Category Archives: Research

Academic, Materials, Research

Another group cancels their Elsevier contract

Elsevier

We shared the news that the University of California schools are moving away from Elsevier, and making research available through open source materials, and now another big group is making this transition: the country of Norway!

This is a big deal for academic libraries, and for everyone who is paying a fortune in your library’s money to get access to these databases. This move toward open source materials is really gaining steam. Are people talking about this in your organization? If not – it’s important to bring it up, so people are thinking about their choices. CMLE staff are happy to come to you and chat about this issue with you, your staff, and others in your institution.

We have an excerpt of an article about this below; click on that link to get the whole thing and all their info!

​Norwegian research institutions have decided not to renew their agreement with Elsevier

“The Norwegian government aims at making all publicly funded research articles openly available by 2024 and to move from paying to read articles through subscription agreements, towards paying for publishing articles that are openly available. Unit – The Directorate for ICT and shared services in Higher Education and Research has been in discussions with Elsevier since the introduction of the government’s national guidelines for open access in 2017. Unit negotiates and manages agreements on behalf of Norwegian research institutions. The agreement with Elsevier includes 44 member institutions comprising of universities, university colleges, research institutes and hospitals, and is the largest of the agreements.

To ensure a successful transition to open access, the following guiding principles apply to all negotiations:

* Articles with corresponding authors from Norway shall be openly available at the time of publishing

* Publishing open access shall not increase total costs

* License agreements, costs and business models must be fully transparent

* Perpetual access to content published in subscription journals must be granted

* Agreements should demonstrate a move towards models where costs are related to the volume of Norwegian article output

In July 2018 Universities Norway (UHR) gave their full support to Unit’s negotiation principles and nominated representatives from the rectorates at the universities of Oslo and Bergen to participate in the negotiations with Elsevier.

– For many years we have cooperated closely with library directors during negotiations. The type of agreements we are now negotiating will have a direct impact on the publishing of research, and participation from the top level of the institutions has therefore been important. The active involvement of the rectors has sent an important message to publishers that the negotiation principles have the full support at the top level, says the Director of Research Services Strategy at Unit, Katrine Weisteen Bjerde.

Despite good discussions, the offer from Elsevier is still a long way from meeting the principles and has therefore been rejected. There will therefore be no agreement in 2019, but the discussions continue.

– It is very disappointing that we did not manage to reach an acceptable agreement with Elsevier, a publisher that accounts for a substantial proportion of Norwegian publishing output and is an important stakeholder for us on the road towards open research. We wish to cooperate with all publishers in order to create a good framework for open publishing, but sometimes we simply stand too far apart, states the vice rector for research at the University of Bergen, Margareth Hagen.

Norwegian researchers publish around 2000 articles annually in Elsevier journals. In 2018 participating institutions paid around € 9 million in subscription costs. In addition, an estimated € 1 million was spent paying to make articles in subscription journals openly available.

Children's services, Research

From a Student: Research Survey for School Librarians

Round Landmark Icon School

We are passing on this info on a survey being done by a MLIS student: The School Librarian’s Potential Role in Supporting School Climate Reform Survey, by Brendan Eckert, eckertb2@southernct.edu

Share your information, and help Brendan!

“Hello School Librarians and Library Media Specialists,

If you can, I would greatly appreciate it if you would take this survey for my MLIS capstone project on the role of the school librarian in supporting positive school climate! It is for current school librarians and school library media specialists (not including techs, paras, aides, or retirees) in the U.S. It lists certain practices that a SLMS theoretically could do to impact school climate, and you rate each one 1-5 on how possible it would be to do in your library, based on your schedule, curriculum, resources, collection, and budget. The findings are intended to provide direction for further research into this area of study. Feel free to contact me with any questions. Thank you for your help!

Research, Services

Future of Libraries Fellowship

The American Library Association’s Center for the Future of Libraries provides a fellowship for an individual or group interested in exploring the future of libraries.
The fellowship offers a stipend of $10,000 to advance new ideas and perspectives for the future of libraries through the creation of a public product – report, white paper, video, resource, tool – that will help library professionals envision the future of library collections, services, spaces, technologies, or partnerships.
Selected fellow(s) have access to the Center’s staff and Advisory Group to help advise and respond to their work as requested by the fellow(s).
Projects may build on existing work, research, or initiatives of the Association, its Offices, Divisions, and Round Tables, or explore new directions and interests.

Who Should Apply

The fellowship is available to individuals or groups in the library profession as well as those from other disciplines with a demonstrated interest in libraries and their futures.
This is an intentionally broad call for applicants. Faculty and researchers, practitioners, students, advocates, and allies are encouraged to apply. 
Individuals should be prepared to conduct and complete their project within six months of selection, managing the project with existing employment or any other work responsibilities.
The fellowship does not include a residency requirement. International colleagues are encouraged to apply.
The fellowship will be ideal for individuals with:
  • A passion for and commitment to the value of libraries and library professionals
  • A unique point of view or vision for the future of libraries or desire to provoke thought around the future of libraries
  • The skills and abilities to explore the future of libraries
  • Strong analytical, communication, and writing skills and an ability to independently manage a project and delivery timeline
The fellowship may be used to advance an individual’s existing work or research, but is not intended as support for the completion of a degree, thesis, or dissertation.

How to Apply

Interested individuals are invited to submit an application of no more than three pages outlining their project, making sure to:
  • Describe the proposed project and resulting report, white paper, resource, or other final product
  • Explain how the project would advance and support library professionals’ consideration of the future of libraries
  • Summarize any research, experience, or skills and abilities that qualify the individual for the proposed project
  • Connect the project to existing work, research, or initiatives happening within the American Library Association or the larger library profession
  • Provide a timeline for the project and their plan to complete the project in no more than six months
Additionally, individuals should submit a resume or curriculum vitae (including name and primary contact information) as part of the application.
Materials may be submitted as attachments and emailed to mfigueroa@ala.org.

How will applications be evaluated?

Applications will be evaluated by members of the Center’s Advisory Group.
The advisory group will evaluate applications based on:
  • The effective design of the project, including its uniqueness and the innovation in its approach to the future of libraries
  • The potential value, reach, and usefulness of the final product
  • The demonstrated knowledge, ability, and qualification for the individuals to complete and manage the project
The proposals from 2017 that received the highest scores tended to fall into three categories:
  • Projects that advanced innovation, design, or creativity among library professionals
  • Projects that explored the next stage or application of current library trends (makerspaces, open education resources, collective impact) in new and important directions
  • Projects that surveyed and documented potential library futures and communicated them in interesting ways to the public or new audiences
While this is a broad call for proposals, individuals are encouraged to think in terms of projects that will have an impact beyond a single library or circumstance. Those interested in discussing their proposals may contact Miguel Figueroa at mfigueroa@ala.org.

What is the timeline?

The availability of the next fellowship will be announced by March 2018 with a deadline of May 15, 2018.
Selected individual(s) will be notified and will work with the Center for the Future of Libraries to finalize a schedule of completion, not to extend beyond six months from the date of agreement.
Selected fellow(s) will receive a one-time stipend of $10,000 to support their work. Funds should not be used to provide overhead costs or administrative fees.
Resulting reports, white papers, resources, or other products will be made available through the Center for the Future of Libraries at the conclusion of the fellowship.
Fellow(s) will be invited to present on their project at the American Library Association’s Annual Conference or Midwinter Meeting, with support for their travel and participation provided by the Center for the Future of Libraries.
Research

Carroll Preston Baber Research Grant Accepting Proposals for 2018 Award

CMLE members: if you have an idea for research, talk with me! I can help you put this together and get it submitted! If you are not an ALA member, no worries! I am a member, and I can get it submitted for you. We want you to have resources to solve problems or uncover cool things in your library!!

From American Library Association:

Do you have a project that is just waiting for the right funding?  Are you thinking about ways that libraries can improve services to users?

The American Library Association (ALA) gives an annual grant for those conducting research that will lead to the improvement of services to users.  The Carroll Preston Baber Research Grant is given to one or more librarians or library educators who will conduct innovative research that could lead to an improvement in services to any specified group of people.

The grant, up to $3,000, will be given to a proposed project that aims to answer a question of vital importance to the library community that is national in scope. Among the review panel criteria are:

  • The research problem is clearly defined, with a specific question or questions that can be answered by collecting data. The applicant(s) clearly describe a strategy for data collection whose methods are appropriate to the research question(s). A review of the literature, methodologies, etc. is not considered research (e.g., methodology review rather than application of a methodology) for purposes of the award, except where the literature review is the primary method of collecting data.
  • The research question focuses on benefits to library users and should be applied and have practical value as opposed to theoretical.
  • The applicant(s) demonstrate ability to undertake and successfully complete the project. The application provides evidence that sufficient time and resources have been allocated to the effort. Appropriate institutional commitment to the project has been secured.

Any ALA member may apply, and the Jury would welcome projects that involve both a practicing librarian and a researcher.

Deadline Extended to February 19, 2018.

Procedures and an application form are available at:
http://www.ala.org/offices/ors/orsawards/baberresearchgrant/babercarroll. See the section on How to Apply

Also see related documents linked near the bottom of the page for:

The full press release is available at: http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2017/11/carroll-preston-baber-research-grant-now-accepting-proposals-2018-award.

Questions?   Contact Billie Peterson-Lugo, Baylor University, at billie_peterson@baylor.edu.

Communication, Research

Share your assessment practices!

FAQ icon
Passing along this call for assessment info:

“The Heads of Library and Learning Resources in Ontario Canada are considering existing and developing library assessment options.

We would like to know more about the wonderful things being done in libraries to support assessment including evaluation, improvement, and communicating the value of libraries to stakeholders.

We invite you to participate in this survey and to contribute a story from your library.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. We hope the results of this survey will be valuable to this community.

Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HLLR_ASSESSMENT_RESEARCH ”