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EBooks 2004: an update

By Jon: First published in Online Currents 2004 – 19(7) 29-30

In last year’s articles on eBooks I suggested that the industry was settling down. I was wrong. Although eBook sales are increasing rapidly, the industry is no closer to a standard format or distribution system.

Hardware

Dedicated eBook readers

I predicted last year that dedicated eBook reading devices would go the way of the dedicated word processing system, and be replaced by Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), otherwise known as hand-held computers. I was partly vindicated by the collapse of Gemstar, distributors of the Rocket eBook reader (see below); but I had reckoned without the research into cheap, low-power screens being done in many Asian countries. This has been partly motivated by the difficulties involved in displaying languages like Japanese and Chinese on standard PDAs and other computer equipment. The solution is to have a pictorial display rather than one based around a relatively small number of characters like most Western scripts. read more

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E-learning: education on the web

By Glenda: First published in Online Currents – Vol.16 Issue 7, September 2001

Overview

E-learning (electronic learning) opportunities are developing quickly. From the click-through tutorials of computer-based training, online learning has evolved into a complex mix of learning experiences using resources on the Web, communication via e-mail and online chat, and collaborative work.

Some software packages have been developed to support the whole e-learning process, while others focus on specific aspects of e-learning, such as the provision of online examinations or the display of slides online. Organisations wishing to implement e-learning can develop courses alone or in conjunction with instructional design experts from specialist e-learning companies. Few sections of the education community have been untouched by these developments, with e-learning solutions being implemented in schools, TAFE colleges, universities, community education institutions, and the business world. read more

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Enquire within on everything: getting questions answered on the Internet

Online Currents 2003 – 18(2) 22-24

This article compares several question-answering services on the Internet: the paid Google Answers service, the free Usenet Newsgroup system, and AskNow!, a free collaborative reference system run by Australian state and national government librarians.

Introduction

During its period of massive growth, from about 1992 to 2000, the Internet was largely supported by unpaid volunteers: hundreds of thousands of people gave up millions of hours of free time to support and encourage others. Although this still continues today, there are indications that the tide is turning and that a cash-for-service expectation is developing. Where a free service and a paid service offer the same results, the economic pressure on the paid service has often resulted in its closure. Paid service providers may mount an organised attack on free services through lobbying; conversely, free service providers may look to find ways of charging for their efforts. read more

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Faceted Classification

By Glenda: First published in Online Currents – Vol.18 Issue 9, November 2003

Most library students will have studied Ranganathan and faceted classification, but unless they live in India, they are unlikely to have read his works in detail or used his Colon Classification scheme. Nonetheless, his groundbreaking work has been influential in traditional library classification schemes. Facets are fundamental to the Bliss Bibliographic Classification, and are important in the Dewey Decimal Classification. read more

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Favourite books

My favourite books

I recently caught half of the movie version of From the mixed up files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler on TV, and was reminded how I loved this book as a teenager. It was suggested to my mother by a librarian at Mosman Library when I was home sick and it struck a chord.

I decided to gather a list of the books that have been extra special to me. One category is books by family members as we have quite a few writers of all sorts (fiction and non-fiction) in both branches of my family.

This is a work in progress. read more