May 6th, 2008 Brian Herzog
This isn’t library-related, but he was one of my childhood heros, such just bear with me.
Slashdot is reporting there might be a MacGyver movie. Of course, it was MacGyver who started me down the Swiss Army Knife path, and I’d wager he was one of the most influential people on boys growing up in the 80’s.
The movie seems just in the rumor stage right now, so who knows. In the meantime, we can all take advantage of CBS providing MacGyver episodes free in their website archive.
Also, enjoy some MacGyver-related products:
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Posted under Personal, Random | No Comments »
April 10th, 2008 Brian Herzog
Inspired by the kid who collected 3000+ library cards, I thought I’d put up all of my library cards, too.
Unlike his collection, though, these cards were all issued to me because I either lived or worked in the towns where these libraries are located. I didn’t get them to build a collection - I just always use the library where I live.
Even just with this small collection, it’s interesting to see the variety in designs. This gave me the idea to create a Library Cards flickr group - how about showing off your library card?
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Posted under Library, Personal | 2 Comments »
March 25th, 2008 Brian Herzog
The idea of privatizing libraries in Oregon made news a few months ago, and recent articles in the Boston Globe are reporting that now two Massachusetts libraries are facing privatization.
I personally don’t like the idea of privatizing a public library in general, but now it’s a little more personal: one of the two libraries mentioned, the Tewksbury Public Library, is in the same consortium as my library.
It’s also personal because on April 1st, both Tewksbury and Chelmsford residents are voting on tax overrides that will affect library funding and services. Tewksbury is in more dire straits than Chelmsford, but if our override doesn’t pass, we will lose staff and be open fewer hours.
But back to the first Globe article. Towards then end, there is a quote from (I think) a Tewksbury resident:
The government cannot run anything that a business couldn’t do better.
Are you kidding me? Would you feel better if your town had a privatized, for-profit, police force? And didn’t fire departments start out as subscription-based, until communities realized that it was in their best interest to protect the entire community equally?
As far as library privatization goes, I am certainly not an expert on how it happens, but it sounds like a bad deal to me. One article states that privatized libraries get their funding from grants and taxes, but not fees - which along with aid money from the state, is exactly where our budget comes from now.
If a library is privatized, there is the possibility that it would no longer get aid money from the state. So for this to save money, they’d have to really cut costs, and it looks like the strategy is to not provide benefits to staff. Which means that library staff would go from “the best people available” to people who are able to work at a job with no insurance (this in a state where it is now illegal for residents not to have insurance).
And what happens to patrons? Being part of the same consortium means Chelmsford residents can freely use the Tewksbury library and its materials. If run by a for-profit private company, it makes sense that they would stop this practice, because no revenue is generated by sharing their materials with people that don’t pay taxes in their town.
I’m sure they have a reasonable business model worked out, or else communities wouldn’t seriously consider this. But I like the quote that closes the article:
The library’s public, so everyone can use it.
Exactly. Remember a previous post where I was debating between answering the phone “May I help you?” and “Can I help you?” In a for-profit world, customer service loses priority to the financial bottom line, so I think I’d have to start answering the phone with this question:
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Posted under Library, Personal | 5 Comments »
March 4th, 2008 Brian Herzog
I normally don’t participate in memes. However, I am me-too’ing Jessamyn’s tech-NOs post because I like the idea behind it.
A lot of librarians (and regular people) I know are hesitant to try new tech/web things because there is just so much out there and they feel they have to know about everything before they can try anything. That is absolutely not true.
Even though some people think of me as high-techy because I have a website and use flickr and bloglines, there is a lot I don’t know about (and a lot I don’t care about). My advice is to use tech tools to augment your life/work style, not change it; pick what you like and play with it, and ignore everything else.
So, to show off my low-tech side, here’s my list of tech-NOs:
- I do not have a microwave.
- I don’t use IM, except at work. And even there I’m more likely to phone or email than IM
- I do not have a cell phone. I have one telephone, and it has a curly cord that plugs into the wall. I do not want a cell phone, and, in general, cell phones irritate me. Also, I have the same answering machine I’ve used since college, and it records to an analog cassette tape. I do not have caller id, call waiting, or anything like that
- I do not have an iPod or other mp3 player. Why? I’ve never needed one. When I’m in the car I listen to the radio, CDs or tapes; when I go for a walk or hike or exercise, I think about whatever is on my mind
- I do not have cable or satellite television. I have a television with an antennae*, and a VCR and DVD player, and I use it mostly for watching movies
- My clocks have hands. I don’t like digital clocks, so all the clocks in my house (except for the one built into the stove) are analog. I wake up to an alarm clock with two metal bells on top (I also have a bird clock*)
- I do not have an ATV, snowmobile, or jetski. Instead, I have a mountain bike, cross-country skis*, a kayak, and hiking boots. I don’t like exchanging effort for pollution (although I do have power tools)
- I use an old-fashion twirly lawnmower. You know the kind I mean. It’s fun
- I really don’t play video games. Sure, I play minesweeper and hearts, but not World of Warcraft, Second Life (I know, it’s not a “game”), Guitar Hero, or any of the others. I’m interested in the phenomena of multi-user interactions in worlds like these, but I have no inclination to play them
- I do not care about twitter. I just don’t
- I write letters in addition to emailing. I have an antique Royal typewriter* that I love using, and I fear the day the ribbon runs out
- I do not use GPS. I like maps
- I do not use air conditioning. I like open windows and fans
- I have one credit card and I pay all my bills by mailing a check. I also enjoy going to the post office
I’m sure there’s more, but that’s good for now.
*In typing up this list, I realized that all of the *’d things were given to me by my younger brother. Thanks, Mike. And I still don’t want a cell phone.
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Posted under Personal, Technology | 4 Comments »
February 12th, 2008 Brian Herzog
I’ve had a flickr account for less than a year. Last week, a group contacted me, asking if they could use one of my photographs in their upcoming publication.
This is the second time that this has happened to me (in less than a year!), so I’m guessing it is a common occurrence on flickr.
The first time it happened, I was almost awestruck: the editors of the Weird U.S. books and television show found me on flickr and wrote asking permission to use some of my photographs in their upcoming Weird Massachusetts book. The photographs they wanted were of Hammond Castle in Gloucester, MA. After exchanging a few emails, I think they’re also going to use some I took around Westford, MA, of the Westford Knight and an Edgar Allan Poe memorial.
In exchange, they’ve agreed to send a couple copies of the book for me and my library, and also come to my library during their book tour.
The more recent flickr contact from last week was from Schmap, publisher of, I think, electronic travel guides and maps. They specifically asked about some pictures I took in Omaha, of where I stayed and a couple local businesses.
I didn’t get anything in exchange for agreeing to that use, but that’s fine. Most of my pictures go up under a Creative Commons license, so I don’t really expect anything; just that other people aren’t blatantly and secretly using them for commercial use.
If you’re interested, I have a screenshot of the Schumap photo release webpage. Also, the text of their license agreement is below - very uncharacteristically of me, I actually read it. I found it interesting how tailored it was to pictures found on flickr - perhaps this is just another sign of how companies and legalese is shifting towards the Web 2.0 environment. It’s cheaper to use other peoples’ photographs than to hire your own photographers, and people who post publicly are likely willing to share for free.
TERMS OF SUBMISSION
THESE TERMS OF SUBMISSION (THE “TERMS”) REPRESENT A LEGAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU, EITHER AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON OR A SINGLE LEGAL ENTITY (“YOU”), AND SCHMAP, INC. (“SCHMAP”). BY CLICKING THE “SUBMIT” BUTTON, YOU CONFIRM YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS.
1. PHOTOS
The term “Photos” refers to one or more photographs and/or images licensed by You to Schmap pursuant to the Terms.
2. LICENSE GRANT
Subject to the terms and conditions herein, You hereby grant Schmap a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, perpetual license to include the Photos in the current and/or subsequent releases of Schmap’s destination/local guides.
3. FAIR USE RIGHTS
Nothing in these Terms is intended to reduce, limit, or restrict any rights arising from fair use, first sale or other limitations on the exclusive rights of the copyright owner under copyright law or other applicable laws.
4. LIMITATIONS
The license granted in Section 2 above is made subject to and limited by the following express limitations:
(a) Schmap may only distribute, publicly display, publicly perform, and/or publicly perform the Photos pursuant to the Terms.
(b) Schmap shall be required to keep intact all copyright notices for the Photos and provide, reasonable to the medium or means of utilization, the name of the original author (or pseudonym, if applicable) if supplied, for attribution in Licensor’s copyright notice, terms of service or by other reasonable means, and a credit (implemented in any reasonable manner) identifying the use of the Photos in any derivative Photos created by Schmap.
(c) Schmap shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, provide Internet link(s) to your Photos.
(d) Schmap shall not sublicense the Photos.
(e) Schmap shall indicate to the public that the Photos are licensable to others under the Creative Commons license that you have assigned to the Photos prior to Schmap’s initial short-listing of your Photos, and provide a link to this license, where reasonably practical.
(f) Schmap shall continue to make its destination/local guides available at no cost to end users.
5. RIGHTS
You confirm that You own or otherwise control all of the rights to the Photos and that use of the Photos by Schmap will not infringe or violate the rights of any third parties.
6. NO OBLIGATION
Schmap shall have no obligation whatsoever to reproduce, distribute, broadcast, or otherwise make use of the Photos licensed by You to Schmap hereunder.
7. NO AFFILIATION
While the Flickr website and/or Flickr API have been used to short-list your Photos, Schmap claims no affiliation or partnership with Flickr.
8. MISCELLANEOUS
If any provision of the Terms is ruled unenforceable, such provision shall be enforced to the extent permissible, and the remainder of the Terms shall remain in effect. The Terms constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the Photos licensed hereunder. There are no understandings, agreements or representations with respect to the Photos not specified hereunder. If there is any dispute about or involving the Terms or the license granted hereunder, You agree that such dispute shall be governed by the laws of the State of California without regard to its conflict-of-law provisions. You agree to personal jurisdiction by and venue in the state and federal courts of the State of California, City of San Francisco. The license granted in the Terms may not be modified without the mutual written agreement of You and Schmap.
Tags: conditions, creative commons, flickr, licensing, photographs, schmap, sharing, terms, terms and conditions, web 2.0, weird massachusetts, weird u.s. See Also
Posted under Personal, Technology | 4 Comments »
