Month: May 2014

Digital Curation News (5/30/2014) #digitalpreservation

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Archives and Digital Librarian II at Nova Southeastern University

The Alvin Sherman Library, Research & Information Technology Center at Nova Southeastern University is recruiting an Archives and Digital Librarian II.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Support the goal to acquire, preserve, and make available the institutional archival records according to prevailing professional standards, and subject to relevant policies and procedures. Responsible for prioritizing archives projects, processing archives collections and creating finding aids. Implement best archival practices with respect to the care and conservation of collections and associated collections data in all mediums. Respond to research queries and facilitate on-site research with use of archives materials. Provide University and community-wide reference service to archives materials as needed. Manage digital library initiatives, and establish policies, procedures, and workflow for the digital library. Provide expertise in creating, managing, describing and preserving digital collections. Oversee the implementation of the content management system, digitization processes and metadata creation. Maintain the digital library website.

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De Gruyter Releases Its Books in ePub3 Format

De Gruyter has released its frontlist titles in the ePub3 format.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

The ePub format supports variable font sizes as well as the dynamic adjustment of content to the device's screen size. EBooks in the ePub format are released as a single file, as opposed to the one-file-per-chapter format of PDF-based eBooks. De Gruyter is one of the first academic presses worldwide to offer customers the choice between the ePub and PDF formats when purchasing an eBook.

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Scholarly Communications Librarian at Office of Library Services, CUNY

The Office of Library Services at the Central Administrative Office of CUNY is recruiting a Scholarly Communications Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The position reports to the University Director of Library Systems and is responsible for managing and developing the newly instituted Digital Commons institutional repository (a cloud-based solution from bepress) of scholarly and creative works, publications, and digital objects by members of the CUNY community. The librarian will organize, oversee, and assess the processes (e.g., faculty outreach, copyright compliance) related to the repository's maintenance and development. S/he will collaborate with the vendor and CUNY-wide libraries to create, develop, and optimize publishing/ingest workflows, establish/codify best practices in repository management including reporting and optimizing metadata management related to the CUNY's nascent repository. The Scholarly Communications Librarian establishes communication procedures and platforms for campuses to use to work with contributing authors (faculty, staff, students, alumni)

.

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"PyRDM: A Python-Based Library for Automating the Management and Online Publication of Scientific Software And Data"

Christian T. Jacobs et al. have self-archived "PyRDM: A Python-Based Library for Automating the Management and Online Publication of Scientific Software And Data."

Here's an excerpt:

The recomputability and reproducibility of results from scientific software requires access to both the source code and all associated input and output data. However, the full collection of these resources often does not accompany the key findings published in journal articles, thereby making it difficult or impossible for the wider scientific community to verify the correctness of a result or to build further research on it. This paper presents a new Python-based library, PyRDM, whose functionality aims to automate the process of sharing the software and data via online, citable repositories such as Figshare. The library is integrated into the workflow of an open-source computational fluid dynamics package, Fluidity, to demonstrate an example of its usage.

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Theodore Roosevelt Center Digital Library Coordinator/Archivist at Dickinson State University

Dickinson State University is recruiting a Theodore Roosevelt Center Digital Library Coordinator/Archivist.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The Digital Library Coordinator leads the development, maintenance, and promotion of the Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. The Coordinator interacts with contributing entities to facilitate acquisition of materials for addition to the collection, and with staff and volunteers, to ensure the quality of collection metadata. The Coordinator also has primary responsibility for the social media outreach of the Theodore Roosevelt Center.

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Driving With Data: A Roadmap for Evidence-Based Decision Making in Academic Libraries

Ithaka S+R has released Driving With Data: A Roadmap for Evidence-Based Decision Making in Academic Libraries.

Here's an excerpt:

Over the past decade, libraries have expanded their use of various types of service assessment. Initially popularized by the LibQUAL+ service, there is now a robust library assessment community, including dedicated assessment librarians and coordinators at many institutions, who are charged with examining existing services and user perceptions with the purpose of documenting the value of the academic library's collections and services and identifying opportunities for improvement. At some institutions, assessment has become an important element of how libraries establish their key priorities on a regular basis.

Today library leaders must do more than build and manage collections, improve the quality of existing services, and find the funding to support this work. In addition, the library leader is called upon to reconsider or reassert the roles and objectives of the library in a changing information environment and to develop the strategy, services, spaces, and staffing to support these roles. In the remainder of this paper, therefore, we will be focusing on the use of data, including the types discussed in this section, to establish strategy and lead to a decision about future directions.

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Digital Archivist at New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is recruiting a Digital Archivist.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Under the direction of the Head of the Archives Unit (AU), the Digital Archivist collaborates with curators, colleagues in the AU, donors, digital preservation staff, public service units, and NYPL staff that create and maintain access systems in order to evaluate possible acquisitions; acquire, accession, and transfer born digital material to preservation storage; stage materials for archival arrangement and description; and make materials accessible to researchers.

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Big Deals: Beyond the Damage: Circulation, Coverage and Staffing

Walt Crawford has published Beyond the Damage: Circulation, Coverage and Staffing.

Here's an excerpt from chapter one:

Big-Deal Serials Purchasing: Tracking the Damage looks almost entirely at four aspects of library spending and changes in that spending: total spending, current serials, "books" (all other acquisitions) and the remainder”what's left over for staff, automation, preservation, etc.

This book looks at some other aspects of academic libraries and how they have changed from 2002 through 2012: circulation, coverage and staffing. It's designed to complement the LTR report. Indeed, I assume that readers will have access to the report, as it includes details on which academic libraries are included and excluded. This book uses exactly the same universe of libraries (2,594 in all) as the report. I believe this book (and the supplementary PDF) will provide useful additional insights into what's happened in academic libraries over a decade in which Big Deals supposedly improved serials pricing problems”but still had serials spending taking more and more of a sometimes-shrinking overall pie…

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Digital Curation News (5/28/2014) #digitalpreservation

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Digital Publishing Production Lead at George Mason University Libraries

The George Mason University Libraries is recruiting a Digital Publishing Production Lead.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The George Mason University Libraries seeks an experienced professional to be responsible for the management of, and front-line user support for, digital publishing tools and platforms in use by the Mason Publishing Group.

Mason Publishing is a new library initiative that unites the library’s existing digital publishing activity with the George Mason University Press to form a new set of publishing services for the university.

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"Teaching an Old University Press Publisher New Tricks: Living in the Present and Preparing for the Future of Scholarly Communications"

Patrick H. Alexander has published "Teaching an Old University Press Publisher New Tricks: Living in the Present and Preparing for the Future of Scholarly Communications" in the Journal of Electronic Publishing.

Here's an excerpt:

University presses currently exist in the dual worlds of print and digital publishing. Current staffing needs require that they hire personnel with skills and experience that mirror that present duality. Training and maintaining a skilled workforce requires a commitment to flexibility and an openness to the ever-changing nature of scholarly communication. As the scholarly publishing ecosystem continues to evolve, university presses will need to look to a future workforce that has additional training, knowledge, and experience beyond the traditional skills associated with academic publishing, one that fully embraces the realities of a digital world, the habits of new generations of researchers, and the increasing role of technology in scholarly communication. This article looks at what the future might look like, what skills might be required, and how one might prepare for that future.

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Head, Mason Publishing Group at George Mason University Libraries

The George Mason University Libraries is recruiting a Head, Mason Publishing Group.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

George Mason University Libraries seek an experienced professional who is attuned to the changing landscape of publishing, knowledgeable about relevant and emerging technologies, able to successfully integrate a university press with a robust digital library publishing program and effectively serve as advocate for the initiative across the university. Successful candidate will provide leadership in planning, business management, contract administration, staffing, and external relations for Mason Publishing”a new library-based publishing enterprise at George Mason University.

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Learned Society Attitudes towards Open Access: Report on Survey Results

EDP Open has released Learned Society Attitudes towards Open Access: Report on Survey Results.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

Key findings include:

  • Learned societies overwhelmingly agree that Open Access will inevitably place some learned societies' journals into financial jeopardy.
  • Competing with large Open Access specialist publishers was also considered a significant challenge for learned societies.
  • Gold Open Access is the Open Access method that is least offered by learned society journals, however nearly two-thirds of learned societies indicated that they would like to be offering this option.
  • More than ever before, with so many journals being published Open Access of dubious origin, learned societies should look to endorse content with a stamp of quality and authority.
  • Collaboration between learned societies could help in the transition to Open Access, by pooling resources and sharing complex tasks.
  • Two-thirds of all learned societies are also looking for support on best approach to OA, and compliance with funder mandates.

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Digital Curation News (5/27/2014) #digitalpreservation

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Information Technology Specialist (Operating Systems) at Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is recruiting an Information Technology Specialist (Operating Systems).

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The primary focus of this position will be Linux server administration in a large, heterogeneous data center. The ideal candidate will have a working knowledge in Tuning Linux operating systems for various workloads, fully understand volume management concepts, including storage (SAN and NAS) and x86 computing platforms (rack mounted and/or blade server).

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"Empirical Evidences in Citation-Based Search Engines: Is Microsoft Academic Search Dead?"

Enrique Orduna-Malea et al. have self-archived "Empirical Evidences in Citation-Based Search Engines: Is Microsoft Academic Search Dead?"

Here's an excerpt:

The goal of this working paper is to summarize the main empirical evidences provided by the scientific community as regards the comparison between the two main citation based academic search engines: Google Scholar and Microsoft Academic Search, paying special attention to the following issues: coverage, correlations between journal rankings, and usage of these academic search engines. Additionally, selfelaborated data is offered, which are intended to provide current evidence about the popularity of these tools on the Web, by measuring the number of rich files PDF, PPT and DOC in which these tools are mentioned, the amount of external links that both products receive, and the search queries frequency from Google Trends. The poor results obtained by MAS led us to an unexpected and unnoticed discovery: Microsoft Academic Search is outdated since 2013.

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Librarian—Digital Repository/Archivist/Special Collections at California State University, Long Beach Library

The California State University, Long Beach Library is recruiting a Librarian—Digital Repository/Archivist/Special Collections .

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

  • Oversee and manage the University's digital institutional repository, Scholarship @ the Beach (S@tB).
  • Oversee the University Library's Special Collections and Archives unit.
  • Oversee and manage the digitization of several archival collections.
  • Collaborate with library Technical Services staff and Academic Technology staff to make the digitized collections available via the library's web portal.

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Guidance on Cloud Storage and Digital Preservation: How Cloud Storage Can Address the Needs of Public Archives in the UK

The National Archives (UK) has released Guidance on Cloud Storage and Digital Preservation: How Cloud Storage Can Address the Needs of Public Archives in the UK.

Here's an excerpt:

This Guidance is focussed on the cloud and its potential role in archival storage. It aims to help public archives in the UK develop an understanding of cloud storage and its potential contribution to their digital preservation activities, and to provide a balanced overview allowing archives to understand potential benefits and risks involved and the range of options available (including not using cloud if it does not meet your requirements).

Whilst primarily targeted at public archives, the aim is to provide information that will be useful within a range of organisational contexts, and overarching advice that can be translated into the private sector where relevant.

See also the case studies.

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Digital Curation News (5/26/2014) #digitalpreservation

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Digital Collections Coordinator at East Carolina University Libraries

The East Carolina University Libraries is recruiting a Digital Collections Coordinator.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Reporting to Academic Library Services' Assistant Director for Special Collections, the Digital Collections Coordinator will provide innovative and sustainable solutions for the presentation, maintenance, and promotion of ECU Libraries' digital collections. ECU Libraries consists of Academic Library Services (Joyner and Music Libraries), as well as the William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library.

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Open WiFi and Copyright: A Primer for Network Operators

EFF has released Open WiFi and Copyright: A Primer for Network Operators.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

At EFF, we are big fans of open wireless. But we also know that operators of open networks sometimes worry that they could be legally responsible if people use their networks to engage in copyright infringement. We've put together a short white paper that generally explains the scope and limits of operator liability for the acts of users, and additional steps network operators may choose to take to further limit their legal risk. As we explain in the paper, copyright liability for the acts of your users is less likely than you might think, as long as you (1) simply provide a means of transmission; and (2) act reasonably and responsibly.

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Web Developer and User Interface Designer at University of California, Riverside Libraries

The University of California, Riverside Libraries is recruiting a Web Developer and User Interface Designer.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for Information Technology and Systems, the Web Developer and User Interface Designer will provide technology services to the UCR University Libraries organization and will have strong graphic design, website, and editorial skills. Duties include, but are not limited to, supporting, designing, and developing internal and public websites, web-based applications, social media sites, and multimedia content. Innovative applications will include new initiatives in digital collections, scholarly communication, and resource discovery.

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Open Access: Markup of Innovation, Research, Science, and Technology Act Reduces Embargo Period

The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology has marked up the Frontiers in Innovation, Research, Science and Technology Act (FIRST Act), significantly reducing the embargo period for making works open access.

Here's an excerpt from "FIRST Act Amended to Make Open Access Provision Actually Pretty Good":

Calling this [Section 303 in the prior version of the bill] a "public access" section is a charitable reading: it extended embargo periods to up to three years, it allowed for simple linking to articles rather than the creation of an archive, and it delayed implementation unnecessarily long. (We've ranted about this bill time and again.)

But a glimmer of hope appeared at yesterday's markup. Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner and Zoe Lofgren, introduced an amendment that radically changed Section 303. The new amendment [pdf] maps closely onto Sensenbrenner's Public Access to Public Science Act (H.R. 3157). It sets the embargo period at 12 months (like the NIH's current policy), though it allows stakeholders to extend this by 6 months if they can show a "substantial and unique harm." The amendment was also designed to facilitate long-term preservation, broad analysis of works, and closer investigation of broad copyright licenses. The current version is not perfect, but it is much improved—huge kudos to Sensenbrenner and Lofgren for standing up for open access.

Read more about it at "Revised FIRST Bill Would Give Science Agencies 1 Year to Make Papers Free."

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