All posts by Editor

Google Glass in the Academic Library: The Exploration of Google Glass in the Marydean Martin Library

March 25, 2014EssayErnesto Hernandez, Marydean Martin Library, Nevada State CollegeEditor

Ernesto Hernandez
Emerging Technologies Librarian
Marydean Martin Library, Nevada State College

Developed by Google, Google Glass is a wearable computer with an optical head-mounted display (OHMD). This wearable computer frame with an OHMD comes with or without lenses and displays information in a prism projector located just above the right eye. Google Glass has the ability to take photos, record 720p HD video and allow the user to have access to the web, weather, Google Hangouts, email, news and integration of specific apps.[1] Users can also issue voice commands to initiate Google Glass by first saying “ok glass,” followed by the command. A touchpad is located on the side of Google Glass, allowing users to control the device by swiping through a timeline-like interface on the screen.

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Information Literacy vs. the Demagogue

January 22, 2014Essayinformation literacy, Mark Lenker, McCarthy, political engagement, politicsEditor

Mark Lenker
Coordinator for Information Literacy and Outreach
Longwod University[1]

Michael Corleone advises us to “keep your friends close but your enemies closer” (Godfather, Part II). As librarians and educators work to further develop the information literacy movement, we need to consider the perspective of those who work against our goal of developing citizens who can inform themselves in an objective manner. An example of this class of rivals that poses a particularly poignant threat to the health of democratic institutions is the demagogue, a public figure who employs disinformation to inflame people’s fear and anger, thereby securing for the demagogue a greater percentage of the votes, a larger chunk of the viewership. I believe that a careful examination of the motivations and techniques of past demagogues can put information literacy educators in a better position to help their students critically evaluate inflammatory political communications.

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“Straight to the Heart of Things”—Reflecting on Library Metaphors for Impact and Assessment

October 29, 2013Peer-Reviewed Articleevidence, metaphors, Stoddart, storiesEditor

Richard A. Stoddart
Assessment Librarian
Oregon State University and Press

Abstract

This paper explores the use and creative application of library metaphors. Unfortunately, the facts aren’t always able to speak for themselves. Simply stating reference statistics, gate counts, and resource circulation numbers are not persuasive narratives in and of themselves. Voice and context needs to be given to these forms of evidence in order create connections within our communities. These connections create pathways for stakeholders to draw meaningful conclusions and thus transference of the story libraries are trying to tell. Uncovering the words and stories that resonate within our communities is challenging work. One simple and dynamic tool to begin to tell the story of our libraries is through the use of metaphor.

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The In Crowd, or Fear and Loathing in Library Land

September 18, 2013EssayEditor

Valerie Forrestal
Web Services Librarian and Assistant Professor
City University of New York, College of Staten Island Library

There is a secret society in the library profession. It doesn’t have a name (though some would try to name it) and it doesn’t have a headquarters; (it lurks in Facebook groups and Google hangouts.) Word of its meetings is inconspicuously disseminated via Twitter and text message. Read your feeds carefully; blink and you’ll miss it.

It was no one’s intention to start this society. Passionate, ambitious individuals gravitated towards each other, as like-minded people often do. It sprung up as a sort of rebellion among librarians who were tired of crafting witty and intelligent responses to smug questions about their supposed obsolescence.

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Keeping the “L” in Digital: Applying LIS Core Competencies to Digital Humanities Work

September 6, 2013Essayacademic librarianship, core competencies, Digital humanities, instruction, Kaetrena Davis Kendrick, professional development, technologyEditor

Kaetrena Davis Kendrick
Medford Library, University of South Carolina Lancaster.

Abstract
Digital Humanities (DH) has struggled with an identity since its contemporary emergence in the early 2000s; however, a succinct definition exists, placing many core activities of the field squarely in the domain of modern librarianship. This article briefly reviews American Library Association’s Core Competencies for Librarianship and summarizes the continuing development and characteristics of DH projects. The author also reveals how LIS competencies have been applied to a Korean popular culture DH project at Elon University. Positive implications for DH’s impact on professional development for librarians, information literacy integration, and opportunities for librarian/faculty or community collaborations are also included.

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