Update on redesign of Acqweb
From:
"Cook, Eleanor" <COOKE_at_ecu.edu>
Please excuse duplicate postings…
UPDATE ON THE NEW ACQWEB – CHECK IT OUT AT: www.acqweb.org
<http://www.acqweb.org>
Dear colleagues across the spectrum of Library land and beyond:
It’s finally time to announce that a new AcqWeb has finally been planted
and the seed is rapidly growing.
Until now, I have been shy about discussing the progress of this
possible revival because I was not sure it would survive to see the
light of day. Several years ago the ACQNET editorial board and others
worked diligently to analyze the results of a survey we sent out to find
out if people really wanted AcqWeb to live. Those who responded seemed
to really want it – so we went forward to see if we could revamp it. *
*We have been slogging onward quietly. After consultant Janis Keim
(funded by Appalachian State and University of Utah universities,
respectively) recommended the use of Drupal (an open source content
management system) as a possible new platform for AcqWeb, it appeared
that we might have something to work with. Drupal has become a
recognized CMS and is being used by /Against the Grain News Channel/ as
well as the American Library Association just to name two examples. In
other words, we’re in good company and it’s likely that we’ll find
library acquisitions staff with a comfort level using this platform.
The other development that leads me to think the time is right for a new
AcqWeb is the explosion in the use of social networking. Librarians are
embracing Facebook, blogs, Twitter and all the rest of the applications
that depend on interconnections. In other words, Listserves are SO
1990’s, and it’s past time to think about moving on. That is NOT to say
that this is an announcement that ACQNET-L is ending – on the contrary,
ACQNET-L is still active and working. But it IS time to think about
transitioning certain conversations to a different venue. ACQNET-L has
served the library acquisitions community faithfully for almost 20
years. That is really hard to believe, but it’s true.
The new AcqWeb is certainly still a work in progress and is not
finished, not perfect and has much more work involved to make it what we
want it to be. I came to the conclusion over the last year or so that
there was simply no way to roll out a finished product using volunteer
help. Believe me, there are many people interested in seeing this
project happen. But where does the time go? It goes to our families, our
jobs and other aspects of our lives. But look at Wikipedia – it has
become HUGE and it is on done primarily with volunteers.
I doubt the new AcqWeb will be anything so large, but look at ALA
Connect. It’s a happening place.
I think that the new AcqWeb could be a great place for technical
services types and their business partners to come together and talk
about all the new developments in our field. Anyone who is involved in
library acquisitions will be seeking a place to find a shoulder to cry
on because library acquisitions and book production and purchasing in
general are getting ready to change dramatically and we need a place to
talk about THAT, if nothing else.
One of the centerpieces of the old AcqWeb was the publisher & vendor
directory. That aspect of the old AcqWeb is woefully out of date and
probably is going to have to come to a close or become a different
animal. Google has superseded the need for such a directory; it was of
great value before Google and other search engines, when the World Wide
Web was new. If a new directory needs to be built, perhaps we can be the
ones to do it – but right now, the main thrust of the new AcqWeb will be
building a useful site for basic communication. We can make it whatever
we need it to be – so nothing is off limits and everything is on the table.
Right now what I would like to see is some experimentation and
willingness to actually help make this new AcqWeb happen. We have set up
a Forum which we’d like people to use as an alternative to ACQNET-L.
(We’d like to keep ACQNET-L running in tandem, mostly for Acqflash
announcements). There is a blog feature where I and other guest bloggers
can post more lengthy thoughts (Christian Boissonnas should have had
blogger software back in the old days of ACQNET – He was a natural
blogger!)
My colleague Ginny Boyer who is a cataloger by day and a library science
student by all other hours, is working on the bones of AcqWeb as part of
an independent study for her degree program. She has made great strides
at getting the shell up. It will be changing on a daily basis as we
tweak it and add content and features. We want anyone interested in to
be part of the process.
Are you ready for the new AcqWeb? If so, please join us at
www.acqweb.org <http://www.acqweb.org>
Eleanor Cook
Chief Editor, ACQNET-L
cooke_at_ecu.edu <mailto:cooke_at_ecu.edu>
Eleanor I. Cook
Assistant Director for Collections & Technical Services
Academic Library Services -- Joyner Library
East Carolina University
East Fifth Street
Greenville, NC 27858
252-328-2598
252-328-4834 fax
cooke_at_ecu.edu
Received on Sat Aug 29 2009 - 03:01:30 EDT