Month: February 2012

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

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

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

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

| Digital Bibliographies | Digital Scholarship |

Open Access: Federal Research Public Access Act of 2012

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

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

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

The Federal Research Public Access Act would:

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

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

Current News: Twitter Updates for 2/8/12

| Digital Scholarship |

Library Copyright Liaison Librarian at University of Regina Library

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

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

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

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

"OA by the Numbers"

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

Here's an excerpt:

OA journals (Gold OA)

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

OA repositories (Green OA)

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

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

Associate Director for Digital Initiatives at McGill University Library

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

Here's an excerpt from ad:

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

| Institutional Repository Bibliography | Digital Scholarship Publications Overview |

Collaborative Yet Independent: Information Practices in the Physical Sciences

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

Here's an excerpt:

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

| Digital Bibliographies | Digital Scholarship |

How to Fix Copyright

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

Here's an excerpt:

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

| Scholarly Electronic Publishing Bibliography 2010 | Digital Scholarship |

Current News: Twitter Updates for 2/7/12

| Digital Scholarship |

Analyst Programmer 2 at University of Oregon Library

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

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

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

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

| Electronic Theses and Dissertations Bibliography | Digital Scholarship |

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

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

Here's an excerpt:

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

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

Head, Digital Projects & Metadata at Yale University Library

Yale University Library's Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library is recruiting a Head, Digital Projects & Metadata.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Under the general direction of the Head of Technical Services and working in close collaboration with the Head of Technology and Digital Assets, the Digital Imaging Studio Production Manager, and units across the Beinecke Library, the Head of Digital Projects & Metadata plays a leading role in creating, describing, and delivering digitized resources and in exploring, proposing, and developing innovative tools and services that improve the ability of scholars, students, and educators to make use of existing and emerging digital resources.

| Digital Curation and Preservation Bibliography | Digital Scholarship |

California Digital Library and Public Knowledge Project Form Partnership to Advance Open Access Publishing

The California Digital Library and the Public Knowledge Project have formed a partnership to advance open access publishing through the development of open source publishing tools.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

As a result of this agreement, the CDL will assist with PKP’s ongoing development and support of its open source software suite&,dash;Open Journal Systems (OJS), Open Conference Systems (OCS), and Open Harvester System (OHS), with Open Monograph Press (OMP) due for release in the coming year.

The California Digital Library, in partnership with the University of California campus libraries, supports and encourages open access publishing initiatives within the UC system through its eScholarship publishing and institutional repository platform. eScholarship provides a suite of open access, scholarly publishing services and research tools that enable departments, research units, publishing programs, and individual scholars associated with the University of California to have direct control over the creation and dissemination of the full range of their scholarship. Home to 45 peer-reviewed journals (http://escholarship.org/uc/search?smode=browse;browse-journal=aa), eScholarship has recently transitioned to OJS as its journal management and submission system and has integrated OJS with its pre/post-print, books and working papers repository, which contains more than 45,000 UC-affiliated publications. . . .

PKP is dedicated to improving the scholarly and public quality of research. With more than 11,500 installations of Open Journal Systems (OJS); Open Conference Systems (OCS); and Open Harvester Systems (OHS) around the world, the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) has proven that open source software can be a game changer in scholarly publishing.

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

Current News: Twitter Updates for 2/6/12

| Digital Scholarship |

Director of Web Services at University of Southern California Libraries

The University of Southern California Libraries are recruiting a Director of Web Services. The position is listed as MIS Director (Decentralized).

Here's an excerpt from the ad (requisition ID: 011654):

The Director of Web Services is an integral part of the Libraries IT team. The individual will lead planning, management, development, and implementation of USC Libraries' web presence, ensuring that services provided meet users' research needs and expectations, enhance the user experience, and support the USC Libraries' strategic plan.

| Digital Bibliographies | Digital Scholarship |

NMC Horizon Report: 2012 Higher Education Edition

The New Media Consortium and the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative have released the NMC Horizon Report: 2012 Higher Education Edition.

Here's an excerpt:

The internationally recognized NMC Horizon Report series and regional NMC Technology Outlooks are part of the NMC Horizon Project, a comprehensive research venture established in 2002 that identifies and describes emerging technologies likely to have a large impact over the coming five years in education around the globe. . . .

To create the report, an international body of experts in education, technology, and other fields was convened as an advisory board. The group engaged in discussions around a set of research questions intended to surface significant trends and challenges and to identify a wide array of potential technologies for the report. This dialog was enriched by a wide range of resources, current research, and practice that drew on the expertise of both the NMC community and the communities of the members of the advisory board. These interactions among the advisory board are the focus of the NMC Horizon Report research, and this report details the areas in which these experts were in strong agreement.

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

Digital Archivist at East Carolina University’s J.Y. Joyner Library

East Carolina University's J.Y. Joyner Library is recruiting a Digital Archivist.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The individual in this position will work with staff of the Library Technology and Collections and Technical Services divisions to ensure the long-term preservation of born-digital materials, including university records; to facilitate the digitization of special collections holdings; and to provide access to the holdings of the Special Collections Division.

| Digital Curation and Preservation Bibliography | Digital Scholarship |

"The Influence of the National Institutes of Health Public-Access Policy on the Publishing Habits of Principal Investigators"

Nancy Pontika has released her doctoral dissertation, "The Influence of the National Institutes of Health Public-Access Policy on the Publishing Habits of Principal Investigators."

Here's an excerpt:

The NIH public-access policy did not cause either an increase in the PIs' open-access awareness or a change in their publishing habits. The open-access advocates were supporters of the immediate free access to scientific information before the policy and provided their manuscripts free-of-cost before the policy’s mandate. The non-open-access advocates choose their publications based on quality criteria such as the journal’s prestige, impact factor, speed of publication and the attracted audience, while the article’s open-access availability is considered to be a plus. Furthermore, since a large number of journals comply with the NIH-policy, the participants did not have to change their publishing habits.

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

Current News: Twitter Updates for 2/5/12

| Digital Scholarship |

Digital Library Developer at Lafayette College Library

The Lafayette College Library is recruiting a Digital Library Developer.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Do you enjoy exploring how new technologies can be used to create and improve access to innovative digital scholarship? Lafayette College seeks a Digital Library Developer to help design and build tools to support the teaching and research of our faculty. Our ideal candidate will possess natural curiosity, the desire to partner with scholars, the ability to articulate project deliverables to non-technical audiences, and will feel comfortable using and contributing to Open Source software projects.

| Digital Bibliographies | Digital Scholarship |

Sharing: Culture and the Economy in the Internet Age

The Amsterdam University Press has released Sharing: Culture and the Economy in the Internet Age.

Here's an excerpt:

This book is about file sharing for creative, expressive or informative works in all media. More specifically, it is about file sharing between individuals and without profit motive. File sharing is the act of making a file available to other individuals by putting it on-line, by sending a copy, or by rendering it accessible through a file sharing software. We defend the view that sharing without direct or indirect monetary transaction—or "non-market" sharing—is legitimate. We also claim that sharing is socially and culturally valuable and will play a key role in the future of our culture and the creative economies. Furthermore, this book proposes a means to strengthen and exploit the synergy between file sharing and creativity, for the general benefit of society and the enrichment of the cultural economy.

| Digital Scholarship |

Data Curator at Simon Fraser University Library

The Simon Fraser University Library is recruiting a Data Curator.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The Data Curator will play a leading role in providing guidance and support in long-term management of research data, including issues of data preservation and access, intellectual property rights, and security of sensitive data. The position will be based in Research Data Services with close working relationships with Library Systems, Research Commons, the Library's Liaison Librarians, and the Library's Institutional Repository staff. The position will collaborate with staff from both inside and outside the library devoted to supporting research data management throughout the different phases of the data life cycle. The Data Curator will interact with faculty, students, and various academic and administration units throughout the university and will be responsible for the development and administration of policies, workflows, and infrastructure/repositories regarding the management of datasets and related resources.

| Digital Curation and Preservation Bibliography | Digital Scholarship |

Access to Scholarly Content: Gaps and Barriers

The Research Information Network has released Access to Scholarly Content: Gaps and Barriers.

Here's an excerpt:

The overall aim of this study is to investigate and quantify the extent to which members of different communities in the UK can gain ready access to formally-published scholarly literature, in particular journal articles and conference proceedings. . . .

Much of the information presented here is based on an online survey of researchers and knowledge workers from UK universities and colleges, medical schools and health providers, industry and commerce, and research institutes. . . .

Other information in this report comes from a detailed analysis of the literature and secondary data analysis of the Labour Force Survey in an attempt to quantify the size of the UK professional knowledge worker sector.

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

Making Good on the Promise of ERM: A Standards and Best Practices Discussion Paper

NISO has released Making Good on the Promise of ERM: A Standards and Best Practices Discussion Paper.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

"Our standards review and findings focused on five categories: link resolvers and knowledge bases; the work, manifestations, and access points; cost and usage-related data; license terms; and data exchange using institutional identifiers," states Tim Jewell, Director, Information Resources and Scholarly Communications, University of Washington, and Chair of the ERM Data Standards and Best Practices Review Steering Committee. "We did a more extensive review of fourteen of the most relevant standards and mapped the data elements for each to the elements defined in the ERMI report. We also looked at how ERM systems could improve their workflow support-a shortcoming in most existing systems-and we include a detailed workflow best practices bibliography and a list of illustrative workflow diagrams."

"Our final analysis showed that there is value to updating and maintaining a data dictionary that encompasses ERM functions and evolves with technologies and business models," maintains Ivy Anderson, Director of Collections, California Digital Library and member of the ERM Data Standards and Best Practices Review Steering Committee. "However, for practical considerations, we did not recommend that NISO pursue such a project at this time. Instead we identified a number of narrower initiatives targeting specific ERM functional needs and strategies aimed at furthering interoperability."

| Scholarly Electronic Publishing Bibliography 2010 | Digital Scholarship |