Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all. And it is already 5 days old? .. :-) .. Well, I am still sending you best wishes for a great 2008... A leap year... An election year.

I try to set a certain amount of time every week as a learning hour, or a learning session. Today I found something interesting in the October 2007 Library Journal.

In an article about open source "metasearch" Roy Tennant describes the cross-database searching (federated searching) software used at Oregon State University. It gives me an idea of what the future may hold someday for all libraries.

LibraryFind® is software developed by the Oregon State University Libraries, funded in part by a grant from the State Library.

After looking at their own description of what it does, you can even try out their system. It's cool.
I've added the links to our Connectedy list too ... under the category "Library Blogs, Library Literature & What's New."

Here are some comments about LibraryFind, by Roy Tennant:
One of the most significant things you get with LibraryFind is the code itself--because it's open source, you're free to add to it, change it, or simply examine how it works....
Along with the LibraryFind software, you get some preconfigured resource connections to access about 50 specific databases (though there are many others).
... For now, LibraryFind likely will be most easily implemented by small to medium-sized libraries that have the technical expertise to configure and install it as well as create missing resource connections. Over time, if development continues, and the community of adopters grows, LibraryFind could become an excellent choice for many libraries.

There is another good article in the same journal about improving the transparency of library management, "The Open Door Director" by Michael Casey and Michael Stephens who write a regular column called "The Transparent Library."

Lastly, you might enjoy taking a look at 30 predictions regarding libraries in 2008, by SirsiDynix's VP of Innovation, Stephen Abram.