Last Virgin Megastore in New York City Closes

I really need to start blogging more regularly!  For those of you still left reading (or even subscribed to) my blog, I apologize!

So, the title of this blog must have some wondering what it means.  I read in the NYT today that the last major music store in New York City has closed.  See:  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/arts/music/15virgin.html.  Well, I read the article and couldn’t help but wonder if there are not implications here for the library

For example,  see the quotes from Tony Beliech:  “Unfortunately the large retail music store is a dinosaur” and also  “It does matter because it was also a social gathering space, and that’s one thing that buying music online lacks.” Yet, the store is closing.

Then there is this quote from Michael McGuire:  “The Titanic that is physical media started slowly sinking in 2000.  Certainly this is a traumatic event for those who worked there, but it’s an expected product of the digital transition.”

Then there is this too:  “true value was not in its sales but in the real estate that its stores occupied”

Obviously there are vast differences between academic libraries and record stores.  However, is there something here we can take away?  What are the implications here for academic libraries?

Grants awarded

Well, it’s been awhile since I contributed to my blog.  What can I say?  It’s been a busy time!

I’m pleased to announce that we have received two important grants that are both related to our collection of World War I trench maps. The first is a grant from the Canadian heritage ministry to acquire an additional 900+ trench maps to add to our collection.  See the Hamilton Spectator article for more details on this acquisition.

The second is an award from the Canada Foundation for Innovation to create a facilty to study scaling within the gaming environment.  The trench maps will be used to create an three-dimensional environment within a gaming framework for the purpose of studying scale and the user experience.

We’re very excited about both of these initiatives!

McMaster librarians quoted in University Affairs

Congratulations to Krista and Shawn who were quoted in the recent issue of University Affairs on the use of Second Life:

http://www.affairesuniversitaires.ca/2008/12/01/studies-in-second-life.aspx

Apple Computers Coming Soon!

This September, McMaster Libraries will be introducing Apple computers in the public areas in both Thode and Mills Libraries. Come September, you’ll find a sea of brand new machines, including iMacs, Mac Pros and Apple laptops.

Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with the Apple operating system. All of these stations will be dual boot, which means you’ll be able to start them up and run either the Apple or Windows operating system.

The integration of Apple computers at the libraries allows for greater flexibility and a wider range of software choices. In addition, it gives library users a choice about which operating system they would prefer to use.

Thode Library will have the following mix of machines available on the newly renovated first floor:

12 Mac Pros with 30″ screens for multimedia functions

38 iMacs

30 laptops

Mills Library will be outfitted with a number of brand new iMacs, including:

66 iMacs in the Mills Learning Commons on the second floor of the library

30 MacBooks in the Wong e-classroom on the first floor of Mills

The machines will be equipped with office software (i.e. word processing, spreadsheet) in addition to specialized software such as Matlab.

Library Learning Technologies staff, who oversee all technology in the libraries, are hurriedly preparing the new machines and testing the dual boot functionality. They are also providing training to the IT Help staff, who work at service desks in Mills Learning Commons and the first floor of Thode, to make sure we are able to answer any questions you might have when using the new machines.

An added bonus of this endeavour is that it frees up more Windows-based laptop computers to circulate through the library’s laptop lending program. That means there will be more laptops for you to borrow.

Please contact John Fink, digital technologies development librarian, at jfink@mcmaster.ca with any questions.

McMaster partners with Portico

From the Portico press release

Portico, a not-for-profit digital preservation service, introduced three expansions of its preservation work at its third annual Participants’ Meeting, held during the American Library Association Annual Conference in Anaheim, California. In direct response to preservation concerns expressed by libraries and publishers, Portico is moving beyond e-journal preservation.

• Portico now preserves scholarly e-books.
At ALA, Elsevier, a leading scientific journal, database, and book publisher, announced an agreement to preserve in the Portico archive e-book content available in ScienceDirect. (seehttp://elsevier.com/wps/find/authored_newsitem.careers/companynews05_00960). Portico is in active discussions with several other e-book publishers and will announce additional agreements as these are finalized.

• Portico has also initiated preservation activities for digitized newspapers. Discussions with a number of leading publishers of current and historical digitized newspapers are underway, and we will keep the community apprised as these move ahead.

• Portico also announced a new service to enable libraries to preserve locally created/digitized electronic scholarly materials within the Portico archive. Fifteen institutions have agreed to work with Portico in the introductory phase of this service. These institutions include:

° American University
° Baylor University
° Binghamton University
° Brigham Young University
° California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
° City University of New York
° Colorado State University
° McMaster University
° Middlebury College
° Northwestern University
° Trinity College, Dublin
° University of British Columbia
° University of Notre Dame
° University of Queensland
° Vassar College

Portico expects to open this service to interested libraries in mid-2009.

For more than a decade the scholarly community has expressed concerns about preservation, in particular for e-journals, and Portico’s digital preservation service was launched in late 2005 in direct response to this need. As new preservation needs are brought to Portico’s attention by both libraries and publishers, Portico is working to respond to these needs in ways that allow us to more fully meet our mission to preserve scholarly literature published in electronic form and to ensure that these materials remain accessible to future generations of scholars, researchers, and students. Portico’s new activities will proceed as preservation of the more than 7,700 journals committed to the Portico archive continues.

To obtain additional information about participation in Portico or about these preservation activities see www.portico.org or send an email to participation@portico.org.

Regards,

Ken

Kenneth DiFiore, MLS 
Associate Director of Library Relations, Portico
tel: 609 986-2276
fax: 609 951-0020
email: ken.difiore@portico.org
web: www.portico.org

Pictures: McMaster/Lulu/Kirtas partnership celebration

Pictures from our celebration of our partnership with Lulu/Kirtas can be found at:  http://flickr.com/photos/macetg/

Included are pics of Bob Young (Lulu) and Lotfi Belkhir (Kirtas)

Enjoy!

McMaster University Library/Kirtas/Lulu Partnership

Imagine owning a copy of Galileo’s 1632 book, Dialogo di Galileo Galilei (Galileo’s Dialogue), challenging the traditional thinking that the universe revolves around the earth. At the time, the book and its concepts were so controversial, that Galileo was convicted of heresy in 1633 and the book was placed on the Index of Forbidden Books.

Or perhaps a first-edition, autographed copy of H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine is a more suitable choice for your own personal library?

These books and more will be made available to the public, beginning this fall, through a unique partnership between McMaster University Library and U.S.-based companies Kirtas Technologies, Inc. and Lulu.com.

With the support of Kirtas’ Canadian reseller Ristech, McMaster University will be using the Kirtas APT BookScan 2400RA to digitize rare, out-of-print books. Once the books are digitized and processed, McMaster faculty, students and staff will have free access to digital copies of the entire collection of scanned materials. The world will be able to access McMaster’s unique collections online, and even purchase as print-on-demand books from Lulu.com.

“We have significant collections that we would like to make more widely accessible through digitization,” said Jeffrey Trzeciak, University Librarian at McMaster University. “The digitization technology provided by Kirtas, the support and service we receive from Ristech, and the ability of Lulu to pull it all together increases both the electronic availability and the availability of the books in print for those who choose print on demand.”

As the publisher of these unique books, the Library also hopes to generate revenue through the print-on-demand service.

“We see more and more universities taking advantage of the print-on-demand option that is enabled through the digitization process,” said Kirtas Founder and CEO Lotfi Belkhir. “Not only are these institutions sharing their unique collections, but they are also creating a revenue stream that allows them to reinvest in their access and preservation efforts.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our customers to obtain books that may not be easy to find,” said Lulu.com CEO and Founder Bob Young. “In addition to being a place to publish, Lulu is a vast marketplace where anyone can buy books on just about any subject.” A native of Hamilton, Ontario, the affiliation puts Young in familiar territory.

McMaster University Library will be hosting a launch event celebrating their entry into mass digitization and publishing on Monday, May 26th at 9:30 a.m. The event will take place in the Mills Learning Commons at Mills Memorial Library and will include a demonstration of the machine and display some of the Library’s rare book collection.

To keep up to date on this project, please visit, http://digi.blog.lib.mcmaster.ca

Employment Opportunity: GIS Librarian

GIS Librarian

McMaster University Libraries is seeking an energetic, innovative and service-oriented individual with excellent communication skills to fill the position of GIS Librarian. The successful candidate will be a creative and self-motivated person who works well with colleagues in a challenging and changing environment.

This is a full-time continuing appointment reporting to the Director of Library Services, Maps, Data and GIS.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the optimal development, organization, access and use of digital geospatial information and related data resources in support of the learning, teaching and research missions of McMaster University.

The incumbent will:

   * develop, manage and deliver library services related to geospatial

     data

   * act as the Liaison Librarian for Geographic Information Systems to

     faculty in all disciplines and work with faculty to integrate

     library GIS and data resources and services into the curriculum

   * provide reference services, consultation and/or advice on the use

     of GIS and geospatial data to support research and teaching activities

   * provide instruction to library patrons in the use of GIS software

     and data

   * develop and maintain a GIS services delivery system and web site

   * lead library service development in GIS and in emerging

     neogeography technologies

   * manage collection development, organization and maintenance of the

     Library’s spatial data collections

   * participate in initiatives related to the collection, organization

     and maintenance of GIS data generated by McMaster University

     researchers and affiliates

   * assist with the provision of twenty-first century fluencies

     training (including spatial and numeric literacy)

   * provide reference services and support related to the Lloyd Reeds

     Map Collection and the Library Data Service as required

   * keep up with emerging trends in GIS and other library-related

     information technologies, and demonstrate a commitment to

     professional issues in librarianship through participation in

     professional organizations, research and publication

The successful candidate must hold a MLS from an ALA-accredited library school or information science program. The preferred candidate will also hold a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject area such as Geography or Environmental Science with a major in GIS, or additional GIS qualifications such as a community college diploma in GIS, or two (2) years of professional experience relevant to the position.

The successful candidate will have pertinent knowledge of and experience in the use of GIS and a variety of kinds of maps and geospatial data, as well as a knowledge of and experience working with general academic library tools and resources. The successful candidate must also demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the potential to excel as an instructor. A current working knowledge of GIS software, particularly ESRI products, is expected. The ability to convey complicated information to a variety of end-users at different technical levels is essential.

The preferred candidate should demonstrate a high degree of computer literacy and a demonstrated interest in geographic information technologies and their applications to academic libraries. The candidate should demonstrate a commitment to developing, maintaining and sharing technical expertise, and the ability to work creatively, collaboratively and effectively, both as a team member and independently.

This position is included in the McMaster University Faculty Association (MUFA) for Librarians. The appointment will be made at Level 2, Annual Salary Floor $50, 556; Ceiling $82, 072. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The position includes a competitive and comprehensive benefit package.

The Position Responsibility Statement is available from the Library Human Resources Office. Further information about the Library is available from its web site at http://library.mcmaster.ca/. McMaster University Libraries is the first Canadian library to be awarded the prestigious Excellence in Academic Libraries Award from the Association of College and Research Libraries in 2008 (http://library.mcmaster.ca/php/blog.php?id=832&display=full <http://library.mcmaster.ca/php/blog.php?id=832&display=full>).

Applications must be received by June 13, 2008.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be considered first for this position. McMaster University is strongly committed to employment equity within its community and to recruiting a diverse faculty and staff. The University encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, members of visible minorities, Aboriginal persons, members of sexual minorities and persons with disabilities.

Librarians who wish to be considered for this opportunity should send their Curriculum Vitae with a covering letter and the names of three references to:

Library Human Resources Office

Mills Memorial Library, Room 209

1280 Main Street West

Hamilton, Ontario

Fax: 905.522.0691 ext. 24722

E-mail: libjobs@mcmaster.ca 

McMaster University Libraries receive 2008 Excellence in Academic Libraries

I am very pleased and proud to announce that the McMaster University Libraries are the recipient of the *2008 Excellence in Academic Libraries Award* from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL).

The press release announcing the award is available at
http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2008/january2008/academic08.htm.

Sponsored by ACRL and Blackwell’s Book Services, the award “recognizes the staff of a college, university and community college library for programs that deliver exemplary services and resources to further the educational mission of the institution.” Mary Ellen Davis, president of ACRL calls the award a “tribute to a library and its staff for the outstanding services, programs and leadership they provide to their students, administrators, faculty and community.”

The recipients are selected by committee after an extensive application and review process. The commitee selected McMaster as it “exemplifies a successful transformation from a traditional research library to an innovative, user-centered library using technological advances to accomplish its goals,”

Over the past 18 months the libraries have moved forward thoughtfully in response to the significant changes that have taken place in how students learn and how faculty teach and conduct their research. In some cases, we have taken calculated risks designed to place us at the forefront of academic librarianship in North America. Receiving this award is an indication that the McMaster University Libraries are indeed leading the way!  McMaster University can say proudly that it has —and deserves —the very best in academic libraries.

University Library and Classroom Audio Visual Services merger

The McMaster University Library and McMaster’s Classroom Audio Visual Services have merged.  I’m very pleased about the merger and look forward to our organizations working much closer together as a result. The merger will allow us to work much closer to the faculty not only on library resources but also on the technologies needed to access these resources in their teaching environments.  The change has been recent so watch this space for future developments!

This model is quite familiar to me as my former institution (Wayne State University) was also a ‘merged model’.  Other US institutions like the University of Oregon also use this model.  However, I believe it is quite different here in Canada.

The change was only announced on our campus this week.  We’ll be working more closely together in the coming months to develop a plan for fully integrating CAVS into the “library family”