowing more
about either of them), but I see those as the issues.

I wonder if code4lib couldn't be just as happy holding an annual virtual
bake sale or raffle and buying space at Hurricane Electric or something.
Just a thought. What are we talking about in terms of needs?

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] [Web4lib] the journal "presence" in online databases

[K.G. Schneider]

> Karen,
>
> I suspect one could find a parallel for the loss of the "wholeness" of a
> journal issue" in the world of popular music.  Does the "album" as those
> of us of a certain age knew it still exist when most music is acquired
> (I'd like to say purchased, but spend too much time around college-aged
> people to use such a ridiculous word)as single tracks rather than as
> part of a larger whole?

That goes back to Nathan's astute question on Code4Lib. Clearly the modern
music audience has returned to the model of my very early youth: the single.
But from what I am hearing (based on interviews so far with writers and
publishers) the audience (readership) for literary journals expects, well, a
literary journal.

The table-of-contents browsing enabled by some databases for some journals
seems perfectly adequate from a research point of view - if you squint from
a distance. But from both a literary and research perspective, it has some
disturbing limitations: lack of cover art, loss of design (a poem on a page,
for example, presented with a specific font), loss of advertising and
ephemera... even the context and juxtaposition of the content in a print
journal has meaning.

Then there may be another curious problem with the small-journal economy. If
the subscriber base for a journal dries up, then it is likely to go away. So
the action intended to help ensure access to the journal - moving from print
to electronic-may kill it. I still have to do some research into the
economics of journals (a vendor's help here would be useful) so this is more
provisional thinking. This has even greater ramification if you consider
that part of the journal economy (more of an ecology, reall) includes the
writers and artists who contribute its content (often for no more than the
grand sum of a subscription to the journal, if even that).

I think librarians have been trying to do the right thing: the move from
print to electronic is terrifically useful for a great deal of content, and
if you have to choose-and we often do-then electronic access is an
improvement. I wouldn't want to *not* have electronic access to what we
have. But there isn't a 1:1 correlation between a literary journal and its
online indexed articles. It's like replacing a statue on a college green
with a fiche reader and a fiche of pictures of the statue that was there.
You have some of the raw information (though as noted above, definitely not
all of it), but you do not have the thing itself.

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] the journal "presence" in online databases

[K.G. Schneider]

> Why does it matter what librarians think about the change in formats?

Ah hah! That, sir, is the point. You are absolutely correct about the
readers needing a voice in this. But I guess what I am getting at is that so
far it has not worked out that way, at least in the humanities, and that has
had unintended consequences. Databases started out as print ancillaries, but
in many cases are replacing print as the format libraries are using to
purchase that content (another place where it matters). Librarians have been
the brokers for this content, wield tremendous power in the paper/print
decisions, and in some cases are playing key roles in determining the
direction of metadata used to describe the aboutness of serial publications
(just as librarians active in the open-access movement have played
influential roles in institution-wide policies about ETD requirements-again,
sometimes with unintended consequences).

> In some cases, 'journal-ness' is probably important. In others, the
> traditional model is probably inferior to other options.

Right, and in fact, context is important for the user; I'm not saying
database soup can't be useful for this journal content. (Using a very broad
writerly I) When I'm researching, I don't care (and in fact prefer spooning
through the database soup). When I want to read the latest American Scholar
or Pleiades, I do care.

(One of the dangly bits floating around as I mull all this over is how in
researching and using born-digital ejournals in the humanities, the library
is fully out of the loop for me. I don't know what if anything that means.)

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

[CODE4LIB] the journal "presence" in online databases

[K.G. Schneider]

I'm doing some exploratory poking around an issue that is of dual importance
to me as a librarian and writer: the fidelity of the print journal in online
databases. I feel as if this is such an obvious issue that there must have
been EXTENSIVE discussion about this over the last ten or fifteen years, so
bear with me if I am missing the fly on the end of my nose.

Here's the issue in narrative form: a library subscribes to a small-press
journal. The journal's articles are also indexed in some database or other.
The library runs out of space and money to physically house the journal, and
drops the print edition.

But...

The journal issue itself now has no physical representation in the database.
It's a series of articles. It is (and we now move into the alternate
universe where Michael Gorman and I think alike and even use the same
vocabulary) atomized. Even if you can force the database to bring together
the related articles, it is a kludge at best.

For some journals, maybe that never mattered anyway. But for many journals
in the humanities, the issue is the experience. There are some very nice
online journals, and increasingly, small presses, which operate just barely
above cost-recovery, are reinventing themselves online. But take the recent
issues of Missouri Review or The American Scholar... like a book, a journal
issue is its own event (though unlike most book-length narratives, one that
can be enjoyably experienced incompletely and in the reader's own preferred
order, which is part of the fun as well). Even though the individual content
of the journal may be preserved piece by piece, the totality of the journal
has not.

Let's set aside some of the characteristics that can't be dragged to the
online medium (the feel and smell of paper, for example) or arguments I find
specious (how many people take baths any more, anyway?). That said, to what
extent do databases (or do not...) recreate the "issue experience"-that
sense of aboutness and completion for a journal issue? Do we care?

I see some work is done in metadata that can express the relationship
between articles in a journal. But I'm curious how much we (librarians) care
about this business of fidelity or whether it's just another silent victim
of change. I worry that without intending to we could hasten the death of an
entire area of literature.

Though with some intentionality, we could also help save this literature, as
well (because mailing and printing costs are the obvious threats to the
small presses-a number have moved online, or started online, and thrive
there in their small-press manner; if a database could represent, say, The
American Scholar in a way that did it justice, that might be a very good
thing).

Again, maybe I'm just missing something really, really obvious... please do
step in to say, Karen, where have you been? ... or perhaps there are some
e-humanities initiatives already working in this area... but the more and
more I engage with small presses, the more this concerns me.

K.G. Schneider
Free Range Librarian
AIM/Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://freerangelibrarian.com

[CODE4LIB] LOCKSS libraries: I'd like to hear from you

[K.G. Schneider]

(apologies for x-posting)

For an article I'm writing about LOCKSS (Lots Of Copies Keep Stuff Safe),
I'd like to hear from libraries and consortia that are either using LOCKSS
or made a decision not to use LOCKSS. Please contact me any time in June
2007 (the earlier, the better). CLOCKSS users also welcome.

Not sure what LOCKSS is? See this site: http://www.lockss.org/

K.G. Schneider
Free Range Librarian
AIM/Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://freerangelibrarian.com

Re: [CODE4LIB] Please remove me from mailing list

[K.G. Schneider]

> On Fri, Mar 30, 2007 at 10:49:22AM -0700, Robin Speer wrote:
> > Please remove my email from your mailing list. Thanks.
> >
> > Robin Speer
> > Oregon State Library
> > phone: 503-378-2464, fax: 503-585-8059
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> Look what y'all did, arguing about munging email headers.  Robin was
> disgusted enough to ask to leave, and rightly so.
>
> Gabe (who replies to the list with "L")

I was going to say, good grief, can't people read the tag line on each
message reminding them where the list website is?

Oh... ok, never mind. So I'll be snarky and google Code4Lib. I get the C4L
website. I click the link called email:

"The requested URL /mailing-lists/code4lib/ was not found on this server."

So, ok, my snark is rapidly eroding, but I'll Google "code4lib mailing
list." I get http://dewey.library.nd.edu/mailing-lists/code4lib/

I click, I get:

"The requested URL /mailing-lists/code4lib/ was not found on this server."

Poor, poor hungry fleabitten kitten... call the ASPCA, *STAT!*

Karen S.

Re: [CODE4LIB] [Web4lib] ERAMS vs. URM

[K.G. Schneider]

> Credit absolutely goes to SerialSolutions for starting the discussion.
> Part of what we're trying to do w/ERAMs.org is to broaden the dialogue
> outside simply the business product category of ERMs.  There seems also to
> be a need  to rethink the way we do things within libraries and consortia
> to manage e-resources (systems, skill sets, workflows, and mindsets are
> issues that come to mind).

Well, I'll say it: with absolutely no offense to SerialSolutions-we use
their product, btw, no comment there one way or the other-or for that matter
Georgia Tech, where great things emanate and which has not one but two very
cool learning commons-I've been cautious about this "ERAMS" concept because
it WAS launched by a vendor.

I can't identify the authors on the Wikipedia page, but I'm guessing they're
from SS?

My antennae wiggled when I read this on the ERAMS blog: "Is open source
software a potential solution or should we look to a hybrid model involving
automation vendors and the library community?"

That question feels very leading, as in, "Are you going to leave the table
without excusing yourself or would you really rather have dessert?"

If the answer is, "Thank you for asking, but we're going to go for open
source," do we (whoever 'we' might be) still have a place at the table?

Also, where is "preserve"?

Finally, this made me smile: "We are looking for the first 50 participants
who are willing to visualize a library not focused solely on print resource
management and willing to go out on a limb and conceptualize the library
which is focused on user access and management of online resources &
services."

To change course and say, of *course* these are important directions for us
to go in, I would have replaced the word "willing" with "eager." "Willing"
implies a grudging consent. Working with organizations that are "willing" to
put some attention to e-resources is why we are where we are today.

Anyhoo, after all this nitpicking (which I prefer to keep here on the lists
for now, as commenting on a blog is different from talking within
community), it sounds as if it will be a great session, and some of the
questions are focused enough that with enough follow-through they could
yield fruit (are you happy with your openurl resolver or would you rather
stick a pencil in your eye? ... oh, wait, I made that up). As an ACRL member
whose conference dance card is maxed out this spring, I look forward to
hearing the podcasts afterwards.

Karen G. Schneider
Acting Associate Director of Libraries for Technology & Research
Florida State University
Email/AIM: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Blog: http://blogs.lib.fsu.edu/libtech/
Phone: 850-644-5214
Cell: 850-590-3370

Re: [CODE4LIB] Video encoding done - Mashup idea request

[K.G. Schneider]

> On Mar 16, 2007, at 7:09 PM, K.G. Schneider wrote:
>
> >
> > A library on campus is purchasing the Mediasite portable webcasting
> > setup,
> > which is sneezy-expensive if pretty cool. It would be interesting
> > to see if
> > it really works, and how well, and how easily, and if so, this being a
> > library conference...
>
> The College of Engineering here has it Mediasite, and it kind of
> works, but it's not as cool as I'd hoped. Navigating between slides
> can confuse it, at least in Firefox on a Mac.
>
> Don't know how much it costs, but I personally wouldn't pay a whole
> lot for it.
>
> -Nate

It's not my library, and ergo not my money, but boy howdie are these things
pricey (e.g. $20k plus). We have several on campus but I haven't viewed
output. Interesting. Thanks!

Karen S.

Re: [CODE4LIB] Video encoding done - Mashup idea request

[K.G. Schneider]

> In principle that would be a better option.  In practice you need to be
> really really sure that you can simply mix the two formats in to a final
> output.
>
> Mixing PC-video and camera-video successfully together has a reputation
> for being difficult.  All to do with frame rates and interlacing modes
> of which I have zero understanding.  The other issue being that modern
> video projectors are very good at coping with having a multitude of PCs
> & Macs plugged in to them,  working out the resolution etc. and
> displaying a quality image.  I am sceptical of finding some video
> editing software that is so forgiving.

A library on campus is purchasing the Mediasite portable webcasting setup,
which is sneezy-expensive if pretty cool. It would be interesting to see if
it really works, and how well, and how easily, and if so, this being a
library conference...

K.G. Schneider

Re: [CODE4LIB] Video encoding done - Mashup idea request

[K.G. Schneider]

One way we can express our appreciation (and I know from my home camcorder
efforts that taping is easy... encoding etc., that's the slog) is to tell
people about this far and wide. I plan to do a hat trick and blog it on my
home, work, and professional-writing blog.

kgs

> This is so wonderful to have the video available that I have a hard time
> figuring out how to express my appreciation. Being able to relive the
> conference (for those of us who were there), or to experience it for the
> first time (for those of us who were not) is incredibly cool. As someone
> who
> was there, but was unable to pay complete attention to the lightning talk
> speakers due to management responsibilities, this allows me to more fully
> experience the conference. It also provides me with the opportunity to
> more
> fully share it with my colleagues. Thank you Noel, Ryan, Karen, and
> everyone
> who was involved with making this possible. It totally raises the bar on
> future confernces, but in a good way. I hope we can continue to make this
> content available in such a way. It will certainly make the impact of the
> vent much more broad-based long-lasting. Thanks,
> Roy
>
> On 3/15/07 2:49 PM, "Ryan Eby" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > All videos are now uploaded for download and linked to from the
> > Presentation and Lightning Talk pages. Let me know if you notice
> > anything incorrect. Google is slowly churning through the processing
> > so those should be on there within a day or so.
> >
> > Eby
> >
> > On 3/15/07, Noel Peden <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >> Hi all,
> >>
> >> The video editing and encoding is now done.  There's still more work to
> >> post them on Google, but we should be over half-way.  Dan / Roy, the
> >> feedback session is also up under "Other" in Day 3:
> >> http://pierce.eou.edu/code4lib
> >> This url is temporary.  Once everything is up on code4lib, this page
> >> will go away.
> >>
> >> Mashup ideas: I will probably, some time next week, do a mashup of the
> >> conference.  If there are any fun quotes or other things people
> remember
> >> that ought to be in there, let me know.  I'll grab photos from flicker
> >> (send others if you have 'em.)
> >>
> >> Regards,
> >> Noel
> >>
> >> Noel Peden
> >> Pierce Library System Administrator
> >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >> 541.962.3017
> >>

Re: [CODE4LIB] Videos

[K.G. Schneider]

> > I think one of our greatest challenges as a group is how to enable such
> ad
> > hoc involvement while not letting things fall through the cracks with
> too
> > little planning and forethought. I guess a part of it is making sure
> > everyone knows that there is no such thing as an "in" group that
> controls
> > everything. We are all code4lib. Just step forward and contribute. We'll
> > love you for it.
> > Roy

One of my favorite usability quotes is from Donald Norman ("The Psychology
of Everyday Things"): "Information is in the world." The less-fancy way of
putting this is "Write it down now, and you don't have to remember it
later." (This becomes more and more important for the aging brain... and
none of us have brains that are becoming any YOUNGER.)

I strongly encourage that the camping checklist for Code4Lib include
videotaping/podcasting permission forms and a general call for videotaping
support, plus post-taping support/uploading volunteers. I bet without much
effort or formality, you will always get at least two or three people who
are willing to bring camera, tripod, and a stack o' tapes. It was really no
big deal-if you own a camcorder, you know you're usually open to excuses for
justifying its existence, particularly if you're always eyeing the next
great thing :) .

While it was great that a couple of us brought cameras, I am VERY impressed
by the code4lib encoding team, who had those tapes transferred before the
conference was over, as well as the upload team, who is making it happen as
we write!! That's usually the stumbling block... and drives me nuts about
other conferences.

Btw, one reason I begged my own tape back is I plan to run it through my own
video software and lift off the sound track. I think I will come across
better as a podcast because in the video I'm Karen, The Talking Podium (uh,
maybe scrounge a box for us tiny people, ok? If you ever invite Liz Lawley
to speak, she'll have the same problem). Plus an mp3 is lighter-weight. But
I admit I enjoy watching myself on video. It makes for a very cool trip
report ("See this link") ;-)

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Posting the conference video?

[K.G. Schneider]

nota bene... for anyone taking notes for "lessons learned to apply next
year," you may want to phrase those posting agreements as broadly as
possible.

As a speaker, I thought the conference was wonderful. Most of the
presentations were too techy for me, but we all knew that going in, and
sometimes being exposed to good ideas fore and aft of thirty minutes of
talk about coding is enough to get my brain rolling in new ways. I
returned to my own institution more committed to "vendor-frei"
approaches to information services, and also to more in-house
development. It turns out in addition to various pockets of expertise we
have one staffer who dearly wants to brush up her already extensive and
currently unutilized Java, Php, MySQL and other application skills...
amazing what you have when you look around.

So thanks for inviting me, and thanks for listening to what I had to
share. As you explore potential speakers, you might also consider
opportunities how an invitation to an "outsider" is also your ministry
to the non-coding communities. You know, the sublunary folk who commit
the resources and write the checks. ;-)

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]


On Thu, 8 Mar 2007 09:27:44 -0500, "Jason Etheridge"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> On 3/8/07, Dan Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > So, to stick with the letter of the license, we should
> > make the video available on code4lib.org first, then someone could
> > (under the CC-A-NC-SA license) repost it at the Internet Archive where
> > it can avoid being caught between a hammer and an anvil (*rim shot*).
>
> IANAL, but would it be enough to satisfy the wording if we simply
> linked to the videos on archive.org from code4lib.org?  :)
>
> --
> Jason Etheridge
> GPLS -- PINES Development
> http://open-ils.org/

Re: [CODE4LIB] RE: [CODE4LIB] Posting the conference video?

[K.G. Schneider]

I love that. thought I should add that, as one of the speakers. :) Not even
sure what +1 means and it's too late to email our lone developer, but +1,
indeed.

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

> Ed wrote:
>
> On Mar 7, 2007, at 7:32 PM, David J. Fiander wrote:
> > How about sending it to the Internet Archive?
>
> +1
>
> //Ed
>
> And now I say: Pretty much what I said a couple of weeks ago ;-)
>
>
> --
> --
> From: Darci Hanning [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2007 1:36 PM
> To: Code for Libraries
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Videos of presentations?
>
> Another hosting option to consider is the Internet Archive
> (http://www.archive.org/create/) -- the Plone Conference last fall had two
> of the four tracks professionally taped and then volunteers encoded and
> uploaded them all to the archive. It was great even for conference
> attendees because there was just too much good stuff going on ;-)
>
> Cheers!
> Darci (geeklibrarian)

[CODE4LIB] Flamenco

[K.G. Schneider]

A mention of the Flamenco project (open source faceted navigation) on
Catalogablog made me wonder if anyone on c4l had looked at this:

http://flamenco.berkeley.edu/

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

[CODE4LIB] Videos?

[K.G. Schneider]

I just wondered, are the videos going online anywhere?

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Everything okay in Georgia

[K.G. Schneider]

> It rained pretty hard, but I think the worst that happened is a few of us
> got a bit soaked.  I haven't heard anything yet.
>
>
> Jon Gorman

I locked my keys in the car as I was about to leave midday, and when I went
back to the hotel desk to call AAA, the hotel staff advised me of a tornado
watch... I had fantasies of a tornado bearing down on my poor old Civic
while it sat there in the hotel turn-around with its emergency lights
blinking. However, AAA unlocked the car (scary how fast they can do that),
the storms went northeast, and I went southeast, so all's well. NPR kept
breaking in with announcements about tornado watches in various counties,
but since I had no idea where those counties were and can't read maps well
at 80 mph, I just put my lead foot in action and kept going. The scariest
thing I saw en route to TLH was a gas station where I had more teeth than
anyone else in there combined...

Good conference, all!

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Videos of presentations?

[K.G. Schneider]

Please all take this as my consent. :-) I have my own camcorder, tripod,
and three or four tapes with me, and plan to do some myself.

re YouTube, to put up more than a short video you need a Director
account. Other than that it's a good medium.

Karen G. Schneider

On Sun, 25 Feb 2007 16:40:38 -0500, "Edward Corrado" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
said:
> I like the idea, as long as it is in an opt-in basis - which, of course,
> is what is being proposed. I do, however, think that having a formal
> piece of paper for speakers to read/sign would be a very good plan. Does
> anyone have a draft of such a disclaimer that we can use? Personally, I
> would submit to this for my lightning talk as long as the end product is
> being released under an "open access" license. Personally, I'd be happy
> with just about an open licenses, but would prefer the "Creative Commons
> Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License"
> (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/). Of course, if I
> have to read off the license name before my lightning talk, my talk will
> be 20% shorter (which might be a good thing for audience members).
>
> Edward
>
>
> LaJeunesse, Brad said the following on 2/25/2007 4:05 PM:
> > Personally, I think it's a great idea. I agree on not wishing to
> > pressure speakers and it being completely opt-in. As for storage, I
> > would be happy to host the videos on a GPLS web server, if needed.
> >
> > Also, for the record, I am planning on attending the conference for as
> > long as circumstances allow (no baby yet!). :)
> >
> > --Brad
> >
> > Dan Scott wrote:
> >> Based on an appeal from Rob on IRC, who won't be able to attend
> >> code4libcon, I've got about 12 hours worth of MiniDV tapes and will
> >> bring my camcorder along.
> >>
> >> It would help, though, to know if the scheduled presenters are okay
> >> with appearing on video. I don't want to pressure anyone into being
> >> videotaped if they're not comfortable with it, so I only plan on
> >> taping a session if the presenter opts in ahead of time. I haven't
> >> figured out anything along the lines of subsequent storage and
> >> distribution of this content post-conference, either... it's just a
> >> last-minute idea that might make sense for those who were unable to
> >> attend this year (Brad, Peter, and undoubtedly many others). For the
> >> presenters, it might be useful for CV / whuffie credits, too.
> >>
> >> Any thoughts? Is this a horrible idea?
> >>
> >> Dan Scott
> >> --
> >>
> >> Systems Librarian,
> >> Bibliothèque J.N. Desmarais Library
> >> Laurentian University / Université Laurentienne
> >>
> >> Phone: 705-675-1151 x3315
> >>
>
> --
> Edward M. Corrado
> http://www.tcnj.edu/~corrado/
> Systems Librarian
> The College of New Jersey
> 403E TCNJ Library
> PO Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718
> Tel: 609.771.3337  Fax: 609.637.5177
> Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] search analytics, part deux

[K.G. Schneider]

> Hoping I'm not violating unwritten list rules by mentioning this -

If you are, then the rules are dumb. Search analytics should be part of any
product (even homebrewed) that is search-related. It was a
vote-off-the-island function when my FPOW reviewed search engines last year.
The extent to which search analytics-heck, even transaction logging-heck,
even simple reporting functionality-is missing from LIS products makes me
bubble and stew.

> One of the challenges of course is how to interpret search statistics.
> 90% percent of users don't go beyond page one: is it because our ranking
> works so well, or because they immediately change their query instead of
> looking further, or because they can't find the 'next page' link?

This practice is so common (known to happen with Google, OPACs, etc.) that
while interpretations of it may be important, it is even more important to
design around it (e.g., your first page should always be your best results).
Of course, that does not mean you can't do task analysis asking people to
figure out how to go to the next page or how to modify a query on the fly. I
don't want to hurt your feelings, but this practice is SO widespread that I
wouldn't tot it up to your product being transcendent. ;-) I mean, it could
be, but there are larger forces at work...

As a sidebar, I know a usability specialist interested in the issue of
search abandonment.

>
http://www.tlcdelivers.com/enews/default.asp?Display=22

super!

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] roll-your-own search analytics?

[K.G. Schneider]

> Hi Karen,
>
> I am also interested in this topic.
>
> I wonder if the Lightning Talks or Breakout Sessions might provide a venue
> for this topic.
>
> If there is not enough interest in a Breakout Session I would be happy to
> do a Lightning Talk on a Best Bets implementation I did that makes use of
> search log analysis, pre and post implementation.
>
> Tito

I'm in an odd position of not being able to lead the talk ("under
cross-examination, the subject broke down and admitted she did not do the
work in question..."). I know it's important, and I have the general idea of
how it works, but what you read is what I know, beyond some interesting
observations from a couple years of usability/search log analyses etc.

Karen

[CODE4LIB] search analytics, part deux

[K.G. Schneider]

Someone wrote to ask me what I mean by search analytics. Fair question.

The blurb for Lou Rosenfeld and Rich Wiggins' forthcoming book pretty much
does a good job of describing what I mean:

http://www.rosenfeldmedia.com/books/searchanalytics/

"Any organization that has a searchable web site or intranet is sitting on
top of hugely valuable and usually under-exploited data: logs that capture
what users are searching for, how often each query was searched, and how
many results each query retrieved. Search queries are gold: they are real
data that show us exactly what users are searching for in their own words.
This book shows you how to use search analytics to carry on a conversation
with your customers: listen to and understand their needs, and improve your
content, navigation and search performance to meet those needs."

By "roll-your-own" analytics, I'm talking about taking techniques such as
this:

http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2003/08/21/better_search_engine.html

Or, from an in-house recipe we used last year, produce logs this way:

Ingredients

Timestamp, original query, normalized query, parameters, number of
results, referring page, IP or session ID

Procedure

Timestamp: best format is year-month-day:hour:minute:second

Original query: as entered by user

Normalized query: after lowercasing, stemming, removal of field names, etc.

Parameters: any field names, languages, character sets, etc. Nice to
put the results page number in here

Number of results: unique to search engine, 0 hits is very important

Referring page: referer field, useful for locating confusing
locations within the sites, external links, etc.

IP or session ID: allows us to follow the progress of a multi-part
query. session ID is far better for privacy considerations.

Mix. Produce (at minimum) these reports:

Top 1% of query terms (often 10-15% of all queries)

top no-matches queries (0 results)

top referring pages for search, both internal and external

number and sources of empty queries

---

Note that you don't have to run these queries continuously to get useful
information. A strong sample can be invaluable. For that matter, if you're
doing iterative evaluation-say, across vendor products-using the same terms
is almost essential; I was turning into Jack from The Shining by the end of
our search engine implementation at my Former Place Of Work, but the
consistency was important.


Karen G. Schneider
Acting Associate Director of Libraries for Technology & Research
Florida State University
Email/AIM: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Blog: http://quodvide.wordpress.com
Phone: 850-644-5214
Cell: 850-590-3370

[CODE4LIB] roll-your-own search analytics?

[K.G. Schneider]

Hey c4l folks, I was sitting here pondering C4L's program lineup when it hit
me no one was covering a topic dear to me-roll-your-own search analytics.
Admittedly, said topic would quickly get beyond *my* skill level, in terms
of implementation, but I'm still interested in it and we definitely have the
resources to support it. (Imagine if we commissioned topics the way art
patrons commission work...)

Karen G. Schneider
Acting Associate Director of Libraries for Technology & Research
Florida State University
Email/AIM: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Blog: http://quodvide.wordpress.com
Phone: 850-644-5214
Cell: 850-590-3370

Re: [CODE4LIB] Server names at libraries

[K.G. Schneider]

>   What about naming the server so that users would know what it did from
> the name?

That's why we named our search engine's server "search," though Roy would
probably say we should have called it "find"  ;)

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Server names at libraries

[K.G. Schneider]

> Let this be a strong plea to your readers to choose nice, generic
> hostnames for their public-facing servers to help them avoid vendor
> lock-in.
>
> Dan Scott

You mean like Huey, Dewey and Louie? (I'll never tell where...'twas a long
time ago...and the servers were named pre-Internet and suddenly became er,
more visible.)

I've always enjoyed the library server names that sounded sophisticated and
evil... "darkstar" etc reminds me of our tabby cat thinking she's a
cruel-hearted tiger as she pounces on a cloth mouse.

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] [Web4Lib] Access 2006 presentations & podcasts available

[K.G. Schneider]

Ryan's point is that because the RSS feeds on the first site aren't enabled
for media enclosures the files aren't rendered available through
aggregators. You can certainly save the files from the first site (and the
annotations are excellent), but they aren't actually syndicated.

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

>
> I downloaded the podcasts by right clicking them with my mouse and
> choosing "save as".  That worked for me.
>
> Darla
>
> Darla Grediagin
> District Librarian
> Bering Strait School District
> Unalakleet, Alaska
> Web Address : http://bssdonline.org/course/view.php?id=51
> Blog: http://aklibrarian1.edublogs.org/
>
>
>
>
> Ryan Eby wrote:
>
> > I see some audio posted but I don't see a podcast link? Is there a
> > podcast feed for the audio? The main RSS feed doesn't seem to have
> > enclosures either. Maybe I missed it. Thanks.
> >
> > Ryan Eby
> >
> > On 10/23/06, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> **  This message has been cross-posted to several lists.  **
> >>
> >> The Access 2006 conference speaker presentations and podcasts are now
> >> available at:
> >>
> >> http://www.access2006.uottawa.ca/?page_id=10
> >>
> >> Thanks go to everyone who ... through their attendance and
> >> participation,
> >> and in spite of Ottawa's inclement weather ...  contributed toward
> >> making
> >> Access 2006 a huge success!
> >>
> >> Merci beaucoup, and enjoy!
> >>
> >> Donna Dinberg
> >> on behalf of the Access 2006 planning committee
> >> Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
> >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >> ___
> >> Web4lib mailing list
> >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> >>
> >
>
>
> --

Re: [CODE4LIB] [Web4lib] Access 2006 presentations & podcasts available

[K.G. Schneider]

Thanks to Donna for uploading the files and to Ryan for enhancing their
RSS-aliciousness!

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

>
> Since I couldn't find a podcast feed I went ahead and created one. You
> can find it here:
>
> http://odeo.com/channel/140930/view
>
> If it seems like there are less presentations it is because many of
> the ones listed on the site are actually part of one audio file, which
> I combined in a single post/download. The podcast links to the audio
> on the original site.
>
> Ryan Eby
>
> On 10/23/06, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> wrote:
> > **  This message has been cross-posted to several lists.  **
> >
> > The Access 2006 conference speaker presentations and podcasts are now
> > available at:
> >
> > http://www.access2006.uottawa.ca/?page_id=10
> >
> > Thanks go to everyone who ... through their attendance and
> participation,
> > and in spite of Ottawa's inclement weather ...  contributed toward
> making
> > Access 2006 a huge success!
> >
> > Merci beaucoup, and enjoy!
> >
> > Donna Dinberg
> > on behalf of the Access 2006 planning committee
> > Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > ___
> > Web4lib mailing list
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> >

Re: [CODE4LIB] LC MARC records?

[K.G. Schneider]

> On Sep 5, 2006, at 12:52 PM, Tim Spalding wrote:
> > If nobody will lend us their CDs, we'll probalby just buy the CDs, and
> > give the data out for free.
>
> If you go this route please let us know your paypal ID. :-)
>
> //Ed

Tim, don't abandon hope of getting those CDs; as long as it's legal/legit,
there are probably many libraries that would just as soon see them
"recycled" as pitch them. As someone else pointed out (as I have said about
LII to stakeholders far too many times...), you're paying for the currency
and upkeep of the data, so you want a relationship with an organization that
will keep feeding you. I can't imagine you couldn't work out a
barter/sponsorship with an organization that would find it useful to be
known as the "sister city" to LibraryThing. You just need to figure out why
it's worth it to them to do this.

(Then again, what's it worth to you to buy 'em!)

Of course, that SRU thingamabob will be kewl... but a billion-record
database in the hand is worth two in the development hopper...

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] LC MARC records?

[K.G. Schneider]

> On Sep 4, 2006, at 7:30 PM, Tim Spalding wrote:
> > I gather that, although the LC sells the CDs, there are no copyright
> > or redistribution restrictions-indeed, that companies often resell
> > them, with minimal value adds. I also gather that libraries generally
> > don't get these CDs, but rely on OCLC instead.

Or (just to clarify, and to point out another source for this data)
librarians use Classification Web: http://www.loc.gov/cds/classweb/


Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] position announcement

[K.G. Schneider]

> The following position announcement from PALINET (Philadelphia, PA)
> was brought to my attention:
>
>Technology Consultant
>
>PALINET seeks a technologist, who is a leader and visionary to
>define and develop innovative technology solutions for its 600
>member libraries in the Mid-Atlantic region. As Senior Technology
>Consultant you will take an active role in enhancing PALINET's
>position as a leading technology advisor through awareness
>building, training, and consulting. You will facilitate adoption
>and implementation of new technology tools, methods, and
>resources by PALINET member libraries such as digitization and
>digital library development, portals and federated searching,
>institutional repositories, e-content management and related
>areas.

This is a cool-sounding job... it sounds as if they're still looking. This
had been John Iliff's position, but my take on this slot is that whoever
goes into it can make it as unique and wonderful in his or her own way as
John did in his.

Eric's follow-up comment about his short stint at PALINET made me laugh... I
remember how relieved I was to change jobs after six months at Queens in my
first library gig after grad school, when in early 1993 I went from
children's services to a new slot in Tech Services that after some
head-scratching we called Electronic Resources Librarian. Toddler Time with
a dozen wandering two-year-olds seemed SO much more challenging (and WAS)
than launching one of the first Internet training programs for library staff
or being on the team that launched the first truly online catalogs...
opening day with the online catalogs featured some hairy moments (my
compadre on that project and I had written the screen prompts to say to
press "Return" when the keyboards were labeled "Enter"-or perhaps it was
vice versa... in any event, just picture the scene in your head, droves of
quarrelsome New Yorkers barking "There's no 'Return' key!"), and for anyone
who can remember introducing the 'net to librarians back in the day, it
wasn't always easy ("Why do I need to learn this? It's not my job, I'll
never need it!"). But compared to trying to amuse and educate toddlers...
for me, at least, a piece of cake.

What does this have to do with CODE4LIB? Well, I am not entirely sure, but
it helps to remember that what's "easy" or "intuitive" or "natural" is a
very relative concept, and our systems should reflect that.

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] next generation opac mailing list

[K.G. Schneider]

> That by trotting out their Endeca powered catalog, they've finally
> gotten the tangible that we nerds have been unable to get
> institutional support for.  Now every librarian in the country wants
> clustering and faceted search.

Ah, and look how they did it. To paraphrase an olde-tyme Internet
expression, they declared their vendor an obstacle and routed around it.
For years they had said "the OPAC sucks." But targeting ILS vendors
wasn't effective. Not enough people in LibraryLand care. What was the
incentive for a vendor to change over the occasional scattered peeping
of a few nerds? So they layered a faceted search engine on top of an
existing product. In doing so, they incidentally demonstrated the
"missing module" of the library catalog--user navigation.

Not sure every librarian wants clustering and faceted search, but one
can only hope. Btw, for you grow-your-own types, do check out Flamenco,
open source faceting software. Flamenco + indexer + stemmer + spell
check + some homebrewed SLA tool might equal a pretty nice search engine
to compensate for YOUR missing module.

Strategery--catch the fever!

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] next generation opac mailing list

[K.G. Schneider]

> My impression is that there are LOTS of catalogers interested in
> discussing this topic---the future of The Catalog. (I think there's
> no reason to stop calling it the catalog, although 'OPAC' as an
> acronym is probably best abandoned).   Some coders seem to assume
> that the cataloging community doesn't realize the need for change, or
> doesn't understand the possibilities of the online catalog.  I think
> this is more and more NOT the case. Catalogers too realize that
> things are broken, change is the topic of discussion.

I second this heartily. I am not a cataloger, but when I wade into the topic
of catalogs, I am impressed by the responses, sometimes visionary, sometimes
apocalyptic, from catalogers who are grappling with these issues. I work
with a tremendously gifted cataloger who has that valued dual vision.

> possibilities.  But what's also true is, yes, there's a lot of
> dispute about what is to be done. (I also think that what is to be
> done is not necessarily clear; while there are some things I
> personally think are clear that many colleagues irrationally [ :) ]
> disagree on, the terrain in general is in fact a lot less clear than
> some coders may think, in my opinion.)

All true on these points, and LibraryLand does not need (and more to the
point, will not adopt) solutions crafted solely by the coders. I am not a
coder or a cataloger and with great fear and trembling I have waded into the
catalog discussion because I felt it was important. Fortunately if I have
been mocked it has been behind my back ;> . Even with my toe-in-the-water
ruminations, I am conflicted with my own admittedly preliminary and only
partially formed conclusions, and on alternate days am equally persuaded by
other models. What is the best design-the One True Catalog or A Million
Points of Catalog? Are there other models? If we do one does that mean
opting for total dominion by a major company, I mean nonprofit? If we do the
other are we stuck in the system design of the 1960s?

> created by coders?  Will the coders and the catalogers be able to
> communicate...

If you really want a discussion on this topic, the best argument for
establishing another list is the naming issue, and the second is a question
of list dominion. I am not a coder; I'm not a cataloger. But I know a few
things, and I've worked or do work with coders, catalogers, reference, etc.
I felt extremely anxious posting at all about indexing software and the
qualities of good search last week, even though I've spent the last year
developing and evaluating software against standards for search and have
some passionate and I'd like to think well-informed ideas on the issue. A
broader group devoted to the topic of "catalog" is less likely to do the
coder take-down that can sometimes happen when coders get distracted by the
technological imprecision of the non-coder's ideas and more likely to listen
to what people like me are trying to say.

, do they speak enough of the same language, do they have
> enough of the same conceptual model of what we're talking about,
> enough of the same ideas of where we should be going?  I don't know.
> But such common vision is desperately needed.

It's possible when this discussion gets broadened that the coders are given
cause to evaluate and refine their notion of the "ideas of where we should
be going." In any event it would be richer as a collective discussion.

> As Eric writes, an important topic for discussion is: "To what degree
> should traditional cataloging practices be used in such a thing, or
> to what degree should new and upcoming practices such as FRBR be
> exploited?"  Coders can't have this discussion without catalogers if
> it's not just going to be a fantasy discussion.  And we should be
> humble enough to realize that we may not in fact even understand the
> question as well as (some) catalogers, and the cataloging community
> in fact has an awful lot to contribute.

Yes, on all points, if cataloger is understood as a term that means "other
than coder" (and let's not forget FAST-and I wish there were more discussion
about FAST widely in the community because it FASTinates me but I'm not able
to attend that one ALA program I am pointed to whenever I seek more
information about it).

You aren't going to get oodles of directors or reference folk or whatnot on
a list like this, at least not participating. But if the discussion is
forced to be at, um, higher than machine level, you might get wide viewing
from the peanut gallery, who will pingpong ideas around the bibliogalaxy.
(Er... how easy is it to view the archives of this list? I had an
embarrassingly tough time getting on this list, and no memory of other
details about it.)

I would also suggest that statements such as MARC Must Die-which I do not
disagree with-might best be posed as questions: What's Wrong With MARC? For
one thing, it would make assumptions difficult. For another, it suggests
that the list subscribers are being invited to a 

Re: [CODE4LIB] next generation opac mailing list

[K.G. Schneider]

Nextgencat4lib?

kgs

Re: [CODE4LIB] next generation opac mailing list

[K.G. Schneider]

> I would definitely subscribe if it was called
> bigcrappyblackboxesthatcostanarmandaleg-l, but I'd never post to it
> because I'd keep misspelling it.
>
> That could be good or bad.
>
> -Ross.

Hmmm, but the objective is not bigcrappyblackboxesthatcostanarmandaleg...

Maybe it should be nirvana-l, or neplusultra-l, or nextyearinjerusalem-l ;)

Karen S.

Re: [CODE4LIB] next generation opac mailing list

[K.G. Schneider]

> I agree -- the term OPAC brings with it a whole set of last-generation
> assumptions.  It strikes me as being like starting a list on new
> developments in Web technology called "Gopher 3.0" or something.
>
> Also, NGO is traditionally used to describe Non-Governmental
> Organizations like the Red Cross, Amnesty International, etc.  Probably
> more people are familiar with the acronym NGO than with OPAC.
>
> --Casey

As a word person, I keep circling back to the word "catalog," because...

* It's not an acronym-particularly not an acronym that makes my skin crawl;
it's nice plain English

* It is broad enough to refer to all the functions a catalog might include:
user interface (which is what OPAC refers to), commerce, inventory,
reporting, data management...

Just a thought.

Karen S.

Re: [CODE4LIB] fun with kinosearch

[K.G. Schneider]

> A couple of points about Lucene features, in reply to Karen: Lucene does
> do stemming natively, in the analyser (use the PorterStemFilter class,
> which is part of the Lucene distribution).
...
> http://lucene.apache.org/java/docs/queryparsersyntax.html

It was this documentation that I was relying on for stemming info--but I'm
not technical enough to know to look elsewhere. I knew it *worked* with
Porter stemming, which is gudenuff.

> I agree that what were once bells and whistles are now essential to the
> kind of search interface we need to build. My sense is that Lucene has
> the machinery to do just about everything you need in a good modern
> search interface, but it's up to the implementation to put all the
> pieces together.

Yes indeed! One thing I've learned from working with search specialists is
that the innards of search engines tend to be basically the same--it's the
assembly that makes all the difference.

Peter, in a real-world bench test for a more typical search engine and more
typical search engine user, I'm not sure fuzzy match can work well, even
"tuned." but if stemming or light pluralization meets user needs--well
again, it's gudenuff. :)

Karen

Re: [CODE4LIB] fun with kinosearch

[K.G. Schneider]

> I'm not sure where stemming comes in (does Lucene do this?), it seems
> faceted browsing could be handled by something like Carrot2.  Rumor
> has it Solr has faceting support somewhere, as well.  At least,
> according to the 9s project.  http://www.nines.org/
>
> -Ross.

Lucene doesn't have native stemming; it does do fuzzy search, but you don't
want that. (Trussst me, through a funky series of events I recently
evaluated Lucene with fuzzy search enabled, and it was bizarre.) Lucene is
used as a building block for other search engines. It does support quite a
few capabilities. I have seen it used in conjunction with the Porter
stemming algorithm and with spell-checkers of various flavors.

But again--and probably only because I have been testing search engines for
several months and am starting to get a little cabin fever--I want to
clarify that I'm not piling on the fact that Kino can't do it all. As a
component, it could be great, and that it's in a Perl is a biggy. I was
(awkwardly) addressing my concern that some fundamental search capabilities
appeared to have been labeled "creeping featureitis." I would just be
careful about that kind of terminology. I doubt Eric meant anything
seriously by it. I just know the long uphill battle it can be to provide
quality search, and I wouldn't want someone as distinguished as Eric quoted
in support of compromising the user experience.

K.G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] fun with kinosearch

[K.G. Schneider]

> There is nothing wrong with Lucene. In fact, Lucene seems to be
> becoming the indexer of choice. I just do not have the abilities to
> write things in Java.

Ah--I read your document as referencing Lucene, but you actually wrote
*Plucene.*

Karen S.

Re: [CODE4LIB] fun with kinosearch

[K.G. Schneider]

> Let's not confuse the functionality of an indexer/search engine with
> the functionality of a search interface. An indexer is used to find.
> The finding process can be enhanced with features that are not a part
> of the indexer. Spell checking is one of those features. The
> exploitation of a thesaurus is another. Thus, creeping featuritis.

So, ok, on that level (and ignoring the "fundamental underpinnings"
argument, which may be what I was incoherently striving for at least in
part), what's wrong with Lucene? Java?

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] fun with kinosearch

[K.G. Schneider]

> I have been having fun with KinoSearch (an open source indexer/search
> engine with a Perl API), and I have documented my experiences here:
>
>http://dewey.library.nd.edu/morgan/kinosearch/?cmd=about
>
> Cool!
>
> --
> Eric Lease Morgan

I'm taking a break from evaluating search engines to respond to this. I'm
glad Eric took a look at this SE, and I appreciate this documentation. But I
have to take issue with his labeling spell-check and synonym support as
"featuritis." These are fundamental capabilities not so much "increasingly
desired by users" but expected functionalities for search. The fielded
search issues intrigued me, not because users do a lot of fielded searching
(they don't), but because it reminded me that Kino doesn't support any
faceting, either.

As Eric notes, he would need to build in a spell-checker (and the ability to
build a dictionary from his index). He didn't bring up stemming or light
pluralization, but that would be yet another important capability. Then
there's the issue of weighting fields. Then there's search log reporting. I
could go on... but a search engine capable of supporting modern
functionalities doesn't equate to a product larded with "featuritis." And if
you say "but it's free" I'll scream...

I agree on the indexing and Unicode issues with swish-e, which we will be
migrating from shortly for a number of reasons. I also like Eric's idea of
attaching search software to a major project. A search engine that had the
collective strength and wisdom of LAMP software could be an interesting
alternative to... *you know who.*

Sorry if I overreacted to the "featuritis" comment--I live and die by search
these days... I've already had to explain to more than one stakeholder why
we can't just use Jimbob's Crapola Indexer or whatever.

K.G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] code4lib journal

[K.G. Schneider]

> I think that the last part of that search should be
>
> (((wifi OR Ethernet) AND room) OR (wifi AND lobby))
>
> One hardly wants a lobby full of ethernet jacks into which people are
> plugged.  The fire marshal would probably have a conniption.

Dang, of course--this kind of dumb error is why I'm in sales, not
production. :-)

Karen

Re: [CODE4LIB] code4lib journal

[K.G. Schneider]

> On Tue, 9 May 2006, Ben Ostrowsky wrote:
>
> > A local hotel has taken search engine optimization to new heights of
> > silliness.  Its official name is Tampa Hotel Near Busch Gardens.
>
> And to think it could've been Tampa Hotel (2w) Busch Gardens.

This made me wonder about the amenities...

Pool NOT (spa or whirlpool)

"High-speed Internet" AND (((wifi OR Ethernet) AND room) or (Ethernet AND
lobby))

K.G. Schneider

Re: [CODE4LIB] code4lib journal

[K.G. Schneider]

> Thomas Dowling wrote:
> > The editors of THE Journal suggest we establish a 246 field for "Slash
> > Lib Slash Dev".
>
> Of course, the media's penchant for referring to the solidus as a
> "backslash" is going to be a serious problem for any such move to provide
> parallel title information.

Particularly since one librarian's solidus is another librarian's virgule...

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] I am sorry.

[K.G. Schneider]

Don't apologize--I feel the same way, it was fun to see you go get 'em.
We've all made that mistake. (Now, if you did it again next week...)

For VOLT and RAIN BIRD, don't use their copy to describe what they are. It
seemed jarring. Say "temporary agency" or whatever. I was also curious about
when you served in the USMC and what your career specialty was (even if
seemingly unrelated).

Also watch the shift in tense throughout your c.v. E.g. for Hilo, you say
"contributions include" and then list statements in the past tense.

Good luck!

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Question re: ranking and FRBR

[K.G. Schneider]

> Right. The observation had more to do with how to order the items within
> a workset. The visitor was suggesting that a combination of popularity
> and currency ought to be considered for determining display. So between
> titles, you could show those titles that were more widely held first.
> Then within titles, you could show the most recent edition of the title
> at the top -- independent of the number of holdings associated with that
> particular edition.

In answer to a question from yesterday, I'd wager (since we are doing
armchair usability) that factoring in the number of manifestations of an
item *would* make a difference.

You'd probably have to do it at query time, but for the concerns I've heard
about catalog records changing, conditional results for date sets seems
valuable.

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Question re: ranking and FRBR

[K.G. Schneider]

> Of course this might be just the right ordering for someone, but in
> general an ordering that takes into account where the search terms
> occurred in the records, in addition to how popular the works are,
> should work better than one that ignores that information.
>
> --Th

Field weighting is a fairly common search functionality. Additionally, some
search engines (I would bet Google does this) provide proximity importance.
One SE I know of builds a second index just for this purpose (though I
imagine Google does it by brute force on the query end of things).

It's still hard to say how well X works for Y based on observations by one
or two people, but I'd say that Fielding's work peppered in that mix does
seem off. It's also hard to tell what can be fixed by search and what needs
other mechanisms to resolve it.

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Question re: ranking and FRBR

[K.G. Schneider]

> Although, at the same time, I think Google has taught us that our result
> set
> order doesn't have to be perfect.  It just has to be 'relatively accurate'
> and present enough information to let the user determine its relevance.

Do users actually "determine relevance" or do they have faith in Google to
provide the best results on the first results page?

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Question re: ranking and FRBR

[K.G. Schneider]

> I'd agree with this.
>
> Actually, though, 'relevancy' ranking based on where terms occur in the
> record and how many times they occur is of minor help compared to some
> sort of popularity score.  WorldCat holdings work fairly well for that,
> as should circulation data.  The primary example of this sort of ranking
> is the web search engines where ranking is based primarily on word
> proximity and links.
>
> --Th

When we talk about what is or what is not working well, it would be useful
to provide some evidence-driven data to support those statements. I'm "pro
FRBR" but if it's going to catch on, it's time to take FRBR past the world
of assumptions, both in terms of proof of concept and in terms of debates
about what kind of configuration does or does not work well.

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] Question re: ranking and FRBR

[K.G. Schneider]

> Here at OCLC we're ranking based on the holdings of all the records in
> the retrieved work set.  Seems to work pretty well.

Ok, truly intended as genuine curiosity--not intending to be
provocative--but how do you know it's working well?

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

>
> --Th
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
> Colleen Whitney
> Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 1:06 PM
> To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU
> Subject: [CODE4LIB] Question re: ranking and FRBR
>
> Hello all,
>
> Here's a question for anyone who has been thinking about or working with
> FRBR for creating record groupings for display.  (Perhaps others have
> already discussed or addressed this...in which case I'd be happy to have
> a pointer to resources that are already out there.)
>
> In a retrieval environment that presents ranked results (ranked by
> record content, optionally boosted by circulation and/or holdings), how
> could/should FRBR-like record groupings be factored into ranking?
> Several approaches have been discussed here:
>  - Rank the results using the score from the highest-scoring record in a
> group
>  - Use the sum of scores of documents in a group (this seems to me to
> place too much weight on the group)
>  - Use the log of the sum of the scores of documents in a group
>
> I'd be very interested in knowing whether others have already been
> thinking about this
>
> Regards,
>
> --Colleen Whitney

Re: [CODE4LIB] Web services for LII content?

[K.G. Schneider]

Ah, yes, cobranding... everything old is new again. We were doing this when
I started in 2001. There were several issues:

1. We weren't charging for it; it was just an added value service. Based on
all the bells and whistles, and even the minimum HTML (which at the time was
five templates requiring extensive coding and tweaking, all which had to be
redone every time the library changes its website, plus all the funky
library coding that we stumbled into) it would have cost us 6000 hours a
year to deliver to every library in California. (I know: we could use
library students or volunteers! Uh huh...) I don't think we could make it
cost-effective as a national funded service, at least not in scale to
address our funding issues. It's very boutiquey, very maintenance intensive,
and requires talking to webmasters with no clue what they are doing. When
our funding had a steep cut the last time (2002) I stopped the service.

2. It creates a branding problem for LII to have a million quasi-LIIs
running around. We ran into this in several situations.

3. It still requires that your users jump into a separate portal to do their
search, even if it looks like your stuff on the outside.

The number of libraries that tell me they'd love a service but they just
can't pay for it is pretty high... at least with "links on a page" I have a
few interested customers, probably more in the public library arena? When I
talked about it in PLA, hands popped up all over the audience, and I have a
real-world customer interested. I keep thinking the content and presentation
could be managed through a tool such as Media Manager, which I use on my
blog to present Amazon content...

Karen

>
> Another option is one that I think you already do and that is to wrap an
> organization's branding around your licensed content:
>
>  * Have the organization set up a domain name service entry that
>points to your server (e.g. resources.library.oh.us => 64.142.8.101)
>
>  * Get from the organization an HTML template of how they would like
>LII content to appear.  This is most likely just their existing
>website template.
>
>  * Add code/configuration to your server that recognizes when the
>requesting URL is 'resources.library.oh.us' and present LII content
>within the organization's template rather than your default template.
>
>  * Add statistics and customization options to taste, bake at 350 for
>thirty minutes, and serve with vanilla ice cream
>
> To most everyone in the world it looks like the organization's own
> content.  Only someone who traceroutes the URL or has Netcraft's browser
> plugin would notice that it isn't the organization providing the web
> service.  For me that would be a value-added service that I'd consider
> paying for (if I had a budget to do such things...).
>
>
> Peter
>
> On 3/28/06 5:33 PM, K.G. Schneider wrote:
> > The library I've been talking to has said they are interested in showing
> LII
> > content on their site. I have spoken briefly with their developers and
> > indicated an interest in doing this, and even sent PDFs displaying our
> table
> > structure internally. In turn, I've asked them what they would expect to
> see
> > on their site. URLs? Links to LII content? Parsing-in of categories?
> > Mini-descriptions, like titles plus the first ten, sort of like pulling
> in
> > an RSS feed?
>
> - --
> Peter Murray   http://www.pandc.org/peter/work/
> Assistant Director, Multimedia Systems  tel:+1-614-728-3600;ext=338
> OhioLINK: the Ohio Library and Information Network   Columbus, Ohio
> -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-
> Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (Darwin)
> Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org
>
> iD8DBQFEKeb44+t4qSfPIHIRAlY/AJ0fseYkPaNlQcedWIMSFkTUK3VaggCeOly6
> n6mj61aENXbmGxjZfy6+sxs=
> =HZjL
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[CODE4LIB] Web services for LII content?

[K.G. Schneider]

Well, I'm not sure that's it at all. You folks are smart... help me out
here.

Wearing my LII hat (http://lii.org ) I have been approached by a
library--and had suggestions on our user survey--for something I've wanted
to offer from LII as an added value service (as in, we do it and you pay for
it) but wasn't able to articulate very well either in execution or in
technology. One survey response that I just read said:

"Develop web services (accessible by subscription) to allow a developer to
include some of the LII in an application."

The library I've been talking to has said they are interested in showing LII
content on their site. I have spoken briefly with their developers and
indicated an interest in doing this, and even sent PDFs displaying our table
structure internally. In turn, I've asked them what they would expect to see
on their site. URLs? Links to LII content? Parsing-in of categories?
Mini-descriptions, like titles plus the first ten, sort of like pulling in
an RSS feed?

If this helps, we generate XML very nicely in LII, through our new CMS
(Community Servers, a front end for MySQL), and we have authentication
options as well.

I can see this being hugely useful for libraries--instead of maintaining
lists of local links, display LII links, optionally with or without
content--and a way for LII to generate revenue to support what it does,
since we are facing a huge budget cut (50%). Our users tell us our content
is useful and this is one more way we can be a good "business to business"
service to libraries. It just needs some technical guidance and
thinking-through. I really think we could get grant money to do this, too.

So, thoughts?

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

[CODE4LIB] raising your name in vain

[K.G. Schneider]

http://www.futureofthebook.org/blog/archives/2006/03/whats_the_question_shif
ting_th.html

In re an open source SE. See my first comment.

Too busy to ponder, just wanted to share--

Karen G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: [CODE4LIB] A code4lib journal proposal

[K.G. Schneider]

> If the delivery method is purely electronic, and it's a given that the
> intended audience would have tools to be alerted of new articles, why
> bother with a formal schedule?
>
> -Ross.

Because that's how things get written, reviewed, and published. It's not for
Them, it's for You. Just my 2 cents as a writer.

K.G. Schneider

Re: [CODE4LIB] A code4lib journal proposal

[K.G. Schneider]

> Sorry if I've misinterpreted your argument, but aiming code4lib at the
> hard core is an
> opportunity that we shouldn't miss.

I am more analog than most of you (or at least partially powered by
tape-drives, or possibly those great clanking machines from Desk Set) but I
fully agree with this. There are enough publications that labor to explain
technology to the people like me who somewhat "get it," and for the rest,
there's Newsweek. The closest we get to what you're talking about, I think,
is DLib, ITAL, and First Monday. I see these all being rigorous but focused
in other places than "the code." Yours would be a boutique publication, but,
given the Long Tail and all that, properly done, it would work.

> I think the success of the conference
> (which I admit I
> didn't attend but have heard nothing but good things about) validates
> that. BUT, if the
> journal is to be taken seriously, particularly by promotion and tenure
> committees, then it
> does have to be peer reviewed and have some  _semblance_ of
> conventionality.

You could use blogging software to deliver it, but make sure it has peer
review, an ISSN, and a professional appearance.

This is where as a half-analog (or analogue--I like that even better) I'll
step in to say that if you produce it olde-tyme-style, as some kludgey
website or as some honking big long PDF, you will not gain audience, and you
will lose some street cred. As it stands--and please don't take this
personally--Planet Code4Lib, though interesting reading, as a design
experience is, um, a tad rustic, with the kind of gaffes typical of people
who are code-smart but maybe less far along in the social-software dept. But
at least it's online.

You also need a production schedule, a team of peer reviewers, publication
guidelines, and editorial policies. This does not have to take forever.
Frankly, in most typical LibraryLand settings it would take two years, maybe
longer, but an afternoon of skyping and IM'ing among you folks should wrap
things up pretty well.

I was glad to hear about the IRC backchannel. I go to conferences outside
LibraryLand quite a bit and this (or IM backchannels) has become routine,
and not just among the digirati, and yet is treated as outlandishly alien
within ALA, and I don't mean just PLA et al. You definitely get it on how
people do conferences elsewhere.

Frankly, my concern (I hear the tape drives whirring faster as I think about
this) is that you have rushed out of the gate of a conference with great
enthusiasm and then something will happen and the journal will not happen.
You might consider, instead of attempting a regular publication, the online
version of a conference monograph, with everyone tackling specific topics
and the target date to be... let's see, a few weeks prior to Access. Two
publications a year might be reasonable. Or, new-tyme-style, perhaps one
great article a month, leading up to the Northern version of the conference.

Just a thought, so that the sheer daunting nature of the challenge of
putting out a periodic publication doesn't sag under its own weight, once
the post-conference adrenaline burns off.

K.G. Schneider
[EMAIL PROTECTED]