McMaster partners with Portico

From the Portico press release

Portico, a not-for-profit digital preservation service, introduced three expansions of its preservation work at its third annual Participants’ Meeting, held during the American Library Association Annual Conference in Anaheim, California. In direct response to preservation concerns expressed by libraries and publishers, Portico is moving beyond e-journal preservation.

• Portico now preserves scholarly e-books.
At ALA, Elsevier, a leading scientific journal, database, and book publisher, announced an agreement to preserve in the Portico archive e-book content available in ScienceDirect. (seehttp://elsevier.com/wps/find/authored_newsitem.careers/companynews05_00960). Portico is in active discussions with several other e-book publishers and will announce additional agreements as these are finalized.

• Portico has also initiated preservation activities for digitized newspapers. Discussions with a number of leading publishers of current and historical digitized newspapers are underway, and we will keep the community apprised as these move ahead.

• Portico also announced a new service to enable libraries to preserve locally created/digitized electronic scholarly materials within the Portico archive. Fifteen institutions have agreed to work with Portico in the introductory phase of this service. These institutions include:

° American University
° Baylor University
° Binghamton University
° Brigham Young University
° California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
° City University of New York
° Colorado State University
° McMaster University
° Middlebury College
° Northwestern University
° Trinity College, Dublin
° University of British Columbia
° University of Notre Dame
° University of Queensland
° Vassar College

Portico expects to open this service to interested libraries in mid-2009.

For more than a decade the scholarly community has expressed concerns about preservation, in particular for e-journals, and Portico’s digital preservation service was launched in late 2005 in direct response to this need. As new preservation needs are brought to Portico’s attention by both libraries and publishers, Portico is working to respond to these needs in ways that allow us to more fully meet our mission to preserve scholarly literature published in electronic form and to ensure that these materials remain accessible to future generations of scholars, researchers, and students. Portico’s new activities will proceed as preservation of the more than 7,700 journals committed to the Portico archive continues.

To obtain additional information about participation in Portico or about these preservation activities see www.portico.org or send an email to participation@portico.org.

Regards,

Ken

Kenneth DiFiore, MLS 
Associate Director of Library Relations, Portico
tel: 609 986-2276
fax: 609 951-0020
email: ken.difiore@portico.org
web: www.portico.org

Pictures: McMaster/Lulu/Kirtas partnership celebration

Pictures from our celebration of our partnership with Lulu/Kirtas can be found at:  http://flickr.com/photos/macetg/

Included are pics of Bob Young (Lulu) and Lotfi Belkhir (Kirtas)

Enjoy!

McMaster University Library/Kirtas/Lulu Partnership

Imagine owning a copy of Galileo’s 1632 book, Dialogo di Galileo Galilei (Galileo’s Dialogue), challenging the traditional thinking that the universe revolves around the earth. At the time, the book and its concepts were so controversial, that Galileo was convicted of heresy in 1633 and the book was placed on the Index of Forbidden Books.

Or perhaps a first-edition, autographed copy of H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine is a more suitable choice for your own personal library?

These books and more will be made available to the public, beginning this fall, through a unique partnership between McMaster University Library and U.S.-based companies Kirtas Technologies, Inc. and Lulu.com.

With the support of Kirtas’ Canadian reseller Ristech, McMaster University will be using the Kirtas APT BookScan 2400RA to digitize rare, out-of-print books. Once the books are digitized and processed, McMaster faculty, students and staff will have free access to digital copies of the entire collection of scanned materials. The world will be able to access McMaster’s unique collections online, and even purchase as print-on-demand books from Lulu.com.

“We have significant collections that we would like to make more widely accessible through digitization,” said Jeffrey Trzeciak, University Librarian at McMaster University. “The digitization technology provided by Kirtas, the support and service we receive from Ristech, and the ability of Lulu to pull it all together increases both the electronic availability and the availability of the books in print for those who choose print on demand.”

As the publisher of these unique books, the Library also hopes to generate revenue through the print-on-demand service.

“We see more and more universities taking advantage of the print-on-demand option that is enabled through the digitization process,” said Kirtas Founder and CEO Lotfi Belkhir. “Not only are these institutions sharing their unique collections, but they are also creating a revenue stream that allows them to reinvest in their access and preservation efforts.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our customers to obtain books that may not be easy to find,” said Lulu.com CEO and Founder Bob Young. “In addition to being a place to publish, Lulu is a vast marketplace where anyone can buy books on just about any subject.” A native of Hamilton, Ontario, the affiliation puts Young in familiar territory.

McMaster University Library will be hosting a launch event celebrating their entry into mass digitization and publishing on Monday, May 26th at 9:30 a.m. The event will take place in the Mills Learning Commons at Mills Memorial Library and will include a demonstration of the machine and display some of the Library’s rare book collection.

To keep up to date on this project, please visit, http://digi.blog.lib.mcmaster.ca

Employment Opportunity: GIS Librarian

GIS Librarian

McMaster University Libraries is seeking an energetic, innovative and service-oriented individual with excellent communication skills to fill the position of GIS Librarian. The successful candidate will be a creative and self-motivated person who works well with colleagues in a challenging and changing environment.

This is a full-time continuing appointment reporting to the Director of Library Services, Maps, Data and GIS.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the optimal development, organization, access and use of digital geospatial information and related data resources in support of the learning, teaching and research missions of McMaster University.

The incumbent will:

   * develop, manage and deliver library services related to geospatial

     data

   * act as the Liaison Librarian for Geographic Information Systems to

     faculty in all disciplines and work with faculty to integrate

     library GIS and data resources and services into the curriculum

   * provide reference services, consultation and/or advice on the use

     of GIS and geospatial data to support research and teaching activities

   * provide instruction to library patrons in the use of GIS software

     and data

   * develop and maintain a GIS services delivery system and web site

   * lead library service development in GIS and in emerging

     neogeography technologies

   * manage collection development, organization and maintenance of the

     Library’s spatial data collections

   * participate in initiatives related to the collection, organization

     and maintenance of GIS data generated by McMaster University

     researchers and affiliates

   * assist with the provision of twenty-first century fluencies

     training (including spatial and numeric literacy)

   * provide reference services and support related to the Lloyd Reeds

     Map Collection and the Library Data Service as required

   * keep up with emerging trends in GIS and other library-related

     information technologies, and demonstrate a commitment to

     professional issues in librarianship through participation in

     professional organizations, research and publication

The successful candidate must hold a MLS from an ALA-accredited library school or information science program. The preferred candidate will also hold a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject area such as Geography or Environmental Science with a major in GIS, or additional GIS qualifications such as a community college diploma in GIS, or two (2) years of professional experience relevant to the position.

The successful candidate will have pertinent knowledge of and experience in the use of GIS and a variety of kinds of maps and geospatial data, as well as a knowledge of and experience working with general academic library tools and resources. The successful candidate must also demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the potential to excel as an instructor. A current working knowledge of GIS software, particularly ESRI products, is expected. The ability to convey complicated information to a variety of end-users at different technical levels is essential.

The preferred candidate should demonstrate a high degree of computer literacy and a demonstrated interest in geographic information technologies and their applications to academic libraries. The candidate should demonstrate a commitment to developing, maintaining and sharing technical expertise, and the ability to work creatively, collaboratively and effectively, both as a team member and independently.

This position is included in the McMaster University Faculty Association (MUFA) for Librarians. The appointment will be made at Level 2, Annual Salary Floor $50, 556; Ceiling $82, 072. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The position includes a competitive and comprehensive benefit package.

The Position Responsibility Statement is available from the Library Human Resources Office. Further information about the Library is available from its web site at http://library.mcmaster.ca/. McMaster University Libraries is the first Canadian library to be awarded the prestigious Excellence in Academic Libraries Award from the Association of College and Research Libraries in 2008 (http://library.mcmaster.ca/php/blog.php?id=832&display=full <http://library.mcmaster.ca/php/blog.php?id=832&display=full>).

Applications must be received by June 13, 2008.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be considered first for this position. McMaster University is strongly committed to employment equity within its community and to recruiting a diverse faculty and staff. The University encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, members of visible minorities, Aboriginal persons, members of sexual minorities and persons with disabilities.

Librarians who wish to be considered for this opportunity should send their Curriculum Vitae with a covering letter and the names of three references to:

Library Human Resources Office

Mills Memorial Library, Room 209

1280 Main Street West

Hamilton, Ontario

Fax: 905.522.0691 ext. 24722

E-mail: libjobs@mcmaster.ca 

McMaster University Libraries receive 2008 Excellence in Academic Libraries

I am very pleased and proud to announce that the McMaster University Libraries are the recipient of the *2008 Excellence in Academic Libraries Award* from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL).

The press release announcing the award is available at
http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2008/january2008/academic08.htm.

Sponsored by ACRL and Blackwell’s Book Services, the award “recognizes the staff of a college, university and community college library for programs that deliver exemplary services and resources to further the educational mission of the institution.” Mary Ellen Davis, president of ACRL calls the award a “tribute to a library and its staff for the outstanding services, programs and leadership they provide to their students, administrators, faculty and community.”

The recipients are selected by committee after an extensive application and review process. The commitee selected McMaster as it “exemplifies a successful transformation from a traditional research library to an innovative, user-centered library using technological advances to accomplish its goals,”

Over the past 18 months the libraries have moved forward thoughtfully in response to the significant changes that have taken place in how students learn and how faculty teach and conduct their research. In some cases, we have taken calculated risks designed to place us at the forefront of academic librarianship in North America. Receiving this award is an indication that the McMaster University Libraries are indeed leading the way!  McMaster University can say proudly that it has —and deserves —the very best in academic libraries.

University Library and Classroom Audio Visual Services merger

The McMaster University Library and McMaster’s Classroom Audio Visual Services have merged.  I’m very pleased about the merger and look forward to our organizations working much closer together as a result. The merger will allow us to work much closer to the faculty not only on library resources but also on the technologies needed to access these resources in their teaching environments.  The change has been recent so watch this space for future developments!

This model is quite familiar to me as my former institution (Wayne State University) was also a ‘merged model’.  Other US institutions like the University of Oregon also use this model.  However, I believe it is quite different here in Canada.

The change was only announced on our campus this week.  We’ll be working more closely together in the coming months to develop a plan for fully integrating CAVS into the “library family”

$847,000 Gift the the Learning Commons @ Thode

Over the last few months I have mentioned that we’ve received a “major gift” for renovations at the Thode Library of Science and Engineering.  I’m pleased to say that I can now share the full details with you.  The estates of James Mason Young and Alice Mary Young have generously provided us with a gift for the Thode renovation as part of the Campaign for McMaster.  This gift of $847,000 will allow us to move forward with “phase one” of the Thode Renovations.   In the coming weeks I’m sure you’ll be hearing more about the gift as planning for the renovation takes shape.

Researchers’ Use of Academic Libraries and their Services

While this report is nearly a year old I think it is particularly relevant to the discussions that are taking place on our campus today around the renovation of our Science and Engineering Library.

Researchers’ Use of Academic Libraries and their Services, published April 2007 by the Research Information Network (RIN) and the Consortium of Research Libraries (CURL) highlights the results of a survey of 2250 researchers and 300 librarians. It addresses challenges, themes and new roles/responsibilities for libraries in the 21^st century.

CHALLENGES

The authors note shifts in the way researchers work due to the development of e-Research; an increase in collaborative/Interdisciplinary work and increases in quantity of digital output. As a result, libraries are facing significant “pressure points” including inadequate funding.

THEMES

Library as place: The survey identified a “sharp fall over the past five years in the number of researchers who visit their institution’s library regularly”. This is most pronounced in the sciences where the authors predict that it “may be a rare occurrence to see a science researcher in a library in five years time”.

Changes in researcher behavior: Researchers “seem to be becoming more limited in the range of tools they use as Google becomes better at delivering a result they see as satisfactory…..over 70% of researchers use it routinely to find scholarly content.” Librarians support is needed in the “last mile” to achieve access once the item is “discovered” online.

Demand for electronic resources is on the rise while print use continues to decline. The report found that “when presented with a locally-held option in print or microform researchers are also more likely to abandon their quest than to pursue it.” This is particularly true in the sciences where “if the article cannot be read – or at least located and requested – within minutes, it remains unread”

While e-books are still in their infancy, spending on e-books is predicted to rise to 20% of monograph collection by 2011

Collaborative/Interdisciplinary Research: Technology is facilitating collaborative/interdisciplinary research involving different researchers, at different institutions, in different locations geographically and in different disciplines. Posing a challenge to libraries who want to provide adequate and equitable support.

e-Research: “Rapid growth in the volume of digital research outputs in many different forms; these are likely to create new challenges for librarians in data management, storage and preservation.” . How do we manage all of the data needed/being generated?

NEW ROLES FOR LIBRARIES AND LIBRARIANS

In five years time researchers identified the following as roles for academic libraries: custodian (print and digital collections); manager of institutional repositories; administrator (purchasing/delivery of information services); subject-based information experts; teacher of information literacy and related skills; manager of datasets; and technology specialist. Many other researchers added copyright and intellectual property rights issues as well as support for facilitating the process of e-learning.

In essence, “the business and service model [of libraries] is evolving from acquiring, cataloguing and circulating physical collections to synthesizing, specialising, and mobilising Web-based services”

UL appointed co-chair to Provost’s task force on teaching and learning

I’m pleased to say that I’ve been appointed to co-chair the new Provost’s task force on teaching and learning.  The mandate, which is below, is quite broad and has potential to have a significant impact at our institution.   Watch this space for more information as we move forward with the work of the task force!

TASK FORCE ON TEACHING AND LEARNING 

Context
Recognized as one of Canada’s most innovative and most research intensive universities, McMaster has a long standing record of excellence in teaching and learning.  The “McMaster model”, a student-centred, problem-based, interdisciplinary approach to learning has been adopted by universities around the world.  As one of the top 100 universities in the world McMaster University is graduating students who will become the  leaders of tomorrow. 

However, we cannot afford to rest on our past success, hoping that the McMaster name alone will  propel us into the future.  McMaster is not unique among Canadian universities in the challenges it faces  including competition:  for students, for faculty and for the financial resources needed to excel.

It is therefore timely that we re-examine the effectiveness of teaching and learning practices across the university as a whole.  We must take stock of our current strengths and weaknesses, identify the ‘ideal’ teaching and learning environment we would like to develop at McMaster, and devise strategies and directions to help us achieve that ideal.    

Our current environment offers many opportunities for such self-examination and growth – we have many new leaders to help direct and implement change including a new Provost, new Deans of Engineering and Graduate Studies, a new VP research, new Teaching Professors and new directions for our library system.   We also face many challenges at McMaster including the enhancement of effective teaching and learning practices during a period of growing student enrollments and severe budget constraints.  

The Provost’s Task Force on Teaching and Learning (TOTAL) will explore and develop  new strategies and approaches to teaching and learning that will enable McMaster to  “move beyond it’s current position among the more innovative universities in Canada …(and).. take its place on the world stage as one of the most important centers for the creation of new knowledge” (capital campaign video)

Terms of Reference

The Task Force on Teaching and Learning has  been charged by the Provost with the following four goals:

1)      Documentation of the Current State:  Where are we now?

a.      Gather data and analyze current factors that have an impact on effective teaching and learning at McMaster

b.      Identify current and emerging best practices and strategies that support student and instructor success

 

2)      Identification of the Ideal Future State:  Where should we be?

           a.      Analyze emerging issues and explore desired future state

3)      Design Strategies: How do we get there?

a.      Recommend ways in which we can enhance the quality of teaching and learning at the undergraduate and graduate levels,

b.      Develop a culture of scholarship in teaching and learning

c.       Develop a culture of innovation

            4)      Implement, Evaluate and Disseminate  

Themes

Throughout this process the task force will organize along the following cross-cutting themes:

Theme 1:   The Student Focused Organization (defined learning outcomes, policies on teaching excellence, technology, advising/writing/tutors, disability services, honors, internships, international)

 

Theme 2:  Effective Teaching Organization (rewards, recognition, support for teaching, integration of research/teaching, etc)

 

Theme 3:  The Supportive Organization (administrative structure, budget reflects teaching/learning priorities, data collection/access, policies/procedures that support teaching/learning, governance, etc)

 

Theme 4:  The Future Focused Organization (planning for the future, assessment/evaluation, IT planning, physical campus, development)

 

Theme 5:  The Engaged Organization (partnerships, Hamilton/Burlington community, etc)

 

Timeline

Our timeline includes both short-term  and long-term goals and deliverables.

Throughout the process the task force will communicate with the campus through interviews, surveys and focus groups.  A task force website will provide up-to-the-minute information regarding the process.  The task force will also communicate updates through the Daily News.

November 2007 – Provost commissions task force

November – December 2007 – Task force members meet to plan process

Phase I:  Current State:  Part one, structural/organizational

January – February 2008 – Identify data needs

March – April 2008 - Gather data (including SWOT analysis) including

-          Structure/organization

-          Physical (classrooms, IT)

Phase II:  Current State:  Part two, strategies/best practices (at McMaster)

March - May 2008 – gather data on best practices and strategies at McMaster

-          Student issues (content, skills, abilities, )

-          Faculty issues (development, recognition, innovation)

May – June 2008 – Summarize data and draft first interim report for Provost

 

Phase III:  Future State

June - August 2008 – Committee conducts audit of best practices

June – August 2008 - Site visits, on campus consultants/speakers

August - September 2008 – Summarize data and draft second interim report for Provost

September 2008 – First town hall – release findings of current and future state

 

Phase IV:  Strategies and best practices

September -  December 2008 – draft recommendations for strategies to address gaps/needs/new initiatives

January – February 2009 – Summarize data and draft third interim report for Provost

 

            Phase V:  Implementation, evaluation and dissemination

Implementation, evaluation and dissemination will occur at different stages throughout the review.  The task force will make some recommendations quickly to address immediate needs.  Other recommendations will require longer term planning and implementation.

Membership

The Task Force on Teaching and Learning consists of faculty representatives from each of the faculties, the libraries, Centre for Student Development, Center for Leadership in Learning,; graduate students, and undergraduate students.

1.       Co-chairs: 

a.       Dr. Carolyn Eyles, Faculty of Science

b.      Jeffrey Trzeciak, University Librarian

 

2.      One full-time faculty member from each of the six faculties at McMaster including a minimum of one of the new teaching professor positions:

a.       Social Sciences:  Sue Vajoczki  

b.      Humanities:  Alexandre Sevigny

c.       Health Sciences:  Geoff Norman

d.      Engineering: Yaser Haddara

e.       Business:  Milena Head

f.       Science:  Doug Boreham

 

3.      One full-time librarian

a.       Karen Nicholson

 

4.      One staff member from CLL and CSD

a.       CLL:  Erika Kustra

b.      CSD:  Peter Walsh

 

5.      Two students representing undergraduate and graduates:

a.       Arati Sharma, VP MSU

b.      Ryan Kealy, Graduate student

 

Virtual World Librarianship

Great new continuing ed courses from UIUC and Illinois Alliance Library System:

The Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Illinois Alliance Library System are pleased to offer a series of non-credit continuing education courses for librarians, educators, and others interested in libraries, learning, and teaching in virtual worlds such as Second Life.

Spring 2008 Courses
NEW Second Life 101
Instructor: Barbara (Puglet Dancer) Galik

Introduction to Virtual World Librarianship
Instructors: S. (Hypatia Dejavu) Thompson, Rhonda (Abbey Zenith) Trueman, Lori (Lorelei Junot) Bell and JJ (JJ Drinkwater) Jacobson.

NEW Survey of Librarianship in Virtual Worlds
Instructors: Tom (Maxito Ricardo) Peters, Lori (Lorelei Junot) Bell and Kelly (BlueWings Hayek) Czarnecki.

NEW Technical Skills for the Virtual World Librarian
Instructors: Shannah (Anji Juran) Miller and Bernadette (HVX Siverstar) Swanson.

Intermediate Virtual World Librarianship - Programming and Planning
Instructors: Tom (Maxito Ricardo) Peters, Rhonda (Abbey Zenith) Trueman, Christy (Violet Portola) Confetti Higgins, and JJ (JJ Drinkwater) Jacobson.

Libraries and Immersive Learning in 3D Virtual Environments
Instructors: S. (Hypatia Dejavu) Thompson, JJ (JJ Drinkwater) Jacobson.

NEW Working with a Class in Second Life
Instructor: Dr. Bryan (Bryan Mnemonic) Carter.

NEW Setting Up an Educational Presence in Second Life
Instructors: Lori (Lorelei Junot) Bell, Rhonda (Abbey Zenith) Trueman, Tom (Maxito Ricardo) Peters

Please visit http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/programs/cpd/VW/ for additional information and to register. If you have questions, contact Marianne Steadley, steadley@uiuc.edu or 217-244-2751.
Marianne Steadley
Continuing Professional Development Program Director
501 E. Daniel St. Champaign IL 61820
217/244-2751
Fax: 217/244-3302