Nature special issue on Impact. - worth reading!

Nature special issue on Impact..
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Editorial: The maze of metrics http://www.nature.com/news/the-maze-of-impact-metrics-1.13952

Suggests that area is complex with many possible and implemented indicators which needs to be carefully considered to interpret correctly.

Dance, Amber Impact: Pack a punch http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/articles/10.1038/nj7471-397a

Funders look for research “with a punch”. Tips on how to stand out from the crowd in your application.

Hahnel, Mark Referencing: The reuse factor http://www.nature.com/news/referencing-the-reuse-factor-1.13936

The founder of figshare describes the importance of good data management and developments including figshare, Research Data Alliance (founded by ANDS) and the importance of raw data to be made available in papers (eg F1000 Research).

Shotton, David Publishing: Open citations http://www.nature.com/news/publishing-open-citations-1.13937

Argues that there is great benefit in make bibliographic citation data freely available. Describes the Open Citations Corpus, including challenges that will need to be addressed for it to be sustainable. For more see http://opcit.eprints.org   

Reich , Eugenie Science publishing: The golden club http://www.nature.com/news/science-publishing-the-golden-club-1.13951

Suggests that publishing in a prestige journal (eg Nature) is gives highest reputation and impact. When established, however, there are more options. She notes that in some disciplines, such as Astronomy, open access through preprints is the norm.

Owens, Brian Research assessments: Judgement day http://www.nature.com/news/research-assessments-judgement-day-1.13950

Mock REFs, real REF in the UK – universities are tailoring their activities around rankings. Mentions Italy, Australia – with a supportive quote for assessment from Aidan. Describes concerns from at University and College Union (London) survey of academics and fears that the assessment  “signals a preference for short-term, applied work over basic research that has no obvious, immediate public benefit”. Gives pluses and minuses.

Canberra Library Tribe

Canberra Library Tribe. Interested in joining a Library Soiree to hear about the delights of working in public, special and government libraries in the ACT region and mingle?  The Canberra Library Tribe has organised a “Go on a date with 10 librarians in one night” event – see http://www.facebook.com/CanberraLibraryTribe?fref=ts  and http://libraryimpact.com/  Congratulations to this new group on their activities!

ALIA ACT midwinter dinner and awards

The dinner was held on 4 July 2013 and was an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of a number of individuals.

ACT'S FAVOURITE LIBRARIAN: Catherine Jordan.  Catherine is Librarian at the Australian National Botanic Gardens – she was nominated over ten times, with all of her nominators discussing her extensive knowledge of her specialist library collection and the amazing service she provides for everyone who enters her library. We were delighted to congratulate her for winning this award.

ALIA OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION: GAIK KHONG. Gaik has made a tremendous contribution organizing many ACT ALIA events and as a member of the ALIA Special Libraries Advisory Committee. She is passionate about librarians and enthusiastically shares her knowledge with her colleagues.  She has made a sustained contribution to activities of ALIA in the ACT and inspired her colleagues and fellow ALIA members.

SILVER PIN: Karna O’Dea’s service to ALIA was recognised with a silver pin. She has served for five terms on ALIA committees, been a key organiser of many events and contributed her enthusiasm for the profession and her colleagues to the wider community as well as to ALIA members. She was a fabulous contributor to the value of libraries symposium last year.

Thanks to Vanessa Little, ACT Library Director and immediate past president of ALIA, for giving out the awards and the Sherrey and Gaik for organising the dinner.

Scholarly reading in the digital age by Professor Carol Tenopir

Scholarly reading in the digital age: presentation 

by Professor Carol Tenopir, Chancellor's Professor, School of Information Sciences, University of Tennessee. 

This was a fascinating presentation – Carol’s research spans decades and the comparative data collected over time provides, thanks to carol’s thoughtful analysis, many great insights into reading, publishing and the role of libraries.

Thanks to Charles Sturt University, the University of New South Wales, Australian National University and John Metcalfe Memorial Foundation for bringing Carol to Australia and supporting the research.

A short summary follows.

She talked about her research, with Donald King, into reading and scholarship from 1997 to present including “Critical incident of last reading” for which the following questions were asked:

·         the SCHOLARLY ARTICLE YOU READ MOST RECENTLY, even if you had read it previously

·         the BOOK FROM WHICH YOU READ MOST RECENTLY

·         the OTHER PUBLICATION YOU READ MOST RECENTLY

From the studies the 5 conclusions were:

1. Academics read a lot
2. Scholarly reading is essential
3. Library e-journal collections have made a difference
4. Book reading is different
5. Successful academics read more

Against these 5 conclusions she then presented fascinating deep research based on studies of Australia, the US and UK.

Average readings of academics are high:

n=2117, 6 UK institutions, June 2011

n=837, 5 US institutions, January 2013

n=133, 2 AU institutions, 2012

As are those of students:

n=133, staff

n=352, postgrads

n=628, undergrads

At 2 AU universities, 2012

Scholarly readings are essential to academic work:

The top outcomes of reading are:

1.       Inspired new ideas

UK: 53.7%            AU: 53.5%           US: 53.4%

2.       Added to my knowledge

US: 59.8%            AU: 56.4%

3.       Improved the results of my work

UK: 37.8%            US: 37.2%            AU: 31.7%

4. Changed/narrowed/broadened my focus

UK: 28.1%            US: 22.8%            AU: 18.8%

Libraries are a vital source of readings:

UK, n=1189, June 2011;
US, n=609 January 2013

AU, n=105, 2012

However reading occurs primarily in the office or laboratory or home and is increasingly e rather than print.

Academic staff spend over 20 eight hour work days reading library provided material.

n=100, 2 AU universities, 2012; n=1071, 5 US universities, January 2013; n=2117, 6 UK universities, June 2011

Finally 

Portrait of a successful academic

In last 2 years:

Has won an award and published four or more items.

• Reads more of every type of material

• Spends more time per reading

• Uses the library for articles

• Gets books from both the library and purchases

• Obtains other publications from the Internet

• Occasionally participates and creates social media content