Following hot on the heels of the LISjobs survey into the fees charged within the library profession for the provision of workshops, seminars, keynotes and other professional development activities, is the revelation that the provision of services without charge are not only rare, but also apparently not valued.

Over the last month, two invitations were received by a well-known library humorist to speak at conferences. One invitation, from a small country school librarians' group one hour's flight away, was withdrawn stating that the organising committee had decided that its group membership would prefer to be spoken at on topics such as cataloging and library management software. And they would only have about 40 people attending. And that numbers had continued to decline over recent years.

The other, an international group of specialist librarians meeting interstate (also a one hour flight) had their funding cut back to such an extent that none of the travelling costs would be met - only food would be provided.

Strangely, a short and semi-lighthearted communication abused the said well-known library humorist for failing to deliver a presentation at another national conference, with no quarter given for the fact that she was somewhere else at the time ....

No more to read here >>

The biographical details of Michael Porter are only brief; he's 36 year old and is located "Just Outside of Los Angeles, USA". But Porter counts many great luminaries amongst his testimonials.

'Unbridled Expression'(TM) recounts that work shows his attention to detail, the lush sensuality that life has to offer and the warmth and absurdity that are always waiting for us if we look for it.

'Random Factor' adds that Libraryman can turn light switches on and off with the power of his mind. But we here at Warrior Librarian are particularly impressed with his costume and the NY photo. Never let it be said that the WLW editorial team are shallow, inarticulate nor insensate! OK, we'll admit to the shallow thing ...

No more to read here >>

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Hoax email still in circulation

It's been around since November 2003, but has only just hit the WLW email box. An email claiming to have an unpublished version of Jamie Oliver's cookbook.

According to Hoax Slayers, the (real) author's website states that the recipes in the email attachment were ripped off his website. Jamie's publisher Penguin "is alarmed by the breach of copyright and lawyers said it could trigger a spate of similar "books". The culprit could face a substantial compensation claim."

A timely warning is appended by Hoax Slayers. "Forwarding this cookbook is unfair on Jamie, ethically dubious, and is likely to be illegal" ...

No more to read here >>

CENSORSHIP

Academic library withdraws refused-classification books

Charles Richardson of Crikey.com wrote: [Australian] Attorney-General Philip Ruddock ... took a small step backwards from his position on "terrorist" publications, agreeing to reconsider the question of access to certain books for academic research. This came after the news that Melbourne University had been forced to withdraw three books from its library for fear of prosecution after two of them were refused classification (and the third under review) by the Classification Review Board.

Under the title 'Next they came for the librarians', the story continues with a lot of information that should be reworded for publication here to avoid plagiarism accusations, but as it's a direct quote in italics and everything, we figure we should be OK here with this one.

For the few people that have just been revived from a coma and therefore might not know, Google now has a Banned Books facility with links to books about individual banned books. You can also locate libraries that include banned books in their collections. We haven't yet checked if Melbourne U is listed ...

No more to read here >>

FIGHTING THE STEREOTYPE

Director cuts red tape to fund protest

Santa Fe, N.M. city library director Patricia Hodapp made copy for United Press when she led a picket during filming of the Sci Fi Channel's "The Lost Room".

Objecting to the choice of actress Lois Geary to play A Librarian "who looked about 80" (probably similar to the one pictured here), Hodapp stated that the oldest member of her staff was only 67.

No more to read here >>

INTERNET

WLW refuses banner exchange offer

In the latest influx of crappy spam, website 'laughdirectory' suggested a 'banner exchange program' with WLW, the world's leading online satirical library journal that even has its own official ISBN.

For sheer procrastination purposes, the directory was accessed for possible review. Eight of the first 20 links were 404. A further seven lead to unabashedly commercial advertising for detritus that would normally incur a toxic dump fee for disposal. Three more links led to other directories.

And if these were not sufficiently offensive abominations to the Digital Community to merit summary arrest and detention somewhere unpleasant (but still constitutional), there were also no directory listings for librarians, libraries, library schools, books, cataloguing, stationery, archival tools, online databases, pathfinders, webcats, repository storage ...

No more to read here >>

This has been more than just 'one of those weeks'; the Warrior Librarian domain name is/was about to expire, and a huge amount of time has been spent trying to complete what should be a simple renewal process.

It might now be fixed, it might not. Warrior Librarian may go off the air on or about October 17, so this might (or might not) be the last issue ever. At least at this URL.

The transcript of the last attempt is provided below for your amusement. But I can tell you, I wasn't laughing. I wonder if Abigail was? Poetic justice, perhaps ...

Abigail: Hi Amanda. My name is Abigail, how are you today?

Amanda: Hi Abigail. Actually, I'm not very happy. I am trying to renew my domain name. I've already sent about 4 or 5 emails [to their Support Team].

Abigail: I am very sorry to here [sic] this.

Amanda: I keep getting the message that the address and zip don't match something.

Abigail: Okay.

Amanda: Firstly I need to update my credit card details.

Abigail: Okay.

Amanda: the card number is the same, but the expiry date has changed

Abigail: Could you please hold while I review your account?

Amanda: sure.

Abigail: Thank you for holding.

Abigail: Your domain warriorlibrarian.com is set to expire on October 17, 2006.

Abigail: To update your Credit Card please follow the steps given below:

Amanda: First thing I need to know is which address is the one I need to have entered. When I originally registered, I used my (then) work address - Richmond. When I renewed, I used my new work address (Strathfield) - which is the one showing at eNom. Then, when I started trying to renew the domain yesterday, I changed the address again for my current residential address ... because I thought what might *not* be matching was the Visa-billing address. Sigh.

Amanda: Are you still there, Abigail?

Abigail: Yes.

Amanda:I am already on the "update credit card" page.

Abigail: Update credit card information and click on 'Submit'.

Amanda: Thank you. I have already done that, and got the same error message. Again. The error message reads: “Sorry your credit card is not valid for the following reason: Zip Code or Address Mismatch. Please check to make sure that the card number is correct and that the address is the same as the one on your bill.”

Amanda: This is why I need to know which of the three addresses I should be using ...

Abigail: If you still unable to do the process then I would be happy to assist you updating your credit card information online.

Amanda: Thank you.
What information do you need?

Abigail: In order to update your credit card information, please provide me the your account username and password and the following information.
: Cardholder Name: -----
: Email address: -------
: Billing address: -----
: Street: --------------
: City: ----------------
: State: ---------------
: Postal code: ---------
: Credit Card Number: --
: Credit Card Type: ----
: Expiration Date: -----

Amanda: Here's something strange, though. I *did* change my address and contact details on my profile - although *not* that information (address etc) in the credit card section.

Amanda: My domain account Username is [withheld here]
My domain account password is [withheld here]

Abigail: Okay.

Amanda: my new email address is acredaro@optusnet.com.au (I think I was able to manage that change OK?)

Amanda: Please advise what you mean by "Billing Address". Do you mean for the credit card, or for your records purposes?

Amanda: I don't want my home address showing in eNom's records for public display. Can I use my work address?

Abigail: Can you please provide me the credit card number and expiration date?

Amanda: It is the same card number as previously ... the expiry date is now [withheld here]

Amanda: ?

Abigail: In order to assist you, I am going to have to ask a member of our team who specializes in Billing Department to take care of this for you.

Amanda: thank you.
Will this be by live chat?
Or email?

Abigail: Would you prefer a phone call or e-mail when this is resolved?

Amanda: Can you also advise on the address question I asked you at the start?

Abigail: Sure.

Amanda: A phone call. But you *do* realise that I'm in Australia, don't you?

Abigail: In order to escalated your issue to our Billing Department, please provide me the above information, so that they can update your credit card information.

Amanda: Now here's the thing, Abigail ... I'm not comfortable giving that information over the 'net to an unknown agent.

Abigail: You need to provide us the information which you have given to your bank.

Amanda: If you can provide the name of someone in your billing department, together with their specific email address, I will send the information directly to them. Is this going to be possible?

Abigail: Okay.

Amanda: thanks

Abigail: If you feel insure to provide the information over net, you can e-mail us to support@ehost-inc.com. Once we have received your response, we will update your credit card information.

Amanda: No can do with that one, Abigail. Sorry - I think we've been though this one. I need an actual *name* and a *specific* email address for that person.

Amanda: The security issue isn't transmission of information over the 'net, it's the possibility of misuse by unknown persons within your company.

Amanda: Is there any reason why you cannot provide a specific name and email address for that specific individual?

Abigail: Unfortunately, we cant provide you specific e-mail address of the Billing Agents.

Amanda: !

Amanda: Can you provide a specific name and email address for your customer services manager? Or indeed anyone who might be authorised to provide the information I need?

Amanda: I do hope you understand that sending the credit card details to a support@ email address means that I would have no idea who might be able to access the information. Also, you are asking for information that not even my *bank* has access to ...

Amanda: Abigail, I have to go to a meeting in 5 minutes. Are you able to pass the log of this 'chat' onto your billing department?

Abigail: Amanda, this Chat window is secure sever. As, I mentioned you earlier, there is no particular e-mail address for our Billing Agents that we could provide you. If you wish, you can contact our Billing specialist through Phone Support.

Amanda: OK ... now I'm really confused. I can speak with this person by phone (from Australia!) but can't get their email address?

Abigail: You can contact our Phone Support at 866.563.4678.

Amanda: Yes, I know. Thank you. Will they accept a reverse charge phone call from Australia?

Abigail: You can also contact our Billing Department at billing@ehost-inc.com.

Amanda: Yes, I know that too, Abigail.

Amanda: Unfortunately you have not been able to answer even one of my questions, Abigail. I have to go to my meeting now (it's 9.34 am here). I am already late. Sigh.

Abigail: Can you please provide me the e-mail address, so that I can provide you the information through e-mail?

Amanda: I Have already given you that information, Abigail.

Amanda: thank you for your time - if you scroll up though this chat, you'll see that I have already given you my email address.

Abigail: Thank you for chatting with us. Please contact us at anytime.

Postscript: 24 hours later, an email was received from someone else. The credit card transaction had been completed. Without authorisation. And AFTER the domain had been transferred to, and registered with, another (notably cheaper) company. Sigh.