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<p align="center"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">OPLIN 4cast #26 -
October 17, 2006</span></b></p>
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<p>The <em><b>OPLIN 4cast</b></em> is a weekly compilation of
recent headlines, topics, and trends that could impact public
libraries. You can subscribe to it in a variety of ways, such as:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>RSS feed</strong>. You can receive the <em>OPLIN
4cast</em> via RSS feed by subscribing to the following URL: <a
href="http://www.oplin.org/4cast/index.php/?feed=rss2">http://www.oplin.org/4cast/index.php/?feed=rss2</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Live Bookmark</strong>. If you're using the <a
href="http://www.mozilla.com/">Firefox</a> web browser, you can go to
the <em>4cast</em> website (<a href="http://www.oplin.org/4cast/">http://www.oplin.org/4cast/</a>)
and click on the orange "radio wave" icon on the right side of the
address bar. </li>
<li><strong>E-mail</strong>. You can have the <em>OPLIN 4cast</em>
delivered via e-mail (a'la OPLINlist and OPLINtech) by subscribing to
the <em>4cast</em> mailing list at <a
href="http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/OPLIN4cast">http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/OPLIN4cast</a>.</li>
</ul>
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<p class="style4">This week’s <em>4cast</em><b>:</b></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">1. <b><strong><b><strong><b><strong><b><strong><b><strong><b><strong><b><strong><b><strong>Libraries
Are Both Vital & Vulnerable </strong></b></strong></b></strong></b></strong></b></strong></b></strong></b></strong></b></strong></b></span></p>
<blockquote>
<p>A recent <a href="http://www.ii.fsu.edu/plinternet_reports.cfm"
target="_blank">Florida State University report</a> (funded by ALA and
the Gates Foundation) finds that public libraries are critical Internet
access points for people who would otherwise have none.</p>
<ul>
<li><a
href="http://www.resourceshelf.com/2006/09/28/new-public-libraries-and-the-internet-2006-study-results-and-findings/"
target="_blank">New: Public Libraries and the Internet 2006: Study
Results and Findings (U.S.)</a> (ResourceShelf)</li>
<li><a
href="http://www.techsource.ala.org/blog/2006/10/public-libraries-essential-for-todays-technology-needs.html"
target="_blank">Public Libraries: Essential for Today's Technology
Needs</a> (ALA TechSource)</li>
<li><a
href="http://scanblog.blogspot.com/2006/09/new-report-says-public-libraries-cant.html"
target="_blank">New report says public libraries can't keep up with
online demand, need funding</a> (It's all good)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=21109"
target="_blank">Today's Public Libraries Are Thriving Technology Hubs
That Millions Rely on for First or Only Choice for Internet Access</a>
(WebWire)</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">2.</span><span
style="font-size: 14pt;"><b><strong> Google's Got Gadgets</strong></b></span>
</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Gadgets (or Widgets, as they're called in <a
href="http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/" target="_blank">Apple</a>
and <a href="http://widgets.yahoo.com/" target="_blank">Yahoo</a>
parlance) are small, interactive applications that provide quick access
to popular web services, like weather, news, calendars, and more. With
the introduction of <a
href="http://www.google.com/ig/directory?synd=open/" target="_blank">Google
Gadgets For Your Webpage</a>, Google has now made it possible for
website owners to add over 1200 nifty, Google-powered features to their
sites (or to further clutter up their pages, as the case may be).</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://news.com.com/2061-12572_3-6122719.html"
target="_blank">Google Gadgets: More widgets for Web sites</a> (CNET
News)</li>
<li><a href="http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6122593.html"
target="_blank">Google Universal Gadgets woos developers</a> (ZDNet)</li>
<li><a
href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061004/tc_nm/google_gadgets_dc;_ylt=AsaL5P.ncvV4srYDKEAo7ukjtBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ%E2%80%94"
target="_blank">Google offers mini-programs for use on other sites</a>
(Yahoo! News) </li>
<li><a
href="http://stephenslighthouse.sirsidynix.com/archives/2006/10/google_gadgets.html"
target="_blank">Google Gadgets</a> (Stephen's Lighthouse)</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">3.</span><span
style="font-size: 14pt;"><b><strong> More Attacks on OPACs </strong></b></span></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The swell of voices denouncing current library OPACs continues to
build, and some libraries are beginning to take matters into their own
hands. </p>
<ul>
<li><a
href="http://www.nla.gov.au/lis/stndrds/grps/acoc/papers2006.html"
target="_blank">Beyond the OPAC: future directions for Web-based
catalogues</a> (Australian Committee on Cataloguing)</li>
<li><a
href="http://www.techsource.ala.org/blog/2006/10/toward-the-next-gen-catalog.html"
target="_blank">Toward the Next Gen Catalog</a> (ALA TechSource) </li>
<li><a
href="http://vielmetti.typepad.com/superpatron/2006/10/library_catalog.html"
target="_blank">Library catalogs have represented stagnant technology
for close to twenty years</a> (Superpatron)</li>
<li><a
href="http://librarianinblack.typepad.com/librarianinblack/2006/08/new_additions_t.html"
target="_blank">New additions to Ann Arbor District Library's Stellar
Catalog</a> (LibrarianInBlack)</li>
<li><a href="http://futurelib.pbwiki.com/Examples" target="_blank">Examples
of Possible Next Generation Catalogs</a> (futurelib) </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">4.<b><strong> <strong>Lost? Get a
Map on Your Phone from Ask.com </strong></strong></b></span></p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.ask.com" target="_blank">Ask.com</a> now
offers a web search and maps page specifically geared for cellphones
and other mobile devices. </p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://m.ask.com/" target="_blank">Ask Mobile Search</a></li>
<li><a href="http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/061012-000113"
target="_blank">Ask Mobile Search Launches</a> (SearchEngineWatch) </li>
<li><a
href="http://www.resourceshelf.com/2006/10/12/askcom-launches-its-first-mobile-search-product-aerial-images-come-to-mobile-search"
target="_blank">Ask.com Launches Mobile Search Product, Includes Maps
and Aerial Imagery</a> (ResourceShelf)</li>
<li><a
href="http://librarianinblack.typepad.com/librarianinblack/2006/09/ten_reasons_lib.html"
target="_blank">Ten Reasons Librarians Should Use Ask.com Instead of
Google</a> (LibrarianInBlack)</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Joel Husenits
Managing Editor
Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)
2323 W. 5th Avenue, Suite 130
Columbus, Ohio 43204
Phone: (614) 728-5252
Fax: (614) 728-5256
E-mail: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:editor@oplin.org">editor@oplin.org</a>
Web: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.oplin.org">www.oplin.org</a></pre>
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