DigitalKoans – Page 4 – What Is the Sound of One E-Print Downloading?

Valuing OER in the Tenure, Promotion, and Reappointment Process

This book of case studies is meant to aid faculty, librarians, administrators, and staff members as they attempt to make their work or others’ work on Open Educational Resources (OER) matter in the tenure, promotion, and reappointment process at their institutions.

Example case study: "Demonstrating the Impact of OER Work for Promotion to Full Librarian"

https://pressbooks.cuny.edu/tenureandpromotioncasestudies/

Postdoctoral Fellow – Machine Learning and Clinical Informatics at National Library of Medicine

The National Library of Medicine has an opening for a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Jeremy Weiss (https://www.nlm.nih.gov/research/researchstaff/WeissJeremy.html) for research in machine learning and clinical informatics. Research directions include: increasing performance and trustworthiness of deep learning in healthcare, improving natural language processing methods for risk forecasting, and developing bridging methods across algorithmic fairness and survival analysis.

https://tinyurl.com/47h5de9m

"Unleashing the Power of AI. A Systematic Review of Cutting-Edge Techniques in AI-Enhanced Scientometrics, Webometrics, and Bibliometrics"

Findings: (i) Regarding scientometrics, the application of AI yields various distinct advantages, such as conducting analyses of publications, citations, research impact prediction, collaboration, research trend analysis, and knowledge mapping, in a more objective and reliable framework. (ii) In terms of webometrics, AI algorithms are able to enhance web crawling and data collection, web link analysis, web content analysis, social media analysis, web impact analysis, and recommender systems. (iii) Moreover, automation of data collection, analysis of citations, disambiguation of authors, analysis of co-authorship networks, assessment of research impact, text mining, and recommender systems are considered as the potential of AI integration in the field of bibliometrics.

https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.18838

Digital Preservation Manager at Tate

Reporting to the Head of Business Solutions you will make certain that Tate’s digital resources are well-managed and accessible. As well as developing action plans, reviewing policies and strategies and creating staff training programmes to ensure Tate systems accommodate all defined digital preservation metadata.

https://tinyurl.com/2s3j4j6v

"Now You Can Use ChatGPT without an Account"

OpenAI will no longer require an account to use ChatGPT, the company’s free AI platform. However, this only applies to ChatGPT, as other OpenAI products, like DALL-E 3, cost money to access and will still require an account for access. . . .

OpenAI said it introduced "additional content safeguards for this experience," including blocking prompts in a wider range of categories, but did not expound more on what these categories are. The option to opt out of model training will still be available, even to those without accounts.

https://tinyurl.com/582ehjhm

Geospatial Data Technician at Harvard University

As a member of the Metadata Management & Project Strategy section of Information & Technical Services (ITS), under the supervision of the Geospatial Metadata Librarian, the Geospatial Data Technician provides timely access to Harvard Library’s collections of Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) datasets and digital geospatial resources by coordinating and performing geospatial data management activities and by contributing to geospatial metadata production workflows. The Geospatial Data Technician tracks the status of datasets within complex production workflows ensuring the efficient and accurate deposit of data and metadata into the Harvard Geospatial Library (HGL) to enable resource discovery and access.

https://tinyurl.com/4hp6t94p

"Common Metadata Framework for Research Data Repository: Necessity to Support Open Science"

The present study describes the features of a select number of RDRs and analyzes their metadata practices: Harvard Dataverse, Dryad, Figshare, Zenodo, and the Open Science Framework (OSF). It further examines the total number of metadata elements, common metadata elements, required metadata elements, and item-level metadata. Results indicate that even though Harvard Dataverse has the most metadata elements, Dryad provides rich metadata concerning item level. This study suggests a common metadata framework, richer metadata elements, and more features to make the research data’s interoperability possible from one RDR to another.

https://doi.org/10.1080/19386389.2024.2329370

Paywall: "Developing a Foundation for the Informational Needs of Generative AI Users through the Means of Established Interdisciplinary Relationships"

University faculty immediately had many questions and concerns in response to the public proliferation of generative artificial intelligence programs leveraging large language models to generate complex text responses to simple prompts. Librarians at the University of South Florida (USF) pooled their skills, existing relationships with faculty and professional staff across campus to provide information that answered common questions raised by those faculty on generative artificial intelligence usage within research related topics. Faculty concern regarding the worry of plagiarism, how to instruct students to use the new tools and how to discern the reliability of information generated by artificial intelligence tools were placed at the forefront.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2024.102876

Digital Content and Experiences Librarian at Cedar Crest College

This pivotal role is designed for an individual who is knowledgeable about electronic resources and committed to leveraging digital technologies to enrich the library experience for our users. The successful candidate will enjoy developing collections and increasing accessibility, integration, and usability across digital interfaces to ensure a seamless digital experience for the end-user.

https://apply.interfolio.com/143774

"Generative AI for Trustworthy, Open, and Equitable Scholarship"

We focus on the potential of GenAI to address known problems for the alignment of science practice and its underlying core values. As institutions culturally charged with the curation and preservation of the world’s knowledge and cultural heritage, libraries are deeply invested in promoting a durable, trustworthy, and sustainable scholarly knowledge commons. With public trust in academia and in research waning [reference] and in the face of recent high-profile instances of research misconduct [reference], the scholarly community must act swiftly to develop policies, frameworks, and tools for leveraging the power of GenAI in ways that enhance, rather than erode, the trustworthiness of scientific communications, the breadth of scientific impact, and the public’s trust in science, academia, and research.

https://doi.org/10.21428/e4baedd9.567bfd15

Digitisation Coordinator at University of London

The successful candidate will take on an exciting role in the fast-developing area of digitisation and preservation. SHL is committed to making more of its collections digitally accessible and is investing in systems for the management and preservation of its digital assets. The Digitisation Coordinator will manage our small Digitisation Suite, where we carry out in-house digitisation work, and will line manage the Digitisation Officer. They will also coordinate work related to our publisher, internal and grant-funded digitisation projects. Additionally, working with the Metadata & Discovery Manager and other SHL colleagues, they will contribute to the implementation of new workflows and procedures which maximise the online visibility of our unique special collections.

https://tinyurl.com/nhddakx3

"Evolving AI Strategies in Libraries: Insights from Two Polls of ARL Member Representatives over Nine Months—Report Published"

To effectively chart this [AI] transition, two quick polls were conducted among members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) to capture changing perspectives on the potential impact of AI, assess the extent of AI exploration and implementation within libraries, and identify AI applications relevant to the current library environment.

Today, ARL has released the results of the two polls—analyzing and juxtaposing the outcomes of these two surveys to better understand how library leaders are managing the complexities of integrating AI into their operations and services. The report also includes recommendations for ARL research libraries.

https://tinyurl.com/2t9nywcv

Report

ARLIS Electronic Resources & Repository Librarian at University of Alaska Anchorage

In this role, you will handle the following on a daily and ongoing basis: manage access to databases subscriptions, EBSCO Discovery Service, EBSCO Publication Finder, EZproxy authentication server, ILLiad document delivery, VuFind library search engine, ARLIS website, domain registration, system administration, content curation, and usage analytics. Managing the digital repository will involve developing and maintaining procedures for organizing and preserving repository content and data that adhere to current best practices.

https://tinyurl.com/3fhr6d55

"Harvard Law School Digitization Project Publishes Nearly 7 Million Court Cases Online"

The Caselaw Access Project, also known as CAP, aimed "to make all published U.S. court decisions freely available to the public online in a consistent format, digitized from the collection of the Harvard Law School Library," according to the project’s website. . . .

CAP launched in 2015 through a partnership with Ravel Law, a legal research and analytics startup company. Per the terms of the partnership, CAP received financial support in exchange for Ravel obtaining eight years of exclusivity with the caselaw documents, according to Harvard Law Today, a school-run publication.

https://tinyurl.com/mrxpy558

Video Archivist and Post Production Specialist at University of Southern California

We are currently seeking a Video Archivist and Post Production Specialist to join the USC Digital Repository within the USC Libraries. The Video Archivist and Post Production Specialist will be responsible for the digitization, preservation, and quality assurance of new and existing collections archived within the Digital Repository. The position would inspect, process, and restore/repair audio visual materials and operate the equipment and software required to handle the materials.

https://tinyurl.com/27a43b2v

"TDM & AI Rights Reserved? Fair Use & Evolving Publisher Copyright Statements"

Earlier this year, we noticed that some academic publishers have revised the copyright notices on their websites to state they reserve rights to text and data mining (TDM) and AI training (for example, see the website footers for Elsevier and Wiley). . . .SPARC asked Kyle K. Courtney, Director of Copyright and Information Policy for Harvard Library, to address key questions regarding these revised copyright statements and the continuing viability of fair use justifications for TDM.

https://tinyurl.com/4prkfbb3

Director of Digitization at Clemson University

Clemson University Libraries invites candidates for a Director of Digitization and Digital Projects to join its Collections & Discovery Division. Clemson University’s Digitization Services department actively collaborates with Clemson’s Special Collections and Archives, colleagues across campus, and external partners, including the South Carolina Digital Library, the National Park Service, and local cultural heritage institutions. This position will provide strategic direction for the work of Clemson University’s Digitization Services department and will develop best practices and provide oversight for the digitization, discovery, and preservation of digitized archival, cultural heritage, and research materials. This individual will directly supervise the Digital Lab Manager, as well as other Digitization Services staff members as needed.

https://apply.interfolio.com/143486

Ithaka S+R Report: Censorship and Academic Freedom in the Public University Library

[W]e spoke to 10 library leaders from five states with restrictive policies, comparing their experiences to five library leaders in five states without such policies.[2] Based on these interviews, conducted in September and October 2023, we find that:

Academic library collections are not being directly censored by policy or subject to large-scale, systematic content challenges.

Decisions around collection building are, however, being influenced by state and university policy and politics.

University academic freedom policies continue to serve as a defense against content challenges.

University and library leadership require an extensive amount of political savvy, balancing commitments to different groups with sometimes differing values or perspectives.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, programs, and units in universities and their libraries are being eliminated, renamed and/or reorganized in a number of states. Even among interviewees who suggest that the underlying services and their impacts will be unhindered, a critical issue is that many of their employees are scared, which is impacting the workplace.

Library directors in certain states feel it has become more difficult to recruit and retain top talent, especially when prospective employees or their family members are LGBTQ+.

Library directors are seeking opportunities to speak to others at peer institutions about these issues without drawing public attention. They do not want organizations to speak for them or advocate on their behalf, out of fear that it will draw negative attention to their libraries.

https://tinyurl.com/9e48w9a7

Electronic and Media Resources Librarian at Northeast College of Health Sciences

Reporting to the Library Director, the Electronic and Media Resources Librarian (EMRL) is responsible for the day-to-day management of the library’s electronic resources: databases, e-books, e-journals, access and discovery tools, LibGuides, and EZproxy configuration. The EMRL takes part in the acquisition, development, and supervision of the media collections in physical and digital formats, to include use of media materials and collections by students, faculty and staff with special emphasis on curricular uses of media; and anticipates technology/ format migrations and upgrades and identifies older materials for conversion and preservation.

https://tinyurl.com/2ruz2umj

"Use ‘Jan’ to Chat with AI without the Privacy Concerns"

Jan is a free an open source application that makes it easy to download multiple large language models and start chatting with them. There are simple installers for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Now, this isn’t perfect. The models aren’t necessarily as good as the latest ones from OpenAI or Google, and depending on how powerful your computer is, the results might take a while to come in.

https://tinyurl.com/4m8p4b82

Licensing and Accessibility Librarian at University of North Texas

This position is responsible for collaboratively negotiating library contracts and ensuring those contracts meet all applicable state laws, adhere to UNT policy, and advance library needs. Alongside another librarian the LAL helps create and maintain documentation and uses the Sierra ILS and ERM to record metadata and contract information. The LAL evaluates the accessibility and online security of library resources and works collaboratively with ITSS and other university departments to ensure materials adhere to required standards.

https://jobs.untsystem.edu/postings/81245

"The Fair for Research Software Principles after Two Years: An Adoption Update"

It should be noted that while the many activities listed here support increasing FAIRness of research software, most of them do not address aspects of all four of the FAIRness of research software foundational principles. . . . This reflects that the FAIR4RS Principles are aspirational and high-level, and do not contain detailed guidance on how to achieve them. This is because specific technologies and tools are always changing, while the principles are intended to be long-lasting. Consequently, additional work is needed to make it simpler for people wanting to follow the FAIR4RS Principles to know how to practically do so. The following initiatives are assisting in achieving this, with some of these initiatives specifically addressing the range of opportunities for future work identified in 2022 by the FAIR4RS Working Group, which developed the FAIR4RS Principles.

https://www.researchsoft.org/blog/2024-03/

Library Publishing Specialist at Purdue University

Supporting the Libraries goal to broaden availability of open scholarship to advance equitable and financially sustainable access to scholarly resources, this position supports Open Access publication of original scholarship at Purdue University. As part of the Libraries Publishing Unit, this position manages and maintains continued publication series, provides guidance and training to editors, and serves as liaison between clients, vendors, and the Libraries Publishing Unit.

https://tinyurl.com/36hxcpbx

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Ends APC Support and Requires Preprints

For over a decade, our foundation has championed transparency, access, and equity in scholarly publishing by working with publishers and journals to develop more open and accessible research publishing practices. But our quest for a truly equitable and inclusive scholarly publishing ecosystem remains incomplete. Today, we’re announcing a refreshed policy for our grantees that we hope will help foundation-supported breakthroughs reach the field in the fastest and fairest way possible.

At its core, the policy will:

End the foundation’s payment of individual article publishing fees such as APCs—paving the way for more equitable publishing models

Require grantees to share preprints of their articles—breaking free from journal constraints while prioritizing access to research and preserving grantee publishing choices

https://tinyurl.com/mtba833c

2024 Fedora Technology Assessment Report

The Fedora Program Team, in collaboration with the Technology Working Group, designed a project to understand the specific Fedora-related priorities of using institutions, along with the capacity and available resources of both individuals and institutions to contribute to the Fedora community between 2024 and 2026. They collaborated with the Research and Innovation Division at Lyrasis to survey Fedora users. Responses were collected between November 2023 and January 31, 2024, and analyzed by Leigh A. Grinstead, Senior Digital Services Consultant from Lyrasis, an independent, nonprofit, research group.

https://tinyurl.com/2s4b4rec