Editorial

Citation

Gelfand, J. and Riggs, C. (2005), "Editorial", Library Hi Tech News, Vol. 22 No. 10. https://doi.org/10.1108/lhtn.2005.23922jaa.001

Editorial

Editorial

This issue completes another volume year. We have now edited this publication for four years and are committed to beginning volume 23 with the next issue. It is because of our contributors and our readers that we continue to find pleasure and reward trying to anticipate what readers want in terms of being made aware of new and interesting library applications in information technology. We conclude that these are very exciting times with many new products on the market and an even greater array of applications. The times are made interesting by the intersection of commercial, academic and open source content and the creative forces in libraries around the world. There remains a digital divide but information services and a strong knowledge base keep library staffs focused and aware of the need to cooperate and collaborate with partners who can share resources and the “how to spirit” at such enthusiastic levels. It is this aspect of editing the publication that keeps us so motivated and humbled by the experiences librarians share from around the world. We always invite your participation to submit, comment and share in this newsletter.

In this issue we bring you a couple of conference reports – the Annual 2005 LITA National Forum took place in the heart of Silicon Valley in San Jose, California, and the Annual Brick and Click Libraries Symposium was again hosted by Northwest Missouri State University with the largest representation and attendance ever. It is these smaller meetings that now attract significant contributions because discussion and exchange can still take place.

We are “Feature - intensive” in this issue. We have several project updates that identify lots of creativity and innovation in different areas using a variety of technology products and applications. The first feature is about one of the most interesting new approach to searching information resources using common language that is combined with metadata tags to create a “visual map” or “word cloud.” This is certainly one of the most interesting new features demonstrated at all the trade exhibitions this year.

Digital Preservation is another interesting topic that is undergoing fast changes with new options and Jennifer Whitt and Sam Hastings share the project they have been associated with at the University of North Texas preserving digitally the Library Journal. A case study of internet usage among students at Delta State University in Nigeria and how this fits in with the overall picture of the evolution of Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) in that developing country. The CREE Project in the UK has gotten a lot of international press and in this issue we have an update on the most recent developments of the use of new web services for remote portlet standards. This is clearly a new method of searching with an OpenURL resolver. A diverse public school system in San Diego County, California has launched a program over the last five years that reduces the distance and digital divide to provide services for high school students who plan to graduate soon. This need to serve almost post-graduates with vocational and counseling services and other informational resources over the web where access is challenged suggests some new pioneering at connecting teachers, students, administrators, officials and parents to better methods of communication and access to specialized resources. The last few issues have carried at least one article about the role of blogs in libraries and this is no exception. We have one piece that explores blogs and RSS feeds and how they serve the communications factor with updated news.

We have a delightful interview with Dr Mehdi Khrosow-Pour, the founder of Idea Group Publishers which has grown into one of the largest private publishing houses releasing books, reference works, case studies and journals on a range of themes supporting information technology and supporting librarians in their professional development activities through a newsletter and active web presence. This creative and innovative leader in the IT and publishing sectors with a first life as an engineering professor has a lot of wisdom and experiences to share. A great friend and supporter of libraries, we hope you share our introduction to him in this interview.

We look forward to another full year as we commit to continuing as your editors for the 2006 issues of Library Hi-Tech News.

With best wishes for the holiday season around the world and a happy, peaceful and safe New Year.

Julia Gelfand(jgelfand@uci.edu)Colby Riggs(cmriggs@uci.edu)Co-editors