“What is he obsessed with right now? The answer is, “maker subculture,” which is where the latest in digital technology meets the classic do-it-yourself (DIY) world of crafting and small scale construction.”
Libraries are already on the cusp of evolving into “maker” and “hacker” spaces (i.e. 3D printing, programming, self-education, etc.). The below article from NPR provides more colour on this evolution.
Zeen – Startup in beta. Librarians help patrons with self-publishing digital content such as eBooks or print-on-demand books…why not magazines too?
“Collect links on your favorite topics. Publish the links in beautiful magazines. Add your voice – Share it with the world.”
via Zeen.
“Auto-Graphics is rolling self-publishing software from FastPencil into its library management platform.”
via Auto-Graphics Adds Self-Publishing Tool to Library Software – The Digital Shift.
“Little Bird, a startup that helps PR agencies, marketers, and media companies identify influencers on virtually any topic, is launching in private beta today.” via Little Bird Takes Flight: Marshall Kirkpatrick Launches His Influence-Finding Startup, Raises $1M | TechCrunch.
The article states that “the only exceptions [to LittleBird influencer data] are subjects that are so arcane and specific that there’s no core group of influencers on social media.” I think librarians and information professionals will have more of a role in the future contributing to social media platforms such as LittleBird, such as on more obscure or specific subjects and subjects where our information gathering and analysis skills would be value-added. I can also see this tool being used by librarians in Reference Services or even as a topic of study for a research project.
The British Film Institute, as part of its five-year “Film Forever” blitz to revitalize the UK movie industry, will digitize 10,000 titles from its massive vault of 450,000 film cans by 2017. The goal? To offer them on-demand.
via British Film Institute Plans to Digitize 10,000 Films by 2017.
“The US trade associations for public libraries and book publishers exchanged heated words last week regarding the growing impasse over e-book lending.”
via Publisher-Library Feud over E-Books Heats Up « Copyright and Technology.
“In the latest effort to use digital technology to transform how consumers, students, and teachers engage classic literature, Sourcebooks is releasing The Shakesperience, enhanced e-books that exploit the iPad’s touchscreen technology to bring Shakespeare’s plays to life in new ways with a rich selection of carefully chosen multimedia and text. Sourcebooks is releasing Shakesperience editions of Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and Othello today, selling for $9.99 via Apple’s iBookstore.”
via Sourcebooks Upgrades the Bard with ‘The Shakesperience’ Digital Editions.
infophile 