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Norman Geras: "One consequence of the digitisation of nearly all aspects of our lives is the increasing sense that we live through our computers, that they are extensions of our selves. Ouch. Does this explain the sense of panic that has overtaken me whenever I've lost my internet connection at home?"


"How can there be no Internet?"

Where is the Internet? - The most popular videos are a click away

Leo Babauta: we are getting overwhelmed by technology. We need to control technology instead of letting technology control us.



Act. What are we waiting for? It's too late to be a pessimist.

What Today’s College Students Say about Conducting Research in the Digital Age

Interesting results from Project Information Literacy which support (once again) the importance of accesible high quality virtual reference services. The librarian's role as a web coach has never been more urgent....

"In general, students reported being challenged, confused, and frustrated
by the research process, despite the convenience, relative ease, or ubiquity of the Internet. In our sessions, frustrations included the effects of information overload and being inundated with resources, but more. Participants also reported having particular difficulty traversing a vast and ever-changing information landscape. Specifically, participants greatest challenges were related to finding the materials they desired, knew existed, and needed on a “just in time” basis."

http://projectinfolit.org/pdfs/PIL_ProgressReport_2_2009.pdf




via Jan Szczepanski, BIBLIST

Is the future library really a library at all?

In the shift from information society to the digital network society distance is getting irrelevant. Everything is here. Wherever you are. But all don't have access. Is the public library the facilitator that can bridge that digital divide? And WHERE is the library of the future? Is it really a library at all? Or an open information bar, a theatre of knowledge?



Guy Adam Ailion made the animation. Here you can read more about him and here you can follow his blog.

World Internet Project Report 2009 - interesting results!

Peter Alsbjer points out three interesting conclusions from "the first comparative, global study undertaken by the social, economic, cultural and political changes that the digital communications are leadning to":

- Regarding women's use of the Internet, Sweden is at the top
- Sweden has the highest percentage of middle-aged Internet users
- Sweden is worst at using the Internet in distance learning

Read more on Peters blog ...

Download and read the report...