Describes how to create a digital library of documents.

With contributions from researchers, educators, and practitioners from across a range of fields, this volume will be an important resource for library professionals in all types of libraries as well as a reference for researchers and educators about the efforts, challenges and opportunities related to the inclusive future of libraries.

New forms of digitalization and digital media technologies are positively and negatively disrupting the free flow of information preservation. These new technologies are revolutionizing the way messages are transmitted and breaking the traditional monopolization of information by well-established institutions. Exploring the Relationship Between Media, Libraries, and Archives provides emerging research on new digital trends in information preservation, origination, and sharing. While highlighting the current shift in information sharing from institutional archives to digital platforms, readers will learn how media, librarians, and archivists reinvent their processes to meet the ever-progressing needs of users. This book is an ideal resource for librarians, archivists, information preservers, and media professionals aiming to find a balance among the use of media, new digital technologies, libraries, and archives in preserving and furthering information sharing.

Using database-driven web pages or web content management (WCM) systems to manage increasingly diverse web content and to streamline workflows is a commonly practiced solution recognized in libraries to-day. However, limited library web content management models and funding constraints prevent many libraries from purchasing commercially available WCM systems. And, the lack of much needed technical expertise in building in-house WCM systems presents a great challenge for libraries of all types. Content and Workflow Management for Library Websites: Case Studies provides practical and applicable web content management solutions through case studies. It contains successful database-to-web applications as employed in a variety of academic libraries. The applications vary in scope and cover a range of practical how-to-do-it examples from database-driven web development, locally created web content management systems, systems for distributing content management responsibilities, dynamic content delivery, to open source tools, such as MySQL and PHP to manage the content. Issues and challenges associated with the development process are discussed. Authors will also discuss detours, sand traps, and missteps necessary to a real learning process.

"Critical Thinking.com is bound to raise a few hackles. It takes on two major thought-clichés of today ́s world: first, that critical thinking is the ultimate form of thinking and that we know what it is when we encounter it; and, second, that the Internet promises us a brave new world of virtual literacy that will not only replace traditional literacy but improve it. Partly philosophical, partly practical, partly pedagogical, Critical Thinking.com is mostly a refreshing look at the interaction of knowledge production and technology. It is smart, more than a little daring, and probably will make you think a little differently about some of the things you thought you knew ̃ -- Gerald Early (Merle Kling Professor of Modern Letters. Washington University) "Critical thinking has been oversold as a cure for ignorance and apathy. Myron Tuman exposes the shallowness of the conventional recipes and provides a good thing instead--a book of incisive distinctions, captivating material, and provocative reflections. It is bound to leave the reader a more thoughtful person." -- Albert Borgmann (Department of Philosophy. The University of Montana) Table of ContentPrologue: “Critical Thinking for Dummies” - - - - 9 Chapter 1 Thinking Critically (about Critical Thinking) - - - - 13 “Critical” Questions Analysis or Reflection—Which One Is Critical? Analysis and Progress A Cautionary Conclusion about Critical Thinking Seven Elements of Critical Thinking as Reflection Coda: Descartes and Questioning Chapter 2 - - - - 39 Finding and Evaluating Web Content The Open Web The Invisible Web The Gated Web Libraries and Web Access Facts, Commentary, and Experts Hot Topics and Emily Dickinson Summary: Stephen King on the Web Coda: Stephen King for Free! Chapter 3 - - - - 73 News and Reflection The Two Sides of Thomas Jefferson Internal and External Clues More on Authority News on the Web Plato and Rushkoff Coda: Cold Fusion Chapter 4 - - - - 99 The End of Books and Libraries? What Is a Book? What Does It Mean to Read? Two Models of Libraries Libraries Without Walls, Libraries Without Books Coda: Books, Libraries, and Marshall McLuhan Chapter 5 - - - - 121 The “Free” World of the Web The First Freedom: Expression The Second Freedom: Information The Third Freedom: Association Defining Community Coda: Thomas Jefferson Revisited Chapter 6 - - - - 143 Grassroots and Astroturf Promotion, Top-Down and Bottom-Up Grassroots and Astroturf Selling with Buzz Coda: Swag and Fan Empowerment Chapter 7 - - - - 156 Passion, Identity, and Censorship Identity Politics Hate Groups, the Dark Side of Identity Politics The Appeal of Censorship Critical Thinking and Taboos Coda: Edgar Allen Poe’s “Purloined Letter” Chapter 8 - - - - 182 The Elements of Guile Stories as Subversion The Foolish Physics Professor The Comic as Subversive This American Life Coda: Chief Seattle, Another Populist Tale Epilogue Feeling the World - - - - 199 Index

User-Generated Content and its Impact on Web-Based Library Services examines the impact of user-generated content on web-based library services. It begins with an overview of Web 2.0 tools and technologies and a brief look at the emerging semantic tools of Web 3.0 and their implications for libraries. The book investigates the changing role of the end user as both a creator and consumer of web content and what this means for society's perception and understanding of information. The author addresses the advantages and challenges of using these tools to bring community expertise and opinion into the library, from reinvention of the library website as a community rather than a collection to the issues of moderating user-generated content. The book also explores the notion of 'low-fidelity authority', understanding that by acknowledging the value in content that does not necessarily meet traditional definition of authority, it creates the potential to achieve a much greater level of relevance and engagement with users. Throughout the book, conceptual discussion is illustrated with real-world examples and practical suggestions for library practitioners. - Relatively new and extremely relevant topic, with which many libraries and librarians are currently grappling - Provides conceptual discussion and practical examples of sound strategies for managing user-generated content - The book is about rethinking what we do as librarians, and surrendering some of our traditional notions of authority and control to the expertise that exists in the community