Free range librarian article

I noted Karen Schneider from has released an interest article on Wikipedia entitled Wikipedia's Awkward Adolescence. If your interested in wikipedia, its well worth a read.

BL books go digital

Via the bbc it seems that the British Library is All books are public domain and often dating back from the nineteenth century. The British library is working in conjunction with Microsoft on the project by utilising its Microsoft's Live Search Books.
The article says:-

Digitised publications will be accessible in two ways -initially through Microsoft's Live Search Books and then via the Library's website.

The books will be fully text searchable, meaning users will be able to look for keywords within a publication, making research easier and enhancing interaction with the material.

Job hunting and blowing your own horn

I read an interesting blog found called blowing your own horn. Ahmed Bilal writes:-

Self-Promotion is something most of us are uncomfortable with - and it's not just the prospect of 'selling' that turns us off, in reality its insecurity (cleverly dressed as modesty) that holds us back.

Whether by nature or by society, we are programmed to sell ourselves short.

I was interested in this, as i have just finished my course, and working through my last few weeks at my present job. Therefore, application forms are presently my main source of reading material. Not the most interesting thing to do.

Therefore, when re-reading through a job application, how one needs to do it not only within application forms but also when working within a library.

In this point I mean the idea of advocacy. In the last few weeks I noted Meredith Farkas discussing the Mudflap girl,
who is now being used as an icon for Wyoming's libraries to indicate they 'are as expansive as the state, and as close as down the street.' I always find it interesting how libraries blowing there own horn.

Librarian movie

Via Lisnews about the documentary Hollywood Librarian. There is a review of the film of it in the Journal Times. I have talked about this film before, but it only seems to have a USA release. Any idea when it will be released here guys?

Siva Vaidhyanathan project

Siva Vaidhyanathan has written on his blog, about his new book and blog that will go with it, called The Googlization of Everything. This will look at the effect of Google on society. It seems to be a long way from completion, but sounds an interesting book. Siva say in his new blog:-

On occasion, I will post an open question on this blog. Please answer it.

So, check it out if you have time.

Dissertation is now freely available at my website

After constantly talking about my dissertation entitled Blogging and its impact on libraries and librarians I have published it here on my personal website. It has both my dissertations, but the blogging one is at the bottom. It is yet to be marked, so please don't inform me it not very good. Also my lecturer said wait for it to be marked, but I wanted to put it up. Anyhow, thanks again for all those who answered by questionaire and a special thanks again to Sarah Houghton and Meredith Farkas (the first for helping me get people to know about the questionaire, and the second for her research).
Anyhow, for those who want to read 80 pages of a pdf, enjoy.

At last.....the dissertation is done

I finally completed my dissertation today. I just have to hand it in. Its been a hard slog, but thankfully its done. I know how some other library bloggers have felt when jobs on top course work have made for a lot of work (1 & 2). I have sent this out to the people who took part before I put it up on my website for others to read (if reading 80 pages on blogging is your interest).
Anyhow, I would like to give a huge thank you to some people's whose research certainly helped. They are Michael Sauers and Meredith Farkas. I would also like to thank Sarah Houghton again for getting people to answer my questionaire.
That means I can start blogging more regularly. On top of looking for a job.