RSS Reader Alternatives for Library Students

I think most people are starting to allow the weeping to cease. For days now people have been in a ruckus about the closing of Google Reader.

Google Reader allows you to subscribe to an RSS feed so that you could have the web site or blog delivered to the reader instead of you remembering to go to the site. It is one of the ways people keep up with a specific block of interest. There are users that have thousands of links to web sites in their readers.

I will tell you as an information junkie this hit hard. Yes, I have bookmarks but using Google Reader helps me to to stay on top of the sites that I need to visit on a daily or weekly basis. I keep my RSS subscriptions private. I love sharing a good link on Twitter but you don't need to know every web site and blog I visit. I have this thing about privacy. I'm in favor of it.

Mind you, I'm not ashamed of my links. You should visit Too Busy Thinking About Comics but there are some places that you might not want a potential future employer to know that.

Wait, this is a library blog and if your future library doesn't understand about comic books and graphic novels then you don't necessarily want to work for them anyway.

I digress.

When news broke of Google's decision to close the site July 1, 2013 there was much grieving and gnashing of the teeth.  Out of misery comes opportunity. There are replacement RSS readers ready to welcome you but first you gotta get your feeds out of Google Reader.




Nick Barber from IDG Network News and Tech Tips has a video on how to extract your feeds from Google Reader.

After you get them extracted then what?

Well, you have options. But before you begin you will need to do some research. Many of the RSS readers use Google Reader as a back end synchronization support. Without Google Reader the software either has to create a new back end of support or it ain't gonna work after July 1st.

You will need to make sure there is independent support for your feeds.

Clouds, Web and Social Media Based Readers

There is something to be said for web based RSS readers. You can use them with smartphone and tablets, you have universal access no matter where you go and for those that are truly social media beings of habit you can share them with your connections.

Feedly works with both Firefox and Chrome browsers. When it senses that a web page or blog has a feed link it will allow you to add that page as a feed. Feedly then displays the pages in a visual magazine like format. Feedly is also available for Android and iOS devices.  Feedly has a number of sharing options with all of the major social media outlets.

Flipboard is very popular and allows you to connect and share your finds and subscription with your social networks.

Pulse is another visual reader that works on the desktop, Apple iOS and Andriod platforms. In addition to added RSS feeds you can pull content from their catalog. You also can sync your feeds across other devices.

Desktop RSS Readers

I have been testing out Feedreader. So far so good. It is easy to add the subscription feed links. I like that I can quickly spot what is incoming. I like that I can type in a search term to see if it pops up in any of my feeds.  I can minimize it and have pop-up show me incoming or shut it down when I need to get work done. There is a version for on-line use as well.

RSSOwl is a Java based reader. Java is a programing language that may or may not be installed on your system. It has an e-mail like interface that you might like.

The e-mail client Thunderbird has a very good RSS reader function. I know because I also use that as an additional reader software. For RSS only I don't think it would be worth it to install but should you happen to need an alternative e-mail program and RSS reader this is a keeper.

Other reader choices are:

• Newsblur
• ReaderApp (Apple iOS)
• RSS Checker for Opera browsers
• The Old Reader
• Tiny Tiny RSS

Please remember to check if the RSS software or App uses Google Reader as a back end synchronize.

Which is why I can't recommend FeedDemon because it is shutting down. It will work after July 1 if you disable the Google synchronization but it will no longer be supported.

RDA Templates Demo Video - Library of Congress

The cataloging process is evolving. Once upon a time I spent my evenings trying to get a grip on MARC, Dewey and AACR2. To stay in the game you have to be willing to keep up to date with the changes in the field.

Resource Description and Access (RDA) is the next level of library cataloging. This is a video by the Library of Congress by Cataloging educator Deborah Fritz and library software developer Richard Fritz.

This is an opportunity to take a look at a prototype of RDA and to get a sense of where cataloging is going. 



For a transcript of this presentation or to view it in Real Media format, you can visit the Library of Congress RDA Templates web page.

If you would like to get your hands of the software mentioned in the video you can visit the RIMMF wiki and download the software. The software is under a Creative Commons license and is free to use for educational and non-commercial purposes only.

Quick Look At the Helioid Search Engine

I have friends and relations that kinda sorta know how to use Google. They don't know about Bing, Ask.com or the other search engines that are available. Then again, a lot of folks believe that Facebook is a search engine.

I am restricting how many semantic wars I can handle in a day.

You, on the other hand, should know about the diversity of options you have when it comes to web search engines. This is a new one called Helioid.


The above screen capture is from the Quick Help at the web site. Basically you can type in your search term/keyword and not only do you get a list of viable links you get a side category of topics that are color coded to your search results.

I did a test search using SuDocs (The Superintendent of Documents classification system) These are the topics area that were visible on the left side of the screen:

• Libraries
• Department
• 2011
• Document Classification
• Publications
• Documents SuDocs Classifications
• SuDocs Classification System
• SuDocs Classification
• Number
• SuDocs

Not perfect but not too bad for a general purpose search engine. 2011 refers to SuDoc links that have a 2011 date of publication. Number refers to the word "number" in relation to the word "SuDocs."

Now if I want to see only the SuDocs Classification System items I click on the yellow circle and I only see the four links that match.

I like that.

Helioid is new so there are thing that are missing like being about to type in a search date range or selecting .edu or other specific domains. That will come in time.

So I encourage you to check it out and offer feedback to the Developers.

Infopeople's online course "Basic Cataloging andClassification"

Please note: Infopeople is applying for LSSC (Library Support Staff Certification) certification for this course.

Title: Basic Cataloging and Classification

Format: Online Dates: October 12 – November 8, 2010

To register for this workshop: Use the online registration form at
http://infopeople.org/workshop/461

Fee: $75 for those in the California library community and Infopeople Partners, $150 for all others.

Are you looking for an opportunity to learn basic library cataloging and classification? Update your knowledge with new developments in the field? If so, this online course is for you.

Through practical information and hands-on exercises, you will gain an understanding of cataloging practices, rules, and tools, as well as the nuts and bolts of copy cataloging. New developments―such as Resource Description and Access (RDA), the Library of Congress genre/form headings project, and Book Industry Standards and Communications (BISAC) subject headings―will be discussed as well. Tips on copy cataloging of newly emerging formats, such as e-books, graphic novels, and download media will be offered.

At the end of four weeks you will feel comfortable with the basics of cataloging, classification, and MARC records and be ready to begin copy cataloging items in a variety of formats.

Course Description: This four-week online course will provide an overview of library cataloging and classification and prepare you to do copy cataloging. Through reading materials, short video presentations, an online forum, and individual exercises, you will gain knowledge of basic cataloging rules and tools, commonly used controlled vocabularies, the Dewey Decimal Classification system, and MARC21 format. Applying this knowledge, you will be able to decode MARC bibliographic records and perform basic copy cataloging. The course will briefly discuss some new developments in cataloging rules and practices.

During the course, you will be doing assignments and taking quizzes. You will also participate in discussion forums and online meetings as part of the online learning process.

Preliminary Course Outline: Using your web browser and your Internet connection, you will log in to the Infopeople online learning site and complete the following learning modules:

· Week 1: What Is Cataloging?
Purpose of cataloging
Elements of cataloging: descriptive cataloging, subject cataloging, and classification
General cataloging methods and cooperative cataloging
Introduction to AACR2r and ISBD
Introduction to RDA
· Week 2: Introduction to Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) and Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)
What is LCSH?
Other controlled vocabularies – Sears, LC Genre/Form Headings, LC Children's Subject Headings, Book Industry Standards and Communications (BISAC) Subject Headings
What is DDC?
Relationship between the subject heading and a Dewey number
Verifying a DDC number for the item in hand
· Week 3: MARC Formats
What is MARC?
Elements of MARC records
Types of MARC bibliographic formats
Summary of commonly used MARC fields for bibliographic data
· Week 4: Basic Copy Cataloging
Tasks of copy cataloging
Which cataloging record to use?
Essential MARC fields to verify
Tips on copy cataloging e-books, graphic novels, and download media

Instructor: Xiaoli Li. Having worked in both public and academic libraries, Xiaoli Li has a wide range of experience with cataloging. She is an active advocate for continuing education and a trainer for "Cataloging for the 21st Century," a Library of Congress initiative. She has made numerous presentations and authored several journal articles on serials control. She chaired OCLC Post Pinyin Conversion Cleanup Project and planed several major projects for the libraries where she has worked, including Yale University Libraries, University of Washington Libraries, and most currently UC Davis.

Time required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 2 to 2½ hours per week, with options for further study and application. You can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night. However, it is recommended that you complete each week's assignments within that week to stay in sync with other learners.

Who Should Take This Course: Anyone from the library community with an interest in learning the basics of library cataloging and classification. This course is particularly focused on the needs of public library staff newly assigned to copy cataloging tasks. Those taking the course must have a working knowledge of the integrated library system (ILS) used in their libraries. The instructor will provide more extensive work with the Dewey Decimal Classification system than with alternatives, but Library of Congress and other classification systems currently in use will be discussed as well.

Online Learning Details and System Requirements may be found athttp://www.infopeople.org/training/learning_details.html.

After the official end date for the course, the instructor will be available for limited consultation and support for two more weeks, and the course material will stay up for an additional two weeks after that. These extra weeks give those who have fallen behind time to work independently to complete the course.

If you would like to subscribe via RSS and be notified whenever new Infopeople training events are available, you can use these links:
**For new on-ground or online workshops: http://infopeople.org/workshop/rss
**For new podcasts: http://feeds.feedburner.com/InfopeoplePodcasts

Other Logistics:

To view a complete list of Infopeople workshops and for general information about Infopeople Training opportunities, go to the main Infopeople Workshops page at http://infopeople.org/workshop

If you have questions about registration, please contact Linda Rodenspiel, the Infopeople Project Assistant, at assist@infopeople.org or by phone at 650-578-9685.

More Library Whimsy - Librarians Do Gaga

Catalogers have got the beat. Yes, Lady Gaga influence has hit the reference zone. This is a bit of fun from the University of Washington's Information School.



Sarah Watcher has got the skivvy on how the video came together. You can also get the lyrics to the song on her blog. Sarah will be getting her masters in library and information science in June of 2010.

Library of Congress to preserve Twitter posts

Library of Congress to preserve Twitter posts
(AP) – Apr 14, 2010
SAN FRANCISCO — That Twitter message you just posted about your ham sandwich might now become part of history.
Twitter is donating its archives of tweets to the Library of Congress, going back to the first one posted by co-founder Jack Dorsey on March 21, 2006. It wasn't a profound moment, and Dorsey didn't come close to Twitter's 140-character limit for messages. He simply posted "Jack," according to the Library of Congress' archives.
Twitter and the Library of Congress announced their partnership Wednesday.
The Library of Congress wants to store tweets to give researchers a better way to revisit discussions of significant events, including the tweets that occurred after President Obama's election in 2008, during the protests in Iran last year and the earthquakes in Haiti and elsewhere this year.
Only tweets meant for public viewing will be available, though. Accounts with more restrictive privacy settings won't be included.
There's also another limitation: Twitter said the Library of Congress won't be able to offer access to specific tweets until six months after they're posted. That means the Library of Congress' archive will always been missing billions of tweets, based on the 55 million daily tweets that Twitter says it's now processing.
In a separate deal announced Wednesday, Internet search leader Google also began to draw upon tweeting history with a new tool that will allow people to sift through Twitter messages about specific topics by day, month or year. Only tweets going back to Feb. 11 of this year will be available initially, but Google eventually expects to gain access to all the messages dating back to Twitter's birth.
Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

English Short Title Catalogue at the British Library

At this section of the British Library website you can locate titles for books published between 1473 and 1800. If the material was published in the UK or its possessions, Colonial America or any place else on the planet, and it was printed in English, it very well might be listed in this database.

Now short title does not refer to the length of the actual name of the book. As you can see from the example below, titles could be quiet descriptive:


My understanding is that it refers to limited or special publications produced quickly. I'm thinking like pamphlets, broadsheets and the early equivalents of instant publishing.

As you can see, you can view the records in a variety of formats such as a three line summary listing, full MARC tags, or which institution has the actual document.

This is a good resource if you are researching ephemeral publications that give a sense of time and place.

It is also valuable if you want to brush up on your MARC skills if it has been long time since you have sweated a MARC code. Check it out.

Volunteer Opportunities at Pasadena (CA) Central Library

The main branch needs volunteer assistance with the Pasadena Community Calendar and the online database AccessPasadena.net

What is involved:

• Data entry,
  
• Online research and verification,
• Customer service.

Provides an opportunity to gain inside knowledge of the various facets of public libraries.

Required skills:

• Effective computer skills: software, browser and typing;
• Effective communication skills: telephone and e-mail.
  

Recommended preparation

• Completion of: LIB 1, 10A, Bit25/CIS 1, LIB 102 (Reference) and LIB 105A (Cataloging)
  

Requirements:

• 5 hours per week, Monday- Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm. Flexible schedule.
  
• Minimum commitment of 4 months.

To apply, contact:

Aracely Sustaita
Technology & Information Systems
Pasadena Public Library / Glendale Public Library
626.744.4254 - phone
626.449.2165 - fax

Uncontrolled Vocabulary Library Podcasts

Uncontrolled Vocabulary is a library podcast by and for librarians and the people that hope to work for them.


The podcast covers a wide range of topics such as:

• Episode #62 Library students bill of rights that was generated by a Tame The Web guest post by Char Booth,
• Episode #63 What Happening to Library Blogs in reference to Pegasus Library's concern that folks are burning out or Tweet happy,
• Episode #66 On how a parent was concerned when he noticed that the new public school plans being did not include space for an actual school library.

There is plenty in the archives to feast on and you can listen on-line or download the program into your media players that accept the .mp3 format.

Employment Bonaza - Check Out These LT Jobs

Let's get right to it starting with California Institute of Technology (CalTech). There are two positions: LIBRARY CLERK and PROJECT ARCHIVIST

Library Clerk - CIT15019MA - CIT15019MA
Requisition Number: CIT15019MA
Job Title: LIBRARY CLERK Department
Name: Library - Circulation Department Job Category/Family: Library
Job Discipline & Career Level: Library Support / Assistant Salary
Grade: 37 Anticipated Hiring Range:$10.00 per hour Date Posted:
10/20/08 Summary Under direct supervision, provide support by performing a variety of general to paraprofessional clerical, technical and customer service duties utilizing automated library systems Institute-wide.

Project Archivist (Temp PT) - Archives - CIT14996LF - CIT14996LF
Requisition Number: CIT14996LF
Job Title: PROJECT ARCHIVIST
Department Name: Archives Job Category/Family: General Administration
Job Discipline & Career Level: Archives Services - IC / Assistant
Salary Grade: 40 Date Posted: 10/20/08 Summary Part-time temporary professional 4-6 month position (20 hours per week) in the Caltech Archives arranging and describing several large complex manuscript collections to the history of genetics. Works under the general supervision of one of the Senior Archivists.

To apply for these positions, please visit:
http://www.recruitingcenter.net/clients/CALTECH/publicjobs

Part-Time Cataloger

Next there is Library Associates Companies (LAC) is seeking a part-time cataloger for a Company located in Pasadena, California that deals with food and nutrition. Projected hours are 8 to 16 hour per week or a day and a half weekly.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Primarily copy cataloging of books, periodicals and media dealing with food, baking, cooking, law, nutrition.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Previous cataloging experience using OCLC, MARC records, AACR2.
• Experience using an Integrated Library System (ILS)
• Catalog training in an accredited Library School or a College offering a Library Technical degree

To APPLY:

Please send resume and cover letter to the attention of Patty De Anda at, jobs@libraryassociates.com. Please use "Cataloger - #1092" as the subject line of your email.

Experienced Cataloger

Also at LAC is seeking an experienced Cataloger for a prestigious Company located in Irvine, California. The position requires the cataloging of a backlog of materials, primarily books.

This is a full-time position until the backlog is complete and the position will then become part-time to keep the collection updated and for the cataloging of new acquisitions.

The items to be cataloged are primarily in one office but additional items will be required for pick-up in a private residence close to the main office. Reimbursement for work-related travel will be provided.

Full-time hours to begin are from 8:30 to 5:30, Monday-Friday.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Cataloging of a variety of books, mainly History, Travel, Ancient Christian Commentaries, Art Books, Religious materials, Map Books, Novels and general Non-Fiction.

REQUIREMENTS:

• MLIS is preferred but a BA degree and extensive cataloging experience will be considered.
• Extensive use and knowledge of cataloging systems, including Dewey Decimal, Library of Congress, AARC2, LC subject headings, MARC records, etc.
• Excellent work habits, reliability and the ability to be self-directed.
• Must be able to drive to nearby residence for pick-up ofmaterials to be cataloged.

TO APPLY:

Email resume as a Word attachment to Joanne Schwarz, jschwarz@libraryassociates.com.
Please use "Cataloger - Private Collection - #1042" as the subject line of your email submission

Library Associates Companies is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that values diversity in the workforce.

University of the West Library Chinese Cataloging Internship

The University of the West Library has an internship opportunity for students who are interested on learning Chinese cataloging. Internships for credit require enrollment in LIB 106 Field Practice and 6 additional units at PCC.

If you are interested please contact:

Ling-Ling Kuo, Librarian, University of the West Library
1409 Walnut Grove Ave, Rosemead, CA
(626) 571-8811 x. 135

More 105 Cataloging Help - Kinda, Sorta

Saturday. Friday is before Saturday and Saturday is the day of the Cataloging Final. To those about to take the test we salute you and are glad we are on the other side of it.

I know I was pitiful. I was mumbling AACR2 left and right. That blankety blank punctuation drove me nuts. I still can see my classmates. Binders full of notes and marked up AACR2. We came prepared but most of us had our doubts of seeing daylight ever again. People shaking their heads in despair, others kept the mantra going, "It is ok, it will be alright."

But I have to tell you, that stuff comes in handy in ways you do not expect. I am very glad that I took the class. But I was sweating bullets each and every week.

The Short Version:

• Review Your Notes, Exam Questions and AACR2
• Tell your loved ones to bug off - this is serious business.
• Get some sleep, eat a great dinner and sleep with your (paper) notebook.
  

Other Resources:

In addition to the other cataloging links that you can find by looking for the word cataloging in the sidebar, I have a few more hopefully helpful study tips.

There is a OSU Power Point presentation that is a review of AACR2 Chapter 12. If you can't view or download PPT's you can look at an HTML generated copy of Chapter 12.

I was thinking that there might be a few resources at Google Books that could be helpful. Like for example the meaning of the word "imprint"? The Dictionary of Library and Information Science might be of interest to you, especially page 351.

This is a partial preview. The whole book is not available. But you might find what you need to help you understand what bibliographic control is which may or may not be on page 69.

I did find some library specific glossaries, AACR2 Definition of Terms, An AACR2 record description list and Abbreviations for Place of Publication

Good luck and deep breaths.

Cataloging SOS - Cataloging Reference Books

AACR2 is many things but easy reading it is not. It is not too late to find more humane help in understanding cataloging and classification.

Libraries Unlimited has a number of books and workbooks on cataloging/classification.

I think this was the one that we flipped through at the California Library Convention in Long Beach.

Closer to home, Cataloging & Classification for Library Technicians is on the third floor of the library - 025.3 K 4, 2001 or if somebody beats you to it you can order at Amazon.com

Descriptive Cataloging, this one will be good for both 105A and 105B You can find it at Amazon.com or Powell's Books

Remember, if you are short on cash don't hesitate to do the WorldCat thing, somebody, somewhere has got these books.

Cataloging SOS - Tag of the Month Club

Yes indeed, it is that time of year when Library 105 students go into a cold sweat. Ten or more weeks of cataloging goodness will do that to you. It is not just learning how to write and understand the concepts of MARC, it is that pesky punctuation that just kills the majority of the class.

I know, one doggone period in the wrong place and boom, there goes your grade. No worries. There is help. Check out Follett Software Company's Tag of the Month.

It goes into a description of what the tag is, the reason for the tag and most important how to punctuate the sucker.

Now if there is a discrepancy between what the Tag of the Month suggests and what Dawn says the punctuation of the tag is don't be a dope, go with Dawn! But at least this will help you to understand the syntax of the tag in question. Don't forget about spacing, that counts too but this will help you remember what goes where and why.

Background Information for Non-Library Folks

For those visiting from other parts of the blogosphere we ask for your sympathy and good wishes for every library cataloging student in the world. There is a whole bunch of technical stuff that happens long before you get your hot little hands on a book or library material.

One of the skills those of us who are interested in library work have to know (or should know) is Machine-Readable Cataloging or MARC. It is a process where the material, let say a book is described by a number of data points such as the name of the author, the type of material, its physical dimensions (if any) the publisher and a bunch of other stuff.

All of this happens in the background so when you step up to the terminal or log on from home you put in what you know about a book and bada-bing, you get results based on your search request.

There is no artificial intelligence at work - this is organic human brain power generated data. Why? Because every book, DVD, CD, Sheet Music, photograph, mp3 file, video or other materials is unique. Way too many variables for a (current) software program to account for automatic entry. The picture above is showing an example of a MARC 300 tag which defines a material by its physical description depending on what kind of object it is. .

Music Cataloging Resources

You walk into a room. There are hundreds of boxes of vinyl recordings before you. You open the first box and see this 45 record:

Penguin Feet & The Teardrop Kid - Larry, Move Your Hand (HDM)

Originally uploaded by me1vinsparks

How do you catalog this record? You've taken the cataloging class but that was primarily for books. The concepts are the same but you want to review the resources for cataloging music.

AACR2 Resources

Training Materials for Music Cataloging. In 1995 Ian Fairclough put together this list of cataloging study tips that can be reviewed. It gives you the sections of AACR2 to review and study for music cataloging. Please understand that this is an old list and does not address music formats such as MP3, FLAC or DRM issues.

From the University of Buffalo another option is to take a look at the Sound Recording Workshop Handouts created by Jay Weitz. It seems to be a Power Point presentation that was converted to images but it is really helpful in focusing on the areas you will need to extract information from and how to do it.

MARC Resources

Penn State University Sound Recording MARC Fixed Field Cheat Sheet - This will give you an idea of how to find or prep music MARC codes. This cheat sheet is for the Unicom system, you would have to adapt it to Voyager or other software programs.

Yale University Library has a Voyager based Physical Description Codes for Sound Recordings
that you can use to make sure that you are on the correct path in Voyager. You should also view the Fixed Fields for Sound Recording Chart.

Other Resources:

Music Catalogers ListServ (MOUG) - if you really want to know more about music cataloging, OCLC issues and the day to day realities of quantifying that grove.

Authority Tools for Audiovisual and Music Catalogers: An Annotated List of Useful Resources

Music Cataloging At Yale - Long list of websites and resources for a wide variety of music cataloging needs.

Just for Fun (Kinda)

Jason Poole created a video about his informal survey with librarians on how they classified music. It is music and text, no vocals. There is also a brief introduction to the ANSCR music classification system.