Lots of Rumors out there but only have time for a few right now. Just learned that the creative, hard-working, and entrepreneurial Stanley Wilder will be the new University Librarian at Adkins Library, UNC-Charlotte, effective August 1. As we all know, Stanley has an extensive career in academic research and is a thought leader for the profession. Hear! Hear! Congratulations, Stanley!
Rumors have been flying about the Google Books Settlement. Hard to keep them straight. Seems that the Justice Department has begun an inquiry into the antitrust implications of Google's Book Search Service settlement.
See – “Justice Dept. Opens Antitrust Inquiry Into Google Books Deal," by Miguel Helft, New York Times, April 29, 2009;
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/technology/internet/29google.html?_r=1...
Also, “Google Book-Search Pact Draws Antitrust Scrutiny,” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124095639971465549.html (subscription reqd)
And recently posted info on Liblicense courtesy of Robert C. Richards, news that the opt-out deadline and the deadlines for objectors and the amici to submit their views to the court have been extended to September 4, 2009.
http://home.comcast.net/~richards1000/ExtensionOrder4-28-09.pdf
The final fairness hearing has been rescheduled for October 7,
2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/technology/internet/29google.html
And this courtesy of Charles W. Bailey, Jr., writing on Liblicense: “Seven ARL libraries are facing major planned or potential budget cuts: Cornell University Library, Emory University Libraries, MIT Libraries, UCLA Libraries, University of Tennessee Libraries, University of Washington Libraries, and Yale University Library. These examples suggest that significant budget cuts may be widespread in ARL libraries."
http://tinyurl.com/chgumq
Three great Rumors today even though it's Friday the 13th! First --The redeveloped New Bodleian library building will be renamed the Weston Library in honor of the £25 million donation given in March 2008 by the Garfield Weston Foundation toward its transformation into an advanced special collections library and cultural centre. Dr Sarah Thomas, Bodley’s Librarian, will make the announcement on 14 March during the Founder’s Luncheon held by the Bodleian Library, an annual event commemorating the birth of its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley in March 1545, and his legacy of philanthropy. The formal renaming will occur in 2014 following a major refurbishment of the New Bodleian building. The gift, the largest ever made by the Foundation, was announced at the launch of Oxford Thinking: The Campaign for the University of Oxford last May. It is also the largest donation received to date in the Library’s history, and is one of the leading gifts to the University’s campaign which aims to raise a minimum of £1.25bn.
Second -- this notice from Rick Prelinger (forwarded to me by Ken Robichaux) -- For those interested in orphaned works, there's a star-studded meeting on issues arising out of the proposed Google settlement happening today at Columbia Law School. Rick was following Peter Brantley's Twitter stream at #gbslaw, and you can too: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23gbslaw
Third -- John Regazzsi has been appointed newly created position of Chief Strategy Officer for the H.W. Wilson Company. Reporting to H.W. Wilson President and CEO Harold Regan. Mr. Regazzi will focus on a broad range of initiatives, including new products, product enhancements, business development, and marketing. We'll all recall that from 1981 to 1988, Mr. Regazzi was H.W. Wilson's Vice-President of Computer Services, overseeing the company's conversion from print to electronic publishing. He currently serves (and will continue on) as a full professor in the College of Information and Computer Science at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. In 1988, Mr. Regazzi was appointed President & CEO of Engineering Information, Inc., and in 1999, when Ei became part of Elsevier, Inc., he was appointed to the position of President & CEO of Elsevier, Inc. with responsibilities for electronic publishing. In 2004, he assumed the additional role of Managing Director, Market Development, where he was responsible for research and development, advanced technology and new strategic market initiatives. Mr. Regazzi holds a doctorate in Information Science from Rutgers University, an M.S. degree in Library and Information Science from Columbia University, an M.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Iowa, and a B.A. degree in Psychology from St. John's University. He can be reached at jregazzi@hwwilson.com.
www.hwwilson.com