Everyone's Trying to Track What You Do on the Web: Here's How to Stop Them

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:27:43 +0800

Everyone’s Trying to Track What You Do on the Web: Here’s How to Stop Them

The adage goes, "If you're not paying for a service, you're the product, not the customer," and it's never been more true. Every day more news breaks about a new company that uploads your address book to their servers, skirts in-browser privacy protection, and tracks your every move on the web to learn as much about your browsing habits and activities as possible. In this post, we'll explain why you should care, and help you lock down your surfing so you can browse in peace.

A Very Unusual Bookmobile

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:18:05 +0800

Check out The Argentinian Book Tank as bookmobile, aka a "weapon of mass instruction".

Amazon Pulls Thousands of E-Books in Dispute

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:46:31 +0800

Amazon pulled more than 4,000 e-books distributed by the Independent Publishers Group off its site this week after it failed to exact better terms from the distributor.

Full article

LINSANITY! Instant Book On NY Knicks Phenom

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:59:36 +0800

You knew it was coming to this: An instant book on the incredible rise to stardom of the New York Knicks’ Jeremy Lin, the Harvard-educated, undrafted point guard who is the NBA’s first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent.

Hachette Book Group says it is publishing Jeremy Lin: The Reason for the Linsanity, by Timothy Dalrymple. It is due in stores in May, the company announced Wednesday.

The book will chronicle Lin’s high school, college and early career in the NBA, while highlighting the media explosion ignited by his success the past two-plus weeks as a starter with the Knicks.

More Than a Pretty Picture, 1.2 Million of Them

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:24:33 +0800

More Than a Pretty Picture, 1.2 Million of Them
The collection that Mr. Parrott, 42, presides over is, the library says, the largest circulating picture collection in the world — over 1.2 million prints and postcards in all, enough to make it a favorite resource for artists, art directors and scenic designers.

They can borrow what they find. The collection lends images the way the rest of the library lends books. Every month, from 17,000 to 23,000 images are checked out from the collection, on the third floor of the Mid-Manhattan Library, on Fifth Avenue at 40th Street.

City library staff in balancing act regarding homelessness

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:23:32 +0800

City library staff in balancing act regarding homelessness

The no-sleeping policy highlights the difficult ethical challenge that library staff face in weighing the needs of patrons. On one side is the library's role as a place for learning and growth; on the other is the harsh reality that the building is one of the only public places downtown where homeless people can get warm during the day.

Inside Edition Who Is Lurking In Your Public Library

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:41:43 +0800

To be broadcast Wednesday, Feb. 22
New York, NY – Feb 22nd – It’s the last place you think you’d be a victim – the public library. But an INSIDE EDITION investigation found that crimes are being committed across the country in these supposedly safe havens, from petty thefts to violent, sexual assaults. Also disturbing is that library computers are being used by some patrons to watch graphic, adult videos, which is perfectly legal and often even permitted in libraries.
...
Lt. Curt Stoldt of the East Harford, CT Police Department tells INSIDE EDITION that criminals count on library patrons to have a false sense of security.

STOLDT: “The bad guys know that they are not going to get much resistance for their crimes. People that go to libraries think that it’s a safe place, a place of learning, reading, not a place where criminals go to commit crimes. You should always keep your guard up.”

INSIDE EDITION’s I-Squad reviewed incident reports from libraries in 10 large cities from the last 2 years and the findings may surprise people. For example,

In Austin, Texas there were 612 incidents of harassment /sexual harassment.
In Milwaukee, Wis. there were 351 incidents of theft.
In San Francisco, Calif. there were 62 cases of assault.

INSIDE EDITION is produced daily by Inside Edition Inc. and distributed by CBS Television Distribution.
Check local listings for stations and times.

Ann Patchett on Colbert

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:34:13 +0800

Steve Colbert interviews author Ann Patchett. Patchett is co-owner of an independent bookstore. Her bookstore and Amazon are discussed.

Woman pleads guilty to stealing 2000 library books

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:44:49 +0800

Woman pleads guilty to stealing library books
A San Diego County woman has pleaded guilty to stealing about 2,000 library books and DVDs to resell on the Amazon website. City News Service says she entered a plea Tuesday to felony burglary. She'll be sentenced to probation.

Biggest floating library to dock in Subic Bay

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:44:02 +0800

Biggest floating library to dock in Subic Bay
OLONGAPO CITY – MV Logos Hope – known as the largest among the floating libraries of the German-based organization Good Book for All (GBA) – will drop anchor in Subic Bay on March 15 to April 8, 2012 to bring knowledge, help and hope to local folks, especially children.

Download the Universe

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:54:59 +0800

Excerpt from article by David Dobbs - I’m pleased to announce a new site I’m part of. I’m one of an otherwise distinguished handful of reviewer-editors for Download the Universe, a site conceived by Carl Zimmer in an off-hand remark last month during a ScienceOnline session on e-books. We aim to meet a simple but stark and urgent need: While lots of new science books are coming out in e-book-only form, it’s hard to find reviews of those books or a single site or publication where such books are noted. Download the Universe is that new place, and along with Carl Zimmer, my fellow editors (listed below) include some sharp minds and some of our best science writers. We’ll be regularly posting both short and long reviews of new (and existing) science books that are published only in e-book form — usually 2 or 3 a week — as well as occasional comments or essays on trends in science books and e-book publication.

Full article at Wired.com: Download the Universe Right Here: A New Site for Science E-Book Reviews

Comic book collection inherited by family expected to net $2M at auction

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:44:23 +0800

comic book collection inherited by family expected to net $2M at auction
When Michael Rorrer found 345 comic books neatly stacked in a basement closet as he cleaned out his great aunt’s Virginia home after her death, he thought they were cool but didn’t think much about their value.

He later discovered that his late great uncle Billy Wright had managed to assemble a remarkable comic book collection that included some of the most prized issues ever published, and kept them in good condition. The comics are expected to fetch more than $2 million when they are auctioned off Wednesday in New York City.

How to Save Books A new model for publishers

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:43:03 +0800

A new model for publishers

First: Pricing is set too low, margins get squeezed.
Second: Piracy runs rampant.
Third: A la carte sales whittle down revenues.

Congress should join the other countries that have major book industries in passing a Fixed Book Price Agreement, in which booksellers and publishers agree on what price books may be sold nationally--i.e., no $25 books selling for $10 at Costco. In France and other nations, studies have shown that FBPAs protect independent stores, increase the diversity and quality of titles sold, and support more authors.

Unrest in Afghanistan over Burning of Korans (Again)

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:04:37 +0800

Troops at a US base in Afghanistan mistakenly burned Korans and other religious texts, in an effort to eliminate materials containing "extremist communications." This has sparked riots reminiscent of those caused by pastor Terry Jones burning a Koran in his church last year. Read the latest at The New York Times; CNN; MSNBC.

Andy Warhol's Assailant Defaced Library Book That She Wrote

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:46:24 +0800

From the City Room blog of the New York Times, a remembrance of how Warhol's shooter, Valerie Solanas defaced a copy of the library book called “S.C.U.M. (Society for Cutting Up Men) Manifesto” (lovely title!) that she herself had authored.

The opening sentence called on women to “overthrow the government, eliminate the money system, institute complete automation and destroy the male sex.” It was published in paperback; the library had its copy bound in hardback, to minimize the wear and tear, in mid-1976.

Wednesday (today) is the 25th anniversary of Warhol’s death after gall bladder surgery at what was then known as New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, 19 years after Ms. Solanas opened fire and wounded him. She was angry because he had lost the manuscript of a play she had written — a play with an unprintable title that she wanted him to consider. More from the New York Times.

Internet Librarian 2012 Call For Speakers Is Open

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:47:20 +0800

Internet Librarian 2012 Call For Speakers Is Open
Be a part of the most comprehensive conference for library and information professionals interested in technology to discover the insights, strategies and practices that allow us to push the envelope in expanding the net, manage libraries and digital information, and enhance the information sharing and learning experience of people in our communities.

This year's event will be held October 22-24 in Monterey, California and the theme is Transformational Power of Internet Librarians: Promise & Prospect

We've got a list below of some topics we hope to cover, but don't let this list limit your imagination! Share your experience, submit a proposal today!

School librarian off to Zambia to work with street kids

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:35:20 +0800

School librarian off to Zambia to work with street kids
At a time in her life when many parents are helping their older teens get ready for a gap year, Jennifer MacKinnon is taking one herself.

Last week, the 55-year-old Millwood High School librarian headed off to Zambia to volunteer for a year with a special library project aimed at street kids in the African country’s capital, Lusaka.

MacKinnon said in an interview before leaving that she was both excited and afraid. But it’s an adventure that she has been building toward for years.

A Chicago Librarian Speaks Out About Cutbacks

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:33:54 +0800

‘There’s a Ripple Effect’: A Chicago Librarian Speaks Out About Cutbacks
"As I wrote previously, the libraries have become one of several high-profile battlegrounds between Mayor Rahm Emanuel and public-sector unions, including AFSCME Council 31, which represents library workers. Although past retirement age, John keeps working in part because he loves the job and the interaction with local residents. He especially enjoys working with youth—"they keep me feeling younger than my actual years," he says. But he’s frustrated that the city’s administration doesn’t seem to respect the importance of libraries today, or the needs and well-being of library workers and patrons. I recently talked with him about the issues:"

Why are some libraries choosing to restrict children’s access to public information?

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:53:31 +0800

Are Librarians Encouraging Public Libraries to Abide by COPPA?

And that’s my question back to librarians: Why are some libraries choosing to restrict children’s access to public information? I get why many adults who live in communities where the kids are AOK want to make sure that parents are involved in their children’s lives and activities. But not all kids are lucky enough to be in households where parent permission to access information is viable. Most of the librarians that I’ve met totally get that. They’ve seen abused children. They’ve seen kids who’ve struggled with their sexuality. They’ve seen children for whom access to information is critical to combating oppression. I wish that parents were always in the right. I wish that parents were always good actors. But they aren’t. And I thought librarians understood that.

Author Publishes Book as Facebook Photo Album

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:35:39 +0800

Author Publishes Book as Facebook Photo Album
Author Alex Epstein is releasing his latest collection of short stories as a Facebook photo album. For My Next Illusion I Will Use Wings includes 88 pieces of ‘micro-fiction’ which have been saved as images in a Facebook photo album to create what he is calling a Facebook book.

A Response to Seth Godin's "The Illusion of Privacy"

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:43:42 +0800

A Response to Seth Godin's "The Illusion of Privacy"
"In the end, Seth has propagated a lie that many before him have told. He's just a big public figure. Privacy is hard, you can't knee jerk it. Online/electronic privacy is an active field of research, and improvements should be supported not put down with tired throw-away lines. What's more, technical ways of doing this are available and should be investigated, no matter their surprise value."

Picturing new chapter for libraries

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:30:15 +0800

Picturing new chapter for libraries
The trustees of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library remain undeterred.

They see the creation of a special library legislative district as a way to stabilize funding and end the type of budget uncertainty that led to the closure of 15 libraries during the "red" and "green" budget years of County Executive Joel Giambra.

"This puts the budget in the hands of the people," said Mary Jean Jakubowski, the library's director. "The voters of Erie County would make the determination as to whether or not they would secure a budget for us."

The Not-So-Much Dystopian Future Of Public Libraries

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:05:18 +0800

Public library openings and my problem with negativity

"In other words, a consistent push toward negativity damages public libraries because it creates the perception that libraries are doomed anyway–that cities are already shutting them down....Do you see what I see? The 0.4% decline from 2004 to 2009…simply isn’t there. The overall trend of either libraries or branches (“outlets” is libraries and branches combined) shutting down…simply isn’t there....Actually, there is a number very close to 0.4% from 2004 to 2009: Namely, there are 0.58% more total service points in 2009 than in 2004."

Publishers hate you. You should hate them back.

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:56:55 +0800

Publishers hate you. You should hate them back.
So library-types, let’s get our story straight. Publishers have contempt for the authors they need to write works, and the readers they need to read works. Publishers are scared that the internet is going to disintermediate their asses into the dustbin of history, and the best response that many of them have come up with is to express their fear through hatred. For all the things that we might need to improve in libraries or apologize for, this isn’t one of them.

'Plotto': An Algebra Book For Fiction Writing

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:43:03 +0800

You'll never suffer from writer's block as long as you've got a copy of Plotto: The Master Book of All Plots. Prolific pulp novelist William Wallace Cook turned his fiction production methods into a wacky manual for aspiring writers. Originally published in 1928, it has just been reissued.

Full piece on NPR

Book: Plotto: The Master Book of All Plots