Category Archives: Libraries

Cities in the Dust

Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2011 by Keith

At the new York review of Books, a lament for the disappearing library: All across the United States, large and small cities are closing public libraries or curtailing their hours of operations. Detroit, I read a few days ago, may … Continue reading →

Posted in Hasbeens, History, Libraries, Politics | Comments Off

The Underwater Library

Posted on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 by Keith

Via friend of the blog and typo hunter, Leigh, I learned today that the Louisville Free Public Library was recently flooded and is in pretty dire straights: LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – It’ll be sometime Wednesday before the full extent of … Continue reading →

Posted in Libraries, Library News | Comments Off

A New Utility: The Library as Critical Infrastructure

Posted on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 by Keith

Everyone who plays the board game Monopoly knows that the real power properties to own are the utilities. If you have Water Works, the Electric Company and all four railroads in your pile, you’ve got a solid chance of winning, … Continue reading →

Posted in Libraries, Technology, The Land of Suede Elbow Pads, What The Internet Needs Now | 3 Comments

Featurs, Not Bugs

Posted on Sunday, July 19, 2009 by Keith

I’ve been asked when my book will be available on the Kindle and I’ve sort of hemmed and hawed a bit in answering, because, to be honest, I don’t like the Kindle. I think it’s a flawed device and would … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Libraries, Technology | 2 Comments

Off to LA

Posted on Thursday, May 14, 2009 by Keith

We’re heading down to LA to visit friends and family. While there, I’ll be attending the Innovative Users Group Conference in Annehim. This means no posts until late next week, as if that’s different then my normal posting schedule, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Libraries, The Land of Suede Elbow Pads, Travel | 1 Comment

Elsevier’s Ethics Problem Goes Way Deeper

Posted on Saturday, May 9, 2009 by Keith

Elsevier it appears, was even less ethical, if you can imagine it: In a statement to The Scientist magazine, Elsevier at first said the company “does not today consider a compilation of reprinted articles a ‘journal’”. I would like to … Continue reading →

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Academic Ethics? What Are Those?

Posted on Sunday, May 3, 2009 by Keith

Pharm giant Merck came up with a novel way of advertising their drugs: they made up a phony peer-review Journal. And guess who published it for them? Every academic’s favorite publishing behemoth, Elsevier!* It’s a safe guess that somewhere at … Continue reading →

Posted in Libraries, Library News, The Land of Suede Elbow Pads | Comments Off

Maybe They Can Dip in to the Book Budget

Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 by Keith

Looks like Bush can’t quite raise the funds to finish his Presidential Library: His approval ratings are among the lowest for any president in modern US history. He’s presiding over the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. He acknowledges … Continue reading →

Posted in Libraries, News, Politics, The Boy Who Would Be King | Comments Off

Waking From A Winter’s Nap

Posted on Sunday, December 7, 2008 by Keith

I’ve been out of commission with a cold for the last few days but I’m working on a write up of our trip to Ireland which will be up soon. In the meantime, go check out this write up of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ireland, Libraries, Meta | Comments Off

Is This The Greatest Library Ever?

Posted on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 by Keith

There are libraries and then there are the shrines that super nerds build:  Nothing quite prepares you for the culture shock of Jay Walker’s library. You exit the austere parlor of his New England home and pass through a hallway … Continue reading →

Posted in By the Power of the Interweb!, Libraries | Comments Off