One of the best and most provocative presentations at ALA this year: http://go-to-hellman.blogspot.com/2011/07/library-data-why-bother.html Eric Hellman, discussing the history of library data and the potential future of library linked data. His blog post now contains a link to the complete powerpoint, which includes some examples of how easy it is to code links. This version unfortunately [...]

Authors continue to weigh in on potential library closures in Britain. Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials Trilogy, e.g. http://www.worldcat.org/title/amber-spyglass/oclc/44627113&referer=brief_results) helps to raise funds protesting library cuts, arguing in the UK there are 9 million people who have still never used the Internet. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/8648309/Philip-Pullman-Why-we-must-stand-up-to-the-book-barbarians.html

Just in time for tonight’s “Kindles and Kobos and Nooks” (Smith Boardroom, OCLC Conference Center, Dublin, OH 6:30pm), Amazon announces a new program for textbook rental on a variety of readers and other computers: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/?docId=1000702481.