The makerspace movement is gaining momentum in the library world. In his recent report on “Libraries and the informational future: some notes,” Lorcan Dempsey of OCLC noted how “space is being reconfigured around broader education and research needs, and less around the management of print collection. In effect, space is shifting from infrastructure to engagement…” Nothing represents this emerging trend more than the recent growth of makerspaces within libraries.
slideshare from ALA 2012
Abstract: Imagine libraries are places to learn and create, not consume and check out.| Virtual Dave…Real Blog
Earlier this year, MAKE Magazine's Phillip Torrone wrote a provocative article asking "Is it time to rebuild and retool libraries and make 'techshops'?" In other words, should libraries join some of the other new community centers that are being created (such as General Assembly which we covered yesterday) and become "hackerspaces" or "makerspaces"? | MindShift
"But in its original conception, the Google search engine did transport us into a messy and confusing world—the world of the web—with the intent of helping us make some sense of it. It pushed us outward, away from ourselves. It was a means of exploration. That’s much less the case now." | ROUGH TYPE
"The grass is part of the exhibit. Various professors in Human Ecology have done research on the restorative benefits of nature. "
"New research suggests specially selected nocturnal odors can inspire creativity."
~ Pacific Standard
Can The Arab Spring’s Revolutionary Fervor Translate into great art?
The war of information in Egypt - one that has been at the heart of this revolution since its inception - is escalating.
This article is the first of three in an exploratory study of the cross-cultural, cross-language information-seeking (IS) behavior of a group of eighty-four academic and public reference librarians from Egypt and the USA. The present article describes the design of the cross-cultural research instrument used to record the behavior of participants when presented with a choice of information resources in several languages unfamiliar to them. A review of literature demonstrates the need in cross-cultural investigations for a multi-tiered approach that allows analysis from different perspectives. A detailed description of the design rationale for the interview model is given, which includes a cultural background questionnaire providing data designed to enable comparative analysis of the search performance of sub-groups. Instructions on how to manage cross-language searches complete the interview. A discussion of the usefulness of the methodology in discerning cultural universals, differences, and the IS needs of cross-cultural researchers is followed by conclusions and suggestions for further research.
SafarKhan enjoys the unique dual role of collecting and selling modern Egyptian art; this distinctive attribute is one of the various reasons why SafarKhan is so special. Ever since 1968 this quaint gallery in the heart of Zamalek has sated the ever-growing appetite and appreciation for Egyptian art in Cairo. Known as SafarKhan, this establishment has long been at the forefront of the dynamic art scene in Egypt and has since rose to prominence as the most respected and talked about venue of its kind.
Jeffrey Brown reports on three artists from Cairo with their own perspectives on the fascinating city he visited earlier this year: jewelry maker Azza Fahmy, conceptual artist Lara Baladi and dancer and choreographer Karima Mansour.
The contemporary art scene in Cairo is electric—wired for multimedia, wide awake to questions of Arab identity and political opinion, attracting the interest and money of international collectors, and, casting new light on an ancient city