Month: January 2011

"The Impact of the Supreme Court’s Decision in Costco v. Omega on Libraries"

The Library Copyright Alliance has released "The Impact of the Supreme Court's Decision in Costco v. Omega on Libraries."

Here's an excerpt:

On December 13, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Costco v. Omega in a manner that eliminated none of the uncertainty caused by the lower court's ruling in that case. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit had ruled that the copyright law's "first sale doctrine" did not apply to copies manufactured abroad. This ruling cast doubt on a library's ability to circulate books and other materials manufactured outside of the United States. In a 4 to 4 vote, the Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's judgment "by an equally divided Court." This means that the Ninth Circuit's ruling stands within the Ninth Circuit, but is not a binding precedent on courts in the rest of the country. Libraries must now decide whether to change their purchasing and lending practices in light of the Supreme Court's decision. This memorandum suggests that a combination of defenses, including section 602(a)(3)(C) of the Copyright Act, the Ninth Circuit's Drug Emporium exception, implied license, and fair use, allow libraries throughout the country to continue their existing purchasing and circulation practices with a fair degree of confidence that they will not infringe copyright by doing so.

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Librarian (Digital Projects) at National Agricultural Library

The National Agricultural Library is recruiting a Librarian (Digital Projects). Note: "This is a term appointment not to exceed 13 months. Position may be extended up to a maximum total appointment time of 4 years."

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

You will participate in the planning, development, implementation and maintenance of core digital initiatives. Duties include but are not limited to the following:

  • Create and/or add meta-data, classification, and search capabilities;
  • Recommend enhancements to NAL’s web presence;
  • Seek creative solutions to leverage current technologies to integrate content and realize improvements in information management, such as Web 2.0, RSS feeds, wikis, and blogs;
  • Initiate the development of electronic library information tools and services for information delivery, such as Zotero, EndNotes, and RefWorks;
  • Collaborate with task forces and groups of diverse national and international members to forge information-sharing partnerships, enhance digital collections, and further database or other digital development initiatives; and
  • Provide formal and informal training and support in web-based and traditional formats to staff and customers to facilitate effective use of digital content and technologies.

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Twitter Updates for February 1, 2011

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Systems Librarian at University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia Library is recruiting a Systems Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

We are seeking an innovative, experienced and professional librarian to contribute to the development and delivery for Library-wide information services and resources, in support of the university’s teaching and research programs. Key responsibilities will include: managing and coordinating independently or as part of a team, the Library's integrated library system (ILS), currently, Ex Libris/Voyager, and the Library's suite of utilities and applications supporting the ILS; involvement in the development, integration, customization, and maintenance of the Library's online infrastructure in relation to the ILS; liaising with Library Systems, Technical Services, Finance, and other Library staff regarding ILS services, electronic resource management, metadata, digitization and other initiatives; preparing systems-related documentation and supporting the production of statistical reports. This position will participate in the planning and implementation of relevant services, policies, and procedures and will also coordinate and supervises staff, services and special projects as required.

This position will report to the Associate University Librarian, Library Systems & Information Technology and works collaboratively with colleagues in the Library, UBC, and beyond.

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Scholarly Electronic Publishing Weblog (January 31, 2011)

The latest update of the Scholarly Electronic Publishing Weblog (SEPW) is now available. It provides information about new works related to scholarly electronic publishing, such as books, e-prints, journal articles, magazine articles, technical reports, and white papers.

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Twitter Updates for 1/31/11

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Digital Content Specialist at University of Bridgeport

The University of Bridgeport is recruiting a Digital Content Specialist.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Reporting to the AVP Information Technology and CIO, the Digital Content Specialist supports initiates to create, disseminate, and archive electronic content across University enterprise platforms. These include: the ExLibris suite of library systems; Equella institutional repository; web; and Datatel sharepoint portal. The incumbent works closely with content managers across the University in academic and administrative departments to develop standards and policies; maintain metadata thesauri: maintain library web and portal presence; handle synchronous learning content; manage intellectual property and permissions; trouble shoot technical problems; and support content management system user groups. The Digital Content Specialist participates fully in developing the strategic direction of the University in managing digital content, and is responsible for researching emerging developments. He/she maintains relationships with the vendor community.

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RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) Now Indexes One Million Documents

RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) now has now indexed one million documents.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

RePEc has reached over the last week-end a historic mark: one million works in Economics and neighboring sciences are now indexed, of which 87.5% are available for download. The bibliographic database is comprised by 59.2% of journal articles, 38.5% of working papers, 1.3% of book chapters, 0.8% of books, and 0.2% of software components. All this material has been indexed by volunteers maintaining close to 1300 archives.

| Digital Scholarship | Digital Scholarship Publications Overview |

Assistant Dean, University Library Systems at University of South Alabama

The University of South Alabama Library is recruiting an Assistant Dean, University Library Systems.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

This is a twelve month library management position reporting to the Dean of University Libraries with the following responsibilities:

  • Oversees the University Libraries networked and microcomputer applications, including the ExLibris Voyager integrated automation system, print/copying system, and thin-client public workstations
  • Responsible for report generation and analyses, security profiles for operators
  • Manages University Library computer labs
  • Acts as liaison to library vendors
  • Collaborates with library staff regarding all computer hardware, software, network/telecommunication needs
  • Supervises two full-time staff
  • Coordinates related staff training and continuing education
  • Works closely with staff in the Computer Services and Telecommunications department
  • Responsible for identifying emerging technologies that will enhance library services

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"Highlights from the SOAP Project Survey. What Scientists Think about Open Access Publishing"

Suenje Dallmeier-Tiessen et al. have self-archived "Highlights from the SOAP Project Survey. What Scientists Think about Open Access Publishing" in arXiv.org.

Here's an excerpt:

The SOAP (Study of Open Access Publishing) project has run a large-scale survey of the attitudes of researchers on, and the experiences with, open access publishing. Around forty thousands answers were collected across disciplines and around the world, showing an overwhelming support for the idea of open access, while highlighting funding and (perceived) quality as the main barriers to publishing in open access journals. This article serves as an introduction to the survey and presents this and other highlights from a preliminary analysis of the survey responses. To allow a maximal re-use of the information collected by this survey, the data are hereby released under a CC0 waiver, so to allow libraries, publishers, funding agencies and academics to further analyse risks and opportunities, drivers and barriers, in the transition to open access publishing.

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Twitter Updates for 1/29/11

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Twitter Updates for 1/28/11

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Coordinator of Digital Operations at the University of Houston

The University of Houston Libraries are recruiting a Coordinator of Digital Operations. Salary: $52,000-$56,000.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Reporting to the Head of Digital Services, the Coordinator of Digital Operations explores, adapts and supports library information technologies for digital projects, including the application of standards, metadata, discovery interfaces, workflow design, production coordination, and quality controls appropriate to specific projects. Collaborates and coordinates with other staff, committees and other departments to shepherd digital projects from inception to completion, and develops policies and workflow for digital collections. Supervises the work of 1 Metadata Specialist, 1 Digital Photograph Technician, student workers and library student interns. Provides training and assistance to others in the department supporting metadata services; and participates in local, state and national metadata initiatives, including the metadata working group of the Texas Digital Library.

| Digital Scholarship | Digital Scholarship Publications Overview |

Three Chapters from Access-Right: The Future of Digital Copyright Law

Zohar Efroni has self-archived three chapters from Access-Right: The Future of Digital Copyright Law in SSRN.

  • "Access." Here's an excerpt:

    This chapter scrutinizes the notion of "access to information" and attempts to translate it into a vocabulary property law can process and analyze. It turns out that very little about "access to information" as a property concept is self-explanatory.

  • "The Digital Reproduction Right." Here's an excerpt:

    It shall be posited that and explained why the reproduction right belongs to past chapters in copyright law's evolution; it has grown evidently unsuitable to lead the copyright system into the digital future.

  • "Anticircumvention Laws." Here's an excerpt:

    This chapter provides a broad overview and analysis on anticircumvention laws in the U.S. and Europe. . . . The statutory anticircumvention texts reviewed in this chapter do not provide straightforward answers to the nexus problem, that is, the relationship between anticircumvention bans and conventional copyright infringement.

| Digital Scholarship | Digital Scholarship Publications Overview |

Associate Librarian, Technology Initiatives at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is recruiting an Associate Librarian, Technology Initiatives.

Here's an excerpt from the ad (job ID: 22467 )

The Associate Librarian, Technology Initiatives (ALTI) reports to the Director of Library Services and is responsible for providing leadership and expertise in designing, developing, and supporting the library's virtual presence, in particular, Synapse, a database and web interface to publications by MSK authors. This role also evaluates and assesses new and emerging technologies/applications to ensure the ongoing development of a state-of-the-art library and client services. Additionally, you will direct planning efforts for all software, systems and resources required for Library technology products, manage the collection & analysis of database and website usage metrics and reports, and create & implement a usability program to support Synapse, Library Website and related Library Services.

| Digital Scholarship | Digital Scholarship Publications Overview |

Over 1,000 DSpace Repositories in about 100 Countries Registered

There are now over 1,000 known DSpace repositories.

Here's an excerpt from the DuraSpace announcement

The DSpace user community has reached a major milestone. There are now over 1000 known instances of DSpace installed in almost 100 different countries worldwide. DSpace continues to be the most popular repository solution, with well over a third of the known institutional repositories using the DSpace software. Each month over the last year, the DSpace registry has added between 20-30 new repositories. Check out "Who's Using DSpace" to see the complete list. . . .

Over the last year, DSpace repositories were launched in 25 new countries, including: Bulgaria, Cameroon, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malawi, Malta, Mozambique, Nepal, Poland, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Senegal, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Tansania, Uruguay, Zambia.

The countries that had the largest increase in the number of DSpace repositories were: Japan +33, Taiwan +28, USA +16, Spain +13, Brazil +12, Ecuador +11, China +10, Portugal +10, Ukraine +10, South Africa +8, Thailand +7, Vietnam +7.

Also of interest is the number of highly ranked DSpace repositories listed in the January 2011 edition of the Ranking Web of World Repositories.

Here's an excerpt from the DuraSpace announcement

In overall, DSpace’s presence among the top 100 listed repositories has grown tremendously, with 51 repositories listed now, compared to 41 in July 2010, 45 in January 2010 and 43 in January 2009.

| Digital Scholarship | Digital Scholarship Publications Overview |

Twitter Updates for 1/27/11

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Head of Library Technology Services at Central Washington University

The Central Washington University’s Brooks Library is recruiting a Head of Library Technology Services.

Here's an excerpt from the ad (posting number: 0400699):

To provide leadership/management of Library Systems and oversight of Cataloging, Collection Development, and Serials/E resources departments; to recommend changes/advances to the Dean; and to contribute to the internal governance of the Library.

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"Issue Brief: FCC’s Net Neutrality Rules and Implications for Research Libraries"

The Association of Research Libraries has released "Issue Brief: FCC's Net Neutrality Rules and Implications for Research Libraries."

Here's an excerpt:

FCC Votes to Enact "Net Neutrality" Rules: After years of debate and consideration, on December 21, 2010, the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") voted 3-2 in favor of enacting a narrow set of net neutrality rules to regulate the practices of broadband providers. "Net neutrality" is the principle that Internet users should have the right to access and provide content and use services via the Internet as they wish, and that network operators should not be allowed to "discriminate"—slow, block, or charge fees—for Internet traffic based on the source or content of its message. . . .

The wording of the net neutrality rules, advanced by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, appears to reflect an attempt at a compromise between network operators and advocates for strong net neutrality protections—including ARL, ALA, and EDUCAUSE. Ultimately, however, the limited scope of protection in the rules has not fully satisfied the concerns voiced by parties on both sides of the issue and thus has set the stage for further debate over regulation in the courts and in Congress.

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Systems & Emerging Technologies Librarian at Gettysburg College

The Gettysburg College's Musselman Library is recruiting a Systems & Emerging Technologies Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The successful candidate will provide leadership and share responsibility for planning, implementing, and maintaining Library digital systems and services, as well as being a key technology liaison with the College’s Information Technology division. We expect the Systems Librarian to establish a vision and protocol for technology services, which includes training and continual incorporation of emerging technologies as appropriate. The Systems Librarian’s primary focus will include (but not be limited to) our integrated library system (Innovative Interfaces) and interlibrary loan system (ILLiad/Ariel). We also require support for online course reserves and streaming video (Video Furnace), authentication (EZ Proxy), electronic resource discovery (EBSCOhost Discovery Service), journal holdings list and link resolver (Serials Solutions), special collections (PastPerfect), digital repository systems (CONTENTdm), and web architecture (our campus uses a content management system for its website).

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Presentations from the Marketplace: Open Access and the Changing State of Scholarly Publishing Meeting

Presentations from the Marketplace: Open Access and the Changing State of Scholarly Publishing meeting on 1/8/11 are now available.

Here's an excerpt from the meeting announcement:

This forum will paint a picture of the rapidly changing – and maturing – open-access publishing sphere, illustrate the growing range of options and approaches that are emerging, and help the library community to make sense of what it all means for you and your campus. Guest presenters will include:

  • Caroline Sutton, President of the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA), and Publisher and Co-Founder, Co-Action Publishing
  • Wim van der Stelt, Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy for Springer
  • Catriona McCallum, Senior Editor for PLoS Biology and Consulting Editor for PLoS ONE

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Electronic Resources Librarian at Rice University

Rice University's Fondren Library is recruiting an Electronic Resources Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad (requisition number: 1100A):

The Electronic Resources Librarian is responsible for acquisition, license review, access management, receipt, subscription renewal, records maintenance, and product trials of electronic resources for the Library as well as managing the EZProxy configuration files. This position is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective relationships and communications with vendors, publishers, collection development librarians, and other library staff. This position is responsible for complex problem resolving resulting from orders, upgrades, format changes and access changes.

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Twitter Updates for 1/26/11

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Digital Collections Librarian at the University of Houston

The University of Houston Libraries are recruiting a Digital Collections Librarian. Expected salary range: $48,000-$52,000.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The Digital Collections Librarian is a newly created position in the Special Collections department and reports to the Coordinator of Digital Services and Instruction. Responsibilities include identifying new digital projects and managing department workflow for all Special Collections digital projects; serving as liaison to Digital Services, Web Services, and Computing and Networking departments; and reviewing metadata for Special Collections digital collections. The position also manages preservation and access to audiovisual and born-digital materials and develops content for the Web site.

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Randy S. Kiefer Named as Executive Director of CLOCKSS

Randy S. Kiefer has been named as the Executive Director of the CLOCKSS Archive.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

The CLOCKSS Archive (http://www.clockss.org) is pleased to announce the appointment of Randy S. Kiefer as their new Executive Director. Randy is the Principal Consultant in the Kiefer Strategy Group, LLC, which handles business development efforts for publishers like INFORMS, the American Accounting Association, the Military Operations Research Society, and others. From 1999 to May of 2010, Randy served in various roles at INFORMS. For his last three years, he was the Director of Subscription, Membership, and Technical Services at INFORMS, and his primary activity was developing the global library market for INFORMS' twelve journals.

Randy is a board member of COIN-OR (http://www.coin-or.org) , an organization dedicated to open-source software for the operations research community. and is on the board of two charitable organizations in the Baltimore area. Randy has been active in software development since 1985. . . .

Gordon Tibbitts, outgoing CLOCKSS executive director and President Atypon Systems declares, "The CLOCKSS Archive, now one year old is well placed for its next phase of growth. The Board of Directors is very pleased to have Randy on board as the Archive's first full time Executive Director."

CLOCKSS is a global nonprofit, community-governed archive that preserves digital scholarly materials for the very long term through a geo-physical and geo-political distributed network of archive nodes.

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