EDITOR'S NOTE
Breaking the Rules
by Brandi Scardilli
If someone is known as a rule-breaker, we need to understand the context of the epithet before we pass judgment. There are rule-breakers who fight for justice (Lois Lane’s journalistic instincts always come first, no matter the consequences), and there are rule-breakers who commit crimes because they think they’re above the law (Lex Luthor pursues Superman so doggedly, he doesn’t care who gets hurt). This issue is full of rule-breakers of both types.
In “What Trends May Come in 2017,” three info pros go beyond the typical rules of what a library should be when making predictions for next year. Justin Hoenke wants libraries to focus on the political process to be better equipped to serve their patrons. Leigh Watson Healy emphasizes the importance of thinking about data in new ways. Jason Griffey sees stopping the consolidation of power in a few major online networks as paramount for library growth.
Corilee Christou’s feature, “Don’t Rip Off YouTube,” tackles the case of YouTube-mp3.org, which has landed in legal hot water over the practice of stream ripping. And Anthony Aycock is all about the rule of law: He covers resources for researching administrative law in his feature, “Keep to the Code.”
Our columnists follow the adage that rules are made to be broken, for better or worse. For example, Brendan Howley helps libraries upend the rules of traditional storytelling in Razor’s Edge, and Shirl Kennedy’s Internet Waves dissects the cyberattack that brought down the internet in October.
There’s plenty more in the issue for rule-followers to enjoy too. Happy reading!
— Brandi Scardilli |
