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Wired News: Bloggers Gain Libel Protection
"The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last Tuesday that Web loggers, website operators and e-mail list editors can't be held responsible for libel for information they republish, extending crucial First Amendment protections to do-it-yourself online publishers."
ZDNet - Latest Harry Potter shared for free online
According to this article, filesharing services like Kazaa have bootleg copies of Harry Potter V. I wouldn't think that this would be a big deal, since most people don't like to read on a screen. Actually, I would think that the MP3 version of the books would be a lot more popular to bootleg.
StrangeBanana: Computer-generated webpage design
Found on the Lockergnome blog, this is a really cool site to visit. It generates random website designs that you are welcome to use. Just make sure you save the site design you like, because it will be different the next time you visit.
Website for this environmental watchdog. The site offers sections on the group's investigations, news, and top stories.
The online way to register for the Do Not Call list. You must have a valid email address to register online.
Rasovsky - YURIKA! - Narrators
I listen to audio books in the car and even on that limited basis definitely know that a narrator can make or break a story. This article classifies narrators and also gives a list of the author's favorites.
In the last week, there has been a lot of talk on blogs about RSS being replaced with a new standard like Pie. Until I found this posting, I hadn't understood why it was necessary. Very clear and easy to understand, even for those of us like me who don't create their own feeds.
Mercury News | 06/24/2003 | Many libraries will skip grants to avoid using Net filters
I am hoping that we will be able to pass on the grant funding as well, but I know that some of the smallest libraries in our area will not be able to turn down funding in any amount.
Wired News: Bill Aims to Cut Computer Clutter
A federal bill proposes a consumer fee per computer to pay for recycling. Right now we have to take our old computers to the nearest prison, about 45 miles away. How many used computers can we have? Don't ask!
Whoa! What a great service! I for one will be reading the European news.
Wi-Fi Networking News: Books Beat Wi-Fi
Interesting. Our shelves are not in a position to block where people would sit with wireless, but I know that when we tested the wireless connection back in the shelving area it worked just fine. We do have some phantom areas where the wireless drops, but they aren't caused by shelves of books.
Behind 'Harry' Delivery, Months of Plotting (TechNews.com)
The orchestration of getting Harry Potter out to those who preordered it. I stopped ordering Harry Potter from online years ago when Amazon got mine to me a week after it was released, but now I may have to try again.
Site for information on the independent film business.
Meetup: Organizing local interest groups.
An incredibly useful site that lets local interest groups post their meetings. From politics and activism to gaming to home schooling, this site will have a group that interests you and hopefully, one that meets near you.
Innovations, educators and communities that are taking public education into the future.
Global environmental protection organization's site filled with news, information, publications and how to be involved.
I always find the Webby Awards to be a little odd. Are they rewarding for longest load time? But the sites are always fun to visit and show me sites that I have missed.
Reuters | Latest Financial News / Full News Coverage
Unable to use the expletive that I have been saying over and over upon hearing this because it would certainly change the tone of my blog, I will settle for a primal scream of rage! AAAAAARRRRGGGH! Now to decide whether we will give up our federal funds and continue to offer unfiltered access or bow to the pressure and keep the money in this tough budget climate.
Asian Historical Architecture: a Photographic Survey
A user-friendly collection of photographs of important architecture throughout the far east. The first page offers a map of Asia to ensure that users understand where the countries being referred to are.
Posting may be slow for the next couple of days as I read the new Harry Potter book. I am looking forward to spending more time in that magical universe, dreading the time when the series is complete.
The library had a little Harry Potter party on Friday. It was a lot of fun. The part that was best in the kids' eyes was the Potions Class where we took ice cream and made floats from a bunch of different colored sodas. We had blue, green, red, orange, and brown. It was a lot of good sugary fun right before supper. :)
Noisy, fun, informational site for kids from the ASPCA. Contains lots of information on pets.
WatchBlog: 2004 Election News, Opinion and Commentary
A weblog broken into three political affiliations: Democrats, Third Party and Republicans. RSS Feeds available for each one.
From the Library of Congress' American Memory collection comes this site providing a research guide on women's history and culture in the U.S. Unlike other American Memory sites, this is not a digital archive.
Looking for other bloggers posting on the same subjects? Just enter the URL of your blog, or a blog you love, into BlogMatcher and up comes a list of sites that have also posted on the same articles.
A great article explaining the options out there for blogging that correspond to the type of blogger you are or think you want to be. Found via Scripting News.
Why Europe still doesn't get the Internet | CNET News.com
A controversial new proposal by the Council of Europe proposes to give those criticized by any online media a chance to reply. The reply must be posted for a specific length of time. The implications are varied and may not be the ones that the article proposes. I can see it promoting more speech rather than less.
Hooray! I was just saying the other day that someone should make a list like this with hotels that offer Internet access. Now just to make sure that the access is free and, even better, wireless.
Pro.Madison. - Good To Be Home
I know that the Midwest isn't as hip as the coasts, but I too am happy to live in Wisconsin. This article embraces the joy of the Midwest seen in the eyes of people who don't live here.
Now she is doing classics and people will be given a lot more time to read them. The first is Steinbeck's East of Eden.
This site has an obvious liberal bias and provides some of the most complete coverage of the Democratic candidates for President that I have found.
State budget amounts to fiscal feudalism
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign demands that both the governor and the Joint Finance Committee go back and revisit the budget. Their issue with both versions is that they cut funding for education and seniors, while cutting taxes for big business.
A funky, fun knitting site filled with patterns, ideas and inspiration.
The Department of Entomology at Cornell offers this site on beetles. It provides information on newly discovered beetles, 3D pictures that rotate, information on biodiversity and sections on the Asian Longhorned Beetle.
Information on tools, product reviews, monthly projects, and woodworking tips.
TLC Adds Video Previews to OPACs
Way cool! This is definitely something that would draw users to our library catalogs.
AlterNet: Harry Potter and the Great Big Hoopla
From one of my favorite sites, Alternet.org, comes this article about the huge publicity push for the new Harry Potter book.
Library Journal | Reed Business Information
The Library of the Year is Clark County Las Vegas. I always enjoy reading about what efforts they have made that make them stand out.
Library Job Postings on the Internet
Collection of job postings from a wide range of resources.
Career development information and resources both for current library professionals and those considering entering the profession.
Parents rescue librarian's job
From Mercury News via LISNews.com: parents in San Jose, CA save the school librarian's job by contributing the $52,000 for the position!
""If we lost the librarian . . . we're talking about taking a perfectly wonderful school down to zero,'' said parent Tessie Crosby, who helped raise the funds."
Horror Writers Association - Stoker Awards
The 2002 Bram Stoker Awards for horror writing were presented this month.
Chicago Tribune | The 50 Best Magazines
One of those lists that is so fun to pick apart!
Another story from LISNews.com, definitely a site to visit! This is an article about the freedom to read and what should or should not be inferred from someone's reading choices. Very important. Very powerful.
LISNews.com pointed to this story. I just had a patron today say that she loves this library because we bend the rules for people. Just a little bending goes a long way. Sticking to rules can get articles like this written. And no, I wouldn't have necessarily forgiven the fines, but there are ways to make people feel good and not betrayed.
JK Rowling will read the first chapter of her new book and answer questions live online at 4 pm, June 26th. Cool!
Dante's Inferno Test - Impurity, Sin, and Damnation
The first time I wanted to try this site it was so busy I couldn't connect. Having actually read Dante in college, this test was a lot of fun.
Simple Guide to the A-List Bloggers
A parody of the top bloggers that will make you laugh and may have you checking out the blogs despite yourself.
Library Journal -- Purchase on Demand A Better Customer Service Model
LJ is hosting a debate on the future of ILL. This piece is one of three available on their website. It speaks to whether simply purchasing items that are being requested by patrons is not a better solution than ILL. The article says that it is faster and more cost effective.
JS Online: Public schools losing librarians
A sad story about the impact that the state budget is going to have on school librarians in Wisconsin. A quote from one of the librarians interviewed:
"Librarians historically have not been attuned to public relations, and I think that's our biggest downfall," she said. "Because we sit in our little library cubicles and check in our books and don't tell people about the important work we do."
Best Practices in Public Libraries
ALA site that has compiled the best of library policies. A wonderful resource for those of us who always struggle to find good examples to steal. :)
"Libraries are the only public institution where regular use not only improves your mind, body and soul but also the wellness of your community as a whole. In other words, eat your library, it's good for you. "
Directory of sites and resources for surfers.
The End of History - How e-mail is wrecking our national archive. By Fred Kaplan
I have seen this article mentioned on several library blogs. It is an eye-opening look at why recent events in history are not documented due to technology.
This blog mentions that ALA will be producing a "One Book, One Community" CD with resources for people planning such an event. The item will be available this fall. Hopefully just in time to help Green Lake County with ours!
Preview of ALA's new Great Website choices
A new list of recommended sites to go through! Hurrah!
Public library proponents protest state funding cuts
And what cuts they are! 50% cut in funding to all public libraries in the state! Ouch!
NationMaster.com - Interactive Country Comparisons
A site that offers interactive country comparisons where you choose what statistics you want to see compared and then they are represented as both numbers and a bar graph.
News, resources, and links on helping at-risk youth, information on counseling-related topics, and insight into mental health issues.
Art & Architecture Thesaurus (Research at the Getty)
A thesaurus of 125,000 terms used in art and architecture.
Children's Books Online: the Rosetta Project, Inc.
An online collection of beautifully illustrated children's books. Download the books to your hard drive or read them on the website.
OK, I got a little above 34% on this. My husband got 47% which is why I was able to check that I had both dated and married a geek. I loved all the references to Monty Python, Hitchhikers Guide, libraries and books! I know that my warped reading tastes helped with my score.
A collection of over 1700 sources for public records.
One of the largest meta-search engines for travel information available. It includes information on hotels, airfares, cars, vacation packages, and cruises.
This site from The Discovery Channel has ideas for science fair projects and experiments.
An enormous listing of authors that links to biographical information, the author's body of work and related links.
This site offers information on companies in over 65 foreign countries. Registration is required.