Sunday, October 28, 2007

Sue the Libraries?

An interesting article ran in the Guardian recently with the headline Sue the libraries - they're letting people get content on the cheap. Now, because libraries are loaning the original items there are no further copyright fees to be paid on physical items. Databases may have limits to the number of users that may be logged in at the same time or may be billed based on the number of users the library serves. Yet I love the idea that the library may be a legal source of copyrighted electronic content and want to work to make this a reality. I'm afraid current projects are not showing the public's true level of interest in the project because the downloadable audio and video content available through libraries is PC only and not iPod compadable due to digital rights management (DRM) technology. I do think librarians are very aware of copyright issues such as in the wonderful book Complete Copyright for Librarians. Yet this is exactly the kind of reference information that, while published with a Creative Commons license, is not available for free on the web. I wonder if they will ever make this book available in an electronic form for free while the information is still relevant?

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Brooklyn's Newest Librarian

I interviewed in AUGUST but was offered the job this afternoon! Whoot!

I'm very excited to be working for the Brooklyn Public Library. I worked for the Timberland Regional Library in Washington for eight years and have a genuine love for the excitement that comes with working in public libraries; it's a good combination of social justice and book work.

I don't start until the 29th so I'm hoping to get to see some of CMJ this month and work on a couple of freelance assignments I have lined up. Mostly I'm happy I can stop sending out resumes and start planning for my future. Even though I loved my job with the Future of Music Coalition this summer, by the end I was really really missing working in public libraries.

For the New York librarian friends, I'm assigned to the Macon Branch in Bed-Stuy. It will reopen next year, so until then I'm told I'll be working the Bushwick cluster. I'm planning on going to The Desk Set party at Enid's this Friday after The Blow, so I'll meet up with you all then :)