This week’s 4cast:
1. Computers In Libraries (In Your Computer)
The 2007 Computers in Libraries Conference is underway in Arlington, Virginia. Maybe you couldn’t attend the conference, but you can always follow the action via the many attendee blogs.
- CIL – Lee Rainie’s keynote (It’s all good)
- Early Impressions at CIL (Information Wants To Be Free)
- The Shifted Librarian
- David’s Random Stuff
2. LibraryThing Has a New Thing for Libraries
LibraryThing, the social network that allows book lovers to create and share their own virtual catalogs, has introduced a new service aimed directly at libraries, which enables them to enhance their existing OPACs with LibraryThing “data and functionality” (read more on the Thingology Blog).
- LibraryThing for Libraries (w00t!) (LibrarianInBlack)
- LibraryThing gizmo for libraries (The FRBR Blog)
- LibraryThing and Libraries (PALS Plus Blog)
- LibraryThing introduces OPAC widgets – a trend? (Paniblus)
3. Municipalities: Why Not WiFi?
Cities and towns across the country continue to jump on the municipal wireless network bandwagon. But what impact would municipal WiFi have on the public library (if any)? Recent back-and-forth letters to the The Toledo Blade (regarding a proposed WiFi network there) illustrate one facet of the argument.
- Growth spurt continues for muni WiFi with no end in sight (Ars Technica)
- March 2007 update of wireless cities and counties in the US (MuniWireless)
- Toledoans shouldn’t have to pay for Wi-Fi (Toledo Blade – 2nd article)
- Library is vital to the community (Toledo Blade)
4. Let’s Just Start Over With This Internet Thing
Frustrated with the over-commercialization and fundamental lack of security of the current Internet, some university researchers are wondering whether a new Internet should be built from the ground up.
- National Projects Aim to Reboot the Internet (Slashdot)
- Researchers explore scrapping Internet (Yahoo! News)
- Researchers Want To Build New Internet (WHIO Dayton)
- Why Should We Expect A Rebuilt Internet To Work Any Better? (Techdirt)
