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<p align="center"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">OPLIN 4cast #33 -
December 5, 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/" target="_blank">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. In <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/"
target="_blank">Internet Explorer 7</a>, click on the same icon to
view or subscribe to the <em>4cast</em> RSS feed. </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. <strong>AskCity Knows Your Town
Better Than You Do </strong></span></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Ask.com has formally introduced <a href="http://city.ask.com/city"
target="_blank">AskCity</a>, a new search service that finds local
businesses and events, and simultaneously maps their locations - all in
a single interface.</p>
<ul>
<li><a
href="http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/03/askcity-launches-its-cool/"
target="_blank">AskCity Launches. It's Cool.</a> (TechCrunch)</li>
<li><a
href="http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2006/12/as_we_mentioned.html#more"
target="_blank">AskCity: A Better Way To Find Local Info</a> (Monkey
Bites) </li>
<li><a href="http://gigaom.com/2006/12/03/askcity/" target="_blank">Ask
Goes Local with AskCity</a> (GigaOM)</li>
<li><a
href="http://centeredlibrarian.blogspot.com/2006/12/askcom-launches-askcity-local-map.html"
target="_blank">Ask.com launches AskCity local map search</a> (The
Centered Librarian) </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">2. <strong>Google Answers Gets It
Wrong </strong></span></p>
<blockquote>
<p><a
href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/adieu-to-google-answers.html"
target="_blank">Google has announced</a> that it will be discontinuing
<a href="http://answers.google.com/answers/" target="_blank">Google
Answers</a>, it's pay-for-an-answer (and
much-maligned-in-the-library-community) reference service. Is this a
win for libraries? Not really - most commentators seem to now be
championing <a href="http://answers.yahoo.com/" target="_blank">Yahoo
Answers</a>, Google's free competitor.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li><a
href="http://www.oregonlibraries.net/staff/index.php/2006/11/29/googs/"
target="_blank">google answers close. are library reference services
next?</a> (L-net staff information blog )</li>
<li><a href="http://www.librarian.net/stax/1914" target="_blank">goodbye
google answers</a> (librarian.net)</li>
<li><a
href="http://librarianinblack.typepad.com/librarianinblack/2006/11/google_answers_.html"
target="_blank">Google Answers Closes</a> (LibrarianInBlack)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/11/30/yahoos-big-win/"
target="_blank">Yahoo's Big Win</a> (TechCrunch) </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">3. <strong>Library Books By Mail, By
Gum!</strong></span> </p>
<blockquote>
<p>The idea of libraries employing a Netflix-style delivery model has
been gaining steam over the past year, and one library in Kansas is
currently doing it. In Ohio, a similar <a
href="http://www.oval.lib.oh.us/bbm/" target="_blank">Books by Mail</a>
service was discontinued in early 2006, but the <a
href="http://www.oval.lib.oh.us/" target="_blank">Southeast Regional
Library System</a> (SERLS) is interested in relaunching the program on
a statewide level. Interested libraries can contact Marion Cochran,
SERLS Executive Director (cochranm AT oplin.org), for more information.</p>
<ul>
<li><a
href="http://librarianinblack.typepad.com/librarianinblack/2006/12/netflix_and_lib.html"
target="_blank">Netflix and Libraries: All You Need to Know</a>
(LibrarianInBlack) </li>
<li><a href="http://techessence.info/node/80" target="_blank">Library
Delivery 2.0: Delivering Library Materials in the Age of NetFlix</a>
(TechEssence.Info)</li>
<li><a
href="http://vielmetti.typepad.com/superpatron/2006/11/netflix_for_lib.html"
target="_blank">Netflix for library books at the Topeka and Shawnee
County Public Library</a> (Superpatron)</li>
<li><a
href="http://www.davidleeking.com/2006/10/12/the-missing-piece-of-the-library-netflix-model/"
target="_blank">The "Missing Piece" of the Library Netflix Model</a>
(David Lee King) </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">4.<b><strong> BitTorrent Wants to
Grow Up & Stay Out of Trouble </strong></b></span> </p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bittorrent" target="_blank">BitTorrent</a>
is a popular file-sharing method that differs from older,
lawsuit-plagued models (like Napster) in that users are connected to
one another directly, rather than to a central server (a central server
arranges the connections, but it doesn't actually transfer any files).
It also uses the combined bandwidth of all users to distribute files,
which makes transfers faster and more stable. Although this protocol
still enables plenty of illegal file sharing, BitTorrent is taking
steps to legitimize itself by cutting deals with some of the same
mainstream Hollywood players that it arguably hurts. </p>
<ul>
<li><a
href="http://www.wired.com/news/technology/internet/0,72222-0.html"
target="_blank">Bram Cohen on BitTorrent's Future</a> (Wired News)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.dessent.net/btfaq/" target="_blank">Brian's
BitTorrent FAQ and Guide</a> </li>
<li><a
href="http://torrentfreak.com/bittorrent-partners-with-tv-and-movie-companies/"
target="_blank">BitTorrent Partners with TV and Movie Companies</a>
(TorrentFreak) </li>
<li><a
href="http://www.zeropaid.com/news/8051/Could+BitTorrent+Inc.+be+the+new+model+for+file-sharing+legitimacy?"
target="_blank">Could BitTorrent Inc. be the new model for
file-sharing legitimacy?</a> (Zeropaid) </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
</div>
<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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