ARL Signs The Hague Declaration on Knowledge Discovery in the Digital Age

ARL has signed The Hague Declaration on Knowledge Discovery in the Digital Age.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

More than 50 organizations around the world—including ARL—have signed the Hague Declaration on Knowledge Discovery in the Digital Age, which calls for immediate changes to intellectual property (IP) law and the removal of other barriers preventing widened and more equal access to data. . . .

The declaration asserts that copyright was never designed to regulate the sharing of facts, data, and ideas—nor should it. The right to receive and impart information and ideas is guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but the modern application of IP law often limits this right, even when these most simple building blocks of knowledge are used.

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Scholarly Output Assessment Activities, SPEC Kit 346

ARL has released Scholarly Output Assessment Activities, SPEC Kit 346 .

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

This SPEC Kit explores current ARL member library activities that help authors manage their scholarly identities, provide options for creating and disseminating scholarly outputs, offer strategies to enhance discoverability of scholarly outputs, help authors efficiently track scholarly outputs and impact, provide resources and tools to help authors assess their scholarly impact, create publication reports and social network maps for reporting purposes, and offer guidance and training on new trends and tools for reporting of impact. This study covers library assessment services and resources, training, staffing models, partnerships with the parent institution, marketing and publicity, and future trends.

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Ann D. Thornton Named as Columbia University’s University Librarian and Vice Provost

Ann D. Thornton has been named as Columbia University's University Librarian and Vice Provost.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

"Columbia's library system is a dynamic academic resource that is at the very core of our teaching and research missions," [Columbia University President Lee] Bollinger said. "Ann's broad experience is ideally suited to the task of harnessing both digital technology and intellectual vision to expand our collections and enhance their long-term value not only to our university, but also to our society."

Thornton has held a series of senior leadership positions at the New York Public Libraries, spanning the sciences, business, the humanities and social sciences. She has been responsible for collecting, preserving and presenting the institution's vast collections. She has also helped lead in the areas of electronic resources, reference and research services and public training. Before coming to New York, she was a systems librarian with the University of Houston Libraries. . . .

After earning her bachelor's degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Thornton received her master's degree in information studies from Florida State University. She has published and spoken widely on the nexus of research, teaching, learning and leadership.

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"ARL Joins New Re:Create Coalition to Promote Balanced Copyright"

ARL has released "ARL Joins New Re:Create Coalition to Promote Balanced Copyright."

Here's an excerpt:

Today, April 28, 2015, ARL joined US technology companies, trade associations, and civil society organizations in the launch of Re:Create, a coalition that promotes balanced copyright policy. A balanced copyright system depends on limitations and exceptions, such as fair use. As technology advances, it is imperative that the copyright law is responsive to these changes, balancing the interests of creators of copyrighted information and products with the interests of users of those products.

Re:Create promotes and defends the important balance of copyright. ARL's member institutions, as well as the general public, depend on balanced copyright that includes robust limitations and exceptions. A balanced system ensures that copyright does not limit or impede new and valuable technologies and uses.

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Lisa B. German Named Dean of Libraries and Elizabeth D. Rockwell Chair by University of Houston

Lisa B. German has been named Dean of Libraries and Elizabeth D. Rockwell Chair by the University of Houston.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

At Penn State Libraries, German served as associate dean for collections, information, and access services, where she was responsible for planning, organization, policy development, implementation, assessment, and direction. She has also published extensively in these areas.

German has participated in the Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians at Harvard University, and the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Research Library Leadership Fellows Program. She is the recipient of several awards from the University of Illinois, Penn State University, and the American Library Association – Association for Library Collections and Technical Services. . . .

German earned a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in library science, both from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

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Beth McNeil Named Dean of the Iowa State University Library

Beth McNeil has been named Dean of the Iowa State University Library .

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

At Purdue, McNeil was responsible for managing 12 campus libraries, as well as the archives/special collections, technical services, digitization and the collections management units. She had oversight of nearly 90 faculty and staff and a $13.7 million annual collections budget.

McNeil previously served in leadership positions in the libraries at Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois; and University of Nebraska, Lincoln. . . .

McNeil earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in library and information science, both from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She completed a doctoral program in human sciences, with a focus on leadership studies, at Nebraska.

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"Geographic Information and Technologies in Academic Research Libraries: An ARL Survey of Services and Support"

Ann L Holstein has published "Geographic Information and Technologies in Academic Research Libraries: An ARL Survey of Services and Support" in Information Technology and Libraries.

Here's an excerpt:

One hundred fifteen academic libraries, all current members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), were selected to participate in an online survey in an effort to better understand campus use of geographic data and geospatial technologies, and how libraries support these uses. The survey was used to capture information regarding geographic needs of their respective campuses, the array of services they offer, and the education and training of geographic information services department staff members. The survey results, along with review of recent literature, were used to identify changes in geographic information services and support since 1997, when a similar survey was conducted by ARL. This new study has enabled recommendations to be made for building a successful geographic information service center within the campus library that offers a robust and comprehensive service and support model for all geographic information usage on campus.

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University of Rochester Libraries Get $100,672 Mellon Grant for Digital Humanities Institute for Mid-Career Librarians

The University of Rochester Libraries has received a $100,672 Mellon Grant for a "21st Century Skills: Digital Humanities Institute for Mid-Career Librarians" pilot program.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

The pilot institute will provide a three-day residential immersion experience and a yearlong online component for 20 mid-career librarians. Participants will develop proficiency in three core competencies-project management, copyright and fair use, and metadata literacy-while enhancing their technology toolkits and exploring diverse areas of digital humanities scholarship. University of Rochester faculty, River Campus Libraries staff, UR Mellon fellows in digital humanities, and CLIR postdoctoral fellows will serve as instructors. Interested mid-career librarians from across the United States and Canada are invited to apply to the institute through a competitive process.

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"Availability and Accessibility in an Open Access Institutional Repository: A Case Study"

Jongwook Lee et al. have published "Availability and Accessibility in an Open Access Institutional Repository: A Case Study" in Information Research.

Here's an excerpt:

This study explores the extent to which an institutional repository makes papers available and accessible on the open Web by using 170 journal articles housed in DigiNole Commons, the institutional repository at Florida State University. . . .

Overall, the results confirm the contribution of the institutional repository in making papers available and accessible. The results also reveal some impediments to the success of open access, including impediments linked to contractual arrangements between authors and publishers, impediments linked to policies, practices and technologies governing the repository itself, and the low level of faculty participation in the repository.

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Dean and Director of Libraries at University at Albany

The University at Albany is recruiting a Dean and Director of Libraries.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Key opportunities and challenges for the new dean will include providing visionary leadership for the UAlbany Libraries, being a strong advocate and spokesperson for the Libraries, leading and further developing a strong, service-oriented faculty and staff, leveraging the Libraries' financial resources wisely and generating additional funding to improve growth and services, valuing and advancing diversity and inclusion efforts, participating effectively in system-level and national collaborations, and guiding and evaluating the adoption of technology.

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"Fair Use Week 2015 Highlights"

ARL has released "Fair Use Week 2015 Highlights."

Here's an excerpt:

Each day, new blog posts and resource materials were produced. Daily recaps are available for each day of Fair Use Week and additional resources are available on the website. Over the course of the week, more than 90 blog posts, 13 videos, 2 podcasts, a comic book, an infographic, and several other great resources were released. Below are some highlights from the week.

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Indiana University Libraries and Partners Get $931,000 in Mellon Grant Money

Indiana University Libraries and its partner libraries have received a total of $931,000 from two Mellon Foundation grants.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

The first of these grants provides $750,000 to the IU Libraries and Northwestern University Library to support continuing development of the Avalon Media System, an open-source software product designed to help libraries and archives provide long-term online access to audio and video collections for primarily academic audiences. . . .

The second of these grants, providing $181,000 to the IU Libraries and the University of Michigan Library, is a key component in a range of investigations underway to analyze the viability of alternative sustainable financial models for university presses and other nonprofit book publishers.

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Dean of Libraries and University Librarian at Syracuse University

Syracuse University is recruiting a Dean of Libraries and University Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The Dean has primary responsibility for overall leadership of the Libraries including faculty and student services, research, scholarship, and creation of new knowledge that arises from the Libraries' assets. Operationally, the Dean is responsible for strategic planning, budgeting and financial management, human resources, and information technology, and development of collections, services, and programs.

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Dean of Libraries and Elizabeth D. Rockwell Chair at University of Houston

The University of Houston is recruiting a Dean of Libraries and Elizabeth D. Rockwell Chair.

Here's an excerpt from the ad.

The University of Houston invites nominations and applications for the position of Dean of Libraries and Elizabeth D. Rockwell Chair. The Dean of Libraries leads the University Libraries and advances the University's mission of research and teaching by ensuring the provision of outstanding library services. The University Libraries comprises the M.D. Anderson Library and three branch libraries (Music, Optometry, and Architecture and Art). . . .

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

See also the Isaacson, Miller ad.

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Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian at Rutgers University

Rutgers University is recruiting a Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the VP/UL serves as the Libraries' chief administrative and academic officer with overall responsibility for library operations and services, including strategic planning, operational planning and assessment, and oversight and management of a $34 million budget. The VP/UL leads and directs personnel resources of approximately 275 faculty and staff members, collection development and management, information and research services, information technology infrastructure and initiatives, design of library facilities, fund raising, public relations, and state, regional, national, and international collaborative activities and programs.

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Measuring Up: Assessing Use of Digital Repositories and the Resulting Impact Project Gets IMLS Grant

The Measuring Up: Assessing Use of Digital Repositories and the Resulting Impact Project has received an IMLS Grant.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has awarded a $500,000, three-year National Leadership Grant to four partner organizations-the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), Montana State University, OCLC Research, and the University of New Mexico-to perform research and recommend best practices that will improve data collection and information sharing for institutional repositories and digitized collections.

Digital Scholarship | "A Quarter-Century as an Open Access Publisher"

Chris Bourg Named MIT Libraries Director

Chris Bourg has been named as MIT's Libraries Director ;

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

Bourg comes to MIT from Stanford University, where she is currently associate university librarian for public services. At Stanford, Bourg oversees the largest division of the Stanford University Libraries, with six branches and a collection of more than 4 million volumes. . . .

Bourg received her BA from Duke University, her MA from the University of Maryland, and her MA and PhD in sociology from Stanford. She has written and spoken extensively on the topics of libraries, leadership, diversity, and social justice. She is a strong advocate for gender equality, and was involved in creating and leading the first Women's Voices and Influence group for Stanford staff.

Digital Scholarship | "A Quarter-Century as an Open Access Publisher"

UC Shared Print RoadMap for 2014-2018: Recommended Activities to Pursue

The California Digital Library has released UC Shared Print RoadMap for 2014-2018: Recommended Activities to Pursue.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

Key projects and policies that our libraries will pursue and explore include:

  • Coordinated print serials archiving to UCs two Regional Library Facilities and a deduplication service
  • A retrospective shared print monographs program
  • Coordinated digitization and print retention of State Documents
  • Disclosure of UC shared print collections in union catalogs such as OCLC WorldCat and PAPR using the OCLC Shared Print Metadata Guidelines
  • Revision of UC Libraries' "persistence policy" to support extramural partnerships
  • Assessing existing shared print policies and projects and making adjustments to them

Digital Scholarship | "A Quarter-Century as an Open Access Publisher"

"Summary of SHARE Community Meeting, Fall 2014"

ARL has released "Summary of SHARE Community Meeting, Fall 2014."

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

On October 13-14, 2014, members of the SHARE community gathered in Crystal City, Virginia, for their first face-to-face meeting. Attendees included more than half the members of the SHARE working groups (communications, technical, repository, and workflow), as well as SHARE Notification Service prototype participants and other stakeholders. The two-day meeting was intended to showcase progress on the Notification Service; identify challenges and opportunities related to the Notification Service prototype; explore future SHARE projects; and delve into ways in which the higher education community can play a proactive role in the stewardship of research. The meeting was convened with the generous support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Digital Scholarship | "A Quarter-Century as an Open Access Publisher"

"ARL Membership Convenes in Washington, DC, for Fall 2014 Meeting"

ARL has released "ARL Membership Convenes in Washington, DC, for Fall 2014 Meeting."

Here's an excerpt:

Then president of ARL, Carol Pitts Diedrichs of The Ohio State University, convened the 165th ARL Membership Meeting in Washington, DC, on Tuesday afternoon, October 7, 2014. All available presentation slides are linked after the speakers' names in the following summary of the meeting.

Digital Scholarship | "A Quarter-Century as an Open Access Publisher"

Dean of the University Libraries at University of Maryland, College Park

The University of Maryland, College Park is recruiting a Dean of the University Libraries.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The University of Maryland, College Park invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the University Libraries. The University is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) and is the flagship of the University System of Maryland. Located in the Baltimore-Washington corridor within easy commuting distance of both the nation's capital and the state capital, the University enjoys close proximity to the Library of Congress and National Archives as well as to numerous specialized libraries such as the Folger Shakespeare Library and the National Library of Medicine. The University ranks among the top 20 public universities, with over 35,000 students engaged in nationally and internationally recognized programs in undergraduate and graduate studies.

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Hillman University Librarian and Director at University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh is recruiting a Hillman University Librarian and Director.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The University of Pittsburgh invites nominations for this position of the Hillman University Librarian and Director, University Library System (ULS). This is an exceptional opportunity for an accomplished and innovative leader to continue to advance one of the nation's leading academic research libraries and serve as a strong advocate for the essential role of the library in learning, teaching, and research at Pitt. One of the top research universities in the country, Pitt is a state-related research university and part of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education in Pennsylvania. Current enrollment in Pitt's 16 undergraduate and graduate schools and 4 regional campuses is 34,934 (25,074 undergraduate and 9,860 graduate students). In 2013, the University's federally funded research summed to almost $700 million. Pitt is ranked 7th overall and 4th among public institutions in the most recent U.S. National Science Foundation's rankings of federally funded research at universities and colleges. A member of the Association of American Universities, Pitt is currently ranked 62nd among research universities nationally and 20th among public research universities by the US News & World Report.

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Arizona State University Names James J. O’Donnell as University Librarian

Arizona State University has named James J. O'Donnell as its University Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

O'Donnell received his bachelor of arts degree at Princeton and doctorate from Yale. He served as provost and professor of classics at Georgetown University for a decade, after a career at Bryn Mawr, Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania. . . .

O'Donnell has also been engaged in digital innovation for almost 25 years, starting with the establishment of the oldest online open access journal in the humanities, "Bryn Mawr Classical Review." He taught the first MOOC in 1994, introducing 500 students around the world to the work and thought of St. Augustine. He served from 1996-2002 as the chief information officer of the University of Pennsylvania.

Digital Scholarship | "A Quarter-Century as an Open Access Publisher"

Vice Provost and University Librarian at Columbia University

Columbia University is recruiting a Vice Provost and University Librarian.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The University is seeking a dynamic individual to lead a large, complex, globally recognized academic research library system with remarkable growth in its collections in recent years and highly talented staff undertaking an impressive range of innovative professional assignments.

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University of Chicago Names Brenda Johnson Library Director and University Librarian

Brenda Johnson has been appointed Library Director and University Librarian at the University of Chicago for a five-year term.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

Johnson currently serves as Ruth Lilly Dean of University Libraries at Indiana University, Bloomington—a position she has held since 2010. She succeeds Judith Nadler, who retired in June after nearly five decades of service to UChicago.

Before coming to Indiana University, Johnson was University Librarian at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She spent more than 20 years at the University of Michigan, where she served as Associate University Librarian for Public Services, a position with responsibility over that institution's 19 libraries.

Digital Scholarship | "A Quarter-Century as an Open Access Publisher"