Coughing up Coffman

[Linda Rudell-Betts]

Although seemingly bit off topic, an article in Wired News points to a
disjoint in the Amazon model and LIS practices

http://www.wired.com/news/print_version/business/story/21417.html?wnpg=all

Wired News
Big Brother, Big 'Fun' at Amazon
by Declan McCullagh

3:00 a.m.  25.Aug.99.PDT

"A new Amazon.com service designed to create shopping  communities
worries some customers who are concerned about potential corporate
espionage and threats to individual privacy.

"The feature lets anyone view books, movies, and CDs ordered by
amazon.com customers at corporations, nonprofit groups, and  government
agencies."  [more]

I see the lesson here being if libraries do follow the Amazon model,
they must assure that users will be afforded the same privacy as they
are granted when they walk in the door.  The best way to accomplish that
goal is to have librarians and information scientists spearheading the
electronic efforts.  Change in some direction is inevitable, and changes
will be made with or without our input.  Better that we're right on the
edge with the wealth of experience and knowledge our profession has.

For those of you in the competitive intelligence end of the business,
here is the URL for Amazon "Purchase Circles"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/subst/community/community.html/

Glad this thread is running --

Linda Rudell-Betts
Information Science Consultant
Los Angeles, CA