Roll to Codex to Kindle: Books and Libraries in the Age of Digitization
Lecture and conversation with James Reid-Cunningham,
from the Boston Athenaeum
Thursday, June 28, 2012 at 6:00pm ~ Free
at Portland Public Library Rines Auditorium
The future of books and libraries seems increasingly uncertain. During the last fifteen years, the digitization of cultural materials has become a central focus of research libraries such as the Boston Athenaeum, just as the popularity of e-readers and digital texts has led to endless speculation in the media about the death of the book as a format for communication. The transition from paper to pixels is the third major development in the physical form of the book, paralleling two earlier changes in book technology.
This historical survey of the nature of the book over two millennia will explore whether a zero-sum game now exists between digital technologies and paper books in codex form, and how research libraries will address these challenges in the years ahead.
All are welcome to this free lecture, which will be followed by a question-and-answer session with Mr Reid-Cunningham.
Did you know that Portland Public Library has been a part of the Federal Depository Library Program since 1884?
The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) was established, in 1813 by Congress, to ensure that the American public has access to its Government’s information. Depository libraries safeguard the public’s right to know by collecting, organizing, maintaining, preserving, and assisting users with information from the Federal Government. Portland Public Library provides local, no-fee access to Government information in an impartial environment.
“As institutions committed to equity of access and dedicated to free and unrestricted public use, the nation’s nearly 1,250 depository libraries serve as one of the vital links between “We the people” and our Government. Anyone can visit Federal depository libraries and use the Federal depository collections which are filled with information on careers, business opportunities, consumer information, health and nutrition, legal and regulatory information, demographics, and numerous other subjects.” (Source: FDLP Desktop)
Being a FDLP library means that librarians at PPL are happy to help you locate government publications! A “government publication” is an “informational matter which is published as an individual document at Government expense, or as required by law” (44 U.S.C. 1901). Each month we receive numerous publications, both in print and electronically, from the Government Printing Office. Print items our housed at the Main Library on Congress St. and electronic items are available through PPL’s catalog.
Here is a sample of electronic documents received recently at PPL; or you may view the full list of August Government Documents:
Securing the nation’s ports and maritime border : a review of the Coast Guard’s post-9/11 homeland security missions : hearing before the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, first session, June 14, 2011. (microfilm at the Main Library)
So, as you can see the government prints a wide variety of information. Check in next month to see what’s new!
For more information and government links, please visit PPL’s E-Government Page or contact a reference librarian.
If you find yourself at the Main Library on Congress St. check out the Government Docs book display on the Lower Level featuring some of the interesting documents PPL has received through the years!
Yesterday a group from the PPL headed to the Holiday Inn by the Bay for the Greater Portland Business Expo hosted by Portland Regional Chamber. Our goal was to promote business resources available at the library.
Upon learning that exhibitors were encouraged to be creative with their displays, we thought…YES! A monetary theme was decided upon; our table was covered in jewels, gold chains, tops hats and boas to represent all of the bling business owners could attain by saving money utilizing free resources provided by the library. Of course, there was a photo booth to capture photos of conference goers in said bling.
We hoped all of the fun would draw people to our booth so we could then discuss the library’s resources and sign them up for library cards. As it turns out, people were equally excited about the library’s resources (to learn more click here ), obtaining a library card and the chance to wear a mustache and funny glasses while having their picture taken. People were genuinely interested to learn ways they can research business issues using library services right from their desktop. The library website provides access to online business directories, investment research, country reports, industry reports, demographics, SWOT analysis, online full-text business magazines, newspapers and trade journals, the list goes on…
On May 09, Matt Wickenheiser of the Bangor Daily News, wrote a great blog, “Exchanging business cards for library cards at the Portland Biz Expo” about business resources provided by the PPL.
A heartfelt thank you to the Portland Regional Chamber for hosting the event, to Matt Wickenheiser for the great press, to the folks who visited the PPL booth and were excited to learn more about the library and to all of the PPL staff who contributed in making this event such a success.
Please contact the library ANYTIME to learn more about how we can help your business succeed!
Like our Facebook page to check out all of the fun pictures!
