Infomotions' Musings on Information and Librarianship Infomotions' Musings on Information and Librarianship This is a list of travel logs, software descriptions, formally published articles, or presentation handouts. Four are the most recently written. One is randomly chosen, and one is selected from the archives. All of these items, Musings on Information and Librarianship, were written by Eric Lease Morgan. Open source software and libraries: A current SWOT analysis After more than ten years of listening and watching the library-related open source software, a number of things have changed. This presentation outlines some of those changes as well as outlines some of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of open source software. The presentation ends some ideas for a "next generation" library catalog -- services against texts.Keywords: next-generation library catalogs; presentations; open source software; Source: This essay was written as the closing keynote speech for the 2nd Annual Evergreen Conference (April 23, 2010), Grand Rapids (Michigan) Indexing and abstracting This presentation outlines sets of alternative processes for traditional library indexing and abstracting practices. To do this it first describes the apparent goal of indexing and abstracting. It then describes how these things have traditionally been manifested. Third, it outlines how the goals of indexing and abstract can be implemented through the exploitation of computer technology. Finally, it describes some ways computers can be used even more to go beyond traditional indexing and abstracting to provide services against texts.Keywords: abstracting; presentations; indexing; Source: This presentations was created for an online library school class. A few possibilities for librarianship by 2015 The library profession is at a cross roads. Computer technology coupled with the Internet have changed the way content is created, maintained, evaluated, and distributed. While the core principles of librarianship (collection, organization, preservation, and dissemination) are still very much apropos to the current milieu, the exact tasks of the profession are not as necessary as they once were. What is a librarian to do? In my opinion, there are three choices: 1) creating services against content as opposed to simply providing access to it, 2) curating collections that are unique to our local institutions, or 3) providing sets of services that are a combination of #1 and #2. This presentation elaborates on these ideas and demonstrates some of the possibilities.Keywords: presentations; librarianship; Source: This is a keynote presentation for the 4th International LIS-EPI Meeting, Valencia (Spain), November 26, 2009. Web-scale discovery indexes and "next generation" library catalogs This essay outlines a definition of "Web-scale" discovery indexes and describes how they are interrelated with the ideas of "next generation" library catalogs. It was originally created for webcast called "Returning the Researcher to the Library: Defining Web-Scale Discovery" sponsored by Serials Solutions and Library Journal. A subset of these remarks are also available as a set of Powerpoint slides. Keywords: presentations; indexing; librarianship; Source: These remarks originally appeared on the University of Notre Dame's website at http://www.library.nd.edu/daiad/morgan/musings/web-scale/, and they were a part of a webcast called Returning the Researcher to the Library: Defining Web-Scale Discovery sponso Mass digitization and opportunities for librarianship in 15 minutes Assume 51% of your library collections were locally available as full-text. How would such a thing change the processes of librarianship? We have only just begun to explore the possibilities for our profession if our content were freely available over a network. Imagine the existence of freely available, full-text versions of most of our books and journal articles. The things we could do and the services we could provide expand to fill the sky.Keywords: mass digitization; presentations; Source: This was originally "published" as a part of the Hesburgh Libraries website and presented at a symposium on the topic of mass digitization. "Lot's of copies keep stuff safe." Implementing user-centered experiences in a networked environment In this environment where disintermediation seems to be increasingly common, it is ironic people also expect personalized service. Libraries are experiencing dilemma when it comes to providing many of their services. On one hand fewer people are coming into libraries to access traditional reference services, and at the same time they are expecting interfaces to library content to be "smarter" and more user-centered. How can libraries meet these seemingly contradictory expectations? The answer is not too difficult as long as we: 1) learn how to take better advantage of computer technology to implement our ideas, and 2) re-examine the definition and purpose of patron privacy. This presentation will elaborate on these ideas and demonstrate a few ways they might be implemented. Keywords: user-centered design; SOCHE; presentations; librarianship; Source: This essay was never formally published, but it was created for Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) and a conference called 'The Human Face of Information (technology)' Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at Wright State University Open source software: Controlling your computing environment Open source software (OSS) -- free to use, reuse, study, modify, and distribute -- is quickly being adopted by libraries today. From office productivity suites such as OpenOffice to library-specific applications such as an integrated library system, "next generation" library catalogs and Firefox extensions. Open source software has a lot to offer libraries. This session looks at the many types of OSS available, how libraries are making use of it, and how it can be exploited in order to control your local computing environment.Keywords: open source software; presentations; Computers in Libraries; Source: This essay was written for a presentation at the Computers in Libraries Conference, March 31-April 2, 2009. "Next-Generation" Library Catalogs This presentation outlines some of the possibilities for "next-generation" library catalogs. Specifically it describes the technology behind these applications, enumerates ways they can exploit sets of globally networked computers, and posits opportunities for new and improved services within and around them. Librarianship has traditionally been about collection, preservation, organization, and re-distribution. These over-arching goals are still relevant in today's environment, but the methods the profession can use to achieve them is changing. The venerable library catalog and the thing it seems to be morphing into is just one example. This presentation brings together the how's and why's of this issue.Keywords: Purdue University; next generation library catalogs; Indiana On-Line User's Group (IOLUG); presentations; librarianship; Source: This presentation was written to be given at the libraries of the Purdue University on March 27 as well as an IOLUG meeting on May 15, 2009 Technology Trends and Libraries: So many opportunities In the current environment where computers are almost ubiquitously connected to each other and people's expectations regarding access to data and information are increasing, the opportunities for the library profession abound. The challenge lies in learning how to apply them in a networked environment.Keywords: Macalaster College; Top Tech Trends; presentations; librarianship; Source: This presentation was delivered at the Library Technology Conference (March 18, 2009) at Macalaster College, Minneapolis (Minnesota). Open Source Software in Libraries: Opportunities and Expenses Open source software (OSS) is not a panacea; it will not cure all problems computer. On the other hand, it does provide the library profession with enumerable opportunities as long as we are willing to pay a few expenses. This essay elaborates on these ideas by: 1) outlining what open source software is, 2) describing how its principles are similar to the principles of librarianship, and 3) enumerating a number of open source software applications. By the end it is hoped you will be have a better understanding of what open source can and cannot do for libraries. You will be better able to discuss topics related to open source software with "techies". Finally, and probably most importantly, you will have learned the definition of "free" in the context of open source.Keywords: MLNC Speakers Series; presentations; open source software; librarianship; Source: This presentation was never formally published, but is was written for the MLNC Speaker Series in St. Louis Missouri Next-Generation Library Catalogues: A Presentation at Libraries Australia The environment of globally networked and commodity priced computers has significantly altered the information landscape. Libraries, once a central player in this environment, have seen their "market share" dwindle. This presentation outlines one way this situation can be turned around, specifically, by re-inventing the definition of the venerable library catalogue.Keywords: next generation library catalogs; presentations; laf2008; Source: This was never formally published, but it was presented at the National Library of Australia (October 21, 2008) and at Libraries Australia (October 23, 2008) MyLibrary: A digital library framework & toolkit This article describes a digital library framework and toolkit called MyLibrary. At its heart, MyLibrary is designed to create relationships between information resources and people. To this end, MyLibrary is made up of essentially four parts: 1) information resources, 2) patrons, 3) librarians, and 4) a set of locally-defined, institution-specific facet/term combinations interconnecting the first three. On another level, MyLibrary is a set of object-oriented Perl modules intended to read and write to a specifically shaped relational database. Used in conjunction with other computer applications and tools, MyLibrary provides a way to create and support digital library collections and services. Librarians and developers can use MyLibrary to create any number of digital library applications: full-text indexes to journal literature, a traditional library catalog complete with circulation, a database-driven website, an institutional repository, an image database, etc. The article describes each of these points in greater detail.Keywords: articles; MyLibrary; Source: This is pre-edited version of an article by the same name appearing the Information Technology and Libraries 27[3]:12-24, September 2008. Introduction to the Catholic Research Resources Alliance This short essay describes the Catholic Research Resources Alliance (CRRA), its purpose, its goals, its functionality, its vision for the future, and some of its existing challenges.Keywords: Catholic Research Resources Alliance (CRRA); presentations; Source: This document was never formally published. Next Generation Data Format In the United States library catalogs traditionally use the MARC standard for bibliographic records. Many questions revolve around the future of MARC and how it interacts with other metadata standards such as Dublin Core, MODS, and VRA Core. This presentation explores these and other issues related to the next generation catalog. Keywords: Massachusetts Library Association; next generation library catalogs; presentations; Source: This presentation was originally given at the Massachusetts Library Association annual meeting in North Falmouth (May 7, 2008) Open Library Developer's Meeting: One Web Page for Every Book Ever Published I attended an Open Library Developers Meeting on Friday, February 29, 2008 in San Franciscos Presidio, and this travel log outlines my experiences there. In a sentence, it was one of the more inspiring meetings I ever attended.Keywords: Presidio; Open Library; travel log; Source: This travel log first appeared on the Hesburgh Libraries website at http://www.library.nd.edu/daiad/morgan/travel/open-library/. Today's digital information landscape The main point of this lecture is to bring home a single idea, namely, the what of library and information science has not changed so much as the how. Libraries are still about the processes of collection, preservation, organization, dissemination, and sometimes evaluation of data and information. While the mediums, environments, and tools have dramatically changed, the problems and services the profession addresses remain the same. If we focus on our broader goals -- see the forest from the trees -- then the profession's future is bright offering us many opportunities. If we focus too much on the particulars, then libraries and librarians will be seen as increasingly irrelevant. The following examples will hopefully make this clear. Keywords: presentations; Denton, TX; librarianship; Source: This essay was originally written for a lecture at the University of North Texas (December 4, 2007) Dr. Strangelove, or How we learned to live with Google On October 26, 2007 the University Libraries of Notre Dame sponsored a "mini-symposium" entitled Dr. Strangelove, or How We Learned to Live with Google. The purpose of the symposium was to discuss issues of librarianship considering an environment of globally networked computers and radically changing user expectations. It was an education process designed to enable the library faculty and staff to ask questions, reflect on the experience of others, and ultimately be better educated when technological systems present themselves as solutions to some of the profession's challenges. This text reports on the content of the symposium and offers a number of personal observations.Keywords: travel log; next generation library catalogs; University Libraries of Notre Dame; Source: This travel log was originally "published" at http://www.library.nd.edu/daiad/morgan/travel/strangelove/. Next Generation Library Catalogs in Fifteen Minutes A "next generation" library catalog starts with the idea of traditional library catalog and expands it meet the changing expectations of library patrons.Keywords: next-generation library catalogs; presentations; Source: This presentation was originally given at an Ex Libris "birthday party" at the University Libraries of Notre Dame, and it was originally posted at http://www.library.nd.edu/daiad/morgan/musings/ngc-in-15-minutes/. Success of Open Source by Steven Weber: A book review Using Linux as its primary example, The Success of Open Source by Steven Weber details the history, process, motivations, and possible long-term effects of open source software (OSS). This scholarly yet easy-to-read, well-written, and provocative book is worth the time of anybody who wants to understand how open source software is effecting information technology. It describes how the process of open source software may effect business & economics, methods of governance, and concepts of intellectual property. It is also a great read for those of us librarians who desire to play a role in the building of next generation library catalogs and other library-related information systems.Keywords: book review; articles; open source software; librarianship; Source: The is a pre-edited version of an article with the same title appearing in the first issue of Code4Lib Journal at http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/30. Catalog Collectivism: XC and the Future of Library Search Collections without services are useless, and services without collections are empty. The future of library search lies between these two statements. It is about making search smarter and putting search within the context of the user.Keywords: information systems design; presentations; next generation library catalogs; Charleston Conference; Source: This presentation was given at the Charleston Conference, Charleston (South Carolina) November 2007. Open source software at the Montana State University Libraries Symposium This one-page essay outlines what open source software (OSS) is and how it can be applied to some of the computer-related problems facing libraries. In short, it characterizes open source software as a community-driven process, describes it as free as a free kitten, compares it to the principles of librarianship, and finally, outlines how it can be exploited to develop next generation library catalogs.Keywords: next-generation library catalogs; presentations; open source software; Source: This is a presentation for the Montana State University Libraries Symposium, October 4, 2007. Original MyLibrary In the news recently has been talk about Google's "my library", well, don't hesitate to visit the "original" MyLibrary, now hosted at http://mylibrary.library.nd.edu.Keywords: MyLibrary; Source: This was originally a blog posting at the LITA blog at http://litablog.org/2007/09/24/the-original-mylibrary/. Sum Top Tech Trends for the Summer of 2007 Listed here are "sum" trends I see Library Land. They are presented in no particular order.Keywords: Top Tech Trends; librarianship; Source: This was a blog posting for the Top Tech Trends panel originally posted at http://litablog.org/2007/06/15/sum-top-tech-trends-for-the-summer-of-2007/. Leading a large group The other day someone asked me about how we here at Notre Dame managed a team of 28+ members in regards to our one-year institutional digital repository pilot project (www.library.nd.edu/idr). I did my best to address their questions, and I thought I would copy my reply below. It might prove useful in your setting. (Then again, it might not.)Keywords: leadership; Source: This was originally a blog posting on the LITA blog at http://litablog.org/2007/03/16/leading-a-large-group/. Wise crowds with long tails It is almost trite to be quoted as saying, "The Internet has fundamentally changed the ways libraries do business", but these changes are still manifesting themselves in ways we still do not fully understand. Thus, consider taking advantage of the "wise crowds with long tails" in your strategic planning. Put another way, this posting is a dual book review and commentary on The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki and The Long Tail by Chris Anderson.Keywords: librarianship; TechEssence; book review; Source: This review was first published in TechEssence at http://techessence.info/node/85. Trip to Rochester to Learn about XC On February 8-9, 2007 I had the opportunity to visit the University of Rochester River Campus and meet with a number of very smart people to discuss a thing called XC (eXtensible Catalog, extensiblecatalog.info). This travel log documents the experience.Keywords: travel log; OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogs); Source: This essay was first "published" on my home page at the University Libraries of Notre Dame (dewey.library.nd.edu/morgan/musings/xc-2007/). Open Repositories, 2007: A Travelogue This text documents my experiences at the Open Repositories 2007 conference, January 22-26, San Antonio (Texas). In a sentence I learned two things: 1) institutional repository software such as Fedora, DSpace, and EPrints are increasingly being used for more than open access publishing efforts, and 2) the Web Services API of Fedora makes it relatively easy for developers using any programming language to interface with the underlying core.Keywords: Gruene, Texas; institutional repositories; digital libraries; travel log; Source: This file was never formally published. Unordered list of "top tech trends" This is an unordered list of "top tech trends" from Library Land.Keywords: Top Tech Trends; librarianship; Source: This was originally a blog posting on the LITA Blog at http://litablog.org/2007/01/16/unordered-list-of-top-tech-trends/. Whirlwind in Windsor surrounding integrated library systems: My symposium notes On November 15 Rob Fox and I attended a symposium at the University of Windsor on the topic of integrated library systems. This text documents my experiences, and in a sentence, the symposium re-enforced much of what I had already thought regarding next generation library catalogs and at the same time it brought much more depth to the issue than I had previously given it.Keywords: next-generation library catalogs; Source: This text was published here first. Thinking outside the books: A Travel log This travel log outlines some of my experiences at a conference in Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) entitled Think outside the books: Creating the customer-driven library hosted by PALINET in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Office of Commonwealth Libraries, October 23-24, 2006. In a sentence, the conference was a joy to attend and it was interesting see how the concept of a "next generation" library catalog is being manifested.Keywords: next-generation library catalogs; PALINET; travel log; librarianship; Source: This travel log was never published elsewhere MyLibrary 3.x and a Next Generation Library Catalogue This, the tiniest of essays, first outlines the fundamental structure of MyLibrary 3.x. It then describes how a database like MyLibrary could be used as a part of a "next generation" library catalogue, maybe.Keywords: MyLibrary; presentations; PALINET; next generation library catalogs; Source: This presentation was originally given at the Thinking Outside the Books conference in Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) sponsored by PALINET. ECDL 2006: A Travel log This travel log documents my experiences that the 10th European Conference on Digital Libraries, Alicante (Spain), September 18-20, 2006. In a sentence, the conference did not present very many surprises, it was an opportunity to strengthen relationships, and I met a few new people along the way. This is a good conference to attend at least once every other year to learn some of the latest research developments in digital libraries.Keywords: Alicante (Spain); digital libraries; ECDL (European Conference on Digital Libraries); travel log; Source: This is a pre-edited version of a text to appear in D-Lib Magazine Building the "next generation" library catalog How will we, the library profession, build the "next generation" library catalog, and to what degree will the process include vendor support and open source software?Keywords: next generation library catalogs; Source: This was originally a blog posting on the LITA blog at http://litablog.org/2006/09/01/building-the-next-generation-library-catalog/. Institute on Scholarly Communication: A travel log This travel log documents my experiences at the first Institute on Scholarly Communication (July 12-14, 2006) facilitated by both ARL and ACRL. In a sentence, the Institute was a workshop aimed at helping librarians advance scholarly communication in a networked environment. For the most part I believe the Institute was a success, but its benefits are difficult to measure.Keywords: scholarly communication; travel log; UCLA; Source: This document was never formally published. American Library Association Annual Meeting, 2006 The American Library Association Annual Meeting of 2007 took place in New Orleans (June 23-27), and this is my travel log.Keywords: New Orleans; ALA (American Library Association); travel log; Source: This text was never formally published. Joint Conference on Digital Libraries, 2006 This text outlines my experiences at the Joint Conference on Digital Libraries Annual Conference in Chapel Hill (North Carolina), June 12-14, 2006. In a sentence, the Conference was a nice mix of formal and informal discussions surrounding digital research library topics, and it was also nice to see a large number of familiar faces. The conference's content presented few surprises.Keywords: digital libraries; JCDL; travel log; Source: This text was never formally published. Rethink the role of the library catalog It is time to rethink the role of the library catalog.Keywords: next generation library catalogs; TechEssence; Source: This essay was originally published on TechEssence at http://techessence.info/node/55. Top Tech Trends for ALA 2006; "Sum" pontifications This is a list of top technology trends in libraries my very small and cloudy crystal ball shows to me.Keywords: librarianship; Top Tech Trends; Source: This was originally a blog posting on the LITA blog at http://litablog.org/2006/06/18/eric-lease-morgans-top-tech-trends-for-ala-2006-sum-pontifications/. Next generation library catalog This text outlines an idea for a next generation library catalog. In two sentences, this catalog is not really a catalog at all but more like a tool designed to make it easier for students to learn, teachers to instruct, and scholars to do research. It provides its intended audience with a more effective means for finding and using data and information.Keywords: next generation library catalogs; Source: This essay was originally published serially on the LITA Blog at http://www.litablog.org/. What is SRW/U? SRW/U is an acronym for Search/Retrieve via the Web or URL and you might want to think of it as Sonne of Z39.50 sans the federated searching.Keywords: TechEssence; SRU (Search/Retrieve URL Service); Source: This essay was originally published on TechEssence at http://techessence.info/node/48. first monday on a tuesday: a travel log This is a brief travel log documenting my experiences at the First Monday Conference "FM10 Openness: Code, science, and content" (May 15-17, 2006). In a sentence, the day I attended (Tuesday, May 16) the conference's papers described policy and theory regarding open content, open licenses, and open science.Keywords: open source software; travel log; open access publishing; First Monday; Source: This travel log was first posted on the OSS4Lib mailing list. Ohio Valley Group of Technical Services Librarian Annual Meeting This essay documents some of my experiences at the Ohio Valley Group of Technical Services Librarian Annual Meeting, Bloomington (Indiana), May 11 & 12, 2006. In a sentence, I believe I saw in this meeting a turning point -- a point where most technical services things were about digital instead of analog.Keywords: technical services; Bloomington, IN; OVGTSL (Ohio Valley Group of Technical Services Librarians); travel log; Source: This page was never formally published. Being innovative Being innovative in using technology with little money and staff is not a difficult thing. Keywords: TechEssence; innovation; Source: This essay was originally published on TechEssence at http://techessence.info/node/32. Mass digitization (again) I recently attended a symposium surrounding the topic of mass digitization, and this blog entry summarizes my person observations from the event.Keywords: mass digitization; TechEssence; Source: This essay was originally published on TechEssence at http://techessence.info/node/22. All things open Things open abound. Open source software. Open access publishing. The open archives initiative. OpenURL. Some of these things are fundamental to the inner workings of the Internet. Others are a natural consequence of it. Some groups of people believe in things open with an almost religious fervor. At the other end of the spectrum are some people who see the same things as a drain on intellectual property. The key to progress lies in a middle ground. This presentation describes all things open in greater detail, elaborates on how they affect librarianship, and finally demonstrates some of their applicability in librarianship.Keywords: OpenURL; OAI (Open Archives Initiative); presentations; open access publishing; open source software; librarianship; Source: This file was never officially published, but the beginning is heavily based on another essay called Open Source Software in Thirty Minutes. Mass digitization This travel log outlines my experiences at a symposium sponsored by the University of Michigan called Scholarship and Libraries in Transition: A Dialog about the Impacts of Mass Digitization Projects, March 10-11, 2006. In short, the symposium facilitated quite a number of presentations and panel discussions about mass digitization. Discussion topics ranged from mass digitization impacts on libraries to possibilities for scholarship to changes in changes in publishing to economic effects to public policy issues. Most of the discussions were framed by the Google Print project, and just about everybody provided their point of view regarding the effect of Google on the academy.Keywords: mass digitization; Ann Arbor, MI; travel log; Source: This text was never formally published. Zagreb, Croatia: A travel log This entry outlines some of my experiences while attending a library conference in Zagreb (Croatia) March 2 - 5, 2006. From what I saw, librarianship in Croatia is similar to librarianship in the United States except the profession does not seem to be graying. From a cultural point of view, Croatia is a mixture of old and new providing opportunities for a great deal of diversity.Keywords: Zagreb; Croatia; travel log; Source: This page was never formally published. MyLibrary workshop The goals of this workshop are to describe the functionality of MyLibrary, demonstrate a number of ways it can be used, and make participants more aware additional venues for creating and maintaining digital libraries. At the end of the workshop participants will be able to: describe what MyLibrary can and can not do, design a faceted classification system, understand how to use the MyLibrary API to create digital library collections and implement digital library services, outline a process of harvesting OAI content into a MyLibrary instance, as well as outline methods to syndicate MyLibrary content.Keywords: presentations; MyLibrary; Source: This workhop was originally given in Zagreb (Croatia) in March of 2006. Open source software for libraries in 30 minutes This presentation describes what open source is and what role it can play in libraries, all in thirty minutes. On my mark. Get set. Go!Keywords: presentations; open source software; Source: This document was created for an open source software presentation/workhop in Zagreb (Croatia). Library services and in-house software development This essay outlines two opportunities for the library profession: 1) the increased need for library services and not necessarily library collections, and 2) the ability to be leaders in the implementation of services through in-house software development.Keywords: librarianship; software development; Source: This essay was originally posted as a blog entry on LITA's blog at http://litablog.org/2006/01/16/library-services-and-in-house-software-development/. OAI4: To CERN and Back Again I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the OAI4 conference at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland between October 20 and 22, 2005. This text outlines what I heard and learned there.Keywords: CERN; Geneva, Switzerland; OAI (Open Archives Initiative); travel log; Source: This text was never formally published. Exploiting "Light-weight" Protocols and Open Source Tools to Implement Digital Library Collections and Services This article describes the design and implementation of two digital library collections and services using a number of light-weight protocols and open source tools. These protocols and tools include OAI-PMH (Open Archives Initiative-Protocol for Metadata Harvesting), SRU (Search/Retrieve via URL), Perl, MyLibrary, Swish-e, Plucene, ASPELL, and WordNet. More specifically, we describe how these protocols and tools are employed in the Ockham Alerting service and MyLibrary@Ockham. The services are illustrative examples of how the library community can actively contribute to the scholarly communications process by systematically and programmatically collecting, organizing, archiving, and disseminating information freely available on the Internet. Using the same techniques described here, other libraries could expose their own particular content for their specific needs and audiences.Keywords: articles; OCKHAM (Open Community Knowledge Hypermedia Administration and Metadata); Web Services; open source software; Source: This article was originally published in D-Lib Magazine, volume 11, Number 10 (October 2005). Its DOI is doi:10.1045/october2005-morgan. Additionally, Xiaorong Xiang was the lead author of this article. Technical Skills of Librarianship The other day I was asked Someone about ways they could move from reference type of work to more systems sort of work in libraries. I was happy to share my thoughts on the topic, and below is what I said.Keywords: librarianship; Source: This was originally a posting to the LITA blog at http://litablog.org/2005/08/07/technical-skills-of-librarianship/. Creating and managing XML with open source software This article reviews a number of open source XML applications and systems including editors, validators, native XML databases, and publishing systems; to describe how some of these tools have been combined by the author to create a specific system for a specific need. An overview of XML is provided, a number of open source XML applications/systems are reviewed, and a system created by the author using some of these tools is described. The open source tools for working with XML are maturing, and they provide the means for the library profession to easilyh publish library content on the Internet using open standards. XML provides an agreed upon way of turning data into information. The result is non-proprietary and application independent. Open source software operates under similar principles. An understanding and combination of these technologies can assist the library profession in meeting its goals in this era of globally networked computers and changing user expectations.Keywords: articles; TEI (Text Encoding Initiative); XML (eXtensible Mark-up Language); open source software; Source: This article was originally published in Library Hi Tech Vol. 23 No. 4, 2005 pp. 526-540. This text is a pre-edited version of the published article Introduction to Web Services This essay outlines what Web Services are and why you, as a librarian, should care.Keywords: presentations; Web Services; Source: This presentation was given at a pre-conference workshop during the ALA Annual Meeting, Chicago, 2005 Top Technology Trends, 2005 This is a list of my Top Technology Trends for the 2005 ALA Annual Meeting.Keywords: Top Tech Trends; Source: This was originally a posting to the LITA blog at http://litablog.org/2005/06/16/eric-lease-morgans-top-technology-trends-2005/. Implementing SRU in Perl As a part of a sponsored National Science Foundation (NSF) grant called Ockham, the University Libraries of Notre Dame implemented a set of SRU modules and scripts written in Perl. This text describes this process in more detail.Keywords: presentations; OCKHAM (Open Community Knowledge Hypermedia Administration and Metadata); SRU (Search/Retrieve URL Service); Source: This text was presented during the ALA Annual Meeting in Chicago, 2005. IOLUG Spring Program On Friday, May 20 I attended the Indiana On-Line Users Group (IOLUG) Spring Program called Marketing your library on the Web, and this text outlines what I learned there.Keywords: travel log; marketing; Indiana On-Line User's Group (IOLUG); Source: This text was never formally published. Short visit to CRL This is the tiniest of travel logs describing a trip to the Center for Research Libraries (CRL).Keywords: Center for Research Libraries (CRL); travel log; Source: This travel log was never published. So you want a new website This text outlines the process the University Libraries of Notre Dame used to redesign its website. It includes a presentation of the various assessment activities utilized (surveys, focus group interviews, usability studies). It also includes a description of how the libraries articulated a vision for the website and a strategic plan. Finally, the text describes some of the retrospective conversion processes we had to implement in order to make things usable and consistent.Keywords: Indian Library Federation (ILF); presentations; information architecture; Source: This presentation was given at the 2005 Indiana Library Federation annual meeting, Indianapolis, IN, March 24, 2005 IESR/OCKHAM in Manchester This text documents my experiences at a joint IESR/OCKHAM meeting in Manchester, UK, March 2-5, 2005.Keywords: Manchester, UK; OCKHAM (Open Community Knowledge Hypermedia Administration and Metadata); Source: This text was never formally published. Indiana Library Federation Annual Meeting This text documents my experiences at the Indiana Library Federation Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, March 24, 2005.Keywords: Indian Library Federation (ILF); travel log; Source: This document was never formally published. My personal TEI publishing system This text describes a TEI publishing system I created to disseminate my writings. Keywords: TEI (Text Encoding Initiative); publishing; HTML (Hypertext Markup Language); XML (eXtensible Mark-up Language); Source: This text was never formally published. Open access publishing This essay outlines the history and development of open access publishing from the author's perspective, and it advocates librarians take a more active role in making open access publishing a norm for facilitating scholarly communication as opposed to an exception.Keywords: presentations; LILRC (Long Island Library Resources Council); open access publishing; Source: This presentation was given at an LILRC meeting at Dowling College, NY on October 25, 2005. Symposium on open access and digital preservation This text documents my experiences at the Symposium on open access and digital preservation, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, October 2, 2004.Keywords: travel log; Atlanta, GA; open access publishing; Source: This article was never formally published. European Conference on Digital Libraries, 2004 This text chronicles my experiences at the European Conference on Digital Libraries, September 11-15, 2004, Bath, England.Keywords: travel log; ECDL (European Conference on Digital Libraries); Bath, England; Source: This text was never formally published. OCKHAM in Corvallis, OR This is brief travel log documenting an OCKHAM meeting on Corvallis, OR, August 26 - 28, 2004.Keywords: OCKHAM (Open Community Knowledge Hypermedia Administration and Metadata); travel log; Source: This text was never published. Introduction to Search/Retrieve URL Service (SRU) This article is an introduction to the "brother and sister" Web Service protocols named Search/Retrieve Web Service (SRW) and Search/Retrieve URL Service (SRU) with an emphasis on the later. More specifically, the article outlines the problems SRW/U are intended to solve, the similarities and differences between SRW and SRU, the complimentary nature of the protocols with OAI-PMH, and how SRU is being employed in a sponsored NSF grant called OCKHAM to facilitate an alerting service. The article is seasoned with a bit of XML and Perl code to illustrate the points.Keywords: SRU (Search/Retrieve URL Service); articles; Web Services; XML (eXtensible Mark-up Language); Source: This article was originally published in Ariadne, issue number 40, July 2004. Portal implementation issues and challenges If you think librarianship is about the collection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information and knowledge, then implementing a library portal will be easy. On the other hand, if you think librarianship is about books, subscriptions, MARC records and AACR2, or integrated library systems -- the physical manifestations of traditional libraries -- then you will have a hard time. This essay outlines some of the challenges of creating a library portal, and in summary, the keys to overcoming the challenges are not technological. The keys are philosophical and interpersonal. Once you have a clear, shared vision of what the portal is intended to accomplish the rest falls into place.Keywords: ALA (American Library Association); portals; presentations; Source: This presenation was originally given at the American Library Association Annual Meeting, June 25, 2004. It was subsequently published in the Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 31(1), October/November 2004. Open source software in libraries This is an essay about open source software and libraries. It outlines what open source software is and is not. It discusses its relationships to the integrated library system. It compares open source software to open access journals and the evolutionary shift academe is experiencing in the world of scholarly communication. Finally, it very briefly reviews select pieces of open source software and describes how they can be used in libraries.Keywords: articles; open source software; librarianship; Source: This is the pre-edited, English language version of the French article entitled "Logiciels libres et bibliotheques", BiblioAcid 1(2-3), May-June 2004, pgs. 1-8. Really Rudimentary Catalog This text describes the purpose of the Really Rudumentary Catalog, ponders the usefulness of library catalogs in general, and finally outlines the technology behind this catalog's implementation.Keywords: MARC (Machine Readable Cataloging); computer programs and scripts; OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogs); Source: This text was never formally published. MCN Annual Conference This is going to be one of my briefer travel logs, a description of my experiences at the MCN Annual Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, November 5-8, 2003.Keywords: Las Vega, NV; MCN (Museum Computer Network); travel log; Source: This travel long was never formally published. LITA National Forum, 2003 This is a travel log documenting my experiences at the LITA National Forum, Norfolk, VA, October 3 - 5, 2003.Keywords: LITA (Library and Information Technology Association); Norfolk, VA; travel log; Source: This text was never formally published Open source software in libraries: A workshop This site is a part of a hands-on workshop for teaching people in libraries about open source software.Keywords: open source software; Source: There is no source for this document; this document was never formally published. MyLibrary: A Copernican revolution in libraries This article provide a bit of history regarding MyLibrary and suggests that libraries provide services more from the patrons point of view -- a kind of Copernican Revolution.Keywords: articles; MyLibrary; Source: This is a pre-edited version of an article published as "Putting the 'My' into MyLibrary, netConnect (Suppliment to Library Journal), Fall 2003, pgs. 24-26. What is information architecture? This is a combined book review of Information Architecture for the World Wide Web by Louis Rosenfeld and Peter Morville as well Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web by Christina Wodtke. In a sentence, these two books define and describe information architecture and explain how to put its principles into practice.Keywords: information architecture; Source: This text was never formally published. Texas Library Association Annual Meeting, 2003 This is a travel log documenting my experiences at the Texas Library Association Annual Meeting, Houston, TX, April 2 - 4, 2003. In summary, the experience broadened and rebalanced my perspective on the definition of librarianship.Keywords: Houston, TX; TLA (Texas Library Association); travel log; Source: This text was never formally published. Building your library's portal This text proposes a definition Web portal, describes how information architecture plays a critical role in the development of a library's website, and briefly describes one database-driven website application designed for libraries, MyLibrary.Keywords: TLA (Texas Library Association); information architecture; portals; presentations; Source: This presentation was given at the Texas Library Association Annual Meeting, Houston, TX, April 2, 2003. Getting started with XML: A workshop This is the home page for Getting Started With XML, a manual/workbook about XML.Keywords: XML (eXtensible Mark-up Language); Source: This document has no source; this document was never formally published. Usability for the Web: Designing Web sites that work This is a book review of Usability for the Web: Designing Web Sites That Work by Tom Brinck, Darren Gergle, and Scott D. Wood (San Francisco: Morgan Kaufmann, 2002). The book is a how-to guide. It describes methods and techniques for designing websites with the assumption that the principles of usability are pervasive throughout. This book is not about HTML. It is a book about the concepts and principles surrounding the organization, creation, and design of interfaces to data and information presented via a Web browser.Keywords: usability; Source: This book review was never published. DAIAD Goes to Ann Arbor The Digital Access and Information Architecture Department (DAIAD) went to visit the University of Michigan libraries between January 27 - 28, 2003 to network and learn how they do some of their work. This text outlines our experiences there.Keywords: Ann Arbor, MI; travel log; Source: This article was never really published. OCKHAM@Emory (January, 2003) This is the briefest of travel logs describing my experiences at Emory University discussing the ideas of OCKHAM.Keywords: OCKHAM (Open Community Knowledge Hypermedia Administration and Metadata); Atlanta, GA; travel log; Source: This text was never really published. Web Services at OCLC This text documents some of my experiences on a recent trip to OCLC, December 16 - 17, 2002 to discuss Web Services.Keywords: Web Services; OCLC (Online Computer Library Center); travel log; Source: This text was never published. Access 2002, Windsor, Ontario This text documents my experiences at Access 2002 in Windsor, Ontario, October 21-23, 2002. The annual Access conference is Canadian in bent and brings together the more computer technologically minded people from all types of libraries -- academic, public, government, etc. What follows are my notes from many of the presentations.Keywords: Winsor, Ontario; Access; travel log; Source: This text was never formally published. Usability in less than 60 minutes This fifty minute class is an introduction to usability and user-centered design. Answers to the following questions will be outlined: 1) what is usability?, 2) what is user-centered design?, 3) what is usability testing? Keywords: University of Notre Dame; presentations; usability; Source: This presentation was given to a class at the University of Notre Dame, November 27, 2002. One person showed up for class. European Conference on Digital Libraries This travel log documents my experience at the 6th European Conference on Digital Libraries (ECDL), Rome, Italy, September 16-18, 2002. In a sentence, this conference, attended by mostly university computer science faculty, facilitated the sharing of digital library research ideas and experimental results. For more information about the Conference, see: http://ecdl2002.iei.pi.cnr.it/ Keywords: Rome, Italy; ECDL (European Conference on Digital Libraries); travel log; Source: This document was never formally published. Making information easier to find with MyLibrary This article describes a pilot project being implemented in the Libraries called MyLibrary, a Web-based portal application intended to make information easier to find, easier to get, and to improve communication.Keywords: articles; MyLibrary; Source: This text was originally published in a newsletter of the University Libraries of Notre Dame called Access, number 81, Fall 2002. Implementing "Light-weight Reference Models" in MyLibrary This text describes how a particular portal application -- MyLibrary -- is implementing a few "light-weight reference models" as described by OCKHAM. This presentation illustrates how some of this is being implemented and solicits input from the audience on how the process can be improved as well as what steps should be taken next.Keywords: presentations; OCKHAM (Open Community Knowledge Hypermedia Administration and Metadata); ECDL (European Conference on Digital Libraries); MyLibrary; Source: This text was prsented at ECDL, September 2002, Rome, Italy. American Library Association Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, 2002 This text documents my experiences at the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Meeting held in Atlanta, GA, June 14-17, 2002.Keywords: Atlanta, GA; ALA (American Library Association); travel log; Source: This text was never formally published. OCKHAM in Atlanta This is a travel log documenting by experiences at Emory University to discuss a concept coined OCKHAM (Open Community Knowledge Hypermedia Administration and Metadata), May 3, 2002. The purpose of OCKHAM is to articulate and design a set of "light weight reference models" for creating and maintaining digital library services and collections.Keywords: OCKHAM (Open Community Knowledge Hypermedia Administration and Metadata); Atlanta, GA; travel log; Source: This text was never published. DLF in Chicago This travel log documents my experiences at the Digital Library Federation Spring Forum, Chicago, IL, May 2002. Keywords: travel log; DLF (Digital Library Federation); Chicago, IL; Source: ...based on personal experience Open Source Software in libraries This is an introduction to open source software in libraries, with descriptions of a variety of software packages and successful library projects. But before we get to the software itself, I want to describe the principles and techniques of open source software (OSS) and explain why I advocate the adoption of OSS in the implementation of library services and collections.Keywords: articles; open source software; Source: This essay appeared in Open Source Software for Libraries, a LITA Guide, in 2002. ASIS & T 2002 Information Architecture Summit: Refining the craft This text documents my experiences at the ASIS&T 2002 Information Architecture Summit, March 15-17, 2002, Baltimore, MD.Keywords: travel log; Baltimore, MD; information architecture; Source: Based on personal experience; this text was never formally published. What is the Open Archives Initiative? In a sentence, the Open Archives Initiative (OAI) is a protocol built on top of HTTP designed to distribute, gather, and federate meta data. The protocol is expressed in XML. This article describes the problems the OAI is trying to address and outlines how the OAI system is intended to work. By the end of the article you will be more educated about the OAI and hopefully become inspired to implement your own OAI repository or even become a service provider.Keywords: articles; OAI (Open Archives Initiative); Source: This is a pre-edited version of an article appearing in interChange 8:2 (June 2002) pg 18-22. Ontario Library Association (OLA) Annual Meeting, 2002 This is brief travel log outlining my experiences at the Ontario Library Association Annual Meeting 2002, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Keywords: Toronto, Ontario; travel log; Source: This text was never formally published Open source software in libraries This short essay, originally prepared for a presentation at the 2001 American Library Association Annual Conference in San Francisco, describes my personal experience with open source software and enumerates a number of ways open source software can be used in libraries to provide better library service. The essay does this in three ways. First, it reflects on the similarities of gift cultures, open source software development, and librarianship. Second, it describes the present evolution of email.cgi, an open source software application I support, and MyLibrary@NCState, a portal application designed for libraries. Third, it summarizes very recent comments from the OSS4Lib mailing list calling for more proactive activities in the library community.Keywords: open source software; presentations; Source: Prepared for a presentation at the 2001 American Library Association Annual Conference in San Francisco. Comparing Open Source Indexers This text compares and contrasts the features and functionality of various open source indexers: freeWAIS-sf, Harvest, Ht://Dig, Isite/Isearch, MPS, SWISH, WebGlimpse, and Yaz/Zebra. As the size of information systems increase so does the necessity of providing searchable interfaces to the underlying data. Indexing content and implementing an HTML form to search the index is one way to accomplish this goal, but all indexers are not created equal. This case study enumerates the pluses and minuses of various open source indexers currently available and makes recommendations on which indexer to use for what purposes. Finally, this case study will make readers aware that good search interfaces alone to not make for good information systems. Good information systems also require consistently applied subject analysis and well structured data.Keywords: indexing; open source software; Source: This article was originally written for a presentation at the O'Reilly Open Source Software conference of 2001 in San Diego, CA Smart HTML pages with PHP This text describes a process for creating HTML pages using a database application, an indexer, and PHP -- a cross-platform, open source scripting language especially designed for the Web -- all for the purposes of presenting value-added content.Keywords: HTML (Hypertext Markup Language); PHP; Source: This was a presentation for Trilug, the Triangle Linux Users Group. Portal webliography The purpose of the webliography is to collect, organize, and disseminate pointers to information and examples of user-driven and customizable interfaces to sets of Internet resources -- portals. Pointers to Internet directories or search engines that are not user-driven and/or customizable are not included here.Keywords: portals; Source: This text was never officially published. Gift cultures, librarianship, and open source software development This short essay examines more closely the concept of a "gift culture" and how it may or may not be related to librarianship. After this examination and with a few qualifications, I still believe my judgements about open source software and librarianship are true. Open source software development and librarianship have a number of similarities -- both are examples of gift cultures.Keywords: open source software; gift cultures; librarianship; Source: Frankly, I forget where this article was published first. Alas. DBMs and Web Delivery This presentation, DBMs and Web Delivery, compares and contrasts three database applications and describes how their content can be made available on the Web.Keywords: databases; presentations; Source: This was a presentation given to the staff of the North Carolina State University Libraries staff. Review of some ebook technology This column describes my experience to date with the dynamic creation and use of ebook data for Newton MessagePads, PalmPilot personal digital assistants, NuvoMedia's Rocket eBook, and SoftBook Press's SoftBook Reader. In a sentence, ebook technology effectively provides the means for reading electronic texts on portable devices but the functionality of these devices is not necessarily a superset of the functionality of print on paper; the functionality and business models of ebooks and traditional print media overlap.Keywords: ebooks; Source: This text is a pre-edited version of a column originally written for Computers in Libraries. CAP '99 This text documents my attendance in CAP (Computers and Philosophy) 99 at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, August 5-7, 1999.Keywords: Pittsburgh, PA; travel log; Source: This text was never formally published. SIGIR '99 This text represents the notes I took at SIGIR '99, Berkeley, CA, August 16 - 19, 1999.Keywords: travel log; Berkeley, CA; information retrieval; adaptive hypermedia; Source: This text was never formally published MyLibrary@NCState The text describes MyLibrary@NCState, an extensible implementation of a user-centered, customizable interface to a library's collection of information resources. The system integrates principles of librarianship with globably networked computing resources creating a dynamic, customer-driven front-end to any library's set of materials. It supports a framework for libraries to provide enhanced access to local and remote sets of data, information, and knowledge. At the same, it does not overwhelm its users with too much information because the users control exactly how much information is displayed to them at any given time. The system is active and not passive; direct human interaction, computer mediated guidance and communication technologies, as well as current awareness services all play indispensible roles in its implementation. The system is accessible to anybody at the following URL: http://my.lib.ncsu.edu.Keywords: MyLibrary; portals; Source: This paper was shared at a workshop of the SIGIR '99 conference in Berkeley, CA. Marketing through usability One of the best forms of marketing the technology of your library is word of mouth. One of the best ways to get word of mouth marketing is to provide "usable" products and services. There are many different articulations for usability including ergonomics, human computer interaction, and user centered design. This column describes usability and how it relates to the future of library service.Keywords: marketing; usability; Source: This is a pre-edited version of a column published in Computers in Libraries. Catalogs of the future In order to keep up with our user's expectations, library catalogs of the future will be more interactive and provide value added services against their contents. This column elaborates on this idea and uses the Alex Catalogue of Electronic Texts as an example.Keywords: Alex Catalogue of Electronic Texts; OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogs); Source: This is a pre-edited version of a column for Computers In Libraries. Raleigh-Worcester-Lansing This travel log documents a three-legged trip starting in Raleigh on April 14, 1999, going to Worcester, MA to speak for the North Eastern Technical Services Librarians (NETSL), and moving on to Lansing, MI by April 19 to share some ideas about the immediate future of web-based services in libraries to a division of the Michigan Library Association (MLA).Keywords: Worcester, MA; Lansing, MI; travel log; Source: Based on personal experience; this text was never fomally published. Adaptive technologies Computer technology is improving the access to information for the disabled but the real problem is not necessarily the limitations of technology but it's costs. This column points you toward sets of Internet resources informing you on how you can make your library better prepared for the disabled. It also tries to enforce the understanding that technologies for the disabled assist not only the disabled, but everybody else as well. Libraries of the future will understand this fact and embrace this change not as a hinderance but as an enhancement of service for everybody.Keywords: adaptive technologies; Source: This article was originally written as a column for Computers in Libraries. Sometimes the question is more important than the answer In our profession, sometimes the question is more important than the answer. This column explores ways to better articulate methods for devising search strategies in a globally networked computing environment.Keywords: expert systems; Source: This is as pre-edited article originally published in Computers in Libraries. Networking 2000 This is a travel log documenting my experiences at the SouthAtlantic Regional Conference of the Special Librarians Association (SLA) entitled Networking 2000 in the Lightsey Conference Center, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, March 11 - 12, 1999. The text is interspersed with images I saw along the way.Keywords: travel log; SLA (Special Library Association); Charleston, SC; Source: This text was never formally published. Languaging '99 This a brief travel log describing my experiences of Languaging '99 at the University of North Texas (UNT), in Denton, TX, March 4-6, 1999. This was the first literature/linguistics conference I've ever attended. The text is intermingled with images I saw along the way.Keywords: literature; language; travel log; Denton, TX; Source: This text was never formally published. Possibilities for proactive library services Proactive services and bits of direct marketing are ways libraries of the present can retain a foothold in the future.Keywords: librarianship; Source: This is pre-edited version of an article published in Computers in Libraries. Systems administration requires people skills In the future, people responsible for the maintenance of a library's computer hardware and software will have learned to incorporate the principles and practices of librarianship with the principles and practices of systems administration.Keywords: systems administration; librarianship; Source: This is pre-edited version of Morgan, Eric Lease. "Systems Administration Requires People Skills," Computers in Libraries 19(13):36-37, March 1999. Communication is the key to our success The ultimate purpose of intranets is to facilitate communication. Unfortunately, present practice tends to use computer technology (ie. intranets, groupware, interactive media, or email) as the sole conduit for communication. Astute librarians will come to realize that these technologies do not replace older means of communication like face-to-face meetings, telephones, or newsletters, but supplement the communications process. Communication is the key to a librarians success and using computer technology is just one way to achieve this goal. Hopefully, future librarians will be less enamored with the "kewl" things computers can do and spend more time using computers to provide the sorts of services the profession and our clientele require.Keywords: communication; intranets; Source: This is a pre-edited version of Eric Lease Morgan "Communication is the key to our success" Computers in Libraries 18(9):28-30, October 1998. Imagine, if only we had... Recently, during one of those national conferences, I got together with a number of my old library friends over dinner. I admit it. We talked shop. Conversation turned to speculation on what we could do if only we had this, that, or the other thing.Keywords: fiction; emerging technologies; Source: This is a pre-edited version of Eric Lease Morgan "Dreaming about what we wish we could have" Computers in Libraries 18(10):40-41 November/December 1998. Marketing future libraries Now, more than ever, libraries are no longer the center of the information universe. While us librarians never truly had a monopoly on information, our "market share", especially with the advent of globally networked computers, has dwindled considerably. Put another way, there are many more people and institutions providing information services today than even five years ago. Consequently, it behooves us to think more aggressively about marketing our information and knowledge products and services if we expect to be around in the future.Keywords: marketing; Source: This is a pre-edited version of Eric Lease Morgan "Marketing library services" Computers in Libraries 18(8):50-51, September 1998. Springboards for stategic planning Early last Fall I had the opportunity to see two influential library personalities speak to the future of librarianship: Reva Basch and Clifford Lynch. In a time when change is the norm, describing the future of anything seems a bit ludicrous. Similarly, planning may seem to be a waste of time. You might say, "How can I make plans when I have no idea what is going to happen in the future?" It may seem ironic, but these are the exact times when planning, specifically strategic planning, is most beneficial.Keywords: Basch, Reva; Lynch, Clifford; strategic planning; Source: This is pre-edited version of Morgan, Eric Lease. "Springboards for Strategic Planning," Computers in Libraries 19(1):32-33 (January 1999). Eric visits Savannah This is the simplest of travel logs documenting my trip to Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU) in Savannah, GA to attend the Southern DRA User's Group Meeting, August 6-7, 1998.Keywords: travel log; Savanna, GA; Source: This text was never formally published. Different type of distance education By transporting computers and the necessary networking hardware to remote sites, two library systems (the St. Louis County Library and the South Central Regional Library Council) are able to better serve the training needs of their staff. This column describes these similar, yet different, approaches to training librarians.Keywords: distance education; Source: This article was originally published in Computers in Libraries. Indexing, indexing, indexing The ability to create your own index of electronic texts is an ability frequently under-utilized in Library Land. Its a shame since the creation of your own indexes empowers you to create focused, customizable information services that would otherwise wait for a commercial vendor to provide, maybe. This column describes what indexing is and why it should be an integral part of your information services. Second, this column reviews a number of free, Unix-based indexing systems: freewais-sf, Harvest, SWISH-E, and ht://Dig.Keywords: indexing; Source: This article was originally published in Computers in Libraries. MyLibrary in your library This piece of fiction describes MyLibrary. It is the first formally published article using the work MyLibraryKeywords: fiction; MyLibrary; Source: Computers in Libraries, sometime. Becoming a 600-pound gorilla Just like corporations who are forming alliances between themselves to create bigger and better organizations, libraries must continue to strengthen consortiums between themselves and other institutions for the purposes of resource sharing. The key to success in these ventures is communication and your ability for interpersonal organization. If you have these skills, then you too can become a 600-pound gorilla sitting just about anywhere you want. At the very least you will have more control over your economic, information, and computing resource environments.Keywords: consortiums; resource sharing; Source: This article was originally published in a Computers in Libraries column. Access control in libraries This article is about access control in libraries, a rather new idea.Keywords: access control; Source: This is a pre-edited edited copy for Eric Lease Morgan, "Access Control in Libraries" Computers In Libraries. 18(3):38-40, March 1998. We love databases! The key to virtual libraries is database technology. When it comes to virtual libraries of Internet resources, there are many options. Depending on the size of your collection, consider the use of your existing OPAC software, ROADS, or a microcomputer-based databased application like FileMaker Pro to manage the resources. This column describes approaches to using each of these database technologies to create virtual libraries of Internet resources.Keywords: Filemaker; virtual libraries; ROADS (Resource Organisation And Discovery in Subject-based services); OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogs); Source: This is a pre-edited edited copy for Eric Lease Morgan, "We Love Databases" Computers In Libraries. 18(2):38-39, Februrary 1998. Computer literacy for librarians The tools of the trade are your brain, your peers, and your computer. When it comes to your brain you have to know how to think. Think creatively. Think systematically. When it comes to the second tool, "No man in an island" and "two heads are better than one" speak for themselves. Computers provide the most powerful means for implementing the ideas created by the interaction of Tool #1 and Tool #2. Librarianship requires the mastering of all three tools in order to do quality work. You expect a surgeon to be a master at using a scalple. You wouldn't hire a carpenter who didn't know how to expertly use a hammer. In today's world, why would anybody trust a librarian, whose profession is about information and knowledge, who didn't know how to master a computer?Keywords: computer literacy; Source: This is a pre-edited edited copy for Eric Lease Morgan, "Computer literacy for librarians" Computers In Libraries. 18(1):39-40, January 1998. Pointers 4 searching, searching 4 pointers This, Pointers 4 Searching, Searching 4 Pointers, is an annotated bibliography (webliography). Its purpose is to provide you with starting points for methods and strategies for using the Internet to find academic information as well as become familiar with the advantages/disadvantages and strengths/weaknesses of Internet searching.Keywords: presentations; information retrieval; ACA (Appalachian College Association); Source: This text was originally created for a Appalacian College Association annual meeting in Kingsport, TN, in late October, 1997. From Amtrak to Artemia Salina I experienced an interesting information phenomenon this weekend. I would like to share it with you today. It points out the need of integrating computer technology into library services of the future, not simply replacing old technology.Keywords: librarianship; Source: This is a pre-edited edited copy for Eric Lease Morgan, "From Amtrak to Artemia Salina" Computers In Libraries. 17(10):22-23, November/December 1997. Unique collections and Fahrenheit 451 With the advent of globally networked computers and digitizing equipment, libraries can now provide more and better access to their special collections and considering the current economic milieu where information is readily bought, sold, and licienced, this may be the only future for libraries. This future may end up looking very much like the conclusion to Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451.Keywords: librarianship; special collections; Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury; Source: This is a pre-edited edited copy for Eric Lease Morgan, "Unique collections and Fahrenheit 451" Computers In Libraries. 17(9):18-20, October 1997. Creating user-friendly electronic information systems The future of any automated information systems, let them be World Wide Web servers or online public access catalogs (OPACs), will have to include "interactive assistance" features. This article reviews the definition of information systems, describes the concept of interactive assistance, describes how it relates to information systems, and points out a few prototypical examples.Keywords: interactive assistance; information systems design; expert systems; Source: This is a pre-edited edited copy for Eric Lease Morgan, "Creating User-Friendly Electronic Information Systems" Computers In Libraries. 17(8):31-33, September 1997. Evaluating Index Morganagus This article describes Index Morganagus, a full-text index of library-related electronic serials. First, it describes why the Index was created. It goes on to give an overview of Harvest, the technology that collects, indexes, and provides access to the serials. The article outlines how the process was automated using the combination of a database application (FileMaker Pro) and various "glue" scripts (both AppleScript and Perl). It provides an analysis of the service's log files shedding light on usage patterns and librarian search behavior.Keywords: indexing; articles; Source: This is a pre-edited edited copy for Eric Lease Morgan, "Evaluating Index Morganagus: indexing and providing access to library-related serials using Harveset" New Review of Information Networking. 3:223-244, 1997. Becoming a World Wide Web server expert Through a series of presentations, demonstrations, group exercises, handouts, and video interviews, this one-day workshop will address the issues surrounding the initial development and ongoing maintenance of useful World Wide Web (WWW) servers.Keywords: presentations; Web servers; HTML (Hypertext Markup Language); Source: This workshop was originally presented at William and Mary College, March 14, 1997, and sponsored by LITA/ALA. It was also given Florida International University (FIU) on May 16, 1997, and finally at University of Illinois at Chicago, March 17, 1998. See You See A Librarian Final Report This is the final report of the See You See A Librarian Project. In a sentence, the Project was a qualified success.Keywords: video conferencing; Source: This text was never formally published. Learning to use the tools of the trade The purpose of this article is to articulate how librarians can improve the practices of librarianship by better assimilating the uses of computer technology into the profession's thinking (and "thinquing"). The article accomplishes this goal first by outlining four informal research projects conducted at the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Libraries. It establishes how these projects exemplify the goals of librarianship. Next, the article demonstrates how librarians can use their traditional skill base to provide new and progressive library services while maintaining the traditional principles of the past. Finally, the article describes why these sorts of activities are important to the profession and its growth. Keywords: librarianship; Source: This article also appears in Eric Lease Morgan, "Learning to Use the Tools of the Trade" North Carolina Libraries 54:5 (Winter 1996) 158-160. Cataloging digital mediums This article examines some of the issues surrounding the organization and classification of digital resources. It does this in three parts. First, it provides a general overview of the types of digital resoruces libraries can collect, organize, preserve, and provide access to. Second, it examines some of the philosophical and pragmatic considerations involved in defining the universe of digital resources. Third, it describes an informal research project (the Alcuin Project of the North Carolina State University Libraries) whose goal is to put into practice some solutions to the issues outlined above.Keywords: cataloging; articles; Source: This also appears in Eric Lease Morgan, "Possible Solutions for Incorporating digital information mediums into traditional library cataloging services" Cataloging & Classification Quarterly 22:3/4 (1996) pg. 143-170. Readability, browsability, searchability plus assistance In order to be useful, any information must be readable, browsable, and searchable. With increasing size and complexity of today's information systems, interactive user assistance is becoming a necessary feature as well. This essay outlines these qualities so you, as an information system manager, can incorporate them into your products and services. Keywords: graphic design; Source: This was a presentation give to the attendees of the Virginia Library Association, 1996. ListWebber II ListWebber provides the means for searching LISTSERV and ListProcessor lists while reducing the need to know their searching syntax.Keywords: computer programs and scripts; Source: This text was never formally published. On being a systems librarian This short essay defines systems librarianship.Keywords: systems librarianship; Source: This presentation was given to a number of library school students at the School of Library and Information Science, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Cataloging Internet Resources: A Beginning This presentation (given to the Tennessee Library Association, April 12, 1996, Knoxville, TN) shares the beginnings of the NCSU Libraries attempt to catalog Internet resources and make them available through a WWW interface. The presentation will share how we integrated Tim Kambitsch's' "unnamed" scripts into one of our WWW server enabling us to search our OPAC through a WWW interface. The presentation will describe SID (Simple Internet Database), a program we use to create and maintain the majority of the HTML files on our WWW server. Additionally, a description of how these pieces of software are being integrated into the Alcuin database, a database of Internet resources. Finally, philosophic issues will be raised concerning the cataloging and classification of Internet resourcesKeywords: presentations; TLA (Tennessee Library Association); cataloging; Source: This presentation was originally given at the Tennessee Library Association, April 12, 1996, Knoxville, TN. Tennessee Library Association This is short travel log based on my experiences at the Tennessee Library Association annual meeting held in Knoxville, TN, April 11-13, 1996.Keywords: TLA (Tennessee Library Association); Knoxville, TN; travel log; Source: This text was never formally published. Clarence meets Alcuin This essay outlines the definition of expert systems, describes how this definition has been applied to reference librarianship, and suggests future directions of study.Keywords: expert systems; fiction; librarianship; articles; Source: This text was originally published as Morgan, Eric Lease (1997). Clarence meets Alcuin; or, expert systems are still an option in reference work. In P. Ensor (Ed.), The Cybrarian's manual (pp. 127-134). Chicago: American Library Association. Extending your HTML on a Macintosh using macro languages This article describes and illustrates the use of three Macintosh tools that can be used to extend HTML for the purposes of creating dynamic and client-specific HTML documents. These three tools are a server application (Intercon's InterServer Publisher) and two common gateway interface scripts (Tim Endres's HTPL and Maxum Development's NetCloak).Keywords: articles; HTML (Hypertext Markup Language); Source: This article was originally published in the now defunct Websmith magazine sometime around March, 1996. Adding Internet resources to our OPACs This essay advocates the addition of bibliographic records describing Internet-based electronic serials and Internet resources in general to library online public access catalogs (OPAC), addresses a few implications of this proposition, and finally, suggests a few solutions to accomplish this goal.Keywords: cataloging; articles; Source: Serials Review 21(4): 70-72, Winter 1995 Description and evaluation of the Mr. Serials Process This article describes the Mr. Serials Process. The Mr. Serials Process is a systematic method being applied at the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Libraries for collecting, organizing, archiving, indexing, and disseminating electronic serials. Using readily-available technologies found on the Internet (FTP, WAIS, gopher, HTTP, perl, procmail, email), the Mr. Serials Process has proven an effective means for the management of electronic serials that are consistently formatted and delivered via email.Keywords: electronic journals; articles; Source: This article also appears in Serials Review 21 no. 4 (Winter 1995): 1-12. Gateways and electronic publishing This text documents my experiences at the Gateways and Electronic Publishing Conference held a the University of New Brunswick, Fredricton, New Brunswick, Canada, October 22-25, 1995.Keywords: Fredricton, Canada; publishing; travel log; Access; Source: This text was never formally published. Random Musing: Teaching a new dog old tricks Teaching a New Dog Old Tricks is an instruction manual describing how to create and manage Macintosh-based World Wide Web servers. After providing a bit of background about the World Wide Web, this book describes how to: 1) effectively use and enhance your World Wide Web browsers, 2) install and maintain MacHTTP, 3) write hypertext markup language documents, 4) enhance your server with imagemaps and common gateway scripts, and 5) organize and provide searching services for your server. This book is intended for the person who wants to disseminate information on the Internet including persons in government, education, and industry.Keywords: articles; Web servers; HTML (Hypertext Markup Language); Source: This manuscript was sponsored by an Apple Computer Library of Tomorrow (ALOT) grant in 1995. WILS' World Conference 95: A travel log This page documents my experiences at the WILS' World 95 Conference held in Madison, Wisconsin, June 13-14, 1995.Keywords: WILS World; Madison, WI; travel log; Source: This text was never formally published. ALA 1995 Annual Conference: A Mini-Travel Log This is a tiny travel log of ALA '95Keywords: Chicago, IL; travel log; ALA (American Library Association); Source: This text was never formally published. Ties That Bind: Converging Communities - A Travel Log Ties That Bind: Converging Communitites was a conference held at Apple Computer, Inc. in Cupertino, CA, May 2-5, 1995. The purpose of the conference was to share problems and solutions surrounding the creation and maintaince of community networks. This text is a travel log of my experiences there.Keywords: Apple Computer; Cupertino, CA; travel log; Source: This text was never formally published. USAIN Annual Conference 1995: A travel log The United States Agriculture Information Network (USAIN) held its 1995 Annual Meeting in Lexington, KY, April 26-29. While I was not able to attend the entire conference, this travel log documents the events I was able to attend. Keywords: Lexington, KY; USAIN (United States Agriculture Information Network); travel log; Source: This document was never formally published, unless it was by the folks at Haworth Press. Internet for Anthropologists This text is a written version of the presentation given to the Association of North Carolina Anthropologists (ANCA) at the North Carolina State University Libraries April 22, 1995. Its purpose is to provide an overview of the Internet (specifically the World Wide Web) and what it can mean for anthropologists.Keywords: Internet; Source: This presentation was given to the Association of North Carolina Anthropologists (ANCA) at the North Carolina State University Libraries April 22, 1995. WebEdge: A travel log WebEdge, the first Macintosh WWW Developer's Conference was held at Apple Computer Assistance Center, Austin, TX April 2-4, 1995. This text is a travel log of my attendance at that conference.Keywords: WebEdge; Austin, TX; travel log; Source: This text was never formally published. Using World Wide Web and WAIS technologies The goal of the presentation is to describe three qualities (readability, browsability, and searchability) of useful information systems and outline how they can be manifested in World Wide Web servers using HTML, database applications, and the WAIS technologies.Keywords: WAIS (Wide Area Information System); presentations; Lexington, KY; USAIN (United States Agriculture Information Network); information architecture; Source: Originally entitled "Using World Wide Web and WAIS Technologies to Create Electronic Information Systems." It is the written compliment to a presentation given at the 1995 USAIN Annual Conference held in Lexington, KY, April 26-29, 1995 Introduction to World Wide Web Servers This essay, presented to MUGLNC, March 31, 1995 briefly discusses the following items: 1) some background about the World Wide Web (WWW), 2) three qualities of well constructed information systems, and 3) possible uses of WWW servers for libraries.Keywords: MUGLNC (Microcomputer Users Group for Libraries in North Carolina); presentations; Web servers; Source: This essay, presented to MUGLNC, March 31, 1995. Short trip to Duke This is the smallest of small travel logs to Duke University.Keywords: Duke University; travel log; Source: This text was never published; it has no source. Opportunities for technical services staff This presentation, made to the New York Technical Services Librarians Fall Dinner Meeting (Friday, November 4, 1994), first describes Mr. Serials, a process for systematically collecting, organizing, archiving, indexing, and disseminating electronic journals. Second, the presentation describes uses of World Wide Web (WWW) servers in libraries. Finally, the presentation describes how these two technologies can be assimilated into traditional library services and how technical services staff have an integral part in this assimilation process.Keywords: New York Technical Services Librarians; presentations; cataloging; Source: Originally entitled, "Mr. Serials and World Wide Web Servers: Opportunities for Technical Services Staff", and presented to the New York Technical Services Librarians, Friday, November 4, 1994. Email.cgi version 5.0.3 The purpose of email.cgi is to extract the contents of an HTML form and send those contents to one or more email addresses.Keywords: computer programs and scripts; AppleScript; email; Source: This software documentation was never formally published. World-Wide Web and Mosaic: An overview for librarians This paper overviews the World-Wide Web (frequently abbreviated as "W3," "WWW," or the "Web") and related systems and standards. First, it introduces Web concepts and tools and describes how they fit together to form a coherent whole, including the client/server model of computing, the Uniform Resource Locator (URL), selected Web client and server programs, the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), the HyperText Markup Language (HTML), selected HTML converters and editors, and Common Gateway Interface (CGI) scripts. Second, it discusses strategies for organizing Web information. Finally, it advocates the direct involvement of librarians in the development of Web information resources.Keywords: Web servers; HTML (Hypertext Markup Language); articles; Source: This article was originally published in The Public-Access Computer Systems Review 5, no. 6 (1994): 5-26. Simple HTML Editor (SHE) version 2.9 Simple HTML Editor (S H E) is just that, a simple editor for creating hypertext markup language (HTML) documents. It is in the form of a HyperCard stack, and therefore, it requires HyperCard or HyperCard Player, as well as a Macintosh.Keywords: HTML (Hypertext Markup Language); computer programs and scripts; HyperCard; Source: This software was never formally published. Alcuin, an NCSU Libraries guide This HyperCard/MicroPhone combination was the beginings of an expert system design to help users of the NCSU Libraries facilitate their learning, teaching, and scholarlship.Keywords: MicroPhone; HyperCard; computer programs and scripts; expert systems; Source: This program was never really published. Implementing TCP/IP communications with HyperCard This article describes how to implement TCP/IP communications with HyperCard in three steps. First, it briefly examines the tools used to access information resources available through the Internet. Second, it outlines the necessary hardware and software requirements to make TCP/IP communications happen on a Macintosh. Third, it illustrates the implementation process with two stacks: Mini-Atlas and ListManager.Keywords: TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol); HyperCard; articles; Source: Originally published in Information Technology and Libraries 11(4):421-432, December 1992. Day in the life of Mr. D. This is a short story describing a vision of librarianship in the future.Keywords: fiction; librarianship; articles; Source: This article was originally written for Thinking Robots and an Aware Internet MicroPhone scripts for searching MEDLARS Scripts written with Microphone (a communications program for Macintosh and DOS-based computers) can greatly simplify searching the MEDLARS family of databases. (MEDLARS is an acronym for medical literature analysis and retrieval system. It includes the files MEDLINE, its backfiles, HEALTH, et cetera.) This article describes some of the scripts the author has written and explains how they can be used to improve your searching techniques.Keywords: articles; computer programs and scripts; MicroPhone; MEDLARS; Source: Originally published as Easy Searching: MicroPhone Scripts for Searching the MEDLARS Family of Databases, Online 16(2):65-69, March 1992. MARC Reader: a HyperCard script to demystify the MARC record The purpose of this article is to demystify the MARC record and list a short HyperCard script that translates a MARC record into an easy-to-read format. Furthermore, this article demonstrates that advanced library applications can be created with simple, readily-available tools; with HyperCard and a bit of investigation any librarian can create their own electronic card catalog.Keywords: HyperCard; MARC (Machine Readable Cataloging); computer programs and scripts; articles; Source: This article was originally published in Computers in Libraries 11(11):52-55, December 1991. HyperNote Pro HyperNote Pro is a HyperCard stack used to annotate text. It can also create true hypertext links between itself and other documents or applications.Keywords: HyperCard; computer programs and scripts; Source: This application was never formally published