Google Patents

Google Patents is a handy website that proves itself indispensible in not only retrieving relevant patent data but supplying endless entertainment. It features an advanced search option that aids in finding a certain patent or even searching by inventor/assignees (i.e. Apple Computers, Inc.). The home page displays 5 interesting patents but could do more; if only Google would implement a browse feature for patents, enabling quick looks at the figures and drawing. This is truly a case where reality bests fiction.

Google Wave

Hear ye hear ye! I have invites to Google Wave- limited though they may be. Please comment with your favorite book, or comic,  or short story, and/or mother’s maiden name and SSN (just kidding) and I will send you an invite.

Perhaps we can set up a wave to recommend books, movies, media, etc.

update: I still have some left, but Google is taking their sweet time getting the invites outs.

Banned Book Week

It’s that time of year again to read books that challenge the norms and sensibilities of society. You’d be surprised to see what books have come under fire. This week I’m reading J.D. Salinger, what about you?

http://bannedbooksweek.org/

Increase Library Patronage

See what this pictures has, donuts. You see what else it has, smiling faces big smiley faces. That’s right these are donuts and people want donuts. You put those in the library and people will go there. More importantly though is that they will realize that they want to be in the library and that the library has great and important things for them to attain. Things like knowledge, entertainment, and the Internet.

Photo comes at you from my Professor Jill Hurst-Wahl, in the ever glorious Syracuse Bird Library.

Pt. 2 – The Library Wastes Time or How Westlaw Offended Me

Pt. 1 The Library Wastes Time

Westlaw has confirmed the mishap in advertising/marketing and issued an apology. Obviously their “library relations” should have nothing but good intentions. However this lack of judgment will create anti-westlaw fodder for years to come. Many librarians have made their voices heard on the law-lib forum;  will the library community respond en masse or will this simply be another story we hash over at librarian happy hours? Is this battle worth picking?

Personally, I have a career in librarianship of which I am proud. I  explain and stand up for librarianship in the professional workplace and in my personal life. And to have a major vendor, that shares such a heavy and important relationship with the librarian community, put out an ad that degrades my profession and value is upsetting and disheartening. In the end, there is someone at Westlaw who believes that anyone who knows my first name is being afforded a disservice.

The Library Wastes Time

Are you on a first name basis with the librarian? If so, chances are, you’re spending too much time at the library. What you need is fast, reliable research you can access right in your office. And all it takes is West®.

This brilliant piece of marketing was sent out by the electronic database and news giant Reuters/Thomson/West. Hubris is one word that comes to mind after looking this over. Essentially they are saying, “hey, you don’t need the library, West has it all!” Any bit of information or data that you need can be obtained from West … despite the fact that much of the information on West can be found for free on Government websites or in a book. Asking a librarian would make it harder for West to turn you upside down and shake the change out of your pockets. And, thanks for the added stereotype- the glasses really capture the essence of all things librarian.

Google is a Zombie

Google already owns and data mines  my web searching, e-mail, documents, calendar, RSS feeds and more; all for throwing advertising and web  functionality my way.  Now, they want my brain.  Well, not my literal brain but they want to collect information on reading habits of users whilst using Google Books (their massive digital book collection) [via NPR].  While this information can be used for improved technology and database content, it isn’t something we should give up without approval and levels of security:

“They know which books you search for,” says Cindy Cohn, legal director for the foundation [Electronic Frontier Foundation]. “They know which books you browse through; they know how long you spend on each page.”

This is disconcerting, as libraries surrendered their books over to Google for scanning and libraries make privacy a priority and rarely save patron check-out data. We have a right to privacy and the struggle to maintain it becomes more difficult with the Internet. Join the fight here and stay aware. If Google maintains it’s big-brother status, look for me to abandon their services.

Using the Library

Libraries,  like any other place where you are offered service, have rules.  Those rules may be determined by a committee, printed on a poster, or known cultural norms- however they are important.  This video captures some of the more important rules (sorry lack of embedding on wordpress is giving me a headache)-

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch?e=20090803112456176

Special Libraries

There are a variety of resources in every community that many may not know exist. It’s a shame when Special Libraries go untapped. I never knew this Special Library in Sacramento existed until being linked to it through the Special Library Association blog. It’s an informative piece on The Turn Verein library, once known as the German-American Cultural Center Library:

http://www.sacbee.com/livinghere/story/2038555.html

For some this resource can serve for a massive informational service while others may find these resources on the more entertaining and educational side. A library is truly unique when it preserves local history, details the immigrant story, and creates bridges with other countries.

Government Information

Access to Government Documents in an easy to retrieve and searchable way is in a constant state of flux. One Gov. department may offer superior searching capabilities where another might have TXT versions in a humongous list. Today’s complaint is the lack of RSS being provided by Thomas.gov. The handy web-site that allows you to follow current and previous US Government bills. Luckily, there are other options (govtrack.us and washingtonwatch.com) however govtrack.us has it’s technical difficulties and washingtonwatch.com isn’t inuitive.  Thomas.gov needs to provide RSS status to bills.

Govtrack.us also offers web-code to embed tracking, but it doesn’t play well with wordpress:

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.GovTrackEmbedTitle { font-weight: bold; color: blue; text-align: center }
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