Comments on: LITA Program - The Ultimate Debate: Who Controls the Future of Search? http://litablog.org/2006/06/20/lita-program-the-ultimate-debate-who-controls-the-future-of-search/ Library and Information Technology Association Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:43:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: K.G. Schneider http://litablog.org/2006/06/20/lita-program-the-ultimate-debate-who-controls-the-future-of-search/comment-page-1/#comment-16018 K.G. Schneider Wed, 28 Jun 2006 21:49:10 +0000 http://litablog.org/2006/06/20/lita-program-the-ultimate-debate-who-controls-the-future-of-search/#comment-16018 I'll submit that "the future of search" is way sexier and more visible than "DRM in institutional repositories." More important? probably not. I'm just intrigued and frustrated by what feels to me like the overwhelming dominance of men in hot topics. I'm not pointing fingers--the comment that women did the selection for this panel presumes a statement I didn't make--but I'm observing. I’ll submit that “the future of search” is way sexier and more visible than “DRM in institutional repositories.” More important? probably not. I’m just intrigued and frustrated by what feels to me like the overwhelming dominance of men in hot topics. I’m not pointing fingers–the comment that women did the selection for this panel presumes a statement I didn’t make–but I’m observing.

]]> By: Brian E. Surratt http://litablog.org/2006/06/20/lita-program-the-ultimate-debate-who-controls-the-future-of-search/comment-page-1/#comment-15749 Brian E. Surratt Sat, 24 Jun 2006 15:39:32 +0000 http://litablog.org/2006/06/20/lita-program-the-ultimate-debate-who-controls-the-future-of-search/#comment-15749 It is clear that academic librarians are being disintermediated with respect to digital information. We don't own most of our digital collections, we license them and connect to them. (If we keep this up, academic libraries will be reduced to an accountant and a proxy server.) Other trends, such as open access publishing, have a similar effect. Since, say, DLib or PLOS:Biology are freely available on the web, anyone can access them without using the library as an intermediary. I am afraid that academic libraries may become "book museums," primarily serving as stewards of physical items without being engaged in contemporary scholarly communication. I think libraries could play a role if, as a profession, we adapt. Why should we engage at all, why not just let time pass us by? Because we have a set of values that serve an important role in society and we can express those values if we change. What we have to do is find a way to participate in the creation of high quality online content. Basically, we have to be publishers: build IRs, digitize special collections, and provide publishing services for serials, ebooks, and new forms of content. Lastly, in reponse to Karen's question above, my IG (Networked Resources and Metada) is sponsoring a program here in New Orleans on digital rights management in institutional repositories that features three excellent women speakers: Denise Troll Covey (former DLF Fellow), Carol Hixson, and Karen Coyle. (We have some dudes too.) Check us out. It is clear that academic librarians are being disintermediated with respect to digital information. We don’t own most of our digital collections, we license them and connect to them. (If we keep this up, academic libraries will be reduced to an accountant and a proxy server.) Other trends, such as open access publishing, have a similar effect. Since, say, DLib or PLOS:Biology are freely available on the web, anyone can access them without using the library as an intermediary. I am afraid that academic libraries may become “book museums,” primarily serving as stewards of physical items without being engaged in contemporary scholarly communication.

I think libraries could play a role if, as a profession, we adapt. Why should we engage at all, why not just let time pass us by? Because we have a set of values that serve an important role in society and we can express those values if we change. What we have to do is find a way to participate in the creation of high quality online content. Basically, we have to be publishers: build IRs, digitize special collections, and provide publishing services for serials, ebooks, and new forms of content.

Lastly, in reponse to Karen’s question above, my IG (Networked Resources and Metada) is sponsoring a program here in New Orleans on digital rights management in institutional repositories that features three excellent women speakers: Denise Troll Covey (former DLF Fellow), Carol Hixson, and Karen Coyle. (We have some dudes too.) Check us out.

]]> By: Roy Tennant http://litablog.org/2006/06/20/lita-program-the-ultimate-debate-who-controls-the-future-of-search/comment-page-1/#comment-15748 Roy Tennant Sat, 24 Jun 2006 15:25:50 +0000 http://litablog.org/2006/06/20/lita-program-the-ultimate-debate-who-controls-the-future-of-search/#comment-15748 Well, Karen, you are eminently qualified to participate, and I can only say that you should speak to the people who organized it. We three men were asked by the organizers to participate and could only say yes or no. The session was organized by women (at least those I corresponded with), so I doubt they meant anything by the gender imbalance. Well, Karen, you are eminently qualified to participate, and I can only say that you should speak to the people who organized it. We three men were asked by the organizers to participate and could only say yes or no. The session was organized by women (at least those I corresponded with), so I doubt they meant anything by the gender imbalance.

]]> By: K.G. Schneider http://litablog.org/2006/06/20/lita-program-the-ultimate-debate-who-controls-the-future-of-search/comment-page-1/#comment-15712 K.G. Schneider Sat, 24 Jun 2006 03:59:13 +0000 http://litablog.org/2006/06/20/lita-program-the-ultimate-debate-who-controls-the-future-of-search/#comment-15712 Was that the qualification? Just clarifying so I can answer correctly. Was that the qualification? Just clarifying so I can answer correctly.

]]> By: Jeffrey Beall http://litablog.org/2006/06/20/lita-program-the-ultimate-debate-who-controls-the-future-of-search/comment-page-1/#comment-15481 Jeffrey Beall Wed, 21 Jun 2006 14:09:21 +0000 http://litablog.org/2006/06/20/lita-program-the-ultimate-debate-who-controls-the-future-of-search/#comment-15481 Karen: Can you give an example of any who have published on this topic? --Jeffrey Karen: Can you give an example of any who have published on this topic? –Jeffrey

]]> By: K.G. Schneider http://litablog.org/2006/06/20/lita-program-the-ultimate-debate-who-controls-the-future-of-search/comment-page-1/#comment-15397 K.G. Schneider Tue, 20 Jun 2006 15:38:36 +0000 http://litablog.org/2006/06/20/lita-program-the-ultimate-debate-who-controls-the-future-of-search/#comment-15397 Much as I'm impressed by the credentials of these guys, were there no women qualified to participate in this discussion? Much as I’m impressed by the credentials of these guys, were there no women qualified to participate in this discussion?

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