Jason Griffey is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at NISO, where he works to identify new areas of the information ecosystem where standards expertise is useful and needed. Prior to joining NISO in 2019, Jason ran his own technology consulting company for libraries, has been both an Affiliate at metaLAB and a Fellow and Affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, and was an academic librarian in roles ranging from reference and instruction to Head of IT at the University of TN at Chattanooga.
Jason has written extensively on technology and libraries, including multiple books and a series of full-periodical issues on technology topics, most recently AI & Machine Learning in Libraries and Library Spaces and Smart Buildings: Technology, Metrics, and Iterative Design from 2018. His newest book, co-authored with Jeffery Pomerantz, will be published by MIT Press in 2024.
He has spoken internationally on topics such as artificial intelligence & machine learning, the future of technology and libraries, decentralization and the Blockchain, privacy, copyright, and intellectual property. A full list of his publications and presentations can be found on his CV.
He is one of eight winners of the Knight Foundation News Challenge for Libraries for the Measure the Future project (http://measurethefuture.net), an open hardware project designed to provide actionable use metrics for library spaces. He is also the creator and director of The LibraryBox Project (http://librarybox.us), an open source portable digital file distribution system.
Jason can be stalked obsessively online, and spends his free time with his daughter Eliza, reading, obsessing over gadgets, and preparing for the inevitable zombie uprising.
Originally uploaded by griffey.
I just loved this shot from our hike in Shakerag Hollow the other day. Something about the curves and the vertical trees in the background. Gonna have to get a big print to hang somewhere in the house.
So after discovering Shakerag Hollow here in Sewanee last spring, Bets and I decided to try it again this weekend. Needless to say, it didn’t disappoint.
And the flowers were just amazing.
Indy had a great time:
Go now! My presentation is live…I’m not entirely happy with the presentation (I produced multiple screencasts resolutions, and they only linked to one) but overall, I think it’s pretty good.
If anyone needs other resolutions, or a stand alone download of the screencasts, I’m going to put links in the comments of the HigherEd BlogCon post.
Does anyone out there have any experience getting a small run of something manufactured? I’m talking small, plastic or foam, less than 1000 pieces. Could be easily formed, one piece, nothing complex…just an injection model of some sort.
I have another $1000000 idea, and am interested in seeing the cost of experimenting with it. Thoughts?
Just a reminder to anyone that cares: My presentation for HigherEd BlogCon goes live tomorrow! I’d love to hear from anyone who makes it through the whole thing…it took a ton of work to put together. I know that there are some problems with the timing on some of the screencast, but I don’t think anything actually effects the meaning behind the cast.
I’ll be available on the HigherEd BlogCon site tomorrow, answering questions in the comments section of the blog.
Today, Microsoft launched their answer to Google Scholar: Microsoft Academic Live Search. It’s an interesting product, but clearly young. Google Scholar is much larger (Academic Live currently only indexes a few scientific sources), and seems to have more integration with libraries. But the interface for Academic Live is much better, from a librarian’s point of view. Here’s a quick roundup of the important differences:
In all, it’s nice to see some competition, even if it is from the evil empire. Librarians will definitely have to keep an eye on this, and see how we can integrate it into our search strategies. Things I’d like to see:
Last thought: in the FAQ, Microsoft Academic Live suggests that if a library is interested in getting their OpenURL resolver attached to Academic Live, they contact their link resolver company. This strikes me as a completely unrealistic expectation. We’re supposed to drop our provider a line, and then expect them to provide Microsoft with our IP range? Seems easier to do it the Google way, and have each school contact Google if they want listing.
Just a heads up that the Library & Information Resources Section of HigherEd BlogCon is going on this week, with yours truly being featured on Friday. There’s more going on than I can keep up with, but the sheer amount of good stuff is going to keep me busy for weeks. That’s the amazing thing about a virtual conference…it’s all there, whenever you want to come back to it. Archival of the conference for future visitation, blog format for interactivity and feedback, no travel necessary…I’m beginning to think it might be superior to a traditional, live conference experience in a lot of ways.
…in pictures.
My view at Wrestlemania 22.
The UTC Reference Team on Beale St. in Memphis, TN.
Driving back from Memphis through the worst storm system in years. Over 40 tornadoes, winds over 60 MPH, hail in places the size of baseballs…and we were driving home. This was the scene during one part of our drive….a sudden hail storm left this in its wake.
And finally, fishing with Dad on Tim’s Ford and Guntersville Lakes.
I’m ready for some quiet time at home.
This week has been a complete blur. From my trip to Chicago, I was home for one day, and then me and the rest of the UTC reference crew headed off to Memphis to the Tennessee Library Association/Southeast Library Association joint conference. Thus far the conference has been less than useful…I’ll ruminate over the difficulties of legendarily introverted librarians giving presentations at some other time. For now, let me just say that the sessions have been not particularly informative.
Our presentation is tomorrow, and tonight there is a reception at the Memphis Rock and Soul museum. But first, there will be ribs!
For the next several days, I will be off to Chicago, to enjoy the company of friends, judge the Raw Deal World Championship, and watch grown men roll around half naked.
I’m going to see Wrestlemania while in Chi-town.
I understand that most people think this is silly. Let’s just say that I enjoy the deconstruction of storytelling, while maintaining the tropes present in classical narrative forms. It’s self-referential, and wonderfully postmodern in its technique. Plus, HHH is so going to pwn Cena it’s not even funny.