Is e-publishing affecting science?

Is e-publishing affecting science?
"As the world of publishing continues its relentless march towards the electronic medium, researchers in various fields are trying to understand what this means for science – specifically, how this is affecting citation patterns and reader behavior......."

From Research Trends (a Scopus publication) January 2009

Research Trends is a bi-monthly newsletter providing objective, up-to-the-minute insights into scientific trends based on bibliometric analysis.

Head of British Library Warns of 'a Black Hole' in the Digital Record

Head of British Library Warns of 'a Black Hole'

in the Digital Record

http://chronicle.com/http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/?id=3583&utm_source=at&utm
_medium=en

Exciting development in physics publishing

PHYSICISTS SET PLAN IN MOTION TO CHANGE PUBLISHING SYSTEM: One signature at a time, national research agencies and university libraries have pledged to support a new system of publishing in high-energy physics that would replace expensive subscriptions to journals with membership in a nonprofit group.

In what some are calling a peaceful revolution, researchers have mounted a takeover of high-energy-physics publishing. One signature at a time, national research agencies and university libraries have pledged to support a radical new system that would replace expensive subscriptions to leading journals with membership in a nonprofit group. The new organization would then dole out money to journal publishers, while pushing them to distribute all articles free online and to keep their prices in check.

read more on the Chronicle of HE webpage:
(user name: rulibrary password: ru2007)
http://chronicle.com/weekly/v55/i21/21a00104.htm?utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

University Presses report fall in sales

BOOK DROP: UNIVERSITY PRESSES REPORT FALL IN SALES: Net
sales
for books published by university presses fell more than 9
percent in the last half of 2008, compared with the same
period in 2007, a survey found.
http://chronicle.com/daily/2009/01/9765n.htm?utm_source=at&utm_medi
um=en

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).