Month: January 2010

Assessing the Future Landscape of Scholarly Communication: An Exploration of Faculty Values and Needs in Seven Disciplines

The Center for Studies in Higher Education has released Assessing the Future Landscape of Scholarly Communication: An Exploration of Faculty Values and Needs in Seven Disciplines.

Here's an excerpt:

We describe here the results of our research conducted between 2007 and 2010. In the interest of developing a deeper understanding of how and why scholars do what they do to advance their academic fields, as well as their careers, our approach focused on finegrained analyses of faculty values and behaviors throughout the scholarly communication lifecycle, including career advancement, sharing, collaborating, informal and formal publishing, resource generation, and engaging with the public. The report is based on the responses of 160 interviewees across 45, mostly elite, research institutions in seven selected academic fields: archaeology, astrophysics, biology, economics, history, music, and political science. We concentrated on assessing scholars’ attitudes and needs as both producers and users of research results. The report is divided into eight chapters, which include a document synthesizing our research results plus seven detailed disciplinary case studies.

Library of Congress Establishes Procedures to Release Open Source Software

The Library of Congress has established procedures to release open source software.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

"The overall effect will be to clarify and streamline the process for releasing software as open source," said Michelle Springer, a digital initiatives project manager at the Library, "allowing the Library and its partners to more fully participate in the open source development community."

The Library has been especially active in developing tools that support digital preservation processes, including the secure transfer of digital files. This includes the release of a full suite of digital content transfer tools that support the Bagit specification.

These tools marked the first release of Library-authored open source software to a public repository. The tools were first registered on SourceForge in December 2008 and are available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/loc-xferutils/. While Sourceforge was the first external repository to host Library code, other repositories may be used in the future.

Source code originating from the Library may only be distributed as open source if developed by Library staff or under a contract granting the Library the necessary distribution rights. Additionally, the code cannot be based or dependent on any proprietary software and must be releasable without restrictions or cost.

Works created by Library of Congress staff will be designated in the code comments as a work within the public domain. The addition of the public domain notation in the code comments serves the function of letting developers know that section of the code is free for reuse even if the Library's code is incorporated into a software project with a more restrictive license.

Not all software repositories offer the option of a public domain designation. Under those circumstances the Library will apply the most permissive license possible. BSD-style licenses are being used by multiple National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program partners.

Lead Developer at NCSU

The North Carolina State University Libraries are recruiting a Lead Developer.

Here's an excerpt from the ad (position #40024):

Design and develop large-scale library web applications using a variety of technologies including Java, JavaScript, PHP, Python, PostgreSQL, MySQL and XML. Help manage development projects through full life cycle from requirements definition to deployment and support. Maintain and upgrade existing applications; lead implementation of new software packages. Provide technical mentorship for developers in department. Research and recommend integration of new technologies.

Gary Marchionini Named Dean of School of Information and Library Sciences at UNC Chapel Hill

Dr. Gary Marchionini, Cary C. Boshamer Professor at the School of Information and Library Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been appointed Dean of that school effective April 1, 2010.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

"Gary Marchionini is a distinguished faculty member whose extraordinary academic background is internationally renowned," said Chancellor Holden Thorp. "He is the ideal person to lead our School of Information and Library Science into this new decade when information and technology have never been more important in our society."

Added Bruce Carney, interim executive vice chancellor and provost, "Gary Marchionini knows the School of Information and Library Science and our University exceedingly well. He has the support from within the school to keep it a national leader."

A Carolina faculty member since 1998, Marchionini heads the school's Interaction Design Laboratory and chairs its personnel committee. He serves on the Campus Research Computing Committee and has helped lead numerous campus initiatives since arriving at Carolina. Last spring, he was nominated by his students and selected as the school's Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

He is president of the American Society of Information Science and Technology, an international organization of professionals who focus on improving access to information. Marchionini is the chair of the National Institutes of Health/National Library of Medicine's Biomedical Library and Informatics Review Committee. He previously was editor-in-chief of the Association for Computing Machinery's (ACM) "Transactions on Information Systems" from 2002 to 2008, has served on more than a dozen editorial boards and is editor of the Morgan-Claypool book series, "Information Concepts, Retrieval and Services."

Marchionini has published more than 200 articles, book chapters and technical reports on topics related to digital libraries, information seeking, usability of personal health records, multimedia browsing strategies and personal identity in cyberspace. He has been awarded numerous grants from the National Science Foundation and other foundations, as well as research awards from companies including Microsoft, IBM and Google. He is the author of "Information Seeking in Electronic Environments," part of a Cambridge University Press series.

Marchionini earned a doctorate in curriculum development, focusing on mathematics education in 1981, and a master's degree in secondary mathematics education from Wayne State University in 1974. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and English from Western Michigan University in 1971.

Before arriving at UNC, he was a faculty member at the University of Maryland for 15 years. He served on the faculty and as a researcher at Wayne State from 1978 to 1983 and taught mathematics at the East Detroit Public Schools for seven years.

Library Application and Database Manager/Developer at Princeton

The Princeton University Library is recruiting a Library Application and Database Manager/Developer. Anticipated hiring range: $75,000-$85,000.

Here's an excerpt from the ad (Requisition #1000065):

Description: Princeton University Library seeks a Library Application Database Manager/Developer to maintain, enhance and create applications for Library users and staff. In addition, this person will help develop web based library services for patrons and help with implementation and enhancements to Library NextGen user interfaces.

Responsibilities: The primary function for this position is to maintain and enhance current locally developed library applications and to create new ones as new needs arise. The locally developed applications include various specialized catalogs, specialized user applications such as E-Reserves and Audio-Reserves, and internal workflow applications for managing staff travel, staff lists, and guest access to the libraries, and many more. This position will also help with library web services development, including maintaining and creating machine to machine interfaces, as well as user interfaces. This position will also be assigned other projects as needed.

The Ranking Web of World Repositories (January 2010 edition)

The Cybermetrics Lab of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientóficas has released The Ranking Web of World Repositories (January 2010 edition).

Here's an excerpt:

As in previous edition we provide two global Rankings. One that covers all repositories (Top400) and another that focuses only on Institutional Repositories (Top 400 Institutional). We are considering to include in future editions portals of journals and papers (super repositories).

The composite index (World Ranking) is computed combining normalized values instead of ranks. The visibility is calculated giving extra importance to the external inlinks not coming from generic domains (.com, .org, .net). The figures for rich files (pdf, doc, ppt, ps, and new for this edition, xls) are combined and not treated individually.

Read more about it at "Ranking Web of World Repositories ."

Scholarships Available: 100% Online Digital Information Management Graduate Certificate Program

The University of Arizona School of Information Resources and Library Science is accepting applicants for the school's graduate certificate program in Digital Information Management (DigIn). IMLS-funded scholarships are available for students entering the program in 2010.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

The DigIn program features hands-on experience and focused instruction supporting a wide range of professional careers involving digital systems and data. The certificate includes six three-credit courses designed to build students' hands-on technology skills, and to help students acquire the advanced knowledge needed to curate digital collections, manage digital projects, and to set policies for access and long-term preservation.

In 2009, the first cohort of DigIn graduates completed their certificate requirements with practical "capstone" field projects in a broad range of professional settings, including the Library of Congress, the Metropolitan New York Library Council, the College of William and Mary, UC Riverside, the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives, Phoenix Public Library, Cochise County (AZ) Historical Society, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and the Mohave Museum of History and Art. As one 2009 graduate noted:

"DigIn broadened my knowledge of the history, trends, and best practices for digital collections. It has also given me the practical experience to tackle hands-on projects that require a deeper understanding of technology and information management. My work in the DigIn program is most certainly what led to me landing a job in a technology-heavy environment."

For information professionals already working in the field, or those considering career changes, the DigIn certificate offers a flexible path for graduate studies. The program is delivered 100% online and has no residency requirements. Students generally complete the certificate in four or six semesters (15 months or 27 months).

Deadline For Summer '10 admission: April 1

Deadline for Fall ‘10 admission: July 1

Deadline for Spring ‘11: Nov. 1.

DigIn was developed in cooperation with the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records and the University of Arizona Outreach College. Major funding for the program comes from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which has also provided scholarship funding.

Additional details on the program including course descriptions, admissions requirements and application forms may be found on the program website:

digin.arizona.edu

Applicants may also contact the DigIn staff at:

digin at email.arizona.edu

Crowdsourcing and Social Engagement: Potential, Power and Freedom for Libraries and Users

Rose Holley has self-archived Crowdsourcing and Social Engagement: Potential, Power and Freedom for Libraries and Users in E-LIS.

Here's an excerpt:

The definition and purpose of crowdsourcing and social engagement with users is discussed with particular reference to the Australian Newspapers service http://newspapers.nla.gov.au, FamilySearch http://familysearchindexing.org, Wikipedia http://wikipedia.org, the Distributed Proofreaders http://www.pgdp.net, Galaxy Zoo http://www.galaxyzoo.org and The Guardian MP's Expenses Scandal http://mps-expenses.guardian.co.uk. These services have harnessed thousands of digital volunteers who transcribe, create, enhance and correct text, images and archives. The successful strategies which motivated users to help, engage, and develop the outcomes will be examined. How can the lessons learnt be applied more broadly across the library and archive sector and what is the future potential? What are useful tips for crowdsourcing? Users no longer expect to be passive receivers of information and want to engage with data, each other and nonprofit making organisations to help achieve what may seem to be impossible goals and targets. If libraries want to stay relevant and valued, offer high quality data and continue to have a significant social impact they must develop active engagement strategies and harness crowdsourcing techniques and partnerships to enhance their services. Can libraries respond to the shift in power and control of information and dare to give users something greater than power—freedom?

Academic Librarian, Automation Librarian at University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac

The University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac Library is recruiting an Academic Librarian, Automation Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The Automation Librarian will be responsible for the overall installation, operation, and maintenance of all automated library systems and services for the thirteen University of Wisconsin Colleges libraries, including Voyager, ILLiad, SFX and Metalib, and will assist the Director of Library Support Services with proxy server maintenance and on-campus access to over 100 licensed electronic databases. The UW Colleges is the two-year institution of the University of Wisconsin System, with campuses located throughout the state. Some travel will be required. The position is headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

M. Sue Baughman Named ARL Associate Deputy Executive Director

M. Sue Baughman has been named Association of Research Libraries Associate Deputy Executive Director.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

Baughman is currently Assistant Dean for Organizational Development at the University of Maryland, College Park. She will assume her role at ARL on March 29.

The primary role of the Associate Deputy Executive Director is to promote and facilitate the strategic development of ARL policies and programs. The position carries a mix of responsibilities revolving around issue analysis and program development, strategic positioning and message development, and practical management and coordination accomplished working closely with the ARL Executive Director and Board of Directors.

In her current position, Baughman works with over 200 library staff in every facet of the University of Maryland Libraries. Her duties focus on the development needs of individual staff, teams, and work groups, and the organization as a whole. She understands not only the work staff does and the services they provide but also the interrelationships that are in place across a large organization. This broad perspective has enabled her to be an effective change agent and leader. She has been at the University of Maryland since 1995 serving in a variety of roles including, Manager of McKeldin Library Public Services, Assistant Dean for Organizational Development, and Interim Director of Collection Development and Special Collections.

In her career, Baughman has held positions at a variety of types of libraries and library systems and has served on committees of numerous library associations. In all of these positions, she has been committed to finding innovative solutions to challenging problems. Her skills and experiences in leadership, program coordination, and project management will be valuable assets for ARL.

DuraCloud Java Developer at DuraSpace

DuraSpace is recruiting a DuraCloud Java Developer.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The DuraSpace organization is looking for an entry level java developer to join the team designing, building, and supporting its new cloud compute service and open technology named DuraCloud. DuraSpace is a 501(c)3 whose mission is to enable and support open source technologies and services for scholarship and research. DuraSpace currently supports several open source platforms including DSpace and Fedora. . . .

The java developer will join the team designing, building, and supporting the DuraCloud technology. The developer will be responsible for writing code and working with the larger team in defining requirements and creating the project roadmap. The position requires a knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and self-motivated individual with experience in integrating disparate code bases, Web services, API calls, wrappers, scripts or database synchronizations. The java developer will focus on best strategies for integrating DuraCloud and other DuraSpace systems as the underpinning for dynamic, collaborative Web-based applications. Other responsibilities include assisting the DuraSpace team in defining project goals, leading the software engineering process, and disseminating results (including software deployment, documentation, reports, journal articles, presentations at professional meetings/conferences).

Presentations from the Digital Repository Federation International Conference 2009

Presentations from the DRF International Conference 2009: Open Access Repositories Now and in the Future—From the Global and Asia-Pacific Points of View are now available. The Digital Repository Federation is "a federation consisting of 87 universities and research institutes (as of February 2009), which aims to promote Open Access and Institutional Repository in Japan."

Here's a quick selection of presentations:

Copyright Office Issues Interim Regulation Giving U.S. Online-Only Works Deposit Exemption

The U.S. Copyright Office has issued an interim regulation giving U.S. online-only works a copyright deposit exemption.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

The Copyright Office of the Library of Congress is adopting an interim regulation governing mandatory deposit of electronic works published in the United States and available only online. The regulation establishes that online-only works are exempt from mandatory deposit until a demand for deposit of copies or phonorecords of such works is issued by the Copyright Office. It also states that categories of online-only works subject to demand will first be identified in the regulations, and names electronic serials as the first such category for which demands will issue. In addition, the regulation sets forth the process for issuing and responding to a demand for deposit, amends the definition of a "complete copy" of a work for purposes of mandatory deposit of online-only works, and establishes new best edition criteria for electronic serials available only online.

Digital Collections Librarian at Columbia College Chicago

The Columbia College Chicago Library is recruiting a Digital Collections Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Manages the digital assets and digital collections of Columbia College Chicago Library and works with staff, faculty and students to identify digital resource needs for the College community. Assists with the acquisition and implementation of new digital collections. Provides expertise and advice in the development, deployment, evaluation, and preservation of digital collections throughout the College. Responsible for the maintenance of web-based access to local and remote digital content. Participates in the evaluation and implementation of new technologies related to digital content.

Web Services Librarian at University of Memphis

The University of Memphis University Libraries are recruiting a Web Services Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

This position provides leadership and direction for the design, development, and implementation of the University Libraries' web presence. The incumbent provides advice and consultation for departments and/or individuals involved in developing and/or maintaining library related web pages. Maintains University Libraries' web pages as well as the Web catalog pages, the EZ Proxy page, and other centrally supported pages. His/her efforts focus on identifying and implementing strategies to maximize the effective use of web based resources to meet the needs of library users and library personnel. The Web Services Librarian is a member of the Library Information Systems Department and participates fully in the programs and services of that department including managing appropriate servers.

Lessig: "For the Love of Culture: Google, Copyright, and Our Future"

Lawrence Lessig has published "For the Love of Culture: Google, Copyright, and Our Future" in The New Republic.

Here's an excerpt:

There is much to praise in this settlement [Google Books Settlement]. Lawsuits are expensive and uncertain. They take years to resolve. The deal Google struck guaranteed the public more free access to free content than "fair use" would have done. Twenty percent is better than snippets, and a system that channels money to authors is going to be liked much more than a system that does not. (Not to mention that the deal is elegant and clever in ways that a contracts professor can only envy.)

Yet a wide range of companies, and a band of good souls, have now joined together to attack the Google settlement. Some charge antitrust violations. Some fear that Google will collect information about who reads what—violating reader privacy. And some just love the chance to battle this decade's digital giant (including last decade's digital giant, Microsoft). The main thrust in almost all of these attacks, however, misses the real reason to be concerned about the future that this settlement will build. For the problem here is not just antitrust; it is not just privacy; it is not even the power that this (enormously burdensome) free library will give this already dominant Internet company. Indeed, the problem with the Google settlement is not the settlement. It is the environment for culture that the settlement will cement.

"Control of Museum Art Images: The Reach and Limits of Copyright and Licensing"

Melissa A. Brown and Kenneth D. Crews have self-archived "Control of Museum Art Images: The Reach and Limits of Copyright and Licensing" in SSRN.

Here's an excerpt:

Many museums and art libraries have digitized their collections of artworks. Digital imaging capabilities represent a significant development in the academic study of art, and they enhance the availability of art images to the public at large. The possible uses of these images are likewise broad. Many of these uses, however, are potentially defined by copyright law or by license agreements imposed by some museums and libraries that attempt to define allowable uses. Often, these terms and conditions will mean that an online image is not truly available for many purposes, including publication in the context of research or simple enjoyment. Not only do these terms and conditions restrict uses, they also have dubious legal standing after the Bridgeman case. This paper examines the legal premises behind claiming copyright in art images and the ability to impose license restrictions on their use.

This paper is one outcome of a study of museum licensing practices funded by The Samuel H. Kress Foundation. This paper is principally an introduction to the relevant law in the United States and a survey of examples of museum licenses. The project is in its early stages, with the expectation that later studies will expand on this introduction and provide greater analysis of the legal complications of copyright, the public domain, and the reach of license agreements as a means for controlling the use of artwork and potentially any other works, whether or not they fall within the scope of copyright protection.

Digital and Special Collections Curatorial Assistant at Villanova University

The Falvey Library at Villanova University is recruiting a Digital and Special Collections Curatorial Assistant.

Here's an excerpt from the ad (posting #2008214):

Facilitates and supports the development of Digital Library and Special Collections programs, with specific responsibilities for:

  • the processing, quality control, content management, and daily production of the Digital Library;
  • collection description (cataloging and metadata development);
  • exhibit development & installation (in coordination with other professional staff).

Podcast: Paolo Mangiafico: Initiating a Campus-Wide Digital Information Plan

Gerry Bayne at EDUCAUSE has released Paolo Mangiafico: Initiating a Campus-Wide Digital Information Plan (MP3 file).

Here's an excerpt :

In 2008, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded Duke University a grant to initiate a campus-wide digital information plan. The university appointed a director for their programs and is moving forward with designing a strategies. This podcast features an interview with Duke's Director of Digital Information Strategy, Paolo Mangiafico.

Digital Services Librarian at Stevens Institute of Technology

The S. C. Williams Library at Stevens Institute of Technology is recruiting a Digital Services Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Digital Initiatives Librarian will provide expertise and leadership in the creation and preservation of digital content created from the Library Collections or acquired.

DUTIES

Manage all digital projects undertaken by the Library

Populate and manage the ContentDM database

Develop policies related to acquisition and preservation of special collections

Implement metadata standards

Collaborate with Web Services Librarian and Head of Acquisitions & Collection

Development to put the digital collections online

Create online finding aids

Identify grants to support the library’s digitization goals

Promote the use of digital content to the Institute and various constituents

Center for Research Libraries Certifies Portico as Trustworthy Digital Repository

The Center for Research Libraries has certified Portico as a trustworthy digital repository.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

This month the Center for Research Libraries (CRL) announced the completion of an audit of the Portico digital repository and its certification as a trustworthy digital repository. Portico is the first digital preservation service to undergo this independent audit and the only service to be certified at this time.. . .

The nine-month audit process was an extremely positive and valuable one for Portico. It confirmed that the majority of our practices conform to the Trustworthy Repositories Audit and Certification Checklist (TRAC) and other metrics developed by CRL through its analyses of digital repositories. It also identified for us several areas for continued improvement as well as ways in which we can enhance the service for CRL member libraries as well as others. We look forward to continuing to report to CRL on these issues in the years ahead to ensure we continue to meet certification requirements and the expectations of CRL libraries, our other partner libraries, and our participating publishers.

We invite you to review the background information about CRL's Certification and Assessment of Digital Repositories Program (http://www.crl.edu/archiving-preservation/digital-archives/certification-and-assessment-digital-repositories) as well as the public audit report on Portico published by the CRL Certification Advisory Panel (http://www.crl.edu/archiving-preservation/digital-archives/certification-and-assessment-digital-repositories/portico).

Selected Comments to the White House OSTP Public Access Policy Forum

Below are selected comments submitted to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Public Access Policy Forum. The Forum is now closed.

Digital Projects Librarian at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The North Carolina Digital Heritage Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is recruiting a Digital Projects Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks an organized, collaborative, and collegial individual for the position of Digital Projects Librarian in the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center. The North Carolina Digital Heritage Center is a new program, housed in the North Carolina Collection in the Wilson Special Collections Library. The Center will provide digitization and hosting services for cultural heritage institutions in North Carolina. This new position will manage day-to-day digitization and online publication of library, museum, and archival materials from partner institutions, and will coordinate many of the Center's dealings with repositories in the state.

David H. Carlson Elected SPARC Steering Committee Chair

David H. Carlson, Dean of Library Affairs at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, has been elected Chair of the SPARC Steering Committee. Carlson has been a committee member since 2008.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

Carlson brings to the Chair position a rich and deep perspective informed by working with a variety of libraries and institutions in his career, including a teaching college, large research-intensive university, and a library consortium. He has served extensively with the board of directors at the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI), and currently serves on the boards of directors for the Greater Western Library Alliance (GWLA) and BioOne.

Carlson has been an active participant in industry-level scholarly communication activities, especially those related to library-vendor relations. He led the library community in successfully securing a reversal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science's (AAAS) decision to stop supplying new Science content to JSTOR. He has spearheaded Open Access activities at SIUC, and was responsible for launching the campus's open-access repository. Carlson has also been active supporter of national public access policies and has been a vocal advocate of the NIH Public Access Policy as well as the Federal Research Public Access Act (FRPAA).

"David Carlson is a committed advocate who sees things through to their conclusion," said Heather Joseph, SPARC's Executive Director. "His experience with institutions of all types, and his commitment to deepening the impact of research through expanding access will help SPARC make important new strides in the coming years. The committee and I look forward to having David's leadership to help us address the challenges and opportunities before us."

"The matters facing SPARC are vital to not just libraries but the academy," said Carlson. "Indeed, as technology provides greater access to tools and platforms that permit creative contributions, the issues are becoming increasingly important to society as a whole. It is a critical time to show the detrimental effects of restrictive laws and regulations, and to advance requirements for public access to research sponsored by government agencies." He added, "I look forward to working as Chair of SPARC to pursue key avenues toward change at this crucial juncture."

SPARC's voting membership, which includes representatives from over 150 academic libraries in the U.S. and Canada, also elected the following individuals to serve on the SPARC Steering Committee for three-year terms beginning January 1:

  • Maggie Farrell, University of Wyoming (non-ARL director)
  • Rick Luce, Emory University (ARL director)
  • Lorraine Harricombe, University of Kansas (ARL director)

Steering Committee members whose terms concluded in December include outgoing Chair (2005 through 2009) Ray English (Oberlin College), Larry Alford (Temple University), Sherrie Bergman (Bowdoin College), Diane Graves (Trinity University), and Randy Olsen (Brigham Young University).

The full SPARC Steering Committee represents ARL and non-ARL libraries in the U.S. and Canada as well as SPARC Europe, SPARC Japan, CARL, and AASHL. The full list is available at http://www.arl.org/sparc/about.