I am honored to guest write at Tame The Web – a lighthouse for positive librarianship – with Michael’s philosophy of encouraging the heart.

We all have different things that encourage our hearts and give us inspiration to do what we do – and make the world better. For me music is a big inspiration, a shelter and a motivator. Being a library person deep down in my heart, I have a theory that a lot of artists have positive experiences with libraries from their lives and that they have been inspired by libraries in some way when they were starting out. This is the story I would like to tell. The story of how the library makes a difference in the artist’s life.

I decided to make an empirical test of that theory.

Last October I was very fortunate to see the extremely talented Mary Gauthier live in concert in Copenhagen (If you get the chance to go to one of her concerts – do not hesitate!) I know her lyrics and there are literary references. I asked her for a blog interview about libraries and she most kindly said yes.

Mary’s songs inspire me because they are transparent, honest and beautiful and with use of humor she shows the light in dark times. I was lucky to meet Mary before one of her shows and she is an amazingly calm and gracious person, which did not surprise me, because that is how her songs are too. She is a musical as well as a personal inspiration to me.

I ask Mary about her library experiences and I promise you both sugar and salt when you read her answers. I hope to make clear that music encourages the heart just like libraries do. I am glad to present this interview with one of the most amazing artists out there… Ladies and Gentlemen – I proudly present my Mary Gauthier interview: http://wp.me/phBXj-7o 

Jan Holmquist is a librarian working with library development in South East Denmark at Guldborgsund-bibliotekerne. He is also a global librarian, Zukunftsentwickler, blogger, Tweeter and crowd funder – member and co-founder of the Buy India a Library team and Help This Week in Libraries team.

Image: Michael & Jan in Helsinki for IFLA, August 2012

This is the final week to submit your library for American Libraries’ 2013 Library Design Showcase, our annual feature celebrating the best new and newly renovated or expanded libraries of all types. The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 31.

We are looking for libraries that are shining examples of innovative architecture and that address the service needs of patrons in unique, interesting, and effective ways. Previous submissions have consisted of everything from living walls and LEED certifications to the restoration of branch libraries from the turn of the century. If your library is on the cutting-edge, we want our readers to know about it. To be eligible, projects must have been completed between January 1, 2012 and April 30, 2013.

To have your library considered, send a completed submission form (available as a PDF at bit.ly/2013designshowcase) along with color prints or high-resolution digital images, to American Libraries, Attn: Library Design Showcase, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Submissions can also be sent online via YouSendIt to ALShowcase@ala.org. (See details below.)

Unfortunately, not all submissions can be featured. For more information, email ALShowcase@ala.org.

To view last year’s selections, visit 2012 Library Design Showcase.

Online Submission Details

YouSendIt allows only one file of up to 100 MB to be sent at a time on a free account. Use WinZip or a similar compression application to compress your files into a single file. To send files, go to yousendit.com. Enter your email address in the “From:” box, and pmorehart@ala.org in the “To:” field. Click “Select File” and browse to your file to select it. At this point, YouSendIt will ask you to sign up for a free account. Input a subject and message if you wish. In the next section, you can ignore the premium (and paid) delivery options. Click “Send It” to deliver your file.

Submission form (PDF): bit.ly/2013designshowcase

    ISBN: 9781101622674
    Author: Robinson, Ken, 1950-

    ISBN: 9781594487200
    Author: Halpern, Sue

    ISBN: 9780062217202
    Author: Knox, Amanda.

No real content here – just a test! Apparently, the email version of my feed has been acting up. So, I’m testing it out, making sure everything is working!

Can you do me a favor? If you read my blog via email, can a couple of you visit this blog post and leave a comment, letting me know everything’s working ok? I’d appreciate it!

I also appreciate all you readers! You guys are truly awesome. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog!

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(May 23, 2013). Talis announced that Bangor University has become the latest university to select Talis Aspire.

(May 22, 2013). Capita launched a cloud-based web application, Soprano, that allows both public and academic library staff to access Capita's library management system (LMS) from any location at any time of the day. As part of the ongoing commitment to ensuring that the LMS meets the requirements of all libraries, Capita developed and tested Soprano with public and academic libraries and in response to their requirements – including University of Sussex, Leeds City Council and University of South Wales. With benefits for both librarians and library users in mind, the application assists librarians to swiftly complete their day-to-day tasks anywhere using their mobile devices, delivering a faster and increasingly efficient service for library users.

    ISBN: 9781250024985
    Author: Ritland, Mike.

(May 22, 2013). OCLC's WebJunction celebrates 10 years as an online learning community for library staff. On May 12, 2003, a celebration at the U.S. Library of Congress marked the launch of WebJunction.org, a new online community dedicated to sharing the knowledge and resources necessary for libraries to successfully provide public access to information.

(May 22, 2013). EBSCO Industries, Inc. announces the EBSCO Information Services and EBSCO Publishing businesses will merge on July 1, 2013 and will operate as a single business under the name EBSCO Information Services. Tim Collins, a 26-year EBSCO veteran and previously President of EBSCO Publishing, will serve as President of the combined entity.

For those working in a small library, particularly one that may have little technical support, a foundational knowledge of technology is crucial. Written for librarians, library staff and administrators at libraries serving populations of 15,000 or less, “Technology for Small and One-Person Libraries: A LITA Guide,” published by ALA TechSource, shows how to successfully develop, implement, sustain and grow technology initiatives. Editors Rene J. Erlandson, Rachel A. Erb and their contributors draw from personal experience in rural libraries and regional state university libraries to offer guidance for making sound technology decisions. Whether looking for a quick answer or starting an in-depth technology project, readers will quickly find basic information on the full range of library technology, organized into chapters with numerous headings for easy scanning. Topics include:

• An overview of library technology basics;
• Electronic resource fundamentals, including a look at licensing issues;
• Webpage development, Open-source (OS) applications and a six-step plan for social media and social networking;
• How to create and sustain an effective technology strategy.

Erlandson is the director of virtual services at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) libraries, with oversight of computer systems, digital asset management, digital collection development, electronic resource management, emerging technologies, library systems, network infrastructure and Web development. Prior to joining the University of Nebraska faculty, she worked at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and Iowa State University over the course of two decades. As the senior cataloger and project coordinator for the Library of Congress-administered Illinois Newspaper Project at UIUC, she visited many small libraries throughout the state of Illinois and was often consulted on technology questions by librarians working in those libraries.

Erb has been working in technical services for over a decade with substantial experience in cataloging materials of various formats and in managing integrated library systems. She recently transitioned to focusing on electronic resources and is now the electronic resources management librarian at Colorado State University (CSU). Most of her professional experience consists of working in either rural settings with limited resources or regional state universities. She has also written several case studies of technical services operations in these environments.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. Contact us at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5418 or editionsmarketing@ala.org.

New vacancy listings are posted weekly on Wednesday at approximately 12 noon Central Time. They appear under New This Week and under the appropriate regional listing. Postings remain on the LITA Job Site for a minimum of four weeks.

New This Week

• Digital Archivist, Princeton University Library, Princeton, NJ
• Emerging Technology and Systems Librarian , University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, Green Bay, WI
• Executive Director, Digital Scholarship Services, Rice University, Houston, TX
• Library Associate – AnswerLine, County Library System, Issaquah, WA
• Reference and Instruction Librarian, Brandywine Campus, The Pennsylvania State University Libraries, Philadelphia, PA

The SemanticWeb.com Spotlight on Library Innovation
Update

Thank you for all the nominations we received for the first Semantic Web.com Spotlight on Innovation in Libraries.

We are pleased to announce that Kevin Ford, from the Network Development and MARC Standards Office at the Library of Congress, was selected for the Semantic Web.com Spotlight on Innovation for his work with the Bibliographic Framework Initiative (BIBFRAME) and his continuing work on the Library of Congress’s Linked Data Service (loc.id). In addition to being an active contributor, Kevin is responsible for the BIBFRAME website; has devised tools to view MARC records and the resulting BIBFRAME resources side-by-side; authored the first transformation code for MARC data to BIBFRAME resources; and is project manager for The Library of Congress’ Linked Data Service. Kevin also writes and presents frequently to promote BIBFRAME, ID.LOC.GOV, and educate fellow librarians on the possibilities of linked data.

Without exception, each nominee represented great work and demonstrated the power of Linked Data in library systems, making it a difficult task for the committee, and sparking some interesting discussions about future such spotlight programs.

Congratulations, Kevin, and thanks to all the other great library linked data projects nominated!

TheSemanticWeb.com Spotlight on Library Innovation team

We’d also like to remind the library community that the Semantic Technology and Business Conference is well worth experiencing. SemTechBiz brings together industry thought leaders and practitioners to explore the challenges and opportunities jointly impacting both business leaders and technologists. Conference sessions include technical talks and case studies that highlight semantic technology applications in action. The program includes tutorials and over 130 sessions and demonstrations as well as a hackathon, start-up competition, exhibit floor, and networking opportunities.

As supporters of the SemanticWeb.com Library Spotlight, LITA and OCLC members will get a 50% discount on a gold conference pass – use discount code LITA or OCLC when registering -

LITA members – http://semtechbizsf2013.semanticweb.com/?c=stsflita – discount code “lita” minus quotes

OCLC members – http://semtechbizsf2013.semanticweb.com/?c=stsfoclc – discount code “oclc” minus quotes

(May 22, 2013). Vital Source Technologies, Inc., an Ingram Content Group company, today announced that Globe University, a comprehensive system of career colleges, universities and training centers that includes Broadview University and Minnesota School of Business, has selected its VitalSource Bookshelf® platform to launch e-learning solutions to educators and students throughout the Globe University system.

(May 22, 2013). Softlink furthered its support of the 13 Project – releasing an Australian School Library, Cybersafety Survey, and calling for teacher librarians to have their say about their role in supporting students.

(May 22, 2013). Con motivo del 25 aniversario de Baratz hemos creado un nuevo portal comunitario: Comunidad Baratz http://www.comunidadbaratz.com/. Aquí os informaremos puntualmente de nuestra actividad y las noticias relacionadas con nuestros proyectos, así como de noticias que creemos pueden ser de vuestro interés. Un espacio de difusión de noticias y temas de actualidad de Baratz enfocadas en el sector de la Información, la Documentación, el Conocimiento y el Desarrollo.

    ISBN: 9780307595850
    Author: Nesbo, Jo, 1960-

    ISBN: 9781780191355
    Author: Jones, Bridget

    ISBN: 9781250022424
    Author: Haines, Carolyn