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The Concerned Librarian’s Guide to the 2012 ALA Midwinter Exhibit Hall
With a number of issues floating around libraryland at the present moment, there has been talk in some of the my social circles about what to do about them. Specifically, how to approach tackling them as it relates to library vendors who have expressed support for legislation that has the potential to impede or block access to information (directly or as collateral damage). As the ALA Midwinter Meeting is just around the corner, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity for librarians to meet with company representatives to discuss their concerns about current contentious legislation (such as the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Research Works Act (RWA)) as well as ongoing concerns (such as library eBook lending). Lest some perseverate or advocate for delaying action, our professional conferences are the best venue to voice our concerns face-to-face for the wide array of actions that have the potential to interfere with information access and exchange. This is not the time to waiver on our values and principles.

This post reproduces the notes taken by Harriet Sonne de Torrens, as well as some slides shown, at "Academic Librarianship: A Crisis or Opportunity?" held at University of Toronto on 18 November 2011. If you're wondering why this conference was convened, take a look at "McMastergate in chronological order, or, Do libraries need librarians?" and "UWO Librarian Strike Ends As Both Sides Ratify New Agreement." More...

Come One, Come All!
Not the Last Word, But the Best Word to Date:
A Digital Public Library of America:
Perspectives and Directions
Fourth Annual International Conference Sponsors:Columbia University Libraries & Harriman Institute,
ILIAC
(International Library Information and Analytic Center; Offices in Moscow & Washington D.C.) andThe U*N*A*B*A*S*H*E*DTM Librarian (also conference organizer)
at
Columbia University
School of International and Public Affairs
Kellogg Center, 15th Floor
420 West 118th Street
New York City
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
9:00am – 4:00pm

Registration:
Early Bird Special (by September 15th: $90
METRO, LACUNY, NYLA Connecticut Library Association, NJLA, AAP, member: $100
Unaffiliated: $115
U*N*A*B*A*S*H*E*DTM Librarian Subscriber: $100
The top three people in the country to speak on the issues of:
· a national digital public library;
· the legal ramifications of the Google BookSearch Settlement—most especially copyright and the digital objectives of libraries; and
· the perspective of U.S. publishers

They are respective
-- Read More

Self-published author John Locke has just signed a deal with a major publisher. In June this year, the American writer of contemporary crime became the first author to sell a million copies on Kindle.
While the publisher, Simon & Schuster, will handle sales and distribution for Locke’s books, they won’t cash in on his digital sales.

Locke – who sold his digital books via Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform – is responsible for the popular Donovan Creed novels.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/310683#ixzz1VuB6qw5U

Commentary by Mike Shatzkin on this story: John Locke and S&S show us another kind of deal we can expect to see again