Interesting Front Page from today's Chicago Sun-Times

 
Interesting front page from today's Chicago Sun-Times. (And yes, I subscribe to their 'digital' edition.) More info here...

[Original Link (no work)]

Opening Day T-minus-1

Waiting for that $10 ticket... (Update: Game delayed a day due to inclement weather.)

50 Years of Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL)

Congrads on 50 yrs to the LITA Journal ITAL (more here)! The 50th anniversary issue includes a short review of tech articles from the 1960s as well as two pieces on (what else?) present-day social media [1], [2].

UPDATE (4/1/2018): I listed the articles as well as the issue on this month's Current Cites.

Current Cites for February 2018

 Current Cites for February 2018 is out! You can find the issue here...

Being involved with Citation management at DPU, I found an interesting study which actually polled faculty as to what system they use. Although the response rate wasn't great, it is a good example -- at least a beginning -- for evaluating reality in these services.

Featured on Good Day DePaul (1/24)

 

A few thoughts on Net Neutrality featured in the student news program 'Good Day DePaul'. My part begins at 8:13:  https://player.vimeo.com/video/252359196#t=493s

1st Saturday of 2018

 #RefDesk: 1st Saturday of 2018! Cold outside so IM was chugging away.

2018 -- So much better than 1918

Some things are just so obvious. 

Current Cites for December 2017

Current Cites for December 2017 is out! You can find the issue here...

It's the end of year update and I was already in holiday mode so naturally I went with an article on (what else?) Twitter. Fun and academic at the same time, you might say.

IFLA Library Map of the World

Neat interactive world map provided by IFLA allowing you to find out how many libraries, librarians, etc. there are in countries ranging from Latvia to Papua New Guinea.

See more here: https://librarymap.ifla.org/map

In Support of Net Neutrality

I used the "Express Comment" form provided by the FCC to file my opinion regarding the proposed move by the FCC Chair to end Net Neutrality (17-108, "Restoring Internet Freedom" [sic]):

"Net Neutrality is the modern equivalent of free speech. Carriers are utilities and cannot decide (or favor) specific communications. I already pay more for streaming content AS streaming content. Giving one source any kind of advantage, be it financial or through faster connectivity, is to deny me my right for equal access to _all_ content." #SaveNetNeutrality 

Thought of the Day

See larger image ...

USA Today Predicts: No Future for Librarians or Communicators; We Predict: No Future for USA Today Predictions

[Update: Opps, after a little consideration, original authors decide "Libraries and Librarians Aren't About to Disappear"]

The library ed group ALISE* sent out a rather indignant response to a recent article in USA Today. The article's title was, "Careers: 8 Jobs That Won’t Exist in 2030" and it listed a number of professions whose days were counted. First on the list was "Librarian". Librarian, you might ask, why librarian? Well, because, according to the article, books are dead, and so are libraries.

But wait a minute, ALISE counters in its response, "librarians do more than simply check out books". Of course anyone who has stepped into a library in the past 10-20 years would know this.

But rather than rush to judgement based on this first point, it might be helpful to have a look at one or two of the other supposed dead-end careers. For example, last on the list is, "8. Social media manager". That's doomed as well? Why of course, the article responds cheerily: "who needs these experts when we’re all becoming experts?"

Okay, wait a second. We're all becoming experts? Nice to know but even if we ignore the technical side of things (and that's being really generous), there's still the social and communication parts. What about them? Has their evolution down through the ages ever given the impression that they'll someday somehow become the equivalent of child's play? Good news if true!

Since that doesn't seem likely, someone should tell the USA Today author that communication will always require skill, that it is too important to leave to just anyone who walks through the door, that it remains a difficult task, no matter what our level of technology, because either people don't know or don't wish to know and in a world with less than perfect agreement, we are about as likely to say bye-bye to our media managers as we are to our librarians. They both continue to perform essential tasks.
_____________
*Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE)

Bye-Bye WebDesign-L

Anyone who had anything to do (technically speaking) with the World Wide Web back in the early days would know Steve Champeon and the email list, WebDesign-L. Steve was the 'list-mom' and he managed a true center of communication for web designers and web developers in that period.

Well, Steve announced on the list that he had decided to shut the thing down. In the past few years it may not have been the hive of activity that it once was. People move on; times change; communication methods evolve. Still WebDesign-L played an absolutely crucial role in the development of the web, at least from a technical perspective.

Steve, thanks for all your support! It truly was of historical proportions.

Domain Suggestions from GoDaddy

Houston? Huh?

UPDATE: Needless to say, this post went up more than two weeks ago -- i.e. more than two weeks before the current tragedy. Coincidence, that's all.

90th Anniversary of Germania Broadcast - Thanks to All!

Monday, July 24th was the 90th anniversary of the Germania Broadcast (background). We celebrated this pioneering German-American radio show in typical 21st century fashion : namely through Facebook posts and Twitter feeds. Daddy would have been proud to know that his work spanning more than 40 years was recognized by such worthy groups as the Consulate General of Germany (hence the photo above), the Goethe Institute and the Chicago History Museum. Thank you to all!

90th Anniversary of 1st Foreign Language Radio Show in Chicago/USA

 

Just a reminder: July 24 marks the 90th anniversary of the Germania Broadcast, one of the first foreign language radio shows in the U.S. Starting in 1927, it was produced in Chicago by my father William L. Klein. The program ran for more than 40 years and was an integral part of Chicago cultural life (particularly German-American, naturally). More info here: http://www.germaniabroadcast.net/ 

Leading up to the event, I'll be posting on a number of topics including what kind of music and entertainment they actually played plus a look at all the amazing events they sponsored including concerts, festivals and even trips abroad: [link]

Finally, I'll be publishing the complete brochure which they put out in 1952 to celebrate the 25th Anniversary: [link]

Registration at ALA 2017

 Of course, I registered in advance! First day at the American Library Association's 2017 Conference.

TechWeek Reception at CapitalOne HQ

 Reception at the extremely nice HQ of CapitalOne.

Opps, Maybe Not the 'Future' After All

 

Interesting how titles tend to change over time. I was going through a number of old posts and saw a reference to an article in Newsweek from 10 years ago, extolling the virtues of the recently released Amazon Kindle. The title of the article was, "The Future of Reading". Since it was a relatively old link, I clicked on it just to make sure it still worked. And it did -- only the title of the article now read, "Amazon: Reinventing the Book".

That was funny. Did I get the original title wrong? I went to my best friend, Archive.org and looked the thing up -- and sure enough, the original title was "The Future of Reading"

So between 2007 and now, apparently the Kindle no longer rated as the "Future" of reading. This is understandable. For every true 'revolution' in technology, there are always a dozen (or more) false starts. This was one of them.

Staats-Zeitung, My Uncles and Abraham Lincoln

I saw Sidney Blumenthal discuss his book "The Political Life of Lincoln, 1849-1856" at Printers Row Lit Fest over the weekend.  He talked about the critical role local newspapers played in the anti-slavery movement -- some of which Lincoln wrote articles for.  One newspaper in particular was the Chicago-based "Staats-Zeitung".  This rang a bell for me as I recalled my uncles Julius and Ernest being involved with the same paper in the late 20s early 30s. Below is a copy of the newspaper's listing from the "Illinois Newspaper Directory & History" (1934).

Current Cites for May 2017

Current Cites for May 2017 is out! You can find the issue here...

I couldn't resist recommending something non-library this month -- an interview with Tim Berners Lee, inventor of the WWW. His advice for "young computer scientists" was what you might expect from a true innovator, namely, "ignoring conventional wisdom and following their own instincts."

Current Cites for Apr. 2017

Current Cites for Apr. 2017 is out! You can find the issue here...

The article I recommended almost seemed like an April Fool's joke when I first saw the title, "The Rewards of Predatory Publications at a Small Business School". But nope, it was serious -- the argument being, if you don't understand the 'incentives', you won't know how to counter them. Um, okay.

Group Shot at Drupal MidCamp 2017

(Yeah, that's me on the right, front row.) Drupal MidCamp was held at DePaul this year. Here's a link to the larger image...

No Dear, ISPs Are Not Websites

 Snider, Mike: "ISPs Can Now Collect and Sell Your Data: What to Know About Internet Privacy Rules", USA Today (4/4/2017).

So here's an analogy: if 50 years ago AT&T (or whatever they called themselves back then) had kept records of all your phone calls and then started selling that information to the highest bidder -- would they have gotten away with it? I don't think so. (In fact, interesting research topic.)

ISPs are not websites. They're governed by different rules, regulated by different agencies and golly-molly, ya just can't get on the internet without them. That makes them a utility and frankly, there's no similarity to Facebook, Google, etc.

But, hey, we're living in a free country! There's nothing keeping those ISPs from setting up their own groovy websites so they can take advantage of the same benefits. Problem solved!

Hippy Talk Circa 1970

 Early 1970s article from the Chicago alternative magazine 'The Seed'. Love the hippy talk: "head shop", "trick", "bust" and "rap".

Usability-Thursdays

MPOW: I set up shop at the computer lab in the Student Center and then hustled out to the hallway to ask students if they had time to test out a page. Some had to go to class. Others said yes (8 in total).

Results went on the writing pad and my cellphone served as a stopwatch.

Funniest moment: Someone who does webwork for another dept. said, "I wish we did testing too."

Current Cites for Jan. 2017

 Current Cites for Jan. 2017 is out! You can find the issue here...

First Books of 2017

Actually I've had the 'Handbook of Usability Testing' for years -- the first edition, that is.

Something funny about that article title...

Something funny about that article title...

Looks Like Uncle Julius

Found this picture in a book titled, "German Chicago: The Danube Swabians and the American Aid Societies". That older fellow with the bowtie sure looks like my Uncle Julius.

Behind the Scenes in WYSIWYG

 Looking at the 'plain text' behind the WYSIWYG. I'm impressed:

<hr />
<p>&nbsp;
<h3>Alumni Receptions 2017</h3>
</p>

Email Outside of Work? France Says 'Non Merci'

A couple of interesting articles on the law just passed in France regulating (remember that's not outlawing!) emails outside of work.

Deutsche Welle reports:

From today, organizations with more than 50 workers will need to start negotiations to define the rights of employees to ignore their smartphones and not be forced to check and send emails on weekends and in the evenings.

Engadget comments:

French companies will be more likely to respect your work/life balance -- even if they don't mark certain hours as off-limits, they can't make unexpected requests that force you to drop everything.

Distinguished Guest in Library

 Welcoming distinguished guest in town for the holidays.

At the Reference Desk with an Eye on a Couple of Things

Wednesday evening. Seventh game of the 2016 World Series. Audio was off but we could take a peek at the video every once and a while if only to check the score.

The Gift to Be Indexing

Indexing? It's a tough job but someone's gotta do it. That said, I largely agree with the sentiment expressed below. I guess the way I would express it isn't "reflecting how the reader thinks" so much as establishing categories (or stepping stones?) of content that the reader can then plow through.

The role of the index in digital products has become a subject of heated debate when information professionals gather to formalize standards. Some publishers and authors are under the misguided impression that a full-text search can replace the traditional subject index. The American Society for Indexing (ASI) has spent the last few years reminding the world that a good index is not just a concordance; it adds value to a digital object beyond the basic word search. An index created by a good indexer reflects how the reader thinks and offers entry points that may not be written in the text. With increased attention on analytics and search, there is also a strong argument to be made that indexes are more important for digital publications than print ones.

Badgett, Nan. Medford, NJ. "A Review of "The Accidental Indexer", Information Today, 2015, 240 pp. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19322909.2016.1229075

Yabba Dabba Doo!

Go Cubs! Go Cubs! Go Cubs!

Lost in Space

Yesterday's stroll through the southwest side of Chicago. Finally found Ogden and Western (though when I got there, I had to ask what way was north).

Current Cites for Sept. 2016

Current Cites for Sept. 2016 is out! You can find the issue here...

This month I recommended a helpful article from the Journal of Web Librarianship that discussed the use of Google Analytics to improve library website design.

First Saturday of the New School Year 2016

Annual photo with Jim from Access Services.

First Seven Jobs

Okay, since everyone's doing it:

1. Sales Assistant (Radio Shack, Chicago) - 16 yrs old. [1972]
2. Print Shop / Mimeograph Machine (Small indy business selling mailing lists on magnetic tape*, Playboy Tower, Chicago) - High School. [1973-1974]
3. Customer Service, Credit Dept. (Carson, Pirie, Scott, Downtown Chicago) - College. [1974-1980]
4. English Teacher (Year Abroad Program, Paris) - Post-College. [1980-1981]
5. Manager, Hot Dog Stand (Fullerton Ave. Beach, Chicago). [Sum. 1981]
6. English Teacher (Rome, later West Berlin). [1982-1983]
7. Construction/Rehab Worker (West Berlin). [1984-1989]

*Computer storage 70s style [source]:

Current Cites for July 2016

 Current Cites for July 2016 is out! You can find the issue here...

This month I recommended an article describing an innovative 'beacon-based' navigation system which opened with this excellent piece of advice, "...as with other technologies before it, usefulness does not magically emerge from implementing new technology; rather, it is the culmination of a comprehensive plan for merging technical know-how with business knowledge or user-generated content."

Chicago FestWeekend

 Three days of incredible events:

• RibFest on Friday, 6/10
• LitFest on Saturday, 6/11
• Blues Fest on Sunday, 6/12

Depaul University 'Library All-Star' Award

Wow! Awarded the "Library All-Star" Award from the library at Depaul University. They brought the thing over this Saturday. Thanks, everyone!

From the original nomination by head of our department, Terry:

“I would like to nominate Leo Klein as a Library All-Star. He fielded a question from an American Studies professor on a Saturday and provided a referral to me as the liaison to that department. In the meantime, his intellectual curiosity and service orientation led him to research the question and by the time I came in on Monday, he had successfully located several data sources and communicated with the professor, satisfying all of his needs for a presentation he would be delivering at the end of the month.

Not only was the professor happy with the speedy turnaround time, but it saved me a lot of time and effort in the process! I believe that for both of these reasons, Leo deserves this recognition in addition to my thanks (already communicated).”

From the Awards page:

"The Library AllStars award seeks to acknowledge and celebrate particular instances of exemplary service, where a staff member has gone the extra mile, made a big difference, saved the day, or made an especially significant and positive impact in some specific way -- whether that's something they did internally for the library organization, or directly with one or more colleagues, or through the provision of service to anyone in our library user community."

Again, thank you everyone! You don't know how rewarding this activity is. It's not a job -- it's an opportunity to serve!

University Librarian Scott Walker biked over with the "Library All-Star" Award for me on Saturday. Thanks, everyone!

Logical Next Step

 Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Current Cites for April 2016

 

Current Cites for April 2016 is out! You can find the issue here...

This month I recommended a rather enjoyable research article that looked at focus groups involving college students and their searching habits -- a situation rather familiar to those of us fortunate enough to work in public service. Included were lines like, "few students were aware of what a 'subject librarian' was".

Job Description : Part-time Reference Librarian

Just got a request to describe my activities as a part-time reference librarian. Here's my response:

Basically the part time job is totally reference (i.e. public service) work. Questions run from 'where is the copier/bathroom/color-printer' to 'I'm writing a research paper on advances in chemistry in the 18th Century and need to find some research articles'.

Am I an expert on advances in chemistry in the 18th Century? No, but I know where to get the student started and I can also show the student how to find articles and, equally as important, how to evaluate search results so that they branch out into even better material. I also know, finally, what the limits are and who and when to refer them to other people.

That's pretty much what I do.

MPOW: The Gravy Train

Hard to go on a diet in a place like this. 

Current Cites for March 2016

 

Current Cites for March 2016 is out! You can find the issue here...

This month I recommended an article that took text-based content analysis and applied it to tweets from the Twitter accounts of 10 different academic libraries. Interesting results.

Current Cites for January 2016

 

Current Cites for January 2016 is out! You can find the issue here...

Starting the year out right. I pointed to the "big anniversary issue" coming from the Journal of Electronic Publishing (JEP) celebrating its 20th year as an open access journal.

'Join the Conversation' Makes It to This Year's Banished Word List

 I've lived to see the day!  "Join the conversation" has made it to this year's LSSU Banished Word List!

University Releases 2016 Banned Words List (WGN)

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – A university in Michigan has come out with its annual list of banished words.

Each year Lake Superior State University bans words or phrases it deems overused, misused, or in poor taste. Top contenders for 2016 include “vape,” “break the Internet” and “conversation.”

Now if only "disruptive" and "iconic" could make it to next year's list! Puh-leeeeeeezzzzeee!

Note to Google

 Note to Google: No, we aren't open till 2am tonight. It's intersession.

UPDATE: I contacted Google through the "Feedback" page and they fixed the thing in about a day. Not bad.

On the Importance of High School Libraries

Student protest at DeSable High School against the firing of their librarian. The students were right to do this. In fact it would seem more of a survival tactic than simply a protest.

It's amazing to think of an institution that claims to be about education that has no library function. What are the students going to do when they hit college? They'll each have to learn how to do research -- that's what going to college involves -- and this is infinitely harder to do if they have no prior familiarity with what a library is and how it functions.

What's next? Take away the textbooks? :-(

UPDATE:  Good news...

Old Pal Unexpectedly Drops By

 

Current Cites for November 2015

 Current Cites for November 2015 is out! You can find the issue here...

I recommended an article titled, "When IT No Longer Remains Anonymous -- For All the Right Reasons" (EDUCAUSE Review). It looks at two approaches to academic IT depts. -- one reactive (okay) and the other pro-active (better).