E-Lert # 300 / Cyberavis no. 300
Friday October 31, 2008 / le vendredi 31 octobre 2008
CARL COMMUNIQUE / COMMUNIQUÉ DE L’ABRC
On October 8, 2008, The Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) held a well-attended reception to mark the retirement and celebrate the achievements of Mr. Timothy Mark, Executive Director of CARL from 1995 to 2008 – a period during which the Association saw significant growth. Public tributes and best wishes were expressed by Leslie Weir (President, CARL), Charles Lowry (Executive Director, ARL, who also shared a letter from Duane Webster, former Executive Director, ARL), Steve Wills (Manager of Legal Affairs, AUCC), William Curran (former University Librarian, Concordia University), William Maes (University Librarian, Dalhousie University), Katherine McColgan (Program Officer, CARL), and Paul Wiens (University Librarian, Queen’s University). The event was capped with a short performance by the Ottawa Welsh Choral Society./
Un coquetel organisé par l'Association des bibliothèques
de recherche du Canada (ABRC) a été tenu le 8 octobre 2008
pour marquer le coup de la retraite ainsi qu'une célébration
des accomplissements de M. Timothy Mark, Directeur général
de l'ABRC des années 1995 à 2008 -- une période de
croissance notable pour l'Association. Des hommages publics et de meilleurs
voeux ont été exprimés par Leslie Weir (Présidente
de l'ABRC), Charles Lowry (Executive Director, ARL, qui s'est aussi communiqué
une lettre de Duane Webster, ancien Executive Director de l'ARL), Steve
Wills (Gestionnaire, affaires juridiques, AUCC), William Curran (ancien
Directeur des bibliothèques, Université Concordia), William
Maes (University Librarian, Dalhousie University), Katherine McColgan (Agente
des programmes, ABRC), et Paul Wiens (University Librarian, Queen's University).
Une brève performance par la Ottawa Welsh Choral Society a conclu
l'événement.
NEWS / NOUVELLES
Participants Ready Agendas For New-Look WIPO Copyright Committee
William New
Intellectual Property Watch, October 31, 2008
World Intellectual Property Organization members gather in Geneva next
week to take up old and new agenda items targeting international policy
on copyright and related rights. Emerging agenda items are limitations and
exceptions to copyright - including a possible proposed treaty on access
for the visually impaired, and possibly artists’ resale rights, orphan
works, collective rights management, and questions of applicable law.
http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/index.php?p=1297
New industry minister faces tech and science challenges
CBC News, October 30, 2008
A long list of science and technology issues awaits new Industry Minister
Tony Clement, who takes over the role from Jim Prentice after Thursday's
cabinet shuffle. Clement's most challenging task will be to reintroduce
controversial copyright reform legislation. His predecessor, Jim Prentice
— who moved to Environment — was heavily criticized when he
introduced Bill C-61 earlier this year. The bill was disparaged for favouring
copyright holders and for potentially criminalizing normal behaviour that
millions of Canadians currently engage in, such as recording television
programs.
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/10/30/tech-clement.html
U. of California at San Diego and U. of British
Columbia Strike a Deal to Study Green IT
The Chronicle of Higher Education, October 30, 2008
The University of California at San Diego and the University of British
Columbia are starting to work together on “green cyberinfrastructure”
— computing techniques that will improve energy efficiency and reduce
greenhouse-gas emissions. The two institutions have signed a memorandum
of understanding that says they will work together on green-IT issues.
http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/3431/uc-san-diego-and-u-of-british-columbia-strike-a-deal-to-study-green-it?utm_source=at&utm_medium=en
Harvard-Google Online Book Deal at Risk
Laura G. Mirviss
The Harvard Crimson, October 30, 2008
Harvard University Library will not take part in Google’s book scanning
project for in-copyright works after finding the terms of its landmark $125
million settlement regarding copyrighted materials unsatisfactory, University
officials said yesterday. Google’s initiative has drawn fire because
the Internet search company plans to digitize books that are still in copyright.
The Association of American Publishers, the trade group that brought the
lawsuit and that represents more than 300 publishing houses, has alleged
that Google’s initiative amounted to copyright infringement on a massive
scale.
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=524989#
Top 50 university ranking: Canadian universities post modest 3.6%
gain in total research income
RE$EARCH MONEY, Volume 22, Number 16, October 29, 2008
The University of Toronto solidified and enhanced its standing as Canada's foremost academic research powerhouse in an otherwise lackluster year for university R&D. U of T posted an 11.9% increase in total research income in 2007 to maintain its #1 spot on the Canada's Top 50 Research Universities ranking, with $854.8 million. The Top 50, on the other hand, barely offset inflation with a tepid 3.6% hike, to just $5.72 billion. That increase was only 0.4% higher than the lowest year in a decade (2005) and the third year in a row in which increases fell below 10%.
SSHRC reviewing peer review practices
RE$EARCH MONEY, Volume 22, Number 16, October 29, 2008
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) has completed a survey on its peer review system that will assist a blue ribbon panel conducting a merit review for publication in early 2009. The panel — led by Dr Michele Lamont of Harvard University — is assessing SSHRC's peer review practices as part of the granting agency's 2008-2010 strategic priorities.
Groundbreaking bilateral initiative: Pace of CCSIP's development
accelerates with successful Montreal summit
RE$EARCH MONEY, Volume 22, Number 16, October 29, 2008
Three years after its original conception, the Canada-California Strategic Innovation Partnership (CCSIP) has completed its third and most productive summit, attracting more than 200 high-powered delegates to Montreal to advance discussions on future bilateral research in key technology areas. Although it still lacks a permanent secretariat or dedicated funding, CCSIP issued a call for proposals (CFP) to solicit specific research areas where collaboration will generate the most productive results.
Google Settles Suit over Book-Scanning Project
Miguel Helft and Motoko Rich
The New York Times, October 28, 2008
Google said Tuesday that it had agreed ( see press
release) to pay $125 million to settle two
copyright lawsuits brought by book authors and publishers over the company’s
plan to digitize and show snippets of in-copyright books and to share digital
copies with libraries without the explicit permission. Under the settlement,
subject to court approval, the money will be used to set up a book registry,
resolve existing claims by authors and publishers and cover legal fees.
Copyright holders will also be able to register their works and receive
payment for book sales and use by individuals and for subscriptions by libraries.
Revenue from those programs will be split between Google, the publishers
and the authors.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/technology/internet/29google.html?_r=2&ref=technology&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
New Book by EDUCAUSE Explores Impact of 'Cloud Computing' on Colleges
Jeffrey R. Young
The Chronicle of Higher Education, October 27, 2008
A new book by EDUCAUSE,
a higher-education technology organization, argues that we’re entering
a new chapter in computing — the era of cloud computing — and
that it’s one that will have implications for all aspects of university
life. The book is called The Tower and The Cloud: Higher Education in the
Age of Cloud Computing. One theme of the book is that cloud computing is
pushing colleges to become more open with their scholarship and software
production. True to that ethos, the organization has made the full text
of the book available free
on its Web site.
http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/index.php?id=3418&utm_source=wc&utm_medium=en
L'"informatique en nuages" s'envole
Laurent Checola
Le Monde, 22 octobre 2008
Plus de 2
milliards de photographies mises en ligne sur Flickr, 100 millions
de clips vidéo disponibles chaque jour sur YouTube, 2
milliards de boîtes de courriels ouvertes en 2008...
Si de tels services sont plébiscités des internautes, notamment
grâce à l'essor
des appareils mobiles, ils modifient en profondeur l'architecture du Web.
Les millions d'octets de données auxquels accèdent les usagers
ne sont en effet pas disponibles sur un ordinateur local, mais sur les serveurs
des entreprises qui fournissent ces services : c'est le cloud computing,
ou "informatique en nuages".
http://www.lemonde.fr/technologies/article/2008/10/22/l-informatique-en-nuages-s-envole_1109586_651865.html#xtor=RSS-651865
The Canadian Urban Libraries Council appoints Jefferson Gilbert
Executive Director
October 19, 2008
The Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC), Canada’s association of large urban public libraries, is pleased to announce that Jefferson Gilbert of Gap. Point. Reach. Inc. [non-profit leadership] will assume the role of Executive Director of CULC on 10 November. Jefferson comes to CULC after many years as Deputy Executive Director of the Ontario Library Association as well as significant experience as an entrepreneur. In addition to an undergraduate degree from Queen’s University in Geography/urban affairs, he also holds an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School and has a Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation.
Innovation : l'écart entre l'Europe et les Etats-Unis est
stabilisé
Annie Kahn
Le Monde, 16 octobre 2008
Les investissements en recherche et développement (R & D) des
entreprises européennes ont plus augmenté en 2007 que ceux
des américaines, selon l'édition 2008 du Tableau de bord de
la Commission européenne sur les investissements industriels en R
& D, publié mercredi 15 octobre. Cette situation survient pour
la première fois depuis 2004, année de la création
de cet outil statistique. La différence est certes minime, puisque
les budgets de R & D des firmes européennes se sont accrus de
8,8 % en 2007 contre 8,6 % pour les américaines. Mais elle indique
que l'écart entre les deux continents ne se creuse plus.
http://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2008/10/16/innovation-l-ecart-entre-l-europe-et-les-etats-unis-est-stabilise_1107690_3234.html
American Libraries lifts access restrictions
October 15, 2008
American Libraries, the flagship magazine of the American Library Association
(ALA), celebrated the first Open Access Day, Oct. 14, by opening up its
content on the Web and making its companion weekly e-newsletter, American
Libraries Direct, available to anyone for the asking. “Opening up
American Libraries’ searchable PDFs at www.ala.org/alonline/
is just the first step toward making all future features and columns available
on the site in HTML format in 2009,” said Leonard Kniffel, editor
in chief.
http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2008/october2008/ALaccess.cfm
ARTICLES
Author’s Rights, Tout de Suite
Charles W. Bailey, Jr.
Digital Scholarship, 2008
Author’s Rights Tout de Suite is designed to give journal article
authors a quick introduction to key aspects of authors’ rights and
to foster further exploration of this topic though liberal use of relevant
references to online documents and links to pertinent Web sites.
http://www.digital-scholarship.org/ts/authorrights.pdf
The Institutional Challenges of Cyberinfrastructure and E-Research
Clifford Lynch
EDUCAUSE Review, Volume 43, Number 6, November / December 2008
One of the central policy problems with data curation and preservation
is that the costs of these activities persist long after the project has
ended and the research grant has been spent. Faculty research can generate
very long-lived and substantial financial responsibilities for the institution.
In cases of grant-funded research, these responsibilities may in fact be
legal obligations that are spelled out in the terms and conditions associated
with the grant. Even lacking such legal requirements, colleges and universities
have a clear policy and ethical obligation to participate in the stewardship
of faculty research. However, the extent of this obligation is controversial,
especially among institutional administrators who are fearful of being assigned
large, new, unfunded stewardship mandates by research funders.
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ERM0867.pdf
Publishing Services: An Emerging Role for Research Libraries
Karla Hahn
EDUCAUSE Review, Volume 43, Number 6, November / December 2008
Excerpt based on an interview conducted by Gerry Bayne, EDUCAUSE multimedia
producer, at the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) 2008 Spring Task
Force Meeting held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. [Listen to the full podcast]
http://connect.educause.edu/Library/EDUCAUSE+Review/PublishingServicesAnEmerg/47452
If No One Sees It, Is It an Invention?
Leslie Berlin
The New York Times, October 25, 2008
IN December, Johnny Chung Lee, then a Ph.D. candidate, posted a five-minute
video on YouTube that became an Internet sensation. Mr. Lee maintains that
posting to YouTube has been an essential part of his success as an inventor.
“Sharing an idea the right way is just as important as doing the work
itself,” he says. “If you create something but nobody knows,
it’s as if it never happened.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/business/26proto.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
Wikipedia and the Meaning of Truth: Why the online encyclopedia's
epistemology should worry those who care about traditional notions of accuracy
Simson L. Garfinkel
Technology Review, November / December 2008
With little notice from the outside world, the community-written encyclopedia Wikipedia has redefined the commonly accepted use of the word "truth." Why should we care? Because Wikipedia's articles are the first- or second-ranked results for most Internet searches. http://www.technologyreview.com/web/21558/?a=f
Wikipedia or Wickedpedia?
Michael J. Petrilli
Education next, Volume 8, Number 2, Spring 2008
Mention Wikipedia within the ivy-covered walls of the academy and you’ll
find no shortage of opinions, ranging from wildly enthusiastic to mildly
apocalyptic. That’s no surprise: the web site, available for free
and developed by an army of volunteers, raises questions that lie at the
heart of scholarship and inquiry.
http://www.hoover.org/publications/ednext/16111162.html
What factors lead to innovation failures? Evidence from a large
dataset
Réjean Landry et al
International Association for Management of Technology (IAMOT) 2008 Proceedings
This paper argues that a better understanding of innovation failures would
contribute to improve our understanding of innovation successes and that
it would carry practical implications for both the research and management
of the innovation process. This issue is addressed by asking three questions:
What are the factors that lead innovation projects to termination? What
is the impact of the degree of novelty of product innovation on the termination
of innovation projects? Are there differences in the factors explaining
the innovation projects that succeed and those that are terminated by managers?
Results provide new evidence that shows that many of the variables explaining
innovation failure also explain innovation success. Managers of innovation
should develop a portfolio management approach that constantly updates and
revises the different innovation projects.
http://kuuc.chair.ulaval.ca/fichier.php/64/WP-2008-02-Landry+Amara+Becheikh-IAMOT.pdf
RESOURCES / RESSOURCES
La numérisation de masse à la BnF
24 octobre 2008
Cette vidéo retrace succinctement les principales étapes
du processus de numérisation, qui transforme un livre physique en
un livre numérique. Le processus de numérisation de masse
a été lancé par la BnF en 2008, avec le soutien du
Centre national du Livre. L’objectif est de numériser près
de 100 000 ouvrages par an. Près de 2500 documents sont mis
en ligne par semaine.
http://www.bnf.fr/pages/zNavigat/frame/catalog.htm?ancre=num_masse.htm
The ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology,
2008
Gail Salaway
EDUCAUSE Centre for Applied Research (ECAR), 2008
This 2008 ECAR research study is a longitudinal extension of the 2004,
2005, 2006, and 2007 ECAR studies of students and information technology.
The study is based on quantitative data from a spring 2008 survey of 27,317
freshmen and seniors at 90 four-year institutions and eight two-year institutions;
student focus groups that included input from 75 students at four institutions;
and analysis of qualitative data from 5,877 written responses to open-ended
questions.
http://www.educause.edu/ers0808/135156
Report on the Forum on the Future of Higher Education in Canada
Ron Saunders
Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN), October 23, 2008
The Forum on the Future of Higher Education in Canada examines key trends
in post-secondary education and discussed policy options in five areas:
access, connections between PSE and the labour market, integration of the
system, new ways to deliver programs, and the need for a pan-Canadian framework.
http://www.cprn.org/doc.cfm?doc=1946&l=en
Momentum: The 2008 report on university research and knowledge
mobilization
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), October 21, 2008
Building on our inaugural 2005 edition, the 2008 report provides an in-depth
account of Canadian R&D with particular emphasis on the activities of
the university sector. It also examines, through analysis of national and
international trends, how several drivers of change will impact university
research in Canada and internationally in the years to come.
http://www.aucc.ca/momentum/index_e.html
Ouverture du portail du RFBNN
18 octobre 2008
Le Réseau francophone des bibliothèques nationales numériques
(RFBNN) a ouvert ce 18 octobre 2008 son nouveau portail. Il permet déjà
la consultation en ligne de documents issus d'une dizaine d'institutions
documentaires de l'espace francophone et devrait s'enrichir de l'apport
de nouvelles bibliothèques. Le Réseau francophone des bibliothèques
nationales numériques (RFBNN) a pour mission de réunir au
sein d’une instance coopérative ouverte les grandes institutions
documentaires de la Francophonie déjà engagées dans
des programmes de numérisation patrimoniale, ou développant
des projets dans ce domaine.
http://www.rfbnn.org/search
Making Canada More Competitive: Improving Major Project Regulation
in Canada
Len Coad
The Conference Board of Canada, October 2008
The burden of regulation can be a key constraint to economic performance.
Governments at all levels in Canada are keenly aware of this burden and
face constant pressure to reduce regulatory requirements. This analysis
looks at regulatory requirements for major resource projects and recent
initiatives to reduce the time required to review projects. The goal is
to contribute to
regulatory efficiency without sacrificing effectiveness. PDF
Knowledge, Creativity and Regional Development
Charlie Karlsson and Börje Johansson
The Royal Institute of Technology Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation
Studies (CESIS), October 2008
Knowledge infrastructure, human capital, talent, creativity, knowledge
generation, knowledge protection, knowledge accumulation, knowledge appropriation,
knowledge flows, etc. as well as the creative use of knowledge are basic
drivers of the specialization of regions and hence of regional development.
The authors discuss the role of knowledge and talent in regional development
seen in both a regional and a global context.
http://cesis.abe.kth.se/documents/WP148.pdf
Report on Academic Library Cataloging Practices
Primary Research Group, 2008
This 254 page report presents data from a survey of the cataloging practices
of approximately 80 North American academic libraries. In more than 630
tables of data and related commentary from participating librarians and
our analysts, the report gives a broad overview of academic library cataloging
practices, related to outsourcing, selection and deployment of personnel,
salaries, the state of continuing education in cataloging, and much more.
http://www.primaryresearch.com/200810151-Libraries--Information-Science.html
The Survey of Academic Library Use of Instructional Technology
Primary Research Group, 2008
This survey examines academic library purchasing levels and evaluation
of instructional technology for use in information literacy and other forms
of in-library education. More than 80 college libraries provided data that
are broken out by size and type of college for easier
benchmarking. The 125-page report provides more than 365 tables of data
and commentary. Among the topics covered: purchasing for and managing
library computer labs, use of computer response (clicker) technology, use
of interactive and other whiteboards, use of various internet related technologies.
The report also considers the library role on college technology committees
and data on library instructors’ preparedness in the use of library
educational technologies.
http://www.primaryresearch.com/200810201-Libraries--Information-Science.html
EVENTS / ÉVÉNEMENTS
Powering Innovation: a National Summit
Toronto, Ontario, November 3 and 4, 2008
ORION and CANARIE - Ontario’s and Canada’s advanced research,
education and innovation networks – will hold a national Summit. Join
distinguished Canadian and global leaders and innovators in science, research,
education and information technology to discuss and showcase new and innovative
technologies that are transforming the way we conduct research, collaborate,
teach and learn. Keynote addresses and sessions will cover cyberinfrastructure,
emerging trends in research and learning, global partnerships and collaborations,
etc.
http://www.canarieorionsummit.ca/
How to Eliminate E-Resource Licensing Headaches and Reduce
Risks
SWETSWISE free Webinar, November 11, 2008, at 11 am or 2 pm ET
E-resources are essential to the research efforts of your institution's
faculty and users. Libraries that have already "taken the plunge"
with expensive ERM technology report they are struggling with data population
headaches and too many complex publisher license models. the Webinar will
be of interest to: Library Directors/Managers/Coordinators; those responsible
for Acquisitions, Licensing, e-Resources, Collections Development, Technical
Services or Access Services. Duration: 30 minutes + time for questions.
Tue,
Nov 11, 2008 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST / Tue,
Nov 11, 2008 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST
IASSIST/IFDO 2009: Mobile Data and the Life Cycle
Tampere, Finland, May 26-29, 2009
The 35th Annual International Association for Social Science Information
Service and Technology (IASSIST) conference will be held in collaboration
with the International Federation of Data Organizations for the Social Science
(IFDO). The theme of this conference, Mobile Data and the Life Cycle
is intended to stimulate discussion around creation, collection, sharing,
storage, preservation, dissemination, confidentiality, licensing and access
to data in a world that is becoming increasingly mobile. In addition, research
is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary and global in nature. Key to
success in this new order is establishing standards and best practices at
all stages of the life cycle in order to facilitate the free and easy movement
of information between hardware devices, software platforms, individuals,
governments, or organizations.
http://www.fsd.uta.fi/iassist2009/index.html
