Table of contents: issue53

Book Review: The Cambridge History of Libraries in Britain and Ireland

editor — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Lorcan Dempsey reviews Volume III of a landmark collection on the history of libraries in 'Britain and Ireland' from 1850 to 2000.

First, a note about this reviewer. I am not a library historian although I am interested in our professional and institutional development. I received my library education in Ireland, although I have worked for much of my career in the UK and am now in the US. I observed the developments discussed in the latter parts of this volume and have contributed to the literature about them. I have met many of the contributors and am familiar with the writings of others.

Book Review: Principles of Data Management

editor — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Pete Cliff takes a look at a new book from the British Computer Society that aims to help readers understand the importance, issues and benefits of data management across an enterprise.

Principles of Data Management might not sound like a thrilling title and, given its business focus, you might think not all that relevant to many readers of Ariadne. However, before dismissing it out of hand, consider this: may not the research outputs of an institution be regarded as business assets that require management (in, for example, an institutional repository)? On what other data does a university rely? Staffing, recruitment, enrolment, courses, library stock, costs?

Book Review: Listen Up! Podcasting for Schools and Libraries

editor — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Elizabeth McHugh looks at how podcasting has the potential to take library services and activities to new audiences.

Linda Braun is an educational technology specialist who is an enthusiast for podcasting - in all its formats - and the reasons why it should and how it could be used. The book is slanted towards education but the ideas and suggestions in it could appeal to a wider audience. Although written primarily with American readers in mind (the specific references tend towards American Web sites) this is not to discount the relevance of the book for an international audience. The instructions and examples presented are applicable regardless of location.

Book Review: The Cult of the Amateur

editor — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Stephanie Taylor tries to curb her enthusiasm for Web 2.0 by investigating the dark side of social networking.

Before I begin this review, I should declare my interests and publicly acknowledge that I not only work with social networking tools and technologies professionally, but I actually like many aspects of Web 2.0.

But I do not embrace Web 2.0 without reservations, and knowing I have a tendency occasionally to be ever so slightly blinded by my enthusiasms, I have been eager to investigate the more sceptical viewpoint and so, I hope, develop a more rounded view of the subject.

Book Review: Mastering Regular Expressions, 3rd Edition

editor — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Emma Tonkin and Greg Tourte take a look at the new edition of an O'Reilly classic.

Introduction: Needles, Haystacks and Magnets

Since the early days of metadata, powerful textual search methods have been, as Wodehouse's Wooster might have put it, 'of the essence'. Effective use of search engines is all about understanding the use of the rich query syntax supported by that particular software. Examples include the use of Boolean logic (AND, OR and NOT), and wildcards, such as * and ?.