CLIR and NITLE Will Launch Anvil Academic, a "Digital Publisher for the Humanities"

The Council on Library and Information Resources and the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education will launch Anvil Academic, a "digital publisher for the humanities," in late 2012.

Here's an excerpt from the press release :

Anvil will focus on publishing new forms of scholarship that cannot be adequately conveyed in the traditional monograph.

"Increasingly, research in the humanities is dependent on large data sets and involves sophisticated algorithms and visualizations in the execution of that research and in the construction of the products of scholarship. Anvil will capture the environment in which this research is conducted: a linked ecology of scholarly expression, data, and tools of analysis that will over time become itself a place for new knowledge discovery," said CLIR President Chuck Henry.

Works published through Anvil will be available through Creative Commons licenses on the Web and as apps on portable devices. The title production system will be developed jointly by NITLE and CLIR for use by other institutions, each of which would have the opportunity to publish under its own imprint. . . .

"An important part of the Anvil experiment will be developing and testing new revenue models," said NITLE Executive Director Joey King. "Our current models, which rely heavily on institutional subsidies, author subventions, and revenue from sales of printed books, are not proving to be sustainable. With Anvil, we intend to explore alternative paths to sustainability as rigorously as we explore new publishing models."

The program received startup funding from the Brown Foundation, Inc., in Houston, Texas. Stanford University, the University of Virginia, Washington University in St. Louis, Bryn Mawr College, Amherst College, Middlebury College, and Southwestern University will also provide funds and staffing. Anvil Academic Publishing will work closely with innovative programs developed by the University of Michigan, especially MPublishing, and draw on Johns Hopkins University's exemplary experience with digital humanities project development.

| Digital Scholarship's Digital/Print Books | Digital Scholarship |

Current News: Twitter Updates for 2/13/12

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Junior Web Developer at New York University Libraries

The New York University Libraries are recruiting a Junior Web Developer.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Manage Libraries' web sites and ensure their accessibility and operation from conceptualization to launch, including, but not limited to, development of information infrastructure, oversight of database development, and content management solutions. Develop project plans for major site updates; create time lines to meet client deadlines and/or department goals; monitor progress and revise plans.

| Institutional Repository Bibliography | Digital Scholarship Publications Overview |

Users, Narcissism and Control—Tracking the Impact of Scholarly Publications in the 21st Century

The SURFfoundation has released Users, Narcissism and Control—Tracking the Impact of Scholarly Publications in the 21st Century.

Here's an excerpt:

This report explores the explosion of tracking tools that have accompanied the surge of web based information instruments. Is it possible to monitor 'real-time' how new research findings are being read, cited, used and transformed in practical results and applications? And what are the potential risks and disadvantages of the new tracking tools? This report aims to contribute to a better understanding of these developments by providing a detailed assessment of the currently available novel tools and methodologies. A total of 16 quite different tools are assessed.

The report concludes that web based academic publishing is producing a variety of novel information filters. These allow the researcher to make some sort of limited self-assessment with respect to the response to his/her work. However, this does not mean that these technologies and databases can also legitimately be used in research assessments. For this application, they need to adhere to a far stricter protocol of data quality and indicator reliability and validity. Most new tools do not (yet) comply with these more strict quality criteria.

| Scholarly Electronic Publishing Bibliography 2010 | Digital Scholarship |

Technical Services & Digital Initiatives Librarian at Longwood University’s Greenwood Library

Longwood University's Greenwood Library is recruiting a Technical Services & Digital Initiatives Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

This individual will provide leadership in areas of acquisitions and cataloging/metadata and will spearhead digitization of the Library's unique collections in order to make them available to a wider audience. The successful candidate should be a creative and service-oriented professional who will direct the daily and long-term activities of a department of six classified staff; the successful candidate's leadership should be informed by a vision for a technologically adept library that makes its collections more accessible to users in a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment.

| Digital Bibliographies | Digital Scholarship |

The Future of Taxpayer-Funded Research: Who Will Control Access to the Results?

The Committee for Economic Development has released The Future of Taxpayer-Funded Research: Who Will Control Access to the Results?.

Here's an excerpt:

This report builds upon that earlier work and delves deeper into the relationship between the traditional means of providing access to federally funded scientific research and the benefits that can be derived from providing greater public access to it. As with virtually any public policy, the benefits and costs of providing public access to federally funded research fall unevenly on different members of society. We find, however, that because public-access policies that make research more open result in accelerated progress in science and faster economic growth, the net societal benefits far outweigh their limited costs.

| Transforming Scholarly Publishing through Open Access: A Bibliography | Digital Scholarship Publications Overview |

Current News: Twitter Updates for 2/12/12

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Web and Content Developer at Auraria Library

The Auraria Library is recruiting a Web and Content Developer.

Here's an excerpt from the ad (job posting no.: 815796):

The Auraria Library, serving the University of Colorado Denver, Downtown Denver Campus; Metropolitan State College of Denver; and the Community College of Denver, seeks a dynamic, energetic, and innovative individual to serve as the Web and Content Developer. . . .

The incumbent will work closely with the Web Programmer and others throughout the library to make the web site more visually appealing and develop a content management plan to develop high quality content for the site. The incumbent is responsible for creating website templates and layouts, producing graphic elements, and web development and maintenance. The incumbent will lead accessibility, usability and quality assurance activities in relation to the library's online interfaces and write and develop web policies.

| Scholarly Electronic Publishing Bibliography, Version 80 | Digital Scholarship |

Data-Intensive Research: Community Capability Model Framework (Consultation Draft)

The Community Capability Model for Data-Intensive Research project has released a consultation draft of the Community Capability Model Framework.

Here's an excerpt:

The Community Capability Model Framework is a tool developed by UKOLN, University of Bath, and Microsoft Research to assist institutions, research funders and researchers in growing the capability of their communities to perform data-­-intensive research by

  • profiling the current readiness or capability of the community,
  • indicating priority areas for change and investment, and
  • developing roadmaps for achieving a target state of readiness.

The Framework is comprised of eight capability factors representing human, technical and environmental issues. Within each factor are a series of community characteristics that are relevant for determining the capability or readiness of that community to perform data- intensive research.

| E-science and Academic Libraries Bibliography | Digital Scholarship |

Applications Programmer Analyst at Georgetown University Library

The Georgetown University Library is recruiting an Applications Programmer Analyst.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The Applications Programmer Analyst participates in the planning, design, implementation and maintenance of the library’s core digital and library applications, including the Integrated Library System, Distributed Digital Library Projects, DigitalGeorgetown and library contents platforms.

| Digital Bibliographies | Digital Scholarship |

Call to Action: Support the Federal Research Public Access Act (H.R. 4004 and S. 2096)

The Alliance for Taxpayer Access, whose numerous members include the American Library Association and the Association of College & Research Libraries, has issued a call to action for support of the Federal Research Public Access Act (H.R. 4004 and S. 2096).

Here's an excerpt:

Today (February 9, 2012), Senators Cornyn (R-TX), Wyden (D-OR), and Hutchison (R-TX) and Representatives Doyle (D-PA), Yoder (R-KS), and Clay (D-MO) introduced the Federal Research Public Access Act, a bill that would ensure free, timely, online access to the published results of research funded by eleven U.S. federal agencies.

We currently have a unique opportunity to create change. The Research Works Act, a piece of legislation introduced in December that would ban the government from providing the public access to publicly funded research, has galvanized the research community into acting against practices that restrict access to research articles—reaching the pages of the Economist, the New York Times, Wired, the Guardian, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and many other outlets. . . .

Let Congress know you support FRPAA

With reinvigorated support from the research community and attention from the mainstream media, now is the time to push for this groundbreaking legislation and let Congress know that students—and the rest of the public—deserve access to the research which they paid for and upon which their education depends. . . .

Raise awareness of and build support for FRPAA

  • Sign the ATA Petition in support of FRPAA. Click here to view signatories of the petition. . . .
  • Tweet at or post of the Facebook wall of your legislators to ask them to support and co-sponsor FRPAA; or, if they're already a sponsor, thank them for their leadership. . . .

Background. . . .

Now before both the House of Representatives and the Senate, FRPAA would require those agencies with annual extramural research budgets of $100 million or more to provide the public with online access to research manuscripts stemming from such funding no later than six months after publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The bill gives individual agencies flexibility in choosing the location of the digital repository to house this content, as long as the repositories meet conditions for interoperability and public accessibility, and have provisions for long-term archiving.

The bill specifically covers unclassified research funded by agencies including: Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Science Foundation.

Further information: "SPARC FAQ for University Administrators and Faculty FRPAA 2012" and "Support FRPAA Banners."

| Transforming Scholarly Publishing through Open Access: A Bibliography| Digital Scholarship Publications Overview |

Current News: Twitter Updates for 2/9/12

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Digital Project Coordinator at Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is recruiting a Digital Project Coordinator.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The position is located in the Integrated Library System Program Office of the Technology Policy Directorate of Library Services information technology (IT) goals through implementation of projects involving the Library's integrated library system, other enterprise systems, and web enabled applications. Individually, and in collaboration with IT and user organization experts, the incumbent develops and coordinates major program components that include IT support for acquisitions, circulation, cataloging, online public professionals, IT specialists, and various working groups throughout the Library involved in technologies and systems supporting the Library's mission. The incumbent plans, coordinates, and manages a wide variety of complex projects and activities related to current and new releases of the various Technology Policy systems.

| Digital Scholarship's Digital/Print Books | Digital Scholarship |

"Putting 600,000 Books Online: the Large-Scale Digitisation Partnership between the Austrian National Library and Google"

Max Kaiser has published "Putting 600,000 Books Online: the Large-Scale Digitisation Partnership between the Austrian National Library and Google" in the latest issue of LIBER Quarterly.

Here's an excerpt:

In a public-private partnership with Google, the Austrian National Library is digitising its historical book holdings. Some 600,000 volumes from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries will be digitised and made available free of charge. The project demonstrates that public-private partnerships can be successful in enabling our heritage institutions to provide large-scale access to their holdings, provided that such partnerships are not exclusive and free access is ensured. The article outlines the preparatory phase and work flows established in the project.

| Google Books Bibliography | Digital Scholarship |

Special Projects Librarian, Library Information Technology at University of Michigan Library

The University of Michigan Library is recruiting a Special Projects Librarian, Library Information Technology (three year term appointment).

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The Special Projects Librarian assists the Associate University Librarian for Library Information Technology (AUL for LIT) in the coordination of major digital initiatives within the University Library. The Special Projects Librarian works with the AUL for LIT, as well as with key staff, in the delivery and management of digital library content and services, and will assist in the research and development of new library technologies. The Special Projects Librarian will assist in conducting the work of the LIT division. A significant component of this position includes coordination of activities such as digitization, which touch on a variety of LIT units. A high degree of coordination with staff within the Library is required. The Special Projects Librarian coordinates tasks, performs outreach and communication (particularly to other project staff), tracks the progress of projects, and performs a variety of duties as assigned, such as documentation. A specific area of focus currently includes coordinating our implementation of Omeka for the creation and presentation of online exhibits.

| Digital Bibliographies | Digital Scholarship |

Open Access: Federal Research Public Access Act of 2012

Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA) and others have introduced the Federal Research Public Access Act of 2012 in the House. The bill has also been introduced in the Senate.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

The Federal Research Public Access Act would require federal agencies with an extramural research budget of $100 million or more to make federally-funded research available for free online access by the general public, no later than six months after publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

The Federal Research Public Access Act would:

  • Require federal departments and agencies with an annual extramural research budget of $100 million or more, whether funded totally or partially by a government department or agency, to submit an electronic copy of the final manuscript that has been accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
  • Ensure that the manuscript is preserved in a stable digital repository maintained by that agency or in another suitable repository that permits free public access, interoperability, and long-term preservation.
  • Require that each taxpayer-funded manuscript be made available to the public online and without cost, no later than six months after the article has been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

| Transforming Scholarly Publishing through Open Access: A Bibliography| Digital Scholarship Publications Overview |

Current News: Twitter Updates for 2/8/12

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Library Copyright Liaison Librarian at University of Regina Library

The University of Regina Library is recruiting a Library Copyright Liaison Librarian (two year term).

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

This position will report to the University’s Copyright Officer. The Copyright Liaison Librarian will be a member of the Copyright Team and will work in consultation with the Copyright Officer, Library staff and members of the University Community. The incumbent will provide assistance to faculty, staff and students in navigating copyright issues, supported by a variety of educational and marketing resources to facilitate and promote compliance with the University’s copyright and fair dealing guidelines.

| E-science and Academic Libraries Bibliography | Digital Scholarship |

"OA by the Numbers"

The Open Access Directory has released "OA by the Numbers."

Here's an excerpt:

OA journals (Gold OA)

  • 7,311. November 28, 2011. The number of peer-reviewed OA journals listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).
  • 1,728. November 28, 2011. The number of CC-licensed journals in the DOAJ.
  • 830. November 28, 2011. The number of SPARC Europe seal journals in the DOAJ. (The SPARC Europe seal requires a CC-BY license.)
  • 4.4. November 28, 2011. Average number of new journals added each day in 2010 to the DOAJ. . . .

OA repositories (Green OA)

  • 2,145. November 28, 2011. Number of OA, OAI-compliant repositories listed by OpenDOAR (Directory of Open Access Repositories).
  • 2,584. November 28, 2011. Number of OA, OAI-compliant repositories listed by ROAR (Registry of Open Access Repositories).
  • 3,946. November 28, 2011. Number of OA, OAI-compliant repositories listed by OpenArchive.edu

| Transforming Scholarly Publishing through Open Access: A Bibliography | Digital Scholarship Publications Overview |

Associate Director for Digital Initiatives at McGill University Library

The McGill University Library is recruiting an Associate Director for Digital Initiatives.

Here's an excerpt from ad:

Provides leadership and coordinates digital library initiatives and programs for all libraries. Works collaboratively with university faculty and administration to develop and advance digital initiative programs including web-based services, information technologies, and programs supporting the integration of digital collections and digital library services. Directs the work of librarians, programmers and staff with expertise in development of digital services for public services, cataloging, multimedia, information technology, web development and learning technologies. Provides support and resources for digital library initiatives emerging from other departments in the library. Supervises the digital initiatives staff. Works with University, provincial and national groups to shape the University Library information environment. Develops goals and objectives, prepares budget requests and participates actively in library-wide planning processes.

| Institutional Repository Bibliography | Digital Scholarship Publications Overview |

Collaborative Yet Independent: Information Practices in the Physical Sciences

The Research Information Network, the Institute of Physics, Institute of Physics Publishing, and the Royal Astronomical Society have released Collaborative Yet Independent: Information Practices in the Physical Sciences.

Here's an excerpt:

In many ways, the physical sciences are at the forefront of using digital tools and methods to work with information and data. However, the fields and disciplines that make up the physical sciences are by no means uniform, and physical scientists find, use, and disseminate information in a variety of ways. This report examines information practices in the physical sciences across seven cases, and demonstrates the richly varied ways in which physical scientists work, collaborate, and share information and data.

| Digital Bibliographies | Digital Scholarship |

How to Fix Copyright

William Patry, Senior Copyright Counsel at Google, has published How to Fix Copyright (publisher's description).

Here's an excerpt:

Our current laws are the result of "lobbynomics," the continual use of exaggerated (and often false) claims and crises as an excuse to pass laws that are unnecessary and many times harmful. . . . We will never fix our laws unless we clean house and start all over again, this time on a sound, empirical basis: Simply adding on to a failed structure will no longer work.

| Scholarly Electronic Publishing Bibliography 2010 | Digital Scholarship |

Current News: Twitter Updates for 2/7/12

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Analyst Programmer 2 at University of Oregon Library

The University of Oregon Library is recruiting an Analyst Programmer 2.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

This position provides high level programming and technological solutions for the development, enhancement, and maintenance of the library's digital collections, digital research projects, instruction-related web applications, frequently using database-driven websites, and internal workflow automation. Duties include;

  • designing, developing, and providing programming/coding for digital projects, web applications, and research projects, instructional interfaces, and automated staff workflows, using high-quality code at the intermediate to advanced level; providing technical support in the development, enhancement and maintenance of library services; providing troubleshooting, resolution and updates to current programs; providing assistance with web development projects and tasks; creating and maintaining relational database-driven web applications; researching, identifying, and recommending systems for future needs.

| Electronic Theses and Dissertations Bibliography | Digital Scholarship |

"Golan v. Holder: A Farewell to Constitutional Challenges to Copyright Laws"

The Library Copyright Alliance has released "Golan v. Holder: A Farewell to Constitutional Challenges to Copyright Laws" by Jonathan Band.

Here's an excerpt:

The majority opinion in Golan closes the door on constitutional challenges to copyright statutes unless those statutes contain absolutely no time limits or directly undermine the idea/expression dichotomy or fair use. Justice Breyer failed to convince the Court that under the Constitution Congress had the authority to enact only utilitarian copyright statutes that incentivized the creation of new material. The majority opinion leaves Congress as the sole venue for fighting draconian copyright laws.

| Scholarly Electronic Publishing Bibliography, Version 80 | Digital Scholarship |