Day 2:
Keynote 3:
Wilma van Wezenbeek : “Open? Make it easy and fair!”
Ms. Van Wezenbeek focused on the how and why of open access
publishing, making the argument that everyone should have easy access to
research, as science grows when you spread and use results. This also prevents
the unnecessary repeating of research. The assertion was made that science is
for all, and that taxpayers should have access to the research that they pay
for. The point was made that open access ties to open science, open education
and open ICT, which requires responsible data management along the way.
The 3TU federation in the Netherlands have been leaders in
the field of data repositories, being founder of the Datacite service in the
3TU Datacentrum. [See https://www.datacite.org/].
Policy in the Netherlands is to work towards 100% open access publishing by
2020. To this end there have been negotiations, including the Chairs of the
Dutch Universities, with Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, Sage, Oxford University
Press, the American Chemical Society, Taylor and Francis, and Kluwer.
The argument was made that substantial open access output is
needed to flip the publishing model in its favour. A call for a FAIR system was
made.
Fair
System
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FLEXIBLE
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ACCESSIBILE
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ASSERTIVE
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INTEROPERABLE
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INNOVATIVE
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RELIABLE
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REALISTIC
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Keynote 4:
Wolf-Tilo Balke: “University libraries – between service providers and research institutions”
Mr. Balke argued that the idea of the library is an old one,
and now libraries have a big data problem, and need to care more about the
semantics in the metadata that they index, as the aim is to provide access to
knowledge. The analogy was used that trying to get information from the web was
like trying to get a drink from a fire hydrant. Consequently semantic indexing
of heterogonous formats is need, such as that used by Google Scholar and
Microsoft Academic Search. Major challenges facing indexing at the moment
include automatic indexing and searching across paths. The culture of search in
the chemistry discipline was used as an example, where researcher search for
the chemical structure, but by 2009 the CAS index (for which a license costs
+$30,000), had +50 million substances. The proposal was made that index retrieval
interfaces are needed for every discipline, type of use and type of person…
which differentiate at the level of detail provided in the result. For example:
the results to match the question ‘What is the Higgs Boson particle?’ need to
be different for users at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of
education.
Many automated data mining approaches now exist, and
libraries as information institutions need to be connected to capture the
semantics of these, as a large corpus of information sources is now held
external to the library itself. In addition libraries should be aware of the
increasing levels of publication withdrawals as issues with quality, data
massaging, and honest mistakes in research are increasingly identified.
Mr. Balke questioned how reliable Science 2.0 is, and
whether it represents collective intelligence or the dictatorship of the few. Hence
his call for more collaborative research, and assertion that to extract the full
potential of a corpus for researchers is important so that they can truly stand
on the shoulders of giants. He stated that collaborative researchers looking to
achieve the full potential for their corpus need to remember that what is good
for one discipline is not necessarily so for another, as personalized knowledge
spaces are still a distant hope at this point in time.
Posters on Stage:
10 posters were presented to the conference, all of which
could have provided enough content for an individual parallel session.
Topics covered included:
- · The united activities of 26 Latvian libraries.
- · An analysis of the social networks of chemistry academics, identifying invisible colleges, who collaborates, and where collaboration is generated by this activity.
- · The TIB AV portal, where descriptive metadata is automatically generated leveraging linked open data.
- · Partnership approaches to strategic planning, illustrating 6 phases, 10 steps and 6 key questions.
- · An approach to the digital long term preservation of human data.
- · The use of social media in Academic Libraries
- · New approaches to Reference Services – bridging the digital divide
- · Open Science – Open Access along the research cycle, and data management tools
- · Publishing in an Open Access Repository and the data management infrastructure required to support this.
- · Providing free access to professional organization members to key peer reviewed resources, and the associated advice services.
Changing Environments for Librarians Session
Sagren Moodley: “repurposing library space: How the teaching and development grant and strategic partnerships made this a reality”
This speaker detailed the challenges faced by this
relatively new TU (merged in 2003), with 26,000 students of whom 97% are
undergraduates. Included in these challenges was the need to change the library
‘as place’, especially as we enter into a period where the size of the physical
collection is no longer relevant, as is evidenced by the increase in e-book
usage and corresponding fall in circulation. The changes which were undertaken
were a strategic response to the introduction in 2010 of a student centred
philosophy, aiming to create an environment conducive to learning. Specific
issues were to be addressed by the project, including space for the physical
collection and reducing noise levels. However, the expected funding did not
materialize leading to the necessity of examining other streams of possible
funding.
The library applied for funding from the teaching and
development grant as the changes would support its role in supporting learning,
e-learning, retention to graduate level [graduate hub], differing learning
styles, and enhance information literacy provision.
2 pilot projects were undertaken and some interesting
observations emerged as a result of these, for example students found the
traditional issue desk, the first thing that greeted them when they came in the
door, a threat. Sustainability was built into the design, with green
technologies applied where practicable.
Hildegard Schaffler: “Value-based pricing, open access, enhanced rights – the impact of current trends on collaborative collection building for digital resources”
Ms. Schaffler outlined her experiences as Head of Serials
for the Bavarian State Library, and trends observed in relation to subscriptions,
renewals, licencing and pricing while in that role. In relation to digital
resources she spoke of twenty year trends, which inform what is happening
today, the work of the ‘International
Coalition of Library Consortia’, [http://icolc.net/] and how ‘Big Deals’
emerged in response to journals crises. Models of publishing and pricing were
discussed. For example ‘Library Journal’s’ Annual survey of periodicals
pricing[ http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/04/publishing/whole-lotta-shakin-goin-on-periodicals-price-survey-2015/]
, issues with double dipping by publishers, charging for access and charging to
publish, issues with the price of Gold Standard Open Access Publishing, Mega
journals which are essentially databases themselves, Hybrid models such as that
used by Springer [where only selected articles are available via the open
access model], PLOS publishing on the basis of scientific soundness rather than
potential impact, ACS’ pricing based on
more non-traditional usage figures, being the introduction of a tiered pricing
structure, and perhaps a next generation publishing model. Further discussion
revolved around the 2012 Finch report in the UK where Gold Standard Open Access
publishing was put forward as the way to go to Academics in the UK [ http://www.researchinfonet.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Finch-Group-report-FINAL-VERSION.pdf ], and the 2014 Report for JISC Collections
on Total Cost of Ownership Project: [ http://www.jisc-collections.ac.uk/Global/News%20files%20and%20docs/IPL-Jisc-Total-Cost-of-Ownership-Data-Capture-Report.pdf ] . It was put to the attendees that in
relation to e-journals, the ‘big deal’ still dominates.
The ‘LIBER Response to STM Statement on Text and Data Mining’ was discussed in relation to copyright and licensing changes proposed at EU level, [http://libereurope.eu/blog/2015/06/09/liber-response-to-stm-statement-on-text-and-data-mining/ ], as well as Library Journals assertion that the financial tipping point for Open Access to become the dominant model still being a while away from fruition. Attendees were reminded that it is in our own interest to standardise pricing models, but be aware that usage statistics are ambivalent and value-based price analytics could be a more useful tool.
The Austrian model, which avoids double dipping, was put forward as an exemplar. The point was made that usage right should be considered in addition to access rights when negotiating licenses, with perpetual access viewed in some quarters as added value. Issues with enforcement arise, especially in relation to hosting of open access articles on local servers, and repositories, as text and data-mining rights may not automatically transfer to the local service. The Green Standard was put forward as that most beneficial to libraries and their home institutions, but the point was made that transition to this may differ across disciplines, or take very different directions, due to the differing nature of the content and subject scope.
It was noted that there are hidden costs to moving to these ‘next generation’ models, as those who use a lot, may also produce a lot, which in turn generates administration costs.
The ‘LIBER Response to STM Statement on Text and Data Mining’ was discussed in relation to copyright and licensing changes proposed at EU level, [http://libereurope.eu/blog/2015/06/09/liber-response-to-stm-statement-on-text-and-data-mining/ ], as well as Library Journals assertion that the financial tipping point for Open Access to become the dominant model still being a while away from fruition. Attendees were reminded that it is in our own interest to standardise pricing models, but be aware that usage statistics are ambivalent and value-based price analytics could be a more useful tool.
The Austrian model, which avoids double dipping, was put forward as an exemplar. The point was made that usage right should be considered in addition to access rights when negotiating licenses, with perpetual access viewed in some quarters as added value. Issues with enforcement arise, especially in relation to hosting of open access articles on local servers, and repositories, as text and data-mining rights may not automatically transfer to the local service. The Green Standard was put forward as that most beneficial to libraries and their home institutions, but the point was made that transition to this may differ across disciplines, or take very different directions, due to the differing nature of the content and subject scope.
It was noted that there are hidden costs to moving to these ‘next generation’ models, as those who use a lot, may also produce a lot, which in turn generates administration costs.
Sharon L. Bostick/Brian Irwin: “Changing spaces: Creating the next generation of work environments for library staff”
This joint presentation by a Librarian and an Architect was
interesting in that it illustrated two differing views of the same project. The
librarian’s point of view was that the Architect comes to the project with a
different eye. Ms. Bostick asserted that space impacts on behaviour, and that
staff spaces were key to the strategic planning of the project. Currently
libraries are going through a time of huge change, from storage and study to
learning spaces, and becoming busier than ever as a result. This change means
that Academic Libraries are now repositioned at the core of Academic
Architecture. This has an impact on the special typographies applied to
projects such as this, as one size no longer fits all, and spaces need to be
designed to be flexible. Contemporary models of study require differing special
layouts, as activities are no longer stratified; making the real issue the
retro fit of one size fits all buildings to facilitate these blended
activities.
Attendees were reminded that the library desk provides the
visitors first impression, and asked to consider what it says about their
institution. It was highlighted that to break down barriers between staff and
patrons it is important not to squirrel staff away in attics, or diffuse them
too far away from their collaborative teams. As libraries shift from
transactions to consultations as the main business at hand, funding sources and
existing building layouts can make it hard to be innovative with the use of
space. It is essential therefore to look at the dynamics of the staff to be
located within the space at hand. Uniform spaces / room can have multiple uses:
offices, project space, group study etc. depending on need / demand. The
University of Helsinki City Campus Library was examined in relation to its
transition to the promotion of self-service activities with library staff moved
to more consultative roles.
The project included the design of library specific
furniture, including the library desk, which can be reconfigured easily. The
Munday Library was discussed in relation to the desire to test out space usage
and not commit to any one solution. Attendees were reminded to design based on
library mission rather than staff personality, and that no one gets it right
the first time.
Notable trends observed by the project team included the
removal of issue desks, and their replacement with information desks, and in
parallel the introduction of academic enrichment services into library spaces,
in addition the introduction of consultation areas gives some flexibility.
(Academic skills, CELT).
The Hunt Library [https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/huntlibrary] was
put forward as an example of a very experimental library space where some
elements of the space are very successful, in non-traditional library ways.
The project being discussed was designed to created flexible
library spaces in response to organisational structure changes and to support
the tasks allocated to the library, tying the project into the strategic plan. Green
approaches were integrated from the beginning. The common problem of a library
having a huge desk with stacks behind it was identified as a key component to
be addressed. Significant effort was put into designing a flexible library
modular library desk, which in the long run ended up with just one module being
utilized by staff to provide services. The rest was repurposed for student use.
Spaces for collaboration were included in the project design, both for staff
and students.
A key lesson learned was not to design the space around
operational needs. In this project it led to:
·
The consolidation of some spaces to create space
for new services
·
The relocation of key services to improve access
[the special collections and archives being the illustrative example here]
·
Staff being moved out of priority spaces, including
the library issue desk, which is now called the information desk
·
Noise management based on the physical hierarchy
of the building; quieter spaces are located higher up
·
Spaces were provided for support partners where
the user would need support, for example it support on the IT floor
Achieving this was only possible via organization wide
support. The Centre for Learning and Technology became an Information Literacy
program partner, the Student Representative Council purchased library use laptops,
an iPad zone was introduced, and faculties gave support for new equipment and
furniture. The key to receiving this support was the Library being seen as a
partner in academic success not just a support.
The project was done within the teaching and learning
framework. It is now at the stage were the spaces need to be evaluated, as
there have been +600,000 more visits.
There was a discussion around the issue of the ‘copyright’
of the design residing with the Architect, and the challenge that provides, as
there is often a clause disallowing change to the design once the building is
complete.
Mr. Irwin asked librarians to protest the lack of
availability of good study furniture, and mentioned a New Zealand source.
Hester Mountifield: “Impact2: Through power of collaboration. How we increased our impact by helping researchers to increase theirs”
Ms. Mountifield spoke of the learning team becoming part of
the library team, and the introduction of a compulsory information literacy
course for all students. The focus of the University of Auckland is to improve
research quality, and to this end the library began exploring the concept and
tools available around research impact. This lead to the idea of creating an
evidence portfolio for each researcher, as there seems to never be enough
information available about researchers, either to the public, or when applying
for funding. This portfolio should also include a description of peer esteem.
The library selected a publication management system provided by Symplectic
[Elements] in the UK. [ http://symplectic.co.uk/products/elements/
]. This research information management system has significant functionality. Parallel
to this discussion the Institutional Repository was relocated to the library,
as the staff had the metadata management and technical skills required for the
service. There are 8 full time staff dedicated to publication management on
campus. Library staff skills have been utilized to leverage the system so that
uploaded portfolios add value to the project. Academic members of staff can
manage their own profiles and upload to the repository from there for example
they can choose ‘favourite’ publications, or have their last eight publications
show in the university directory [i.e. their top output]. This system allows for lots of metrics,
including altmetrics.
In tandem with the introduction of the publication
management service, a flagship Biblioinformatics Services was introduced.
Consultations with Academics and Researchers indicated that they want to be
aware of all the metrics which apply to their publications. To this end the
library uses the SciVal [http://www.scival.com/] and Incites [https://incites.thomsonreuters.com]
citation analytics tools / services. Reports can be generated for Departments /
Disciplines, and can assist in raising the profile of some publications. An ‘Uploadathon’ was held to encourage the
addition of materials to the institutional repository, with the by-line of
‘increase your impact’.
The library is a sought after partner in these projects
where funds from strategic development funds regarding open access publishing
are made available for the delivery of services. However, it remains to be seen
who / which department will pay for gold access publishing in journals by
staff. The library works with the Dean
of Research on this. The Research / Publication management system was relatively
cheap for what it delivers. ORCID will be launched at an institutional level in
the near future.
