Reading Report #5

Daniel Soloves article “The End of Privacy” focuses on privacy, the lack there of, and the internet. It is becoming more and more like second nature for people to have their interests, thoughts, pictures, amongst other little details of their lives, posted on the internet; knowing that this information in cyber space can reach people around the World. As more and more information is getting shoveled onto the internet, people are finally posing the question, how can we maintain our privacy in a cyber-world that was designed to be available to everyone? Likewise, how much privacy can people actually expect to have while using the internet? It is unfortunate that a teenager’s capricious use of the internet can hinder their chances at getting a job after graduating college because of stuff that they had on their Facebook page from years previous; but it happens, employers just like the rest of the general public can find ways into the so-called “personal” information on these social networking sites. Past, personal information posted on the internet about someone, or by someone doesn’t go away; there isn’t a trial period for being on the internet, once something is on there is will be on there forever. As Solove mentions in his article, this inhibits people from having the chance to “start over.” As people move from one phase of their lives to the next, there could be things in the past that the person would like to overcome, even forget but the internet won’t allow for that; it’s like a Pandora’s Box full of dirty little secrets. As technology continues to expand exponentially, it is our right and duty as citizens and technological users to protect ourselves! Human kind has proven itself smart enough to invent countless gizmos and gadgets that help make our day to day lives easier; the next step is to develop new ways to protect ourselves from the very new gizmos and gadgets that we have adopted into our culture.

I think that Solove’s article is great; he asks the kinds of questions that more citizens of the U.S. need to be asking. Such as, why is the closest U.S. privacy law for citizens an appropriation tort that is ineffective in being used for cyber-space? The world is changing, digitizing, our law makers and politicians have got to realize that they cannot continue doing their jobs the same ways it has always been done, and they have got to mold the laws to fit in a digital world.

Extra Credit: UNCW Library Mobile Device Website

I accessed the UNCW Library’s website through the browser on my Blackberry mobile device. I have to say, I am thoroughly impressed! I really like the initial view of the site being 9 same sized icons that then take you further into the site. I think that each specific item chosen to be an icon are the most useful places of the library website for a mobile user and it made navigating through them very simple. The site itself, as well as each individual page loaded quickly and with all of the images; although I only checked it while being connected to a WiFi network. One thing that did not load correctly was the computer availability map. The floor plan of the commons loaded fine and looks really good but all of the computers show up in a vertical row on the left side of the screen; rather than in their specific location on the map. You can still see the number count of available and unavailable computers so it isn't totally useless. I would be interested to see when the Library Catalog section is up and running next semester if everything on that page loads correctly just because of how much information it carries. One thing that I think might be useful under the “floor maps” section, would be a link to a text page that would have a simplified version of the library of congress classification system. This way students can see on the map what part of the library houses which sections of the general collection as well as going further and being able to find out what kinds of subject materials are in each section. I think this would be a great way to help students understand how the library is set up and open their eyes to the fact that you can actually browse library books by subject; I think you would be surprised to find out how many college students are actually unaware of this fact. However I would not label this link “Library of Congress Classification System” because then no one will click on it; something along the lines of “Browse the library’s General Collection by subject” and then on the actual page mention that it is the LCCS. I also think that it would be useful to have a little blurb on the actual library websites page about the mobile device website and have a link available until more of the student population knows that it is out there. I can see the mobile site being overlooked and un-used if people are unaware of its existence. That being said, I think that the mobile website looks great and is extremely useful and all students would benefit from using it. I hope that you all figure out fun ways to spread the word!

News Report #5

“Will Your Local Library Lend E-Books? (Or Can They?)”
Audrey Watters, NY Times – Read Write Web
11/11/10
http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2010/11/10/10readwriteweb-will-your-local-library-lend-e-books-or-can-3532.html?ref=internet

Calling some Americans “old-fashioned” for preferring a bound book over its new fangled e-book counterpart and sadly you wouldn’t be making a statement that is too far off. Current sales of e-books, provided by Amazon, are heavily outweighing those of both paperback and hardcover books; proof that the written word has its place in the 21st century, in a digitized form. With the demand for e-books climbing, some publishers are concerned that their sales will plummet and the market for e-books will disappear altogether if they allow libraries to lend out e-books. The Publisher Association has decided that they will allow libraries to offer e-books with extreme limitations. The e-book reader will be confined to only being able to read the book while inside the library as well as only being able to lend one e-book to one individual at a given time. However, not all publishers agree with the restrictions, claiming that trying to “apply physical barriers to digital commodities shows a lack of digital understanding.” These publishers are expanding into an unknown territory for their company and have to treat this new market as such. Libraries will still be purchasing the books from the publishers and lending them out, one copy at a time, just like bound books.

I think it is outrageous that publishers are trying to limit the use of their digital products to libraries. It not only shows a lack of technological “respect” from the publishers but also a stifling sense of having information and literature controlled by “the man”. The article cited that one publisher, Faber and Faber, admitted themselves that libraries only account for 4% of their buying market for books. Considering that libraries will be continuing to buy books from publishers, however in the digital form, the publishers will still be receiving the same compensation as they would have been for their paperback versions. Hopefully the Publisher Association will come to their senses and begin to focus on the fact that the market for e-books has so much to offer the general public and less on what their company’s income statement looks like.