Filed under: Links, Not so ancient History, Thoughts, archives, librarian | Tags: Politics, search terms
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/04/04/usfunded-health-sear.html
This is absurd. I’m really ticked off. This story has been picked up by multiple blogs already, but we were discussing Thesaurus(es? i?) in class yesterday, I thought it was really interesting.
Limiting search terms hurts everyone. By removing a commonly used MEDICAL TERM from the thesaurus with no warning is irresponsible and is a violation of trust.
By limiting results as a search, both sides are hurt. Anti-Abortion rights activists cannot access information that would help him, and Pro Abortion Rights activists cannot access information that would help them. It doesn’t matter what side of this debate you are on, the censorship of a common medical term hurts everyone. Say you wanted to write an editorial about abortion and wanted to search this database for information to make your point… because it is a federal funded database, you wouldn’t be able to get your information.
Now, how about that for not being a good thing?
http://bottledmonsters.blogspot.com/2008/03/history-of-medicine-viagra-10-years.html
Is Viagra part of history now? Yes, yes it is, in my opinion. Just think of the cultural changes since 1998. Now think of the political changes. And the economic changes. Yes, 1998 is history now.
http://www.archivesnext.com/?page_id=124
Nominate movers and shakers in the archive community. Due date is April 30th.
http://feministlawprofs.law.sc.edu/
Want to learn new and interesting things that may or may not have to deal with Feminism and law? Here’s the spot for you!
You’d be surprised how many times records and documents come up here. Speaking of which:
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/04/01/libraries-and-the-oc.html
Someone’s written a dissertation on how library cataloging systems marginalize the occult and make books about it difficult to find. How cool is this student?
