[Web4lib] More on the Open Content Alliance

[Leo Robert Klein]

Jennifer Heise wrote:

"...the desire to do something cool and splashy instead of being easy to 
read, which haunts librarianship..."

You know, I always got the impression that 'cool and splashy' didn't 
haunt librarianship enough.  Although I think the current example goes a 
bit overboard -- okay, way overboard -- I've often thought that the Will 
to Plainness unduly holds us back on occasion from experimenting with 
new technologies and approaches.

LEO

-- -------------
Leo Robert Klein
www.leoklein.com


Jennifer Heise wrote:
> Huh? 'In many cases you have choices'?
> You're darn right it isn't Google Library-- the desire to do something cool
> and splashy instead of being easy to read, which haunts librarianship, has
> clearly run amuck there. I don't care if it's 'quite beautiful', I want to
> be able to use it. And the main pages just don't work, either of them.
> Sneaking around to the 'back door' via directory listing isn't a 'choice' of
> how to view it, it's a kludgey work-around. There's no direct link to a
> 'side door' for text from either of the front pages, and there's no obvious
> list of the texts available.
> 
> You don't have to abandon useable design just to distance your website from
> Google.
> 
> -- Jenne Heise
> 
> On 10/27/05, Roy Tennant <roy.tennant at ucop.edu> wrote:
> 
>>I have to agree that this form of presentation isn't necessarily the
>>best. Although if things work well it provides a "gee whiz" kind of
>>experience, I personally think the "page turning" animation is just a
>>tad too cutesy while potentially introducing problems. But whatever.
>>The thing with the Open Content Alliance is that if you don't like
>>the presentation at that site, grab it and put it up in a way that
>>floats your boat. Go get it at <http://ia300002.us.archive.org/1/
>>items/openlibrary/>. Remember, this project is not Google Library. In
>>many cases you have choices.
>>Roy
>>