California State Library Blog

Pew Internet: The Tone of Life on Social Networking Sites

2012-02-11T01:42:00Z

The overall social and emotional climate of social networking sites (SNS) is a very positive one where adult users get personal rewards and satisfactions at far higher levels than they encounter anti-social people or have ill consequences from their encounters. A nationally representative phone survey of American adults finds that:

85% of SNS-using adults say that their experience on the sites is that people are mostly kind.

68% of SNS users said they had an experience that made them feel good about themselves.

61% had experiences that made them feel closer to another person.

To read the full report, go to

http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Social-networking-climate.aspx

Penguin Group Terminates Its Contract With OverDrive

2012-02-11T01:36:00Z

In a stunning development, Penguin Group has extricated itself from its contract with OverDrive, the primary supplier of ebooks to public libraries.

Starting February 10, Penguin, which had recently instituted limitations on library lending for ebooks and audiobooks, will now no longer offer any ebooks or audiobooks through OverDrive.

“Looking ahead, we are continuing to talk about our future plans for ebook and digital audiobook availability for library lending with a number of partners providing these services,” said Erica Glass, in a prepared statement.

For more, go to
http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/02/ebooks/penguin-group-terminating-its-contract-with-overdrive/

Famous Literary Characters Seen Through Composite Sketch Software

2012-02-11T01:30:00Z

Ever been reading a novel and wonder what a character looked like?

Check out these images created using law enforcement composite sketch software:

http://thecomposites.tumblr.com/

California Digital Library Partners with Public Knowledge Project on Open Access Software Development

2012-02-11T01:18:00Z

The California Digital Library (CDL) on February 7 announced a “major development partnership,” on behalf of the University of California system, with the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) to help develop its open-source software suite aimed at easing open-access journal publication.

CDL joins the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver; the Simon Fraser University Library, BC; the Canadian Centre for Studies in Publishing at Simon Fraser University; and the Stanford University School of Education, CA, in the PKP partnership, which has a mission to explore “whether and how new technologies can be used to improve the professional and public value of scholarly research.”

For more, go to
http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/02/digital-libraries/california-digital-library-partners-with-public-knowledge-project-on-open-access-software-development/

Amazon in the Process of Launching a Retail Book Store

2012-02-11T01:13:00Z

Amazon sources say that the company is planning on rolling out a retail store in Seattle within the next few months. This project is a test to gauge the market and see if a chain of stores would be profitable. They intend on going with the small boutique route with the main emphasis on books from their growing line of Amazon Exclusives and selling their e-readers and tablets.

For more, go to
http://goodereader.com/blog/electronic-readers/amazon-in-the-process-of-launching-a-retail-store/

Amazon Kindle Lending Library Now Has Over 100,000 Ebooks

2012-02-11T01:06:00Z

It took Amazon 96 days to grow the list of ebooks in the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library to include over 100,000 titles. As of this writing, there are now 100,002 ebook titles in the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library.

When they started the program way back when on November 3, 2011, there were just a little over 5,000 ebooks in it. So they have added almost 1,000 titles per day. That is absolutely amazing.

By comparison, here are the number of ebook titles at some popular public libraries. The New York Public Library has 23,767 ebooks titles. The Los Angeles Public Library has 11,869 ebooks available through OverDrive in Kindle format. The Boston Public Library has 8,104 ebook titles. The Seattle Public Library (close to Amazon headquarters) has 34,463 ebook titles available.

For more, go to
http://www.publiclibraries.com/blog/amazon-kindle-owners-lending-library-now-has-over-100000-ebooks/

Sacramento Librarian Wins 2011 "I Love My Librarian" Award

2012-02-11T01:02:00Z

Congratulations to Dr. Rhonda Allison Rios-Kravitz, Dean of the Learning Resources Division, Sacramento City College, for being one of 10 winners of the 2011 "I Love My Librarian" award.

Dr. Rios-Kravitz nomination is at:
http://atyourlibrary.org/sites/default/files/kravitz.pdf

All award winners are at
http://www.ilovelibraries.org/lovemylibrarian/2011/11winners

Putting Your Amazon Kindle Fire to Work

2012-02-11T00:57:00Z

Amazon hit a home run with the Kindle Fire. It has the combined benefits of being a product of Amazon, being a Kindle, and being an Android-ish tablet. Amazon has positioned the device as a consumer-oriented gadget – a sort of gateway to all things Amazon. But, its Android roots also give it the functionality and flexibility to get some real work done as well.

The line between business and consumer technology is a bit blurry these days. You can play Angry Birds, or post to Facebook from a business-class desktop PC, and you can create a business presentation, check your email, or review a draft of a white paper on your tablet. Where exactly is the line that determines which side of the consumer / business fence a device sits on?

For more, go to
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/249268/putting_your_amazon_kindle_fire_to_work.html

Smartphone Sales Boom -- Who Needs a Laptop?

2012-02-11T00:51:00Z

Will your next laptop be a smartphone? The idea isn't as crazy as it sounds. In the coming decade, mobile phones will gain capabilities that make them suitable replacements for the conventional desktop/laptop computer.

Phones are already more popular than PCs. New research by Canalys shows that 2011 global smartphone shipments topped those of client PCs -- including desktops, laptops, netbooks, and tablets -- for the first time.

For more, go to
http://www.pcworld.com/article/249313/smartphone_sales_boom_who_needs_a_laptop.html

Library of California Board Agenda Packet - February 16, 2012

2012-02-11T00:46:00Z

Below is a link to the documents to be discussed at the Library of California Board meeting in Sacramento on February 16, 2012.

http://www.library.ca.gov/loc/board/agendas/2012FebDocs/LibraryofCaliforniaBoardMeetingFebruary16-2012.pdf

For questions regarding the packet, contact Sandy Habbestad, 916-653-7532 or shabbestad@library.ca.gov .

Will Sacramento Flood? A Night at the California State Library - February 15, 2012

2012-02-10T23:37:00Z

DATE: Wednesday, February 15, 2012

TIME: 5:00 p.m. doors open

6:00 p.m. presentation begins

PLACE: The California State Library
900 N Street, Sacramento

R.S.V.P. to Rebecca Ann Fontaine @
rfontaine@library.ca.gov or
916.653.9942

PROGRAM
A Night at the California State Library presents retired attorney George Basye speaking on “Sacramento River’s ‘renegade’ flood control system and why we are lucky to have it.” Mr. Basye practiced law with the firm of Downey Brand in Sacramento for 50 years. Most of his time was spent on water and flood control issues involving the Sacramento River and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Mr. Basye has written a book, recently published by the California State Library Foundation in a second edition, about the history of Reclamation District 108, formed in 1870. The District quickly emerged as a leader in resolving the complex issue of water rights and the development of the unique Sacramento River flood control system. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signature that evening for $15.00 including tax.

A Night at the California State Library, formerly Food For Thought: Thinking and Talking at the California State Library, was voted "Best Way to Expand Your Mind," by Sacramento Magazine 2011.

REFRESHMENTS
Light refreshments generously sponsored by the California State Library Foundation.

Or, go to http://www.library.ca.gov/pressreleases/pr_120210.html

Studies in the News - February 8, 2012

2012-02-08T22:52:00Z

The California Research Bureau of the California State Library released a new issue of "Studies in the News" at

http://www.library.ca.gov/sitn/crb/docs/20120208.pdf

For back issues and ways to obtain publications mentioned, go to

http://www.library.ca.gov/sitn/crb/

REMI Webinar: Measuring the Economic Impact of Tourism

2012-02-08T22:33:00Z

You are invited to a REMI (Regional Economic Models, Inc.) webinar on the economic impact of tourism. Senior Economic Associate, Rod Motamedi, will discuss the methodology behind REMI’s modeling the impact of tourism on the economy.

The free presentation will be approximately one hour, accessible via WebEx Internet Conferencing. If you would like to be included, please register in advance for Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific time at http://tinyurl.com/88j9shj or Thursday, February 16th, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific time at http://tinyurl.com/73lynba. You can also register by contacting REMI at (413) 549-1169.

For additional information regarding CRB services contact CRB Acting Director, Brian R. Sala Ph.D., at (916) 651-8793.

Library of California Board Agenda

2012-02-07T00:56:00Z

The Library of California Board agenda for the February 16, 2012 meeting has been posted at

http://www.library.ca.gov/loc/board/agendas/2012FebDocs/LoC_Agenda022012.pdf

The materials for Board discussion will be posted at the end of the week. For questions, contact Sandy Habbestad, shabbestad@library.ca.gov or call 916-653-7532.

Public Alerts Now on Google Maps

2012-02-06T19:38:00Z

Google Public Alerts is a platform designed to bring you relevant emergency alerts when and where you’re searching for them. Relevant weather, public safety, and earthquake alerts from US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service, and the US Geological Survey (USGS) will be accessible when you search on Google Maps.

For more, go to
http://blog.google.org/2012/01/public-alerts-now-on-google-maps.html