| Search | Back Issues | Author Index | Title Index | Contents |
|
D-Lib Magazine
|
|
|
Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) Launches Series That Features DPC Projects
Contributed by: The Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) currently has twenty-eight organisational members. Given that they are motivated enough to join the DPC, it will come as no surprise that they also tend to be actively involved in a whole range of interesting digital preservation projects. Details of these are available from <http://www.dpconline.org/graphics/join/projects.html>. However, the very size and diversity of these projects can also make it difficult to keep up to date with what's happening and to become aware of what is potentially of value to similar work, so the DPC has developed a new format aimed at highlighting individual projects likely to be of general interest. From January 2006, we are featuring an individual DPC member's project, using an interview format. The first of these is SHERPADP, a project led by the Arts and Humanities Data Service (AHDS). The project is investigating cost effective methods of incorporating digital preservation into institutional repositories. The interview with Andrew Wilson, AHDS Preservation Services and Projects Manager, is available at <http://www.dpconline.org/graphics/join/sherpa.html> The intention of the series is to profile the work of individual DPC members and to present enough detail to provide interested individuals with answers to questions they may want to ask about specific projects, with a link to further information via the project website. This is a way of complementing more formal mechanisms, such as DPC Forums and Briefing meetings, which include presentations from particular projects in the programmes, and also the current awareness bulletin What's New in Digital Preservation? (http://www.dpconline.org/graphics/whatsnew/), which provides a general summary of activities and events. Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) Postdoctoral Fellowship in Scholarly Information Resources
Contributed by: The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) invites application from scholars who have received their doctorates in any discipline in the Humanities to apply for its 2006 Postdoctoral Fellowship in Scholarly Information Resources. The program, now in its third year, seeks to provide humanists with an intensive, intellectually rigorous introduction to the issues facing libraries, archives, and institutions of higher learning as they meet the exciting challenges produced by increased reliance on and integration of digital scholarly research tools. The goal of the program is to encourage new scholars to investigate and gain experience in those areas that offer opportunities to develop meaningful linkages between disciplinary scholarship, libraries, archives, and evolving digital tools. A full description of the fellowship is available at <http://www.clir.org/fellowships/postdoc/postdoc.html>. The genesis of the fellowship program was a growing awareness among library directors, scholars, and teaching faculty that, in the digital era, it is increasingly important that librarians and scholars become active collaborators in developing effective approaches to the interrelated domains of knowledge production and knowledge stewardship. Such collaboration ensures preservation of and enables broadened access to a wide range of research materials and primary sources; allows students to benefit from the ever-increasing range and types of materials available to them; encourages inter-departmental partnerships in curricular development; and assures the integration of campus libraries and collections into the teaching missions of higher education. Fellows begin their appointments with an intensive two-week seminar at Bryn Mawr College, where participants are introduced to the history of and current challenges facing librarianship and higher education. The seminar includes presentations by leaders of related professions, and tours, workshops, and presentations at the Library of Congress. Fellows spend one to two years at a participating institution working on specific projects and on various issues facing libraries, archives, special collections, and digital resources; fellows are also required to attend monthly synchronous virtual seminars and lectures with guest speakers and to maintain a professional portfolio of their work. Fellows have been placed at Yale University, Bryn Mawr College, Lehigh University, University of Virginia, Princeton University, University of Alabama, North Carolina University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Johns Hopkins University, and University of Southern California. The five sponsoring institutions offering fellowships in 2006 are North Carolina University Libraries; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; the Johns Hopkins University; the University of Nebraska at Lincoln; and the University of Virginia. Fellowship positions vary; details on each are available at <http://www.clir.org/fellowships/postdoc/postdoc.html>. To date, the program has awarded 17 fellowships that have led to a range of successful collaborations between librarians, archivists, the fellows, and teaching faculty. Fellows have gone on to an assortment of career paths. For example, Megan Norcia spent her fellowship year at Lehigh University working with Special Collections and the Digital Library Team there to create the "I remain," A Digital Archive of Letters, Manuscripts and Ephemera project. She worked with faculty members in several disciplines to implement use of the archive in the classroom and supported instructional technology efforts, participated in the information literacy initiative, and presented at and attended faculty development sessions. Ms. Norcia is currently an assistant professor of children's and young adult literatures at SUNY Brockport where she is building alliances with library and technology services for a project on the use of archival children's picture books and the student production of original illustrations for stories by children. Patricia Hswe, a specialist in Slavic and East European Studies, is in the second of her two-year fellowship at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where her work includes the development of a database-driven inventory of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian digital projects, and the digitization of the Zdenka and Stanley B. Winters Collection of Czech and Slovak Posters, 1920-1991. Her work on the latter includes constructing metadata about the posters, working on the resolution of copyright issues, developing a Web site that addresses the different subject areas of the posters, and maintaining a blog on Czech and Slovak posters. Ms. Hswe is simultaneously pursuing a Master's of Library and Information Science at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at UIUC. We encourage potential applicants and colleagues in the profession to view examples of fellows' work at <http://www.brynmawr.edu/clirfellows/participants.htm>. Applicants for the CLIR Postdoctoral Fellowship must have received their Ph.Ds in a field of the humanities within the last five years. The deadline for application is February 24, 2006. 2006 International Paper Contest on International Digital Libraries and Information Science & Technology Advances in Developing Countries
Contributed by: The American Society for Information Science & Technology (ASIST), International Information Issues Special Interest Group (SIG-III), has announced its seventh competition for papers to be submitted for the 2006 Annual Meeting in November. The theme of this year's contest is: "Information Realities: Shaping the digital future for all?" Papers sought may address either country or regional level issues on e-governance, rural/urban digital divide, information infrastructure, Indigenous Knowledge (IK) and digital libraries, information organization, management, access, retrieval etc. and factors affecting these, information seeking and use and information technology, social equity and development among others. Papers will be selected through a peer review process by a panel of international judges. The judging criteria will be based on:
There will be six winners all of whom have a chance to win a two-year individual membership in ASIST, with the first-place winner also being sponsored to attend ASIST Annual Conference to be held in Austin, Texas, from November 3-9, 2006. To qualify to submit a paper, you must be a developing country national residing in a developing country. Authors are invited to submit manuscripts, not to exceed 5,000 words by March 31, 2006 to be sent to Jonathan Levitt at <jonathan@levitt.net>. For more information, please visit the Paper Contest section of the web site located at <http://www.asis.org/SIG/SIGIII/index.htm>. In the NewsExcerpts from Recent Press Releases and AnnouncementsIndiana University Libraries and the University of Michigan University Library Receive Mellon GrantJanuary 13, 2006 announcement from Eric Bartheld , Indiana University - "Indiana University Libraries and the University of Michigan University Library have received a grant of $438,000 from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to develop open-source tools to integrate access to subscription-based online resources into course management software." "Creation of the tools will provide a mechanism for faculty to provide students with scholarly information and resources, and in turn, for students to access such materials." "The project will develop new tools and enhance existing tools within Sakai to provide easy access to licensed electronic full-text resources. The work will build upon the IU-developed Twin Peaks Navigator, that allows for easy searching and linking of library resources within Sakai, including librarian-developed subject guides. " "Jon Dunn of Indiana University and Susan Hollar of the University of Michigan are co-directors of the project. The grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will support the project over an 18-month period and will provide for project management, programming, interface design, and evaluation, as well as support for necessary travel, meetings, and computer hardware." "Indiana University and the University of Michigan were founding partners of Sakai, community source software for collaboration and learning in higher education." For more information, please see <http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/projects/sakai/>. Partnership Sponsors Series of Professional Development Web CastsJanuary 9, 2006 - "The Partnership for a Nation of Learners (PNL), a leadership initiative of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), will sponsor a series of five, monthly one-hour professional development web casts designed to help local museums, libraries and public broadcasters work collaboratively to address local needs." "The web casts build on the highly successful Partnership for a Nation of Learners Community Collaboration Videoconference in November 2005. Approximately 2000 public broadcasters, librarians, museum professionals and community representatives participated in the video conference at 72 sites across the country – all focused on how to work together to leverage their assets and address community needs...." To see a list of the scheduled webcasts, please see the full press release at <http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/current/010606b.htm>. FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Increases Funding for Institute of Museum and Library ServicesJanuary 9, 2006 - "President Bush recently signed the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which provides fiscal year 2006 appropriations for the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Act gives IMLS programs and administration $247,144,000, a 2.7 percent increase over FY 2005. The Institute's grants and leadership activities help to create and sustain a nation of learners, building the capacity of libraries and museums to serve their communities." "The Institute's library programs will receive $210,597,000, an increase of $4,646,000 or 2.3 percent. Library programs at IMLS include Grants to States, National Leadership Grants, the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian program, and Native American/Native Hawaiian Library Services grants. These programs enhance libraries' ability to serve the public by supporting advances in technology, professional development, community outreach and access, and the development and dissemination of best practices. Libraries of all types – public, school, academic, archival, research – are eligible for IMLS library programs." "Museum programs will receive $36,547,000, an increase of $1,823,000 or 5.2 percent. This includes $842,000 for the launch of the African American History and Culture program. Authorized by the National Museum of African American History and Culture Act and intended to strengthen African American museum services, this new program will award its first grants in 2006." "Other museum programs funded by the FY06 appropriations act include Museums for America, National Leadership Grants, 21st Century Museum Professionals, Conservation Project Support, Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services, Museum Assessment Program, and Conservation Assessment Program. As with its library programs, the Institute's museum programs focus on the creation of public value. Museums receive assistance for a variety of activities, all aimed at sustaining cultural heritage, supporting life-long learning, and providing service to their communities." For more information, please see the full press release at <http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/current/010606.htm>. The University of Pittsburgh Announces Establishment of Minority Health ArchiveJanuary 6, 2006 - "The University of Pittsburgh's Center for Minority Health (CMH) of the Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH) and the University Library System (ULS) have joined to develop the Minority Health Archive (MHA) as an online repository for minority health documents.... " "...The MHA takes full advantage of the latest information technology being used by the University of Pittsburgh Library System. In addition to being the first electronic archive devoted solely to minority health and health disparity research, it has special features that allow individuals outside of the university to post resources to the archive for approval by the editors." "...The MHA is made possible by EPrints software, a tool for building collections of digital documents. Through its 'author self-archiving' feature, the software provides an easy way for registered users to deposit a digital document in a publicly accessible Website at no cost and in less than 10 minutes through a simple Web interface. Scholars can use this software to disseminate research results rapidly and to foster subject-specific collaborative global research communities. For more information on EPrints, see <http://www.eprints.org>." For more information about the MHA, please see the full press release at <http://newsbureau.upmc.com/Medsurg3/CMH-MHA.htm>. OCLC acquires the assets of Openly InformaticsJanuary 3, 2006 - "OCLC Online Computer Library Center, the world's largest library cooperative, has purchased the assets of Openly Informatics, a leading provider of linking software and services for the library market, so that both organizations can strengthen their products and services to benefit OCLC libraries and clients of Openly Informatics." "Openly Informatics' 1.2 million-record database of linking metadata for electronic resources will be used to enrich OCLC WorldCat, the world's largest database of bibliographic information. The enhanced records will improve WorldCat applications such as FirstSearch WorldCat, WorldCat Resource Sharing, WorldCat Collection Analysis and Open WorldCat." "OCLC WorldCat, in turn, will extend the Openly Informatics database by contributing metadata covering materials in other electronic formats, including electronic books, digital audio books, digital theses and dissertations." For more information, please see the full press release at <http://www.oclc.org/news/releases/200601.htm>. Andy Powell joins Eduserv as Head of Development for the Eduserv FoundationJanuary 2006 - "Eduserv is delighted to announce that Andy Powell has joined the Eduserv Foundation as Head of Development." "Andy joins Eduserv from UKOLN, where he advised JISC and the wider UK education and cultural heritage communities on the use of technical standards for online resources." "At Eduserv, Andy will complement the Foundation's existing external research grant programmes by building up a small internal development unit." "Andy commented 'I'm very excited by this opportunity to take the Foundation forward – I believe it can make a major contribution to the effective development, delivery and use of e-learning, digital library and middleware services within the education community.' He added 'I look forward to working closely with colleagues in the UK, international e-learning and digital library communities. We will be building the standards and specifications we need and to encourage their adoption in ways that offer effective services to our end-users'." For more information, please contact Sadie-Jayne Blackmore at <sadie-jayne.blackmore@eduserv.org.uk>. Health Awards for Libraries: January 31, 2006 Application DeadlineDecember 20, 2005: "The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) announced today that applications continue to be submitted for the 2006 Health Awards for Libraries. All libraries in the United States are eligible to submit an electronic application at <http://www.nclis.gov/award/healthawards06.html>. Applications will be received through January 31, 2006." "The awards, to be presented in May 2006 at the National Library of Medicine, are designed to mobilize the resources of libraries to help citizens learn how to live healthy lifestyles and to provide citizens with consumer health information, particularly when they require information in a critical or unusual situation. The 2006 NCLIS Health Awards will recognize libraries that excel in providing these resources." "A winner in each state will be determined by a panel of local judges selected by the state librarian. From these state winners, ten finalist libraries will be chosen by a panel of NCLIS Commissioners. Three recognized leaders in national policy on healthcare, Joseph Califano, Edward J. Hill and Louis W. Sullivan, will select the $20,000 grand prize winner. The other nine finalists will receive prizes of $1,000 each." For more information, please see the full press release in PDF at <http://www.nclis.gov/news/pressrelease/pr2005/2005-13HealthAwardsDeadline.pdf>. DLF Aquifer Invites Public Review of Metadata GuidelinesDecember 16, 2005 - "The Digital Library Federation's Aquifer Initiative is seeking public comment on a draft set of implementation guidelines for the Metadata Object Description Schema (MODS). The guidelines will help developers of digital collections of cultural heritage and humanities-based scholarly resources create metadata records that can be easily exchanged and shared, whether by the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata harvesting (OAI PMH) or by other means." "Metadata are created to convey essential information about an electronic resource. The MODS guidelines pertain to descriptive metadata such at title, author, or genre that help scholars and researchers find and identify needed resources in digital library collections. At present, there are a handful of descriptive metadata schemes in common use, but they are loosely defined and are implemented in many ways. These variations reduce the effectiveness of search and retrieval. The MODS guidelines aim to address this problem by providing a limited set of suitable implementation choices for cultural materials." "The guidelines include a general overview of requirements and recommendations, advice concerning the attributes common to all MODS elements, discussions of each element in the MODS 3.1 Schema, and seven full examples of MODS records that meet these guidelines." "The draft guidelines are available at http://www.diglib.org/aquifer/DLF_MODS_ImpGuidelines_ver4.pdf. Comments are due by January 20, 2006 and should be sent to DLF-MODS-GUIDELINES-COMMENTS-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU." For more information, please see <http://www.diglib.org/>. NCLIS Study Recognizes New Roles for Libraries in AfricaDecember 13. 2005 - "The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) today announced the publication of The Role of Libraries in HIV/AIDS Information Dissemination in Sub-Saharan Africa. The report is available on the NCLIS Web site (http://www.nclis.gov) and a limited number of print copies are available on request (info@nclis.gov)." "Believing that a key weapon in the battle against the HIV/AIDS pandemic is education and information targeted directly to the general public, especially young people, the Commission set the goal of this study to explore how information is – or can be – disseminated in parts of the world where the impact of HIV/AIDS has been the greatest, and the resources of the countries impacted have been the smallest. Nowhere is information so crucial and nowhere is information for the general population so lacking as in Africa." "Because libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa do not exist in the same way that Western societies perceive libraries, a broad definition of libraries, including "library-like" institutions, was used to measure current and potential information dissemination centers. The recommendations of the report are intended to be general enough to apply to other developing countries, or even in parts of developed countries such as the United States – wherever there are insufficient libraries and information institutions to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse people." For more information, the News Release can be also be viewed by linking to <http://www.nclis.gov/news/pressrelease/pr2005/2005-12LibrariesAfrica.pdf>. Introducing the Bibliocasting listservDecember 9, 2005. Announced by Gerry McKiernan, Iowa State University."The bibliocasting listserv (bibliocasting@listserv.syr.edu) is dedicated to a discussion of streaming media in the library environment. This list grows out of the increasing popularity of "Podcasting," or the use of RSS and the Internet to download audio programs (like audio blogs) to computers and MP3 players." "So what to post on the list? Examples of how libraries can build on the growing excitement of Podcasting; Questions on how libraries can use podcasting and other multimedia information they create to promote themselves and provide better service; Questions on how to podcast and other technical questions on streaming media including QuickTime Streaming, RealProducer, and others. In addition, the list will include postings of key articles, reports, and news about podcating and other streaming media in general and in the the library context." "Bottom Line: We are looking to build a community of individuals interested in the application of multimedia in the library environment." Copyright 2006 © Corporation for National Research InitiativesTop |
Contents doi:10.1045/january2006-inbrief |