DigitalKoans – Page 16 – What Is the Sound of One E-Print Downloading?

"Guest Post — There is More to Reliable Chatbots than Providing Scientific References: The Case of ScopusAI"

In October, my institution was granted access to the Beta version of ScopusAI. I have tested it using a concept connected to my PhD dissertation in physics, an "electromagnon". In this post, I want to share my experience and use it to illustrate the many dimensions the design and assessment of such tools need to consider. . . .

[The author provides an extensive description and analysis of the performed tests as well as their broader implications.]

And if AI is only as good as its underlying data, let’s not forget who owns the scholarly data and regulates access to it. Big scholarly publishers have long been using content as a resource to capitalize on. AI tools amplify existing imbalances in access to scholarly text: if a publisher owns the exclusive right to a text, they can train their own AI on it and make this content unavailable to competing AI projects, profiting from the copyright yet again. Currently, most AI research assistants are grounded with abstracts, but the real value is contained in the full text of articles, and accessing them remains very difficult.

Digital Initiatives Librarian at Butler University

The Digital Initiatives Librarian will provide expertise to the Libraries on evolving digital asset management and digital preservation best practices and will work collaboratively with library colleagues and others to help create and sustain digital collections, policies, and workflows. . . . The person in this position will oversee the digitization of materials in a variety of formats; the planning and execution of new digital collections and exhibits; and the maintenance and growth of existing digital projects.

http://tinyurl.com/3nmt2p2d

"Citation Amnesia: NLP and Other Academic Fields Are in a Citation Age Recession"

This study examines the tendency to cite older work across 20 fields of study over 43 years (1980–2023). . . . Our analysis, based on a dataset of approximately 240 million papers, reveals a broader scientific trend: many fields have markedly declined in citing older works (e.g., psychology, computer science). . . . Our results suggest that citing more recent works is not directly driven by the growth in publication rates. . . even when controlling for an increase in the volume of papers. Our findings raise questions about the scientific community’s engagement with past literature, particularly for NLP, and the potential consequences of neglecting older but relevant research.

https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.12046

Digital Archivist at Alfred University

The Digital Archivist will be responsible for implementing a robust and sustainable digital preservation and digital archiving program that covers born-digital and digitized holdings; will facilitate appraisal, acquisition, and transfer of born-digital materials to the Archives; will work closely with the University Archivist and relevant librarians to develop and implement university-wide policies, procedures, and workflows for processing and preserving digital collections; and will be responsible for the management and creation of born-digital and hybrid collections.

http://tinyurl.com/43v2w69h

"Thinking Outside the Black Box: Insights from a Digital Exhibition in the Humanities"

One of the main goals of Open Science is to make research more reproducible. There is no consensus, however, on what exactly "reproducibility" is, as opposed for example to "replicability", and how it applies to different research fields. After a short review of the literature on reproducibility/replicability with a focus on the humanities, we describe how the creation of the digital twin of the temporary exhibition "The Other Renaissance" has been documented throughout, with different methods, but with constant attention to research transparency, openness and accountability. A careful documentation of the study design, data collection and analysis techniques helps reflect and make all possible influencing factors explicit, and is a fundamental tool for reliability and rigour and for opening the "black box" of research.

https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.12000

Web Designer and Producer at Brown University

The Web Designer and Producer works to solve complex communications, user experience and technology challenges across the Brown University Library’s web presence. The Web Designer and Producer partners with colleagues across the library to assess goals and devise strategies designed to achieve the Library’s web communication objectives. The Web Designer and Producer serve as the primary front end web developer for a variety of web work.

http://tinyurl.com/ypde3nww

"Establishing a Library as an Open Science Partner for Economic Research through Impact-Oriented Public Relations Work"

The article describes how ZBW — Leibniz Information Centre for Economics is working to strengthen its perception as a competent partner and promoter of Open Science for its target group of economic researchers. This article describes the challenges, goals and opportunities of impact-oriented communication for libraries using the example of the ZBW. The article describes the path from the challenges and goals of the concrete communication activities and the evaluation of the impact-oriented communication work.

https://doi.org/10.53377/lq.15060

Librarian (Systems) at Department of the Navy (in Annapolis)

You will lead programming for all aspects of the Library’s web/CMS environment by planning and leading the execution of design initiatives

You will provide system support for all Library-specific systems and software products; assist with the life cycle management of Library-use hardware and software

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/771222500

"Will Traffic from Search Engines Fall 25% by 2026?"

Will traffic from search engines to your website drop 25% by 2026 as a result of the rise of generative AI answer engines? That’s what Gartner, a technological research and consulting firm, is predicting. . . . Gartner previously predicted that "organic search traffic will decrease by 50% or more [by 2028] as consumers embrace generative AI-powered search."

http://tinyurl.com/mtxvt8kj

Library User Experience Web Developer at Western Carolina University (3 Year Term)

We are seeking a collaborative, passionate, and innovative candidate to provide leadership in advancing digital user experience projects and web services administration that will enhance and improve the library’s digital presence. This person provides cross-functional, collaborative leadership for the design, development, implementation, documentation, establishment of policies, assessment, and maintenance of user interfaces in support of all departments of the library. T

https://jobs.wcu.edu/postings/26309

"Can ChatGPT Be Used to Predict Citation Counts, Readership, and Social Media Interaction? An Exploration among 2222 Scientific Abstracts"

This study explores the potential of ChatGPT, a large language model, in scientometrics by assessing its ability to predict citation counts, Mendeley readers, and social media engagement. In this study, 2222 abstracts from PLOS ONE articles published during the initial months of 2022 were analyzed using ChatGPT-4, which used a set of 60 criteria to assess each abstract. Using a principal component analysis, three components were identified: Quality and Reliability, Accessibility and Understandability, and Novelty and Engagement. The Accessibility and Understandability of the abstracts correlated with higher Mendeley readership, while Novelty and Engagement and Accessibility and Understandability were linked to citation counts (Dimensions, Scopus, Google Scholar) and social media attention. Quality and Reliability showed minimal correlation with citation and altmetrics outcomes. Finally, it was found that the predictive correlations of ChatGPT-based assessments surpassed traditional readability metrics. The findings highlight the potential of large language models in scientometrics and possibly pave the way for AI-assisted peer review.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-024-04939-y

Copyright Specialist at Penn State

Working within the University Libraries’ Office of Scholarly Communications and Copyright, the Copyright Specialist assists Libraries patrons, including faculty, staff, and students, with copyright and scholarly communications matters and serves as a resource on these topics for Libraries departments and projects. This includes providing copyright and scholarly communications reference services through email and Zoom consultations; teaching workshops on these topics; and creating and maintaining FAQs and other relevant informational materials.

http://tinyurl.com/2s46pe84

"Platformisation of Science: Conceptual Foundations"

The digital platforms we are dealing with in this article are auxiliary tools that do not produce anything themselves but provide an infrastructure for service providers and users to meet. They have potentially unlimited scaling potential and have become the central places of exchange. In academia, we can also observe that research and its communication become more digital and that digital services are aiming to become platforms. In this article we explore the concept of digital platforms and their potential impact on academic research, firstly addressing the question: To what extent can digital platforms be understood as a specific type of research infrastructure? We draw from recent literature on platforms and platformisation from different streams of scholarship and relate them to the science studies concept of research infrastructures, to eventually arrive at a framework for science platforms. Secondly, we aim to assess how science platforms may affect scholarly practice. Thirdly, we aim to assess to what extent science is platformised and how this interferes with scientific understandings of quality and autonomy. At the end of this article, we argue that the potential benefits of platform infrastructure for academic pursuits cannot be ignored, but the commercialization of the infrastructure for scholarly communication is a cause for concern. Ultimately, a nuanced and well-informed perspective on the impact of platformisation on academia is necessary to ensure that the academic community can maximize the benefits of digital infrastructures while mitigating negative consequences.

http://dx.doi.org/10.53377/lq.16693

Data Technologist at Montana State University

The Montana State University Library’s Data Technologist works as an active member of a service-oriented team that advances researcher visibility, integrates artificial intelligence in teaching and research, and leads data science initiatives. This 12-month faculty position works to integrate MSU Library’s research software applications and services into the classroom to foster new forms of scholarship, create new insights through data analysis, and provide users with enhanced access to information.

http://tinyurl.com/v8v8dcep

"Christina H. Gola Named Interim Dean of University of Houston Libraries"

University of Houston (UH) has appointed Christina H. Gola interim dean of UH Libraries. . . . Prior to this appointment, Gola served as the associate dean for Organizational Development, Learning, and Talent (ODLT). She has worked with UH Libraries for 15 years and was promoted to full librarian in 2021. Gola is leading the “Reimagined Libraries” endeavor, which focuses on enhancing spaces and leveraging campus partnerships for the benefit of students and scholars.

http://tinyurl.com/m33w5x6v

Research and Scholarly Communication Librarian at Algoma University

The Research and Scholarly Communication Librarian supports faculty and students to aid them at all stages of the research process. The Research Services Librarian provides education to all campus members on open access, research impact, and other scholarly communications initiatives. They also provide specialized research consultations and instruction services in these areas as well as information literacy. This role requires a thorough understanding of The Copyright Act of Canada and Fair use guidelines. This position plays a key role in the support and collaboration with all areas of graduate student research in our new and growing graduate Studies programs while also providing support and education for undergraduate research.

http://tinyurl.com/yeyurdx3

"A Guide for Social Science Journal Editors on Easing Into Open Science"

Journal editors have a large amount of power to advance open science in their respective fields by incentivising and mandating open policies and practices at their journals. The Data PASS Journal Editors Discussion Interface (JEDI, an online community for social science journal editors: www.dpjedi.org) has collated several resources on embedding open science in journal editing (www.dpjedi.org/resources). However, it can be overwhelming as an editor new to open science practices to know where to start. For this reason, we created a guide for journal editors on how to get started with open science. The guide outlines steps that editors can take to implement open policies and practices within their journal, and goes through the what, why, how, and worries of each policy and practice. This manuscript introduces and summarizes the guide (full guide: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/hstcx).

https://doi.org/10.1186/s41073-023-00141-5

Vice Provost for Libraries & University Librarian at University of Missouri

The next Vice Provost will be joining the institution during a period of incredible growth and opportunities. During the past three years, the University of Missouri has achieved historic highs in student success (retention, graduation, and placement rates), research expenditures, state appropriations and alumni support. The next Vice Provost will have the opportunity to support these areas of excellence by enhancing the opportunities, activities, and initiatives of MU Libraries and acting as an advocate and catalyst for an integrated libraries vision for one of the most comprehensive universities in the United States.

http://tinyurl.com/5abcfef6

"On the Challenges of Open Access Monitoring"

Monitoring systems are essential for tracking the progress in open access (OA) and particularly the goal of transitioning from paywalled to OA publications in many European countries. In this work, we express our opinion about the challenges faced by monitoring dashboards in providing a complete view of the OA status, ensuring accuracy in measuring OA production and achieving efficiency in the entire process. We analyze the characteristics of various monitoring systems from European countries, including the sources of data, formats, visualization methods, update frequencies, granularity and types of access recorded. We conclude by underlining the importance of monitoring systems in showcasing policy implementation, aiding decision-making, ensuring compliance and measuring impact in the pursuit of a more open scholarly landscape.

https://doi.org/10.1629/uksg.641

Research Data Librarian at The London School of Economics and Political Science

The Research Data Librarian sits within the Research Support team and is jointly responsible for planning, developing, and delivering research data management services for researchers, staff and students across LSE. This includes data management planning, support for secure data, support for open data, and the curation, sharing and preservation of research data.

http://tinyurl.com/bdh4cn88

"OpenAI Introduces Sora, Its Text-to-Video AI Model"

The AI company says Sora "can create realistic and imaginative scenes from text instructions." The text-to-video model allows users to create photorealistic videos up to a minute long — all based on prompts they’ve written. . . . The model can also generate a video based on a still image, as well as fill in missing frames on an existing video or extend it.

http://tinyurl.com/y6jfbyd6

Systems Librarian at Old Dominion University

The Systems Librarian will administer, configure, troubleshoot, and coordinate the integrated library system (Alma), discovery interface (Primo), and related applications, and they will ensure reliable and efficient access to the Libraries’ collections and resources.

https://jobs.odu.edu/postings/20322

"Identifying the Most Important Facilitators of Open Research Data Sharing and Reuse in Epidemiology: A Mixed-Methods Study"

To understand how open research data sharing and reuse can be further improved in the field of Epidemiology, this study explores the facilitating role that infrastructural and institutional arrangements play in this research discipline. It addresses two research questions: 1) What influence do infrastructural and institutional arrangements have on open research data sharing and reuse practices in the field of Epidemiology? And 2) how could infrastructural and institutional instruments used in Epidemiology potentially be useful to other research disciplines? First, based on a systematic literature review, a conceptual framework of infrastructural and institutional instruments for open research data facilitation is developed. Second, the conceptual framework is applied in interviews with Epidemiology researchers. The interviews show that two infrastructural and institutional instruments have a very high influence on open research data sharing and reuse practices in the field of Epidemiology, namely (a) access to a powerful search engine that meets open data search needs and (b) support by data stewards and data managers. Third, infrastructural and institutional instruments with a medium, high, or very high influence were discussed in a research workshop involving data stewards and research data officers from different research fields. This workshop suggests that none of the influential instruments identified in the interviews are specific to Epidemiology. Some of our findings thus seem to apply to multiple other disciplines. This study contributes to Science by identifying field-specific facilitators and challenges for open research data in Epidemiology, while at the same time revealing that none of the identified influential infrastructural and institutional instruments were specific to this field. Practically, this implies that open data infrastructure developers, policymakers, and research funding organizations may apply certain infrastructural and institutional arrangements to multiple research disciplines to facilitate and enhance open research data sharing and reuse.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297969

Software Development Librarian at North Carolina State University

The Software Development Librarian works as an active participant in a team that advances library services through applied research and application development and manages the entire life cycle of projects, from requirements gathering to deployment. They provide technical leadership and hands-on programming expertise for a portfolio of library projects, based on their skills and interests and on current opportunities. In close collaboration with a variety of partners across the Libraries, they identify emerging technologies that have potential for new and improved library services. Working both independently and in team settings, the incumbent develops new digital library services through an iterative, data-informed, and test-driven process that emphasizes creativity, usability, sustainability, and performance.

https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/jobs/ehra/sdl2024

"OpenAI Wants to Eat Google Search’s Lunch"

OpenAI is reportedly developing a search app that would directly compete with Google Search . . . Microsoft Bing would allegedly power the service from Sam Altman, which could be the most serious threat Google Search has ever faced. Current AI-enabled search engines from Google and Perplexity answer your questions with a clear AI-generated answer, usually in one to two sentences. Then, the engine provides links to its sources below, like a hybrid between an AI chatbot and a search engine. The report says this new search product could be faster than ChatGPT, without sacrificing its powerful summarizing abilities.

http://tinyurl.com/yc65hb5p