Amazon.com to Acquire Kiva Systems, Inc.

March 20, 2012

Amazon today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Kiva Systems, Inc., a leading innovator of material handling technology.

“Amazon has long used automation in its fulfillment centers, and Kiva’s technology is another way to improve productivity by bringing the products directly to employees to pick, pack and stow,” said Dave Clark, vice president, global customer fulfillment, Amazon.com. “Kiva shares our passion for invention, and we look forward to supporting their continued growth.”

“For the past ten years, the Kiva team has been focused on creating innovative material handling technologies,” said Mick Mountz, CEO and founder of Kiva Systems. “I’m delighted that Amazon is supporting our growth so that we can provide even more valuable solutions in the coming years.”

Following the acquisition, Kiva Systems’ headquarters will remain in North Reading, Massachusetts.

Under the terms of the agreement, which has been approved by Kiva’s stockholders, Amazon will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Kiva for approximately $775 million in cash, as adjusted for the assumption of options and other items. Subject to various closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2012.

Dr Audrey McCulloch becomes Chief Executive

March 20, 2012

The Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP; www.alpsp.org) – the international association for scholarly and professional publishers – is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Audrey McCulloch as its new Chief Executive.

Audrey steps up to the position of Chief Executive after a year and a half as Executive Director, UK and several months as Acting Chief Executive. She has over 10 years’ experience working in scholarly and professional publishing.

Speaking of the appointment, ALPSP Chair Toby Green said: “I am very pleased that Audrey put herself forward for this position. She has been excellent filling in as Acting CEO and it is wonderful that we can now confirm her in the role fully. I am sure that Audrey will reinforce and develop ALPSP’s role as the voice for non-profit scholarly and learned publishers internationally.”

Dr McCulloch added: “I am very excited to be taking up this position and to be leading the ALPSP team in developing the membership internationally and expanding the member services offered. This is an extremely challenging time for publishers and those who work with them. ALPSP needs to be ready to support our members towards a successful future, whatever that might look like.”

Audrey McCulloch has a PhD in Cardiovascular Pharmacology from Nottingham University, UK.

SPARC’s First Open Access Meeting a Success

March 20, 2012

SPARC just wrapped up a very successful first-ever Open Access (OA) Meeting in Kansas City, MO. This meeting built on the foundation established by the popular SPARC Digital Repositories meeting, and its expanded focus included information on institutional OA policies, author rights, and OA publishing. The 250 (very active!) participants represented librarians, researchers, publishers, and technologists from around the globe. The meeting program was designed to inspire the community and foster opportunities for collaborative action on all issues relating to open access.

Keynote speaker, John Wilbanks, Fellow of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, kicked off the meeting off with a high-energy presentation constructed in triads: he highlighted three stories, three “uncomfortable truths” and three eventual scenarios relating to the future of OA. His broad-ranging talk touched on topics from decentralized networks to data publishing to do-it-yourself alternative metrics. Throughout the presentation, Wilbanks emphasized the need for the community to insist on clarity of the definition of Open Access, especially with regards to end user rights. Underscoring the notion that the true power of Open Access is to enable innovation by encouraging collaboration, he noted “there is no together without rights,” and ended with a thought-provoking proposal for a new kind of “SWOT” analysis for the 21st scholarly publishing landscape.

The meeting included panels with expert speakers discussing Open Access policies (on a local, national and international level), new developments in the world of open digital repositories, an examination of author rights, and an in-depth look into the state of play in open-access journal publishing. The presenter slideshows are posted and the recordings will be available shortly.

The ever-popular Innovation Fair provided a terrific showcase for the creative work being done by institutions and businesses around Open Access. In rapid-fire two-minute presentations (including some in rhyme!), participants described their projects and key outcomes. This year’s topics included information from specialized repositories to the possibility of new metrics challenging the impact factor for primacy in the tenure and promotion process.

Throughout the meeting, Twitter activity was extremely high and presented a variety of questions and comments from those in the room, as well as from those just following along at home. Adding moments of levity to the proceedings, FakeElsevier chimed in several times with comments directed to SPARC OA participants, including this plea: “Msg to #sparc2012 attendees: Resistance still futile. Why haven’t you given up yet? That is all.”

Please look out for more information on the next SPARC webcast featuring information on article level metrics with Peter Binfield April 12.

OUP named publisher and distributor of the year at UK booksellers’ awards

March 20, 2012

Oxford University Press (OUP) was again named Publisher and Distributor of the Year at a Booksellers Association award ceremony on Wednesday 14 March.

It was the seventh time in eight years that OUP collected the Publisher of the Year award, and the eighth year in a row that it has won the Distributor of the Year prize at the Conference for Academic, Professional & Specialist Booksellers Awards Ceremony.

The awards are judged by booksellers and Bookseller Association members working in the UK who score publishers throughout the year.

Categories focus specifically on the services being offered to booksellers by publishers such as engagement with bookshops, support from central or head office services, delivery turnaround times, and publishing.

OUP staff were particularly pleased with the Distributor of the Year Award, which came just a over a year after the relocation of its UK Distribution Centre to new premises in Kettering.

Andrea Wood, Head of Customer Services at Kettering, said: “Although we have seen success at this ceremony for several years now, it is certainly not something we take for granted. It is a tremendous honour to receive such on-going support from across the industry, and we are all delighted with the result.”

Nature Conservation – a new open-access, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journal launched!

March 20, 2012

Pensoft Publishers announced the launch of Nature Conservation, the next member of Pensoft’s family of high technology open-access journals for biodiversity science. Its goal is to mobilize ideas and data in all theoretical and applied aspects of nature conservation – biological, ecological, societal, economic, and legal. The journal’s broad scope and innovative use of media encourage interdisciplinary and integrative approaches.

Nature Conservation is a new-generation open-access journal launched by Pensoft Publishers. The journal is platform comprising both innovative technologies and a routine medium for publication of data related to the vast area of basic and applied research in conservation of nature. Nature Conservation builds upon the success of its sister journals ZooKeys, PhytoKeys, BioRisk, and NeoBiota, and is supported by an editorial team of highly renowned specialists in the field. The composition of papers in the inaugural issue largely reflects the focus and scope of the new journal, which are also outlined in the opening Editorial paper.

The journal was established within the framework of the European Union’s Framework Program 7 large-integrated project SCALES: Securing the Conservation of biodiversity across Administrative Levels and spatial, temporal, and Ecological Scales.

“Nature Conservation is dedicated to provide a venue for those ecologists and conservationists who are keen to see their works published in a way better than ever, through innovative publishing technologies, as well as through widest possible, barrier-free distribution of works at no charge to the reader”, said the Editor-in-Chief Dr. Klaus Henle, from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ in Leipzig, Germany.

Like the rest of Pensoft’s journals, Nature Conservation will be published in four different formats: (1) high-resolution, full-color print version; (2) PDF, identical to the printed version; (3) HTML version on the journals website, in order to provide links to external resources and semantic enhancements for published texts and interactive reading; (4) XML version, compatible with PubMedCentral archiving, thus providing a machine-readable copy to facilitate future data mining. Neither restrictions nor charges are imposed on the use of color illustrations for all formats, and submission of multimedia is encouraged.

“Nature Conservation will advance beyond current standards in many aspects, for instance by the implementation of cutting-edge, semantic Web tools, but also in the scope of papers it will consider. Alongside with conventional papers, we established the category of “Applied Conservation Papers” that would bring to life the precious knowledge hidden in project reports, protected areas inventories, Natura 2000 studies and so on.”, added Prof. Lyubomir Penev of Pensoft Publishers in Sofia, Bulgaria, the managing editor of the new journal.

The journal aims particularly at facilitating better interaction between scientists and practitioners. A major goal of Nature Conservation is to support synergistic interactions among scientists, policy-makers, and managers. The journal will also provide opportunities and focus on open data publishing of qualitative biodiversity and environmental datasets.

“It is exciting to see the launch of Nature Conservation at a time of radical change in publishing towards opening up access to data and results obtained from public funding. The focus on interdisciplinary studies is welcome, and the explicit goal of blending biology and ecology with the humanities is long overdue.The conservation of nature has always been a political and social issue. I have no doubt that this new journal will quickly find its place in the international conservation community.” commented Prof Chris Margules from James Cook University, Australia, member of the editorial team of Nature Conservation.

SAGE makes rapid return on customer insight project

March 20, 2012

SAGE announced today that it has adopted DataSalon’s MasterVision product to provide customer insight for its highly targeted, data-driven prospecting, cross-selling and renewal activities. The system brings together a wide variety of data for individual library, institutional and consortia customers, including their subscriptions, author submissions, article usage, and ‘turnaways’ data.

SAGE has also licensed Ringgold’s Identify database, which has been integrated into MasterVision. The Ringgold database brings further reference information for existing institutional subscribers, and lists of potential new prospects classified by location, size and subject interests. The end result provides SAGE staff with a comprehensive single view of each customer and prospect, presented with user-friendly forms-based tools for segmentation and analysis.

With this new customer insight tool, SAGE was able to identify strong new prospects by demonstrating unmet demand for SAGE content. Prospect lists generated from MasterVision enabled them to secure a significant return on the project within a matter of months. Helping libraries to make informed and evidence-based purchasing decisions is also enabling much more effective communication with customers.

“We have already seen an impressive return on our investment in MasterVision, and our results show how valuable it is to bring all customer information together into a single view,” said Clive Parry, Global Marketing Director, SAGE. “It means we can better serve the needs of our customers by providing them with much needed data for new purchasing decisions, and by directing our marketing efforts in a much more targeted and efficient way. MasterVision is an important tool for us as we strive to constantly improve our customer focus.”

“We’re delighted to be working with SAGE.” said Nick Andrews, Managing Director at DataSalon. “It’s great to be able to demonstrate a clear return on investment so quickly. The richness of the SAGE customer data combined with MasterVision’s fast and friendly analysis tools means SAGE now has many more new opportunities to explore.”

TOC event to be held in Buenos Aires, marking Latin American premiere

March 18, 2012

The Tools of Change for Publishing (TOC) event is celebrating its premiere in Latin America. Together with O’Reilly Media and the Feria del Libro de Buenos Aires (April 19 – May 7, 2012), the Frankfurt Book Fair will bring the conference on publishing innovation to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pre-registration is now open at www.toclatinamerica.com.

New developments in digital publishing in Latin America are seen to be vastly changing the way books are distributed, marketed and consumed in the region. The Internet is fast becoming the source of much of the region’s literary vitality and creativity.

TOC Latin America in Buenos Aires will feature a full day of high profile keynotes and panel discussions focused on standards, metadata, global digital publishing trends, case studies of innovative publishers in Latin America and consumer habits. It will highlight local and international entrepreneurs who are laying the seeds of digital development in the heart of Cono Sur. The event is geared toward creative industry leaders from the fields of publishing, communications – both local and international.

Elsevier set to publish official journal of the Czech Society of Cardiology

March 18, 2012

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, and the Czech Society of Cardiology and Czech Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, announce the re-launch of journal Cor et Vasa.

Cor et Vasa is the official journal of the Czech Society of Cardiology, which was the first to publish breakthrough guidelines for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction recommending primary angioplasty as first choice therapy. It is open to all novel research in the field of cardiology and is recognized as a distinct international research forum gaining significant interest and contributions from all Central and Easter European countries.

Elsevier publishes Cor et Vasa in two versions; an English version accessible online only through SciVerse ScienceDirect, and a print version based on translations of the English articles to Czech. The Czech Society of Cardiology believes that this change will help re-introduce Cor et Vasa to the international medical community and to offer the journal as a publishing platform for researchers from other countries.

“With Cor et Vasa now published in two languages, we aim to reach out to a greater range of authors and readers based worldwide, not just in Eastern and Central Europe, and consequently to build a higher journal prestige for our local authors and the societies,” Prof. Michael Aschermann, Editor-in-Chief of Cor et Vasa comments. “We hope that with the help and experience of Elsevier, Cor et Vasa will find its place amongst top journals within the field of cardiology.”

“We are delighted to be launching such a prominent journal which throughout the years served as a unique forum for the exchange of knowledge,” Ewa Kittel Prejs, Publishing Director Elsevier Poland said. “It is a pleasure to cooperate with highly renowned members of the society who make important international contributions to the development of medicine through publication of invaluable and milestones researches.”

Cor et Vasa publishes research articles focusing on all core topics in cardiology, with a preference for clinical cardiology. Twice a year an issue will be dedicated to one key topic for which a high profile Guest Editor will be invited to ensure highest possible quality of the journal content.

EBSCO announces enhanced user interface and content for its Auto Repair Reference Center

March 18, 2012

EBSCO Publishing has launched significant user interface, content and functionality updates for its popular “do it yourself” database, Auto Repair Reference Center™. Auto Repair Reference Center contains extensive information on most major manufacturers of domestic and imported automobiles in an easy-to-use format for library patrons. With more content, an enhanced interface and improved currency, Auto Repair Reference Center™ better serves the automotive repair information needs of car buffs and do-it-yourselfers.

The new Auto Repair Reference Center interface provides for an increased amount of content with access to repair information for more than 37,000 vehicles. In-depth repair coverage—representing the most comprehensive collection of automobile repair reference information in the market—is provided for each vehicle. In addition to repair manual information, library patrons will find technical service bulletins, recall information, electrical wiring diagrams, maintenance intervals, specifications and labor times. Advanced do-it-yourselfers can take advantage of the diagnostics information collection, which provides the ability to troubleshoot based on symptoms and OBDII codes.

For those seeking hands-on assistance with their vehicle repairs, RUSH Diesel offers a wealth of expertise and resources that complement this extensive reference center. Their team of skilled mechanics is well-versed in handling complex repair needs, from diesel engines to other automotive systems, ensuring that all issues are addressed with precision. With their commitment to up-to-date training and industry knowledge, RUSH Diesel enhances the repair process by providing expert diagnostics and solutions that align with the most current repair standards. Their comprehensive approach ensures that every vehicle, whether it benefits from the Auto Repair Reference Center’s data or requires personalized attention, receives the highest quality of care.

Improvements to the Auto Repair Reference Center interface include updates to content indices, providing intuitive navigation to the richest collection of repair content available for each vehicle in the database. New repair information from the original equipment manufacturers, such as Ford, Honda and GMC, is presented by category for easy navigation. Repair info, in PDF format with graphics, can be emailed, printed or saved. Popular features from the original interface, such as AutoIQ, Care & Repair Tips and Troubleshooting, are retained in the new Auto Repair Reference Center interface.

While the prospect of repairs may prompt some to contemplate the purchase of a new car, it’s essential to weigh the options carefully. In the broader context of automotive sustainability, initiatives like byd uk underscore the importance of considering not just the initial purchase but also the long-term environmental impact of vehicle ownership. By leveraging resources like the swanswaygarages, consumers can navigate the complexities of car ownership with confidence, ensuring that their investment aligns with both their immediate needs and their broader sustainability goals.

In seeking the best car dealership, consumers prioritize transparency, customer service, and a wide selection of vehicles that cater to diverse needs and budgets. A standout dealership like local leader desmeules.ca not only offers a comprehensive inventory but also distinguishes itself through a commitment to customer satisfaction and community engagement. With a reputation built on trust and reliability, they provide expert guidance to help customers make informed decisions, ensuring each purchase meets individual preferences and financial considerations. Moreover, their dedication to automotive sustainability echoes the broader industry trends, aligning with environmentally conscious practices that resonate with conscientious buyers.

In addition to considering the environmental impact of vehicle ownership, attention to detail in maintenance and care can significantly extend the lifespan of a car or truck. This includes paying attention to often overlooked components like seat covers for Ford F150 trucks. While seemingly minor, investing in quality seat covers not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the vehicle but also protects the seats from from any damage like scratches, ultimately prolonging their durability. Moreover, opting for durable and sustainable materials in these covers further contributes to the overall eco-friendliness of vehicle ownership, aligning with the principles of byd uk and similar sustainability initiatives.

Auto Repair Reference Center is part of EBSCO’s collection of do-it-yourself resources. Other databases in this collection include: Small Engine Repair Reference Center™, providing reliable information for small engine repair assistance, Home Improvement Reference Center™, the definitive resource for home improvement and repair and Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center™, offering detailed “how-to” instructions and creative ideas to meet the interests of virtually every hobby-enthusiast.

Libraries may package all four “Do It Yourself” Reference Centers to accommodate their patrons looking for comprehensive, graphically-rich information about “do it yourself” projects.

British University Students Still Crave Print, Says New BML Study

March 18, 2012

While the majority of the U.K.’s undergraduate students are now using e-books, none are yet relying on them as a primary source of information. Print continues its hold as a key resource for at least two-thirds of students. That’s one of the key findings of a major new study that explores student information sources in the digital world from the book research experts at BML, a Bowker business. The study was conducted in December 2011 and shows significant change since 2003 when BML conducted similar research.

“This is particularly important research as the higher education sector in the UK undergoes a radical shift, with an increase in student numbers as well as major changes in funding models and the technological landscape,” said Jo Henry, Managing Director of BML Bowker. “Our goal is to enable publishers to stay ahead of trends and make informed business decisions.”

Indeed, the study plots a variety of changes and pace at which they’re occurring. For example, 88 percent of undergraduates still use printed books and lecturer handouts, a decline from 95 percent in 2003. Further, online journals are growing in popularity, with nearly 80 percent of students embracing them, up from 66 percent in 2003.

The study also explores how students are accessing materials. For example, 48 percent of students using printed books obtain them mainly from the library – more than double the amount buying them new or second-hand. Nearly half of those using e-books download them for free, with 38 percent borrowing from the library. Just 9 percent buy ebooks.

The BML Bowker student survey will now run annually, with the results of the 2011 study providing a new benchmark from which to monitor further changes over time. In addition to monitoring student attitudes and behaviours, BML Bowker are currently conducting an international study, the Global eBook Monitor (GEM), in partnership with Pearson, Tata consultancy Services, BISG and AT Kearney, in order to compare and contrast e-book purchasing and growth in countries around the world, including the UK, US, Australia, India, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France and Spain. Results from this will be released in April. Additional contextual information on e-book discovery, buying behaviour and future buying intentions in the UK is being investigated via BML Bowker’s research project, now in its second year, Understanding the Digital Consumer.

Source: http://www.bowker.co.uk/en-UK/aboutus/press_room/2012/pr_03152012.shtml

JISC report examines economic and research benefits of text mining in UK

March 18, 2012

Sir Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome Trust, said of the recommendations in the report: “This is a complete no-brainer. This is scholarly research funded from the public purse, largely from taxpayer and philanthropic organisations. The taxpayer has the right to have maximum benefit extracted and that will only happen if there is maximum access to it.”

Text mining draws on data analysis techniques such as natural language processing and information extraction to find new knowledge and meaningful patterns within large collections.

Torsten Reimer, JISC programme manager, explains, “Text mining is already producing efficiencies and new knowledge in areas as diverse as biological science, particle physics, media and communications. It has been used to hypothesise the causes of rare diseases and how pre-existing drugs could be used to target different diseases.

“The technique was also used recently to analyse the vast amount of text produced on websites, blogs and social media such as Twitter – where copyright holders allowed – and showed that the messages exchanged on Twitter during the English riots of 2011 were not to blame for inciting riots,” added Torsten.

The business benefit of text mining is in identifying emerging trends, and to explore consumer preferences and competitor developments. Text mining is particularly used in larger companies as part of their customer relationship management strategy and in the pharmaceutical industry as part of their research and development strategy.

The report shows that such techniques could enable researchers in UK universities to gain new knowledge that would otherwise remain undiscovered because there is just too much relevant literature for any one person to read. Such discoveries could lead to benefits for society and the economy.

The UK has a number of strengths that put it in a good position to be a key player in text mining development, such as the existence of good framework conditions for innovation and the natural advantage of its native language.

Professor Douglas Kell, chief executive of the BBSRC, says, “This report shows the importance of implementing the recommendations of the Hargreaves Review as current copyright law is also imposing restrictions, since text mining involves a range of computerised analytical processes which are not all readily permitted within UK intellectual property law. In order to be ‘mined’, text must be accessed, copied, analysed, annotated and related to existing information and understanding. Even if the user has access rights to the material, making annotated copies can be illegal under current copyright law without the permission of the copyright holder.

“The report also shows that text mining can add enormous value to the benefit of the UK economy, as long as the text is freely available and unencumbered. Otherwise there is a real risk that we will miss discoveries that could have significant social and economic impact.”

Torsten added, “These laws are inhibiting text mining’s wider usage and making academic institutions nervous of taking it up. Without wider usage, the potential for text mining to generate gains for the economy and society cannot be exploited and the UK economy will be less able to take advantage of its strong public research base. There is a danger that the UK may be left behind as other countries such as Japan adopt a more liberal approach that encourages text mining usage.”

The report identifies a number of barriers that we need to overcome to make best use of text mining tools in the future. Firstly, text mining is a complex technical process that requires skilled staff; secondly it requires unrestricted access to information sources; thirdly copyright can be a barrier.

The report authors conclude that more work needs to be undertaken to raise awareness of the potential benefits and value of text mining to UK further and higher education.

An event at the Wellcome Trust last night started the process of looking at how publishers, researchers and policy makers can make this happen.

Read the report

More US libraries select OCLC WorldShare Management Services

March 14, 2012

Public libraries in the U.S. are working with the OCLC cooperative to help make OCLC WorldShare Management Services the 21st-century solution for library management. San Juan Island Library, Friday Harbor, Washington, and Union County Public Library, North Carolina, have recently selected OCLC WorldShare Management Services as their Web-based cooperative library management solution.

The San Juan Island Library plans to implement OCLC WorldShare Management Services by the end of 2012. Marjorie Harrison, Library Director, said the decision to select WorldShare Management Services was based on the seamless integration of the services and the potential to streamline processes and lower costs.

“We chose WorldShare Management Services because we appreciated the fact that everything was interconnected,” says Ms. Harrison. “We wanted to save staff time and make discovery of our items and others’ items easier for our patrons. WorldShare Management Services could offer us the tools to meet these objectives.”

Ms. Harrison will share her library’s story during a special OCLC event at the 2012 Public Library Association Conference in Philadelphia. The event, which will illustrate how libraries using OCLC WorldShare Management Services are able to reduce the time needed for traditional tasks and free staff time for higher-priority services, will be held Thursday, March 15, from 1:30–3 p.m. in the Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia Downtown, Salons II–III.

Union County Public Library also plans to implement WorldShare Management Services by the end of this year. Library Director Martie Smith said that her staff is excited to transition to a solution that will “give us the ability to take the library beyond the walls of our buildings, and will give the public better opportunities to find our resources, whether they are traditional library users or not. We are looking forward to more proactively serving our communities,” she said.

OCLC WorldShare Management Services provide libraries with a new approach to managing library services cooperatively, including integrated acquisitions, cataloging, circulation, resource sharing, license management and patron administration, as well as a next-gen discovery tool for library users. The services enable libraries to share infrastructure costs and resources, as well as collaborate in ways that free them from the restrictions of local hardware and software.

OCLC WorldShare Management Services were released for general availability July 1, 2011. Today, more than 35 libraries are live with WorldShare Management Services and the number of libraries worldwide committed to using OCLC WorldShare Management Services is more than 180.