December 2023 – Page 2

Murayama Project Archivist at University of Hawai’i at Manoa (Term)

Working under the direction of the Archivist for Manuscript Collections, the duties of the Murayama Project Archivist will include:

Arrangement and description of both the physical and born-digital portions of the Murayama collection, including data entry into the Library’s ArchivesSpace instance.

Digitization of the physical files, including quality control and metadata creation.

Integration of the digitized and born-digital materials into a unified digital collection.

https://tinyurl.com/54busxry

Digital Initiatives Archivist at University of Massachusetts Lowell

The Digital Initiatives Archivist is responsible for managing the University’s archival digital assets; creating and maintaining a digital repository for institutional scholarship and research data; and facilitating discovery, access, and preservation of these works. They also develop and recommend appropriate policies and procedures regarding digital information stewardship and overseeing digital initiatives for the University’s Special Collections at the Center for Lowell History, while also providing support for community archives initiatives.

https://tinyurl.com/msu64c5d

Current State and Future Directions for Open Repositories in Europe

In January 2023, OpenAIRE, LIBER, SPARC Europe, and COAR launched a joint strategy aimed at strengthening the European repository network. As a first step, a survey of the European repository landscape was undertaken in February-March 2023. The survey found that, collectively, European repositories acquire, preserve and provide open access to tens or possibly hundreds of millions of valuable research outputs and represent critical, not-for-profit infrastructure in the European open science landscape. They are used for sharing articles that may be pay-walled in published journals, but also for providing access to a large variety of other types of research outputs including research data, theses/dissertations, conference papers, preprints, code, and so on.

However, in order to ensure the European repository network is fit for purpose and able to support the evolving needs of the research community, the survey also identified three areas in particular that could be strengthened: maintaining up-to-date, highly functioning software platforms; applying consistent and comprehensive good practices in terms of metadata, preservation, and usage statistics; and gaining appropriate visibility in the scholarly ecosystem.

Despite the challenges, the current climate offers exciting opportunities for repositories. Many funders are actively promoting the repository route for articles because of their role in supporting equitable access to content (i.e. no fees to access or deposit). The value proposition for open science is growing and repositories are increasingly recognised as the main mechanism for collecting and providing access to a wide range of other research outputs. Add to this, the nascent, but growing, interest in the publish-review-curate model in which repositories have a central function, and it seems they are well placed to expand their current role in the ecosystem.

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10255559

Law Librarian, Emerging Technology and Digital Initiatives at Vanderbilt University

Serve as a member of the Vanderbilt Law AI lab digital projects team.

Build relationships with others in the AI space both internal and external.

Engage and learn legal technologies and their implementation in law.

Develop projects utilizing innovative technology that will assist law faculty and students.

https://tinyurl.com/53st4nkn

STM: "New White Paper Launch: Generative AI in Scholarly Communications"

The paper looks at the ethical, legal, and practical aspects of GenAI, highlighting its potential to transform scholarly communications, and covers a range of topics from intellectual property rights to the challenges of maintaining integrity in the digital age. The paper provides best-practice principles and recommendations for authors, editorial teams, reviewers, and vendors, ensuring a responsible and ethical approach to the use of GenAI tools.

https://tinyurl.com/4m6m8n9j

Electronic Resources Subscription Manager at Utah State University

Utah State University (USU) Libraries seeks a collaborative, innovative, and service-minded professional to manage the subscriptions process for journals and databases. The Subscriptions Manager is responsible for providing leadership for databases and journals acquisitions and maintenance. Reporting to the program chair for Collections and Resource Sharing in the Collections Strategies section, this position will work collaboratively with Library colleagues; University offices overseeing procurement, contracts, and payments; and faculty and student stakeholders. The Subscriptions Manager will supervise two full-time staff supporting the work of serials management and database licensing/invoicing coordination.

https://tinyurl.com/2s3678tz

"Jupyter Notebooks and Institutional Repositories: A Landscape Analysis of Realities, Opportunities and Paths Forward"

Jupyter Notebooks are important outputs of modern scholarship, though the longevity of these resources within the broader scholarly record is still unclear. Communities and their creators have yet to holistically understand creation, access, sharing and preservation of computational notebooks, and such notebooks have yet to be designated a proper place among institutional repositories or other preservation environments as first class scholarly digital assets. Before this can happen, repository managers and curators need to have the appropriate tools, schemas and best practices to maximize the benefit of notebooks within their repository landscape and environments.

This paper explores the landscape of Jupyter notebooks today, and focuses on the opportunities and challenges related to bringing Jupyter Notebooks into institutional repositories. We explore the extent to which Jupyter Notebooks are currently accessioned into institutional repositories, and how metadata schemas like CodeMeta might facilitate their adoption. We also discuss characteristics of Jupyter Notebooks created by researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, to provide additional insight into how to assess and accession Jupyter Notebooks and related resources into an institutional repository.

https://journal.code4lib.org/articles/17751

Open Repositories Team Lead at Science and Technology Facilities Council

We are looking for a repository manager to join the team to implement and lead a programme of work to review, update, host and maintain the current institutional repositories ePubs and eData. In addition to developing the current research outputs repositories, you will build a team of data stewards who will curate the content of the repositories and any new repositories that are in development.

https://tinyurl.com/3eestj5h

"Islandora for Archival Access and Discovery"

This article is a case study describing the implementation of Islandora 2 to create a public online portal for the discovery, access, and use of archives and special collections materials at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The authors will explain how the goal of providing users with a unified point of access across diverse data (including finding aids, digital objects, and agents) led to the selection of Islandora 2 and they will discuss the benefits and challenges of using this open source software. They will describe the various steps of implementation, including custom development, migration from CONTENTdm, integration with ArchivesSpace, and developing new skills and workflows to use Islandora most effectively. As hindsight always provides additional perspective, the case study will also offer reflection on lessons learned since the launch, insights on open-source repository sustainability, and priorities for future development.

https://journal.code4lib.org/articles/17929

Web Designer at University of Texas at San Antonio

To provide professional skills in the design and layout of web pages, websites, social media graphics, and other digital and print materials.

https://tinyurl.com/mv2e97nv

"Beyond the Hype Cycle: Experiments with ChatGPT’s Advanced Data Analysis at the Palo Alto City Library"

In June and July of 2023 the Palo Alto City Library’s Digital Services team embarked on an exploratory journey applying Large Language Models (LLMs) to library projects. This article, complete with chat transcripts and code samples, highlights the challenges, successes, and unexpected outcomes encountered while integrating ChatGPT Pro into our day-to-day work.

Our experiments utilized ChatGPTs Advanced Data Analysis feature (formerly Code Interpreter). The first goal tested the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) potential of ChatGPT plugins. The second goal of this experiment aimed to enhance our web user experience by revising our BiblioCommons taxonomy to better match customer interests and make the upcoming Personalized Promotions feature more relevant. ChatGPT helped us perform what would otherwise be a time-consuming analysis of customer catalog usage to determine a list of taxonomy terms better aligned with that usage.

In the end, both experiments proved the utility of LLMs in the workplace and the potential for enhancing our librarian’s skills and efficiency. The thrill of this experiment was in ChatGPT’s unprecedented efficiency, adaptability, and capacity. We found it can solve a wide range of library problems and speed up project deliverables. The shortcomings of LLMs, however, were equally palpable. Each day of the experiment we grappled with the nuances of prompt engineering, contextual understanding, and occasional miscommunications with our new AI assistant. In short, a new class of skills for information professionals came into focus.

https://journal.code4lib.org/articles/17867

"How Many Learned Societies Publish Diamond Open Access Journals?"

After casting the net wide for societies and associations, I ended up finding over 1600 journals which both charge authors and readers no fees (diamond) AND are associated with a learned society. For transparency, I have uploaded this list of society associated, diamond open access journals to github here.

https://tinyurl.com/yv37unj8

Online Learning Librarian at Northern Kentucky University

This role will be engaged in NKU’s digital spaces and ensure our online, hybrid, and remote students have the necessary access to Steely Library. The librarian will raise awareness of library resources and services and seek out learning opportunities in the online learning environment. They will be responsible for developing a vision for digital learning objects and collaboratively working with Education & Outreach Services to create and maintain these objects. The Online Learning Librarian will collaborate with key partners across campus, including Center for Excellence in Teaching & Innovation (CETI), our instructional designers, Online and Professional Education, and colleagues within academic colleges focused on online education.

https://jobs.nku.edu/postings/13528

Paywall — NYT: "Ego, Fear and Money: How the A.I. Fuse Was Lit"

The people who were most afraid of the risks of artificial intelligence decided they should be the ones to build it. Then distrust fueled a spiraling competition. . . .

Over dinner, Mr. Gates told them he doubted that large language models could work. He would stay skeptical, he said, until the technology performed a task that required critical thinking & passing an A.P. biology test, for instance. . . .

[Five months later] Mr. Brockman gave the system [GPT-4] a multiple-choice advanced biology test, and Ms. Voss graded the answers. . . .

There were 60 questions. GPT-4 got only one answer wrong.

Mr. Gates sat up in his chair, his eyes opened wide. In 1980, he had a similar reaction when researchers showed him the graphical user interface that became the basis for the modern personal computer. He thought GPT was that revolutionary.

https://tinyurl.com/mvjs3z3k

Digital Initiatives and Resources Librarian at Park University

The Digital Initiatives & Resources Librarian is responsible for designing, developing, sharing, and implementing digital-forward strategies in library content development, open-educational practices, user experience, technology, digital production and collections, and web maintenance and development. This position also provides research support and serves as a liaison to specific academic departments teaching library instruction sessions as needed.

https://tinyurl.com/yvtwpnwt

MIT: "New White Paper ‘Access to Science and Scholarship: Key Questions about the Future of Research Publishing’"

The project—including MIT Press’s Director and Publisher Amy Brand and Director of Journals and Open Access Nick Lindsay—examines the current state of the research enterprise and what might come next. . . .

To illustrate how researcher behavior, funder policies, and publisher business models and incentives interact, part 1 of this report presents an historical overview of open access publishing. Part 2 of the report provides a list of key questions for further investigation to understand, measure, and best prepare for the impact of new policies related to open access in research publishing, categorized into six general areas: access and business models, research data, preprint publishing, peer review, costs to researchers and universities, and infrastructure.

https://tinyurl.com/2s3fb7n8

Electronic Resources + Discovery Librarian at Emily Carr University of Art + Design

Under the general supervision of the University Librarian, the Electronic Resources + Discovery Librarian is responsible for managing the life cycle of the libraries’ electronic resources and oversees workflows related to their acquisition, access, administration, support, licensing, and evaluation. This role includes updating, customizing, and integrating interfaces for e-resource access and discovery that incorporates vendor platforms and the library’s discovery tools. The successful candidate is also responsible for liaison activities with the department of Design + Dynamic Media.

https://ecuad.peopleadmin.ca/postings/2231

"UKRI [UK Research and Innovation] Monograph Open Access Policy Coming Soon: Here’s What You Need to Know"

The core requirements are:

The final Version of Record or Author’s Accepted Manuscript must be free to view and download via an online publication platform, publisher’s website, or institutional or subject repository within a maximum of 12 months of publication

The OA version of the publication must have a Creative Commons licence, with an Open Government Licence (OGL) also permitted.

Images, illustrations, tables and other supporting content should be included in the OA version where possible (third-party materials DO NOT require a CC licence)….

The UKRI allocates £8 billion of taxpayers’ money annually to support research and innovation.

https://tinyurl.com/mrxrna84

Two Reports on Scientific Publishing from the International Science Council

The Council’s studies led to development of eight essential principles for modern scientific publication, which were endorsed by over 90% of the membership present at its 2021 General Assembly. The principles are listed in Paper One, The Key Principles for Scientific Publishing accompanied by an analysis of the extent to which they are observed operationally. . . .

Paper Two, The case for reform of scientific publishing, identifies many of the failures to observe the principles in Paper One as lying within the commercial sector of scientific publication. It lies not only in so-called predatory publishing, where lax or non-existent editorial standards provide a low barrier to publication, but also in journals that, although they have far higher standards, compromise the essential global distribution of scientific knowledge by excessive prices and profit margins.

International Science Council members include 45 international scientific Unions and Associations, over 140 national and regional scientific organizations, and other organizations.

https://tinyurl.com/mnavvrxt

Head of Publishing (LSE Press) at London School of Economics and Political Science

Launched in May 2018, LSE Press is a platform for high quality, open access research in the social sciences. . . .

The Press is managed by a small, dedicated Library team and a well-established Editorial Board, led by the newly appointed Chair of Editorial Board.

We are seeking a highly motivated, creative individual with experience of working in academic publishing, as our Head of Publishing, to lead the next phase of LSE Press growth, one of the key deliverables of the School’s new Research Strategy. The Head of Publishing will lead the business development of the Press, managing an efficient, author-focused publishing service and building a distinctive publication portfolio of the highest academic quality.

https://tinyurl.com/256w62k7

STEAM Science and Data Visualization Librarian at University of South Florida

Actively engage with faculty, researchers, and students to understand their research and instruction needs, build collaborations, and promote library services

Collaborate with USF Libraries Research & Instruction colleagues located on the three USF campuses on various departmental initiatives such as assessment, outreach, library instruction, and supporting faculty or student research

Provide individual and small group consultations, workshops, and instruction in information, resource, and software use, and support those who seek to share data in visually compelling ways and to communicate using data

https://tinyurl.com/2uz99whe

"A Bibliometric Study of Open Educational Resources, Open Textbooks, and Academic Librarianship: Assessing Trends and Scholarly Productivity in Library and Information Science"

Open Educational Resources (OER) play a key role in reducing the financial burden and increasing the accessibility of learning for students in higher education. OER can be considered an important field of research for academic librarians and supports the democratic mission of academic libraries. This study aimed to track the publication of scholarly literature about OER and higher education from 2002 to 2022 using a bibliometric research methodology. In addition, this research sought to assess the productivity of Library and Information Science (LIS) scholarship on this topic and investigate research trends, like open textbooks. Web of Science (WOS) was searched for publications and the search results were mapped to determine publication productivity, core authors, core journals, and research topics in the scholarly literature about OER and higher education. Research on OER has been steadily increasing since 2002, and this study indicates that research has increased significantly on the topic in the last six years. The data in this study support that most productivity in research on this topic is in the field of Education, but also found a presence of scholarship on the topic in the field of LIS.

https://doi.org/10.13001/joerhe.v2i1.7877