This week’s 4cast:
1. Let’s Meet Somewhere Else
Karen Coombs (Library Web Chic) ponders whether the time, effort, and resources devoted to the aesthetics and endless details of her library’s website redesign would be better spent figuring out how to make the library’s data and content more usable in places other than the website. You know, where people actually go.
- The future of Web Services isn’t the Library website (Library Web Chic)
- “Library Website” does not equal “Library Web Presence” (LibrarianInBlack)
- “web services” doesn’t mean just getting a better website (librarian.net)
- The Future of Libraries is in Web Services & I’m Tired of Hearing This From Library System Vendors (The Medium is the Message)
2. Hopin’ for Open
More and more libraries are interested in open source software and solutions, but without the technical expertise on staff, the prospect becomes daunting. Where to begin?
- Open Source Software (LibrarianInBlack)
- How Open Source Can Improve Our Library (DegreeTutor)
- Open-Source Software for Libraries & Enterprise Open Source (ALA TechSource)
- Kill the Kitten (Glengage)
3. Honk if You Love the Mudflap Girl
So how do you know if your statewide library marketing campaign is making an impact? Level of kerfuffle in the bibliogosphere is one measure.
- The Mudflap Flap (The Shifted Librarian)
- I Don’t Get It, or The Wonders of Mudflap Babe (David Lee King)
- How many flaps does a mudflap flap? (Free Range Librarian)
- Wyoming Gets It Right (Annoyed Librarian)
4. No Talk, Just Type
According to a recent survey, American adults are willing to sacrifice the time they would otherwise spend with friends, loved ones, or a newspaper in order to spend it online. Younger folks tend to see less of a distinction between being online and offline.
- Americans giving up friends, sex for Web life (Reuters)
- “Not tonight, honey, I’m on the Internet” (Ars Technica)
- Web > Friends, sex (jim emerson’s scanners)
- Is today’s internet killing our culture? (comment is free…)
