Archive for February, 2007
Tomorrow, March 1st, is World Book Day. To celebrate World Book Day, the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, is launching an online display revealing the origins of Kenneth Grahame’s masterpiece of children’s literature, The Wind in the Willows. The online display is an expanded version of an exhibition mounted for one day only on March 1 at the Library’s Divinity School. The display includes original drawings, letters and manuscripts.
February 28th, 2007
The American Library Association announced in a press release this week that they now have space in Linden Labs’ 3D Virtual Reality, Second Life. ALA will have one half of ALA/Arts Island, which will be utilized as a new method for disseminating ALA news and information. It will also be used for reaching out to new audiences, holding events, interacting with members and the public, and exploring the future of library services. The half-island was given to ALA by an anonymous donor.
Jenny Levine, ALA Internet Development Specialist and Strategy Guide, states: “Needless to say, we are very excited to join the library community on Second Life, and we hope we as an association can utilize this technology to work with other library and education professionals who are pioneering efforts in immersive environments such as this one. We also hope to use these opportunities to further advance solutions to the digital divide and participation gap issues that surround Second Life and other virtual worlds.”
As part of the library community already located in Second Life, MLC is pleased to welcome ALA into the fold. We see ALA’s presence as an exciting new opportunity for Michigan libraries to interact and collaborate with ALA in Second Life.
MLC recently moved into a new building in Second Life on the soon-to-be-opened Cybrary City II. Our building coordinates are (167, 62, 22). When Cybrary City II is officially opened, we’ll host a Grand Opening party in Second Life. Please watch our blog and web site for an announcement.
February 28th, 2007
Photos from the February 15 program have been posted to MLC’s Flickr account.
February 28th, 2007
The MLC Digital Libraries User Group met today here at MLC. Representatives from the 16 participating libraries meet twice a year to discuss collection development, training, promotions, tech issues, and the latest and greatest products available.
Today much of the discussion centered on the addition of downloadable videos to the collecton. To paraphrase Kelli Perkins from Herrick District Library – what better way is there for libraries to improve their image and interest new patrons than to offer the newest thing out there?
The circulation numbers for the site – ebooks.mlcnet.org – have soared since it went live in October 2004. In January there were a record number of checkouts – 2,537!
The MLC Digital Libraries is a shared growing collection of eBooks and downloadable audio books available through the OverDrive/DLR system. There are currently 16 participating libraries, Ann Arbor District Library, Capital Area District Library, Grosse Pointe Public Library, Hastings Public Library, Herrick District Library, Kalamazoo Public Library, Kent District Library, Loutit District Library, Macomb County Library, Orion Township Public Library, Plymouth District Library, Portage District Library, Salem-South Lyon District Library, Spring Lake District Library, Sterling Heights Public Library, and Troy Public Library. New group members are accepted at any time. Any patron of those libraries may check out eBooks or downloadable audios from the comfort of home. Authentication is dependent on each library – through the use of library cards.
February 21st, 2007
State Librarian Nancy Robertson posted “MeL ReMix – It’s Here!” on her blog today. Nancy wrote, “Hi everyone. Tuesday was a big day for us here at the Library of Michigan, as we celebrated the debut of MeL ReMix. The Michigan eLibrary (http://www.mel.org/) is Michigan’s 24-hour anytime, anywhere library — with its newly integrated content and services, smoother navigation and enhanced content. MeL Coordinator Sue Davidsen and I spent a fabulous but breathless hour fielding one-on-one online chat questions and comments from librarians, the public, and the media. The interest in the launch of the remixed resource and all that it has to offer for Michigan’s libraries and residents is exciting and gratifying.” Read the rest of Nancy’s post here.
Yesterday’s MeL ReMix launch was an exciting day for us here at MLC as well. In addition to our big MeL ReMix “afterglow” party in Second Life, MLC staff Kelly Bayee and Mark Szidik did behind-the-scenes troubleshooting to ensure that links worked and the DNS switch went smoothly. Thanks Mark and Kelly! And thanks, too, to Evette Atkin for hosting the Second Life party!
Now that Day 1 of the new MeL is behind us, MLC MeL staff are working on integrating the new look into our MeL Support and Training materials. MeL Database training is offered free of charge to Michigan libraries. Please contact Suzanne Robinson (robinson@mlcnet.org or 800-530-9019 x134) to schedule hands-on training at a location near you.
February 21st, 2007
Here are some photos from MLC’s MeL Remix “afterglow” party in Second Life.
MLC dance floor designed by Evette. Dance moves were “supplied,” so everyone danced like a star!
View of MLC’s flag. Our fearless leader wasn’t able to attend, but he was there in spirit!
Food, hot tub, and dance floor on the rooftop.
This will be our last event in this MLC building. Next week, we’re moving to a bigger building on Cybrary Island II. We’ll have a Grand Opening party in our new building soon.
February 20th, 2007
The Cat in the Hat is turning 50 in 2007, and you can send the Cat an online birthday card. For every birthday card sent, Random House will donate a book to First Book.
The fifty states, Canada, and Washington, D.C. are ranked by the number of cards sent. Currently, Michigan is in 50th place. Eek! Michigan can do better than that! Please boost Michigan’s rating by sending the Cat a card today (and be sure to set your state as “Michigan†before you send!).
http://www.seussville.com/CITH_50th/
February 20th, 2007
The comments from the MeL Remix Chat Live have been posted. Click here to read the comments.
Thank you all who came to our “afterglow” party in Second Life to celebrate the launch of MeL’s new look. It was great to see so many people there! We’ll post photos later on our blog.
February 20th, 2007
Some of you have been online this morning chatting live with State Librarian, Nancy Robertson, about the launch of the new MeL. Several people have asked to be able to see the comments. The Library of Michigan will post the comments tomorrow, and we’ll link to the comments from this blog.
February 20th, 2007
The AccessMeL Periodical List-Full Text (AMPL-FT), brought to you by the Oakland Schools Information Center, has been updated to reflect the changes to the Michigan eLibrary databases.
The AccessMeL Periodical List-Full Text (AMPL-FT) was created in order to provide a single alphabetical listing of periodicals and newspapers that contain full text articles from Michigan eLibrary databases.
Please note the disclaimers listed below.
*SIRS Discoverer is not included in this list due to lack of available data. Articles are chosen on the basis of educational content and readability.
*Periodicals from content area databases (i.e. InfoTrac Web Health Reference Center Academic) contain the full text of only those articles relevant to the topic of the database.
*This site is updated annually.
To access this list go to Information Center Online Resources.
http://www.oakland.k12.mi.us/Default.aspx?tabid=406
Or go to http://www.oakland.k12.mi.us
Under Educators click on Information Center/Library.
Be sure to bookmark this page.
Click here to link directly to the list.
For questions regarding AMPL-FT please contact Evelyn Freeman at Evelyn.Freeman@oakland.k12.mi.us or 248.209.2324
Evelyn W. Freeman, AMLS
Information Media Consultant
Oakland Schools
Information Center
2111 Pontiac Lake Road
Waterford, Michigan 48328
Phone: 248.209.2324
Fax: 248.209.2538
February 19th, 2007
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