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Showing papers in "Serials Librarian in 2014"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The emergence and potentials of Big Data are reviewed, the policies fueling the current data surge are described, and the impact on libraries is discussed.
Abstract: Since 2012, nearly every sector has developed a fascination with the seemingly new discovery of Big Data and its unprecedented capabilities to fuel analytic breakthroughs. It is clear that the use of Big Data as an information resource will continue to become more prevalent as it is employed in academic research and data-driven decision making, and even emerges as a vehicle for government transparency. This article reviews the emergence and potentials of Big Data, describes the policies fueling the current data surge, and discusses the impact on libraries. As libraries evolve to provide more data services, there is an opportunity for librarians to become experts and authorities in the data age.

31 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Recent revelations of massive governmental data collection offer the country and librarians an opportunity to discuss and question the societal implications of “Big Data,” and the policies that govern them.
Abstract: Private companies and government agencies are now creating and tapping into vastly more data than ever before. These data flows include enormous amounts of personal information and raise questions about privacy and intellectual policy that could have profound impacts on our lives. While data collection and creation are nearly ubiquitous, the instruments of collection and analysis are often hidden in order to track more natural behavior. Recent revelations of massive governmental data collection offer the country, and librarians in particular, an opportunity to discuss and question the societal implications of “Big Data,” and the policies that govern them.

23 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the academic library media center will be able to continue to offer a stable inventory of films, given the legal and commercial structures currently in place, and a history of the film industry's interactions with its intermediaries, forecasts some of the obstacles to ongoing feature film affordability and access in libraries, and offers strategies for librarians.
Abstract: In a time of increasing financial pressures on universities, the expense of library resources—and the potential for cost inflation—threaten the academic library collection. This article asks whether the academic library media center will be able to continue to offer a stable inventory of films, given the legal and commercial structures currently in place. It provides a history of the film industry’s interactions with its intermediaries, forecasts some of the obstacles to ongoing feature film affordability and access in libraries, offers strategies for librarians, and suggests some cause for hope.

22 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The peer-review function has the potential to be divorced from the journal system, so that the responsibility to judge the significance of a paper may no longer fall exclusively to formal reviewers, but may be assessed by the whole readership community.
Abstract: New models of scientific publishing and new ways of practicing peer review have injected a recent dynamism into the scholarly communication system. In this article, we delineate the context of the traditional peer-review model, reflect on some of the first experiences with open peer review, and forecast some of the challenges that new models for peer review will have to meet. Our findings suggest that the peer-review function has the potential to be divorced from the journal system, so that the responsibility to judge the significance of a paper may no longer fall exclusively to formal reviewers, but may be assessed by the whole readership community.

20 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A trial of a PDA service for scholarly journal articles is described, to provide instantaneous access to journal content for patrons, while providing the means for just-in-time delivery, at a reduced cost per usage.
Abstract: The combined influence of rapidly changing technology and the economic downturn has forced librarians and publishers to reassess their respective roles in the delivery of information. Many are realizing that the costs of traditional collection management through journal subscriptions and particularly the “Big Deal” are not only burdensome but unsustainable. The result of these forces will likely be continuing diversification in access models, with institutions acquiring content through subscriptions, aggregators, patron-driven acquisition (PDA), document delivery, and repositories. Increased complexity in business models and the high cost of information will bring increasing need for careful evaluation and analysis of financial efficiencies. The obvious place for such analysis to occur is in the library. PDA offers inherent cost savings for libraries, as the library only pays for the content that is read. In this article, we will describe a trial of a PDA service for scholarly journal articles, using Read...

17 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Nathan Hosburgh1
TL;DR: Using the newly created Techniques for Electronic Resource Management, the author details the process by which librarians navigate the e-resources lifecycle.
Abstract: One of the core functions of the electronic resources librarian (ERL) consists of managing various stages of the electronic resource lifecycle. In order to do this effectively, it is extremely helpful to have a detailed guide on hand. An e-resources acquisition checklist can assist the librarian in covering all aspects of evaluation, acquisition, renewal, and cancellation of e-resources such as databases, e-books, e-journals, and more. Such a tool can be indispensable, especially for new ERLs attempting to get a grasp on the logistics of electronic resources management. Using the newly created Techniques for Electronic Resource Management, the author details the process by which librarians navigate the e-resources lifecycle.

16 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored the question: Should libraries reconsider the roles they play in the provision of course materials on campus? This session focused on the issue of affordability in the context of the rapid evolution and increased availability of e-textbooks (electronic versions of textbooks).
Abstract: Try searching the library catalog, as many students do each semester for the latest version of the textbook being used in a class at many universities and you will likely come up empty-handed. Many academic libraries—due to high prices, frequently issued new editions, and a tendency to go missing from the collection—have justifiably chosen to play only a marginal role in the provision of textbooks on campus. However, the dynamics of the textbook market are changing rapidly and this presentation explored the question: Should libraries reconsider the roles they play in the provision of course materials on campus? This session focused on the issue of affordability in the context of the rapid evolution and increased availability of e-textbooks (electronic versions of textbooks). Topics covered included: an overview of the e-textbook market, purchasing options and outlets for e-textbooks, new business models for institutional access to e-textbooks, potential savings from e-textbook adoptions, information on ne...

16 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: By taking description out of the current record constraints, serials librarians will better be able to express the relationships between multiple versions of the same publication, and how a particular journal has changed over time.
Abstract: As resources have become ever more complicated in a digital world, it is evident that cataloging practices and the metadata standards we use to guide these practices are becoming more constraining. Recent developments within the library community can have a significant impact on serials cataloging and may help improve information retrieval for the end user. While the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR) holds some promise for improving the representation of serials, linked data principles may further transform the way in which resources and the relationships between them are captured and presented to our users. By taking description out of the current record constraints, serials librarians will better be able to express the relationships between multiple versions of the same publication, and how a particular journal has changed over time. The linked data model also opens up many opportunities for the provision of value-added content to bibliographic descriptions.

13 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Different viewpoints about linked data and serials are presented, looking at ISSN’s potential in the linked data environment as well as discussing international work modeling serials according to Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (object-oriented) (FRBR-oo).
Abstract: Linked data have the potential to expose descriptive metadata about serials and serials relationships on the open Web and allow creative connections between library information about serials and the seemingly infinite elements of Web data. Linked data may also hold the potential to solve some classic serials dilemmas including latest versus successive entry and single versus multiple records for print and online. How do these possibilities mesh with the evolving current state of linked data projects in the commercial and library sector as well as with the Library of Congress’ Bibliographic Framework Initiative (BIBFRAME)? The three sections of this article will present different viewpoints about linked data and serials. An “early experimenter” and member of the group modeling BIBFRAME serials will discuss her experiences and thoughts on future directions. The head of the United States International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) Center will take an ISSN perspective, looking at ISSN’s potential in the linke...

12 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Michael Gressel1
TL;DR: In their rush to keep up with technology, libraries have not been giving digital privacy issues their due attention and this blessay seeks to provide an overview of digital privacy concerns and ways that libraries can address them.
Abstract: Libraries have long been known as beacons of patron privacy, even going so far as to destroy patron records. Why then do privacy concerns seem to go out the window when it comes to the digital world? In their rush to keep up with technology, libraries have not been giving digital privacy issues their due attention. This blessay seeks to provide an overview of digital privacy concerns and ways that libraries can address them.

12 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In the fall of 2012, the staff at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) Library began to plan for a library-wide reorganization of staff and services.
Abstract: Starting in the fall of 2012, the staff at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) Library began to plan for a library-wide reorganization of staff and services. Every staff member would be affected by the reorganization process, including the library’s serials and e-resources team. In what could be a most chaotic time, the serials and e-resources team chose to use the North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG) draft version of core competencies for electronic resource librarians as a guide to help in selecting members for the e-resources team that would emerge following the reorganization. The presentation on which this article is based reviews the situation at UTA, the core competencies, and how the serials/e-resources team used the core competencies along with a self-assessment tool to help select the most qualified staff for the team.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss formats that will remain accessible through time (PDF/A, txt, xml) so that contents are not locked into proprietary formats and discuss options for backing up items and associated metadata.
Abstract: Between institutional repositories and hosting journals, many libraries are becoming responsible for scholarly content in new ways. While Portable Document Formats (PDFs) are the most common formats today, the unique, local, serial content could be in a variety of formats. These items might be digitized text, born digital text, audio, video, images, or multimedia. This article discusses formats that will remain accessible through time (PDF/A, txt, xml) so that contents are not locked into proprietary formats. It will also discuss options for backing up items and associated metadata, including simple backups, off-site storage of files, Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe (LOCKSS), Private LOCKSS Networks, and Portico. The article offers suggestions for how your library might best preserve local content.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: As nascent librarians, Emma Lawson and Roën Janyk compared the North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG) “Core Competences for Electronic Resources Librarians” with the body of knowledge obtained from their Library and Information Science graduate program.
Abstract: As nascent librarians, Emma Lawson and Roen Janyk compared the North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG) “Core Competences for Electronic Resources Librarians” with the body of knowledge obtained from their Library and Information Science (LIS) graduate program. They noticed the LIS curriculum still focuses on the more traditional public and technical services roles instead of newer areas of librarianship, notably electronic resources management. Prescriptive in nature, the presentation offered concrete solution for LIS programs regarding the preparation of new electronic resource librarians.

Journal ArticleDOI
Meredith Brown1
TL;DR: Altmetrics as mentioned in this paper attempts to take the place of impact factor and citation counting by predicting the outcome of an article based on the previous behavior of statistics and context explains every Altmetric and is more significant than an article's popularity.
Abstract: The research community is continually trying to find the quickest method for evaluating the quality of a scholarly article. Today’s technological advancements and growing communication outlets complicate the meaning of a quality article. Altmetrics attempts to take the place of impact factor and citation counting by predicting the outcome of an article based on the previous behavior of statistics. Perhaps, the best way to evaluate the quality of an article is to look at all of the Altmetrics methods and their relationship to each other. Context explains every Altmetric and is more significant than an article’s popularity. Librarians should guide patrons and researchers alike through these statistics’ advantages and disadvantages.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Evaluating the quality of articles published by Saudi and expatriate authors in foreign Library and Information Science journals using three popular metrics for ranking journals finds that Saudi LIS authors generally lack the level of competency in the English language required to achieve publication in the most prominent LIS journals.
Abstract: This research study evaluates the quality of articles published by Saudi and expatriate authors in foreign Library and Information Science (LIS) journals using three popular metrics for ranking journals—Journal Impact Factor (JIF), SCImago Journal Rank (SJR), and Google Scholar Metrics (GSM). The reason for using multiple metrics is to see how closely or differently journals are ranked by the three different methods of citation analysis. However, the 2012 JIF list of journals is too small, almost half the size of the SJR and GSM lists, which inhibited one-to-one comparison among the impact factors of the thirty-six journals selected by Saudi authors for publishing articles. Only seventeen journals were found common to all the three lists, limiting the usefulness of the data. A basic problem is that Saudi LIS authors generally lack the level of competency in the English language required to achieve publication in the most prominent LIS journals. The study will have implications for authors, directors, and ...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In order to accommodate changes in technical services work, which resulted from collections that are transforming from primarily print-based to increasingly online, both American University libraries—the Bender Library and the Pence Law Library—undertook staff reorganizations.
Abstract: In order to accommodate changes in technical services work, which resulted from collections that are transforming from primarily print-based to increasingly online, both American University libraries—the Bender Library and the Pence Law Library—undertook staff reorganizations. The libraries, however, chose different organizational models. The Bender Library reorganized its electronic resources management around a centralized Electronic Resources Unit. In contrast, the Pence Law Library decided to follow a distributed model and revised existing position descriptions and workflows to accommodate new roles and responsibilities. Both libraries experienced successes and challenges during their reorganizations. But despite these different approaches to tackling electronic resources management and staff changes, both librarians concluded that technical services work continues to evolve and library staff need to be able to learn and grow to meet the ongoing transformation of library collections.

Journal ArticleDOI
Malina Thiede1
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors review common misunderstandings about OA and reflect on different methods academic librarians can use to address researcher doubts and convince faculty to commit themselves to publishing their works in OA venues.
Abstract: As librarians take on the responsibility for promoting Open Access (OA) publishing at their institutions, they face many doubts and misconceptions about OA. This article reviews common misunderstandings about OA and reflects on different methods academic librarians can use to address researcher doubts and convince faculty to commit themselves to publishing their works in OA venues.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A plan at the author's library to identify and fill in workflow documentation gaps is described, and example workflow diagrams are presented to illustrate the potential outcome of the documentation project.
Abstract: Workflows, policies, and procedures are important to the daily work of staff responsible for managing electronic resources. If any piece of the process documentation puzzle is missing, the work can be incomplete or delayed, in turn affecting end user access to electronic resources acquired by the library. Particular attention is paid to the need for more complete workflow documentation to guide the detailed work described in procedures. A plan at the author’s library to identify and fill in workflow documentation gaps is described, and example workflow diagrams are presented to illustrate the potential outcome of the documentation project.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Claire Dygert, Assistant Director for Licensing and E-Resources, Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC), presented key components of a license agreement, including examples and sample clauses, as part of the development of local licensing guidelines.
Abstract: The licensing of electronic resources continues to challenge libraries as they acquire new resources. Claire Dygert, Assistant Director for Licensing and E-Resources, Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC), presented key components of a license agreement, including examples and sample clauses. The development of local licensing guidelines makes licensing work easier by providing more consistency in the approach to license review and by making the practice and policy of the institution the basis of the licensing review.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A half-day preconference that examined how the movement from print to online publication has impacted the roles of libraries and their ability to take on new roles as publishers and discussed Open Access.
Abstract: This article describes a half-day preconference that focused on the library as publisher. It examined how the movement from print to online publication has impacted the roles of libraries and their ability to take on new roles as publishers. The session explored the benefits of libraries becoming publishers, and discussed Open Access, what it is and is not and its importance to libraries and scholarly communication. A detailed case study of the publishing operations of the University Library System at the University of Pittsburgh was presented as an example of a successful library publishing program. The session provided an opportunity for participants to discover ways that libraries can be involved in publishing.

Journal ArticleDOI
Lauren Restivo1
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that the knowledge and skills that they acquire in the classroom are exactly those that startup companies need and want in new hires, and if entrepreneurial library and information science students embrace the learning objectives of their programs, they can become the ideal new hire for any number of emerging innovative startup companies.
Abstract: Academic libraries must play a direct role in supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs to get their start. The primary way to do this is through the development of library space to support innovation. Additionally, entrepreneurial library and information science (LIS) students should look for work beyond the library. The knowledge and skills that they acquire in the classroom are exactly those that startup companies need and want in new hires. If academic libraries embrace the need to break from the old and try something new, they can become hubs of innovation on increasingly entrepreneurial college campuses. And if entrepreneurial LIS students embrace the learning objectives of their programs, they can become the ideal new hire for any number of emerging innovative startup companies.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: N Nate Hosburgh, Electronic Resources Librarian at Montana State University, gave a presentation titled “A User-Centered approach to Addressing Issues of Discoverability and Access” at the Mississippi State University Libraries’ eResource & Emerging Technologies Summit on August 2, 2013.
Abstract: eResource access problems challenge electronic resources librarians and frustrate users. Challenges of using library systems can include information overload, links that do not work properly, incorrect metadata, and questionable relevance to search results. Nate Hosburgh, Electronic Resources Librarian at Montana State University, gave a presentation titled “A User-Centered Approach to Addressing Issues of Discoverability and Access” at the Mississippi State University Libraries’ eResource & Emerging Technologies Summit held in the Mitchell Memorial Library on August 2, 2013. Hosburgh spoke of lessons he and his team learned about troubleshooting eResources and his team’s approach to issues of discoverability and access.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The shift to user-centered services is discussed, the roles of the KAD Librarian and the new DD department, their projects and initiatives, and how they work with the library-wide cross-departmental Virtual User Experience Committee to meet the Internet-fueled do-it-yourself (DIY) mindset of today’s library users are discussed.
Abstract: In 2010, the Technical Services Department at the University of Nevada, Reno Libraries established its top strategic direction to understand users’ workflows and strive to build seamless information access services around their workflows. To advance this strategic direction, an innovative reorganization was implemented within Technical Services by creating a new Knowledge Access and Discovery (KAD) Librarian position and forming a new Design and Discovery (DD) department from existing staff. In this session, the presenters discussed the shift to user-centered services, the roles of the KAD Librarian and the new DD department, their projects and initiatives, and how they work with the library-wide cross-departmental Virtual User Experience Committee to meet the Internet-fueled do-it-yourself (DIY) mindset of today’s library users.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The strongest type of Open Access policy, a mandate for all faculty scholarship to be placed in the college's institutional repository, has been adopted by Allegheny College as mentioned in this paper, with the support of the library, the faculty, and the administration.
Abstract: With the support of the library, the faculty, and the administration, Allegheny College recently adopted the strongest type of Open Access policy, a mandate for all faculty scholarship to be placed in the college’s institutional repository. The library’s Head of Technical Services tells how the policy came to be approved and how it is being implemented by the library.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented a presentation called "How to Market Your Library's Electronic Resources" at the Mississippi State University Libraries' eResource & Emerging Technologies Summit in August 2013, Marie Kennedy provided research, strategies, and applications that answer the question, "How … do librarians best connect their patrons to appropriate electronic resources?"
Abstract: In her presentation titled “How to Market Your Library’s Electronic Resources” at the Mississippi State University Libraries’ eResource & Emerging Technologies Summit in August 2013, Marie Kennedy provided research, strategies, and applications that answer the question, “How … do librarians best connect their patrons to appropriate electronic resources?” While librarians typically may resist the application of marketing strategies and terminology to library operations, we all have in common the challenge to connect patrons to the resources available to them. Kennedy presented her nine components to the marketing cycle and explicated cross-disciplinary techniques, evidence-based approaches, and experiments with crowd sourcing in pursuit of effective marketing.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This literature review contributes up-to-date information related to health literacy barriers, with a specific focus on medical librarianship and enhancing the patient care experience.
Abstract: The purpose of this literature review was exploring how medical librarians are addressing health literacy barriers, with an emphasis on enhancing the patient care experience. This literature review contributes up-to-date information related to health literacy barriers, with a specific focus on medical librarianship and enhancing the patient care experience. Medical librarians can positively impact health literacy barriers. By partnering with other healthcare professionals, medical librarians are in a position to ensure health information can be understood, which will ultimately improve health literacy and enhance the patient care experience. Improving health literacy rates may improve health outcomes and decrease healthcare costs.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Jin this article presented strategies for loading e-book machine-readable cataloging (MARC) records, and shared her experience working with vendors, and provided information on cataloging her library's e-books and adding them to the library's online catalog.
Abstract: E-books are an important part of library collections. Allowing patrons to easily find e-books in a library’s online catalog requires properly cataloging these materials. Miao Jin, Catalog Librarian at Hinds Community College, gave a presentation titled “Cataloging e-Books: Dealing with Vendors and Various Other Problems” at the Mississippi State University Libraries’ eResource & Emerging Technologies Summit held in the Mitchell Memorial Library on August 2, 2013. Jin provided information on cataloging her library’s e-books and adding them to the library’s online catalog. She presented strategies for loading e-book machine-readable cataloging (MARC) records, and shared her experience working with vendors.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Chris Bulock, Electronic Resources Librarian at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, offered strategies on working through problems encountered with tracking and documenting access to electronic resources, with emphasis on the continuing challenge of perpetual access.
Abstract: At the Mississippi State University Libraries’ eResource & Emerging Technologies Summit in August 2013, Chris Bulock, Electronic Resources Librarian at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, offered strategies on working through problems encountered with tracking and documenting access to electronic resources, with emphasis on the continuing challenge of perpetual access. He presented results of a survey he conducted to determine how institutions were doing in regard to access and preservation of electronic content.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe UCL's experience of managing its institutional, RCUK, and Wellcome Trust open access funds, and highlight its success in exceeding the RCUK target in the first year of the policy.
Abstract: The UK Research Councils (RCUK) introduced an open access policy, and accompanying funding for Article Processing Charges (APCs), in April 2013. This article describes University College London (UCL)’s experience of managing its institutional, RCUK, and Wellcome Trust open access funds, and highlights its success in exceeding the RCUK target in the first year of the policy. A large institution, processing around 1,770 APCs in 2013–2014, UCL has established a dedicated Open Access Funding Team. As well as advising authors on funders’ and publishers’ requirements, managing payments, and liaising with publishers, the Team delivers a comprehensive open access advocacy programme throughout the institution. Researchers who have used the Team’s services show astonishing levels of enthusiasm for open access, and for UCL’s approach to supporting them.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This session described the successes and challenges of UConn’s LibX implementation and promotion, as well as an analysis of LibX.
Abstract: LibX is an open-source browser extension that pushes access to a library’s e-resources and services out to users wherever they are on the Internet (e.g., Amazon, Wikipedia). In Fall 2012, University of Connecticut (UConn) Libraries unveiled their instance of LibX along with homegrown user guides and instructional materials, as well as targeted marketing and promotion efforts. In this session, the presenters described the successes and challenges of UConn’s LibX implementation and promotion, as well as an analysis of LibX.