Library Thing (LT) is a social library catalog. You post your books and link to other community members who have similar interests. I have been using Library Thing for my personal reading for some time (these are of course NOT...ummm... romance novels...and if they are they are certainly not the kind that involve pirates, highlanders, etc.) and including them on another blog I host (also NOT about romance novels ~.o). I recently thought, how could I use this at my Library?
Library Thing for Libraries is where I would first point you. This seems like a terrific development that I will be keeping an eye on. Library Thing for Libraries integrates LT into the catalog and will soon feature ratings and comments - a MUST HAVE ASAP for library catalogs in my opinion. Library catalogs are lagging way behind current web 2.0 technology (with some great exceptions). Since I am part of a huge union catalog I have passed this on the people "in the know" for our catalog (SirsiDynix). I still wanted to find a way to include Library Thing in some way on our webpage NOW.
I am including the Library Thing widget on our page with 8 new entries in our LT catalog. This is an extra step for our catalogers, but not too cumbersome because the search is very easy via amazon or Library of Congres via title, author, ISBN, LC card number, etc. We have found some books that we order (being a highly technical science library) that are not able to be added to our LT catalog but our purpose was not be exhaustive so we don't mind! This is how our widget looks embeded on the page:
This adds a nice visual element to our page and is a fun way to inform patrons of new items. Contrary to popular (?) belief, books are far from dead. Our books have waiting lists. We have spruced up this widget with roll-overs of Amazon.com information using SnapShots which I'll talk about in my next post.
BOTTOM LINE
Pros: visual element; promotes new books
Cons: I would like to be able to change the 'my library' in the widget to "Recent books at [NAME OF LIBRARY] " or any other customization. This might be possible, anyone heard of ways to customize this further? Other arguments ("but we are pointing them to amazon instead of our catalog") do not bother me due to my personal library philosophy (coming soon).
Publications:
Sample Book Review:
Adaptive Array Systems: Fundamentals and applications
Review by: Paige C. Lucas-Stannard, Librarian NASA Glenn Research Center
Conventional signal array systems provided an advantage over single sensor recievers by compensating for beam width limitations and directivity issues. Signal arrays are used in radar, sonar, seismic, biomedical and communications systems. However, these signal array systems are susceptible to their own range of problems presented by unstable array environments. Using statistical detection and estimation theory to automatically respond to a changing array environment is the lure of adaptive array systems discussed in Adaptive Array Systems: Fundamentals and applications.
Authors Ben Allen and Mohammed Ghavami of the Center for Telecommunications Research at King's College in London present this look at array signal processing and its applications. Ghavami has previously written Ultra Wideband Signals and Systems in Communication Engineering and both authors are involved in smart antenna technologies for wireless communications.
The first four chapters provide a thorough background into antenna array systems and array signal processing. Chapter one includes detailed mathematical concepts in electrodynamics and terminology of antenna technology. This chapter is detailed enough for a undergraduate-level newcomer to antenna technology given a background in engineering mathematics. Chapters 2-4 build upon this foundation to address issues in Narrowband Array Systems (chapter 2), Wideband Array Processing (chapter 3), and Adaptive Arrays (chapter 4). These four chapters provide a thorough study of the principles and algorithms of the topic appropriate for senior-level undergraduate, graduate students or as a reference for the researcher/practicioner.
The fifth chapter takes the science detailed in chapters 1-4 and applies them to a more real-world scenario of a mobile communications system where operating environments and components are inconsistent and introduce their own imperfections. With sections on signal processing constraints, system calibration challenges, and spatial propagation parameters this chapter provides techniques to overcome common challenges in antenna array implementation and will be valuable to students and practicing systems designers.
The final chapter discusses applications of adaptive array technology in biomedical, radar, sonar, and terrestrial and space communications systems through a series of case studies.
Each chapter ends with a set of questions and problems including both mathematical and conceptual questions. The book includes a variety of black and white charts and graphs throughout the text to demonstrate concepts. Mathematical equations and derivations are also heavily featured. A detailed table of contents and index as well as a reference section adds to the usability of the book. These features greatly enhance the text and make the topic more accessible.
There are many books available dealing with antenna technology and specifically adaptive arrays. For example, Adaptive Antenna Arrays: Trends and Applicaitons (Springer, 2004) and Introduction to Adaptive Arrays (SciTech Publishing, 2003) both provide an introduction to the topic. Other books cover specific applications of the technology such as, Adaptive Array Measurements in Communications (Artech House Publishers, 2001) and Advanced Array Systems, Applications and RF Technologies: Signal Processing and its Applications (Academic Press, 2000). Allen and Ghavami's book is unique in its inclusion of both an academic look at the fundamentals of adaptive antenna technology paired with practical applications and relevant case studies that cross different fields of applications. This makes the book valuable to a wider audience.
This book is recommended for libraries serving undergraduate and graduate students as well as research libraries and libraries serving engineering professionals working in communications, radar, sonar, and biomedical fields.
.png)
