The credits have rolled for the Centre Street Blockbuster - although there's now a cheery note on the front door advising former customers to put their old movies through the slot if they don't want to hear from a collection agency.

In other Centre Street news, it's a bit of a shame the West Roxbury BPL branch couldn't have opened before cool weather after some recent renovations - because the first thing that hits you now when you enter is the smell of paint, and not in a good way.

This one's right up Don's (the zak) alley. As reported in The Globe:

"Just as the Yankees took Babe Ruth, Boston's loss is our gain," said Tom Dunn, New York education department spokesman. "We are thrilled."

Bernard Margolis, the former head of the Boston Public Library, has gone head-to-head with the Menino administration since he was removed over his management style which Menino felt left the community branches disadvantaged at the expense of the Copley head branch. He will now be leading one of the nation's largest research libraries by running the NY State libraries.

We've been contacted by the BPL about making arrangements to
discuss the problems with digital restrictions management
DRM and what might be done about it
http://defectivebydesign.org/blog/1120
http://defectivebydesign.org/about

see also
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=defectivebydesign+bpl&m=tags

Digital Restrictions protest photos. Boston Public Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/makoshark/sets/72157600127273939/show/with/2255532118/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/makoshark/

MAKOSHARK IS STRONG

Many people haven't yet used interlibrary loan readily available at our branch public libraries for books, audio and video not on the shelves within the immediate Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Somerville and other Massachusetts' libraries systems.

Better software is being developed for tracking what titles library users/customers/consumers ask for.

Alternately new book suggestions, audio suggestions and video suggestions can be submitted for local branch libraries' collections.

Hints, tips and pointers for more effective use of interlibrary loan...

Branch Boston public libraries

Many people haven't yet used interlibrary loan readily available at our branch public libraries for books, audio and video not on the shelves within the immediate Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Somerville and other Massachusetts' libraries systems.

Better software is being developed for tracking what titles library users/customers/consumers ask for.

Alternately new book suggestions, audio suggestions and video suggestions can be submitted for local branch libraries' collections.

Hints, tips and pointers for more effective use of interlibrary loan...

Branch Boston public libraries

by Ben Schwartz
http://bemasc.dynalias.net/wordpress/?p=843

#Digital Diary of Ben Schwartz RSS Feed

Digital Diary of Ben Schwartz
Like information, but less informative

<< Rain

Protest

I spent the afternoon today at this protest against the stupid DRM
systems that libraries use for their digital audiobooks
(Mom, you know all about this and how annoying it is).

The protest was outside the main entrance to the Boston Public
Library, which distributes these restricted media files.

We handed out hundreds of pamphlets and talked to countless

Libraries: Kick DRM out!

http://DefectiveByDesign.org has announced an action against libraries
that support DRM on their collections.

Boston locals can join them this
Saturday from
1pm to 3pm at the
Boston Public Library's main branch,

and non-locals are encouraged to stage an action against
their own library if it's using DRM.

http://journal.wjsullivan.net/212943.html
http://defectivebydesign.org

see also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management
http://defectivebydesign.org/about

By John Markoff
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/27/business/library.php

The Boston Public Library is also interested in scanning local Boston and Massachusetts documents and is in the process of creating its own digital archive.

Boston Public Library President Bernard A. Margolis
Massachusetts
http://bpl.org/general/seniorstaff.htm

Dear Bernard A. Margolis,

Problematical library use.
Please arrange it so that permanent URLs for entries in the BPL catalog at http://bpl.org
can be referred to for letting other library users/customers/consumers
know about a book's catalog entry.