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From the University of California: The University of California today (March 16) announced a pioneering open access agreement with the world’s largest scientific publisher, Elsevier, making significantly more of the University’s research available to people worldwide — immediately and at no cost.
A fascinating multidisciplinary essay collection that will appeal to information history junkies as well as history, journalism, and library science students.
This is a solid, browsable reference work that will appeal to the public and law enforcement as well as undergraduates focusing on criminology, sociology, psychology, or law.
It is more important than ever that China’s history be widely known, and this irresistible volume will help readers recognize its many cultural legacies.
Scientists at the Center for Philology and Digitality at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg in Bavaria, Germany, have made a significant contribution to the Optical Character Recognition field with the release of OCR4all, an open source tool that converts digitized historical prints into computer-readable texts with an error rate of less than one percent.
This month's professional media reviews include an excellent tool for training and planning sessions for library staff, boards, and government officials; useful strategies and ideas for library administrators and marketers; and a solid playbook for managers overseeing all types of projects.
On May 3, Library Journal and EBSCO hosted the webinar, “Essential Techniques for Life Science Research.” Nigel Robinson, Director of Content Management at Clarivate Analytics, demonstrates the power of a subject index created by life scientists for thorough life sciences research.
America’s approximately 17,000 public library outlets’ staff are focused on meeting the needs of their communities, providing innovative programs, and connecting community members to resources that make a difference in their lives. But all too often they are reinventing these things from scratch.
Every sector of the higher education industry faces challenges, but the future outlook for small colleges is even direr. Amidst talk of closures, mergers, and other decline, should librarians at these institutions be worried?
ProQuest yesterday announced the launch of ProQuest One Academic, a new resource that utilizes a single user interface to offer access to ProQuest Central, the Academic Complete collection, Alexander Street’s Academic Video Online collection, and the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global database.
In March 2018, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Libraries hosted a working summit on Grand Challenges in Information Science and Scholarly Communication. After an open review period, the results were distilled into a final white paper, A Grand Challenges-Based Research Agenda for Scholarly Communication and Information Science, released December 18.
One school of thought in leadership suggests those who do it well can role play some area of their work for which they are less than authentically passionate. While that may be a useful leadership skill for unique situations, there are some things leaders should never fake.
Learn the math behind determining the number of congressional seats for each state in the United States from the American Mathematical Society, publisher of Mathematical Moments, a program that promotes appreciation and understanding of the role mathematics plays in science, nature, technology, and human culture.
Students of sustainable agriculture learn the concepts and techniques they need to practice and promote farming that is environmentally sound as well as profitable, according to the College Board, an organization that connects students to college success and opportunity
Citing irreconcilable disagreements with publisher Elsevier’s business model, the editorial board of the Journal of Informetrics on January 10 unanimously announced its resignation and subsequently launched a new journal, Quantitative Science Studies.
Whether you’re a librarian, scientist, student or general consumer, when seeking research for your work, relevant information and sources seem plentiful, especially since the internet has made it easier than ever to discover and share content. However, the more there is, the harder it becomes to find what you need.
Voting in the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) election begins March 11, and members in good standing can cast their ballots through April 3. LJ invited this year’s presidential candidates, Anne Marie Casey and Jon E. Cawthorne, to weigh in on some current issues.
Dr. Carlton C. Rochell, who served as Dean of Libraries at New York University (NYU) from 1976–1999, died in Nashville, TN, on Dec. 23 at the age of 85 after a brief illness.
There is little debate in academic librarianship over our role in contributing to student success. The year ahead is likely to see more debate over what it should mean, how we demonstrate that contribution, and to what extent data is used to accomplish it.
Highly recommended for archivists, records managers, and other information professionals; those unfamiliar with voice computing will gain a basic understanding of the technology and its potential uses in library settings; an engaging and intellectually stimulating read highly recommended for all librarians; library managers will find this useful information for designing rewarding short-term work experiences
Cuba watchers should read this informative new work, as should all interested in a country that is geographically closer to the United States than some might realize; if you read only one recent book on Cuba, have it be this delightful popular history
With coverage dating back to the 1920s, the MLA International Bibliography is the go-to resource for research in literature, linguistics, and language, making this database essential for institutions that support academic programs in these areas.
For anyone interested in world history; for those looking for new music recommendations; patrons of all levels could spend hours browsing this superb title; highly recommended for undergraduate and general adult audiences
From Princeton University: On the morning of Sept. 2, 2018, the world community woke to the news that Brazil’s National Museum in Rio de Janeiro had caught fire, destroying one of Latin America’s oldest and most important scientific and cultural institutions.
There are many ways that leaders can improve, from informal learning to leadership programs. While it seems obvious that honest feedback would contribute to the cause, obtaining it—and effectively responding to negative feedback—is not so simple.
Peter Potter, director of publishing strategy for the University Libraries at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, was appointed by the Association of Research Libraries as visiting program officer to advance TOME (Toward an Open Monograph Ecosystem).
If you are after ideas for changing up your library space—whether by reinvention or new construction—you need look no further than LJ’s package of design coverage.
The Academic Libraries Video Trust (ALVT) this week announced that six universities have joined the organization as Founding Benefactors. The project, now live at videotrust.org, will facilitate the preservation of commercial video content available exclusively on VHS or other obsolete, deteriorating formats.
By creating opportunities for students, researchers, and other scholars to share information and interact with each other across disciplines, publishers of academic works will not only engage audiences more deeply; they can foster the kinds of interdisciplinary collaboration that can help tackle society’s biggest challenges.
Administrative bloat is often blamed for the spiraling cost of higher education. Is this a real or imagined problem? In what ways, if any, do academic libraries have an impact?
At the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, a partnership between the Department of French, Hispanic, and Italian Studies and the Library will provide new levels of access to a growing collection of original pamphlets from the French Revolution.
A library leader’s big picture vision is fueled by information from diverse sources. Leaders may find themselves inundated by a steady flow of reports and studies, some of which may be noteworthy while others are of questionable value. Leaders need a clear path of action to make the distinction.
Temple University, Philadelphia, builds a four-story library; NYPL's new Van Cortlandt Library breaks ground; Van Couver Public Library Central Library, BC, opens its rooftop garden; and more new construction and renovation news from the November 1, 2018 issue of Library Journal.
Copyright experts have begun building a framework for Controlled Digital Lending (CDL) with the recent publication of a white paper and an official position statement initially supported by forty individual and 24 institutional signatories, including major academic and public library systems, library consortia such as Califa Group, legal scholars, and organizations such as the Internet Archive.
MIT Press and MIT Media Lab recently launched the Knowledge Futures Group (KFG), a first-of-its-kind collaboration between a major academic publisher and academic lab to create and share research information.
The “Google Generation”, “Digi Natives”, “Generation Z” – the newest generation of today’s college students have arrived in your library bringing with them a paradoxical challenge
College students report high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. And that’s before they even walk into the library to do research. Could what we know about happiness help us make using the academic library an experience that delivers it?
ProQuest today announced the development of Rialto, which will integrate the features and capabilities of Ebook Central, OASIS, and Leganto within the Ex Libris Alma cloud-based Library Services Platform. Named after the Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy, the company describes it as a product that will bridge gaps in current selection and acquisition processes for academic libraries, greatly simplifying workflows for Alma users.
Though print reference works continue to see a decline as many materials move online, there are still many new and noteworthy books that will find homes in general reference, ready reference, and academic collections.
An axiom of the Information Age is that LIS skill sets are versatile and valuable in a wide array of work environments, in addition to libraries of all kinds.
LJ's annual Placements & Salaries survey reveals that salaries are flattening somewhat—but there also are glimmers of improvement in gender pay inequities and interesting shifts across employment sectors.
It’s no secret that scholarly publishing is overwhelmingly white; 83 percent, according to the Workplace Equity Project’s (WEP) recent survey. Nor that there is a dearth of women at the top—and that there is a very real gender pay gap.
What’s old is new again in this year’s job market for newly credentialed librarians. Our snapshot shows placements are resurging in traditional library settings, as well as continuing to gain strength in nontraditional areas that benefit from classic LIS skill sets.
Have you noticed that more conferences are emphasizing interactive sessions and engagement these days? Organizers have recognized that people want to be active, exchange ideas, and be challenged by one another.
Seasoned leaders know the importance of having their 30-second pitch about the library down to perfection. If you’ve somehow overlooked this or are new to leadership, now is the time to craft your pitch.
Adam Matthew Digital, a SAGE company, has launched Quartex, a digital asset management solution designed to help libraries showcase archival collections.
“We’ve won the academic lottery with the Milstein Center,” said Linda Bell, provost and dean of the faculty at Barnard College, at the October 3 grand opening of the 128,000 square foot, $137 million building.
Several librarians share how they approach reference and information literacy instruction across the spectrum of experience and create relationships that will benefit students throughout their postsecondary education.
Point Roberts Library, WA, reopens; Providence Public Library making headway; St. Vincent College Library, Latrobe, PA, embarking on a remodel; and more new construction and renovation news from the October 1, 2018 issue of Library Journal.
Being challenged can keep some librarians from finding their voice and sharing it. A question or a comment could be intended as an attack or it might just be a benign desire to learn more. Knowing how to respond can make a difference.
A new report from Ithaka S+R looks at eight case studies of best practices and methods for addressing institutional challenges around equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). While the cultural institutions profiled are art museums, the authors suggest that these studies hold relevant, and applicable, lessons for libraries.
At the University of North Alabama, we are quite proud of the first-year library instruction sequence that was built through years of hard work, testing various ideas and components, and constant reflection and assessment.
On September 25, the University of Rhode Island opened an Artificial Intelligence (AI) lab on the first floor of the Robert L. Carothers Library and Learning Commons. While many universities have launched AI labs in recent years, URI officials believe this is the first such facility located in a university library.
Hassan Ahmad, a Virginia-based immigration attorney, has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and a lawsuit to view the papers of John Tanton held at the University of Michigan’s Bentley Historical Library. Ahmad has argued that the material should be openly available, as it is relevant to current controversies over immigration policies.
Following two years in development, Gale launched its Digital Scholar Lab (DSL), a cloud-based text mining and natural language processing solution that facilitates analysis of raw text data (optical character recognition/OCR text) from 160 million pages of Gale Primary Sources content.
To offer students the opportunity to explore and create their own AR content, a group of librarians at the North Carolina State University Libraries curated ARt: Augmented Reality in 3D, an interactive exhibit at the James B. Hunt Jr. Library.
The University of California, Berkeley Law Library (BLL) last month implemented the TIND cloud-based Integrated Library System (ILS), becoming the third U.S. academic institution to adopt the new ILS. In collaboration with BLL, TIND completed the development of a new, launch-ready acquisitions and serials module as part of its initial contract.
The University Libraries at Virginia Tech this summer became the first R1 research library to implement the Koha open source integrated library system (ILS), migrating more than 1.5 million holdings from its former ILS.
A team made up of digital humanities librarians and other academic partners has developed an interactive website that visualizes the impact of Trump administration’s family separation policy’s enforcement and the emerging humanitarian crisis it has engendered.
Library core values can align with contemporary social justice issues. Library leaders who find it difficult to grasp the social justice movement need to think about how they should use their leadership to understand, if not embrace, social justice issues and the staff who support them.
Long a mainstay of LIS professors, who advance the field with their examination of learning behaviors and library praxis, increasingly such discoveries are part of the learning experience for students as well.
Social media platforms serve as a virtual complaint window for angry consumers. Higher ed is no different when community members share concerns and voice anger in online public spaces. Academic librarians need to know how to handle these situations.
What type of leader are you? What is your purpose, and who do you serve? Some new research about leaders’ mindsets examines assumptions and beliefs about the nature and purpose of leadership—and how to make the most of it.
During a trip to New Zealand in January 2018, I was invited to visit with several of my counterparts at five different universities there to discuss the changing role of university libraries in the 21st century.
To solve the student debt crisis, higher education will need some serious change. So far there is limited effort in that direction, and those who can least afford high tuition will continue to bear the brunt of student debt, too often with little to show for it.
One of our profession’s most popular pastimes is beating up on the boss. Are library leaders just lousy at leadership and management, or is there something particularly anti-authority about people who work in libraryland? Maybe it’s time to show the boss a little love.
Utter the phrase “student experience” to a higher education audience and the reaction, depending on the crowd, could be visceral—as in, “education, not experience.” Yet academic librarians could benefit from and contribute to the growing interest in student experience.
Jason Kessler, the alt-right activist who was a primary organizer of the August 2017 Unite the Right rally that ignited violence in Charlottesville, VA, has been banned from the University of Virginia (UVA) campus in Charlottesville after visiting the UVA Law Library on April 18 and again on April 25.
Until recently, the widespread reexamination of library design principles largely stopped at the bathroom door. But that’s changing as awareness spreads that many patrons identify as transgender, nonbinary, agender, genderfluid, or otherwise don’t fall within the male/female binary.
Sports and librarianship rarely come up in the same conversation, but when it comes to learning about leadership there may be common ground between the two.
The MIT Media Lab has expanded beyond academic and corporate collaborations to join forces with public libraries for the Public Library Innovation Exchange (PLIX), coordinated by the Media Lab Learning Initiative and MIT Libraries and supported by a grant from the Knight Foundation.
The third Personal Librarian and First Year Experience Library Conference, held at Cleveland’s Case Western Reserve University on March 21 and 22, focuses on all aspects of the first-year student experience and the personalization of outreach and services for incoming students.
Librarians having been talking about design thinking for at least ten years. With growing interest surfacing in higher education and libraries, will we see broader adoption in academic libraries?
After votes for the American Library Association (ALA) election were tallied on April 11, the organization announced that Wanda Kay Brown would be ALA’s 2019–20 president-elect.
During the week of March 19–23 MIT Libraries convened experts from across disciplines and domains to identify and address grand challenges in the scholarly communication and information science landscape.
Learning from leadership stories is one great way to gain inspiration for personal leadership philosophy. But if leaders are overwhelmed with day-to-day details, they never get time to reflect on those stories or think about big picture issues. Getting distracted may help.
Most college students prefer to read print books for pleasure, but when they are conducting research, almost two-thirds now prefer ebooks or express no format preference, according to Library Journal's 2018 Academic Student Ebook Experience Survey, sponsored by EBSCO.
A photo spurred Marian Fragola to create the Making Space series at North Carolina State University (NCSU). As part of a study on the library’s gaming spaces, a student snapped a picture of herself looking into one of the rooms, her body reflected in the glass. “[It] captured her feelings of not being welcomed,” says Fragola, director of program planning and outreach. The photo brought home to Fragola and her colleagues the issue of women’s underrepresentation in the Maker movement and tech.
As director of archives and special collections at Columbia University’s Barnard Library, Shannon O’Neill practices “radical empathy,” both in the materials she selects and in the way she interacts with colleagues. The concept of radical empathy in archival practice comes from Michelle Caswell and Marika Cifor’s “From Human Rights to Feminist Ethics: Radical Empathy in the Archives,” explains O’Neill. In practice, she says, “we allow ourselves to be open to and affected by one another, and we acknowledge and actively confront oppressive structures—ones that are colonial, carceral, and racist—in archives.”
As more academic librarians seek to engage with open education resources (OER) and textbook affordability initiatives, there are naturally concerns about the impact on the campus bookstore. Start by considering how to build a better relationship.
In a 2015 journal article for Weave: Journal of Library User Experience, Reed College Library’s Annie Downey and Joe Márquez defined service design as “a holistic, cocreative, and user-centered approach to understanding customer behavior for the creation or refining of services.” They laid out a flexible, user-centered approach to understanding user and service provider experiences using qualitative tools—and then creating holistic solutions.
Today, access to born-digital federal government information is relatively easy. Most of it is even available for free. But there are few legal guarantees to ensure that the information published today will be available tomorrow. Now, the GPO Reform Act of 2018 about to be introduced in Congress, pitched as a modernization of the Government Publishing Office (GPO) and the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), will actually endanger long-term free public access to government information.
Voting for the American Library Association (ALA) 2019–20 presidential campaign opened on March 12, and ALA members in good standing can cast their ballots through April 4. Results will be announced April 11. LJ invited the candidates to weigh in on some key issues pertaining to ALA and librarianship; more information can be found on ALA’s Election Information page.
