SOCIAL BOOKMARKING' SITE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION DEBUTS

SOCIAL BOOKMARKING' SITE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION DEBUTS: A new
Web site, its founder hopes, will change how students and
professors learn and teach. Skeptics are not so sure.
http://chronicle.com/free/2009/01/10124n.htm?utm_source=at&utm_medi
um=en

Providing Academic Support Services from a Learning Commons

Connecting 24/5 to Millennials: Providing Academic Support Services from a Learning Commons (from The Journal of Academic Librarianship)

Abstract:

This study investigates user preferences for reference and technical support, services, and facilities featured in an academic library and Learning Commons through a 23-item questionnaire distributed to building entrants during one 24-hour period on March 14, 2006. Results revealed a strong preference for face-to-face assistance (including roving), suggested enhancements, and documented user demographics.

At first, funny videos. Now a Reference Tool

Using YouTube as a research resource. New trend and interesting statistics.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/18/business/media/18ping.html?_r=1&_r

Article about Library 2.0 in an African library

Title:
Development of a Library 2.0 Service Model for an African Library
Author(s):
Heila Pienaar, Ina Smith
Journal:
Library Hi Tech News
Year:2008 Volume:25 Issue:5 Page:7 - 10
Abstract:
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a Library 2.0 service model for an African library. Design/methodology/approach – The paper focuses on the academic library at the University of Pretoria (UP), South Africa. Findings – The UP is well on its way to becoming a Library 2/0 library. Originality/value – This case study may pave the way for other academic libraries to integrate Library 2.0 within their service offering to the benefit of all.

Article URL:
www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/07419050810901933

Free Access to 37 LIS journals formerly published by Haworth Press!

All former Haworth Press journals, including 37 Library & Information Science journals, can now be accessed freely until 27 January 2009, via the Informaworld platform. This is because of a recent acquisition of Haworth Press by Taylor & Francis.

To facilitate the sharing of articles of interest, I have created a Shared Folder called "Haworth Press Articles" on RefShare, at the url below:

http://www.refworks.com/refshare?site=037931147244400000/RWWS1A1306351/Haworth_Press_Articles

Please feel free to add articles of interest to this folder.

Anne

Watch the new video about SciFinder Scholar!

View an interactive demo of the web version of SciFinder Scholar (Flash file).

Training

Beginner and intermediate training topics are available in various formats:

• Tutorials (via WebEx)
  Learn about exploring research topics, as well as structure and reaction searching in the web version of SciFinder, via WebEx. Available as short recorded sessions.
  

• How To Guides
  SciFinder How To Guides are quick overviews of SciFinder's basic functionality. These guides are designed for the beginning user and are in PDF format.
  

• Strategies
  Designed for the intermediate user, SciFinder Strategies help illustrate specific search strategies for: (1) Small molecule searching (2) Synthetic chemistry (3) Polymer chemistry

Mass de-acidification system for the National Library of South Africa

New on the Cory Library front page:

Mass de-acidification system for the National Library of South Africa

WebBridge Tutorial

Saint Anselm College's Geisel Library has created a useful WebBridge User Guide, which links to a WebBridge video tutorial showing users how to use WebBridge.

BibNuus

The November 2008 edition of Stellenbosch University Library's newsletter "BibNuus" is now available at the url below:

http://www.lib.sun.ac.za/Library/BIBNUUS/BIBNUUS_2008/BibnuusNov2008.pdf

It contains English as well as Afrikaans articles.

You can also read about the recent Stellenbosch Library Symposium here.

Previous editions of BibNuus can be accessed at:
http://www.lib.sun.ac.za/Library/BIBNUUS/Vorige_uitgawes.htm

RUL Newsletter - Issue 6 now available

The December 2008 RUL Newsletter is now available on the Library webpage - thanks to Irene for formatting and linking it.

Please remember to "refresh" your screen before accessing it at the url below:

http://www.ru.ac.za/library/whatsnew/newsletters

Thank you to everyone who contributed articles, and to Sue van der Riet and Jeanne who assisted with the proof-reading. Thank you, too, to Gareth for taking the photos.

Regards

Anne

A chance for the under 40s! (Scholarship)

http://www.scidev.net/en/announcements/international-training-program-about-information-.html
STIMULATE = Scientific and Technological Information Management in Universities and Libraries: an Active Training Environment.
The program is planned to take place mainly in Brussels, Belgium, for 3 months, May – July 2009: Language used is English.

Is Higher Education Ready to Switch to Digital Course Materials?

The Cost of Textbooks Is Driving Electronic Solutions
By MARK R. NELSON (user name: rulibrary password: ru2007)
"When I was an undergraduate, one of my favorite professors posted a cartoon from The Chronicle on the bulletin board outside his office. It was labeled "Library of the Future" and showed a librarian, near a row of computers, unpacking boxes containing spray cans with fragrances like "Odor of Old Books" and "Scent of Paper." Less than two decades later, I see there is probably room for a product like that. And, more surprising to me, I am part of the move toward digital and away from traditional print.
The latest edition of a semiannual study of students done by my own organization, the National Association of College Stores, finds that roughly 18 percent of them now say they are acquiring or gaining access to digital course materials. More than 90 percent of that content is being accessed or delivered through campus resources, such as the library, learning-management systems, and the college store. Political pressure associated with unhappiness over the rising cost of textbooks is driving a search for lower-cost alternatives, and some digital solutions may provide that option....."

Social media as an academic tool

I was interested to see this article ("2collab study reveals the future of social media will build friendships and support scientific discovery"
in the latest Elsevier "Library Connect" issue.

Abstract:
Scientists and researchers are using social media, but mostly for professional reasons. And according to a recent survey conducted by Elsevier’s A&G Products Group, which manages 2collab, Elsevier’s research collaboration platform, over 50% of scientific, technical and medical information specialists working in academia and government organizations believe social networking will play a key role in shaping the future of research.

WorldCat.org links to Google Book Search content

WorldCat.org users can now view digitised books in the Google Book Search collection, on the WorldCat.org website. This is thanks to the new Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that were released by Google on 22 September.
read more

Elsevier addresses plagiarism

Elsevier to contribute millions of articles to CrossCheck
27 June 2008
Elsevier is implementing CrossCheck to help combat plagiarism. The company has invested in CrossCheck to develop, pilot and implement a single database of published articles enabling publishers to easily verify the originality of submitted and published work.
Elsevier is now integrating CrossCheck into its editorial workflows as part of its efforts to support the peer-review process and assist the scientific community in all aspects of publishing ethics. Elsevier will contribute nearly nine million journal articles to the CrossCheck database, which is launching with a commitment of over 20 million journal articles from publishers.
CrossCheck, developed by iParadigms and CrossRef, was piloted for six months pilot with eight leading publishers. ‘By creating a pooled database of articles from multiple publishers and tested tools, we can provide assistance to the scholarly community on an unprecedented scale,’ commented Martin Tanke, Elsevier’s managing director of S&T Journal Publishing. ‘CrossRef has taken the principles of publisher collaboration far beyond reference linking. CrossCheck, combined with our recently launched Publishing Ethics Resource Kit and full journal membership in COPE (Committee on Publishing Ethics) further reinforce our commitment.’John Barrie president and CEO of iParadigms, LLC added: ‘Our customers, especially academic ones, have been asking for more medical and science content for checking the originality of work destined for publication. Elsevier’s adoption of CrossCheck powered by iThenticate lets us leverage their vast, industry-leading content to significantly enhance the effectiveness of our originality checking services. Likewise, Elsevier will leverage the CrossCheck and iParadigms database which makes for a powerful alliance and one that is extremely beneficial to our network of institutional subscribers.’

Academic Libraries in 21st century

http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/programmes/resourcediscovery/lmsstudy.pdf

Academic libraries shape their future through collaboration
13 July 2008
The report ‘Library Management Systems: Investing wisely in a period of disruptive change’ was used as a starting point by professionals from across the library community at a recent consultation in London.
Looking at how academic libraries can adapt to the 21st century learner, the consultation raised various questions regarding tensions facing the sector and how best to take the challenge forward.Findings from the report including ‘how libraries need to be more agile and responsive to meet a wider online role’ - was a view shared by the attendees at the consultation.Discussions at the consultation were focussed on the users’ experience from personalised delivery to how to overcome the technology challenges of legacy systems and interoperability between other university systems.The report was published by JISC and SCONUL (Society for College, National and University Librarians).

Citations and OA journal articles

Open-access articles don't generate more citations, says study

OUP and PubMed Central

http://www.researchinformation.info/news/news_story.php?news_id=353

Oxford Journals has announced it will deposit articles published in any of its journals, identified by the authors as being funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), into PubMed Central (PMC).
Martin Richardson, managing director of Oxford Journals, commented: ‘Already all of our open-access articles are being deposited into PMC. Now any NIH-funded authors who publish their articles in one of our journals will not need to deposit them into PMC themselves – Oxford Journals will do so for no charge on their behalf.'Any NIH-funded manuscripts submitted to Oxford Journals from 31 July 2008 onwards will be identified and tagged, and the final published version will then be sent to PMC for them to include on their platform. NIH-funded articles which are open access will be available immediately, and those which are not open access will be available after 12 months.

Bloomsbury to publish Open Access academic books

Bloomsbury Publishing is launching into academic publishing with a new imprint: Bloomsbury Academic. The imprint plans initially to publish monographs in the humanities and social sciences. It plans to have approximately 50 new titles online and in print by the end of 2009.
These titles will all be published online under an open-access models. Free downloads, for non-commercial purposes, will be available immediately upon publication, using Creative Commons licences. The works will also be sold as books, using short-run technologies or Print on Demand (POD).
'The new Bloomsbury Academic imprint represents new thinking, new technology and new directions in academic publishing. We're making a major commitment to spreading knowledge more easily throughout the world – with a sustainable business model,' commented the newly-appointed Bloomsbury Academic publisher Frances Pinter.
The platform will also be available to showcase and promote other publishers' titles. The initiative is not exclusively in the English language, says the company. Bloomsbury’s German partner, Berlin Verlag, will be participating actively in the venture.

Information professions could become disconnected from users

http://www.researchinformation.info/news/news_story.php?news_id=379
16 September 2008
Information professions including librarianship, archives, publishing and journalism could become increasingly disconnected from their users. This is one of the conclusions of a new book edited by David Nicholas and Ian Rowlands of the CIBER group at University College London, UK. (978-1-85604-651-0)

Digital Consumers, published by Facet Publishing, is based on intensive research by the CIBER Group. It states that the digital transition has led to disintermediation, easy access and massive information choice. Professional skills are increasingly being performed without the necessary context, rationale and understanding.

The book states there is a need for a new belief system to help information professionals survive and engage in a ubiquitous information environment, where they are no longer the dominant players nor the first-choice suppliers.