Found History

This interesting article called "Sunset for Ideology, Sunrise for Methodology?" is from the Found History blog.
There is a good discussion, not only about the methodological future of history as a discipline, but a surprisingly positive view of the importance of libraries in that changing scene.

Libraries Interact

The Libraries Interact site was mentioned in the latest Link-up session.
This is the best Australian library scene "keeping-up" site I have seen and has lots of useful things in it. For example, one of the latest postings is about the RQF replacement (called ERA, you can read the article to find what that means!)
I have RSSed it, so keeping up with new posts will be easy via my RSS reader.

a couple of things you might find useful

I know everyone is very busy at the moment (me too - nervous breakdown seems to be the default state at the moment!) but i have been working on a couple of things you might find useful once things settle down.

The first is a video editing/presentation tool called "jumpcut" (www.jumpcut.com), which i have used to make a "fun little video" about how to interpret reading lists. i can email it to you if you are interested. it lets you make funky slideshows with sound and captions and things. mine is just a bit of fun, really, to break up the monotony of undergrad classes.

The second is another presentation tool called "vcasmo" (http://www.vcasmo.com). Using this you can upload your ppts (or whatever other format) into a web format for easy sharing, editing etc. I have only really started looking at this tool today (not a lot of time for "playing" with these things at the moment), but it looks like it has potential.

Anyway, both of these are worth looking at once life goes back to some semblance of normality - if it ever does!

Academic Database Assessment Tool

ADAT is is a great new free tool from JISC in the UK, allowing us to make cross comparisons of database coverage .
This is a must see! Compare the coverage of Business Source Premier with ABI/Inform as an example...very interesting.
You can compare e-book platforms as well.

Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device

The way of the future? My first instinct was not (because I like books!!!), but it is sold out, apparently ...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FI73MA/ref=amb_link_6055642_2/104-9489979-1493531?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=059WGZG2Q8Q301NKBES8&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=358859601&pf_rd_i=507846

Libraries and Facebook

This case study explores the use of the social networking site Facebook (www.facebook.com) as a tool for libraries and librarians. The case study was in response to the growth and popularity of this social networking site. Many librarians have now joined Facebook for purely social reasons, however it can overlap into the professional world as it is being used by several professional library groups and for promoting library related events. Facebook also has a number of library related tools.

Comments? Ideas?

http://clt.lse.ac.uk/Projects/Case_Study_Five_report.pdf

Launch of OnlineSocialNetworks Majordomo List

Hi all,
This might be a good blog to keep an eye on regarding social networking and libraries:

"This list is intended to serve as a forum in which individuals of any and all interests can discuss Any and All issues relating to Online Social Networks, most notably their current and potential use by libraries/librarians and/or their current/potential use within institutions of higher learning".

http://onlinesocialnetworks.blogspot.com/2008/01/onlinesocialnetworks-new-majordomo-list.html

Information behaviour of the researcher of the future

One more for the week - what the future might look like!

"This study was commissioned by the British Library and JISC to identify how the specialist researchers of the future, currently in their school or pre-school years, are likely to access and interact with digital resources in five to ten years' time. This is to help library and information services to anticipate and react to any new or emerging behaviours in the most effective way. In this report, the authors define the 'Google generation' as those born after 1993 and explore the world of a cohort of young people with little or no recollection of life before the web".

http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/programmes/reppres/gg_final_keynote_11012008.pdf

Education Blog List

"A list of the top 100 (or so) educational blogs as at January 2007 compiled by Aseem Badshah. All blogs listed had a Technorati rating of at least 50 or higher".

For those of you interested in blogs following Roger's presentation. I think a lot are for primary and secondary education, but still worth a squiz!

http://www.livemocha.com/pages/resources/education-blog-list

Ten things that will change your future

"So Google and Wikipedia took you by surprise? Nick Galvin looks into his crystal ball and explains what you need to know to survive the next decade".

This article was especially relevant considering today's discussions re how the Liaison role will change in the future!
I want a chumby! It's like something out of Harry Potter. Though I am secretly scared they will one day take over the world, in the manner of Triffids etc. ...

http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/ten-things-that-will-change-your-future/2007/12/31/1198949747758.html?page=fullpage