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

E-Resource Librarian at University of Pennsylvania

Part of the Acquisitions, Access and Licensing (AAL) Department at the University of Pennsylvania Libraries, the eResource Librarian contributes to the responsible and efficient expenditure of the Libraries’ budget for collections and directly supports the research, teaching and learning mission of the Libraries by participating in electronic resource lifecycle management and workflows, including acquisition, licensing, discovery, access, maintenance, and evaluation. The incumbent ensures access to and support for robust, distinctive and innovative collecting, efficient and careful acquisition of online resources, and effective engagement with colleagues across the Libraries and externally with consortia and vendors.

https://tinyurl.com/yc49jwj5

"The Collective Use and Evaluation of Generative AI Tools in Digital Humanities Research: Survey-Based Results"

By investigating DH scholars’ use of GenAI tools in their research, this survey study makes several contributions. First, our findings demonstrate GenAI’s important role in enriching DH research, detailing specific, effective instances of its application that may inform DH scholars planning to apply GenAI tools in their future research. Secondly, the incorporation of GenAI in DH research raises important ethical and social concerns. Our study illuminates the potential risks, such as disputes over authorship, the emergence of biases, and the need for greater transparency and accountability in AI-involved DH research.

https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.12458

Systems and Discovery Librarian at University of Georgia Libraries

This role will manage and support the Library Management System (FOLIO), facilitating import, export, and interoperability of metadata in library systems; guiding the creative integration of the library system with the Library’s website and other systems; Collaborating with the Library IT, campus technology departments, staff, librarians, and teaching faculty to design, promote, and improve online access and integration of library resources and collections; Initiating both the implementation and the awareness of new features that enhance user success in finding and using library content; Serving on Library, campus, regional, and national organizations and initiatives.

https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/366675

Research Data Management for Arts and Humanities: Intergrating Voices of the Community

Chapter one gives an overview of the European and national policy environment which has given rise to research data management and sharing mandates, as well as the institutional support structures around them. In chapter two, which is dedicated to implementation and everyday practice, the authors of this publication share how their institutions have developed capacities to accommodate data support professions, and also share their own career paths leading to such roles. After the first two chapters have set the stage and recounted the authors’ reflections on these new roles, the rest of the publication highlights and discusses some of the key domain-specificities of research data management in the Arts and Humanities. Chapter 3.1 reflects on the implications of the lack of consensus around the notion of data within the Arts and Humanities domain through a case study of digital critical editions. Chapter 3.2 addresses the challenges around the, essentially, multilingual character of arts and humanities data, with special focus on multilingual vocabularies and thesauri. Chapter 3.3 provides support for research scenarios where open data sharing is either impossible or is difficult due to legal and ethical limitations, and navigates the complexities of intellectual property and the application of regulatory frameworks, including restrictions on text and data mining, and authentication and authorisation in an open world. Clearly, the discourse on data sharing cannot be complete without discussing the current limitations within research assessment and rewards criteria, nor highlighting initiatives which aim to incentivise and reward data sharing in the working/professional contexts of the Working Group’s members. A discussion on rewards can be found in Chapter 3.4. Chapter 3.5 addresses one of the most widely shared data management challenges within the domain and brings together use cases concerning successful collaborations between cultural heritage institutions and arts and humanities research teams. Finally, Chapter 3.6 showcases good practices in long-term archiving

https://tinyurl.com/ycxbrh33

Library Research Data Manager at University of South Florida

This position has primary responsibility for the USF Libraries Research Data Management program including data curation, consultations regarding data repository use, and deployment of best practices in data management to the USF Libraries and the campus community. The Library RDM supports USF researchers throughout the research data lifecycle to meeting their planning, management, analysis, sharing and archival needs. This may include advising researchers on the use of disciplinary repositories, USF Libraries Digital Commons institutional repository, and other data sharing and preservation platforms to facilitate discovery, reproducibility, and long-term access.

https://tinyurl.com/3h9p2x8z

"Harvard Library is Launching Harvard Open Journals Program"

Harvard Library is launching a new initiative called the Harvard Open Journals Program (HOJP), which will help researchers advance scholarly publishing that is open access, sustainable, and equitable. HOJP will provide publishing services, resources, and seed funding to participating Harvard researchers for new academic journals. All journal articles will be entirely free for authors and readers, with no barriers to publish or to access.. . . Yuan Li, University Scholarly Communication Officer and Director of Open Scholarship and Research Data Services at Harvard Library, pointed out the innovative nature of the program, "It is new for an institution to support faculty in seeking out an academic press to publish a no-fee open access journal and to provide assistance in securing its long-term funding. And offering a repository overlay journal model provides an alternative that appeals to some editorial boards and is gaining traction through initiatives such as Episciences. As we implement and refine this program on our campus, we hope it will inspire other universities to adopt such approaches to supporting barrier-free scholarly publishing."

https://tinyurl.com/ymkhs4db

Digital Scholarship Librarian at University of Oklahoma

This position will support faculty and student digital research projects with guidance from the Director of Digital Scholarship and Data Services, ranging from short and long-term consultations (e.g., helping to identify appropriate methods, tools, and training resources) to more intensive, hands-on assistance with technology solutions for digital scholarship. As a supporting role in the Libraries digital scholarship services, this position delivers library instruction, reference services, instructional guides and research aids within the scope of their domain. This role will participate in research technology assessments, answer patron questions, compile data, and represent the Libraries digital scholarship services to internal and external users.

https://tinyurl.com/3vt6jxxt

Ithaka S+R: "Generative AI and Scholarly Publishing: Announcing a New Research Project"

To help, Ithaka S+R is launching a new study of the strategic implications of generative AI for scholarly publishing, with support from STM Solutions and a group of its members. The following key questions will guide our inquiry:

Will generative AI be integrated into the existing goals, processes, and infrastructures for scholarly publishing? Or, does this represent a transformative technology that will require fundamental restructuring of those goals, processes, and infrastructures?

Could generative AI effectively render our current assumptions about the role and purpose of publishers obsolete? What new roles could publishers play in a radically transformed information environment?

Which potential transformations should publishers encourage, and which risks require immediate coordinated responses while the technology is still taking root in the sector?

What new kinds of shared technical and/or social infrastructure are needed to support the ethical adoption of generative AI in support of the goals of scholarship and scholarly publishing? What systems and structures will be necessary to balance the needs of authors, readers, rights holders, publishers, and aggregators?

https://tinyurl.com/2s432pfh

Copyright and Scholarly Communications Librarian at Imperial College London

You will be responsible for the delivery and advocacy of the Library Services copyright and scholarly licensing service to advise, teach and inform students and research, academic, teaching and administrative staff. You will be a proactive advocate of the service and implement strategies to promote copyright literacy and engage with relevant groups across the university. You will want to actively address inequities in scholarly communications and access to learning and research material.

https://tinyurl.com/mrmks5uy

Paywall: "Rethinking Copyright Exceptions in the Era of Generative AI: Balancing Innovation and Intellectual Property Protection"

In response to these identified [copyright and AI] challenges, this paper proposes a hybrid model for TDM exceptions emerges, along with recommended specific mechanisms. The model divides exceptions into noncommercial and commercial uses, providing a nuanced solution to complex copyright issues in AI training. Recommendations incorporate mandatory exceptions for noncommercial uses, an opt-out clause for commercial uses, enhanced transparency measures, and a searchable portal for copyright owners. In conclusion, striking a delicate equilibrium between technological progress and the incentive for creative expression is of paramount importance. These suggested solutions aim to establish a harmonious foundation that nurtures innovation and creativity while honoring creators’ rights, facilitating AI development, promoting transparency, and ensuring fair compensation for creators.

https://doi.org/10.1111/jwip.12301

Open Science, Research & Engagement Librarian at University of California, Santa Barbara

The Open Science, Research & Engagement Librarian will proactively engage with STEM academic departments (https://www.science.ucsb.edu/programs) assigned based upon expertise as part of the Subject Librarian Program. They will participate in a cross-divisional Library team focused on strategic advances in open science services, instruction, and support. The librarian will be actively involved in service and tool development and promotion of key pieces of open science infrastructure, such as ORCID, DataCite, eScholarship, Research Organization Registry (RoR), and Open Science Framework (OSF). As part of the Research & Engagement team, the librarian will actively identify and assess opportunities on campus. They will be actively involved in shaping the future of the Research & Engagement Department and the Subject Librarian Program, and the innovative transformation of its services to meet the emerging needs of the campus in an ever-evolving research and learning landscape.

https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF02739

"Crossref as a Source of Open Bibliographic Metadata"

Several initiatives have been taken to promote the open availability of bibliographic metadata of scholarly publications in Crossref. We present an up-to-date overview of the availability of six metadata elements in Crossref: reference lists, abstracts, ORCIDs, author affiliations, funding information, and license information. Our analysis shows that the availability of these metadata elements has improved over time, at least for journal articles, the most common publication type in Crossref. However, the analysis also shows that many publishers need to make additional efforts to realize full openness of bibliographic metadata.

https://doi.org/10.31222/osf.io/smxe5

Digital Archivist at North Carolina Dept of Natural and Cultural Resources

Working in collaboration with other sections and units throughout the division to ensure that records/digital assets being produced on behalf of the State Archives are being created using appropriately identified file formats and preserved based on OAIS (ISO 14721) and ISO 16363 Audit and Certification of Trustworthy Records.

Developing workflows, processes, and procedures regarding ingesting of materials into the digital repository, organization of data bags and digital objects within the repository, inventory management and preservation actions, and reference access. Performing regular inventory, virus scans, and preservation actions on files within the digital repository, creating and maintaining metadata and databases about these materials, and answering reference requests for items stored within the digital repository.

https://tinyurl.com/ywzw4nyh

"The Emerging AI Divide in the United States"

In this study, we characterize spatial differences in U.S. residents’ knowledge of a new generative AI tool, ChatGPT, through an analysis of state- and county-level search query data. In the first six months after the tool’s release, we observe the highest rates of users searching for ChatGPT in West Coast states and persistently low rates of search in Appalachian and Gulf states. Counties with the highest rates of search are relatively more urbanized and have proportionally more educated, more economically advantaged, and more Asian residents in comparison with other counties or with the U.S. average. In multilevel models adjusting for socioeconomic and demographic factors as well as industry makeup, education is the strongest positive predictor of rates of search for generative AI tooling. Although generative AI technologies may be novel, early differences in uptake appear to be following familiar paths of digital marginalization.

https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.11988

Digital University Archivist at Des Moines University

Coordinate workflows and digitize physical archives and special collections materials of all types for digital preservation, as well as manage ongoing digitization projects.

Work with the Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences (DMU) campus community in adherence to the records retention policy to identify and transfer both physical and born digital university history items to the archives.

Process and catalog archives and special collections materials, maintaining data and records pertaining to the archives and special collections materials including finding aids, donation records, usage statistics, and holdings within the integrated library system, the archives management system, and the institutional repository.

Responsible for digital archives content in the institutional repository, including developing and maintaining metadata standards and schemas.

https://tinyurl.com/25nhh75f

"State of Open Science in Cancer Research"

This study has been focused on assessing the Open Science scenario of cancer research during the period 2011–2021, in terms of the derived scientific publications and raw data dissemination. . . .

50,822 papers were recovered, 71% of which belong to first and second quartile journals. 59% of the articles were published in Open Access (OA) journals. The Open Access model and international collaboration positively conditioned the number of citations received. Among the most productive journals stood out Plos One, Cancers, and Clinical and Translational Oncology. 2693 genomics, proteomics and metabolomics datasets were retrieved, being Gene Expression Omnibus the favoured repository.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-024-03468-7

Associate College Librarian & Coordinator for Collection Management and Scholarly Communications at Haverford College

The Associate College Librarian & Coordinator for Collection Management and Scholarly Communications (ACL) oversees a division of 6 FTE with responsibility for the acquisition, description, processing, and management of library collections. . . . The ACL manages the collections budget, generates reports and forecasts, and negotiates licenses for e-resources. The ACL provides vision and leadership for the Libraries’ open access strategies and supports open publishing among Haverford scholars. The ACL administers Haverford’s repository of faculty publications and develops best practices for showcasing faculty scholarship.

https://tinyurl.com/ysykpv7r

"Assessing Quality Variations in Early Career Researchers’ Data Management Plans"

This paper aims to better understand early career researchers’ (ECRs’) research data management (RDM) competencies by assessing the contents and quality of data management plans (DMPs) developed during a multi-stakeholder RDM course. We also aim to identify differences between DMPs in relation to several background variables (e.g., discipline, course track). The Basics of Research Data Management (BRDM) course has been held in two multi-faculty, research-intensive universities in Finland since 2020. In this study, 223 ECRs’ DMPs created in the BRDM of 2020 – 2022 were assessed, using the recommendations and criteria of the Finnish DMP Evaluation Guide + General Finnish DMP Guidance (FDEG). The median quality of DMPs appeared to be satisfactory. The differences in rating according to FDEG’s three-point performance criteria were statistically insignificant between DMPs developed in separate years, course tracks or disciplines. However, using content analysis, differences were found between disciplines or course tracks regarding DMP’s key characteristics such as sharing, storing, and preserving data. DMPs that contained a data table (DtDMPs) also differed highly significantly from prose DMPs. DtDMPs better acknowledged the data handling needs of different data types and improved the overall quality of a DMP. The results illustrated that the ECRs had learned the basic RDM competencies and grasped their significance to the integrity, reliability, and reusability of data. However, more focused, further training to reach the advanced competency is needed, especially in areas of handling and sharing personal data, legal issues, long-term preserving, and funders’ data policies. Equally important to the cultural change when RDM is an organic part of the research practices is to merge research support services, processes, and infrastructure into the research projects’ processes. Additionally, incentives are needed for sharing and reusing data.

https://doi.org/10.2218/ijdc.v18i1.873

"More CNI Spring 24′ Meeting Videos Live"

CNI has released eight new videos from its Spring 2024 meeting.

Here are three examples:

"Sorry We’re Open, Come in We’re Closed: Different Profiles in the Perceived Applicability of Open Science Practices to Completed Research Projects"

Open science is an increasingly important topic for research, politics and funding agencies. However, the discourse on open science is heavily influenced by certain research fields and paradigms, leading to the risk of generalizing what counts as openness to other research fields, regardless of its applicability. In our paper, we provide evidence that researchers perceive different profiles in the potential to apply open science practices to their projects, making a one-size-fits-all approach unsuitable. In a pilot study, we first systematized the breadth of open science practices. The subsequent survey study examined the perceived applicability of 13 open science practices across completed research projects in a broad variety of research disciplines. We were able to identify four different profiles in the perceived applicability of open science practices. For researchers conducting qualitative-empirical research projects, comprehensively implementing the breadth of open science practices is tendentially not feasible. Further, research projects from some disciplines tended to fit a profile with little opportunity for public participation. Yet, disciplines and research paradigms appear not to be the key factors in predicting the perceived applicability of open science practices. Our findings underscore the case for considering project-related conditions when implementing open science practices. This has implications for the establishment of policies, guidelines and standards concerning open science.

https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230595

Digital Scholarship Librarian at Utah State University

Working with a team of librarians, the Digital Scholarship Librarian provides essential research support, instruction, and services that bolster robust digital research and learning and engagement with evolving technologies across all disciplines. Collaborating with library colleagues and groups across the university, this position will also help develop strategic initiatives and partnerships to promote and utilize the new Innovation Hub (opening fall 2024) including outreach and instruction with emerging research technologies.

https://tinyurl.com/5n6r6dk8

The Open Access Tracking Project Is Now 15 Years Old

Peter Suber has announced that the Open Access Tracking Project is now 15 years old. This project has made an invaluable contribution to the Open Access and Open Science movements. Readers are encouraged to considering joining it and posting new works of interest to it. Even occasional contributions are meaningful.

Here is a description of the project from its home page:

OATP is a crowd-sourced social-tagging project running on free software to capture news and comment on open access to research.

Its mission is (1) to create real-time alerts for OA-related news and comment, and (2) to organize knowledge of the field, by tag or subtopic, for easy searching and sharing.

OATP publishes a comprehensive primary feed of new OA developments, and hundreds of smaller secondary feeds on subtopics or subsets, for example, one feed for each project tag, one for each search, and one for each user-created boolean combination of its other feeds.

OATP runs on TagTeam, open-source software developed specifically for OATP and now available for open, tag-based research projects on any topic. See the OATP hub within TagTeam. TagTeam stores all OATP tag records for deduping, export, preservation, modification, and search. OATP started on Connotea and moved to TagTeam in September 2012.

Peter Suber launched OATP in April 2009, and wrote a full-length description of it in the SPARC Open Access Newsletter for May 2009. In mid-2011 OATP became part of the Harvard Open Access Project (HOAP).

https://tinyurl.com/m5ku5mxh

Licensing Librarian at University of California, Berkeley

Review and negotiate all UC Berkeley campus ("Tier 3") Library license agreements with publishers / vendors to reach favorable licensing terms, including on key issues like accessibility, fair use, text and data mining, artificial intelligence, privacy, and more.

Review and negotiate select UC multi-campus ("Tier 2") license agreements, and coordinate with other UC campuses as appropriate.

Assist the AUL for Scholarly Resources and the California Digital Library licensing team with UC systemwide ("Tier 1") licenses and licensing strategy.

https://tinyurl.com/ypt53pnk

"Benefits of Open Access to Researchers from Lower-Income Countries: A Global Analysis of Reference Patterns in 1980–2020"

The main objective of the open access (OA) movement is to make scientific literature freely available to everyone. This may be of particular importance to researchers in lower-income countries, who often face barriers due to high subscription costs. In this article, we address this issue by analysing over time the reference lists of scientific publications around the world. Our study focuses on key issues, including whether researchers from lower-income countries reference fewer publications in their research and how this trend evolves over time. We also investigate whether researchers from lower-income countries rely more on the literature that is openly available through different OA routes compared with other researchers. Our study revealed that the proportion of OA references has increased over time for all publications and country groups. However, publications from lower-income countries have seen a higher growth rate of OA-based references, suggesting that the emergence of OA publishing has been particularly advantageous to researchers in these countries.

https://doi.org/10.1177/01655515241245952

Open Publishing Librarian at Indiana University Bloomington

The Open Publishing Librarian is responsible for the IU Libraries’ Open Access (OA) journal publishing program, which publishes over 50 OA journals, including a number of student journals. This position serves as the primary liaison to editorial teams, conducts training and outreach, and supports the creation of new journals. The Open Publishing Librarian supports new journals with the creation of their journal and instructs them on the use of Open Journal System (OJS) and best practices for journal publishing. This position will work collaboratively with colleagues on other open publishing initiatives in the Libraries Scholarly Communication department and will coordinate and collaborate with Indiana University Press colleagues on journal publishing infrastructure and practices as a part of Indiana Publishing.

https://tinyurl.com/p6366u3h