Big news broke in the tech world last week when 30 Boxes announced a partnership with PBWiki. As a part of their new point-and-click editor, PBWiki now enables people to insert a 30 Boxes calendar into their wikis. This will enable groups to share scheduling information while collaborating on their wiki projects. User can also insert photo slideshows, YouTube videos, any Google gadget, and even a chat room! If you are interested in reading more, you can check out my blog entry 30 Boxes, PBWiki, and Airset.

Just a reminder that beginning Monday, December 4 through December 22, Library Information Office staff will not be issuing reader cards to persons with a Metro Card referral or to students, faculty and staff of universities that are not part of OCLC Shares (formerly RLG Shares) consortium.

Access to the Law Library will be restricted now through December 20.

(from an email from Bill Sees)

There’s an interesting commentary on the need for space on campus to be preserved as a”A Place to Read” at insidehighered.com today.

From Ree’s Email:
This semester we have made special arrangements to reserve one or two of the group study rooms. Signs are posted on the doors to the specific rooms indicating dates/times so anyone going in or out will see this information. One or two of these arrangements end after Oct and then go back to normal.

Although our basic policy is that Butler group study rooms are “first come, first served” from time-to-time exceptions may be made like these special “reservations.” (There would always be a sign posted with some type of “library identification” on it so anyone going to the room will be aware.) Now that it’s getting to be midterms and perhaps more crowded, I’m reminded to let you all know just in case students or others ask.

If a group of students would like to check on reserving a room, they can send an email explaining their need and times to the alias butler@libraries.cul.columbia.edu.

From Nancy’s email of 22 Sept.:

“I am managing a pilot project this semester and next which involves digitizing films for courses. Several classes will have access to digital versions of films that are required viewing for their courses.

The films are linked from the course reserves listings along with instructions outlining system and software requirements.

If students come to the desk or IM or call or email regarding problems with access, please direct them to email support@cdigix.com.

If they have difficulties configuring their computers, direct them toCUIT Help Desk.

And, for assessment purposes, I would appreciate hearing about any questions that are directed to reference.”

From the ASIST siguse-l

Why Study Users? An Environmental Scan of Use and Users of Digital Resources in Humanities and Social Sciences Undergraduate Education. Diane Harley, Jonathan Henke, Shannon Lawrence. CSHE.15.06. (September 2006)

which reports on CSHE work on digital resources supporting undergraduate humanities and social science education; I have posted information on earlier reports from this project here before. The overall project is
described at http://cshe.berkeley.edu/research/digitalresourcestudy/index.htm

Searchable Database: China Vitae: Bios About Chinese Leaders, Tracking Service of Appearances by Government Officials

September 5, 2006 at 12:58 am · Filed under Databases, China

China Vitae
We just learned about this resource (not a lot of time to go in-depth) but wanted to pass it along asap since access to this info can often be a challenge in some situations. As is the case with any database or reference source, it’s important to judge the quality and accuracy for yourself. Caveats and analysis of the source/publisher/scope/currency/accuracy (China or not) are the case with ANY research tool. We did notice that an entry and full description of China Vitae is included in the Art & Humanities section of the wonderful UK based non-commercial directory (built by info professionals), Intute.

Fast Facts About China Vitae

China Vitae is a resource of information for more than 3000 Chinese leaders in government, politics, the military, economics and business, and the media.

+ Searchable

+ Advanced Search Interface

+ Vitaes often contain photo of person along with brief bio and hyperlinked career info. Cross-referencing throughout.

+ Tracking service: VIP Appearances.

Tracks the public appearances of several hundred [about 200] senior Chinese officials, allowing its users to follow the daily activities of those officials whose lives and views influence Chinese policies.

Browse database by:
• By Date
• By Official
• By Location of Activity
• By Topic

+ Published in Hong Kong

Drawing on official Chinese sources, Wen Wei Publishing Co. Ltd. Hong Kong provides the basic biographical information used in China Vitae. Wen Wei Publishing Co. Ltd. Hong Kong holds the copyright on this information. China Vitae formats and edits the information, creates the underlying database and holds the copyright on all China Vitae web pages.

From the ResourceShelf

See Jane Weintrop’s post on the SSL blog.

Ask.com will allow you to search for emoticons & other IM shorthand.

From Inside Higher Ed