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<p align="center"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">OPLIN 4cast #49 -
April 3, 2007</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>Gettin' Famous... </strong></span></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The red-hot <a href="http://www.oplin.org/4cast/index.php/?p=39">Learning
2.0 program</a> at the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg
County recently received some <a
href="http://www.wired.com/culture/education/news/2007/03/learning2_0"
target="_blank">national attention from Wired News</a>.
As librarians bask in the afterglow, some are also taking the
opportunity to revisit the program's goal - to keep librarians involved
in the latest technological goings-on. </p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://plcmcl2-things.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">23
Learning 2.0 Things</a> (PLCMC Learning 2.0 blog)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.librarian.net/stax/2001/" target="_blank">Twenty-three
2.0 tasks for librarians</a> (librarian.net)</li>
<li><a
href="http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/2007/03/29/in-other-happy-news/"
target="_blank">In other happy news...</a> (Information Wants To Be
Free) </li>
<li><a href="http://librarylaws.org/wired_on_learning_20.html"
target="_blank">'Wired' on Learning 2.0</a> (Library Laws)</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">2. <strong>... and Feelin' Feisty </strong></span>
</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Meanwhile, the <em>Wall Street Journal</em> recently published <a
href="http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117391084682537392-qNtwMyrV5hF6_OvdZJdpIjRiplo_20080313.html"
target="_blank">an opinion piece</a>
forwarding the idea that today's younger generations are more
interested in owning than borrowing, and that libraries are losing
their collective attention. Some librarians did not take this lightly. </p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li><a
href="http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117391084682537392-qNtwMyrV5hF6_OvdZJdpIjRiplo_20080313.html"
target="_blank">Of the Places You'll Go, Is the Library Still One of
Them?</a> (Wall Street Journal)</li>
<li><a
href="http://librarianinblack.typepad.com/librarianinblack/2007/03/a_recent_wall_s.html"
target="_blank">A recent <em>Wall Street Journal</em> article...</a>
(LibrarianInBlack)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.blyberg.net/2007/03/19/didnt-i-just/"
target="_blank">Didn't I just...?</a> (blyberg.net)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.taaonline.net/richardblog/?p=38"
target="_blank">Librarians' Labours Lost?</a> (Richard's Blog: Text
& Academic Authors Association) </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">3.<strong> This Semantic Web Can't
Just Build Itself </strong></span></p>
<blockquote>
<p>A Canadian researcher recently <a
href="http://halfanhour.blogspot.com/2007/03/why-semantic-web-will-fail.html"
target="_blank">made the prediction</a> that the so-called <a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_Web" target="_blank">Semantic
Web</a> - that is, an emerging, more intelligent version of the World
Wide Web that relies heavily on open standards and super-rich <a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metadata" target="_blank">metadata</a>
- will ultimately fail. Why? Because companies just won't play nice
with one another.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li><a
href="http://scilib.typepad.com/science_library_pad/2007/03/stephen_downes_.html"
target="_blank">Stephen Downs says Semantic Web will never work</a>
(Science Library Pad)</li>
<li><a
href="http://www.somerandomdude.net/blog/opinion/better-web-big-business-or-not/"
target="_blank">A Better Web is Coming - Big Business Or Not</a> (Some
Random Dude)</li>
<li><a
href="http://blogs.talis.com/nodalities/2007/03/will_the_semantic_web_fail.php"
target="_blank">Will the Semantic Web fail?</a> (Nodalities) </li>
<li><a
href="http://ebiquity.umbc.edu/blogger/2007/03/21/why-the-semantic-web-will-fail-not/"
target="_blank">Why the Semantic Web will fail, NOT.</a> (eBiquity) </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">4.<strong> If You Can't Beat NetFlix,
Join It </strong></span></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The
Brooklyn Public Library is evidently interested in partnering with
Netflix for some kind of DVD rental service that would allow BPL
patrons to access the entire Netflix catalog. Details are still very,
very sketchy, but it would be the first such partnership in the
country. </p>
<ul>
<li><a
href="http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8O1T6BG0.htm"
target="_blank">Ahead of the Bell: Netflix-library pact?</a>
(BusinessWeek)</li>
<li><a
href="http://www.hackingnetflix.com/2007/03/netflix_brookly.html"
target="_blank">Netflix & Brooklyn Library Deal?</a> (Hacking
NetFlix) </li>
<li><a
href="http://vielmetti.typepad.com/superpatron/2007/03/brooklyn_public.html"
target="_blank">Brooklyn Public Library exec director Dionne
Mack-Harvin eyes Netflix</a> (Superpatron)</li>
<li><a href="http://tametheweb.com/2007/03/netflix_brooklyn_pl.html"
target="_blank">NetFlix & Brooklyn PL</a> (Tame the Web: Libraries
and Technology) </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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