Go to the library - ways to survive life without the Internet

An online search may be fast and effortless, but there is nothing like a reference library to make you really appreciate the world of knowledge. Surround yourself in books and get a taste of what it was like to engross yourself in research before the Internet. The process is far more challenging and rewarding." Source: 7 ways to survive life without the Internet

And, Then The Life Will Be As-Is:

Internet and the Future,
"...the Web’s days are numbered as the Internet moves to a second round of expansion beyond the browser... continue reading"

Living beyond Internet, by VAISHNAVI SUBRAMANIAN - Dil Se, The Hindu, Aug 06, 2007

To a Librarian Who Wants to Write - Outside the Box

"If I were in a position to recommend anything as an addition to the education of librarians, it would be that they write a novel." Michael McGrorty @ Library Dust: A small gift to the library world from Michael McGrorty.

See my LIS quotations' blog for more on writing, librarians, novels and the world of bookmanship.

see also:

Writing for the Library Profession Presented by: Stephen Abram - Vice President of Innovation for SirsiDynix and Chief Strategist for the SirsiDynix Institute
Judith A. Siess - Expert in one-person librarianship and interpersonal networking

Provision of Medical Information - Ask Cosmo, NLM’s Virtual Representative!

1. "Ask Cosmo" is an automated answer-my-question site at http://wwwns.nlm.nih.gov/
Many questions from the general public can be answered by Cosmo the Owl.

2. Questions may be directed by telephone at the following numbers:
(888) FIND-NLM
(888) 346-3656 Local and international calls:
(301) 594-5983
-------------------------------------------------
Background note: NLM usually received from 200 to 500 requests per day when I was there. Some were library questions ("How to I use PubMed?") but many were cries for medical help ("My daughter has cancer and the medicine isn't working, what can I do?").

Al Reynolds [ecumenical77 at earthlink dot net] wrote:

I served on the Customer Service staff of the National Library of Medicine for two years. Such questions are constantly being directed to NLM as a free and reputable source of medical information.

There are 7 or 8 full time staff members tasked with responding to such questions. Of course we are not clinicians, so we provide information found on such sites as MedlinePlus and PubMed, and we use directory sites, advocacy organizations and professional associations quite heavily.
You or your patrons may address queries to: custserv@nlm.nih.gov
A response will be sent within 4 working days. NLM does not send printed materials.
During my two years I worked messages originating in 106 countries.
Al Reynolds
Reference Assistant
Frederick Memorial Hospital
Frederick, Maryland
Former contractor at U.S. National Library of Medicine

P.S. This information is disseminated with permission from Al Reynolds.

From the Blogosphere:

Ask Cosmo, NLM’s Virtual Representative! by Jodi

Copyrights and Copywrongs - Responsibility of Media and Academia

P.S. This is not a sequel of Copyrights and Copywrongs: Interview with Siva Vaidhyanathan.
Rather, this is about media (MSN, Yahoo, Google) and academia

Belgian newspapers go after Yahoo, By: Nancy Gohring
IDG News Service (Dublin Bureau) (22 Jan 2007)

Google argued that it doesn't violate copyright because it only summarizes articles and displays the source of the content and the name of the author before directing users to the Web page hosting the content. The judge is expected to rule on the case this month. full story

EMERGING NEWS:

Google has pledged to tighten its advertising controls after some of the biggest media companies in the US accused it of knowingly encouraging copyright theft. in US media: Google 'encourages copyright theft' By Laura Clout, Telegraph, 13/02/2007

PUNCHLINE for the academic world (just-in-case):
Oh my god not more copyright stuff @ Playing with Technology
See also:
Public Domain Chart
Fair Use Checklist

Related posts from my desktop

Citing Sources - Electronic, Print, etc.

With Malice Towards None; And Citations for All