Thought of the day

To succeed in any field, one has to apply three formulas: 

1. Establish the goal, 
2. Have a keen interest, and 
3. Proper utilization of capabilities.

Keeping Libraries Current: Provide Access to Tech, Info, and People

A modern library in Tokyo, Japan

As print collections are gradually being reduced to make way for increased digital resource buying and physical equipment, libraries are looking to transform themselves into relevant and viable places to get things done.

For small academic libraries the challenge is often serving the campus community with small budgets and limited staff, yet keeping up with the community's needs by offering new and innovative technology.  Just like libraries were instrumental in giving access to computers and the Internet in the early days, we continue to look forward and work to bring the next wave of technology for patrons or students to access.

One way that libraries can stay current is by offering access to tools and technology that aid in creation and facilitate scholarly activity.  Recently, eBooks have been in the "library world" spotlight with the increased sales of tablets and eReaders combined with the emerging popularity of eTextbooks and the acceptance of many publishers to enter the digital realm.  While the eBook and the library have had a rocky start to their union, I believe over time things will work themselves out and we will have a decent model of lending eBooks from a wide array of content distributors.

Ways Libraries Can Provide Access to Technology and Stay Current

Here are a few ways that libraries can stay on the cutting edge and stay relevant in this increasingly digital world.

1. Provide Access to Creative Software

Products like Adobe's image and video editing suites don't come cheap for individuals but is affordable for libraries to provide for their patrons.  There are also Open Source alternatives like GIMP.  Libraries could consider offering upgraded printing abilities also so that students and patrons can produce professional looking flyers and posters.

2. Create a Mini Podcasting or Vodcasting Studio

Everyone can be a producer these days and it can be accomplished fairly cheap with a desktop computer and Open Source audio recording and editing software like Audacity.  All you need next is a decent video camera, a good quality microphone, and you are on your way to providing a place where students and patrons can produce digital content and projects.

3. Provide Screen Capture Software to Create ScreenCasts

Screen Capture software records your computer screen and audio/video at the same time and can be deployed easily to produce professional looking tutorials that can be accessed on YouTube or any other webpage.  The same screen capture software can also be deployed as an user interface research tool.  For example, students could use screen capture software to research how their peers use Google, shop online, popular software, or use Social Media websites. 

4. Create a MakerSpace or a HackerSpace

Increasingly the term "Hacker" is shifting from a dark mischievous internet bully to a person like Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, well...someone who makes things, not necessarily a billionaire.  A MakerSpace or HackerSpace is simply a space to meet up with other people who are interested in technology and work on problems or projects collectively.  While space, power, and equipment might be out of range for many small libraries initially, you could always start small by buying a 3D printer as explained by Bre Pettis of MakerBot in the video on this page.

5.  Expand Outreach Programs to Include Digital Content Production and Information Literacy

Today's College students have been categorized as "digital natives" or "Computer Whiz Kids" and many assume that they can do anything with technology, and some are and can!  College freshmen may indeed have many skills that their parents do not have, but I am certainly surprised by how many 18 year olds do not know how to use a scanner, insert an image on a Word doc, or evaluate information on the web.  Everyone today should be comfortable working with digital files.  Like libraries have been offering workshops for years on using Microsoft Office or doing your taxes, instruction could be also be offered on blogging, manipulating digital images, basic web design, and information literacy.  Having basic digital file skills can mean the difference of landing that dream job and are great skills to list on a resume or application.

Libraries are in a Constant State of Flux

What will libraries be like in the future?  I really do not know.  However, I will tell you that they will be places where people get things done. From my vantage point (digital services librarian) I see future libraries all about access to technology, information, and knowledgeable professionals much the way they have been for years

MLA moots implementation of Public Library Act Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 24 2012: With a view to create awareness on the importance of Public Library and also to mend the shortage in connection with public library, the Manipur Public Library Act will be brought up in the floor of the House during its Monsoon session, K Shyam, MLA, Langthabal A/C has assured.

MLA K Shyam was speaking as Guest of Honour of the Silver Jubilee celebration of Manipur Library Association (MALA) at Lamyanba Shanglen, Palace Compound here today.The MLA observed that library plays an important role in the development of a society. So, we need to bring about development in the Library system of the state.For this, it is high time for MALA to take the initiative towards spearheading a public movement in the state.The MLA further informed that since he has been newly elected, he has a lot to learn with regard to politics. However, he is not going to leave any stone unturned in bringing about development in the society.He also appealed to the general public to give him suggestions in this regard.

Speaking as Chief Guest of the function, Laishom Ibomcha, MLA of Keishamthong A/C pointed out that since the government has failed to take up measures for promotion of library in the state, the sorry state of library has prevailed in the state.

According to the Manipur Public Library Act, 1993, every district of the state should have a library. However, no proper library has been established in all the districts so far.He further lamented over the attitude of the state government in missed out from preparing a separate budget for the Library in the annual budget of the state government. Even the Department of Art and Culture never tried to develop and promote the library movement in the state.As such there is no likelihood that a separate Directorate of Library will be set up in the state as is seen in other states of India. MLA Ibomcha also pointed out that since the State Central Library is located in a parking zone, the people find it difficult to concentrate in reading books of their choice peacefully.

So, either the parking or the Central Library needs to be shifted from the area, he proposed. Padmashree Dr  Kriti, RK Jhalajit and N Inaocha, President of Manipur Library Association were Guests of Honour of the function during which annual report of MALA and a souvenir were also released.Eminent columnists, critics and publishers were also awarded certificates of appreciation on the occasion.

Independent body to regulate vocational education sector

Move expected to end a tussle between the labour and the HRD ministries over control of the sector

New Delhi: The government has decided to establish an independent body to regulate and lay down guidelines for developing vocational education in the country.

This is expected to end a tussle between the labour and the human resource development (HRD) ministries over control of the government’s plan to impart training to 500 million people on key disciplines, including in auto and textiles.

The National Skill Development Authority (NSDA) is likely to be headed by either the Prime Minister’s skills
adviser and Tata Consultancy Services Ltd’s vice-chairman S. Ramadorai or Planning Commission member Narendra Jhadav, according to government officials who declined to be named.

NSDA will prepare a national skills qualification framework instead of a vocational qualification framework
as was suggested by the labour ministry or a national vocational education qualification framework as was proposed by the HRD ministry.

“This has been decided by the central government a few days back. We don’t have any issue with HRD ministry
(now) and the new framework will take care of the skills education sector in the country,” said labour secretary Mrutyunjay Sarangi.

A row broke out between the ministries of labour and HRD over the latter’s attempt to lay down a framework
for vocational education.

The labour ministry, the nodal agency for vocational education, strongly opposed the HRD ministry’s
interference, Mint reported on 14October.

The HRD ministry said the labour ministry had failed to meet the rising need for skilled manpower, creating a
need for it to step in and integrate skills training with mainstream education.The labour ministry has a mandate to create a pool of 100 million skilled workers by 2022, as part of an overall target of training 500 million workers.

The labour ministry supervises more than 9,000 industrial training institutes and industrial training centres,
where at least 1.2 million students are enrolled.  An HRD ministry official, requesting anonymity, said the ministry recently had meetings with the labour ministry to iron out differences. Sharda Prasad, director general at
the Directorate General of Employment and Training (DGET), confirmed the development. “I had two rounds of meeting with higher education secretary and other officials. Few days back, secretaries of several ministries had a meeting on the issue,” Prasad said, adding that both the ministries will collaborate for the national mission. DGET functions under the labour ministry.

“It’s a positive development that the issue has been resolved. This will pave way for training more people in the
country,” said Dillip Chenoy, managing director of National Skill Development Corp. (NSDC), a public-private partnership between the government and industry lobby groups. NSDC has a mandate to provide vocational training to 150 million people by 2022.

Meanwhile, the European Union and India on Wednesday launched a project on skill development that will support development of the national skills qualification framework in some segments, including the automotive sector, with a focus on manufacturing and maintenance. It will receive an assistance of €6 million from the EU.

Joao Cravinho, the EU’s envoy to India, said that in a decade the South Asian nation will have a surplus of 56
million workforce as against a shortage of 47 million in Western countries. This project will cater to the global market and help mobility of labour force “for the ever-changing employment market”, he said.

Source

| Mint – The Wall Street Journal | 24 May 2012
http://www.livemint.com/2012/05/24000734/Independent-body-to-regulate-v.html

Buying books online ONLINE READY As more consumers plug into the convenience of bookstores, more so in non-metro cities, brick and mortar bookstores are under pressure to innovate and perform

MUMBAI: Tanupam Akuli used to regularly visit the Landmark bookstore near his house in Mumbai’s Lower Parel, till it closed for renovation a year ago. Landmark is a major bookstore chain in India. Now, Akuli orders
books online. “I was forced to look at the online option. Eventually, I discovered I get a better deal shopping online,” he said. So while Akuli’s Landmark store will re-open in September this year, he says he will window shop there but will probably still buy online. 

Buying books online is gaining traction, especially with younger consumers. The online bookstores have
organised themselves efficiently, offering a large number of titles, discounts and efficient services. Tier 2 and 3 city consumers are ordering far more books online, getting a variety and deals that their local brick and mortar
bookstores cannot match. 

“For e-commerce companies like ours, a lean cost model and low overheads allow us to pass on discounts to
customers. But what brings them back is the shopping experience and service. We believe that our 70% repeat purchase rate can be attributed to the way we serve each customer,” said Ankit Nagori, VP - categories, Flipkart, currently the largest online bookstore in India. 

While online book sites such as Flipkart, Indiaplaza and Infibeam are expanding their sales, brick and mortar store numbers are either staying flat or growing conservatively. Some chains have also shut some outlets. Major brick and mortar chains include Crossword, Odyssey, Oxford, Reliance Time Out, Landmark and Om Book Shop. 

“Books are among the first categories to get impacted by the online channel, since this category has high
product standardisation, low ticket value and low risk associated with product damage/obsolescence,” said Pragya Singh, associate director, retail, Technopak Advisors. 

The online impact on brick and mortar bookstores is being felt globally. “As per the UK Booksellers Association, independent bookshop numbers in the UK has dropped from 1,500 to 1,100 between 2006 and 2011, largely due to the online impact. Similarly, in India, the books category has seen the emergence of many online retailers,
which has negatively affected several traditional booksellers’ sales,” said Singh, adding: “Retailers like Landmark, Crossword and Om Book Shop have ventured into online portals and will focus on scaling up through them.” 

Tata-owned Landmark, with 18 large stores, is revisiting its strategy of expanding through company-owned stores. “We are now looking at the franchisee model,” said Ashutosh Pandey, COO, Landmark. Expansion to 25 stores to include Nashik, Kanpur, Vishakhapatnam and the south will now ride on the franchise option.  Oxford Bookstore has 28 stores – owned and franchised. “We will be ramping up our presence in the metros. We
have also moved to tier 2 cities and state capitals,” said Abhishek Kumar, COO, Apeejay Oxford Bookstores. Oxford has shut five-six franchisee stores in the past. 

Small, mostly single-store booksellers are definitely under pressure. M Venkatesh, co-founder of the Delhibased children’s bookstore, Eureka, admits that brick-and-mortar bookstores are gravely threatened by Flipkart and other online-only retailers. “Overall, retail sales are pretty flat. Consumers are visiting the bookstores,checking out the prices and then going online to make purchases on better discounts.” 

Strand, a 64-year-old ‘landmark’ bookstore in south-mumbai, is also facing tougher times. “It has become
exceedingly challenging to run a lucrative bookstore in India. It’s a low margin business with too many players and you don’t make profits by selling books alone,” said Vidya Virkar, Strand’s managing partner and daughter of its founder, Padmashree TN Shanbhag. Strand has a branch in Bangalore and also runs book kiosks at the Infosys and Wipro corporate campuses. Looking at where the book sales business is heading, Flipkart’s Nagori said: “Given the large size of the market, there is immense scope for all kinds of players in book retail.” 

However, Pandey said, “You will see consolidation next. But it all depends on the valuations. Some chains are
certainly up for sale.”  


Source | Hindustan Times | 21 May 2012

Maharashtra - Govt-aided libraries: State dole only after inspection

Govt-aided libraries: State dole only after inspection
With the state government deciding
to increase the funds given to public libraries in the state by 50 per cent, as
many as 605 public libraries and those that receive government aid in the
district will undergo an inspection before availing of the benefits. 

Currently, the state gives Rs 75
crore to these libraries. The amount would go up by 50 per cent, taking the
state grant to Rs 112.5 crore for 9,624 libraries in the state. 

An inspection of the libraries
will be conducted between May 21 and 25. The libraries will be checked for
different parameters under the Maharashtra Public Libraries Rules, 1970. In the
district, Haveli taluka has the maximum number of libraries — 107, while Mulshi
has 18 libraries. The data will be ready by month-end. 

“The funding would go up by Rs
37.5 crore for the libraries in the state. The revenue department has been
asked to check the functioning of these libraries before allocating the
amount,” said Ravindra Kulkarni, deputy collector and coordinator of the drive. 

A training programme will be held
from May 17 for revenue officials who will participate in the drive. 

An online data of all the
libraries will be prepared giving details such as number of journals subscribed
by the library, its maintenance, etc. Public libraries are recognised and are
given grant-in-aid by the Directorate of Libraries under the Maharashtra Public
Libraries (Recognition for Grant-in-Aid and Building and Equipment Grants)
Rules, 1970. Libraries are divided into A, B, C and D categories on the basis
of books, stocks and periodicals. 

With discrepancies surfacing
regarding maintainance and functioning of these libraries, the state government
wants to keep a tab on the funds allocated to these libraries, officials said.
“All the details will be available with the directorate of libraries at the
click of a mouse,” said Kulkarni.

Source | Indian Express | 17 May 2012

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The University Library at Lund University has on a voluntary basis developed and operates the service. The development of the DOAJ has been partly funded by, amongst others, the Open Society Institute, but from January 1st 2007 no further significant funding was available. In the long run my organization can not commit to the necessary funding without external contributions. We thus rely on your support to DOAJ.

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GUIDE TO ONLINE GUIDES

Here’s why you shouldprobably take e-learning a little more seriously I’ve always wanted to know more about Greek Mythology”, “I’ve always wanted to learn how to speak French”, “I’ve always wanted to play the piano.” All of us have had our own such moments, but we rarely find the time and the resources to pursue them. 

But with online tutorials becoming popular, you can learn just about anything — from nail art to speaking Urdu —
in the comforts of your room. There are hundreds of websites sprouting up everyday offering courses that will boggle your mind! For instance, did you know that you could take a lesson in Roman Architecture from Diana Kliener, a senior faculty member at Yale University and not pay a penny for it? 

Priya Chauhan, a 23year-old college student, was surfing the net one day, when she chanced upon Chordie, a
website that lets you take music lessons. Out of sheer boredom she decided to take a guitar class. “I just gave it a shot and today I can play all my favourite songs! I’m no expert, but learning to play the guitar was something I
always wanted. I’m glad I can now,” she says. 

A major advantage that online lessons have over traditional classes is that they allow you to learn at your own pace. You also decide what exactly you want to learn, instead of following a standard plan. Mishty Varma, 30, who learnt to converse in Urdu by studying online says, “You can pretty much customise your experience. I can learn to speak without needing to learn the script, whereas in classroom-style teaching, learning a language means learning everything about it.” 

Over the years, online tutorials have improved their methods. Initially they were all about reading text-heavy  books, but today they have demonstrative videos, interactive programmes and forums where fellow learners can exchange ideas. Kalyan Yashaswi, 22, a professional photographer, says, “About 95 per cent of what I know about photography today is what I learnt from seeing other people’s work on forums and blogs. Photographers like Joey L and Chuck Gardener post tutorials from which you can learn the finer nuances of the art and new
techniques that are being used.” 

But the truth is that most of us don’t take e-learning courses seriously. We are too used to our traditional
sit-in-the-classroomwith-a-finger-onyour-lips form of learning.  On the flipside, you might be free to learn at your own pace online, but it also means you may sign up and never bother to return to that website out of the lack of discipline. “The effectiveness actually depends on you, and not on what the course offers. You have to be persistent. But if you are passionate enough about the subject, you will drive yourself to do it,” says Mishty. 

And then there is also the issue of finding the right website to learn from. With so many options available on the Internet, how do you zero in on a particular tutorial? Apparently there’s no triedand-tested formula. Twentytwo-year-old Sarah Priya (name changed) managed to teach herself how to read tarot cards over the Internet. “Most of the time, it works on a trial-and-error method. I visited many pages to learn more about tarot cards and their interpretations. Some of the websites just beat around the bush and some might just be hoaxes, but if you look well enough, you will always find something that will be extremely resourceful and user-friendly.”

Source | Hindustan Times | 2 May 2012

Rare Book

CHARLESTON, S.C. — A rare book almost 270 years old has been found in the vault of the oldest library in the South, but after all this time the library won’t be able to keep it.

The 1743 tome, “Dissertation Upon Parties” by Henry St. John Lord Bolingbroke, was one of 800 volumes that planter and diplomat John Mackenzie donated to the College of Charleston in the 1700s. His library was housed at the Charleston Library Society, founded in 1748, until a proper library could be built at the fledgling college. But a devastating 1778 fire ripped through the Library Society and only 77 titles from the Mackenzie collection were thought to have survived.

The 78th, the Bolingbroke book, was found as part of a multi-year search through the Library Society vaults to record the thousands of volumes it contains. After centuries, the book about political parties, with Mackenzie’s name embossed on it, will be returned to College of Charleston officials at a ceremony on Thursday.

A check of the Internet showed that 15 copies of the Bolingbroke book remain in existence, mostly in academic libraries. The survival of that many copies of a book that’s almost 270 years old shows it was popular at the time. Library records show the society used to have two copies of the Bolingbroke book.

Library archivist Trisha Kometer says the contents of its vaults, one of which is located behind an antique shop on Charleston’s King Street, remain unclear.

“We have lists but because the library itself has been moved from place to place to place, the collections have been integrated, they have been pulled apart and a lot has gone on during the years,” she said, making it difficult to tell for sure.

During the Civil War, for instance, the collection was moved from Charleston, which was bombarded throughout the war by union gunners, to the state capital of Columbia 120 miles inland.

The recent search of the archives has already turned up several other gems that librarians didn’t know were there.

They include two letters written by Alexander Hamilton and a unique third letter written by John Marshall, chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, to South Carolinian Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, who helped draft the
Constitution. “It was written the day that Thomas Jefferson was sworn in (as president),” Kometer said. “John Marshall was the one who actually swore him in. He started a letter to Charles Coatesworth Pinckney in the morning and then he took a break and came back at 4 o’clock to finish the letter and said I have just administered the oath.” 


Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Warm regards.


By Associated Press, Published: May 8

THE University of the South Pacific (USP) has launched a digital archive with over 1000 research and scholarly outputs giving it an edge in promoting research outputs.

A USP statement confirmed the launch of the USP Electronic Research Repository (USPERR) enabling researchers around the world to access the research records of every individual published at USP since 2001.

USPERR is designed to collect, maintain, promote and disseminate the research and scholarly outputs of the USP and is the result of a partnership with the Australian government through the Australia Agency for International Development (AusAID). USPERR was developed using open source software called Eprints which is widely used by academic institutions with institutional repositories of scholarly work.Acting AusAID counsellor-regional Keith Joyce officially launched USPERR last week and described it as having "great potential".

"The USPERR is a wonderful achievement for the university as it continues to steadily advance its aspirations to be a world-class research institution. "Australia is supporting the USP Electronic Research Repository because it is a priority of the university's strategic plan," he said.

Pro vice-chancellor Professr John Bythell said setting up a research repository was a very difficult thing to
achieve.He commended the work done by the staff members of the research office at USP, particularly project officer Amerita Ravuvu and her assistant Shalni Sanjana.

Source
| http://www.fijitimes.com/

Uni's research library goes online

THE University of the South Pacific (USP) has launched a digital archive with over 1000 research and scholarly outputs giving it an edge in promoting research outputs.

A USP statement confirmed the launch of the USP Electronic Research Repository (USPERR) enabling researchers around the world to access the research records of every individual published at USP since 2001.

USPERR is designed to collect, maintain, promote and disseminate the research and scholarly outputs of the USP and is the result of a partnership with the Australian government through the Australia Agency for International Development (AusAID). USPERR was developed using open source software called Eprints which is widely used by academic institutions with institutional repositories of scholarly work.Acting AusAID counsellor-regional Keith Joyce officially launched USPERR last week and described it as having "great potential".

"The USPERR is a wonderful achievement for the university as it continues to steadily advance its aspirations to be a world-class research institution. "Australia is supporting the USP Electronic Research Repository because it is a priority of the university's strategic plan," he said.

Pro vice-chancellor Professr John Bythell said setting up a research repository was a very difficult thing to
achieve.He commended the work done by the staff members of the research office at USP, particularly project officer Amerita Ravuvu and her assistant Shalni Sanjana.

Source
| http://www.fijitimes.com/