Highlights from Recent Issues of Canadian Association of Research Libraries E-Lerts

The Canadian Association of Research Libraries sends out a weekly E-Lert bulletin with links to stories about library trends, e-resources, copyright issues, digital collections etc.

Here are some highlights from the past two issues.

E-Lert # 409 - January 28, 2011:

• Access Copyright, universities remain at odds despite interim agreement: After failing to come to terms with post-secondary institutions over a proposed licensing agreement, Access Copyright remains at odds with Canadian universities and colleges over how to compensate creators for the use of their works for educational and research purposes. The dispute stems from last spring, when Access Copyright filed a proposed tariff with the Copyright Board of Canada that would see major changes to how post-secondary institutions pay to use copyrighted works, including in course packs. (Quill & Quire, January 24, 2011)
• At ALA Midwinter, Brewster Kahle, Librarians Ponder The E-book Future: From research and pilot programs, digitization efforts and financial support for vendors, libraries have helped prepare the way for e-books. But now that the consumer market for e-books has taken off, are libraries in danger of being marginalized? A standing-room-only panel discussion on Saturday, January 8, at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Diego, looked at the challenges and opportunities e-books hold for libraries. It was Kahle’s concerns about the developing e-book market that seemed to resonate most with librarians (Publishers Weekly, January 10, 2011)
• Perceptions of Libraries, 2010: Context and Community: OCLC's newest membership report, Perceptions of Libraries, 2010, a sequel to the 2005 Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources, is now available. The new report provides updated information and new insights into information consumers and their online habits, preferences, and perceptions. Particular attention was paid to how the current economic downturn has affected the information-seeking behaviors and how those changes are reflected in the use and perception of libraries
• E-Journals: Their Use, Value and Impact - Final Report: This two-part report takes in-depth look at how researchers in the UK use electronic journals, the value they bring to universities and research institutions and the contribution they make to research productivity, quality and outcomes. Based on an analysis of log files from journal websites and data from libraries in ten universities and research institutions, the study attempts to build a clearer picture of how e-journals are shaping the information landscape - a picture that will be added to as research in this area continues (Research Information Network, January 18, 2011)
  

E-Lert # 410 - February 4, 2011:

• First Interim Evaluation Report from the British Library: "Growing Knowledge Shifts Perceptions of Digital Research Tools": As part of its ongoing discussion with British Library readers on how research is changing and their expectations of the future role of libraries, the British Library has released initial findings from the first interim evaluation report of its exhibition Growing Knowledge, the Evolution of Research. Part of a broader evaluation study funded by JISC, initial findings developed by UCL’s Ciber Research Group, show that visitors to Growing Knowledge are not only interested in the initiative but also impressed that the Library is attempting to learn from and meet the needs of its researchers
• Great News Regarding Crown Copyright and Licensing: From the Government of Canada Publications website: “Crown Copyright and Licensing (CCL) is pleased to announce that permission to reproduce Government of Canada works is no longer required, in part or in whole, and by any means, for personal or public non-commercial purposes, or for cost-recovery purposes, unless otherwise specified in the material you wish to reproduce.”
• The Survey of Institutional Digital Repositories, 2011 Edition: The 225-page report looks closely at how 60+ academic and special libraries and other select institutions in the United States, the UK, continental Europe, Canada, China, India, Australia and other countries or regions are funding, managing, cataloging, marketing and developing their institutional digital repositories. The report also looks closely at the degree of faculty cooperation, methods of procuring and measuring this cooperation, plans to develop repositories as publishers in their own right, impact on the online presence of the college and on citation rates in journals, among other factors (Primary Research Group)
• Language Portal of Canada: The Translation Bureau, recognized within the Government of Canada as a professional authority in the area of language, launched the Language Portal of Canada in October 2009 with the help of its valued contributors. The goal of the Language Portal was to provide Canadians with free access to high-quality language tools designed to help them use our two official languages. The Portal provides a single point of access for everything needed to study, work and communicate effectively in English and French. Tips on spelling, grammar, writing and translation are also included.