UKB consortium in the Netherlands to move to OCLC WorldShare

February 18, 2014

OCLC announced today that the UKB consortium of Dutch university libraries and the National Library of the Netherlands have signed a new agreement to move library services to OCLC WorldShare.

This move by UKB means that its members, which include university libraries in the Netherlands as well as the National Library, will be able to integrate their metadata management, resource sharing and discovery services into a global network to maximise efficiencies in workflow and IT infrastructure.

WorldShare provides an open cloud-based approach for sharing metadata, applications and innovation, enabling library consortia to collaborate at a national or regional level as well as connecting globally to raise visibility and awareness of their institutions on the web, and take advantage of the economies of scale that global collaboration brings.

The new agreement is an essential part of UKB’s strategy for academic service provision, and recognises the importance of globalisation in the higher education sector.

“Our users act out there on the Web,” said Anja Smit, Chair of the UKB Board of Executives, and University Librarian at Utrecht University. “This agreement with OCLC will help libraries put their services and collections where their users are. With this approach, we are creating the ultimate digital academic library experience for our future.”

“OCLC is delighted to be announcing this important step in the implementation of OCLC’s WorldShare strategy,” says Eric van Lubeek, Managing Director, OCLC EMEA. “UKB’s move will serve as an example for other libraries and library consortia, not just in the Netherlands, but around the world. With UKB, we are in the early stages of an innovative journey, and together with these libraries, we will shape the transition to WorldShare.”

Twelve members of the UKB consortium, along with the National Library of the Netherlands, signed the agreement. TU Eindhoven is not part of the new arrangement.

Wiley to Publish Bergey’s Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria

February 14, 2014

John Wiley & Sons, Inc., today announced a new partnership with Bergey’s Manual Trust, which will see Wiley publish Bergey’s Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria (BMSAB) from 2014. Bergey’s is recognized as the most complete and authoritative description of bacterial and archaeal diversity available, and this partnership will see the new third edition published electronically for the first time.

The digital third edition will provide up-to-date descriptions of the taxonomy, systematics, ecology, physiology and other biological properties of all named prokaryotic taxa. The new edition replaces and expands upon the second edition of Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, completed in 2012.

BMSAB will be available via Wiley Online Library, which, with over 1,500 journals and over 14,000 online books, is the world’s broadest and deepest multidisciplinary collection of online resources covering the sciences and humanities. Individual volumes of BMSAB will also be made available in e-book format.

Since its formation in 1936, Bergey’s Manual Trust has worked to provide comprehensive and authoritative descriptions of bacteria and archaea through the publication of its Manuals on determinative and systematic bacteriology.

The result of collaboration between the trustees and hundreds of microbiologists from all over the world, the Manuals provide a natural classification of prokaryotes that reflects their evolutionary history and extensive descriptive information on the taxonomy, systematics, physiology, ecology and habitats of individual prokaryotic groups.

An explosion in the isolation and description of new taxa of prokaryotes over the past five years has resulted in the description of over one hundred new genera and six hundred new species. This rapid pace underlines the need for a constantly updated electronic edition which keeps the community at the forefront of research.

“An online electronic work is critical to providing a comprehensive description of the wonderful diversity prokaryotic life” says Barny Whitman, Director of the Editorial Office of Bergey’s Manual and Professor of Microbiology at the University of Georgia, USA. “We are very fortunate that Wiley share our vision of a dynamic Manual capable of providing comprehensive, detailed and up-to-date descriptions of bacteria and archaea for researchers, educators and students in microbiology.”

“Since David Hendricks Bergey published his first encyclopedia in 1923, Bergey’s titles have earned a reputation as invaluable research tools for laboratories,” said Vicky Johnson, Associate Editorial Director, Life Sciences, Wiley. “Our new partnership will maintain the high quality that Bergey’s is known for, while using digital platforms to ensure the third edition becomes the go-to resource for microbiologists globally.”

Oxford University Press To Publish Federation Of European Microbiological Societies Journals From 2015

February 13, 2014

Oxford University Press (OUP) is delighted to announce that on 30th January 2014 they signed a contract with the prestigious Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) to publish their five journals from 1st January 2015.

FEMS brings together 50 member societies from 35 European countries, covering over thirty thousand microbiologists. FEMS facilitates the exchange of scientific knowledge to all microbiologists in Europe and worldwide through the publication of their five respected journals:

FEMS Microbiology Ecology
FEMS Microbiology Ecology publishes high quality papers that make a significant contribution to the understanding of microbial ecology.

FEMS Microbiology Letters
FEMS Microbiology Letters focuses on concise articles that merit urgent publication by virtue of their originality. It also features MiniReviews, which cover all aspects of microbiology.

FEMS Microbiology Reviews
Ranking 4th in the JCR Microbiology subject category, FEMS Microbiology Reviews publishes invited reviews that provide authoritative coverage on key areas in microbiology.

FEMS Yeast Research
The leading journal in its field, FEMS Yeast Research publishes both fundamental and applied research on conventional and non-conventional yeasts and yeast-like organisms.

Pathogens and Disease
The newest of the FEMS journals, Pathogens and Disease publishes outstanding primary research on hypothesis- or discovery-driven studies on pathogens, host-pathogen interactions, host response to infection and their molecular and cellular correlates.

Jim Prosser OBE, Publications Manager, FEMS says: “The next few years will see important developments in publishing and in FEMS’ broader activities. We are therefore delighted to be entering into partnership with OUP at this crucial time and look forward to combining forces to take the FEMS journals to the next level.”

Cath Cotton, Managing Director, FEMS says: “We’re really excited about this new collaboration with OUP, and are looking forward to working together with such a highly motivated team. Oxford have an excellent list and some great publishing partners, and we’re very happy to be joining them.”

Tim Barton, Managing Director of the Global Academic Publishing, OUP says, “Oxford University Press is delighted to be partnering with FEMS in the publication of their highly respected and esteemed journals. It is a privilege to be working with such an influential Federation in the field of microbiology. We are looking forward to supporting FEMS’ mission to advance microbiology by increasing the dissemination of this valuable research to a wide global audience.”

Frontiers launches a new open-access journal: Frontiers in Marine Science

February 13, 2014

Swiss open-access publisher and research network, Frontiers, part of the Nature Publishing Group family, announces the launch of its open-access journal: Frontiers in Marine Science.

Frontiers in Marine Science is the latest addition to the “Frontiers in” journal series and will cover research in marine biogeochemistry, physical oceanography, paleoceanography, marine systematics and taxonomy, marine policy, ocean engineering, conservation, biodiversity and marine ecosystem ecology. The course also draws attention to the minute details on boat insulation and the ways to protect the boat. You can see the selection at Merritt Supply website for further details.

“The increased use of oceans via traditional and modern activities makes it necessary to develop a deeper knowledge of ecosystem functioning and processes, so as to achieve a more sustainable use of resources,” says Dr. Angel Borja, Specialty Chief Editor of the section Marine Ecosystem Ecology. “Marine Ecosystem Ecology is devoted to key findings in marine ecology, including all components of biodiversity. Our aim is to foster research that integrates knowledge across different ecosystem components, linking physical, chemical, biological and socio-economic aspects.”

The current specialty sections open for submissions to Frontiers in Marine Science include the following:

To encompass the entire scope of the field, additional sections will open for submissions in the near future, including marine mammal research, deep-sea ecology, physical oceanography, ichthyology, coral reef research, ocean engineering and technology, paleoceanography and marine fisheries.

With a world-class editorial board, Frontiers’ real-time and interactive peer review enables rigorous, fair, constructive and transparent review of a range of article types. With an average of 84 days from submission to acceptance, articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license, and are freely available to an international audience.

Impact Article level metrics will be available on all articles to guage impact and articles will be included in the Frontiers Tiering System that showcases high impact articles for a broader audience.

EBSCO and NEWTON Media Collaborate to Add Media News Content from Central and Eastern Europe to EBSCO Discovery Service™

February 13, 2014

Metadata from NEWTON Media, a.s. the leading Media Monitoring provider in Central and Eastern Europe, will be searchable in EBSCO Discovery Service^™ (EDS), a robust and comprehensive discovery service from EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO). NEWTON Media delivers the largest media news archive in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland and spans many different media sources including news digests of print, radio, television, internet and agency news and monitor current events, advertising, and social networks.

Metadata from NEWTON Media’s collection offers more than 900 print sources including national and regional media, social and professional magazines, business bulletins and corporate newsletters. Content also includes a news archive of hundreds of internet servers, transcripts of almost 30 television and radio stations from the Czech Republic, Slovakia & Poland and e-clippings from print articles. Coverage dates back to 1996.

Newton Media is part of a growing list of publishers and other content partners that are taking part in EDS to bring more visibility to their content. Partners include the world’s largest scholarly journal & book publishers including Elsevier, Wiley Blackwell, Springer Science & Business Media, Taylor & Francis Informa, Sage Publications, Nature Publishing, IEEE, ACM and thousands of others. Partners also include content providers, such as LexisNexis, Thomson Reuters (Web of Science), JSTOR, ARTstor, Credo Reference, Encyclopedia Britannica, World Book, ABC-CLIO, The HathiTrust and many others.

EBSCO Discovery Service brings together the most comprehensive collection of content—including superior indexing from top subject indexes, high-end full text and the entire library collection—all within an unparalleled full-featured, customizable discovery layer experience.

EBSCO Discovery Service is quickly becoming the discovery selection for many libraries (www.ebscohost.com/discovery/eds-news), and an obvious partner for content providers. Because the service builds on the foundation provided by the EBSCOhost^® platform, libraries gain a full user experience for discovering their collections/OPAC—which is not typical in the discovery space. Further still, in the many universities and other libraries where EBSCOhost is the most-used platform for premium research, users are not asked to change their pathways or habits for searching. There’s simply more to discover on the familiar EBSCOhost platform, and the same can be said for library administrators who can leverage their previous work with EBSCOadmin^™.

HighWire offers Altmetric Integrated Article Level Metrics to Publishers

February 13, 2014

HighWire Press and Altmetric LLP are pleased to announce the completion of an agreement to offer altmetrics integration to publications hosted on the HighWire Open Platform.

This new agreement will enable leading publications on HighWire to join prestigious publishers such as the National Academies of Sciences and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press in displaying Altmetric data beside their research articles online.

“HighWire and Altmetric have simplified the implementation process to minimize cost barriers across the board,” said Bill Matthews, HighWire’s Director of Business Development. “This is a logical step in support of our publisher partners and their readers and authors.”

“We are delighted to be working with HighWire on this new initiative,” said Euan Adie, founder of Altmetric.com. “With an established relationship with their publishing partners, this agreement will ensure a smooth and rapid implementation of our data on any hosted title.”

Developed as a complementary measure to the traditional tools of citation and download counts, altmetrics have gained traction in recent years as a more immediate method of monitoring and analysing the dissemination of a research article.

Altmetric.com tracks a variety of sources, including news, social media, bookmarking and peer-review forums, to provide data on the online activity surrounding a research article. This activity, or ‘mentions’, are then displayed visually via the Altmetric ‘donut’ – and assigned a score based on the volume, source and author of the mentions. Readers can click through to view the original mention and explore the news stories, tweets, blogs and more for themselves.

This data is valuable to authors and readers alike as they attempt to gain an understanding of the wider dissemination of the research, and enables them to join in the online conversation amongst audiences they may not otherwise have been aware of.

Publishers with an interest in adding altmetrics data to their journal articles are encouraged to contact their HighWire Press representative.

With the addition of Stanford, 20 universities have now entered into an Institutional Arrangement with PeerJ

February 12, 2014

PeerJ (the award winning open access publisher of both PeerJ PrePrints and PeerJ) is pleased to announce that with the addition of Stanford University, twenty universities have now signed up to provide PeerJ Publication Plans to their faculty. Authors from these institutions will have their publication plans automatically paid for them, using funds centrally provided by their library.

In addition to these 20 universities, numerous others have committed to supporting Open Access charges in some form and many of them also have public pages on PeerJ.

Peter Binfield, Co-Founder of PeerJ said that “as we approach the one year anniversary of having published our first articles, a milestone which we celebrate tomorrow, it is a great sign that so many world class institutions appreciate the PeerJ model to the extent that they have chosen to support their researchers in this way”.

For the price of just one year of access to just one subscription journal (or a single open access publication fee at many other publishers) universities can fund the lifetime publication plans for a large number of their faculty.

The current universities with a PeerJ arrangement are:

Arizona State University
Carnegie Mellon University
Colorado State University
Duke University
Emory University
Kansas University
Nottingham University
Oregon State University
Stanford University
Texas A&M University
Trinity University
University College London
University of Arizona
University of Birmingham
University of California Berkeley
University of Cambridge
University of Glasgow
University of Manitoba
University of New Mexico
University of Newfoundland

More information, including Case Studies from several of these institutions can be found at https://peerj.com/edu. Any university which is interested in a similar arrangement can email PeerJ at info@peerj.com

Springer launches new book series International Perspectives in Geography

February 12, 2014

Springer and the Association of Japanese Geographers (AJG) have launched a new English-language book series entitled International Perspectives in Geography: AJG Library. Given the multidisciplinary nature of geography, the objective of the series is to provide a source of information not only for geographers, but also for students, researchers, teachers, administrators and professionals outside the discipline.

International Perspectives in Geography places strong emphasis on the theoretical and empirical understanding of the changing relationships between nature and human activities. The overall aim of the series is to provide readers throughout the world with stimulating and up-to-date scientific outcomes mainly by Japanese and other Asian geographers. Thus, an “Asian” flavor, different from the Western way of thinking, will be reflected in this series. Editor-in-Chief Noritaka Yagasaki of Nihon University in Tokyo leads an editorial team of well-known Japanese geographers.

The first book in the series, Geography of Religion in Japan, is now available. Traditional Wisdom and Modern Knowledge for the Earth’s Future will be published in early spring. Initially, two to three books are planned annually. Once the series is established, the number will be increased to three to five books per year. The AJG will thoroughly review all manuscripts to decide which will be accepted into the series. Springer will handle production, sales, marketing and distribution of the books, which will be available both in print and electronically via SpringerLink, Springer’s online platform (link.springer.com).

Ken Kimlicka, Associate Editor Earth Sciences and Geography at Springer, said, “We are delighted to collaborate with the Association of Japanese Geographers on the launch of a book series that will collect and highlight important research accomplishments. The series will be of interest to geographers all over the world and Springer is proud to introduce it to the international scientific community.”

Noritaka Yagasaki, President of the Association of Japanese Geographers and editor-in-chief, said, “Geography has been an essential discipline in Japan since the beginning of the twentieth century. Unfortunately, the expertise accumulated in Japanese has not been accessible to international geographers because of the language barrier. I am confident that International Perspectives in Geography: AJG Library will play an important role in promoting scientific exchange and collaboration among scholars around the world.”

Taylor & Francis expands public access through Access to Research project

February 11, 2014

Access to Research, a pilot initiative to give free, walk-in access to a wide range of academic articles and research in public libraries across the UK, launched this month with the support of Taylor & Francis Group. Through this service, library users will have access to articles published in over 1,100 Taylor & Francis-owned journals covering everything from Accounting to Zoology, as well as content from 16 other leading publishers.

The pilot follows a three month technical trial in which Taylor & Francis also participated. The goal of the pilot is to explore how to expand public access to research, as per the recommendations of the Finch Group.

Ian Bannerman, Managing Director, says “At Taylor & Francis we were keen to support this initiative from the outset as a means of extending the reach of our authors’ research articles. Whilst the majority of academic researchers have access to our journals through their institutional library, the Access to Research pilot addresses the importance of access to small businesses, independent researchers and interested members of the public. It also reaffirms the vital role that local public libraries play in the UK and we are pleased to support them in this.”

The pilot is supported by the Publishers Licensing Society, the Association of Learned & Professional Society Publishers, the Publishers Association, ProQuest and the Society of Chief Librarians.

All researchers in France’s public institutions will get access to ScienceDirect Freedom Collection

February 11, 2014

With the support of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the Couperin Consortium and Elsevier have come to a new agreement that provides researchers at over 600 public research and higher education institutions in France access to the ScienceDirect Freedom Collection content for five years. ScienceDirect is Elsevier’ full-text database of 2,200+ peer-reviewed journals, 900 serials and 25,000 books.

The Couperin Consortium is a network of research and higher education institutions and other organizations that evaluates, negotiates and arranges the purchase of electronic library resources for its members. The previous access agreement between Elsevier and Couperin encompassed 147 member institutions, but the ambitions of Couperin and the French Ministry were far greater. As a result, the ministry requested that Couperin work with Elsevier to extend access to researchers across all public and higher education institutions that fall within the scope of the ministry.

After several months of intensive coordination, Elsevier and Couperin reached an agreement that provides access to 2,200+ Freedom Collection journals on ScienceDirect and is fully based on electronic content. The agreement adds new qualitative advantages for the French researcher community, taking into account several of the requests from the involved French stakeholders.

William Rubens, Elsevier’s regional director for France, explained that from now on, access to Elsevier’s content will not be limited to those who are affiliated with a limited number of institutions. “Even if you’re working with a very small institution, you’ll have access,” he said. “In whatever research field you’re working on, you’ll be able to find content that will support you in that project.”

The deal also means researchers will have access to research in fields that may not directly be related their own. “This reflects the increasingly multi-disciplinary nature of research and collaborations,” Rubens explained. “Researchers who work offsite at a different university will still have access to the same materials as in their own library.”

Over the next five years, Elsevier, Couperin, the Agence Bibliographique de l’Enseignement Supérieur (ABES), and the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research have agreed to have annual meetings about the evolution of Elsevier’s content and platform in terms of volume, usage, platform functionality, and changes in the French research landscape.

“The aim is to have a regular review of the way the French research landscape is developing,” said Rubens. “We want to make sure that we’re serving the real needs of the community in a rapidly changing environment. Together with Couperin and the ministry we’ll do our best to anticipate trends and the latest developments and adapt where necessary.”

Gregory Colcanap, Coordinator at Couperin, said the new framework is stronger with the integration of all higher education and research institutions into the Couperin consortium. “We consider this agreement a balanced one,” he said. “It is a step forward in many ways, with unique benefits specifically for the French research market.”

Jisc announces programme and headline speakers for Digital Festival

February 10, 2014

Jisc has announced the programme, including four headline speakers, for its upcoming Digital Festival on the 11 and 12 March 2014.

The four speakers, who have gained huge accolades in their respected fields, are Sugata Mitra, TED winner and pioneer behind the Hole in the Wall project; Diana Oblinger, the CEO of non-profit organisation, EDUCAUSE; Paul Curran, vice-chancellor of City University London and former NASA researcher; and, completing the lineup, Ray Hammond, a futurologist who wrote The Modern Frankenstein (1986), the world’s first book to predict the importance of genetic engineering.

The Jisc Digital Festival, which will be held in the ICC in Birmingham, will showcase innovations in higher education (HE), further education (FE) and skills sectors, as well as explore the future of digital technology. In addition to the four keynote addresses, the Digital Festival will offer a wide selection of workshops, surgeries,panel discussions, expert speakers and live demonstrations of the latest education technology.

The speakers will be addressing delegates, including key decision-makers within universities and colleges. Their keynote talks will be focused on a diversity of topics designed to provoke discussion around the role of digital technology in education institutions, and how it can improve student experience.

Speaker Diana Oblinger, CEO of EDUCAUSE said:

“I’m looking forward to attending and speaking at the Digital Festival in March. My talk will involve a landscape exploration; looking at some of the exciting things happening in higher education and some of the key developments which will serve as a game-changer to the sector.

While higher education is not a homogenous community, we do share many similar issues and ideals. In the US we have some research programmes that we feel could benefit from the input of our colleagues in the UK and elsewhere. As well as sharing my insight, I hope to come away from the Digital Festival with tangible and innovative ideas on how we can collectively advance the use of information technology in higher education.”

Speaking about the lineup, Jisc’s executive director customer experience, Robert Haymon-Collins said:

“Following a two year break from our annual conference, the Jisc Digital Festival represents a fresh new event for the sector. We have worked hard on developing a programme that encompasses the achievement and innovation that is enhancing education and opening the door to exciting new possibilities in teaching and learning.

The headline speakers embody the purpose of this festival, which is all about sharing cutting-edge ideas and best practice. I am confident that visitors to the event will come away with useful advice they can implement in their institutions.”

Key programme highlights include demos and surgeries, practical hands-on workshops and a ‘Technology Garden’ featuring the latest innovations for education and research including 3D printing and augmented reality. The Digital Festival will also include a ‘startup’ zone with some of the UK’s leading technology talent.

Jisc was established to support education institutions in effectively adopting digital technologies and to help position the UK at the centre of digitally advanced education and research. The Jisc Digital Festival is aimed at HE and FE senior managers, library professionals, teachers, policy makers, IT experts, academics and learning technologists.

Earlybird registration discount available until 14 February 2014.

To register attendance at the Jisc Digital Festival on the 11 and 12 March 2014, and for more information, visit the event web pages. Join the conversation by following the hashtag #digifest14 on Twitter.

Wolters Kluwer Health Ranked Third Overall Software Vendor in “2013 Best in KLAS: Software and Services” Report

February 10, 2014

Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students, ranked third overall among 24 software vendors in the 2013 Best in KLAS: Software & Services report. Only Athena Health and Epic outranked the company in the report’s overall software vendor ranking.

KLAS is an independent healthcare IT vendor research firm that recognizes healthcare vendors for their leadership in working with customers to ensure satisfaction. It publishes the annual report to assist healthcare organizations by providing an unbiased and accurate vehicle for measuring performance in the healthcare industry, allowing for further understanding of how well suppliers and products perform.

Several Wolters Kluwer Health solutions were also stand-outs in the annual recognition. Sentri7® was top-ranked in the Clinical Decision Support-Surveillance segment and ProVation^® Order Sets, powered by UpToDate^® Decision Support, was second overall in the Clinical Decision Support-Order Sets and Care Plans category and the highest-ranking product specifically in the sub category of order set solutions. UpToDate, Lexicomp^®, ProVation MD andProVation MD Cardiology were also included in the report.

The Best in KLAS report measures performance based on customer surveys and in-depth interviews to gather insights into specific strengths and weaknesses, as well as future expectations for the product or service. For the 2013 report, KLAS conducted more than 16,000 interviews with providers to determine the performance of hundreds of software and services firms and their offerings. Wolters Kluwer Health’s full online performance data can be viewed here (registration required).

“Success in a healthcare environment characterized by performance- and quality-based care and reimbursement models requires providing clinicians with point of care access to trusted clinical content, intuitive decision support and real-time surveillance tools that leverage EMR data and enable the practice of evidence-based medicine to improve outcomes and streamline compliance,” said Arvind Subramanian, President and CEO, Wolters Kluwer Health, Clinical Solutions. “We are honored to have our customers once again acknowledge through KLAS the role our clinician-friendly products play in helping them achieve these goals.”