Electronic Resources & Library Systems Librarian at Illinois Wesleyan University


This position serves as the functional expert on all of the library’s software, systems, and e-resources, which are essential to user access and discovery. The successful candidate will also serve as a library liaison to academic programs, with responsibilities for information literacy instruction, collection development, and research consultations.

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"Opening Science to Society: How to Progress Societal Engagement into (Open) Science Policies"


A broad understanding of the aims and objectives of the international open science movement was recently adopted with the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, expanding the focus of open science to include scientific knowledge, infrastructures, knowledge systems and the open engagement of societal actors. In response, recent discussions on science policy practice are shifting to the implementation of open science via national policy. While policy instruments to support some aspects of open science are well-studied, guidance on the emerging ‘social’ aspects of open science has lagged, prompting UNESCO to generate guidance. In this paper, authors of a UNESCO Open Science Toolkit guidance document on ‘Engaging societal actors in Open Science’ synthesize the scholarly underpinnings behind the guidance document’s recommendations. This work draws upon a targeted search from academic, policy, and grey literature in the fields of open science and community engagement, with a special focus on citizen science, to derive guidance on how to overcome barriers to the uptake of societal engagement approaches. The results present building blocks of what an enabling environment for the open engagement of societal actors could look like, identifying key considerations and reflecting on opportunities and challenges for progressing and evaluating sound open engagement of societal actors into regional & national (open) science policies.

https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.231309

| Artificial Intelligence |
| Research Data Curation and Management Works |
| Digital Curation and Digital Preservation Works |
| Open Access Works |
| Digital Scholarship |

Systems & Discovery Librarian at Kenyon College


Reporting to the Director of Collections and Access, the Systems and Discovery Librarian provides support for library systems to enhance users’ ability to identify, retrieve, and use library resources. This role is dedicated to exploring and implementing user-centered library systems and applications, including the library’s web presence (currently BigTree) and its supporting platforms (most notably, the Springshare suite of tools). Along with fellow team members from the Collections & Access department, this role also co-manages the library services platform (Alma) with a particular emphasis on the discovery tool component (Primo VE).

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Generative AI Issues in Scholarly Publishing: "Guest Post: Jagged Edges of Conversational Interfaces Over Scholarly and Professional Content "


The fundamental tension is that unlike web distribution of static content, which has enormous scale advantages due to very low marginal costs, the RAG [Retrieval-Augmented Generation] pattern has high marginal costs (10-1000X) that scale linearly. While token costs remain high, for general scholarly applications outside of specialty practitioners, the central business or product challenge will be how to generate sufficient incremental revenue to offset the vastly higher compute costs to use GenAI technology to generate responses to queries.

https://tinyurl.com/38x432h7

| Artificial Intelligence |
| Research Data Curation and Management Works |
| Digital Curation and Digital Preservation Works |
| Open Access Works |
| Digital Scholarship |

Open Publishing Librarian at University of Houston


This position resides in the Libraries’ Research Services department, which provides infrastructure, programs, and services in support of digital humanities, research visibility and impact, data management, and scholarly publishing activities. Reporting to the Head of Research Services, the Open Publishing Librarian contributes to and helps organize UH Libraries’ expanding publishing program. The successful candidate will manage and promote the UH Institutional Repository, oversee UH’s Vireo Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) management system, lead the Libraries’ open access journal and monograph support, and collaboratively advance other elements of its publishing operations, which span the Open Education Services department, the Teaching and Learning department, the Resource Description and Metadata department, and the Collections Strategies and Services department.

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"The O3 Guidelines: Open Data, Open Code, and Open Infrastructure for Sustainable Curated Scientific Resources"


Here, we introduce the Open Data, Open Code, and Open Infrastructure (O3) Guidelines for the creation and maintenance of curated resources which promote sustainability through a combination of technical workflows, social workflows, and progressive governance models. Together, these support and encourage community-facing curation (Fig. 1). In summary, (1) the technical aspect of O3 necessitates using open data, open code, and open infrastructure. Both data and code are permissively licensed and kept together under public version control. This enables anyone to directly suggest improvements and updates. Further, it recommends using hardware and software infrastructure that supports automation in response to various actions performed by contributors and maintainers. For example, this includes running quality assurance workflows in response to new contributions and the generation of exports in multiple formats in response to running a release workflow. (2) The social aspect of O3 prescribes the composition of training material, curation guidelines, contribution guidelines, and a community code of conduct that encourage and support potential community curators. It requires the use of public tools for suggestions, questions, discussion as well as social workflows for the submission and review of changes. (3) The governance aspect of O3 necessitates the division of responsibilities and authority across multiple institutions, making the resource more robust to fluctuation in funding and personnel, such as when reviewing and applying changes to the data or code. O3 prescribes liberal attribution and acknowledgment of the individuals and institutions, both internal and external to the project, who contribute on a variety of levels such as to data, code, discussion, and funding. More generally, the O3 Guidelines suggest that a minimal governance model be codified and instituted as early as possible in a project’s lifetime.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-03406-w

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| Digital Curation and Digital Preservation Works |
| Open Access Works |
| Digital Scholarship |

Head of Legal Technology Services at George Washington University


Oversees the integration of library resources and academic technologies, including technology competencies, into the curriculum and learning spaces, including the learning management system. . . .

Coordinates department activities to identify, develop, and promote strategic scholarly communication services and programs; provides outreach, education, and training; identifies and implements best practices in documenting and strengthening access to the Law School’s intellectual output . . . .

Coordinates interdepartmental library efforts to select, implement, maintain, and provide access to electronic resources, including collaboration with law library colleagues, GWU campus libraries, and electronic resource vendors . . .

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"Rethinking Data Management Planning: Introducing Research Output Management Planning (ROMPi) Approach"


Data management plans (DMPs), designed to adhere to Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable (FAIR) principles, were introduced to enhance research data management (RDM) but have encountered challenges in implementation. This essay calls for a paradigm shift by introducing the ‘Research Output Management Planning (ROMPi)’ approach, aiming to integrate traditional research project management practices promoting a holistic perspective of RDM. In its essence, ROMPi reframes the DMP in the conventional project management work breakdown structure in work packages (WPs), with research outputs going through their lifecycle. It also advocates reimagining the concept of data into research outputs, acknowledging a holistic perspective of the research outcomes. We demonstrated that the research project management perspective at the early implementation stage could ultimately align DMP within the research process. ROMPi offers a practical research output management approach, fostering a holistic project-researcher-centric perspective.

https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2024-034

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| Research Data Curation and Management Works |
| Digital Curation and Digital Preservation Works |
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Front-End Web Developer at Western Carolina University


The purpose of this position is to assist the Library User Experience Web Developer in carrying out the many responsibilities of the Web Services Unit in making sure that all web presence needs for library operations are kept working and to help create a cohesive and effective web presence. The employee will provide a variety of support responsibility for computer troubleshooting, user applications software in the library and web-based applications of Library’s homepage.

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"Stronger Together: Library-led Open Access Publishing in Scotland"


The purpose of this article is to look at library-led Open Access publishing initiatives across Scotland: particularly the Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL) Open Hosting Shared Service and Scottish Universities Press (SUP). . . .

In 2018, the University of Edinburgh (UoE) submitted a proposal to SCURL, pitching the creation of a new shared service that would be governed by SCURL and provided by library staff at the University of Edinburgh. The aim of this shared service was to equip member institutions with a hosting solution to fulfil their Open Access publishing activities, with the development time charged to UoE. The fee for the shared service is at cost (currently £1,400 + VAT per year), and everything is reinvested, predominantly covering technical and staffing costs. All members meet four times a year to discuss the direction and growth of the shared service, ensuring it is very much a partnership and not just led by the University of Edinburgh.

The hosting solution is fulfilled by the use of Open Journals System (OJS) and Open Monograph Press (OMP). SCURL partners get their own installation of the required open-source software, and the staff at UoE complete the initial configuration of the site and customisation of the user interface. The fee is charged per installation. So, for example, a user pays one fee for OJS and can set up as many journals as they like. . . .

To finish, the shared service launched with three members and now has eleven, with more on the way. The members are:

  1. Glasgow Caledonian University
  2. Heriot Watt University
  3. Queen Margaret University
  4. Robert Gordon University
  5. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
  6. Scottish Universities Press
  7. Society of Antiquaries Scotland
  8. St Andrews University
  9. University of Edinburgh
  10. University of Glasgow
  11. The University of the Highlands and Islands

https://tinyurl.com/2vy7wp94

| Artificial Intelligence |
| Research Data Curation and Management Works |
| Digital Curation and Digital Preservation Works |
| Open Access Works |
| Digital Scholarship |

Head, Preservation Imaging at Yale University


Oversees all aspects of programmatic digital imaging projects and Special Collections patron requests for book and paper-based materials. Prioritizes requests and projects. Researches, develops, documents and implements practices and trends related to scanning and photography, image processing, quality control, accessibility considerations, and best practices for care and handling of fragile or damaged collections materials. Manages, trains and supervises staff, cultivating a team-based approach to the work. Establishes metrics, tracks progress and regularly reports on the unit’s work in support of a resource-informed stewardship model. Coordinates with Head of Media Preservation to align workflows and develop a communication strategy to ensure that units operate in tandem and have a shared understanding of prioritization and capacity. Fosters and sustains relationships with Digital Special Collections & Access (DSCA) to develop processes, coordinate strategies, and harmonize workflows. Collaborates with Library staff, vendors and external project partners, including HathiTrust and Google Books, to investigate, test, and maintain ingest and deposit workflows for digitized materials.

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"The FAIR Assessment Conundrum: Reflections on Tools and Metrics"


Several tools for assessing FAIRness have been developed. Although their purpose is common, they use different assessment techniques, they are designed to work with diverse research products, and they are applied in specific scientific disciplines. It is thus inevitable that they perform the assessment using different metrics. This paper provides an overview of the actual FAIR assessment tools and metrics landscape to highlight the challenges characterising this task. In particular, 20 relevant FAIR assessment tools and 1180 relevant metrics were identified and analysed concerning (i) the tool’s distinguishing aspects and their trends, (ii) the gaps between the metric intents and the FAIR principles, (iii) the discrepancies between the declared intent of the metrics and the actual aspects assessed, including the most recurring issues, (iv) the technologies used or mentioned the most in the assessment metrics. The findings highlight (a) the distinguishing characteristics of the tools and the emergence of trends over time concerning those characteristics, (b) the identification of gaps at both metric and tool levels, (c) discrepancies observed in 345 metrics between their declared intent and the actual aspects assessed, pointing at several recurring issues, and (d) the variety in the technology used for the assessments, the majority of which can be ascribed to linked data solutions. This work also highlights some open issues that FAIR assessment still needs to address.

https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2024-033

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| Digital Curation and Digital Preservation Works |
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Library Developer at University at Buffalo


The University at Buffalo Libraries are seeking a skilled Library Developer to implement, customize, and enhance digital asset management systems and software solutions within the library environment. This position will play a crucial role in ensuring system quality assurance, identifying defects, and exploring integration opportunities for enhanced functionality. Collaboration and communication skills are essential, as you will work closely with cross-functional teams to align system goals with library objectives and provide regular updates on system progress and enhancements.

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Paywall: "Does Research Funding, Open Access Availability, and Collaboration in Research Influence Citation Impact? An Analysis of Neurotechnology Research"


The United States Department of Health and Human Services remains at the top by contributing funding to 7.46% of research papers in the field of Neurotechnology research. Statistical tests confirmed significant correlations between research funding, collaboration, and research availability mode with citation impact. Positive correlations were identified between research funding and collaboration, while open access availability showed a negative correlation with citation impact.

https://doi.org/10.1080/15424065.2024.2350377

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| Digital Curation and Digital Preservation Works |
| Open Access Works |
| Digital Scholarship |

Digital Asset Management System Coordinator at University of Texas at Austin


As a part of the Preservation & Digital Stewardship unit, this position provides management and oversight of the Digital Asset Management System (DAMS) and affiliated public-facing discovery interfaces for UT Libraries, including policy and workflow development, training, and metadata support.

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2024 State of Open Infrastructure Report


In this inaugural report, we dive deep into the characteristics of open infrastructure powering research and scholarship and what (we believe) sets them apart from their competitors. We take a closer look at the governing bodies and decision-makers behind the technologies your community relies on. We share the latest data and analysis of over US$415M in grant funding powering open infrastructures and research surrounding them, and bring you the latest infrastructure and policy developments in regions such as Latin America, Africa, and the European Union. We highlight success stories and the key trends in the adoption of open infrastructure. We share the latest on trends we’re tracking, such as the global movement towards Diamond Open Access and the underlying infrastructure needs, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the intersection with open research, and "digital sovereignty" and its impact on research across borders.

https://tinyurl.com/ycxs547k

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| Research Data Curation and Management Works |
| Digital Curation and Digital Preservation Works |
| Open Access Works |
| Digital Scholarship |

Digital Collections Librarian/Archivist at Loyola University New Orleans


The Digital Collections Librarian/Archivist will be responsible for developing and maintaining digital collections, and participating in the day-to-day work of Special Collections & Archives, including providing reference services and research support, as well as teaching with SCA collections and in the Loyola First Year Seminar program.

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"Data Competency for Academic Librarians: Evaluating Present Trends and Future Prospects"


This paper reports an investigation into the perception of academic librarians on data competency in their daily roles across various library departments in the United States and Canada. . . . The findings reveal a complex engagement pattern with data tasks, with librarians in data-specific roles dedicating a considerable portion of their work to these activities, while the majority engage less frequently, indicating that data tasks are a minor part of their overall responsibilities. . . . Our study identifies a crucial need for improved competencies in data management and collection development. . . Additionally, our findings reveal a critical gap between academic libraries’ demand for data skills and the content coverage in MLIS programs, emphasizing the need for curriculum updates to prepare librarians for the evolving information landscape.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2024.102897

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| Digital Curation and Digital Preservation Works |
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| Digital Scholarship |

Electronic Resources Metadata Librarian at MIT


Responsibilities include creating and editing metadata for e-serials, e-books, databases, and datasets in both MARC and non-MARC formats; maintaining collections; managing batch record imports; supervising two staff members; coordinating metadata production; fostering communication and building collaborative relationships within the library; staying updated on metadata trends and standards; developing training materials; advising on metadata policies; contributing to system-wide initiatives; and supporting the library’s vision of accessible knowledge through innovative metadata management.

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"The Global Lens: Highlighting National Nuances in Researchers’ Attitudes to Open Data"


This report investigates the variations seen in researcher’s attitudes towards open data across Ethiopia, Japan and the United States, using responses from the State of Open Data surveys. Highlighting: what open data is and its importance towards global scientific advancement, outlining methods that were used, outward context and overall suggestions towards policy makers.

Ethiopia and Japan were found to display contrasting responses, with the United States often representing the middle ground. Researchers in Ethiopia show the highest familiarity with FAIR principles (36.50%), support for a national open data mandate (76.96%), and agreement with penalising non-compliance (56.74%). In contrast, Japan has the lowest familiarity with FAIR principles (10.20%), support for a national mandate (41.86%), and agreement with penalties (35.78%). The United States falls in between, with 37.60% familiarity with FAIR principles, 61.22% supporting a national mandate, and 54.09% supporting penalties.

The factors shaping these attitudes, including funding policies, research culture, and individualistic behaviours have also been examined. Recommendations suggest Ethiopia could leverage its strong support by establishing clear national policies, the United States could build on existing federal policies, and Japan may need a more gradual approach, engaging researchers in policy development.

https://tinyurl.com/45xsvc8h

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| Research Data Curation and Management Works |
| Digital Curation and Digital Preservation Works |
| Open Access Works |
| Digital Scholarship |

Head of Library Systems and eResources at Columbus State University


The Head of Library Systems and eResources primarily oversees electronic resource management. This includes coordinating vendor negotiations, licensing agreements, renewal notices, and cancellations. This also includes tracking of the Libraries’ eResource budget and compilation and analysis of usage statistics. This position is also responsible for overseeing and assisting with the management of Library Systems such as GALILEO, the Library catalog, and other platforms such as LibGuides. It is also responsible for management of the University’s institutional repository: the CSU ePress.

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Paywall: "Top IT Challenges in ARL Libraries"


This study presents the results of an online survey of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) academic library members to identify the biggest challenges they perceive in the area of information technology organization and management. This article compares their responses with challenges reported in earlier studies to identify new and changing trends as well as ongoing challenges that remain.

https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2024.2351245

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| Research Data Curation and Management Works |
| Digital Curation and Digital Preservation Works |
| Open Access Works |
| Digital Scholarship |

Director of Digital Initiatives at University of Rochester


The Director of Digital Initiatives is responsible for the overall direction, development, and management of the River Campus Libraries’ (RCL) core and emerging digital infrastructure in support RCL’s strategic aims and the teaching, learning, and research mission of the University. Reporting to the Assistant/Associate Dean for Scholarly Resources and Curation, this position works closely with library administration, colleagues, and stakeholders to collaboratively envision and implement innovative services and technologies that underpin a wide range of programs and services. This role directs a team of nine to ensure the sustainable and effective operation of the Libraries’ core enterprise-systems, connections to/integrations with key University and vendor systems, and the development and implementation of new applications and services.

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"More Readers in More Places: The Benefits of Open Access for Scholarly Books"


Open access to scholarly contents has grown substantially in recent years. This includes the number of books published open access online. However, there is limited study on how usage patterns (via downloads, citations and web visibility) of these books may differ from their closed counterparts. Such information is not only important for book publishers, but also for researchers in disciplines where books are the norm. This article reports on findings from comparing samples of books published by Springer Nature to shed light on differences in usage patterns across open access and closed books. The study includes a selection of 281 open access books and a sample of 3,653 closed books (drawn from 21,059 closed books using stratified random sampling). The books are stratified by combinations of book type, discipline and year of publication to enable likewise comparisons within each stratum and to maximize statistical power of the sample. The results show higher geographic diversity of usage, higher numbers of downloads and more citations for open access books across all strata. Importantly, open access books have increased access and usage for traditionally underserved populations.

https://doi.org/10.1629/uksg.558

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| Research Data Curation and Management Works |
| Digital Curation and Digital Preservation Works |
| Open Access Works |
| Digital Scholarship |

Web Content Specialist at University at Buffalo


This position will involve collaborating with various departments to develop and maintain website content that supports the needs of our academic community, as well as managing the University Libraries’ social media presence. As part of the Communications Team within the University Libraries, you will report to the Web Manager and Lead Designer.

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