Category Archives: Librarianship

Open Source Solve[d] J.K. Rowling Mystery | The Official Rackspace Blog

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The software…used—the Java Authorship Attribution Program—is open source and freely available on GitHub for download. The academics studied the machine-readable text of Cuckoo’s and compared it to Rowling’s previous novel. In the course of doing so, they discovered a number of linguistic signatures that pointed to the author of Harry Potter. The software is predicated on the analysis of syntax, style and punctuation, but just as importantly on the distinctive use of prepositions and articles. It turns out writers can change sentence length and rhythm and can cater to a new audience, but they’re unlikely to change how they use “around” and “at” and “on.”

Read the full story: Open Source Solve[d] J.K. Rowling Mystery – The Official Rackspace Blog.

100 Great Children’s Books | 100 Years | NYPL

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The New York Public Library releases a list of the top 100 greatest children’s books from the past 100 years. You can browse the list on the website or download a pdf of the list.

Great stories never grow old! Chosen by children’s librarians at The New York Public Library, these 100 inspiring tales have thrilled generations of children and their parents — and are still flying off our shelves. Use this list and your library card to discover new worlds of wonder and adventure!

via 100 Great Children’s Books | 100 Years | The New York Public Library.

British Film Institute to launch streaming video service on October 9th | Engadget

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The British Film Institute promised that it would put 10,000 movies online as part of the Film Forever initiative, and it’s now making good on its word — if slowly. The Institute will launch the first phase of its BFI Player streaming service on October 9th with a library of more than 1,000 videos, including movies, behind-the-scenes clips and archival footage. About 60 percent of the content will be free, with the rest available as pay-per-view. As for those remaining 9,000 videos? The BFI expects those to appear in the months ahead, and it’s launching BFI Player’s second phase in early 2014.

via British Film Institute to launch streaming video service on October 9th | Engadget.

Alleged online drug kingpin arrested at SF library | SFGate

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After spending months trying to infiltrate an underground website that made buying and selling drugs as easy as shopping online for a book or TV, half a dozen FBI agents shuffled into the science fiction section of a San Francisco library and grabbed a young man working on a laptop.

Authorities said Wednesday the man was Ross William Ulbricht, and they accused him of being “Dread Pirate Roberts,” the once-anonymous mastermind behind the online drug marketplace known as Silk Road. Ulbricht, 29, collected tens of millions of dollars in commissions, investigators said, and twice ordered people killed in a bid to protect his empire.

Read the full story: Alleged online drug kingpin arrested at SF library | SFGate.

Canada Reads 2014 seeks inspirational novels | Quill & Quire

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Canada Reads, the CBC’s “battle of the books,” is underway again. The annual radio showdown seeks to elevate one book that all Canadians should read.

This year, advocates will debate not only the best book, but also “the one novel that could change Canada.”

Read the story for the full details: Canada Reads 2014 seeks inspirational novels | Quill & Quire

Penguin pays tribute to Tom Clancy | The Bookseller

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Penguin has paid tribute to thriller giant Tom Clancy, who has died at the age of 66.

Tom Clancy died yesterday (1st October) at a Baltimore hospital, close to his Maryland home.

Clancy wrote 25 fiction and non-fiction books for Penguin, including several thrillers based around the military and international espionage, dubbed “techno-thrillers”, many of which were adapted into Hollywood films. The author’s 17th novel, Command Authority, is due to be released in December 2013.

Tom Weldon, c.e.o. of Penguin Random House UK said: “Tom Clancy changed readers’ expectations of what a thriller could do. He was a master of his craft and it was our privilege to work with him. He will be greatly missed by millions of fans in the UK and around the world.” 

David Shanks, Penguin USA c.e.o., was involved with every one of Clancy’s books. He said: “I’m deeply saddened by Tom’s passing. He was a consummate author, creating the modern-day thriller, and was one of the most visionary storytellers of our time. I will miss him dearly and he will be missed by tens of millions of readers worldwide.”

via Penguin pays tribute to Tom Clancy | The Bookseller.

The Ultimate Who-To-Follow Guide for Tweeting Librarians, Info Pros, and Educators | Ellyssa Kroski – OEDB.org

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Wondering about who you should be following on Twitter to keep up with the steady stream of updates in Libraryland?  Well, here’s a list of lists!  This quick guide will give you 30 great lists of librarians, instructors, and information professionals that you’ll want to follow on Twitter as well as tweeting authors’ accounts and people and publications to follow to gain tech insights.  Check out each of these and start subscribing!!

See the list: The Ultimate Who-To-Follow Guide for Tweeting Librarians, Info Pros, and Educators | Ellyssa Kroski – OEDB.org.

This really is the ultimate guide to LIS professionals on Twitter! I would add to the other categories:

Book Lovers

  • Shelf Awareness @ShelfAwareness
  • The Bookseller @thebookseller
  • Huffington Post Books  @HuffPostBooks
  • Publishers Weekly @PublishersWkly
  • Book Riot ‏ @BookRiot

News & Technology

  • The Modern MLIS @themodernmlis
  • MIT Tech Review @techreview
  • Buzz Feed @BuzzFeed
  • TEDTalks Updates @tedtalks
  • PCMag @PCMag
  • Flavorwire ‏ @flavorwire
  • TIME Techland ‏ @Techland
  • Gizmodo ‏ @Gizmodo
  • Harvard Biz Review ‏@HarvardBiz
  • Fast Company @FastCompany

Cramming for Career Fair | Information Space

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Cramming for Career Fair | Information Space

Seven informative tips for LIS students planning to attend career fairs. Although the article is specific to the SU iSchool most of the information is general in nature. I wish my school had held one for LIS students while I was completing my MLIS.

The Anatomy Of A No. 2 Pencil | HuffPost Books

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For logophiles and those who love quirky stuff:

It is assumed the reader is already somewhat familiar with the #2 pencil. Let the remarks below serve only to further refine his or her understanding in the context of best sharpening practices.

Read the full excerpt: The Anatomy Of A No. 2 Pencil | HuffPost Books

These TechBikers Just Built 16 Libraries After Cycling From Paris To London | TechCrunch

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Last year a bunch of European tech startup founders got on their bikes and raised money for charity. This weekend just gone the TechBikers – 70 founders/techies – once again achieved their 200 mile, 3 day cycle ride from Paris to London in style. 

As a result of last year’s ride, TechBikers built a school and two libraries in Nepal. This year they’ve so far raised $75,000, enough money to build sixteen libraries or schools in India, Africa and Asia.

Read: These TechBikers Just Built 16 Libraries After Cycling From Paris To London | TechCrunch.