Category: Research Libraries

"How Important is Data Curation? Gaps and Opportunities for Academic Libraries"

Lisa R Johnston et al. have published "How Important is Data Curation? Gaps and Opportunities for Academic Libraries" in the Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication.

Here's an excerpt:

INTRODUCTION Data curation may be an emerging service for academic libraries, but researchers actively "curate" their data in a number of ways—even if terminology may not always align. Building on past userneeds assessments performed via survey and focus groups, the authors sought direct input from researchers on the importance and utilization of specific data curation activities. METHODS Between October 21, 2016, and November 18, 2016, the study team held focus groups with 91 participants at six different academic institutions to determine which data curation activities were most important to researchers, which activities were currently underway for their data, and how satisfied they were with the results. RESULTS Researchers are actively engaged in a variety of data curation activities, and while they considered most data curation activities to be highly important, a majority of the sample reported dissatisfaction with the current state of data curation at their institution. DISCUSSION Our findings demonstrate specific gaps and opportunities for academic libraries to focus their data curation services to more effectively meet researcher needs. CONCLUSION Research libraries stand to benefit their users by emphasizing, investing in, and/or heavily promoting the highly valued services that may not currently be in use by many researchers.

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"National Licence Negotiations Advancing the Open Access Transition—A View from the UK"

Liam Earney has published "National Licence Negotiations Advancing the Open Access Transition—A View from the UK" in Insights.

Here's an excerpt:

Jisc Collections has had agreements with open access (OA) publishers since the mid-2000s. In 2014, following the UK government’s response to the Finch Report, it started to target hybrid OA via 'offsetting agreements' that covered both subscriptions and article processing charges for OA.

This article will provide a status update on OA negotiations in the UK in the context of the UK's progress towards OA. It will look at some of the concerns about the progress of OA in the UK, how negotiations have evolved in response, and will look at prospects for their future direction.

See also: "National Licence Negotiations Advancing the Open Access Transition—A View from Sweden."

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"Data-Driven Transition: Joint Reporting of Subscription Expenditure and Publication Costs"

Irene Barbers et al. have published "Data-Driven Transition: Joint Reporting of Subscription Expenditure and Publication Costs" in Publications.

Here's an excerpt:

The transition process from the subscription model to the open access model in the world of scholarly publishing brings a variety of challenges to libraries. Within this evolving landscape, the present article takes a focus on budget control for both subscription and publication expenditure with the opportunity to enable the shift from one to the other. To reach informed decisions with a solid base of data to be used in negotiations with publishers, the diverse already-existing systems for managing publications costs and for managing journal subscriptions have to be adapted to allow comprehensive reporting on publication expenditure and subscription expenditure. In the case presented here, two separate systems are described and the establishment of joint reporting covering both these systems is introduced. Some of the results of joint reporting are presented as an example of how such a comprehensive monitoring can support management decisions and negotiations. On a larger scale, the establishment of the National Open Access Monitor in Germany is introduced, bringing together a diverse range of data from several already-existing systems, including, among others, holdings information, usage data, and data on publication fees. This system will enable libraries to access all relevant data with a single user interface.

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"Supporting Open Access at Kent—New Staff Roles"

Rosalyn Bass and Sarah Slowe have published "Supporting Open Access at Kent—New Staff Roles" in Publications.

Here's an excerpt:

Open Access has been supported at the University of Kent from an early stage with the establishment of the Kent Academic Repository in 2007. Initially, this work was accommodated within the existing library staff structure, but the pace of change, funder requirements, and a new university plan meant that support for Open Access needed to become explicit. Therefore, a research support team was established using a matrix working system1. This article details this new structure and reflects on the benefits and challenges it brings.

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Version 9 of the Research Data Curation Bibliography Released

Digital Scholarship has released Version 9 of the Research Data Curation Bibliography. This selective bibliography includes over 750 English-language articles, books, and technical reports that are useful in understanding the curation of digital research data in academic and other research institutions. Printed from the HTML page, it is over 130 pages long.

The Research Data Curation Bibliography covers topics such as research data creation, acquisition, metadata, provenance, repositories, management, policies, support services, funding agency requirements, open access, peer review, publication, citation, sharing, reuse, and preservation.

Most sources have been published from January 2009 through December 2017; however, a limited number of earlier key sources are also included. The bibliography includes links to included works.

Abstracts are included in this bibliography if a work is under a Creative Commons Attribution License (BY and national/international variations), a Creative Commons public domain dedication (CC0), or a Creative Commons Public Domain Mark and this is clearly indicated in the work.

The Research Data Curation Bibliography is under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Journal Access Problem Note

The International Journal of Digital Curation server is having access problems today resulting in the following error message: "DB Error: Can't create/write to file '/var/tmp/#sql_565_1.MAI' (Errcode: 28)."

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University Librarian and Vice-Provost (Knowledge Systems) at University of Ottawa

The University of Ottawa is recruiting a University Librarian and Vice-Provost (Knowledge Systems).

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

The University Librarian and Vice-Provost (Knowledge Systems) (hereafter "University Librarian") will play a critical role in providing strategic direction and leadership in advancing the University’s teaching and research mission through the adoption of emerging technologies, sound fiscal management and via strong advocacy for professional values and standards to a broad spectrum of external constituents. He/She will possess a strong vision and be prepared to identify critical Library and University needs and lead the Library team to address information challenges and the strategic future of the University Libraries through the development of a strategic plan that is both unifying and innovative.

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Dean, University Libraries at Florida State University

Florida State University is recruiting a Dean, University Libraries.

Here's an excerpt from the ad:

Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean is the senior academic and administrative officer of the University Libraries, home to 138 full time employees supported by a total annual operating budget of more than $18 million.

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"Data Librarianship: A Path and an Ethic. A Conversation between Thomas Padilla and Vicky Steeves"

Thomas Padilla and Vicky Steeves have published "Data Librarianship: A Path and an Ethic. A Conversation between Thomas Padilla and Vicky Steeves" in dh+lib.

I think a lot about the corporate capture of the scholarly record, and how my work in data management and reproducibility can either contribute to or disrupt that. With the rise of reproducibility as a buzzword, there are plenty of commercial entities ready to profit from so-called 'reproducibility platforms'. This represents yet another corporate capture of scholarship. I try to disrupt this by advocating for community-run, open source software for reproducibility, such as ReproZip (which I work on), o2r, and Binder. The same goes for data management platforms. We're seeing a lot of new data services springing up from major publishers and this is also something I am actively trying to combat.

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"What Do Data Librarians Think of the MLIS? Professionals’ Perceptions of Knowledge Transfer, Trends, and Challenges"

Camille V.L. Thomas and Richard J. Urban have published "What Do Data Librarians Think of the MLIS? Professionals' Perceptions of Knowledge Transfer, Trends, and Challenges " in College & Research Libraries.

Here's an excerpt:

There are existing studies on data curation programs in library science education and studies on data services in libraries. However, there is not much insight into how educational programs have prepared data professionals for practice. This study asked 105 practicing professionals how well they thought their education prepared them for professional experience. It also asked supervisors about their perceptions of how well employees performed. After analyzing the results, the investigators of this study found that changing the educational model may lead to improvements in future library data services.

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"SUNY Board of Trustees Open Access Resolution"

Darren Chase has published "SUNY Board of Trustees Open Access Resolution" in the Stony Brook University Libraries Open Access blog.

On March 22, 2018, the SUNY Board of Trustees passed an Open Access Policy and System Repository Resolution put forward by Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson.

The resolution instructs all SUNY campuses to adopt "an open access policy that recognizes each campus's unique mission and culture by no later than March 31, 2020."

See also: SUNY Board of Trustees Open Access Policy and System Repository Resolution and Stony Brook University Open Access Policy (2017).

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Pathways to Open Access

The University of California has released Pathways to Open Access.

Here's an excerpt:

Pursuant to the University of California (UC) Council of University Librarian’s (CoUL) 1 3 August 2017 charge, this Pathways to OA Working Group 2 has identified the current universe of Open Access (OA) approaches, and has analyzed the suite of strategies available for effectuating those approaches. Each approach described within this Pathways document offers unique and, in some cases, overlapping challenges, opportunities, and room for experimentation. The strategies examined here create space and freedom for the campuses to pursue both individualized and connected paths toward a large-scale transition to OA—though as we highlight below, collective action on implementing the strategies is likely to bear greater fruit.

See also: "Chart Summarizing OA Approaches and Strategies."

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"Identifying Potential Solutions to Increase Discoverability and Reuse of Analog Datasets in Various Campus Locations"

Shannon L. Farrell and Julia Ann Kelly have published "Identifying Potential Solutions to Increase Discoverability and Reuse of Analog Datasets in Various Campus Locations" in Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship.

Here's an excerpt:

Describing, preserving, and providing access to data is now the purview of many science librarians, although the emphasis has been on data in electronic format. Data in paper or analog format might be found in many places around our campuses. At the University of Minnesota we conducted a preliminary investigation of analog data through discussions with faculty, staff, and the University Archives. We identified data in numerous locations, including the University Archives, personal collections, departmental holdings, museums, and off-campus research stations. We discovered data in many formats and carried out a few initial projects including creating a detailed inventory of one research center's analog data and digitizing and depositing one individual's dissertation data in our institutional repository. We also examined University Archives and discovered substantial amounts of analog data along with problems such as incomplete description or context. Overall we have identified several challenges and directions that we could take to make analog data more findable and available for reuse, but there is no clear single path forward.

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"Accessible, Dynamic Web Content Using Instagram"

Jaci Wilkinson has published "Accessible, Dynamic Web Content Using Instagram" in Information Technology and Libraries.

Here's an excerpt:

The Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections (ASC) at the University of Montana had a simple enough request. Their homepage had been static for years and it was not possible to add more content creation to anyone’s workload. However, they had a robust Instagram account with more than one thousand followers. Was there any way to synchronize workflows with an Instagram embed on the homepage? The solution was more complicated than we thought. We developed an Instagram embed, but in the process grappled with some fundamental questions of technology in the library. How do we streamline the creation and sharing of ephemeral, dynamic content? How do we reconcile web accessibility standards with the innovative new platforms we want to incorporate on our websites? . . . .

The ASC's embedded homepage Instagram feed fits their needs, is accessible, and builds community around their unique collections. By providing all the code created in this project in GitHub, including the CSS we used, our hope is that institutions interested in this Instagram feed model could replicate it for their own purposes without extensive technical support.

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"The Data Engagement Opportunities Scaffold: Development and Implementation"

Abigail Goben and Megan R. Sapp Nelson have published "The Data Engagement Opportunities Scaffold: Development and Implementation" in the Journal of eScience Librarianship.

Here's an excerpt:

While interest in research data management (RDM) services have grown, clarifying the path between traditional library responsibilities and RDM remains a challenge. While the literature has provided ideas about services and student-/researcher-focused data information literacy (DIL) competencies, nothing has yet brought these skill sets together to provide a pathway for librarians engaging in RDM. The Data Engagement Opportunities scaffold was developed to provide a strategic trajectory relating information science skills, the DIL competencies, the stages of the data life cycle, three levels of RDM engagement activities, and potential measurable outcomes. This scaffold provides direction for librarians looking to identify their current abilities and explore new opportunities.

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"What Should We Do with All These Books? A Feasibility Study on Collaborative Monograph Solutions"

Hazel Woodward and Helen Henderson have published "What Should We Do with All These Books? A Feasibility Study on Collaborative Monograph Solutions" in Insights: The UKSG Journal.

Here's an excerpt:

Academic libraries in the UK are under increasing pressure to reduce their estate footprint or increase learning space in the library. Following the success of the UKRR, the National Monographs Steering Committee commissioned Information Power Ltd (IPL) to explore potential solutions for the collaborative management of monographs in the UK. Desk research and interviews with existing collaborations worldwide showed that there were three potential models in use: distributed storage and shared collection, physical consolidation of print materials into a shared repository and shared or co-operative storage facility. Interviews with key stakeholders in the UK HE sector and an online survey established that there was an appetite for collaborative management. The key issues include funding, sustainability and business models; shared bibliographic data; collection analysis; governance, leadership and administration; duplicate materials policy; and storage and retrieval from storage. IPL recommended that a national membership organization be formed (UKRR-M) which would offer a national solution with physical consolidation of print materials into a shared repository collection with central administration.

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"Defining the Role of Libraries in the Open Science Landscape: A Reflection on Current European Practice"

Paul Ayris and Tiberius Ignat have self-archived "Defining the Role of Libraries in the Open Science Landscape: A Reflection on Current European Practice."

Here's an excerpt:

This collaborative paper looks at how libraries can engage with and offer leadership in the Open Science movement. It is based on case studies and the results of an EU-funded research project on Research Data Management taken from European research-led universities and their libraries. It begins by analysing three recent trends in Science, and then links component parts of the research process to aspects of Open Science. The paper then looks in detail at four areas and identifies roles for libraries: Open Access and Open Access publishing, Research Data Management, E-Infrastructures (especially the European Open Science Cloud), and Citizen Science. The paper ends in suggesting a model for how libraries, by using a 4-step test, can assess their engagement with Open Science. This 4-step test is based on lessons drawn from the case studies.

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"Opening the Heart of Science: A Review of the Changing Roles of Research Libraries"

Jorge Revez has published "Opening the Heart of Science: A Review of the Changing Roles of Research Libraries" in Publications.

Here's an excerpt:

In a world of information overload and data deluge, is opening science a research library’s duty? Or is the openness of science deeply changing libraries, ultimately converting them into something else? The purpose of the review is to highlight the challenging issues stemming from the relationship between research and libraries. A broad literature analysis was performed focused on the intersection of three different perspectives: (1) the future of research libraries, (2) the emerging new roles, and (3) the ongoing openness of science. Libraries are still at the heart of science but challenged by several stakeholders within the complexity of present science production and communication. Research support services, research data management, or research information management are emerging roles, among others, sustaining an open path where libraries thrive to be more collaborative while looking forward to establishing new partnerships.

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"UC San Diego Names Erik T. Mitchell New Audrey Geisel University Librarian"

The University of California San Diego has released "UC San Diego Names Erik T. Mitchell New Audrey Geisel University Librarian."

Here's an excerpt:

Erik T. Mitchell, Ph.D. has been appointed university librarian at the University of California San Diego effective April 16, 2018. Mitchell currently serves as associate university librarian of Digital Initiatives and Collaborative Services and associate chief information officer at UC Berkeley.

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"Effective Practices and Strategies for Open Access Outreach: A Qualitative Study"

Diane (DeDe) Dawson has published "Effective Practices and Strategies for Open Access Outreach: A Qualitative Study" in the Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication.

Here's an excerpt:

INTRODUCTION There are many compelling reasons to make research open access (OA), but raising the awareness of faculty and administrators about OA is a struggle. Now that more and more funders are introducing OA policies, it is increasingly important that researchers understand OA and how to comply with these policies. U.K. researchers and their institutions have operated within a complex OA policy environment for many years, and academic libraries have been at the forefront of providing services and outreach to support them. This article discusses the results of a qualitative study that investigated effective practices and strategies of OA outreach in the United Kingdom. METHODS Semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 individuals at seven universities in the United Kingdom in late 2015. Transcripts of these interviews were analyzed for dominant themes using an inductive method of coding. RESULTS Themes were collected under the major headings of "The Message"; "Key Contacts and Relationships"; "Qualities of the OA Practitioner"; and "Advocacy versus Compliance." DISCUSSION Results indicate that messages about OA need to be clear, concise, and jargon free. They need to be delivered repeatedly and creatively adapted to specific audiences. Identifying and building relationships with influencers and informers is key to the uptake of the message, and OA practitioners must have deep expertise to be credible as the messengers. CONCLUSION This timely research has immediate relevance to North American libraries as they contend with pressures to ramp up their own OA outreach and support services to assist researchers in complying with new federal funding policies.

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"Making the Transition as the New Copyright Librarian"

Emilie Regina Algenio has published "Making the Transition as the New Copyright Librarian" in the Journal of Copyright in Education and Librarianship.

Here's an excerpt:

The corpus of academic librarianship literature notes very little material in relation to the work of new copyright librarians. However, the number of academic libraries hiring librarians to fill these positions is increasing, and the need for such literature is real and pertinent. The purpose of this research is to assist incoming copyright librarians with practical, evidence-based guidance for colleagues just starting out in roles focused on copyright issues. The author drew from professional experience as a first-time copyright librarian at a Carnegie One academic institution in the United States. The author highlights the value of constructing a copyright educational foundation for the university community, cultivating a community of practice, establishing best practices around copyright questions and the utility of effective, vetted copyright resources. Understanding the finer details of a copyright librarian’s job are important, as academic libraries are hiring candidates for other scholarly communication positions, and the applicants are expected to know American copyright law.

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A Platform for Biomedical Discovery and Data-Powered Health: National Library of Medicine Strategic Plan 2017–2027

NLM has released A Platform for Biomedical Discovery and Data-Powered Health: National Library of Medicine Strategic Plan 2017–2027.

Here's an excerpt:

This strategic plan positions NLM to address existing and emerging challenges in biomedical research and public health. We will achieve this by creating a vibrant workforce; building on our core functions of acquiring, collecting, and disseminating the world’s biomedical literature; and extending these skills and developing new ones to make data findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (the FAIR principles). We will continue to lead, conduct, and support research in biomedical information science, informatics, and data science to ensure that robust terminologies provide systematic characterization of complex health phenomena from cells to society and to devise new methodologies that uncover the knowledge held in data. We will expand our training programs to incorporate data science and maintain our commitment to outreach excellence and support of a diverse workforce.

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"Funding Community Controlled Open Infrastructure for Scholarly Communication: The 2.5% Commitment Initiative"

David W. Lewis, Lori Goetsch, Diane Graves, and Mike Roy have published "Funding Community Controlled Open Infrastructure for Scholarly Communication: The 2.5% Commitment Initiative" in College and Research Libraries.

Here's an excerpt:

In August 2017, a short paper, "The 2.5% Commitment," was distributed on several email lists. The paper proposed that every academic library should commit to invest 2.5% of its total budget to support the common infrastructure needed to create the open scholarly commons. Somewhat to our surprise, the paper and the ideas it contained have generated widespread discussions and interest.

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