 Friday, June 28, 2002
I'm a little late with this one, but check out the first ever winners of the netConnect Library Web Site Awards. Here's a rundown:
Public Libraries
Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, NV
Worthington Libraries, Worthington, OH
School Libraries
Lawrence High School, Lawrence, KS
Tomlinson Middle School, Fairfield, CT
Academic Libraries
University Library, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Shaffer Library, Union College, Schenectady, NY
In addition to the awards, Honorable Mentions go to:
The Outernet for Young Adults site of the Multnomah County Library
SkokieNet.org, a community information network produced by the Skokie Public Library, IL
The de Grummond Children's Literature Collection, University Libraries, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg
" 'Magnetic wood blocks mobile phone signals. Theatres and restaurants could use the new wood to stop people using their cellphones without resorting to signal jammers.' [New Scientist]
First of all, it's not magnetic wood, it's a sandwich of wood and a ferrite substrate. Thank's for teasing me there folks. But what is cool about this is the fact that it can be used to block cell phone signals, allowing a builder to make a signal free zone without installing the illegal signal jammers.
Possible uses mentioned in the article: Theaters, restaurants, residential for limiting access to different networks in a confined area." [Ryan Greene's Radio Weblog]
And, of course, quiet areas in libraries!
Addendum: I was going to add that if these could be made translucent then you'd have the Cone of Silence, but I guess someone's already made the CoS a reality!
Library Journal is having the same thoughts I am about the need for libraries to illustrate our buying clout to publishers. In an April editorial titled Inside Track: Where Are the Library Best "Sellers"?, Francine Fialkoff says:
"In LJ we've already got Prepub Best Sellers and Subject Best Sellers, which tell us what libraries are buying. But what are patrons reading? Where is the Library Best Sellers list with the impact to match the ones above? The potential is enormous, both on a grand scale and on local turf. We're missing a huge opportunity to market ourselves to the public in our libraries, on our web sites, in the local or even national press. The lists would also grab the attention of publishers and show our clout in the publishing world. What are the trends in library reading down to the subject level? What clues do circulation figures give to the backlists? How many large-print titles are circulating? What fiction is moving beyond the top 10, 20, or 50 best-selling titles on the commercial lists? While large publishers put most of their money, and marketing dollars, into brand-name authors, they still publish "midlist" titles by unknown or up-and-coming writers for whom library circulation statistics—and sales—can make a difference.
Library Best Sellers don't have to mimic the commercial lists, though they can. We can define best sellers in many ways. The Ultimate Backlist Best Sellers. Beyond the Best Sellers. Audio Best Sellers. Arts and Crafts Best Sellers. Illustrated Books for Children. Most Requested Books (which, in some systems like Bergen County Cooperative Library System, NJ, automatically excludes big-name authors, because their books can't be put on hold). The lists could go on and on....
I've already spoken with several librarians who've said they'd participate, including Robert White at the above-mentioned Bergen County system, Julie Pringle at Fairfax County Public Library, VA, and David Domkoski at Tacoma Public Library. If you're interested, contact me at fialkoff@lj.cahners.com. As White said when we spoke, 'We've failed politically to send a message to the powers that be about the clout of libraries.' We must change that. "
If you, too, think this is an obvious need, please contact Francine and participate in this project. It's a great idea (that should be easy to automate), and it's sorely needed.
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