Search

Presents four women librarians in the United States and their emerging roles in managing automated information. Search for representative librarians via online computer network and their response; Initial experiences of the women in handling high-technology tools in managing libraries; Publishing and administrative experiences; Trend of reskilling and reprofessionalizing in librarianship.

Discusses how Internet filters work for the benefit of United States-based school libraries. Description of Internet filters; Mechanism of keyword blocking; Information on site blocking; Background information on protocol blocking; Significance of time blocking. INSET: 5 filters on the market.

The article presents information on the importance of personal branding for librarians. The author looks at the strategies of librarians including Andromeda Yelton, Bohyun Kim, and Ingrid Abrams for standing out among library professionals. The article also discusses techniques for children's librarians, such as dressing in bright clothing.

The article reviews the LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) open source digital-preservation software from Stanford University that preserves digital content in a library-to-library network.

Discusses the challenge of managing a virtual library. Importance of hiring the right personnel for a virtual library; Probationary periods that are a good idea for new staff; Encourage employees to develop solid working boundaries that prevent them from overworking; Important communication tools for the staff to communicate; Legitimacy challenges that virtual librarians face.

Focuses on the plan of Fiat Lux, a collective of librarians from Web portals around the world, to create a high-quality Web presence. Importance of its service to the industry; Values with respect to work the group adopted; Organizations that provide assistance to the project.

Discusses outsourcing of some activities and services by libraries in the United States. Concerns over relinquishing control of services or information; Differences between libraries and bookstores; Savings provided by outsourcing; Specific libraries' efforts to outsource; Standards of expectation.

Looks at the implications of the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) for libraries and librarians in the country. Effect of the CIPA decision on free speech of adult library users; Limitations of filtering software to block access to protected speech; Impact on intellectual freedom.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "The 'Annoyed Librarian' Strikes Again," by Francine Fialkoff, published in the September 15, 2011 issue refuting the claim that the "Annoyed Librarian" blog is like the satirical newspaper "The Onion."

Presents the opinion of the author about a library staffer who spends too much time on the Internet in library forums and not enough time on work. Belief that management has failed; Workers who do not work; Problems that arise when management introduces a new technology into the workplace without the development of policies and procedures; Benefits of e-mail and lists for librarians; Recommended courses of action.

Focuses on Fiat Lux, a collective of librarians from Web portals around the world who are dedicated to planning a major Web presence. Members of Fiat Lux; Search of the group for funding; Goals of the group.

Observes reactions of the old guard of librarianship to automation in their libraries and encourages librarians to redesign themselves. Why librarians feel threatened by the new technology; Librarians as increasingly the sole advocates of public access to information; Benefits of electronic discussion lists such as NETTRAIN and BI-L; The inevitable new media that are destined to appear.

Studies the US Air Force's formal and conceptual training programs for application to libraries. Model of practical management; Reasons for success of strategy of training; Content of formal library education; Training as a right and responsibility in the Air Force; Competencies as proof of good on-the-job training; Obstacle to making ongoing education and training a priority for librarians.

Highlights the failure of the American Library Association (ALA) to include a call for the release of journalists, writers, and independent librarians in its final task force report about Cuba in March 2003. Organizations and individuals who have called for the release of the prisoners; Discussion on the free expression crisis in Cuba; Speculations on the reason for the reluctance of the ALA to include a call for the release of the prisoners in its final task force report.

Discusses the federal e-rate subsidy program in the United States. The ultimate result of the program; The Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) efforts to develop e-rate; Librarian's overall opinions on e-rate; Paperwork involved in e-rate; Suggested problem with e-rate; Suggestions from the author on e-rate; Other information.

Discusses Internet resources as library services for children and young adults. Obstacles to securing access to the Internet in libraries, such as concerns about lewd materials; The Berkeley Information Network; Click-It, a project which encourages the use of new technologies in youth services; The Young Adult Librarian's Help/Home Page; The view that most Internet finding aids for children's resources are designed to help adults locate information for children.

Discusses the Telecommunications Act and, in particular, the `Communications Decency Act.' Assertion that all librarians are Internet librarians; The shortcomings of the Telecommunications Act; The complaint filed by the American Library Association (ALA), the lead plaintiff.

Praises the quantity, quality, and currency of grant-related information that is available on the Internet. Advice on the approaches to use if one is looking for grant-related resources; Internet Resources for Non-Profit Service Organization; Other ideas for Internet searching such as the powerful keyword search engines; Others aids to make the process easier.

Highlights three librarians, their electronic information projects on the Internet and their innovations.

Lists 1995 titles of books on the Internet, including a forthcoming Neal Schuman book, `The Internet Cookbook' by the author.

Offers suggestions for librarians and others about how to set up a home page on an individual Internet account. SLIP/PPP accounts and SLIP-emulator accounts; Modifying filespace; Webweaving Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) files; The book `Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML in 7 Days,' by Laura LeMay. INSET: A few terms explained.

Discusses librarian-created Internet subject guides. Guides for public libraries and school media centers; Guides from academic librarians. INSET: A few terms explained..

Reports that library representatives attended the Blogging, Journalism and Credibility Conference of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government held January 21-22, 2005 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Comment from Carrie Lowe, member of the American Library Association who participated at the event; Presentation made by librarian Karen G. Schneider at the conference; Topics discussed.

Presents a letter to the editor in response to Jessamyn West's comments about progress regarding repairs to the unfortunate redesign of the American Library Association Web site.

Presents the opinion of the author about the survival of the Librarians' Index to the Internet during a time in which corporate enterprises failed. Speculation about what would happen to the Web site if it ran out of funding; Opinion that too many people do not understand that library services are not free; Description of how libraries have had to deal with budget cuts; Speculation about budget cuts in 2003 and 2004.

Presents the author's thoughts in light her decision to stop writing the 'Internet Librarian' column in the 'American Libraries' periodical. Idea that writing offers a learning experience and is her avocation; Topic of editors and being edited; View that writing is not a solitary task; Details of how the column originated.

Focuses on the joy of electronic library service, according to several librarians in the U.S. Idea that service to the underserved is a special joy as Marian H. Griffin of West Melbourne Public Library in Florida indicated; Comment of Kelly Martinez of Hermiston Public Library in Oregon about families using the library; Rationale of the Kalamazoo Public Library in Michigan for downloading audio books; Others.

Discusses a project called Fiat Lux, a nonprofit cooperative founded by the librarians who manage Internet finding aids. Benefits of collaboration in building library systems and consortia; History of library-built portals, including the service of the Michigan Electronic Library; Outlook for Fiat Lux, which represents an Internet collection of over 110,000 records and the participation of 280 skilled librarians and information professionals.

Contends that librarians can be true patriots by protecting the U.S. Constitution and the people they serve. Thoughts on the USA Patriot Act and why it is anti-speech legislation; How the Patriot Act gives the government broader powers; Belief that libraries should tell patrons about the potential for seizure of confidential information; The conflicting concerns over national security and civil rights since the September 11, 2001 attacks; What librarians need to do.

Addresses dealing with content theft as a librarian. Responsibility of librarians as information professionals; Frequency of content theft; Advice on protecting a Web site, including copyrighting the content; Usefulness of addressing copyright issues in a staff training session; Comments of George Hoemann of the University of Tennessee, whose Civil War site has been stolen several times.

Gives advice for libraries on how to file for government funding of telecommunication systems. Mention of the Internet filtering requirements of the Children's Internet Protection Act; Discussion of service which was received through the Universal Service Administrative Co. Schools and Libraries Division (SLD); Reasons the SLD may reject applications for discounts; Topic of filtering computers in libraries.

Focuses on resources for teaching an Internet class. Web site with training materials and for teaching virtual reference; Details of five books, including Michael T. Stephens' 'The Library Internet Trainer's Toolkit,' Rachel Singer Gordon's 'Teaching the Internet in Libraries,' and Gail Junion-Metz's 'Coaching Kids for the Internet.'

Examines how librarians responded in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Role of librarians in delivering information and interacting with patrons; Why libraries are about communities; How librarians saw their service as a direct response to the attacks; Librarians as listeners; Focus on sharing.

Comments on the role of the Internet as an information resource in libraries. Experiences of the author on a road trip across the United States, during which she did not have access to the Internet; Question of how the quality of online connectivity influences people's opinion of the Internet versus traditionally printed information resources; Advice to librarians about making themselves available to library users.

Discusses the importance of HTML (Hyper-text markup language) in creating Web pages for libraries. Guidelines for HTML outlined by the World Wide Web Consortium; Discussion of the FrontPage system for creating Web pages; Praise of the Dreamweaver HTML editor.

Discusses webcasting in the library industry. Experiences of the author with webcasting for libraries; Definition of webcasting; Issue of audience interaction; Role of bandwidth in webcasting; Role of webcasting in continuing education; Computer specifications for webcasting.

Reports on OpenURL protocol and the Ex Libris software product called SFX. Details of how the California Institute of Technology implemented SFX, according to librarian George Porter; Improvement in cataloging with the SFX server over labor-intensive manual methods of trying to keep databases current.

Presents winners of the Internet Librarian Pied Piper Awards, which honors a person, place or thing that deserves special recognition for contributions to Internet librarianship. Projects of Eric Lease Morgan, network technologies development librarian at North Carolina State University in Raleigh; Contributions of Gates Public Library in Rochester, New York; Efforts of the Regional Institutes held by the American Library Association's Library and Information Technology Association.

Evaluates resources for protecting library computer networks against public intrusion. Features of the software program Public Web Browser, including capabilities for removing or disabling aspects of the Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer browser; Drawbacks of using Microsoft Corp. support services; Availability of instructions for securing Netscape from the Web site of library systems technician Andrew Mutch.

Focuses on the effect on libraries of the Children's Internet Protection Act, legislation in the United States which requires libraries and schools that receive federal funding for Internet access to install filtering software. Integral role of technology and telecommunications in access to library information resources; Problems which the filtering legislation could create for library consortiums; Criticism of the role of the federal government in library funding and policy decisions.

Presents a look at some of the author's previous columns to highlight the best and worst, as of February 2001. Definition of the Web before it became a common tool; Predictions regarding computer software; Funniest input from a reader; Favorite Web links; Others.

Presents various Internet and computer-related items, which were recommended by librarians. Microsoft FrontPage; Mention of several web sites, including search engines; Importance of a comfortable mouse and wrist-rest.

Focuses on efforts of the American Library Association (ALA) to increase its offering of electronic services with an online chat room hosted by ALA. Evaluation of chat technology by the ALA Electronic Meeting Task Force; Problems and advantages of chat; Concern about how electronic participation will affect attendance at ALA conferences.

Reports on online, real-time reference services for libraries as of November, 2000. Mention of Virtual Reference Desk, a digital reference service that allows librarians to talk in chat areas, demonstrate Web sites and provide useful links for patrons; How the United States Library of Congress is testing the Collaborative Digital Reference Service; Possible outsourcing of reference services.

Focuses on the perceived attack on librarians and the Library Bill of Rights by the American Family Association (AFA). Mention of 'Excess Access,' a video produced by the AFA, which deals with the availability of Internet pornography through library Internet access; Opinion that 'Excess Access' portrays librarians as wickedly devious and mindless puppets; Opinion of David Burt, a former so-called filtering activist, that librarians use library doctrine to mislead the public.

Discusses a meeting with Internet filtering companies and the United States Commission on the Child Online Protection Act. Criticism of the filtering companies' disclosure policy which blocks anyone outside their company form knowing which web sites their filters block; Opinion that filters can not be unbiased because of differing views of what is offensive material; Suggestion that filtering devices inhibit free speech and should not be used.

Discusses telecommuting among librarians. How telecommuting offers the potential to help libraries broaden the time, place, and manner of traditional services including reference; Details of library jobs that are not suited to telecommuting; Advantages of telecommuting.