Why we should pay attention to academic publishing

As we consider how knowledge is created and disseminated, and eventually organized in various ways, we should give some attention to scholarly and academic publishing. This has a big impact on how faculty in research institutions are compensated and otherwise rewarded. The open access movement has been working to make more information freely available, but the major academic publishers still hold a grip on the world of research. Much of this research is funded with public money, yet is still held within the copyright grasps of the major publishers. It is yet another way public funds are redirected into the hands of corporations, albeit indirectly. Give this article a read.

Monblot, George. "Academic Publishers Make Murdoch Look Like a Socialist." The Guardian. 29 Aug. 2011. Guardian News and Media Limited. 30 Aug. 2011. Web. < http://gu.com/p/3xgdn >

In Personal Data, a Fight for the Right to Be Forgotten - NYTimes.com

Do you think much about what information is tracked about you? Is there an "opt-out" option? Food for thought...
In Personal Data, a Fight for the Right to Be Forgotten - NYTimes.com

New issue of Associates available

The July 2011 issue of Associates: the Electronic Library Support Staff Journal is now available. Be sure to give LIT program student Brandon Hackbarth's essay, Joined at the Hip: Self-Censorship in Youth Collection Development and Public Service, a read. His essay is an edited version of his final project in LIBT 1200 Introduction to Technical information Services. Nice job, Brandon!