Re: The "A" in RDA

From: john g marr <jmarr_at_nyob>
Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2013 13:59:46 -0600
To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
On Fri, 2 Aug 2013, Ross Singer wrote:

> If we make [data] available to Google, Yahoo, MS, et al. ... I see no 
> reason that these companies wouldn't take advantage of it ...

  OTOH, there is presently no reason for them NOT to take advantage of it.

  But that's not what worries me. We (libraries) once objected to 
government spying into our circulation records. Playing with Google will 
lead to letting *anyone* see who even just searches for library titles. In 
fact, public knowledge of that might just discourage people from searching 
for library titles. Here's an article that parallels the problem: "The 
Internet As We Know It Is On Its Deathbed" at 
http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/internet-we-know-it-its-deathbed

> The key is finding ways to leverage this data so it's profitable for all
> parties.

  So you want to leverage libraries into corporate models that don't 
protect privacy? I guess that sounds a little harsh, but the current 
political climate *could* be doing that (if they had reasons to ...).

  I'd rather see libraries considered independent of political processes-- 
the public could be encouraged to talk about that.

Cheers!

jgm

  John G. Marr
  Cataloger
  CDS, UL
  Univ. of New Mexico
  Albuquerque, NM 87131
  jmarr_at_unm.edu
  californiastop_at_hushmail.com

     ** Forget the "self"; forget the "other"; just
consider what goes on in between. **

Opinions belong exclusively to the individuals expressing them, but
sharing is permitted.
Received on Fri Aug 02 2013 - 16:01:00 EDT