I'm in the process of revamping a digital library website and I have a few questions about how to link my resources into both Google Scholar and the academic/archival community at large. [more inside]
posted on Jun 30, 2008 - 3 answers

I'm trying to find out what "J.S. of A." stands for. It's engraved on a stone included in an archival collection I'm processing. [more inside]
posted on Jun 7, 2008 - 9 answers

There is a war going on in the library. This conflict is between students who seek solitary silent study and those who seek to study or work on projects in groups. An individual student's allegiance to a faction can change from day to day based on their current course load. Because the Grouparians have the advantage of numbers, they tend to win out over the Solitarites. Surely the latter group needs a fortress all their own? [more inside]
posted on May 1, 2008 - 42 answers

Looking to find clients who need help with technology in the publishing industry (especially in academic reference and journals). [more inside]
posted on Apr 28, 2008 - 6 answers

I have a very confusing iTunes problem, regarding transferring songs to an external hard drive, and maintaining playlists and ratings... hopefully it will not be confusing to any of you, brave MeFites! [more inside]
posted on Apr 2, 2008 - 8 answers

Which wireless internet camera would you recommend for deployment in a library? Also, does some form of wireless noise monitor exist? [more inside]
posted on Mar 7, 2008 - 10 answers

What kind of copyright notice should I display near the computers at my library? [more inside]
posted on Mar 2, 2008 - 15 answers

I am a librarian. I'm interested in social technologies, HCI, information architecture, and critical theories of these. Essentially, how information is used by people to create community and meaning. I enjoy using social technology, and advocating its use within my profession and actual job. But I want better technology know-how, skills, awareness. Where do I start? [more inside]
posted on Nov 15, 2007 - 7 answers

I am trying to design a banner for a public library web site. I find that all the banners I design are too retro-looking. Kind of 1950s, Alvin Lustig or Saul Bass inspired. Cute, but they don't seem to represent a forward-thinking, technology-oriented library. I am looking for examples of banners that might inspire me, and I am hoping you all might have some suggestions. Also, any elements you think I should try to include or try to avoid. This banner will be seen by tens of thousands of people, and will be the "face" of the library online. Links to examples of what you think works and why it works would be much appreciated. I had no idea that I would have such a hard time with this; I just don't seem to get 2007 design! Thanks.
posted on Oct 30, 2007 - 8 answers

How many stories/floors does UMass Amherst's W.E.B. Du Bois Library have? Some sources say 26, some 28. Any alums or students out there who can tell me from personal experience which is the right number?
posted on Sep 6, 2007 - 7 answers

I'm hoping one of the many other librarians on AskMefi can help me track down a resource I'm looking for. It was a semi-annual publication with descriptions of upcoming books--usually there was one published seasonally (and/or in time for ALA), plus various special issues. [more inside]
posted on Aug 20, 2007 - 2 answers

What are the social benefits of public libraries (and literacy)? [more inside]
posted on Aug 1, 2007 - 26 answers

The director of Bogota's Biblioteca Luis Angel Arango believes that, with around 10,000 visitors per day, it's the world's most-used library (in terms of physical users). Is there any evidence out there to suggest that she's right or wrong?
posted on May 30, 2007 - 6 answers

I need to know which book-related web service/API is best (most complete archive, most up-to-date, most metadata) for looking up information about books given an ISBN-10 or ISBN-13. [more inside]
posted on Apr 17, 2007 - 10 answers

Favorite libraries or public study spaces in South Florida? [more inside]
posted on Mar 11, 2007 - 5 answers

ChildhoodMemoryFilter... I keep remembering a Laserdisc movie from way back that included a library, the dewey decimal system, and a force field... [more inside]
posted on Feb 5, 2007 - 12 answers

Can anyobdy help with automatically converting MP3's to AAC's in iTunes WITHOUT duplicating the file? [more inside]
posted on Jan 27, 2007 - 21 answers

Cool NYC libraries, foreign language books in NYC & availability of book borrowing to foreign people in NYC libraries. (mi) [more inside]
posted on Jan 27, 2007 - 12 answers

Considering doing an MSc in Library and Information Studies, and would appreciate people's views. [more inside]
posted on Jan 17, 2007 - 7 answers

Did libraries (public and university) stop requiring people to be quiet in the last few years, or is it just me? [more inside]
posted on Jan 4, 2007 - 44 answers

How does copyright work when the material is in a library? Specifically, I'm thinking of the contents of a CD-ROM that is supplied with a book on computer skills. There are presets on the CD that the owner of the book can install and use in the program under discussion, and these are copyrighted. But the book is in the library... Can I use the presets as a borrower?
posted on Oct 17, 2006 - 4 answers

Help identifying a specific photographer who photographs libraries? I think she's female and may be German. I do have one of her photos... [more inside]
posted on Oct 16, 2006 - 8 answers

What's the best way to locate scholarly writing and analysis of a given piece of classical music? [more inside]
posted on Jul 24, 2006 - 19 answers

Calling all Librarians! My library system is currently proposing a "children's card" - where a parent could effectively block their child's access to "innapropriate" materials. (more inside) [more inside]
posted on Apr 26, 2006 - 16 answers

Who said "libraries are the university of the poor" or something like that? [more inside]
posted on Apr 8, 2006 - 9 answers

Anyone know the term for a book-like box about a particular wood made from that wood? [more inside]
posted on Dec 8, 2005 - 2 answers

Many libraries offer access to resources that charge hefty fees (e.g., Nexis, Dialog, Oxford U. Press titles). [more inside]
posted on Oct 25, 2005 - 13 answers

Considering the great benefit it would provide, what exactly is the barrier which prevents most community libraries in the U.S. from offering WiFi to complement their existing free hard-wired internet access? [more inside]
posted on Sep 8, 2005 - 24 answers

Where can I study in NYC that has wifi? [more inside]
posted on Sep 7, 2005 - 9 answers

Do you lend your tools? Or books? If so, what tricks do you use to get them back? [more inside]
posted on Sep 5, 2005 - 33 answers

Why do bookstores and libraries make me poop? [more inside]
posted on Jun 6, 2005 - 58 answers

My budget web host does not have the GD or ImageMagick libraries installed. How can I get around this? More inside... [more inside]
posted on May 22, 2005 - 5 answers

I work in a public library. We do not renew books or extend borrowing times, and instead issue items for slightly longer than what is usual. This is a fairly unpopular policy, and library patrons often insist that our library is the only one on the planet that doesn't renew. Is it? [more inside]
posted on Feb 21, 2005 - 34 answers

In regards to this sentence from a recent press release about the Google library scanning: As it does with new books already included in its search engine, Google will only allow its users to view the bibliographies or other snippets of copyrighted books scanned from the libraries. --- Question: Are bibliographies not copyrighted?
posted on Dec 15, 2004 - 9 answers

See a librarian’s brain asplode*! So my library is moving back into our building next summer. We have some 8,400 linear feet of bound serials* being moved into 15,500 linear feet of compact shelving*. We need to tell the mover what we want our fill rate* to be. Sounds easy, right? However, there are complications, horrible complications. [+]
posted on Nov 30, 2004 - 16 answers

Why aren't libraries and bookstores arranged by the same system?
posted on Sep 21, 2004 - 18 answers

Anybody know of any good online libraries? I'm especially interested in libraries containing articles on weblogs, as that's the theme of my dissertation and that's what this research is for. If you can point me directly at good interesting articles on weblogs, that would be great too. :) (Yes, I'm aware I may be asking too much, but I figure there's no harm in asking.)
Bonus points if they're free resources, but I'm not opposed to paying a small sum to get articles if I have to.
posted on Apr 11, 2004 - 6 answers