On Libraries and New Media, powered by Library Journal and School Library Journal
Whether Chromebooks will catch on in libraries remains to be seen, but Google Apps, the free-to-use cloud-based suite of office tools at the heart of the Chromebook, has been making inroads in libraries for years, due in part to its relatively low cost compared to Microsoft Office.
The letter welcomes a draft bill called the OPEN Act, touted as a potential alternative to the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).
Library automation company SirsiDynix yesterday announced the release of the latest version (3.4.1) of its flagship Symphony integrated library system (ILS), notably adding the ability for libraries to send SMS text messages.
Mosio, makers of the Text a Librarian mobile reference service, recently announced the launch of Mobile PRM, a set of new features which let libraries send out text-message alerts and announcements to subscriber lists or individual patrons who have opted in.
Indiana University Libraries, Bloomington, in partnership with Northwestern University Library, Evanston, IL, aims to assist academic libraries and archives in managing locally-generated video and audio collections with an open source software project called Variations on Video.
LJ’s Virtual Tech Summit on December 8 brought together sharp minds from across the country, addressing a range of cutting-edge technologies in the library world.
Library automation company SirsiDynix unveiled the newest version of its BookMyne mobile app (3.0) yesterday, adding Android device support. The company also announced BookMyne+, a version of the app that can be customized for a fee.
Research Libraries UK (RLUK), which represents 30 research libraries in the UK and Ireland, announced on December 1 that JISC Collections had “secured better terms and conditions” for the UK higher-ed market as part of negotiated deals with the two largest academic journal publishers in the UK, Elsevier and Wiley-Blackwell. In a separate announcement on November 29, the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and LYRASIS announced that they have signed an agreement designating LYRASIS, the largest U.S. regional nonprofit library membership organization, as a negotiating agent for online content on behalf of interested ARL members.
WorldShare Platform is a new technical infrastructure to help libraries collaborate in the creation and sharing of new web applications.
