ProfDev 06/05/05

Saving web pages
Its sometimes very useful to be able to save particularly interesting articles/web pages etc. This web based utility is an excellent way to do this without cluttering up your hard drive.
'Furl is a free service that saves a personal copy of any page you find on the Web, and lets you find it again instantly by searching your archive of pages. It's your Personal Web.
Furl offers the best ways to share the content you find on the Web, and recommends new Web pages that may interest you. You can also search Furl to find the best sites that other people are saving.'

Popularity of Family History on the web continues.
This Guardian article looks at this internet phenomenon and recommends relevant websites.
“The number of people visiting UK family history websites increased by 6.6% in the year to January, from 1.5m to 1.6m, according to Nielsen data. And while genealogy remains a specialist web activity - ranking, says Nielsen, behind search and travel - UK users are among the most dedicated to this hobby, along with those in Australia, France and the US.”
(CILIP Information Services)

Google: New services aimed at British users.
Maps, local services and queries sent and answered via text are three new to UK services launched by Google.

http://maps.google.co.uk/

http://local.google.co.uk/

http://www.google.co.uk/sms/

Adult evening courses fall by the wayside
“Further education colleges are expressing concern that lower than expected funding increases and the enforcement of centrally dictated funding priorities on courses for particular groups, will mean colleges will either have to cancel courses for other adults or raise their fees.”
(CILIP Information Services)

Reader Development database launched
It includes details of activities around the country including reading groups,
literature festivals and other events.
(Thanks to Mike Elder for this)

New libraries turn tide of decline
Article on how good design is bringing in readers to new public libraries despite the problems outlined in the recent Select Committee report.
(CILIP Information Services)

Web accessibility
The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) is unhappy with the lack of action that followed last year's report on the dire state of British web site accessibility.
However the MLA sector leads the way in accessibility.
(CILIP Information Services)
How people with low literacy skills use websites is the subject of this blog entry from the Librarian in Black.

CILIP/LiS Libraries Change Lives award
Article on the Northamptonshire Black History Project which won the CILIP/LiS Libraries Change Lives award at the Library + Information Show.
(CILIP Information Services)

Books as sculpture
Interesting article here.
(from Boing Boing)

Free and Open Access
Some unintended consequences of the large-scale digitization projects.
(from Jessamyn at Librarian.net)

Text a Librarian
Reference services via SMS (texting).

BBC Schools Page
The BBC has put together some of its BBC-created resources on a Schools page. Very useful as a homework resource.

Librarians in Culture
"An online exhibit of the 'Cultural Image of Librarians' is available from the Librarians: We're Not What You Think page. Suggestions for additions are welcome!"
(LISNews)