Volume 42, Number 2 - March/April 2018
EDITORIALFrontLines Page 4 Libraries can no longer build services based on the assumption that information is a scarce resource. It isn't, not anymore. By Marydee Ojala The Searcher's Viewpoint Page 25 When asked her opinions about the future of education for librarians, Jill Hurst-Wahl had several thoughts running through her head. One came to the forefront: Why does this profession still not reflect the diversity seen within our communities? She addresses this issue as it relates to master of science in library and information science students in the coming decades. By Jill Hurst-Wahl DEPARTMENTSPage 8 Search Engine Update By Greg R. Notess Page 54 Ramping Up Relevance and Digital Ethics FEATURESPage 10 The value proposition for libraries is changing from one based on scarcity of information to one that acknowledges the growing influence of digital resources. At the Copenhagen Libraries, a strategy for the digital transformation of its offers and services resulted in The Copenhagen Model, which defines six major roles for librarians. By Rie Bojer Kooistra, Mikkel Christoffersen Page 16 In Support of the Scholar  To support scholars, librarians have moved beyond their traditional responsibilities. They are finding new ways to assist scholars in accessing full-text articles; they're investigating new developments with peer review; and they're exploring how to share research data. Barbie Keiser looks at products to help with these initiatives. By Barbie E. Keiser Page 22 Ethical, Explainable Artificial Intelligence: Bias and Principles Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming ubiquitous, not just in the business world but also for information professionals. Laura Gordon-Murnane considers the promise and perils of AI. How does (and will) AI affect jobs and how non-transparent algorithms may induce bias into analysis? We need ethical AI, she concludes. By Laura Gordon-Murnane Page 30 Information professionals are dealing with disruptive changes, from the fake news crisis and rapidly advancing technology to the concept of information freedom. Nancy Herther consults with several experts to get their perspectives on not only surviving but flourishing in a topsy-turvy library world. By Nancy K. Herther Page 46 Food Safety and Food Regulatory Information: Resources From the U.S. and Beyond Food. We all eat it, but food safety can be a concern, particularly in light of the scary headlines we sometimes see. The Hershey Co.'s Rosannna Lindquist outlines free resources from global regulatory bodies along with fee-based services that compile data on food safety. By Rosanna Lindquist COLUMNSInternet Express Page 27 Crowdfunding has come a long way thanks to social media. Carly Lamphere takes a look at some of the most popular crowdfunding platforms on the internet today: GoFundMe, Kickstarter, and Indiegogo. She also looks at the challenges and responsibilities that come with these platforms, as well as the economics and downsides to crowdfunding. By Carly Lamphere InfoLit Land Page 57 Outliers, those creative scholars who sometimes produce suspect work, present challenges to information literacy and scholarship. Even if their findings are novel, unpopular, or a risk to the status quo, that doesn't mean scholarship is broken. By William Badke The Dollar Sign Page 60 Company Research Redux Finding public company research is generally perceived as much easier than finding private company information. Yet even companies that trade on public stock exchanges, if they are small, may not yield as much data as business researchers would like. By Marydee Ojala The Open Road Page 63 I ♥ New York Open Data New York City stands out for columnist Eric Hinsdale in its creation of an innovative open data website that succeeds at engaging residents with information produced and used by the city's government. This open data initiative should be a model for other governments. By Eric Hinsdale Control-Shift Page 66 Be Fast and Light to Speed Up Your Website Jeff Wisniewski makes the business and moral case for speeding up library website performance. Findability is influenced by speed, as is equitable access to information. His tips give practical advice on achieving better, faster websites. By Jeff Wisniewski Hard Copy Page 69 Recommended Reading on Government Information, Fundraising, Digital Libraries, and Security By Deborah Lynne Wiley Online Spotlight Page 72 Knowing When to Say ‘When’ With the proliferation of online information, it sometimes seems that we're playing four-dimensional chess, writes veteran searcher Mary Ellen Bates. Including "pause points" in the research process is good advice. By Mary Ellen Bates |
