This week’s 4cast:
1. Your Scanners Are Not Welcome Here
Several influential research libraries have spurned offers to join Google and Microsoft’s mass digitization projects. Instead, in an effort to make sure that their materials are available digitally without any commercial or other restrictions, these libraries are turning to the Open Content Alliance.
- Libraries Shun Deals to Place Books on Web (New York Times)
- NY Times, Book Scanning, and Lots of Resources (ResourceShelf)
- Digital ILL and the Open Library (O’Reilly Radar)
- Libraries Shun Deals to Place Books on Web, really? (librarian.net)
2. Step Into Our Lab
Ken Varnum (RSS4Lib) has created a directory of experimental library websites, where libraries of all types are trying out new web features and services before fully implementing them. What’s happening out there on the cutting edge?
- Directory of Experimental Library Tools (RSS4Lib)
- creating a flat library and the culture of maybe (walking paper)
- Advocates Overcoming IT Resistance to Web 2.0 (Tame the Web: Libraries and Technology)
- Best Innovation Article ever (Stephen’s Lighthouse)
3. Cast Out
It recently came to light that Comcast, the second-largest Internet service provider in the country, has been actively disrupting BitTorrent and other file-sharing traffic on its network, regardless of the legality of the traffic. Comcast claims they’re just slowing down a few bandwidth hogs, but critics say it amounts to a sneak attack on Net Neutrality.
- Comcast Blocks Some Internet Traffic (The Associated Press)
- Comcast: We’re Delaying, Not Blocking, BitTorrent Traffic (New York Times Blog: Bits)
- Comcast traffic blocking: even more apps, groupware clients affected (Ars Technica)
- Comcast resets BitTorrent users; net neutrality lovers lash out (and “Them” vs. “Us”) (Computerworld Blogs)
4. Fine! FINE!
Aaron Schmidt (walking paper) is on a mission to rid the world of overdue library fines, and has set up the Anti Fines wiki for librarians who feel the same way.
- let’s work together to get rid of library fines (walking paper)
- No Fines in Libraries (ricklibrarian)
- On library fines (Haven’t been this happy in minutes)
- Library fee high? Pay the fine, can the whine (Tennessean.com)
