March 26, 2008
What We’re Reading: March 27, 2008 Edition
“Stop fidgeting” is just one piece of advice in Linda Kerber’s recent Chronicle Careers article, our first link in this week’s edition of “What We’re Reading.” The article is about giving better conference presentations. We also link to Scott McLemee of Inside Higher Ed, who is perplexed by a recent Harvard University Press publication. And speaking of print, Eric Alterman of the New Yorker writes an obit for American newspapers. At the Association of College and Research Libraries blog, Brett Bonfield looks for histories of the library community’s past, and is disappointed by what he finds. Meanwhile, the Library of Congress looks to the future and its upcoming unveiling of the “Library of Congress Experience.” Other articles cover the release of Hillary Clinton’s First Lady schedules, student to professor e-mails, efforts of the Internet Archive, one year of Digital Campus podcasts, and the remembrance of Joseph M. Levine.
- Conference Rules
In “Conference Rules, Part 1,” past AHA president Linda Kerber offers advice on how to be a good chair of a panel. Then, in the follow-up article “Conference Rules, Part 2,” she dispenses advice on how to give a good talk. - The Truth? I Can’t Handle the Truth!
Scott McLemee of Inside Higher Ed ponders Harvard University Press’s recent publication of a JFK assassination conspiracy theory by academic David Kaiser, and is left scratching his head. - Out of Print
Eric Alterman at the New Yorker looks at “the death and life of the American newspaper.” - Telling Our Story
Brett Bonfield at the Association of College and Research Libraries blog asks why the library community seems to lack any good histories or much of a sense of their own past. - "Library of Congress Experience"
This Library of Congress press release details how new technology will the LOC visitor experience more interactive. Learn more at the “Library of Congress Experience” site, and hear LOC director of Communications Matt Raymond’s take at the Library of Congress blog. The experience begins April 12, 2008. - Senator Clinton’s First Lady Schedules are Released
In case you missed it, Lee White reports on the release of Hillary Clinton’s First Lady schedules. - Three of the Funniest E-Mail Messages From Students to Professors—And What They Say About Technology
Funny, or sad? The Chronicle’s Wired Campus blog takes a look at some student to professor e-mails that show “how deep a role technology plays in today’s relationships between professors and students.” - The Internet Archive Keeps Book-Scanning Free
Wired magazine reports on the Internet Archives’ book scanning efforts. To date they’ve digitized around 350,000 titles. Hat tip. - Episode 23 – Happy Birthday
The Digital Campus blog celebrates its first anniversary of podcasts. - Joseph M. Levine
Joseph M. Levine, distinguished professor of history at Syracuse University, author of five scholarly books, active member of the AHA, and winner of the 1992 AHA Leo Gershoy Award, passed away on January 26, 2008. His son, Peter Levine, remembers his Dad in a blog post.
Contributors: Elisabeth Grant, Arnita Jones, and Robert Townsend
