Year: 2010

Harvard Library Lab Established

With the approval of the University Library Council, Harvard has established the Harvard Library Lab. It is managed by Harvard University Library's Office for Scholarly Communication.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

Harvard's Library Lab is designed to promote the development of projects in all areas of library activity and to leverage the entrepreneurial aspirations of people throughout the library system and beyond. Proposals from faculty and students from anywhere in the University will also be welcomed and the Lab will encourage collaboration with projects being developed at MIT. The Lab offers infrastructure and financial support for projects and establishes a venue for cooperation across projects. Projects will be able to avail themselves of technical staff to augment the home department's staff, as well as support for release time, equipment, or outsourced services.

Read more about it at "Harvard Library Lab."

Version 1, Open Access Journals Bibliography

Version one of the Open Access Journals Bibliography is now available from Digital Scholarship. Open access journals publish articles (typically peer-reviewed articles) that are free of charge and, depending on the journal, may be able to be reused under an open license (e.g., a Creative Commons license). This bibliography presents selected English-language scholarly works that are useful in understanding open access journals. It does not cover works about e-prints or works that include open access journals in a treatment of diverse types of research materials. Most sources have been published from 1999 to the present; however, a few key sources published prior to 1999 are also included. The bibliography primarily includes books and published journal articles. A limited number of magazine articles and technical reports that are deemed to be of exceptional interest are also included. The bibliography includes links to freely available versions of included works.

The following recent Digital Scholarship publications may also be of interest:

  1. Scholarly Electronic Publishing Bibliography, version 78
  2. Digital Scholarship 2009 (paperback and open access PDF file)
  3. Scholarly Electronic Publishing Bibliography: 2008 Annual Edition (paperback, Kindle version, and open access PDF file)
  4. Digital Curation and Preservation Bibliography, version 1

DigitalKoans Changes

I'm working on several major projects, including a new book-length bibliography on open access (a follow-up to my 2005 Open Access Bibliography: Liberating Scholarly Literature with E-Prints and Open Access Journals). DigitalKoans posts will become a bit more selective; however, tweets are likely to remain at about the same level. Tweet summaries will now appear in DigitalKoans on a daily basis.

Recap of Digital Library and Library IT Jobs 7/20/10-8/20/10

In case you missed the tweets, here are jobs from 7/20/10-8/20/10 during the DigitalKoans blog hiatus.

"Acknowledged Goods: Cultural Studies and the Politics of Academic Journal Publishing"

Ted Striphas has self-archived "Acknowledged Goods: Cultural Studies and the Politics of Academic Journal Publishing" in IU ScholarWorks.

Here's an excerpt:

This essay explores the changing context of academic journal publishing and cultural studies' envelopment within it. It does so by exploring five major trends affecting scholarly communication today: alienation, proliferation, consolidation, pricing, and digitization. More specifically, it investigates how recent changes in the political economy of academic journal publishing have impinged on cultural studies' capacity to transmit the knowledge it produces, thereby dampening the field's political potential. It also reflects on how cultural studies' alienation from the conditions of its production has resulted in the field's growing involvement with interests that are at odds with its political proclivities.

Library Technology Services Coordinator at Seattle Pacific University

The Seattle Pacific University Library is recruiting a Library Technology Services Coordinator.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

  • Provides support services for technology used by library patrons and staff.
  • Manages the computer hardware and equipment in the library labs and classroom.
  • Hires, trains, schedules and supervises student employees.
  • Understands and implements library policies, procedures and operations, and the role of technology within the library.
  • Provides or assists with training and technology services to library patrons and staff. Installs and maintains computer hardware and software within the library, and especially for lab pool computers.
  • Identifies, obtains and manages end-user technology software and returnables, with special attention to the "Learning Commons" area on the library Lower Level.
  • Investigates, purchases and implements hardware and software products and services as directed.
  • Is the contact person between the library and CIS, ITS, University Services, and the other lab pool coordinators on common issues related to library technology.

University Investment in the Library, Phase II: An International Study of the Library’s Value to the Grants Process

Elsevier has released University Investment in the Library, Phase II: An International Study of the Library's Value to the Grants Process by Carol Tenopir (with other contributors).

Here's an excerpt:

The results demonstrate the value of the library to the institution in improving grant proposal and report writing and in helping to attract grant income. Library e-collections especially play a vital role in all aspects of grants, from proposal writing to final reports. The study across countries also shows how some specific factors within an institution (such as subject focus) or factors within a country (such as sources for grants funding) can influence the ROI for grants income. This report continues the ongoing discussion of ROI and academic libraries.

Last Week’s DigitalKoans Tweets 2010-08-22

Last Week’s DigitalKoans Tweets 2010-08-15

Last Week’s DigitalKoans Tweets 2010-08-08

Last Week’s DigitalKoans Tweets 2010-08-01

Last Week’s DigitalKoans Tweets 2010-07-25

Technology Services Head at Mugar Memorial Library

Boston University's Mugar Memorial Library is recruiting a Technology Services Head.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Guide assessment of existing and emerging library and information technologies. Lead project and implementation planning for library technologies. Provide coordination and programmatic guidance for the library technology services group (LTS), a multi-unit team, comprised of members from the University Libraries and Information Services & Technology. The LTS plans, deploys and supports a wide range of digital systems and services, including an integrated library system, WorldCat Local, link resolver, federated search software, institutional repository, search and discovery services, library web development, interlibrary loan system, proxy server, and staff desktop support. Collaborate with administrators, department heads and managers throughout all the University libraries and Information Services and Technology to adapt library services to the changing needs of faculty, researchers, and graduate students of Boston University and work with senior managers on the Library's other two teams, the Graduate & Research Services and Undergraduate & Distance Services to implement initiatives consistent with the Libraries’ strategic plan.

Presentations from the OAPEN Seminar

Presentations from the OAPEN seminar held on June 10, 2010 in Amsterdam are now available.

Here's an excerpt from the About OAPEN—Open Access Publishing in European Networks page:

OAPEN consists of a number of European university presses and universities, and is open to new partners. The publishing partners are all scholarly presses predominantly active in Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) and book publishing. Jointly the members have digital publishing programmes, conduct experiments with OA, make use of digital repositories, publish in different European languages, have a worldwide distribution network (including the USA), and cooperate closely with university libraries.

Institutional Repository Librarian at Boston University

Boston University's Mugar Memorial Library is recruiting an Institutional Repository Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Manage the Boston University Digital Common, Boston University’s institutional repository, including oversight of the repository, coordination with the Information Services and Technology (IS&T) staff that provides primary systems support for the hardware and software, outreach to faculty, content recruitment, documentation, publicity materials, training and supervision of support staff, and developing assessment measures for the repository's impact. Work with the Institutional Repository Steering Committee and with other staff to define and implement repository policies, workflows, and capabilities and with the AUL and IS&T staff to develop effective digital preservation policies and procedures. Responsible for ensuring that the Digital Common programs align with the needs of the BU community and that BU faculty, students, and staff are aware of and know how to utilize BU Digital Common services. Collaborate with the other department heads and managers on the Digital Initiatives & Open Access Team and with senior managers on the Library’s other two teams, the Graduate & Research Services and Undergraduate & Distance Services, to implement initiatives consistent with the Library's strategic plan.

OpenURL Link Resolver: SFX 4.0 Released

The Ex Libris Group has released SFX 4.0.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

Ex Libris® Group . . . is pleased to announce the general release of version 4.0 of its SFX® OpenURL link resolver, already deployed at over 1800 institutions in 53 countries. With the updated and enhanced administrative interface and the redesigned structure of the SFX KnowledgeBase, librarians benefit from streamlined workflows, new functionality, and more frequent KnowledgeBase updates for both hosted and local SFX installations.

New administrative functions—many of which are the direct result of feedback from the customer community—further emphasize the importance that libraries attribute to maintaining full control over the way in which they expose their e-collection to their users and brand the library’s scholarly services. And what’s more, SFX has been keeping up with the times. As the scholarly environment has evolved, configurations have been added to SFX to accommodate changes in library services and the development of new ones, such as the bX article recommender service.

VuFind 1.0 Released

VuFind 1.0 has been released. VuFind is an open source resource discovery system.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

VuFind's long beta period is now over. Today, VuFind 1.0 has been released. In addition to improved stability, the new release includes several features missing from the previous release candidate: flexible support for non-MARC metadata formats, a mobile interface, Dewey Decimal support, integration with Serials Solutions' Summon, and more!

Web Services Librarian at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Library is recruiting a Web Services Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The University Library seeks a creative and innovative Web Services Librarian to provide leadership in the vision, design and implementation of the Library’s Web site. This position works both independently and collaboratively in managing the Library’s web site, explores web and technology trends, and identifies what is suitable for our library and its users to advance to the next level in its virtual presence. This librarian also takes an active role in the library’s instruction program, reference services, and collection development, and participates fully in scholarship and service as a tenure track library faculty member. The Web Services Librarian works collaboratively with library faculty to meet the mission and goals of the University Library.

ALA, ARL, and EDUCAUSE File Comments Supporting FCC’s "Third Way" Net Neutrality Proposal

The American Library Association, the Association of Research Libraries, and EDUCAUSE have filed comments with the FCC supporting the FCC's "Third Way" proposal.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

The American Library Association (ALA) filed comments(pdf) with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the commission’s Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on the Framework for Broadband Internet Service, commonly referred to as the "Third Way." The ALA has a strong track record of advocating for an open, or neutral, Internet. The ALA sees the Third Way as the most appropriate level of oversight as it provides the flexibility needed by the Internet community and also provides key protections to guarantee the public has equal access to the wide variety of online content readily available today.

The NOI proposes the FCC use a set of six provisions from Title II, two of which are particularly important to the library community. The ALA comments bring attention to the significance of Section 202, nondiscrimination, and Section 254, universal service. Including these sections is paramount to ensuring that libraries can continue to provide quintessential services to their patrons.

The ALA has long supported the concept of nondiscrimination which treats all Internet content equally. Libraries across the country provide the public with access to high quality educational and recreational online content – at no fee to the patron. In fact, 75 percent of libraries offer access to online databases that include business journals, full-text news articles, and job certification exams. Libraries provide patrons with downloadable and streaming audio and video content, as well as E-books. The ALA cautions that without Section 202 on nondiscrimination, this educational and other content could be relegated to the Internet slow lane by service providers in favor of content from the private sector.

Virtual Library R&D Librarian at Texas Tech University (2 Positions)

The Texas Tech University Libraries are recruiting two Virtual Library R&D Librarians.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

This position reports to the Lead of the Library Technology Management and Services Research and Development Team. The position ensures maximum interoperability of applied virtual library systems, solutions, data, metadata, etc., while engaging in innovative virtual library research efforts, including relevant assessment activities, and may coordinate virtual library development efforts. The position also engages in strategic partnering and collaborations across traditional and non-traditional boundaries, and engages in relevant scholarly pursuit and other professional activities and service in accordance with Texas Tech Library’s standards for promotion and tenure.

Preserving Digital Public Television: Final Report

The NDIIPP-funded Preserving Digital Public Television project has released Preserving Digital Public Television: Final Report.

Here's an excerpt:

The goals of the PDPTV project were to:

  • Design and build a prototype preservation repository for born-digital public television content;
  • Develop a set of standards for metadata, file and encoding formats, and production workflow practices;
  • Recommend selection criteria for long-term retention;
  • Examine issues of long-term content accessibility and methods for sustaining digital preservation of public television materials, including IP concerns.
  • Introduce the importance of digital preservation to the public broadcasting community.

Last Week’s DigitalKoans Tweets 2010-07-18

MELIBEA: Directory and Validator of Open Access Policies

AccesoAbierto has made MELIBEA, a directory and validator of open access policies, available.

Here's an excerpt from the About page:

MELIBEA is a directory and validator of institutional open-access (OA) policies regarding scientific and academic work. As a directory, it describes the existing policies. As a validator, it subjects them to qualitative and quantitative analysis based on fulfilment of a set of indicators that reflect the bases of an institutional policy.

Based on the values assigned to a set of indicators, weighted according to their importance, the validator indicates a score and a percentage of fulfilment for each policy analyzed. The sum of weighted values of each indicator is converted to a percentage scale to give what we have called the "validated open-access percentage," calculated as explained in the Methodology section.