Home Blog Page 30

Aries Systems and Clear Skies Partner to Enable Paper Mill Detection in Editorial Workflows

Aries Systems Corporation, a leading provider of workflow management technologies for the scholarly publishing community, and Clear Skies, the industry-leader in paper mill detection, announce their partnership to offer publishers an advanced research fraud detection solution directly within in the editorial workflow.

Paper mills, the business of manufacturing and profiting off research fraud, is a growing ethical challenge in the scholarly publishing community. As paper mill articles are increasingly harder to detect, publishers’ reliance on peer review and manual screening processes can fail to prevent deceitful content from reaching publication. In addition to wasting publisher resources, harm may come to journal reputations and the communities in which the research is intended to serve. To mitigate these risks, Aries Systems and Clear Skies have collaborated to integrate Papermill Alarm, a paper mill detection service, with Editorial Manager® (EM), the leading submission and peer review tracking system.

Leveraging advanced data analysis, network analysis, and the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Papermill Alarm accurately and efficiently identifies manuscripts with features and patterns consistent with organized fraud. Upon submission in EM, articles are automatically analyzed by Papermill Alarm’s algorithms without the need for a manual trigger. Three classes of alerts are raised to journal Editors in EM, which include convenient color-coded indicators that signify the levels of similarity to known paper mill products. Editors can view additional context provided with the alerts from the Papermill Alarm system, which can help inform how they manage or investigate articles. As the Papermill Alarm adapts to emerging fraud techniques, scholarly journals can harness powerful technical checks early in the manuscript lifecycle to avoid expensive retractions and uphold trust in global research.

“With fraudulent research and bad actors on the rise, Aries remains committed to supporting integrity in scholarly publishing,” said Pierre Montagano, Aries’ Director of Sales and Business Development. “Our collaboration with Clear Skies allows publishers using EM to expose potential suspicious activity in real-time. As the latest addition to our ecosystem of connected solutions, the Papermill Alarm integration will save Editors valuable time screening manuscripts, target which require further investigation, and offer a higher level of confidence in their publications.”

Adam Day, Founder of Clear Skies, stated “We’re thrilled to join forces with Aries Systems to combat research fraud. By leveraging the Papermill Alarm, our industry-leading papermill detection service, publishers not only benefit from convenient alerts within their Editorial Manager workflow, but also from continuous improvement and updates.”

The Editorial Manager/Papermill Alarm integration is now available. For more information, contact the Clear Skies team at info@clear-skies.co.uk to get started.

Clarivate Report Unveils the Transformative Role of Artificial Intelligence on Shaping the Future of the Library

Clarivate Plc, a leading global provider of transformative intelligence, today launched its first Pulse of the LibraryTM report. The report reveals that libraries are in the early days of Artificial Intelligence (AI) implementation. Librarians are considering applications of AI that support the library mission, particularly in enhancing content discovery and increasing efficiency for their teams. However, there are notable concerns, including a lack of AI expertise and tight budgets.

The report combines feedback from a survey of more than 1,500 librarians from across the world with qualitative interviews, covering academic, national and public libraries. In addition to the downloadable report, the accompanying microsite’s dynamic and interactive data visualizations enable rapid comparative analyses according to regions and library types. The data is available for free here.

Oren Beit-Arie, Senior Vice President Strategy & Innovation at Clarivate said: “Clarivate has long partnered with libraries as they have adapted to technology advancements, fluctuating economies and evolving needs of their communities. Generative AI is now reshaping the landscape for all, including the library community, in a profound way. We will continue to partner and help libraries think forward by sharing our data and insights so they can continue to make critical decisions, navigate roadblocks and champion their role in advancing research, education and community engagement.”

Key findings of the report include:

  • Most libraries have an AI plan in place, or one in progress: Over 60% of respondents are evaluating or planning for AI integration.
  • AI adoption is the top tech priority: AI-powered tools for library users and patrons top the list of technology priorities for the next 12 months, according to 43% of respondents.
  • AI is advancing library missions: Key goals for those evaluating or implementing AI include supporting student learning (52%), research excellence (47%) and content discoverability (45%), aligning closely with the mission of libraries.
  • Librarians see promise and pitfalls in AI adoption: 42% believe AI can automate routine tasks, freeing librarians for strategic and creative activities. Levels of optimism vary regionally.
  • AI skills gaps and shrinking budgets are top concerns. Lack of expertise and budget constraints are seen as greater challenges than privacy and security issues:
  • Shrinking budgets: Almost half (47%) cite shrinking budgets as their greatest challenge.
  • Skills gap: 52% of respondents see upskilling as AI’s biggest impact on employment, yet nearly a third (32%) state that no training is available.
  • AI advancement will be led by IT: By combining the expertise of heads of IT with strategic investment and direction from senior leadership, libraries can move from consideration to implementation of AI in the coming years.
  • Regional priorities differ: Librarians’ views on other key topics such as sustainability, diversity, open access and open science show notable regional diversity.

Derek Brown, Director of IT, Rochester Hills Public Library said: “The future role of the librarian will be characterized by a blend of traditional responsibilities and new, technology-driven tasks. Even with AI, librarians will continue to be indispensable guides in the information age, fostering a community-centered approach while embracing innovative technologies to enhance library services.”

Beit-Arie concluded: “This global survey is a milestone in our continuing conversation and partnership with the library community. Through ongoing engagement and avenues beyond the Pulse of the Library report such as our Academia AI Advisory Council, we continue to listen to concerns, gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and strategic priorities and work in partnership to navigate a world of increasing complexity.”

In early 2024, Clarivate launched the Academia AI Advisory Council which features library and faculty leaders from institutions across the globe. Their collective insights help guide the responsible and innovative use of AI in academia, across Clarivate AI solutions.
Explore the Pulse of the Library report here.

Cactus Communications appoints Akhilesh Ayer as new CEO

Abhishek Goel, founder & CEO to assume new role as Chief Mentor

Cactus Communications (CACTUS), a leading science communication and technology company, has announced the appointment of Akhilesh Ayer as its new Chief Executive Officer. Abhishek Goel, founder and outgoing CEO will continue to serve as a board member and transition into the role of Chief Mentor.

Established in 2002, CACTUS has flourished under Abhishek Goel’s leadership, partnering with researchers, institutions, and publishers worldwide to accelerate research publishing and impact. This leadership change aligns with CACTUS’s strategic vision for its next phase of growth and innovation as the company enters its third decade.

Akhilesh comes with over 25 years of leadership experience in running global businesses, managing clients and running transformation programs across a range of industry verticals, products and services. His previous experience include leadership stints at WNS, GE and Crisil amongst others.

Abhishek Goel expressed his enthusiasm for the company’s future under Ayer’s leadership, “I am delighted to welcome Akhilesh Ayer as the new CEO of Cactus Communications. CACTUS has significant untapped potential in multiple areas and, we believe this is an opportune time to bring on a new CEO to help realize this potential. Akhilesh is a seasoned leader with over two decades of experience in leading global teams through digital transformation, driving both top and bottom-line growth. His vision for leveraging technology aligns well with our goals for innovation and expansion. Akhilesh’s expertise will be pivotal in shaping our next chapter.”

Akhilesh Ayer joins CACTUS from WNS Global Services, where he served as Executive Vice President & Head of Data, Analytics, AI & Research (Triange) business unit. At WNS, he successfully transformed the business unit by adopting a differentiated go-to-market strategy, re-imagining the product-service mix, building a best-in-class operational ecosystem and bringing in industry-leading people practices that helped achieve stellar results. He also played a key role in the business unit’s M&A strategy, leading successful acquisitions and integrations.

Akhilesh Ayer commented on his appointment, “I am excited to join CACTUS and for the opportunity to lead the company. I believe that the industry we operate in is on the brink of a transformative disruption. I am energized by the immense potential to drive growth and enhance the CACTUS experience for its customers while remaining true to its mission and values.”

ResearchGate and Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. announce new Journal Home Partnership for open access journals

ResearchGate, the professional network for researchers, and Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., a global media company dedicated to creating, curating, and delivering impactful peer-reviewed research and authoritative content services, are pleased to announce a new partnership through ResearchGate’s innovative Journal Home offering.

The partnership covers five Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. open access journals spanning the health and medical sciences. All backfile content and all new articles published with these journals are being made available through ResearchGate, boosting the reach and visibility of this content and increasing the authorship of these journals through ResearchGate’s 25m+ researcher members.

Journal Home provides a unique means to increase journal brand visibility with a highly relevant researcher audience. All participating journals have a dedicated journal profile, providing key information and article content, and allowing ResearchGate members to understand how their network is connected to the journal. The journal brands will also be prominently featured on all associated article pages and relevant touchpoints with members, increasing readership and engagement.

Authors in these journals will also benefit from the partnership, with their articles automatically added to their user profiles on ResearchGate. This offers authors a new way to understand and connect with their readers, with insights on who is reading and citing their work.

“Mary Ann Liebert is committed to helping our authors achieve the greatest global impact for their research,” said Kathryn Ryan, VP, Chief Marketing Officer at Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. “I am excited to see how ResearchGate can enhance our connection and engagement with researchers globally through Journal Home.”

“Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. has a longstanding commitment to maximising the discoverability and visibility of their research, to achieve global impact,” said Sören Hofmayer, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at ResearchGate. “Journal Home offers readers and authors a new way to explore these journals, and to grow engagement through our highly relevant researcher community. We’re delighted to be working together.”

Digital Science unveils Papers Pro: Revolutionizing scholarly research with advanced AI-powered features

Digital Science today announces the launch of Papers Pro, an AI-enhanced premium version of its acclaimed reference manager, Papers.

As part of the ReadCube suite of literature solutions, Papers Pro is designed to make researchers and students more productive in their daily tasks by integrating cutting-edge AI tools to transform how they discover, organize, read, annotate, share and cite research materials.  

Search and discovery has always been a core part of the Papers workflow. The launch of Papers Pro introduces new search capabilities, powered by Dimensions, one of the world’s largest linked research databases, to help researchers find relevant content faster than ever before, including AI querying capabilities. 

Papers Pro also includes a host of advanced AI-based features, enabling users to craft better search strategies, create natural-language-based filters, uncover insights, and bridge knowledge gaps with unprecedented ease in a private environment. The new AI Assistant allows for seamless interaction with articles stored in the user’s library. The new Chat with PDF capability is also integrated within the Dimensions web experience.

“Papers Pro is set to redefine how researchers and small teams interact with scholarly content,” said Robert McGrath, Co-founder & CEO of ReadCube. “By seamlessly integrating the power of Dimensions search with rich AI-driven workflow capabilities in Papers Pro, we’re empowering users to work smarter, faster, and more effectively. The AI Assistant and AI-powered search available via Papers Pro make it easier than ever to conduct in-depth analysis, spot trends, and explore unfamiliar fields in a private and secure way across all your content in your library.”

Dr Daniel Hook, CEO of Digital Science, said: “We believe that research is the most powerful instrument humanity has at hand to make society better for all. While the potential of AI is widely acknowledged, it is not yet embedded into research processes, and for this to be done responsibly careful thought is needed. At Digital Science, our approach has been to augment existing workflows with AI while ensuring end-to-end transparency – so the user can check and see what is happening at every stage. Given the importance of reproducibility and integrity across all research, researchers have to be able to trust their tools, not only aim for greater efficiency.”

Tailored solutions for researchers

The completely refreshed interface reflects considerable user research and feedback. Every detail has been carefully considered in how to improve Papers Essentials and extend what’s possible with Papers Pro, enhancing each stage of the research workflow through a powerful, intuitive user experience.

Key features include:

  • Intuitive interface – new design makes navigation through the library and discovery tools faster and more intuitive
  • The AI Assistant – Chat with PDF feature helps spot trends and identify research gaps
  • Enhanced search – with access to data spanning more than 150 million publications through Dimensions
  • Expanded file type storage – securely store and sync a variety of file formats, not just PDFs
  • Enhanced collaboration up to 15 shared libraries, among teams of up to 25 with transferable seats

Professor Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) recently tested a beta version of the Papers AI Assistant. She wrote in The Scholarly Kitchen:

“I found that, not only did the Papers AI save me a great deal of time by providing me with an overview annotated with links to specific sections of the text, it also often alerted me to places in the text where my topic of interest was conceptually discussed without the use of the specific keywords I would have searched. Most valuable to me is that Papers operates outside the confines of a particular content platform. Acquire or make a PDF, add it to your Papers library, and the text can be interrogated.”

Discover in Dimensions, Chat in Papers Pro

A simple yet powerful new Chat with PDF feature integrated with Papers Pro extends the discovery experience in Dimensions. Once an article has been discovered in Dimensions, the user can click to engage Papers Pro AI features to chat with the PDF in order to:

  • Screen papers quickly
  • Get specific answers to detailed questions
  • Accelerate insights

Papers Pro with AI Assistant, alongside Dimensions and its Chat with PDF function, are available immediately. Dimensions users who don’t yet have a Papers account can set up a 30-day trial to experience all that Papers has to offer. 

Macmillan Education launches new AI tool to help teachers find best course for their classroom needs

MAIA (Macmillan AI Assistant) is designed to get teachers to the right course faster

Macmillan Education, part of Springer Nature, has created a new tool to help teachers around the world navigate the wide portfolio of courses available to them from its global publishing programme and understand which are the best fit for their classroom’s needs.  

Developed by Macmillan Education’s specialist in-house team, MAIA (Macmillan AI Assistant) works by identifying and prioritizing the needs of each individual teacher in their unique scenario and matching them to key characteristics of different courses in the publisher’s catalogue. It then makes a recommendation and allows the teacher to take an AI-guided tour of the product.  

To help it do this, questions MAIA may ask include:  

  • What country are you based in? 
  • How many hours of English do your students have a week? 
  • How important is exam success to your students? 
  • How much project work do you do with your students? 
  • What is the age of your students? 
  • What are you looking for in a new course? 
  • What material are you currently using in class? 

MAIA is constantly being improved using feedback including from the already over 3000 interactions with teachers around the world, helping it to offer a more personalised experience and ultimately getting teachers to the right course faster.  MAIA is a supplement to the highly valued personalised engagement teachers know and expect from the Macmillan Education team of education and academic consultants worldwide. 

The service will be further expanded over the coming months to include local educational solutions from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Poland and Spain and is able to interact with teachers in a number of different languages. 

Jeremy Dieguez, Managing Director Global Language Learning, Macmillan Education, said:  

“MAIA is here to help educators find the perfect course for their classroom and demonstrates our commitment to creating innovative solutions that enhance teaching and advance learning around the world. 

“Macmillan Education is dedicated to supporting teachers and with our new powered by AI tool, MAIA, we can offer a faster way to find the right course for them and their students.  We are delighted by the reaction we have already had to MAIA and look forward to rolling it out globally.” 

New Microbiology Society publish and read consortium deal now available to science institutions and hospitals across Germany

The Microbiology Society, one of the largest microbiology societies in Europe, is pleased to announce a new three-year Publish and Read offering with German consortium ZB MED – Information Centre for Life Sciences, available to its 400 member institutions and 2,000 hospitals. This agreement was established in partnership with HARRASSOWITZ, the Society’s representative agency in Germany.

From 2025, member institutions can join this consortium-wide Publish and Read agreement to enjoy discounted pricing. For participating institutions, the Society’s Publish and Read model allows affiliated researchers:

  • Uncapped Open Access publishing: corresponding authors from a Publish and Read institution can publish Open Access with no Article Processing Charges (APCs).
  • Unlimited usage: any user associated with a Publish and Read institution can access the entire archive of Society content, back to 1947.

Publish and Read covers the Society’s entire portfolio, including hybrid titles Journal of General VirologyJournal of Medical Microbiology and International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology and fully Open Access titles Access MicrobiologyMicrobiology and Microbial Genomics.

Authors can check if their institution is signed up here.

Peter Cotgreave, Chief Executive of the Microbiology Society: “We are delighted to have established this offering for the ZB MED consortium to further support microbiologists across Germany with simple, APC-free Open Access publishing. Germany is a crucial region for the Society’s efforts to advance the field of microbiology and we are grateful for the support of our representatives at HARRASSOWITZ in arranging this wide-reaching, impactful agreement for the German research community.”

Petra Labriga, Head of Strategic Licensing and Acquisitions at ZB MED: “In our role as the German Information Centre for Life Sciences, ZB MED is strongly invested in helping German life scientists publish their work Open Access in an affordable yet highly professional environment. Focusing on the transition to Open Access and transformative agreements for German Life Sciences, we invite all interested German academic and research institutions and hospitals to join this Publish and Read consortium agreement with the Microbiology Society to take advantage of this non-APC based, uncapped author publishing opportunity across all of the Microbiology Society’s journals.”

Monika Schneider, Director of Sales Europe at HARRASSOWITZ: “We are extremely pleased to support German libraries in managing this new agreement. With HARRASSOWITZ’s extensive experience in handling transformative agreements and understanding the specific requirements of consortia, we will provide the highest level of precision and align our services with the needs of our clients. We have a long and successful history of working closely with both Microbiology Society and ZB MED, and we are excited to continue this collaboration.”

MIT Press’s Direct to Open (D2O) continues expanding access to leading scholarship in 2025

MIT Press’s diamond model for open access monographs levels the playing field for both authors and readers while bringing vital research to communities that need it most

At the MIT Press, we believe that everyone deserves access to scholarship. Our dedication to this mission remains strong as we head into the fourth funding cycle for Direct to Open (D2O), our model for open access monographs. Libraries and consortia can commit to support the program through November 30, 2024.

“Direct to Open is a game changer,” said Amy Brand, Director and Publisher at the MIT Press. “We know that open scholarship benefits authors, readers, and the academy at large. This is why we designed and implemented a new solution that would better serve scholars and the research monographs that are vital to our mission.”

D2O empowers authors so that they can reap the benefits of publishing their work open access regardless of their—or their institution’s—ability to pay a Book Processing Charge. This diamond OA approach has special relevance for Humanities and Social Sciences scholars as well as independent researchers around the globe.

“This is huge for humanities publishing,” said Amanda Wasielewski, Assistant Professor in Digital Humanities at Uppsala University and author of Computational Formalism: Art History and Machine Learning. “We often do not have the funding resources that the natural sciences do for publishing open access and so our books are not as accessible to people outside academia. I’m very grateful my book has been available open access because I think it’s increased my audience tremendously. I have also received messages from grateful students.”

Immediate, un-embargoed access to the latest scholarship puts researchers around the world on a more level playing field and enriches scholarly communication. A greater diversity of perspectives are finally included in the discussion.

“As a group of early-career researchers interested in urban infrastructures, the Flow/Overflow/Shortage (FOS) Research Collective and its online reading group were literally brought together by the intellectual trajectory that The Infrastructural South follows and advances,” said Moritz Kasper, Doctoral Researcher and Lecturer at Technical University Dortmund and a member of the FOS Research Collective. “Our members have different institutional backgrounds at North American, European, and African institutions, or are independent researchers, so the open access version of the book allowed us to discuss it collectively, across geographies and institutional capacities.”

“For the Indian market, MIT Press books are prohibitively expensive,” said Janaki Srinivasan, Associate Professor at the International Institute of Information Technology in Bangalore, India and author of The Political Lives of Information: Information and the Production of Development in India“People are very interested in my book in India, where the book is based, so it’s been a blessing to have the open access edition. Several people I met during my talks and at other events in India said they were able to access the book because it was open access.”

With the release of our first-ever Direct to Open impact report earlier this year, we can see clear results from the first three years of the program. Direct to Open books reach larger global audiences and receive more citations than their paywalled counterparts—allowing vital, high-quality scholarship to reach wider audiences in communities that need it most. On average, our open access Humanities and Social Sciences books are used 3.75 times more and receive 21% more citations than their non-open counterparts while our open access STEAM books are used 2.67 times more and receive 15% more citations than their non-open counterparts.

Readers all over the world and across levels of means benefit from immediate access to cutting-edge research. Direct to Open aims to once again make this possible in 2025 with the generous support of our library partners. Participating libraries not only contribute to opening frontlist titles, but they also receive exclusive and tangible local benefits including term access to a backlist collection of over 2,400 titles.

To learn more about Direct to Open and how your library or consortia can participate, please visit mitpress.mit.edu/D2O or contact the MIT Press library relations team at mitp-library-relations@mit.edu.

Pearson unveils new higher ed AI tools to make studying a breeze

Get ready for a game-changing semester. Pearson, the world’s lifelong learning company, has launched a suite of new AI-powered higher education tools designed to make student learning and studying more personalized. As college students seek simpler, more efficient ways to study that consider their unique needs, Pearson’s AI tools create a frictionless study experience where students can get the individualized help they need without leaving their eTextbooks or study platforms. That’s anywhere, anytime help, even when professors are out of reach.

Available through Pearson+ Channels, the video feature in Pearson’s digital eTexbook subscription service, here are the new tools to which students will have access to revolutionize their learning this fall:

  • Personalized study and exam prep: Take the guesswork out of studying. Simply upload your syllabus, and the AI will generate a custom learning plan tailored to your course schedule.
  • Interactive video learning: Interruption encouraged! Not understanding a concept while watching a video? You can now click on the “ask a question” button to automatically pause the video. The chat bot understands the material in the video and can answer questions on those specific concepts. It’s like raising your hand to ask the video a question!
  • Expanded AI study tools: Meet the ultimate study buddy. Pearson’s generative AI-powered tutor will help you get “unstuck” with steps to solve problems, along with unique video content and practice questions.

These AI features come in addition to Pearson’s AI study tools that are already available to more than 2 million students and educators at more than 1,000 education institutions this semester.

  • Earlier this year, students received access to AI study tools in Pearson’s MyLab and Mastering study platforms with integrated eTextbooks to provide personalized step-by-step guidance, content summarization, and explanations for challenging concepts.
  • This month, instructor AI tools have been added to select MyLab and Mastering Pearson titles to help educators efficiently create assignments that are personalized for their students.

Tony Prentice, Chief Product Officer, said: “College students who are using AI tools to help them understand complex topics are getting better grades. AI’s role in education is growing and it’s encouraging to see more students and faculty embrace the benefits of AI to unlock new ways to personalize learning and teaching. It’s clear the future of education in not just on the horizon – it’s here and we’re investing to provide a richer, more engaging experience for both students and faculty.”

Pearson’s application of generative AI is backed by learning scientists, vetted by subject matter experts, and based on content from Pearson’s library of higher education materials. Pearson is committed to investing in the responsible application of AI to advance product innovation and enhance the learning experience.

IOP Publishing Partners with Hum to explore Data and AI use to Enhance Content Strategy

IOP Publishing, the publishing arm of the Institute of Physics, is partnering with Hum, the cutting-edge data and AI company, to explore ways to further enhance its author experience and develop its outstanding publishing services.

This partnership underscores IOP Publishing’s commitment to delivering personalised, relevant, and impactful content experiences across their portfolio of over 100 open access and hybrid journals, ebooks, science news, and other resources.

Hum’s advanced AI platforms analyse vast amounts of audience and content data, uncovering actionable insights that will help IOP Publishing by:

  • Targeting outreach and omnichannel campaigns to highly specific audience segments
  • Developing marketing and outreach strategies for authors and reviewers
  • Identifying emerging topics for future content development
  • Surfacing the most relevant content recommendations for individual readers

“At IOP Publishing, deepening our relationship with the scientific community is at the heart of everything we do,” said Miriam Maus, Chief Publishing Officer, “Partnering with Hum provides technology that delivers insights into our content and enhances engagement with authors and readers. We’re looking forward to creating more opportunities to advance science through the global exchange of ideas.”

“We’re thrilled to be able to help IOP Publishing unlock the full potential of its audience and content, driving greater engagement, reach, and impact,” said Tim Barton, Hum CEO. “IOPP has been pushing the boundaries on what researchers, authors, readers, and reviewers expect and is committed to advancing that experience. Hum is eager to help them continue to do so.”

Karger Publishers Provides Broader Access to Medical eBook Collection in France

Thirty-eight new medical eBook titles are now available under French national licence through a new agreement with CollEx-Persée.

Karger Publishers is pleased to announce that 38 new medical eBook titles are available under French national licence, as part of the GIS CollEx-Persée acquisitions program. This project to acquire Karger’s eBooks on medicine was led by Université Paris Cité, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier and Abes, with the support of the Couperin.org consortium and INIST-CNRS.

Broadening the Readership of High-Quality Medical Content
The collection of 133 medical eBooks from Karger Publishers acquired by the national library network CollEx-Persée in 2020 has been updated and expanded to include 38 medical eBook titles published between 2020 and 2023. They were recently selected by a panel of researchers to augment the 2015-2019 collection previously purchased.

All higher education and research institutions in France, as well as the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, now have access to a total of 171 volumes on the Karger platform.

“Making research more easily accessible is our highest priority,” says Christian Box, Head of Academic & Research Markets at Karger Publishers. “This new agreement underscores our commitment to serve the broader medical community through high-quality content from which everyone can benefit.”

The agreement with the CollEx-Persée acquisitions program is an important step toward broadening the readership of high-quality medical content, thereby serving the scientific research community by guaranteeing perpetual access to the acquired content.

OpenAthens invites proposals for Access Lab 2025

OpenAthens announces their 2025 online Access Lab event will take place on 24 – 27 February 2025. Submit your session ideas and proposals by Friday 18 October 2024

What is Access Lab? 

Access Lab is OpenAthens’ annual international conference where libraries, publishers and technology partners meet to discuss challenges facing the information industry and find solutions to problems. 

The conference provides a safe space to share learnings, discuss and debate. Together with your peers, you can explore industry developments, showcase customer case studies and take part in topical panel discussions where you get the chance to ask the questions. 

Access Lab generates interest globally. And to help you join from wherever you are, the online event will run at various times to allow maximum participation from around the world. 

Join as a speaker 

OpenAthens is looking for speakers for Access Lab 2025 and you could be exactly who they are looking for. Are you a librarian, publisher, library service vendor or work in the knowledge industry? Would you like the opportunity to discuss your challenges and solutions with your peers, vendors and partners? 

You can submit proposals for plenary talks, panel debates, roundtable discussions and case studies, or other session types. Some topics for this years’ conference include: 

  • Security and user privacy 
  • Artificial Intelligence 
  • Impact of library budgets 
  • User experience and accessibility 
  • Federated authentication and seamless access 

This year OpenAthens customers will help steer and develop the Access Lab program and community volunteers will be invited to facilitate conference session. 

Senior marketing manager and program lead, Jane Charlton commented: 

“We are delighted that so many of our valued customers volunteered to support our community activities. Representatives from around the world are helping to develop and steer our 2025 Access Lab program. Your ideas for sessions and speakers are the essential ingredient to make Access Lab sparkle and we can’t wait to see what you put forward!” 

How to submit your session idea 

Get inspired to speak at Access Lab 2025 by watching the 2024 Access Lab sessions and submit your proposal by Friday 18 October 2024 by completing the short online form. 

UX Award 2025 

At the conference, Jane Charlton, senior marketing manager – community and content will announce the winner of the OpenAthens 2025 UX Award. Now in its sixth year, the UX Award showcases publishers and library service vendors that have taken great strides in improving user experience. Any publisher, library systems vendor, or research and analytics tool can apply. Visit the award webpage for more information and to submit your application by 22 November 2024

Contact Laura Bloomfield Hall, senior events manager, with any questions or for sponsorship opportunities.