The right technology: no-tech, low-tech, or high-tech

One of the useful articles by Marshall Breeding, the Library Technology Officer at the Jean and Alexander Heard Library at Vanderbilt University. Read his comments about technology not being the answer to all problems.

"There are at least some times when tasks can be accomplished efficiently without automation. Technology cannot solve issues of personnel, personality, or organizational inefficiency".

Check out further articles and industry announcements on his website

Do libraries matter? the rise of Library 2.0

The question of relevance is perhaps the biggest challenge facing libraries today. While there is no doubt that people value traditional library services, what of the rise of Internet services, such as Google, Amazon and their like? These internet-based services offer high quality, easy to use methods for finding information.

With information now so freely available, particularly through the Internet, do libraries really matter? Ken Chad and Paul Miller argue that the answer is a resounding YES. Libraries provide unique value. A list of links in a search engine, while useful, does not have the same value as the knowledge that a library can provide.

Reports of the demise of the library have been greatly exaggerated. However, the staggering success of sites such as Amazon and Google has shown that, to meet the expectations of the modern world, libraries do have to change quite dramatically. Read more ...

What is Web 2.0

Tim O'Reilly writes that concept of "Web 2.0" began with a conference brainstorming session between O'Reilly and MediaLive International. Dale Dougherty, web pioneer and O'Reilly VP, noted that far from having "crashed" with the dot-com bubble in 2001, the web was more important than ever, with exciting new applications and sites popping up with surprising regularity. What's more, the companies that had survived the collapse seemed to have some things in common. Could it be that the dot-com collapse marked some kind of turning point for the web, such that a call to action such as "Web 2.0" might make sense? This article is an attempt to clarify just what they mean by Web 2.0. Syndicated data services? Collective intelligence? Who owns the data? Users add value? Nothing new to librarians, but read more about PC-free services and the rest.

ICTs for Civil Society Conference

The Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) will host its second annual
"ICTs for Civil Society" Conference and Exhibition from 7-9 March 2006 at
the Indaba Hotel in Fourways, Johannesburg.

Building on the success of the 2005 event, the next conference will focus
specifically on a wide range of new and practical information communication
technology (ICT) services, solutions and applications relevant to the work
of NGOs, nonprofits and civil society organisations (CSOs) in Southern
Africa.

The objectives of the 2006 conference will be to learn more about the
day-to-day experiences of NGOs in applying and adopting ICT, as well as to
profile and demonstrate relevant and practical applications, which could
further strengthen the impact of their work.

The conference will have a strong focus on free and open source issues and applications.

SANGONeT welcomes information on case studies, technology solutions,
practical applications, etc. which could be incorporated into the conference
programme. You are also invited to highlight specific issues which you would
like to be incorporated into the conference programme. Visit the Conference website for guidelines.