Indiana State Police’s brand new database

As it turns out, libraries aren’t the only digitally-savvy organizations using databases to their advantage.  Databases in the criminal justice field have existed for years but none quite like this.  In an article found on InfoDocket titled “Government Databases: Indiana State Police Launches Clandestine Meth Lab Database Online,” Gary Price pulls from the Kokomo Tribune and Indiana State Police website themselves to detail the new database for use by residents.

The clandestine meth lab database (found here) allows residents to “see every property, car or outside location that was once the site of a clandestine meth lab that has yet to be cleaned and decontaminated” (Kokomo Tribune).  There are over 9,000 of these labs, and the guidelines are detailed on the first page of the database.

Some of the criteria of the labs listed on the website include: at least 180 days has passed since the seizure of the lab by law enforcement, locations not defined as “property” (cars, outside locations?) will be listed 30 days after its seizure, the lab was reported to the Indiana State Police with certain requirements, and the lab was seized on or after January 1, 2007.  Very useful to know for potential soon-to-be residents of Indiana or current residents looking to move.

Preservation formats for digitization

An article on The Digital Shift by Roy Tennant, “The Library of Congress Recommends Preservation Formats” discusses the new recommendations given by the Library of Congress for best file formats and preserving access to information and data.  These types of information include textual works and sheet music, images, audio, video or moving images of any sort, software, electronic games, learning modules, and of course, databases and datasets.

Instead of replacing the LoC’s “Best Edition” of Published Copyright Works, it is meant to complement the work.  The new list of recommendations serves to compile, categorize, and detail/describe the recommendations, and they even include not only Preferred formats, but also Acceptable formats for some.

The article itself states that no surprises should be found if one is familiar with information preservation already or has experience, but would prove extra-useful to those who hadn’t yet gotten into digital preservation but wanted to remain abreast of its best and most current practices.  The list is organized in an outline-like format, hierarchically divided into appropriate categories.  It is reminiscent of the hierarchical structure we have come to depend on from the LoC and library and information science work in general, and incredibly handy to even just browse.

Newest library gadgets – Library Journal

I spotted the following article on Library Journal’s website titled “What’s Hot: The latest in library products & furnishings” and decided to explore their technological updates.  New digital technology is being developed all the time but this page had plenty of examples of cool, useful new gadgets that answered some questions that came up in other classes before (such as the outdated formats of microfilm, etc.).

Most of the list is new gadgets geared toward increased independence on the part of the user.  The microfilm retrieval tool, UTrieve, “allows library patrons and staff to access previously scanned strip film and other microform in its original format via a desktop or laptop computer, tablet, or smartphone” and allows the owners to “view, print, save, and send images from the workstation, home, or road.”  A heat-free laminating machine is featured, but the most focus is on circulation materials.  We have an automated materials handling, media security for increased efficiency and security with DVDs, as well as devices (with device dispensaries for laptops, iPads, and others).  Speedy tech checkouts also feature in as well as interactive children’s products.

NeRD: what are you trying to say?

Today I stumbled on an article through Library Journal’s website titled “U.S. Navy Launches NeRD, a Security Enhanced E-Reader.”  The concept intrigued me simply because I had never spent much time thinking about those in the military benefiting from E-Readers with added security features.  The readers distributed by the Navy were designed by Findaway World, “perhaps best known in the library world for its Playaway) and contain 300 preloaded titles “including popular fiction, recent bestsellers, and content from the Chief of Naval Operations Professional Reading Program.”

Makes sense, as the vice president of digital products for Findaway World states, “We have a longstanding relationship with the Navy and other government agencies and military branches through our Playaway product.  At its core, Playaway is a pre-loaded, locked-down electronic device that’s secure, non-transferable, and lends itself well to circulation environments.”  In an environment in which it is difficult to circulate many books and in which wifi communications and credit card-using technologies (such as the Kindle store, the way by which we obtain books on E-Readers) must be locked down, the Playaway’s descendant, the NeRD, is the perfect companion.

Navy security protocols require restrictions on personal electronic devices “with rewritable media or recording capabilities” while on ships – understandable, considering the confidentiality issues and military matters.  Though the Navy has offered many venues of book-lending over the years such as through OverDrive, EBSCO, Gale, et al., but during deployments the access to these materials can be limited.  While aircraft carriers offer selections of books and DVDs “on par with many public branch libraries,” submarine libraries are limited by space constraints and could be just a few cubic inches.  Because of this, submarines will be the first to receive the NeRDs.

An additional technology keeps the content encrypted and safe: Findaway’s Lock design.  Inspired by the Navy’s RFI “and later request for proposal” (RFP),  the technology will soon be in demand by schools, public libraries, and other organizations.  This would be a good way to keep a “curated, focused list of titles” available to read.