Month: June 2010

Digital Collections Metadata Librarian at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries are recruiting a Digital Collections Metadata Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

This faculty position, reporting to the Digitization Projects Librarian, is responsible for providing leadership for metadata creation and management in the face of changing standards, user expectations, and tools. The incumbent will be expected to work collaboratively in the planning and implementation of metadata provision for digital resources; including the selection of metadata schema, data elements, thesauri, and development of crosswalks. The incumbent will lead the formulation and documentation of Libraries' policies, procedures, and best practices for metadata use and will be responsible for training of metadata staff and the management of metadata workflows, including assisting with migration and/or harvesting of data between systems.

Creating a Digital Smithsonian: Digitization Strategic Plan

The Smithsonian has released Creating a Digital Smithsonian: Digitization Strategic Plan.

Here's an excerpt:

How long will digitization take? How much will it cost? Right now, we are not sure, and the plan’s number-one task is to determine timelines, cost parameters, and guidelines for setting priorities about what will be digitized when. While we will not digitize all of our collections, the price tag is still daunting, especially considering that many of our objects are three-dimensional and therefore more difficult to digitize. Added to the direct cost of digitization are the staff hours needed to find and research objects and data and the rights associated with them.

Regardless of the specific digitization strategies we pursue, the investment will be enormous. This accounts for a key goal in the digitization plan: securing additional financial and human capital. As noted, digitization is an ongoing process that will require ongoing resources. We have been digitizing, and will continue to do so as funds become available, but from now on we will work across the Institution from a single plan that outlines a comprehensive and systemic approach.

Canadian Copyright: Bill C-32, An Act to Amend the Copyright Act

The Government of Canada has introduced Bill C-32, An Act to Amend the Copyright Act.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, and the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today announced the introduction of legislation to modernize the Copyright Act. This legislation is a key pillar in the government's commitment in the 2010 Speech from the Throne to position Canada as a leader in the global digital economy.

"Our government promised to introduce legislation that will modernize Canadian copyright law for the digital age while protecting and creating jobs, promoting innovation and attracting new investment to Canada," said Minister Clement. "This legislation will ensure that Canada's copyright laws are forward-looking and responsive in a fast-paced digital world.". . .

The popularity of Web 2.0, social media, and new technologies such as the MP3 player and digital books have changed the way Canadians create and make use of copyrighted material. This bill recognizes the many new ways in which teachers, students, artists, software companies, consumers, families, copyright owners and many others use technology. It gives creators and copyright owners the tools to protect their work and grow their business models. It provides clearer rules that will enable all Canadians to fully participate in the digital economy, now and into the future.

This legislation will bring Canada in line with international standards and promote home-grown innovation and creativity. It is a fair, balanced, and common-sense approach, respecting both the rights of creators and the interests of consumers in a modern marketplace. The Government of Canada is working to secure Canada's place in the digital economy and to promote a more prosperous and competitive Canada.

For more information, visit www.balancedcopyright.gc.ca.

Read more about it at "The Canadian Copyright Bill: Flawed But Fixable," "Canadian Library Association Gives Passing Grade to New Copyright Legislation, and "Moore's Strong Rejection of Three Strikes Model for Canada."

Systems Support Officer at Cambridge University

The Cambridge University Library is recruiting a Systems Support Officer (limit of tenure: 3 years from date of appointment). Salary: £25,751-£29,853.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The library is seeking to appoint a dynamic and imaginative professional to the post of libraries@cambridge Systems Support Officer within the Electronic Services and Systems division of the University Library who will to support the use of the University’s library management software (Voyager) in the departmental, faculty and college libraries of the University and assist them in the implementation of Voyager modules by examining data and analysing workflows. He or she will provide training, documentation and support (via telephone, email and site visits) in the use of the Voyager system and will take responsibility for troubleshooting system and client software problems when reported.

The role-holder will develop and maintain programs to apply Web 2.0 technologies to library support services, to automate routine tasks such as the provision of statistics, and to support the libraries@cambridge bibliographic standard.

Swiss National Library Launches eBooks on Demand, a Fee-Based Digitization-on-Demand Service

The Swiss National Library has launched eBooks on Demand.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

The Swiss National Library (NL) now offers a digitisation on request service for out of copy-right books. This new paid service is known as "eBooks on Demand" (EOD). The NL already lists more than 100,000 books available for digitisation, which can be provided as a PDF to customers. . . .

To date, more than 100,000 books (mainly older publications, since only they are not under copyright) are available on request in digitised form, and can be delivered to users as an e-mail attachment, or by post on a CD.

Such works are marked in the online catalogue Helveticat (www.nb.admin.ch/helveticat) with the EOD symbol, which serves as a link to the order form. Submitting a form triggers an invoice; once this is paid, the reader receives the eBook. On request, for a small supplement, a paperback may also be supplied.

"eBooks on Demand" is a project of the NL and over 20 other libraries in ten European countries (www.books2ebooks.eu).

Computer Programmer Analyst II at University of Connecticut (Reopened)

The University of Connecticut Libraries are recruiting a Computer Programmer Analyst II.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The University of Connecticut Libraries is seeking an Applications Developer. As a member of the Digital Programs Team and under the direction of the Digital Programs Team Leader, the Applications Developer provides programming support for UConn's local digital collections workflows, including data-driven planning, capture, metadata handling, efficient and effective discovery tools, and enabling archival master file storage toward a trusted digital repository, all conformant with the best practices of cultural heritage and higher education institutions. The incumbent provides programming, research, and development for digital collections, so that the UConn Libraries can fulfill related strategic objectives in support of the University's Academic Plan. Within a project management environment, the Applications Developer defines, develops, tests, analyzes, and maintains new software and Web applications that support the creation and maintenance of Library information resources and services. With growing collections of diverse digital content, including text, maps and geospatial data, photographs, and other information objects, the next level of growth for UConn will be significant progress toward semantically integrating these resources by means of creative-yet standards-compliant-applications, which the incumbent will play a critical role in developing. The incumbent is responsible for creating applications and for assisting others in developing and implementing Web resources and services that are well integrated into the current information server environment.

The Applications Developer works with the Digital Projects Librarian, the Digital Integration Librarian, the Preservation Librarian, the Libraries' Webmaster, and the IT team to provide customized tools for creating and managing collection and access services in the University of Connecticut Libraries and to provide leadership in the collaborative process to develop innovative access and delivery of the Libraries' digital resources.

The State of Online Video

The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project has released The State of Online Video.

Here's an excerpt:

On the other side of the camera, video creation has now become a notable feature of online life. One in seven adult internet users (14%) have uploaded a video to the internet, almost double the 8% who were uploading video in 2007. Home video is far and away the most popular content posted online, shared by 62% of video uploaders. And uploaders are just as likely to share video on social networking sites like Facebook (52% do this) as they are on more specialized video-sharing sites like YouTube (49% do this).

Yet, while video-sharing is growing in popularity, adult internet users have mixed feelings about how broadly they want to share their own creations. While 31% of uploaders say they “always” place restrictions on who can access their videos, 50% say they “never” restrict access. The remaining 19% fall somewhere in the middle. And while there is almost universal appreciation for the ease with which video-sharing sites allow uploaders to share video with family and friends, a considerable number (35%) also feel they should be more careful about what they post.

Last Week’s DigitalKoans Tweets 2010-06-06

The Idea of Order: Transforming Research Collections for 21st Century Scholarship

The Council on Library and Information Resources has released The Idea of Order: Transforming Research Collections for 21st Century Scholarship.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

The Idea of Order explores the transition from an analog to a digital environment for knowledge access, preservation, and reconstitution, and the implications of this transition for managing research collections. The volume comprises three reports. The first, "Can a New Research Library be All-Digital?" by Lisa Spiro and Geneva Henry, explores the degree to which a new research library can eschew print. The second, "On the Cost of Keeping a Book," by Paul Courant and Matthew "Buzzy" Nielsen, argues that from the perspective of long-term storage, digital surrogates offer a considerable cost savings over print-based libraries. The final report, "Ghostlier Demarcations," examines how well large text databases being created by Google Books and other mass-digitization efforts meet the needs of scholars, and the larger implications of these projects for research, teaching, and publishing.

Integrated Systems Librarian at Savannah College of Art and Design

The Jen Library at the Savannah College of Art and Design is recruiting an Integrated Systems Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad (posting number: 0401670 ):

SCAD Savannah seeks qualified applicants for an integrated systems librarian for its Jen Library. The person in this position will be responsible for providing dynamic leadership of all aspects of the SCAD library's Millennium operating system, to include maintenance, troubleshooting and upgrades of the system. In addition, the successful candidate will coordinate all electronic resources in collaboration with internal SCAD library departments.

Associate University Librarian, Library and Learning Technology at McMaster University

The McMaster University Library is recruiting an Associate University Librarian, Library and Learning Technology.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The Associate University Librarian for Library and Learning Technologies (AUL, LLT) provides leadership, vision and strategic direction for the McMaster University Library in the development, delivery and integration of new and existing systems and technology services across the Libraries and the University’s general purpose classrooms. S/he oversees the management and operations of LLT, including its five departments/sections that provide support for classroom audio-visual services (CAVS), ILS and local systems support, web services, IT architecture and new media support to the Libraries. S/he also serves as the University Library’s chief liaison with University Technology Services (UTS) and with other technology units on campus. S/he will actively seek partnerships and manage collaborations with departments of the Libraries and other organizations external to the Libraries to ensure that the resources are in place to support a wide array of user needs.

JISC Project Report: Digitisation Programme: Preservation Study, April 2009

JISC, the Digital Preservation Coalition, Portico, and the University of London Computer Centre have released JISC Project Report: Digitisation Programme: Preservation Study, April 2009.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

The digital universe grew by 62% in 2009, but those adding to these resources need to think long term if they want to make best use of their public funding. Clearly stated preservation policies are essential in guaranteeing that researchers in the future will be able to access and use a digital resource, according to a new report funded by JISC. But the responsibility needs to be shared between funders, who must articulate the need for data curation, and universities, who need to implement a preservation policy for each digital collection. . . .

Alastair Dunning, programme manager at JISC, said: "Although our initial goal was to examine our own projects, the recommendations and outcomes are relevant to funders and projects in many different sectors."

Dr William Kilbride, Executive Director of the Digital Preservation Coalition, said: "JISC challenged us to work in fine detail and in broad strokes at the same time. We immersed ourselves in the detail of sixteen different projects with a brief to support these projects and use that experience for a strategic and lasting contribution based on hard empirical evidence."

The results of this work published today contain recommendations for institutions, funders and those assessing funding projects and programmes. The authors anticipate that the template used to survey the projects could also form a useful blueprint for funders and assessors in the future.

Knowledge = Information in Context

Europeana has released Knowledge = Information in Context.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

Europeana's first White Paper looks at the key role linked data will play in Europeana's development and in helping Europe's citizens make connections between existing knowledge to achieve new cultural and scientific developments. Without linked data, Europeana could be seen as a simple collection of digital objects. With linked data, the potential is far greater, as the author of the white paper, Prof. Stefan Gradmann, explains.

Information Technology Librarian at University of Georgia Law Library

The University of Georgia Law Library is recruiting an Information Technology Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The Information Technology Librarian designs and implements the Law Library’s web policies and procedures; maintains Library web pages and intranet; monitors emerging technologies related to reference service and shares in reference duties, including some evening and weekend shifts; assists in the administration of the integrated library system; contributes to the overall team management of the Law Library (including active participation in Steering Group , Computing Services Team, Digital Commons Team, Reference Team, Library Systems Team and Library Web Team, and leadership for the Public Relations Team); participates in professional development activities; and takes on other duties as assigned.

OCLC Releases MARCView and MARConvert as Open Source Software

OCLC has released MARCView and MARConvert as open source software.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

OCLC and Systems Planning are pleased to announce the donation of MARCView and MARConvert to OCLC, and OCLC’s release of MARCView and MARConvert as open source software under the Apache 2.0 license.

MARCView and MARConvert software, developed by Systems Planning of Bethesda, Maryland, USA, are widely-used applications designed to assist librarians and developers working with MARC records. MARCView provides a user-friendly interface to navigate and display individual MARC, MARCXML and UNIMARC records. MARConvert™ supports the conversion of bibliographic or authority records into or out of MARC21, UNIMARC or MARCXML and can also convert MARC records from one character set to another.

Head of the Max Planck Digital Library

The Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science is recruiting a Head of the Max Planck Digital Library (two-year contract with subsequent tenure consideration).

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

As head of the MPDL, you will be responsible for all system-wide information services and the strategic positioning of the MPG in the arena of eResearch, scientific information management and scholarly communication. It is essential that all concepts and developments under your management will be based on maximum responsiveness to the requirements of our researchers and institutes including their individual libraries and IT groups. The MPDL is already involved in many high-level initiatives both on the national and international level. It will be part of your role to further elaborate this strategy and to ensure best effectiveness both for MPDL and MPG. You will report directly to the Executive Board of the Max Planck Society; and the operations of MPD

Digital Preservation: Data-PASS Project Gets Matching IMLS Support for $1.6 Million Project

The Data-PASS Project has been given "one-to-one matching funds for the $1.6 million dollar project" by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

The Institute of Museum and Library Services has generously supported members of the Data-PASS Alliance through an award to develop a policy-based archival replication system for libraries, archives and museums. . . .

The archival community has largely recognized that a geographically – and organizationally – distributed approach is necessary to minimize long-term risks to digital materials. The new system will provide a way to ensure that replicated collections are both institutionally and geographically distributed and to allow for the development of increasingly measurable and auditable trusted repository requirements. This result will be to enable any library, museum or archive to audit its content across an existing LOCKSS network and will allow groups of collaborating institutions to automatically and verifiably replicate each others' content.

The Data-PASS partnership was established as part of a previously funded Library of Congress NDIIPP program and the replication system builds upon a prototype developed through that project. Data-PASS network model

Tools and training to facilitate the creation of archival replication policies and the auditing and management of a replication network will be released this year. We will also release extensions to the Dataverse Network System that enable curators of dataverse virtual archives to easily participate in these replication networks. These tools will be distributed as open source, and as self-contained packages for non-technical users.

Digital Video of the Age of Open Access: New Paradigm for Universities and Researchers Session

The Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences has released a digital video of the Age of Open Access: New Paradigm for Universities and Researchers session at Concordia University. (No audio during first 48 seconds.)

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

Significant technological advances in recent years have made research more accessible than ever. Funding agencies now require researchers to make their findings accessible in open access journals, which have grown significantly in number. Universities everywhere are adopting policies mandating their researchers to post a copy of their published work on institutional repositories accessible to the public. These changes in the way scholarly content is made available are raising the many questions that will be the focus of this panel discussion. What challenges are facing universities that want to promote greater accessibility to their faculties research? What support and infrastructure are necessary for the journals to continue to survive (or better still, thrive) in this new environment? What are the choices and challenges facing researchers interested in advancing their research?

Join moderator Guy Berthiaume (Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec) at this panel discussion with John Willinsky (Stanford University), Michael Geist (University of Ottawa), Heather Joseph (Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition, Washington), and Gerald Beasley (Concordia University).

Web Services Librarian at University of Houston-Victoria

The University of Houston-Victoria Library is recruiting a Web Services Librarian. Salary: Minimum $32,800 (negotiable).

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Web Services Librarian, Library, University of Houston-Victoria. Provide vision and direction for all aspects of the library's website; to work collaboratively with library staff to maintain quality online services and resources; and to provide leadership in developing web-based applications. . . .

  • Administers the Library's web server and ColdFusion server
  • Administers the ColdFusion application for the Library; coordinates and consults with library departments in development of dynamic content for the Library's website
  • Develops and implements priorities for web services development through coordination and consultation with the Head of Public Services and Web Site Development Team
  • Performs regular review and evaluations of the Library's web site, and creates new pages and updates existing web pages as necessary
  • Coordinates training in HTML and web design for Library departmental web site publishing staff

Presentations from the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries 2010

Presentations from the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries 2010 are now available.

Here's some representative presentations:

Web Developer/Designer at University of Kansas Medical Center

The University of Kansas Medical Center is recruiting a Web Developer/Designer.

Here's an excerpt from the ad (position number: J0184705):

This person will work closely with Dykes Library staff, faculty and other Information Resources units to raise the visibility of expertise, research, publications, grey literature, and collections on the KUMC web site. Requires one to work closely with librarians and library personnel to understand information requirement needs and to then seek solutions for meeting those required needs. Requires working with diverse web applications and data sources to provide seamless user services.

"Interview with Sarah Pritchard: The Changing Face of Academic Presses"

Information Today has published "Interview with Sarah Pritchard: The Changing Face of Academic Presses." Pritchard is the University Librarian at Northwestern University.

Here's an excerpt:

Q: The model that many advocate for OA books is making the text freely available online but sell the print version, so that etext will drive print sales. Do you see it as a viable model for NUP [Northwestern University Press]?

A: Absolutely, I see that as a very logical model, and I would envisage us moving to that model before we move to a totally OA environment. By the way, we are currently in the process of moving one of our journals to OA, which we are very excited about . . . TriQuarterly.