Scientific journal publishing: yearly vo…

Scientific journal publishing: yearly volume and open access availability :
Introduction. We estimate the total yearly volume of peer-reviewed scientific journal articles published world-wide as well as the share of these articles available openly on the Web either directly or as copies in e-print repositories.
Method. We rely on data from two commercial databases (ISI and Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory) supplemented by sampling and Google searches.
Analysis. A central issue is the finding that ISI-indexed journals publish far more articles per year (111) than non ISI-indexed journals (26), which means that the total figure we obtain is much lower than many earlier estimates. Our method of analysing the number of repository copies (green open access) differs from several earlier studies which have studied the number of copies in identified repositories, since we start from a random sample of articles and then test if copies can be found by a Web search engine.
Results. We estimate that in 2006 the total number of articles published was approximately 1,350,000. Of this number 4.6% became immediately openly available and an additional 3.5% after an embargo period of, typically, one year. Furthermore, usable copies of 11.3% could be found in subject-specific or institutional repositories or on the home pages of the authors.
Conclusions. We believe our results are the most reliable so far published and, therefore, should be useful in the on-going debate about Open Access among both academics and science policy makers. The method is replicable and also lends itself to longitudinal studies in the future.”
URL : http://informationr.net/ir/14-1/paper391.html

Use and relevance of web 2.0 for researc…

Use and relevance of web 2.0 for researchers :
“The project enquires into the factors that influence researchers to adopt and use Web 2.0 tools, and conversely the factors that prevent, constrain or discourage usage.
The study also explores whether and how web 2.0 tools are changing researchers’ behaviour in significant ways, and what implications this might have for researchers, institutions, librarians, information professionals and funders. We sought evidence on whether web 2.0 tools are:
* making data easier to share, verify and re-use, or otherwise facilitating more open scientific practices
* changing discovery techniques or enhancing the accessibility of research information
* changing researchers publication and dissemination behaviour, (for example, due to the ease of publishing work-in-progress and grey literature), and
* changing practices around communicating research findings (for example through opportunities for iterative processes of feedback, pre-publishing, or post-publication peer review).”
URL : http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/communicating-and-disseminating-research/use-and-relevance-web-20-researchers

A Guide to Web Preservation. Practical advice for web and records managers based on best practices from the JISC-funded PoWR project

The Preservation of Web Resources project (JISC PoWR) was funded by the JISC in order to identify emerging best practices for the preservation of web resources. The project was provided by UKOLN and ULCC and ran from April through to November 2008. A number of workshops were organised to help identify emerging best practices, and a blog was established to raise awareness of this work and to gain feedback on the approaches being taken by the JISC PoWR team.

The project handbook was published in November 2008. Since then we have seen a growing awareness of the importance of digital preservation in general and in the preservation of web resources (including web pages, web-based applications and websites) in particular.

The current economic crisis and the expected cuts across public sector organisations mean that a decade of growth and optimism is now over – instead we can expect to see reduced levels of funding available within the sector which will have an impact on the networked services which are used to support teaching and learning and research activities.

The need to manage the implications of these cutbacks is likely to result in a renewed interest in digital preservation. We are therefore pleased to be able to publish this new guide, based on the original PoWR: The Preservation of Web Resources Handbook, which provides practical advice to practitioners and policy makers responsible for the provision of web services.

URL : http://jiscpowr.jiscinvolve.org/wp/files/2010/06/Guide-2010-final.pdf

How to achieve best services to students, through information literacy for an academic libraries

“This paper presents the role of Information Literacy in the Academic Libraries. The most moportant role of the academic libraries and librarians is to educate the users or students in academic environment for effective use of information either through print texts or electronic text via internet.Librarians are the initiateors,policy makers and decision makers in the development and making effective use by readers or students by introducing information literacy curriculum.The librarian can develop their information literacy programme and prepare .Laboratory Manuals accouring the their needs and nature of the libraries.”
URL : http://eprints.rclis.org/18037/

Internet based information sharing in Hi…

Internet based information sharing in Higher Educational Institutional Libraries in India :
“The paper presents the development of computer neteworking and Internet bases services in higher educational institutional libraries in Indian in 21st century, Development of consortial agencies, like Indest is the dominant one in Engineering, Science and Technology while UGC InfoNet for social Sciences”
URL : http://eprints.rclis.org/18045/

New Gateways to Scholarly Communication …

New Gateways to Scholarly Communication through Open Access :
“The draumatic changes in 21st century has been occurred in the world of publication of scolarly communication.One of the phenomenais of Open Access Publishing Model.The open access movement is increasingly guiding the publishing practices of scholarly research. This paper will look at developments in the open access movement, how open access affects scholarly communication, and what eventual role librarians will play in its progress.”
URL : http://eprints.rclis.org/18044/