Month: November 2012

"The Myth of European Term Harmonisation: 27 Public Domains for the 27 Member States"

Christina Angelopoulos has self-archived "The Myth of European Term Harmonisation: 27 Public Domains for the 27 Member States" in SSRN.

Here's an excerpt:

The term of protection of copyright and related rights is generally considered to be one of the best harmonised areas of European copyright law. However, close examination of the EU Term Directive's intricate provisions reveals a piecemeal and permissive approach to harmonisation which preserves many differences between the national rules. In this report, four main sources of legislative variability are identified and analysed: a) contagion from unharmonised areas of substantive copyright law; b) explicit exceptions to the harmonisation of the term of protection; c) national related rights of unharmonised term; and d) incorrect implementation of the provisions of the Term Directive into national law.

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

Senior Data Services Specialist at New York University’s Data Services

New York University's Data Services is recruiting a Senior Data Services Specialist.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The incumbent will be working in a vibrant and collaborative environment on a team that supports all phases of the data lifecycle in research, teaching, and learning, including collection, analysis and preservation. He or she will provide client services, technical assistance, project management and administrative support, methodological expertise, and leadership in support of the numeric and statistical research and computing services offered to the faculty, student and professional patrons of ITS/Libraries Data Services.

| Digital Scholarship |

Amy Rudersdorf Named Assistant Director for Content at the Digital Public Library of America

Amy Rudersdorf has been named Assistant Director for Content at the Digital Public Library of America.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

As the Assistant Director for Content, Rudersdorf will be responsible for digitization partnerships and related workflows, metadata normalization and shareability, and community engagement to promote the DPLA as a community resource. . . .

Rudersdorf currently serves as the director of the Digital Information Management Program at the State Library of North Carolina. Rudersdorf is a Library of Congress National Digital Stewardship Alliance coordinating committee member and an active voice in the digital preservation community. Rudersdorf teaches library graduate school courses on digital libraries and preservation (San Jose State University) and metadata (North Carolina Central University). Prior to moving to state government, Rudersdorf worked with digital collections in special collections at North Carolina State University, coordinated a digital production group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and worked with public libraries throughout Wisconsin to aid in the development and coordination of Library and Service Technology Act (LSTA) funded digitization grants.

| Scholarly Electronic Publishing Bibliography 2010 | Digital Scholarship |

Digital Initiatives Librarian at California State University, Fresno Library

The California State University, Fresno Library is recruiting a Digital Initiatives Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad (vacancy number: 11875):

The successful candidate will join a university-wide cohort of faculty that will develop and support teaching, research, and outreach initiatives that focus on water quality, technology, and management, including a new interdisciplinary Master's degree in water resource management. Working with library faculty, in close collaboration with the Water Cohort group, the Digital Initiatives Librarian will lead the design, creation, and maintenance of multiple library digital projects, most notably the Waterways Archive, a digital geo-portal which will eventually serve the entire campus and region. This position will include significant responsibilities collaborating with campus faculty to support scholarship, teaching and student success through information literacy instruction, research support, library digital initiatives, collection management, scholarly publishing and academic data curation.

| Digital Scholarship |

"Digital Curation in the Academic Library Job Market"

Jeonghyun Kim, Edward Warga, and William Moen have published "Digital Curation in the Academic Library Job Market" in ASIST 2012: Proceedings of the 75th ASIS&T Annual Meeting.

Here's an excerpt:

This study of job advertisements for academic library positions is one activity of a current capacity building project, Information: Curate, Archive, Manage, Preserve (iCAMP). In this project, we are developing a four-course masters level curriculum for digital curation and data management. It deploys a competency-based curriculum approach (Moen, Kim, Warga, Wakefield, & Halbert, 2011). This analysis of job advertisements was carried out to identify and define knowledge, skills, and abilities as a part of the competency development process.

Digital Curation Bibliography: Preservation and Stewardship of Scholarly Works Cover

|Digital Scholarship |

Current News: Twitter Updates for 11/290/12

| Digital Scholarship |

Systems & Metadata Law Librarian at Northeastern University Law Library

The Northeastern University Law Library is recruiting a Systems & Metadata Law Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The Systems & Metadata Law Librarian plays an integral and foundational role in the functioning of the Law Library. S/he participates in shaping the direction and policies of the primary Library systems relating to resources and discovery, as well as implementing, updating and troubleshooting them. S/he assists and advises in training the library staff in their use and optimization. S/he is fully trained in the Access policies and is able to cover the Information Desk when needed. A sampling of the systems used: Alma/Primo (replacing Millennium, NUCat, TDNet & EDS), a Digital Repository System powered by Fedora, OCLC WorldCat, Banner, Iris, SSRN, etc.

| Digital Scholarship |

"An Emerging Consensus for Open Evaluation: 18 Visions for the Future of Scientific Publishing"

Nikolaus Kriegeskorte, Alexander Walther, and Diana Deca have published "An Emerging Consensus for Open Evaluation: 18 Visions for the Future of Scientific Publishing" in Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience.

Here's an excerpt:

A grand challenge of our time, therefore, is to design the future system, by which we evaluate papers and decide which ones deserve broad attention and deep reading. However, it is unclear how exactly OE [Open Evaluation] and the future system for scientific publishing should work. This motivated us to edit the Research Topic "Beyond open access: visions for open evaluation of scientific papers by post-publication peer review" in Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience. The Research Topic includes 18 papers, each going beyond mere criticism of the status quo and laying out a detailed vision for the ideal future system. . . .

While each paper elaborates on particular challenges, the solutions proposed have much overlap, and where distinct solutions are proposed, these are generally compatible. This puts us in a position to present our synopsis here as a coherent blueprint for the future system that reflects the consensus among the contributors.1

Transforming Scholarly Publishing through Open Access: A Bibliography Cover

| Digital Scholarship |

Digital Program and Data Management Librarian at University of North Carolina Wilmington Library

The University of North Carolina Wilmington Library is recruiting a Digital Program and Data Management Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Digital program development: Articulates the vision and develops the supporting roadmap for the Library's digital program. Facilitates the development of the Library's overall web-based and digital services programs. Serves as a lead on digital preservation and digital collection projects. . . .

Data Management: Articulates data and informatics issues, encourages conceptual dialogue regarding data and informatics efforts, and advocates for responsible but open access to data. . . .

Training and Development: Trains and works directly with Library staff to help make them more effective content contributors.

| Digital Scholarship |

Authors Guild et al. v. Google: "Brief of Amici Curiae Academic Authors in Support of Defendant-Appellant and Reversal"

Pamela Samuelson and David R. Hansen have self-archived "Brief of Amici Curiae Academic Authors in Support of Defendant-Appellant and Reversal" in SSRN.

Here's an excerpt:

Summary of argument: Class certification was improperly granted below because the District Court failed to conduct a rigorous analysis of the adequacy of representation factor, as Rule 23(a)(4) requires. The three individual plaintiffs who claim to be class representatives are not academics and do not share the commitment to broad access to knowledge that predominates among academics. . . .

Academic authors desire broad public access to their works such as that which the Google Books project provides. Although the District Court held that the plaintiffs had inadequately represented the interests of academic authors in relation to the proposed settlement, it failed to recognize that pursuit of this litigation would be even more adverse to the interests of academic authors than the proposed settlement was. . . .

In short, a "win" in this case for the class representatives would be a "loss" for academic authors. It is precisely this kind of conflict that courts have long recognized should prevent class certification due to inadequate representation. The District Court failed to adequately address this fundamental conflict in its certification order, though it was well aware of the conflict through submissions and objections received from the settlement fairness hearing through to the hearings on the most recent class certification motions. Because of that failure, the order certifying the class should be reversed

| Google Books Bibliography | Digital Scholarship |

Current News: Twitter Updates for 11/19/12

| Digital Scholarship |

Digital Initiatives Librarian at Minnesota State University, Mankato Memorial Library

The Minnesota State University, Mankato Memorial Library is recruiting a Digital Initiatives Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

This position is part of a team that provides leadership and direction for the planning, development, implementation, growth, and maintenance of a program to serve the digital repository needs of the Library and university. The program and initiatives will encompass digitization and preservation of a wide array of digital collections, including but not limited to: local unique materials, university electronic records and websites, and the digital scholarly output of university faculty, staff, and students which includes electronic theses and dissertations and research datasets. . . .

Responsibilities include identifying, evaluating, and implementing appropriate software and hardware for the digital collections; identifying and implementing appropriate metadata standards; writing and maintaining policies and procedures; promoting collections to the University community; and maintaining a current knowledge of scholarly communication issues.

| Digital Scholarship |

DOAB User Needs Analysis—Final Report

The Directory of Open Access Books has released the DOAB User Needs Analysis—Final Report.

Here's an excerpt:

This final evaluation and recommendation report is based on the user experiences, needs, and expectations as they emerged from the qualitative components (survey, workshop and online discussion platform) that were used to conduct the DOAB User Needs Analysis. This final public report, intended for the wider academic and publishing community, aims to advise in the establishment of procedures, criteria and standards concerning the set-up and functioning of the DOAB platform and service and to devise guidelines and recommendations for admissions to DOAB and for its further development, sustainability and implementation.

Transforming Scholarly Publishing through Open Access: A Bibliography Cover

| Digital Scholarship |

Digital/Library Applications Technical Librarian at Sandia National Laboratories Technical Library

The Sandia National Laboratories Technical Library is recruiting a Digital/Library Applications Technical Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad (job ID: 642173):

The selected candidate will take a lead role in the search and discovery of Library information resources, managing, supporting and taking to the next level the Library’s core suite of Ex Libris applications including Primo, MetaLib and SFX. The Digital / Library Applications Technical Librarian has overall responsibility for researching, evaluating, selecting, implementing and supporting technologies shaping the Sandia Library, working with Sandia Library staff, Library IS Support and Library customers in order to identify, analyze and address Library technology needs and future direction.

| Digital Scholarship |

Republican Study Committee Released Progressive Copyright Brief Then Withdrew It

The Republican Study Committee released “Three Myths about Copyright Law and Where to Start to Fix it,” which attracted immediate attention due to its progressive view of copyright. Now, the brief's PDF is blank.

However, in “Republican Report: 3 Myths of Copyright, Quashed by MPAA and RIAA,” Ash McGonigal provides a working link to the full text in addition to a recap of the situation.

| Digital Scholarship |

Current News: Twitter Updates for 11/18/12

| Digital Scholarship |

Software Developer at Brigham Young University

Brigham Young University is recruiting a Software Developer.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

  • Design, develop, and implement new systems and applications which integrate with existing and purchased products to create additional functionality and to meet customer needs.
  • Contribute to the design and development of new systems which operate with or enrich other library systems.
  • Suggest and implement new services that are beneficial to library patrons.

| Digital Scholarship |

Systems Administrator at Digital Library Technologies at Pennsylvania State University

Digital Library Technologies at Pennsylvania State University is recruiting a Systems Administrator.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The successful candidate will be a member of the DLT Infrastructure Services team, responsible for the delivery and administration of business critical infrastructure services. DLT orients projects and activities toward a service management approach in order to improve service efficiency, develop a more collaborative team structure, improve resource management, and deliver a more transparent organization.

| Digital Scholarship |

Scholarly Communications and Copyright Librarian at Ohio State University Health Sciences Library

The Ohio State University Health Sciences Library is recruiting a Scholarly Communications and Copyright Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The Scholarly Communications and Copyright Librarian provides leadership and instruction regarding open access publishing issues, advises on retention of author rights and federal funding compliance requirements, and explores the use of bibliographic metrics and systems to evaluate personal research impact; plans maintenance and growth of the Library’s Scholarly Communication web site; plans and manages budget and special program funds associated with copyright and scholarly communications; provides training and educational resources regarding the appropriate use of copyrighted resources and application of the U.S. copyright law; assists health sciences faculty, staff, and students secure copyright permissions; reviews Health Sciences Library electronic resource licenses; works collaboratively with staff from the University Libraries Copyright Resource Center, University Legal Affairs, and the University Technology Commercialization Office; . . .

| Digital Scholarship |

"Context and Its Role in the Digital Preservation of Cultural Objects"

Joan E. Beaudoin has published "Context and Its Role in the Digital Preservation of Cultural Objects" in the latest issue of D-Lib Magazine.

Here's an excerpt:

In discussions surrounding digital preservation, context—those properties of an object related to its creation and preservation that make the object's origins, composition, and purpose clear—has been identified as a critical aspect of preservation metadata. Understanding a cultural object's context, in as much detail as possible, is necessary to the successful future use of that object, regardless of its form. The necessity of capturing data about the creation of digital resources and the technical details of the preservation process, has generally been agreed. Capturing many other contextual aspects—such as utility, history, curation, authenticity—that would certainly contribute to successful retrieval, assessment, management, access, and use of preserved digital content, has not been adequately addressed or codified. Recording these aspects of contextual information is especially important for physical objects that are digitally preserved, and thereby removed from their original setting. This paper investigates the various discussions in the literature surrounding contextual information, and then presents a framework which makes explicit the various dimensions of context which have been identified as useful for digital preservation efforts, and offers a way to ensure the capture those aspects of an object's context that are often missed.

Digital Curation Bibliography: Preservation and Stewardship of Scholarly Works Cover

|Digital Scholarship |

Current News: Twitter Updates for 11/15/12

| Digital Scholarship |

Books at JSTOR Launches

JSTOR has launched Books at JSTOR.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

JSTOR is pleased to announce the launch of its new books program, Books at JSTOR, which brings scholarly monographs from leading university presses and other academic publishers to the JSTOR platform. Books are deeply integrated with the 1,600 current and archival journals on JSTOR. All content is cross-searchable, and books are linked with millions of book reviews and from hundreds of thousands of book citations within the journal literature.

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

Gold Open Access in High Energy Physics: SCOAP3 Progress Report

Kara Malenfant has posted an update on SCOAP3 in ACRL Insider.

Here's an excerpt from a quote in the post by Ann Okerson:

After an intense period of behind-the-scenes effort, CERN's open access, library, purchasing, and legal staff, along with the SCOAP3 global Steering Committee and Technical Working Group, secured with leading publishers the participation in principle of 12 HEP (full or partial) journals; developed a project governance structure; crafted a framework for performing calculations for subscription reduction and re-direction; and are putting into place a series of National Contact Persons (NCPs), who are responsible for securing participation from libraries, library consortia, research institutions, and funding agencies in their countries.

SCOAP3 is happening NOW. Participating libraries and institutions are being contacted to begin the process of commitment and planning for funds re-direction. The goal is that arrangements will be in place for SCOAP3 go-live with articles published beginning January 2014. For the United States, the LYRASIS consortium is the chosen National Contact Organization, with Ann Okerson as the NCP.

Open Access Bibliography: Liberating Scholarly Literature with E-Prints and Open Access Journals Cover

| Digital Scholarship |

Digital Curator at British Library

The British Library is recruiting a Digital Curator.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The work will involve tracking developments in digital scholarship, creating partnerships which can support the Library's strategic objectives and encouraging, supporting and assisting curators to realise their vision for integrating digital content into a seamless research experience.

| Digital Scholarship |