DOAJ, the Directory of Open Access Journals, is an impressive database of full-text, open access journal sources. Some high quality stuff here, we're even adding a few to our catalogue.

The New York Times 2003 Librarian Awards. Go on, nominate your favourite public librarian.

Once in a while I really should crawl out from that rock I have been living under. Google released a news service for Canada like ages ago.

Specialised directories and databases are getting me all excited off late. Here's one for educational software.

Steven has created an RSS feed for Cites and Insights. Now you have no excuse NOT to read this great resource.

Ever feel like ALA might be just a little too big and overwhelming for you? This year will be my first Annual and I'm certainly feeling intimidated by the excess of really neat things I want to be a part of, from preconference sessions to regular conference sessions to division meetings, discussions, social events, etc., etc.. Maybe that's because I'm involved in TOO MANY parts of the organisation. Do I really need to be a member of ACRL IS and ACRL LES and NMRT and GODORT and RUSA? When it comes to the dues-paying time of year it feels like I need to be a part of every group that represents every part of my job, just so that I remain in the loop. But right about now I've hit saturation point. Feels a little like the infobesity Steven spoke about some time ago.

In related news, I just got back from WILU 2003. If any of you are involved in any sort of information literacy/library instruction at your institution, you might consider attending next year. Not only is it a really great program for a very focused target audience, but WILU 2004 is being held in beautiful Victoria, B.C.

If you are planning any sort of online library instruction, have a look at the Internet Education Project. The database provides one single repository of interesting online tutorials and some great examples of leading edge technologies in action in the information literacy world.

For anyone doing research on South Asia, just for you: the Digital South Asia Library.

And for the electronic publishing enthusiasts among us: Subject Index to Literature on Electronic Sources of Information pulled together by Marian Dworaczek at the University of Saskatchewan Library.

By now, everyone has probably heard the news. Well all news sources in Toronto broadcasted elated reports as soon as ALA's decision was announced, due to the fact that Annual is supposed to be the biggest conference Toronto is host to this year. And if there are any residual individual worries, let me reassure you: everything is just fine here folks. Most of us watch and read the Toronto/ghost-town reports from south of the border with humoured disbelief. There was some mild paranoia when the outbreak was in its early stages, but that has long since past and it's business as usual again. So see you in Toronto.

Information scrubbing reaches a whole new level. It's all very irksome, in light of this profound speech.

Dissident librarians in Cuba receive brutal judgement.

The Draft Resolution/Petition on the Destruction of the Cultural Resources of Iraq pulled together by the International Responsibilities Task Force is online and signable.

WHO lifted the travel advisory for Toronto; ALA is still deciding what to do about the annual conference.

And ALA election results are in.