From the BBC Be not afraid: Nepalese children's first encounters with computers
What a great story and another example of the power of eLibraries.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Lawyers and Web 2.0
I have noticed a particular aversion or apathy to new technologies amongst the legal staff where I work. My, the library and the organisation's attempts to introduce web 2.0 tools and education have invoked comments such as - "blogs, wikis, RSS: I have no idea what they are, maybe some of you younger ones do" chuckle chuckle.... Until these tools are seen as being more widely accepted by the legal community, the lawyers here won't invest time and energy to investigate them and the possible benefits. Let's face it, they are busy and are bound to be more so this year with the fallout from the economic downturn. Unless there is a valid reason for them to become involved, there is no impetus, especially in government/public sectors. A few Australian law firms are introducing RSS Feeds, blogs and wikis, though mainly for internal use, as they have a commercial reason to 'keep up with the Jones's' and to engage with their clients. These initiatives are often driven by the IT or Library/Information areas within the firm rather than by the Partners.
I am currently tracking several US Legal Blogs or Blawgs and their numbers are increasing, in stark contrast to the lack of blawging going on here in Australia. There are US blogs on different practice areas as well as general discussion on court decisions, proposed legislation, judicial appointments and other topics of interest to practitioners. Lawyers in the US are also embracing the use of Twitter to communicate with colleagues and to debate and discuss legal issues. This blog entry from Real Lawyers Have Blogs summarises my thoughts on why lawyers have been slow on the uptake of web 2.0 technology.
Digital Darwinism?
Older lawyers running law firms fight change.
Lawyers in general feel they are above the fray - 'others may be harnessing innovative technology, but we're dealing with the law. Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, LinkedIn? We're proud to say we're a non user.'
Courts have not adopted ways to cite free case law and blogs as secondary sources.
Businesses in the legal industry who do not understand Web 2.0 and social media support with advertising moneys hard copy legal periodicals.
Though legal blogs are flourishing, there may not be the quality of legal content online we see from the general publishing industry.
I am currently tracking several US Legal Blogs or Blawgs and their numbers are increasing, in stark contrast to the lack of blawging going on here in Australia. There are US blogs on different practice areas as well as general discussion on court decisions, proposed legislation, judicial appointments and other topics of interest to practitioners. Lawyers in the US are also embracing the use of Twitter to communicate with colleagues and to debate and discuss legal issues. This blog entry from Real Lawyers Have Blogs summarises my thoughts on why lawyers have been slow on the uptake of web 2.0 technology.
Digital Darwinism?
Older lawyers running law firms fight change.
Lawyers in general feel they are above the fray - 'others may be harnessing innovative technology, but we're dealing with the law. Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, LinkedIn? We're proud to say we're a non user.'
Courts have not adopted ways to cite free case law and blogs as secondary sources.
Businesses in the legal industry who do not understand Web 2.0 and social media support with advertising moneys hard copy legal periodicals.
Though legal blogs are flourishing, there may not be the quality of legal content online we see from the general publishing industry.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Interesting to read about the lawyers who managed to get an ACT court to agree to let them serve papers via Facebook. Apparently this is the first time as far as anyone knows and the story has had press coverage internationally as well as in Australia.
Australian court serves documents via Facebook
“Today in what appears to be a first in Australia and perhaps the world, Master Harper of the ACT Supreme Court ordered that a default judgement could be served on defendants by notification on Facebook” Sydney Morning Herald 12th December 2008
Australian court serves documents via Facebook
“Today in what appears to be a first in Australia and perhaps the world, Master Harper of the ACT Supreme Court ordered that a default judgement could be served on defendants by notification on Facebook” Sydney Morning Herald 12th December 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Gift list for librarians
Gift Guide for Library and Book Lovers An Internet Hotlist on Gift Guide created by Library Advocate.
My favourites:
Book shelves
Books in Art
Bookmarks
Purses
and of course lots of lovely items on Etsy
My favourites:
Book shelves
Books in Art
Bookmarks
Purses
and of course lots of lovely items on Etsy
My Dewey Decimal section
joanna's Dewey Decimal Section:
492 Afro-Asiatic languages; Semitic languages
joanna = 051441 = 051+441 = 492
Class:
400 Language
Contains:
Linguistics and language books.
What it says about you:
You value communication, even with people who are different from you. You like trying new things don't mind being exposed to unfamiliar territory. You get bored with routines that never change.
Find your Dewey Decimal Section at Spacefem.com
I remember doing something like this at school to work out if I was compatible with particular boys.... Anyway have a go - it's fun and oddly true!!
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