Tom Roper's Weblog

BBC programme database: experimental prototype

This is a remarkable find: http://open.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax
It's published with a heap of disclaimers, most importantly perhaps that it is only an index, and has no links to the programmes themselves, but half an hour's play with it gave me an inkling of how useful it could be. It has lots of intriguing features, such as links out to Wikipedia, tag clouds, an "appears-with" feature (I was mostly searching for people), FOAF and Atom feeds.

British Library content strategy consultation

The British Library has published its draft content strategy for consultation, closing on 21 July. This is the first stage, comprising general principles and more detailed statements for the arts and humanities and social sciences. Science, technology and medicine are to follow at a later, unspecified date and are only covered in a preliminary way.
There are fourteen points on which they invite comment (some of these don't make much sense unless you read them with the whole document):

Q1 Please comment on the Library’s approach to developing a ‘content strategy’ as defined in 3.2.1 - 3.2.2.
Q2 Please comment on any of the implications of the British Library shifting its focus to a content strategy, as described in 3.3.1 - 3.3.3.
Q3 Please comment on the British Library’s approach to managing the print-digital transition, as described in 3.4.1 – 3.4.3.
Q4 Do you agree with the Library’s assessment of the key drivers and practical considerations that should influence its content strategy (4.1.1 – 4.1.2)?
Q5 Please comment on the British Library’s overall proposal for what it should and should not change within its content strategy (5.1.1 – 5.1.2).
Q6 Within the context of finite Library resources, do you wish to make any suggestions about where the Library should decrease or increase its collecting? Please provide a rationale for any suggestions you wish to make.
Q7 Please comment on any of the draft format strategies in Appendix 2. (Please state clearly the name and number of the table you are referring to.)
Q8 Please comment on the British Library’s proposed high-level content strategy for the arts and humanities (5.2.1 – 5.2.5).
Q9 Please comment on any of the draft content strategies for arts and humanities disciplines in Appendix 1. (Please state clearly the name and number of the table you are referring to.)
Q10 Please comment on the British Library’s proposed high-level content strategy for the social sciences (5.3.1 – 5.3.5).
Q11 Please comment on any of the draft content strategies for social science disciplines in Appendix 1. (Please state clearly the name and number of the table you are referring to.)
Q12 Please comment on the Library’s preliminary thinking about its high-level content strategy for science, technology and medicine, as outlined in 5.4.5.
Q13 What factors do you believe the Library should consider as it continues to develop a partnership strategy that meets the needs of UK researchers (6.1.1 – 6.1.4)?
Q14 Please comment on the Library’s proposed approach for developing a deeper ongoing dialogue about its content strategy with researchers (6.2.1 – 6.2.3). Are there other mechanisms we should consider?

Technorati Tags: BL

New Lewes library

Though in fact not so new now, but I paid it a visit for the first time today. There are a few photographs in Flickr.
Unlike certain people, when I visit a new library, the staff do not sacrifice virgins and strew the place with flowers, but I liked it nevertheless.

Breaking news: Queen Anne dead

According to Information World Review, an "online storm engulfs Cilip". Odd, I thought, it must have passed me by. I went to lis-cilip, in case I'd missed something, but all was quiet. The IWR article refers to the Freepint forums , so I went there: at first I could only see two whinging posts about the organisation. Searching I back, I did find a more lively discussion, but one that took place in February and early March. Is this really news?

Here's the article from the IWR feed:

Tracey Caldwell, Information World Review, Tuesday 25 April 2006 at 00:00:00

Online debate rages on the value of Cilip, but leader McKee invites greater involvement

Cilip has rebutted charges that it is irrelevant and poor value for money. Members and ex-members have accused the professional association of failing to represent all sectors of the information...

Update: Chris Armstrong has written on this more cogently and fully than I ever could on his blog info NeoGnostic

Ayr and Newbury: Scottish Grand National Day

Today is the last day of serious jumps racing.
Newbury 210: The Whistling Teal
Newbury 240: Red Spell
Ayr 250: Faasel
Newbury 315: Canatbria
Ayr 330: Ladalko
Newbury 350: Marcus Andronicus

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Damaris the dolphin at Seaford

There's a dolphin off Seaford beach. I took some photographs but failed to catch the beast herself, Damaris, as I call her; spectators seemed to be convinced she is female. She came into shore in pursuit of a shoal of mackerel.

Update: BBC News have some coverage and a photo of a fin.

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Job search

Inspired by the example of Tom Raferty, cited by Hugh McLeod on gapingvoid, I've made my cv more prominent on the site and added a Hire Me link. I put the cv up some weeks ago, but have had no great interest from employers; this may make it more prominent.
I cannot resist the opportunity to reproduce one of Hugh's brilliant cartoons here, which seemed to me rather apposite:

Technorati Tags: cv, jobsearch, resumé

Guardian on Reed Elsevier

There's a piece in this morning's Guardian business section on Reed Elsevier, possible threats from Google Scholar and Windows Live Academic Search and open access.
I'm not sure the author quite understands Google Scholar.

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Google search tips

The Google newsletter for librarians announces a downloadable pdf poster of Google search tips

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Leopardstown

Leopardstown 250: Ugo Fire
Leopardstown 350: Caribbean
Leopardstown 420: Perfect Hedge

Technorati Tags: horseracing, leopardstown