Multiple IM accounts using meebo

I just found a great way to keep track of multiple IM accounts (Yahoo Messenger, AIM or ICQ, Jagger or GTalk, MSN). It's called meebo (www.meebo.com) and it allows you to connect to multiple IM networks without downloading a program. Try it out! (in Technology)

Tina Lau, North County Librarian

A Frustrating Day

Following up on yesterday's post, today I'm dealing with yet another digital vs print decision. We could purchase some bundled sets of online books in specific subjects (construction, fashion, criminal justice, etc.), which would give students access to some great titles, and you could access them at home. Unfortunately, the pricing for the online packages is very expensive--$3000 for 19 culinary arts books, for example. We'll probably end up passing on these sets due to their cost. I hope the cost for digital copies goes down, so we can afford more of them. (in Library insider)

:-(
Tina Lau, North County Librarian

Libraries still buy books!

I just spent the morning putting together book orders for our San Luis and North County libraries. Yes, we still do buy books. Increasingly we purchase electronic versions, such as our Netlibrary collection of 7,000 books, or our online databases like Ebsco and National Newspaper Index. But many book titles can only be purchased in print form, or they are better in print form. (I wouldn't want to curl up in front of my computer screen to read a novel, personally.)

I just read an article a few days ago in Educause Review by Jerry Campbell called "Changing a Cultural Icon: The Academic Library as a Virtual Destination" (at http://www.educause.edu/apps/er/erm06/erm0610.asp). According to Campbell, "Within the next decade, published academic knowledge of all types will likely be issued digitally and made accessible on the Web, with paper publishing limited to mass-market titles, textbooks, and other areas that make economic sense." So we are in a transitional phase right now.

I will miss purchasing big reference sets as they go to online, because I can't help but enjoy the experience of using a print resource. I still love books--but in some instances, electronic is the better choice.
(in Library insider)

Tina Lau, North County Librarian

TV network news

Not a whole lot happening at Cuesta today, so I scanned the news headlines at www.refdesk.com. (Refdesk is a great website with links to all sorts of information. Try it out sometime.) Turns out that two networks, UPN and WB, are merging:

Two small, long-struggling television networks _ UPN and The WB _ will shut down this fall and programming from both will be used to launch a new network aimed mainly at young and minority viewers.
The new network will be called The CW _ "C" for CBS Corp. and "W" for Warner Bros. _ each of which will own half of the new entity and contribute programs, assets and executives to the venture.

The new network will draw on programming from both UPN, whose shows include "Everybody Hates Chris" and "Veronica Mars," as well as from the slate of The WB, which includes "Supernatural," "Smallville" and "Everwood."

[from Breitbart.com, http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/01/24/D8FBBJJGB.html]

(in WWW Resources)

Henry V online text

Apparently there's a run on copies of Shakespeare's Henry V in the bookstores. If you're taking one of the English 1A sections that requires you to read it, here are a couple of online links to the text:

http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/henryv/ (easy to navigate between scenes)

http://www.bartleby.com/70/index29.html (version at Bartleby.com)

Either will work! (in Assignments, WWW Resources)

Tina Lau, North County Librarian

Short Story Recommendation

Over the Christmas break, I had time to read the Best American Short Stories, 2005 (PS648 S5 B43 2005). I highly recommend Cory Doctorow's story called Anda's Game. It's about a teenage girl who discovers that video games are not just games. It's pretty trippy.

Tina Lau, North County Librarian
(in Good reading)

Welcome Back! (or just Welcome!)/New Library Building

The semester has just started up, and Cuesta has some changes. There are about 40 new part-time instructors this semester, so you may have one of them. The library building on the San Luis campus has most of its walls up. I haven't heard the latest on when the building should be finished, but first everything will be moved from the older half of the building to the newer half. Once the older half of the building is renovated (bye-bye ugly carpet!), stuff will be moved from the newer half to the older refurbished half. The San Luis librarians are looking forward to an updating of their dowdy old building.

Have a great semester! Don't forget to stop in the library for help on research. Most of the librarians don't bite---

Tina Lau, North County Librarian
(in Library insider)