As readers of this blog will know, I am not a professional librarian, and I am also not, by training, a programmer. Fortunately for me, around the time I started working closely with librarians and (even more scary?) software developers for libraries The Code4Lib Journal was launched. Its mission is to foster community and share information among those interested in the intersection of libraries, technology, and the future. While it can be dangerous getting caught in an intersection, this journal perfectly captures where I'm at and what I need. It has, even with only two issues released, become essential reading.

The Coordinating Editor of The Code4Lib Journal is the estimable Eric Lease Morgan.  It has a solid Editorial Committee, and welcomes input via its Google Groups discussion list. The journal welcomes new submissions and currently uses an editorial process rather than blind peer review. This a journal by librarians, for librarians. The editorial committee is looking for content that is practical, demonstrates how to exploit technology to create digital library collections and services, or offers insight and forethought regarding the use of computers in any type of library setting.

The current issue admirably displays the kind of content the editorial committee is seeking. I was especially drawn to Edward M Corrado and Kathryn A. Frederick's article on Free and Open Source Options for Creating Database-Driven Subject Guides. In this survey of resources, Corrado and Frederick canvas a wide range of FOSS applications, only a few of which I have seen in use previously. They also go on to non-library specific tools such as blogs, wikis, and course management systems that are often used to reach the same ends. All-in-all, a very useful summary.

Another article that caught my eye was Dan Scott and Kevin Beswick's report on their attempts to extend the usefulness of ICT hardware through a FOSS LiveCD, Quick Lookup Laptops in the Library: Leveragin Linux with a SLAX LiveCD.  Scott and Beswick undertook a project to improve their users' experience using near-obsolete hardware (at least from a North American perspective) in the J.N. Desmarais Library of Laurentian University in Canada. The hardware wasn't up to the task of running its operating system (Windows XP) and installed software - or at least it was so sluggish as to be virtually unusable. The solution was to convert these machines to running a kiosk Linux LiveCD. The article describes the problem, the proposed solution, and then provides some of the code used to enact that solution. As I was reading it, I immediately wondered whether just such a practical solution might not benefit some libraries across out network. And of course related solutions are already being used in eIFL.net libraries to maximise the life of aging IT hardware.

Just an example of two of the articles I found useful in this new journal. But I've got it on my list now as essentially for me. You might want to consider it for your list of good library ICT reads.

Comments: If you can login to the eIFL.net website, then you can add comments to this blog post directly. If not, just write to me at randy.metcalfe[at]eifl.net and be sure to let me know whether you wish your comment to published and attributed (I'm also happy to receive comments that you don't wish to have published).