Google limits Library rights

The Open Rights Group has invoked the British Freedom of Information Act to gain a copy of the contract between Google and the British Library and has published it online. In most cases, the contracts Google makes with libraries concerned with digitalizing collections are not disclosed. The British Library normally publishes all its contracts, but the one with Google was never voluntarily made public.

ORG wanted to know which terms and restrictions were linked to the digitalisation of 250.000 books from the library by Google. As it turns out, Google has more rights to use the scanned documents than the British Library itself. The Library can show the books on its website, but it can not use them commercially. Even more, it has to make sure the texts are not downloaded and forwarded in any way. Google can exploit them.

The books are in the public domain, on which there are no longer any copyrights.

Source: http://www.informatieprofessional.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8761&Itemid=79

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Harmonized overdue fines

As a result of the harmonization process within the University Library, from 26.09.2011 onwards, in all K.U.Leuven libraries, the same overdue rates will be applied.

You pay in the event of late return 0.50 euro per item per day.

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Lecture The West and the Arab Spring

Starting at 8PM on Wednesday, October 5th 2011, historian Paul Vanden Bavière will be giving a lecture in the Main Reading Room, entitled ”The West and the Arab Spring”.  He will have a look at the latest events in the Arab world and their historical perspective. Relations between the West and the region have been problematic for centuries, and still are today. That is why the Arab Spring has been received with mixed feelings by the West. At the end of the lecture, the audience will have a chance to ask some questions. The evening will end with a small reception.

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New interface for library collections K.U.Leuven

From this academic year on, the various collections of the K.U.Leuven libraries are searchable through a new interface. The Limo search engine offers access to the books and journals of the K.U.Leuven libraries and also to databases and e-journals to which the university has a subscription. All the publications of our own researchers, which are stored in Lirias, are also accessible.

The possibility to search in printed and electronic documents at the same time is the biggest advantage of Limo. The results are ranked according to their relevance and facets (filters) enable users to refine their search.

On this moment the university library of K.U.Leuven is the only university library in Belgium who has such a tool.

Source: Dagkrant K.U.Leuven

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Expo ’75 years Book Fair’ in Antwerp

The Antwerp Book Fair celebrates its 75th anniversary, the ultimate occasion to organize a retrospective exhibition concerning the history of this event. From October 7th until November 20th, Boek.be organizes an expo in the Letterenhuis in Antwerp.

The 75th birthday of the Antwerp Book Fair gives visitors and bibliophiles the opportunity to look back into the bygone years: words, images, posters, anecdotes and background information recreate the atmosphere of the past.

 

Source: Vlaamse erfgoedbibliotheek

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Born-digital Special Collections

Born‐digital material  – content that has been created digitally and does not have an analog equivalent -  still has a great risk of disappearing. In many cases, it is not quite clear who is responsible for collecting and preserving it.

UKB, the cooperative of  the thirteen Dutch university libraries and the Royal Library, has established an Born-digital Special Collections Commission, to see which role the Departments of Special Collections of the university libraries can play in preserving this special kind of heritage.

The rapport Born digital Bijzondere Collecties is now available on the website of the Nederlandse Nationale Coalitie Digitale Duurzaamheid (NCDD). It inventarises the kinds of materials being threatened and the international methods on the field, and makes recommendations for the role of the Special Collections Department.

The rapport itself – which has an English summary – can also be found in the  documentation overview of the Flemish Heritage Library.

Source: Nationale Coalitie Digitale Duurzaamheid and http://www.vlaamse-erfgoedbibliotheek.be/node/1995

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Europa Nostra Heritage Awards

Each year, Europa Nostra and the European Union celebrate the best realisations in cultural heritage conservation. Through the Europa Nostra Awards professionals, volunteers, schools, local communities, heritage owners and media who have contributed to this cause are rewarded. Special achievements are awarded in the following categories:

• Conservation
• Research
• Dedicated service by individuals or organisations
• Education, training en awareness-raising

 The Europa Nostra Awards consist of two award levels. Up to six entries will be awarded a Grand Prix, which includes a monetary award of € 10 000. Up to twenty-five entries will receive an Award. Projects can be brought in till October 1. More information can be found on the Europa Nostra website.

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Michael Hart : the e-book and Project Gutenberg

On the fourth of July 1971 – Independence Day in the US – Michael Hart typed the text of the American Declaration of Independence into the computer. He was told however that he couldn’t mail the text to various persons, because then the system would crash (in 1971, this technology was still in its infancy). To avoid this, he decided to make the text available for download. Thus the first e-book was born. And with it came Project Gutenberg, the oldest digital library, where you can download books for free. The digital pioneer who came up with all of this, has recently passed away. His project is still going strong and there’s no doubt that the e-book will survive its creator.

More info on Project Gutenberg can be found here. On the site, there is also an obituary for Michael Hart.

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Window on Leuven

From September 15th until December 31st, the Central Library of K.U.Leuven hosts an exhibition of  pictures, prints and drawings, on which the city of Leuven is depicted. The exposition is linked to the collective initiative of Museum M, the City Archive and the Central Library to make the old city views from their collection online available. From September 15th on, the website www.vensteropleuven.be will let you discover some old city views of Leuven.

Source: Erfgoedcel Leuven en Vlaamse Erfgoedbibliotheek

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Strategic plan UK library

The Research Librairies UK (RLUK) has recently published its second strategic plans for the period 2011-2014, entitled “The Power of Knowledge”. Some goals will help shape the scientific library of the 21st century, others are researching new ways of coping with more traditional challenges, suc has the care for a unique and distinctive print and heritage collection.

You can download the full pans on the RLUK website.

Source: http://www.vlaamse-erfgoedbibliotheek.be/node/1986

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