OCLC’s Expert Community Experiment

“In response to requests from the cataloging community, OCLC is introducing the Expert Community Experiment, which enables cataloging members to make more changes to WorldCat records. During the Experiment, members with full-level cataloging authorizations have the ability to improve and upgrade WorldCat master records. The Experiment begins in February 2009 and lasts six months.” 
                      – from http://www.oclc.org/worldcat/catalog/quality/expert/default.htm

Also on this webpage are the guidelines, some FAQs and an introductory webinar.

Abe Lincoln Grows a Beard

      

“…All the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husbands to vote for you and then you would be President…”

“…As to the whiskers, having never worn any, do you not think people would call it a piece of silly affectation if I were to begin it now?”

The Library of Congress exhibit “With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition” is on display in Washington D.C. until May 9, 2009.  Among its features are the letters that Grace Bedell and Abraham Lincoln wrote to each other in 1860 discussing the possibility of a beard for the presidential candidate.  Grace Bedell’s original letter to Lincoln is on loan to the Library of Congress from the Burton Historical Collection at the Detroit Public Library.  Lincoln’s response is on loan from the Benjamin Shapell Family Manuscript Foundation.

Click here for photographs and more information.

PsycINFO Training Videos on YouTube

The American Psychological Association has begun a PsycINFO YouTube channel.  Right now, there are seven helpful training videos.  New videos will be added regularly.  The channel is accessible at: http://www.youtube.com/user/PsycINFO.

Videos include: 1) Finding Peer-Reviewed Items in PsycINFO (on the EBSCOhost platform); 2) APA PsycNET: Using the Index Terms and Keywords Effectively; 3) Finding Peer-Reviewed Items in PsycINFO; 4) APA PsycNET Sample Search; 5) APA PsycNET: Setting up a personalized alert; 6) Searching APA PsycNET: Using the Term Finder; and 7) Searching APA PsycNET: Using the Author Index.

Board Member Alison Keller Publishes Book

Congratulations to DALNET Board member, Alison Keller, director of Rochester College’s Ennis & Nancy Ham Library, who has recently completed a second master’s degree and has had her thesis published by VDM (Verlag Dr. Müller).  The book is titled And a Little Child Shall Lead Them: Romanticism and Quakerism in Edward Hicks’ Peaceable Kingdoms.  Keller is currently on the Board of Directors for DALNET and has previously served as Board Chair.

The description from Amazon.com:  “Edward Hicks, the American Quaker minister and artist, painted a series of works entitled The Peaceable Kingdoms between 1820 and 1849. This series of paintings is based on the Old Testament passage Isaiah 11:6. This book explores the intersection of Quakerism and Romanticism in 19th century America which is represented in Hicks’ Peaceable Kingdoms. Romantic themes in the Peaceable Kingdom are the concept of childhood, the presence of Nature, and the ideal of the noble savage. Romanticism in 19th century America was impacted by Christian Romanticism and the development of special educational, social, and spiritual roles for children. The presence of Nature is evident through the use of animals and landscapes. A vignette of William Penn and the Indians represents Quakerism and the ideal of the noble savage. Hicks portrayed his Quaker theology and the influence of Romanticism through his Peaceable Kingdom paintings.”

Available for purchase at Amazon.com.

Guardian Building’s 80th Anniversary

From http://www.wsupress.wayne.edu/guardiancelebration :

“Wayne State University Press cordially invites you to join Wayne State University President Jay Noren and Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Guardian Building, featuring the new book The Guardian Building: Cathedral of Finance by James W. Tottis.”

The event will occur on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 5:30 P.M. at The Guardian Building on 500 Griswold Avenue, Detroit.  Beginning at 5:30 there will be book-signings by many WSU Press authors.  See the site for the authors and their titles.  At 6:30, there will be remarks from Jay Noren, Robert Ficano, and an historical presentation by James W. Tottis.  At 7:30, there will be opportunities to purchase books and to meet the authors.  There will also be complimentary hors d’ oeuvres and signature beverages provided by The Rowland Café.  Books available for sale at all Pure Detroit stores.

RSVP online at www.specialevents.wayne.edu/guardian by March 16.

ALA Core Competencies

Click here for the link to a new document from the American Library Association.  It is titled “ALA’s Core Competencies of Librarianship.”   This five-page document “defines the basic knowledge to be possessed by all persons graduating from an ALA-accredited master’s program in library and information studies” (quoted from webpage).

See this site for more information about librarianship as a career.