(International/IFLA-) Code of Ethics for Librarians

(International/IFLA-) Code of Ethics for Librarians

Draft (Nov. 2011)

PREAMBLE

            This Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct is offered as a series of ethical propositions for the guidance of individual librarians as well as other information workers, and for the consideration of Library and Information Associations when creating or revising their own codes.

The function of codes of ethics can be described as:
 1. encouraging reflection on principles on which librarians and other information workers can form policies and handle dilemmas.
 2. Improving professional self consciousness
 3. Providing transparency to users and society in general.
 4. It is not intended to replace existing codes or to remove the obligation on professional associations to develop their own codes through a process of research, consultation and cooperative drafting.

This code is offered in the belief that:
            Librarianship is, in its very essence, an ethical activity embodying a value-rich approach to professional work with information. Human beings are physically weak, but intellectually powerful. From the earliest times they have necessarily organized themselves socially so as to survive and prosper. In society they have shared resources, work and information.
            The need to share ideas and information has grown more important with the increasing complexity of society in recent centuries and this provides a rationale for libraries and the practice of librarianship.
            The role of information institutions and professionals, including libraries and librarians, in modern society is to optimize the recording and representation of information and the provision of access to it. Information service in the interest of the common good is thus at the heart of librarianship.
            Furthermore, this belief in the human necessity of sharing information and ideas implies the recognition of information rights. The idea of human rights, particularly as expressed in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), requires us all to recognize and acknowledge the humanity of others and to respect their rights. In particular, Article 19, which sets out rights of freedom of opinion and expression for all human beings.
            Article 19 expressly sets out a right to "Seek, receive and impart information and ideas in any media and regardless of frontiers" which provides a clear rationale for libraries and the practice of modern and progressive librarianship. IFLA in statements, manifestos and policy and technical documents too numerous to list has expanded the understanding of work with information.
            Implicit in this work is the idea of information rights and their significance for the profession and society generally. The emphasis on information rights in turn obliges librarians and other information workers to develop a principled critique of relevant law and to be prepared to advice and, if appropriate, advocate the improvement of both the substance and administration of laws.

            The clauses of this code of ethics build on the core principles outlined in this preamble to provide a set of suggestions on the conduct of professionals. IFLA recognizes that whilst these core principles should remain at the heart of any such code, the specifics of codes will necessarily vary according to the particular society, community of practice or virtual community. Code making is an essential function of a professional association, just as ethical reflection is a necessity for all professionals. IFLA recommends the Code of Ethics for IFLA to all its member associations and institutions and to individual librarians and information workers for these purposes. Furthermore IFLA undertakes to revise this code whenever appropriate.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION
            The core mission of librarians, other information workers and their institutions is to ensure access to information for all for personal development, education, cultural enrichment, economic activity and informed participation in and enhancement of democracy.
            Librarians, other information workers and their institutions reject the denial and restriction of access to information and ideas most particularly through censorship whether by states, governments, or religious or civil society institutions. Policies on collection development and access to information should be made explicit, transparent and freely available.
            Libraries offering services to the public should make every Endeavour to offer access to their collections and services free of cost to the user. If membership fees and administrative charges are inevitable, they should be kept as low as possible, and practical solutions found so that socially disadvantaged people are not excluded.
            Librarians, other information workers and their institutions promote and publicize their collection and services so that users and prospective users are aware of their existence and availability. Information professionals and their institutions use the most effective ways to make the material accessible to all.
            The websites of libraries and related institutions should comply with international standards for accessibility and access to them should not be subject to barriers.

USERS’ RIGHTS
            In order to provide inclusion and eradicate discrimination, librarians shall ensure that the right of accessing information is not denied for reasons such as age, citizenship, political belief, physical or mental disability, gender, immigration legal status, marital status, origin, race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.
            Librarians and their institutions shall establish policies to guide the provision of equitable access and services to all customers including individuals and groups, agencies, institutions and organizations, native and foreign-speakers, and those who need access to information in various formats.
            Librarians and their institutions shall uphold individuals' rights to privacy and confidentiality regarding access to information in any format, and services provided and/or, used.
            Librarians shall provide unbiased services reflecting respect for users and equal access to information.
            Librarians organize and present content in a way that allows an autonomous user to find the information he/she needs. Librarians help and support their users in their information search.

PRIVACY, SECRECY AND TRANSPARENCY

            Librarians and their institutions promote openness of access to ideas and the maximum transparency for information that is compatible with good governance and human rights.
            They respect the personal privacy of all, except where it is in the public interest that misconduct, corruption and crime be exposed. Furthermore they respect the protection of personal data, necessarily shared between individuals and institutions.
            Librarians support transparency so that the workings of government, administration and business are exposed to the scrutiny of the general public, whose lives are vitally affected by those workings thereby holding these entities accountable for their action.
            Librarians recognize that from time to time principled enforcement of unwilling transparency in the form of leaks by whistleblowers will further the values of civil society, whether revelations are in strict conformity to law, regulations and contracts or not.
            At the same time librarians recognize that there is a legitimate sphere of government, business and industrial secrecy that will under certain circumstances and for limited periods of time restrict access to carefully defined and limited categories and items of information, and the role of librarians serving government agencies and corporations may from time to time contribute towards such necessary concealment.
            Librarians respect confidentiality agreements taken on behalf of the library and between third parties while ensuring that such agreements do not go beyond that aforementioned "legitimate sphere" The relationship between the library and the user is to be regarded as one of confidentiality and librarians
will take appropriate measures to ensure that user data is not shared beyond the original transaction.
            Librarians will develop a critique of laws and regulations relating to privacy, secrecy and transparency, in the interests of enhancing legal and regulatory regimes in line with the principles set out above.

NEUTRALITY, PERSONAL INTEGRITY AND PROFESSIONAL SKLLS

            Librarians are strictly committed to neutrality and an unbiased stance regarding collection, access and service. Neutrality results in the most balanced collection and the most balanced access to information achievable.
            Librarians use clear criteria for selection of information and media. They define and publish their policies for selection, organization, preservation, provision, and dissemination of information.

            Librarians distinguish between their personal convictions and professional duties. They do not advance private interests or personal beliefs at the expense of neutrality.
            Librarians counter corruption directly affecting librarianship, as in the sourcing and supply of library materials, appointments to library posts and administration of library contracts and finances.
            Librarians strive for excellence in the profession by maintaining and enhancing their knowledge and skills, and by encouraging the professional development of their colleagues. They aim at the highest standards of service quality and thus promote the positive reputation of the profession.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

            Librarians and their institutions are involved in social, cultural and economic well-being and therefore they have social responsibility.
            Librarians and their institutions contribute to the processes of emancipation of underprivileged groups in society. By their professional conduct and their services librarians support inclusion and integration of ethnic minorities and immigrants; they provide equitable services for socially disadvantaged and physically and mentally disabled persons.
            Librarians and their institutions offer services to increase the reading skills of people. They support their users’ ability to identify, locate, evaluate, organize and create, use and communicate information. They aim at improving their users’ information literacy by offering e.g. courses and tutorials which moreover promote the ethical use of information and thereby help to prevent plagiarism.
            Librarians respect the language minorities of a country and their right to access information in their own language.
            Librarians observe the principles of the protection of minors while ensuring this does not impact on the information rights of adults.

OPEN ACCESS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

            Librarians and their institutions are partners of authors, publishers and other creators of copyright protected works. Librarians’ interest is to provide the best possible access for library users to information and ideas in any media or format.
            Librarians will promote the principles of Open Access, Open Source, Open licenses and other means of providing fair, swift, economical and effective access to information for users.
            Librarians recognize the intellectual property right of authors and other creators and will seek to ensure that their moral rights are respected as completely as possible so that they get the recognition that their creativity deserves.
            Librarians also recognize that creators deserve financial reward for their creativity and therefore support the protection of their copyright protected works offered by Article 27 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

            Librarians will negotiate the most favorable license and purchase terms for access to works with rights holders, on behalf of their users and seek to ensure that access is not unnecessarily prevented or hindered by the mode of administration of intellectual property laws.
            It is the duty of the library and information profession in individual countries to develop a critical analysis of the applicable intellectual property regime, nationally and internationally, and to advocate for change and improvement when appropriate. It is also the profession’s duty to advocate for exceptions and limitations to copyright restrictions for libraries.
            Librarians will seek to encourage governments to establish an intellectual property regime that favors the development and protection of creativity, and to negotiate international trade agreements that are not injurious to an author of a literary or artistic work.
            Librarians should also advocate that copyright restrictions should not be expanded beyond a reasonable time limitation.
            Librarians ensure that information that has fallen in the public domain remains public and free.

COLLEAGUE AND EMPLOYER/EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP

            Librarians shall treat each other with fairness and respect.
            Employers shall not discriminate in any aspect of employment because of age, citizenship, political belief, physical or mental disability, gender, marital status, origin, race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.
            Employers shall provide working conditions promoting equal opportunities for all librarians. Librarians shall have the right to free speech in the workplace provided it does not infringe on the principle of neutrality vis-a-vis the users. Employers shall provide equal payment and benefits for men and women holding similar types of jobs.
            Librarians shall be ready to share their professional experience with colleagues.
            Librarians shall help and guide young professionals to enter professional community.
            Librarians shall comply with the principle of confidentiality of personal information in relations with colleagues.
            Librarians strive to earn own reputation by means of professionalism and moral characters, does not use unfair methods of competition.

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23.11.2011

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Ways to maintain work-life balance

Ways to maintain work-life balance 

Below are few of the tips to help you strike a perfect work-life balance

Get Organized 

Time management is of the essence when it comes to maintaining work-life balance. "Spending more time in office doesn't necessarily translate into productivity," says UB Group senior VP (marketing) Samar Sheikhawat. 

"The key is to maintain discipline on the job. That includes coming on time, or possibly even a tad earlier; not taking extending coffee or lunch breaks, or whiling away time on gossip." It's purely about prioritization, he adds. 

List Priorities 

If you don't have a good work-life balance, you can be successful but not happy. "To achieve both, it's necessary to focus on four life quadrants: work, family, friends and self," says TeamLease Services co-founder and senior VP Sangeeta Lala. "All four are equally important. If you focus on all these and maintain discipline, it's more-or-less a done deal." 

Develop Interests 

Get interested in things other than work and make time for them. It could be something as simple as catching a movie, working out or pursuing an interest at an individual level or with friends and family. 

"Make sure you are allocating part of your spare time to something enjoyable. Switch off completely when you're spending time with your family," says TeamLease's Lala. 

Learn to Say 'No' 

Putting in that extra bit is good, but it's equally important to know when to put your foot down and say no. "Many of us are under the impression that saying no or refusing to do something beyond what we are supposed to can be detrimental to our careers. But that's not true. There's no point in doing something out of a false sense of guilt or obligation. Setting boundaries is essential," says Sheikhawat. 

Pursue Your Calling 

Identify your areas of interest and do what interests you. "We often tend to take a job because there's a certain aura around it or our peers are doing it. Instead, by taking up something that interest you can avoid undue stress. 

Article Courtesy - Economic Times 

Industry, academia can create content for digital network: Kapil Sibal

Union Minister for Communication and HRD Kapil Sibal has said that industry and academia can collaborate for the creation of content for the digital network which the government is building to connect universities and institutes. He was addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Global Higher Education Summit.

'The issue of academia-industry collaborations is complex and there are no simple answers to increasing the interaction between the two. However, one way of industry to collaborate with academia is to create content for the digital network which the government was building to connect universities and institutes. In two years’ time a digital optic fibre network will also connect all the gram panchayats in the country,' he said.

The minister also lauded the efforts of CII in setting up a 'University-Industry Congress' as a permanent mechanism for interaction between industry and academia. CII is working with the Planning Commission and is in the process of creating the framework of the 12th Five Year Plan on increasing the share of private players in higher education.

During the summit a paper was also released a paper containing CII's recommendations to the Planning Commission on changes required in the regulatory setup to increase private investment in higher education.

The paper, which now forms part of the plan panel's working group report on private sector participation, including public private partnership (PPP) in higher education, makes a strong pitch for changes in the Foreign Currency Regulation Act (FCRA) so that greater foreign direct investments (FDI) can flow in higher education.

Wherever there is foreign direct investment (FDI), the FCRA Act comes into play. Though section 25 companies do not come under FCRA, investors are jittery since the FCRA legislation has harsh penal provisions.

To overcome this fear, CII has recommended that a clarification be made by the appropriate authority in the government that FCRA is not applicable to investments made under automatic FDI in a section 25 company against equity subscription.

Another Library Is Breathing Its Last - NASSDOC Fighting The Battle Of It's Survival

Respected Librarians/Professionals,

 

The authorities of Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR, autonomous body under Min of HRD) are planning to shut down one of its biggest units i.e. NASSDOC (National Social Science Documentation Centre, 35, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi). This is being done in such a silent manner that the staff of ICSSR is also not aware. 

 

What is NASSDOC ?

 

NASSDOC or National Social Science Documentation Centre is a part of Indian Council of Social Science Research, (ICSSR) established in 1969 to provide library and information support services to social science researchers. It is India's largest repository of bibliographical databases in the area of social sciences. NASSDOC library has a rich collection of reference sources on all social science disciplines. This is the only library in India which has a collection of more than 6000 PhD Theses awarded by different Indian Universities on various disciplines of Social Science. Apart from this, thousands of reports of the research projects conducted with the financial support by ICSSR are also the part of this rare collection. Thousands of research scholars visit NASSDOC each year from various and remote places throughout the country for consulting the rare and unique collection. It is one of the very first libraries in India to start Fully Automatic Circulation System using RFID technology. This centre also provides service like Bibliography on Demand, Study Grant for data collection, Abstracting and indexing service and other useful services. NASSDOC has earned a reputation of only documentation centre in India, which is serving the social science research scholars.

 

At present, NASSDOC is facing the biggest challenge of its survival after completing glorious 42 years of service to the social science community.  The location of NASSDOC is very much in the heart of the city, i.e. 35, Ferozshah Road, Mandi House, New Delhi. All across India, Scholars from remote places, directly come to this place, as it is very conveniently located.  But in a latest move, the authorities of ICSSR have decided to vacate the entire first floor of NASSDOC and hand it over to some institute, which is going to be opened in the first week of December 2011. It is learned that this new institute, which will be named Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education and Sustainable Development is being funded by the UNESCO and is to be governed by Indian Institute of Advance Studies, Shimla.  ICSSR authorities, which are acting upon the directives from the HRD Ministry, showed no resistance and are only begging for some more time to vacate. 

 

If entire first floor is being handed over to some other organization, the services of NASSDOC will be crippled.  The first floor of NASSDOC stores all the rare collection of unpublished PhD theses, ICSSR's Research Project Reports and bound volumes of periodicals. It also has computer centre, Microfilm section, binding section, conference hall and canteen on the first floor itself. It is not clear where all this collection will be shifted.  In any case, the library is known for its collection. If there is no collection in the library, it will be useless. It is clear, authorities will dump them in its basement or else will throw the entire collection as was done during the renovation of ICSSR in 2003. NASSDOC was able to bear that blunt but this time it may prove to be the final nail in the coffin of the biggest documentation centre of India. Without its collection, what service, NASSDOC will offer to thousands of scholars, which visit here regularly?  This will ultimately lead in shutting down all the services of NASSDOC, which will be very unfortunate for a National Institution like NASSDOC.

 

There is no dearth of space in New Delhi. Why, authorities are eyeing up only on NASSDOC? Why they want to shut down a reputed national institute for the sake of a new institute, which can be opened anywhere else? Why cant they take ICSSR main building located in huge campus situated near JNU, which is, became nowadays an OLD AGE HOME FOR CONSULTANTS and moreover A KHALPAVRIKSHA for percentage distribution & Fraud reimbursements as one and only major activity. There seems to be a calculated program of this government to shut down the libraries and the profession itself.  Everywhere, the wings of libraries are being crippled.

 

The role of ICSSR's new chairperson Dr. Sukhdev Thorat is very suspicious in this matter.  Dr. Thorat himself is facing CBI enquiry in the Deemed University Scam of UGC. He was chairman of the UGC before appointed as Chairman, ICSSR.  It is a question in itself, how a tainted person has been appointed a chairman of a national body like ICSSR ?

 

It is evident that the proposed new institute is to be opened by the IIAS, Shimla, whose chairperson Professor Bhalchandra Mungekar is very close to Professor Sukhdev Thorat.  Professor Mungekar is a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha. The governing body of IIAS also includes names of Professor Yogendra Yadav, fellow,Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, New Delhi, Smt . Viha Puri Das, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Prof. Sukhdev Thorat, Chairman, ICSSR and Prof. Basudev Chartterjee, Chairman Indian Council of Historical Research.  ICHR also shares the same building with NASSDOC at 35 Ferozshah Road and it also wants to occupy the remaining part of the building, once NASSDOC is declared closed.

 

It is very clear from above information that these persons are acting on behalf of IIAS and they don't mind sacrificing a small organization like NASSDOC.  All these members of the governing body of IIAS are working tirelessly to shut down NASSDOC and open a new institute with new funds. Clearly, the tainted personalities may eat some pie in the huge fund allocated by UNESCO for this project. 

 

But there is a bigger question to be asked. With the funding of UNESCO and support of IIAS, the new institute can be opened up anywhere in Delhi. Why, an established institute is being destroyed for this? This will also be like a murder of a library of national status.

 

NASSDOC, allover India Library Professionals and students of LIS must know the name by reading a chapter in LIS Course. Some eminent personalities served as Directors, like Sri S P Aggarwal who coined the name as NASSDOC and the glory of NASSDOC was at the pinnacle stage in LIS profession during that period. Though some national level personalities like Dr. P. R. Goswami & Smt. Kalpana Dasgupta rendered/ rendering their services as Bosses, the fate of NASSDOC is going to Dumping Yard. Dr. Goswami has used every organization he served as stepping stone only. He never cared for his parent institution, once he has gone for deputation. At the age of retirement, he is still applying and facing job interviews. Shame on such careless attitude for the institute which gives bread, butter and name to him. Mrs. Kalpna Dasguta served as consultant of NASSDOC in absence of Dr. Goswami for more than 2 years but she took no interest in saving NASSDOC, though she has served in the National Library, Central Secretariat and was a member of the National Knowledge Commission.  She was more interested in conduction meetings and seminars to oblige her own team and save her own job.

 

May God give some sense to Ministry of HRD and authorities of ICSSR and prohibit is from involving in this sin. 

How does one create excellence in an organisation?

First, we create an obsession with excellence. We must dream of it not only because it delivers better results but because we truly believe in it and find it intrinsically satisfying to us.

We must think of excellence not only with our mind but also with our heart and soul. Let us look outside, at the global standards of excellence in quality, cost and delivery and let us not rest till we surpass them.

Second, we need to build a collective self-confidence. Organisations and people who pursue excellence are self-confident. This is because excellence requires tremendous faith in one's ability to do more and in a better way. Unless, we believe we can do better, we cannot.

Third, we must understand the difference between perfection for its own sake and excellence. Time is of essence. Globalisation has made the customer only more impatient. This may seem like a paradox: should we aim for excellence or should we aim for speed?

Excellence is about doing the best we can and speed lies in doing it quickly. These two concepts are not opposed to each other; in fact, speed and timeliness are important elements of quality and excellence.

Fourth, we must realise that we cannot be the best in everything we do. We must define what we are or would like to be best at and what someone else can do better.

Excellence is no longer about being the best in India [ Images ]. It is about being the best in the world. We have to define what our own core competencies are and what we can outsource to other leaders. Headaches shared are headaches divided.

Fifth, we must create processes that enable excellence. Today, there are a number of global methods and processes available whether it is Six Sigma, CMM or ISO. Use them because they are based on distilled wisdom collected from the best companies in the world.

Also, we must build a strong foundation of information technology, because in this complex, dynamic world, it is imperative that we use the most modern tools to keep processes updated.

Sixth, we must create a culture of teaming. I have found that while great individuals are important, one cannot have pockets of excellence. Quality gives ample opportunities to build a culture of teaming. Cross-functional teams that are customer facing can cut through an amazing amount of bureaucracy, personal empire building and silos and deliver savings that one would not have imagined possible.

The other advantage of building teams focussed on quality is that the teaming culture eventually spreads to the rest of the organisation and teaming becomes a way of life.

Seventh, invest in excellence for the future. Future always seems to be at a distance. But it comes upon you so suddenly that it catches you by surprise, if not shock. What constitutes excellence in the future will be significantly different from what it is today.

In these days of severe market pressures, there is big temptation to sacrifice the future to look good in the present. We must certainly trim our discretionary expenses, but we must ensure that our investments in strategic areas that lead to excellence in the future are protected.

Finally, excellence requires humility. This is especially needed when we feel we have reached the peak of excellence and there is nothing further we can do. We need an open mind to look at things in a different way and allow new inputs to come in.

Otherwise, there is a real danger of becoming complacent or even downright arrogant. I would like to end my talk with a story that illustrates this very well.

A brilliant young professor went to meet a famous Zen master to have a discussion with him on Zen. He found himself in front of a modest house. He rang the doorbell and waited. A while later, he heard shuffling footsteps and the door was opened by the Zen master.

He invited the professor to sit with him on the dining table. The professor was a little disappointed with the shabby appearance of the Zen master. He started quizzing him immediately on comparative philosophies and the Zen master gave some brief answers.

When the professor began to debate with him on those answers, the Zen master stopped speaking and kept smiling at him. Finally, the professor got angry. He said, "I have come from a long distance just to understand the relevance of Zenism. But apparently you have nothing to say. I have not learnt anything from you at all."

At this point, the Zen master asked the professor to have some tea. When the professor held the cup, the Zen master started pouring tea into it. After some time, the tea started spilling and the professor shouted, "Stop! The cup can contain no more."

The Zen Master stopped and then, once again smiling, he said, "A mind, full of itself can receive nothing. How can I speak to you of Zenism until you empty your mind to learn." The professor understood and apologized to the Zen master. He parted from him, the Zen master -- a wiser man.

The author is Chairman & Managing Director, Wipro Limited.

Children in State can now claim right to education

The State government has finally notified the rules under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

While the notification was published in the Government gazette dated November 12, the rules were displayed in the public domain (www.tn.gov.in) on Tuesday evening.

With this, the State has taken an important milestone in ensuring education for all children between six and 14 years of age. Education activists and civil society were worried about the long delay in notifying the rules, and Tuesday's announcement was a cause for celebration as key provisions of the landmark legislation can now be implemented.

Notifying the rules meant a lot for every stakeholder responsible for a child's education. “It means action will follow on all important points in the Act, something we have been urging for quite some time. It also means filling gaps in the original Act,” said K. Shanmugavelayutham, convener, Tamil Nadu Forum for Creche and Childcare Services (TN-FORCES).

The publication of the rules also means that all children can now claim their right to education. “Without the State notifying the rules, though the Act was in place, the rights could not be claimed by a child,” said Aruna Rathnam, Education Specialist, UNICEF.

After the draft rules of the State government were published, activists, non-government organisations and members of the civil society came forward with suggestions, some of which have been incorporated in the notification.

These include giving more teeth to the School Management Committee and local bodies, defining ‘children belonging to disadvantaged groups and weaker sections' and providing clarity on school mapping, which is essential to identify neighbourhood schools where children can be admitted.

There was some disappointment, however, that the rules do not specify the manner in which schools ought to select students from the disadvantaged groups and weaker sections in their neighbourhood, to the extent of 25 per cent of the strength of their Class I or pre-school, as required under Section 12 of the Act.

At least 20 States have already notified their draft rules, including Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan and Delhi.

The notification of the rules would mean that there would be more control over private schools, feel educationists.

LOCAL AUTHORITY EMPOWERED

In the draft rules, responsibilities such as ensuring that children attend school and establishing neighbourhood schools were vested with the ‘Local Education Authority' and the State government. But the rules notified empower the local authority to do so. “This would mean that the power would shift from bureaucrats to local bodies,” said education activist S.S. Rajagopalan.

Info sciences students get free access to Digital Library Resources  A major publisher of research and reference resources for libraries and schools is teaming up with a company that has two magazines for librarians to support future librarians with a bunch of free stuff. Gale, which creates and maintains 600-plus databases published online, and Media Source, the company that publishes Library Journal and SchoolLibrary Journal, have launched a new free Web site, Librareo, to provide students with free access to the resources they'll use on the job following graduation.

Students enrolled in graduate degree programs in library and information sciences in the United States and Canada are eligible to sign up for the new service. Their registration will earn them access to Gale resources, including Academic OneFile and Gale Virtual Reference Library, among others.

Participants will be able to take part in a message board and forum. The first 3,000 registrants will also receive a free year's subscription to one of Media Source's library magazines.

According to Nader Qaimari, senior vice president, marketing for Cengage Learning, which owns Gale, the new site will allow students to master resources currently being used in libraries. "Students will be a step ahead for their dream job by getting exposure to the resources most libraries offer their users today, while also engaging in ongoing discussions on the future of libraries with peers and experts in the industry."

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hello friends it is long time after i am back
now we can meet regularly.

have a nice day

STEVE JOBS: HIS 10 MOST INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

STEVE JOBS: HIS 10 MOST INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

Steve Jobs, who has quit as the CEO of Apple, the firm behind the iPhone, is an inspirational speaker and a revolutionary innovator. Here are some of the best things he's said. I challenge you not to read them and feel a response.

The only way to do great work is to love what you do...

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.

You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down...

Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it's likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith...

[on his being fired from Apple in 1984]

I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.[…] It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith.

When you’re a carpenter making a beautiful chest of drawers, you’re not going to use a piece of plywood on the back...

We think the Mac will sell zillions, but we didn’t build the Mac for anybody else. We built it for ourselves. We were the group of people who were going to judge whether it was great or not. We weren’t going to go out and do market research. We just wanted to build the best thing we could build.

When you’re a carpenter making a beautiful chest of drawers, you’re not going to use a piece of plywood on the back, even though it faces the wall and nobody will ever see it. You’ll know it’s there, so you’re going to use a beautiful piece of wood on the back. For you to sleep well at night, the aesthetic, the quality, has to be carried all the way through.

Get your thinking clean to make it simple...

Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.

Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose...

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent...

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you dig deeper, it’s really how it works...

Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you dig deeper, it’s really how it works. The design of the Mac wasn’t what it looked like, although that was part of it. Primarily, it was how it worked. To design something really well, you have to get it. You have to really grok [understand] what it’s all about. It takes a passionate commitment to really thoroughly understand something, chew it up, not just quickly swallow it. Most people don’t take the time to do that.

Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me...

Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful... that’s what matters to me.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Note – one of Steve Jobs's best speeches was delivered to students at Stanford University at their graduation ceremony, as recognised by Stephen Fry.


Source:Thetelegraph.co.uk