Aaron Schmidt | Walking Paper

The Online Newsstand Project

Mar 7, ’12 11:40 AM

This is a really neat project that shouldn’t have to exist.

The goal of the Online Newsstand Project is to increase usage of libraries’ electronic resources by library patrons, and to do so by making access to them easier and more enjoyable. The founder of the project is Steve Butzel, a website and database developer whose real job is serving as the assistant director at the Portsmouth Public Library in Portsmouth, NH.

Patrons don’t have to know what a database is or how to search one. They just get direct access to the articles they want to read. Simple!

I just learned about this via The Swiss Army Librarian where he writes:

So, instead of libraries paying to use the Online Newsstand, participating libraries “adopt” a magazine, and they are then responsible for adding the new article titles and links to the Newsstand whenever a new issue is published.

Doesn’t this make you feel happy?

For more information and to get involved check out The Online Newsstand Project.

Comments (5)

More QR Code Wisdom

Mar 5, ’12 8:50 PM

WTF QR Codes has been deservedly making the rounds. Pretty funny.

And now there’s Pictures of People Scanning QR-codes.

[Thanks, Tony!]

QR Codes might be the Clippy of the early 21st century.

Comments (2)

Graphic Design Opening for Pierce County (WA) Library

Feb 28, ’12 6:52 AM

I’ve no reason to promote this opening other than the fact that it makes me happy to see a library investing in a full time graphic designer.

Comments (0)

Library Members

Feb 27, ’12 6:45 AM

Members of The London Library have access to a unique humanities library for use in their own homes or workplaces, in addition to congenial spaces in which to read and work.

The London Library refers to the people that use it as members. Nice. Its a private library so the mechanism of joining is a bit more explicitly membership-like than how public library patrons (at least in the United States) get library cards.

I’ve heard Stephen Abram, David Lankes and Joan Frye Williams all advocate for calling the people who use public libraries “members” and I’m all for it too.

This label also leads to a great opportunity on library websites: a page detailing the benefits of membership. Here’s one from the London Library.

Comments (2)

Phone Booth Guerilla “Libraries”

Feb 24, ’12 5:52 AM

Have you seen this project by the fictional Department of Urban Betterment? It is a pretty neat repurposing some (largely) outmoded infrastructure to something else: an honors system book swap.

I know the word “library” has a few uses but I’m also a bit sad that we haven’t elevated it beyond the common “pile of books” use.

More at How New York Pay Phones Became Guerrilla Libraries

Comments (1)

Skokie Stories

Feb 19, ’12 6:07 AM

Like LibraryYou, here’s a great example of a library collecting content from their community. The Skokie Public Library also does a nice job highlighting what their patrons are making in the library. I’m a big fan.

[Thanks to Toby for telling me about Skokie Stories.]

Comments (0)