Blogging Section of SLA-IT

UB dissolves the School of Informatics

I worked the library school alumni event at the SLA conference for Syracuse University (where I am an adjunct).  I was surprised to see what schools didn't participate.  And it caused me to think about those library science programs that no longer exist.  Since then, another library science program is in an uncomfortable position.  The Buffalo News states:

UB's School of Informatics - not to be confused with its highly touted bioinformatics program - was among the first in the country when the School of Information and Library Studies and the department of communication were merged with much fanfare in 1999 to offer broader study of how communication is combined with information technology.

Provost Satish K. Tripathi, the No. 2 official at UB, informed faculty members last week that the department of communication will return under the umbrella of the College of Arts and Sciences, while the department of library and information studies will become part of the Graduate School of Education by the end of the fall semester.

Tripathi called it a realignment of academic programs. This arrangement makes more sense, and allows for more collaboration among departments, he said.

A follow-up article from Buffalo Business First is here.  And there is a blog posting by one of the School's assistant professors here.

Although New York State has several universities with library science programs, since the late 1970s we have lost at least two (Geneseo and Columbia).  Now the feeling is that we may be on the verge of losing another.  If we are to train more librarians/information specialists, shouldn't we be creating more programs, not dismantling existing programs?

So here are questions to ponder:

• What can SLA do to help programs introduce new courses that teach emerging/needed skills for 21st century librarians?
• How can SLA (and the IT division specifically) help programs ensure that students have the right computer skills for the workforce?
  
• How can SLA help library schools recruit students?
  
• Can SLA do more to attract people to the profession and to MLS programs?
• Can SLA somehow help universities see the value in retaining or creating library science programs (perhaps part of an I-School)?
• Is there some role (perhaps as lobbyists) that our vendors/partners can play in ensuring that these programs remain viable (or innovative), perhaps by helping them understand the industry?
  

Social Networking for Bookworms

From the WSJ:

If bookcases are a way to casually display interests dear to the owner, the Internet throws open the doors on reading habits. Social-networking and book retailers' sites are already rife with lists of readers' favorite material, allowing people to compare notes on taste and compatibility.

But for Tim Spalding, a computer programmer and bibliophile, listing a few titles in an online profile isn't enough. He sought a way to catalog his entire book collection -- and to check out what was lining other people's shelves.

Read the rest of the article here.

Chair-Elect for the Section

It is my pleasure to announce that Jill Hurst-Wahl, contributor to this weblog, has become Chair-Elect of the Blogging Section. Her term as Chair will begin in January at the Leadership Summit in Reno. Congratulations to Jill and thanks go to her for rising up to the challenge!

Social-Networking Sites Continue Meteoric Rise In May

This a short, interesting article.  I'd like to quote the entire thing, but best if you read it!

And what are the top five social networking sites:

1. MySpace.com
2. Classmates.com sites
3. FaceBook.com
4. YouTube.com
5. MSN Spaces

That "canned ham" in our e-mail

According to CipherTrust, a company that does messaging security, there is "a 21-percent increase in the number of new zombie computers--bringing the total number of daily new zombies to almost 300,000--and a 20-percent increase in overall unwanted e-mail traffic over the past month. Additionally, CipherTrust(R) Research concluded that of all spam servers--servers used to relay spam and phishing e-mails through zombie PCs--64 percent are located in Taiwan; 23 percent are located in the United States; and three percent are located in China."

Obviously, spam is an ongoing stuggle that we're fighting...and not only in e-mail, but in blog comments, etc.  It wastes our time and our storage space...and it seems to be here to stay.

No screenshots on Flickr?!

Thanks to Nicole for pointing this article and fact out.  From Wired:

Online worlds collide as Second Life fans and Flickr spar over how to handle screenshots on the popular photo-sharing site.

At stake is a little-known Flickr policy of flagging accounts that contain mostly non-photographic images and preventing images from those accounts from appearing in public areas of the site, including search.

Given the usefulness of posting screenshots in Flickr is, this could be stressful.  Even I've posted a screenshot!

Blogs for small businesses

Something of interest for the entrepreneurs and small business employees among us. AllBusiness.com is a website that caters (mostly for free) to the needs of small businesses. The offerings include a whole series of blogs on different aspects of the business world (PR, RH, taxes, work-from-home, working mothers, strategic planning, finances, etc etc).

One of the bloggers, Denise O'Berry, also maintains a directory of small business blogs.

Oops, missed it!

It seems that June 14 was the 3rd Annual Internation Weblogger's Day (or InWeDay). I'll keep an eye out for it next year.

The idea of this site is to unite webloggers from across the world in a petition to the global community for a such a day as an "international weblogger's day". While yet an unofficial event, webloggers can commemorate the work of their peers by celebrating this day. Furthermore, InWeDay, as it is now called in some places, is a not-for-profit concept.

SLA conference review

Well, it looks like I managed to miss all sessions devoted to blogs and related technologies (apart from "Newsroom Wikis", posted about in the IT Division blog) because of various engagements. Have you seen Jenny Levine talk about RSS? Have you attended the National Geographic session about social software? How about the Legal Division "Emerging Technologies Breakfast"? Or others?

If you have, would you please share a few tidbits about it in the comments field for the benefit of all? I hope you had a blast in Baltimore, I did!

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Technorati tag: sla2006

Bloggers Get-Together - pictures!

Jill Hurst-Wahl has posted about the Bloggers Get-Together at SLA on the SLA Conference blog. She also posted pictures on Flickr.

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Technorati tag: sla2006