Posts by Melody Smith
Emojis: Communication without Words
Each year since 2000, the Global Language Monitor has selected the Top Words of the Year, which they derive through statistical analysis of word usage. Some may have thought the organization had gone insane this year when they announced the selections for 2014 because, at the very top of the list was not a word at all, but the heart emoji. It’s true; a tiny cartoon heart got used so often last year that it supplanted all other actual words.
Read MoreProtecting the Source
The Australian federal government’s data retention package is close to its end. If this particular bill is passed, many believe journalists and their sources will face an even more difficult reporting environment in Australia.
Read MoreIntern Position Available
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is seeking applications for a paid internship at their Washington, D.C. office. The internship will be in Library Services in the Applied Research and Methods team (ARM). The deadline for applying is March 18, 2015. The position is slated in May or June.
Read MoreRecreating History
There has been much destruction and devastation at the hands of ISIS fighters. Lives have been lost and worlds upturned. There has also been destruction brought down on history. Horrific destruction of the Mosul Museum in northern Iraq by ISIS fighters was broadcast in a video, and this wasn’t the first time for this museum. The destruction is nearly absolute.
Read MoreShould We Be Concerned?
Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, is concerned about super intelligence. This comes from an interview where he was asked a rather interesting question: “How much of an existential threat do you think machine super intelligence will be and do you believe full end-to-end encryption for all internet activity can do anything to protect us from that threat (eg. the more the machines can’t know, the better)?”
Read MoreLibraries Revisited
Libraries seem to belong to a past generation who did not have access to the internet or to other data sources where mega masses of information could be accessed quickly and easily. Of course there have been changes, but we in the business of information science know that the value of libraries hasn’t diminished, just changed. The latest research findings indicate that the future of libraries falls into three categories: The library as a place, the library as a connector of people, and the library as a platform for getting patrons the information and the contacts they seek.
Read MoreScholarly Communication is Changing
The Future of Scholarly Communications in Economics can be discussed in Hamburg at the end of the month. The event is chaired by Mark McCabe, from Boston University and University of Michigan, and organized by Economics: The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal.
Read MoreAnd the survey says…
The Ancient World Online (AWOL) blog is looking for academics who have used open data in their teaching to share their experiences. By conducting a mini survey to understand which portals, tools or repositories academics use to retrieve open datasets, they can better understand how this information is being used in teaching and learning in higher education. Have you taken the AWOL User Survey?
Read MoreDigital Commons Library – Open and Free
The recent announcement of the Digital Commons Community Library provides a way of exploring bepress’s scholarly communication resources by subject matter — free and open access.
Read MoreEarly Bird Discount Available
The Special Libraries Association (SLA) has partnered with Information Today to provide members an exclusive discount on the upcoming Computers in Libraries 2015 conference, which takes place April 27-29 in Washington, D.C.
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