A Wealth of Nostalgia

What exactly is a virtual repository of metadata? The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), launched with a set of linked, accessible, digital materials from libraries, archives, and museums around the country. Their tag line is “A Wealth of Knowledge.”

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Rewriting History

With the future word inclusion policies of the Oxford English Dictionary unclear, various professionals were invited to attend a one-day international symposium. Stefan Dollinger, a lexicographer at the University of British Columbia, was one of the invited. Dollinger, one of two Canadians on the list, believes it is time the historic dictionary considers including English words…

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Theory of Knowledge: 19th and 20th Century Developments

In the 19th century, the study of the nature of knowledge came to be known as epistemology. The term was introduced by Scottish metaphysic James Frederick Ferrier (1808-1864). Epistemological writers explored how knowledge relates to connected notions, such as belief and truth. They also considered the means of production of knowledge. And to a large extent, they embraced skepticism. a mode of thinking that required information to be well supported by evidence before it could be accepted as fact, i.e., knowledge.

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New Aggregate Digital Public Library

The Digital Public Library of America launched a new website last week and become an independent nonprofit with the goal of pulling together vast resources for the public. A new platform will aggregate digital resources from libraries and museums across the United States. This library platform will not host any resources, but will provide open access to metadata about them. This information was found on Government Technology in their article, “Digital Public Library of America Opens Access to Resources.”

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Stretching the Boundaries

Social media has gone to college. College libraries, that is. Reaching beyond the relationship status updates on Facebook, Harvard libraries set up Twitter feeds to broadcast the titles of books being checked out from campus libraries. Readers can return books to the “Awesome Box,” creating a data trail about what they consider great. “Awesomed” selections are then publicized via Twitter.

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Court Ruling Affirms Libraries

The U.S. Supreme Court has supported consumer rights and libraries in the high-profile Kirtsaeng v. Wiley & Sons, Inc. case by ruling that goods lawfully made overseas are protected by the first sale doctrine. This particular case focused on whether Americans and businesses had the right to sell, lend, or give away the things they own that were made overseas.

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Mark Your Calendars

The 2013 Special Libraries Association (SLA) Leadership Summit is scheduled for February 6-9, 2013 in Dallas, Texas. Plan today to join SLA unit leaders, the SLA Board of Directors and headquarters staff at this exciting event.

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