TED Talk called “Defend Our Freedom To Share (Or Why SOPA is a Bad Idea)

Shirky summarizes the evolution of online content law leading up to the Stop Online Piracy Act and its sister bill, the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA). He tells how the two controversial bills were preceded by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 and Audio Home Recording Act of 1992.

Shirky not only explains what SOPA and PIPA want to do, but also serves as a call to action for opponents of the legislation to preserve their ability to share, remix, and discuss.

Learn more about digital rights management and privacy issues

Libraries and individuals are spending money on ebooks and other digital files which they may no longer have access to (because we technically don't own them) in the decades to come because of the current user agreements with Amazon and other vendors. We are all locked into these proprietary "ecosystems" of ipad, Kindle, Nook, etc.  Amazon is the clear leader currently and Amazon knows everything the library patrons are checking out! A private company now has this data for the first time ever: this is not what we're accustomed to because libraries have always prized patron privacy.

Must see interview with Sarah Houghton, Librarian-in-Black from the School Library Monthly Blog:

Save the Date

Exciting professional development opportunity:

ISTE UNPLUGGED - HOME via kwout

Looking to Expand Your Personal Learning Network

The Edublog Awards is a community based incentive started in 2004 in response to community concerns relating to how schools, districts and educational institutions were blocking access of learner and teacher blog sites for educational purposes. The purpose of the Edublog awards is promote and demonstrate the educational values of these social media.

These are fabulous resources for educators to use for ideas on technology tools and how social media is used in different contexts, with a range of different learners. It introduces us all to new sites that we might not have found if not for the awards process.  Now, you can also nominate your your favorite educational mobile app for education.

The Edublog Awards 2011 are now open for voting.  This is a good time to lurk around, read, and see what you are missing.  I find new people to follow each year and enjoy expanding my PLN.  Add some of them to your rss feeds and/or follow them on Twitter:


Best Individual Blog
Best Librarian/Library Blog
Best Educators to Follow on Twitter
Best Hashtags to Follow on Twitter (educational discussions)
Best Professional Development Groups


Click here to view all the categories and spreadsheets of nominations.

Open Mic Night with Joyce Valenza & Moderator Gwyneth A. Jones - The Daring Librarian

On December 5th , Joyce Valenza and Gwyneth Jones shared their top discoveries of the year.

Additionally, dozens of other teacher/Librarians shared their faves and help build an interactive resource book.

View the slides from the crowdsourced google doc which highlights important tools.

New Trier Library proudly supports the projects of Integrated Global Studies School

Inside the Leviathan:  The Art of Moby Dick on Prezi

Collaborative Document Editing

Here's a screen shot of a recommendation by Mark Brumley:

Crocdoc – Collaborative Document Editing | Mark Brumley via kwout

I do love using kwout which allows embedding clickable screen shots!