1. Diamond Open Access, Societies and Mission
Posted by Robert Harington in the Scholarly Kitchen Blog, this post suggests that some society journal publishers may wish to consider moving their journal program to a Diamond open access (OA) model. Diamond OA is a form of Gold OA that does not include a requirement for authors to pay article processing charges (APCs).
The blog post says (quote): Society journals in many cases are important journals for the field, perhaps subject specific, or generalist journals, offering a wide range of sub-fields in the discipline. In face of the big deal, independent societies with this profile are experiencing significant subscription attrition. Societies are looking to innovate their business models, and yet do not necessarily want to burden their communities with APCs. One way to reimagine journal publishing at a society is to accept that journal publishing is in fact a program of the society, provided to the community as part of its mission. Moving journals to a Diamond OA model removes these journals from the journal subscription market, and fulfills the mission. The journals remain strong as established, branded, quality journals………………(unquote)
The full entry can be read Here.
2. Formal recognition for peer review will propel research forward
Peer review is the gold standard for ensuring the quality and integrity but is reliant on voluntary, unrewarded contributions. Andrew Preston and Tom Culley, in their post in The Impact Blog, argue that formally recognising and rewarding peer review efforts would be a great first step towards restoring balance to a research ecosystem that offers experts disproportionate rewards for publishing while offering no formal incentives to the same experts relied upon to filter out the false, fraudulent or misleading.
The blog post says (quote): Peer review is a voluntary exercise. Researchers are expected to review for the intrinsic incentive of "giving back" and a quid-pro-quo understanding that others will review their work. This approach may have been appropriate before the internet when there was no way to accurately measure anonymous peer review contributions and when scientists worked in tight communities. But the research ecosystem has changed remarkably. We now have the internet, globalisation, interdisciplinary research and mega-publishers. These developments drive the pressure to publish higher, placing increasing stress on a voluntary and unrewarded peer review process………………(unquote)
The full entry can be read Here.
3. How Information Managers Can Explain Usage Data Through Visualisations
Defending your content spend can be difficult. Data visualisation helps information managers transform usage data into a clear, engaging story, says Casey Pickering, in her post in the CCC Blog.
The blog post says (quote): Creating a robust information center that's backed by strategic data is not easy, but it can be a way to ensure the organisation understands the value of the information center and the resources it provides to researchers. The challenge begins with access. Data for subscribed content and document delivery is often located in disparate sources (think publisher platforms, document delivery platforms and internal systems). Then, the task of normalising that data and presenting it in a unified view takes time and effort. Once that data is compiled, an Excel spreadsheet crammed with lines of numbers may be useful to information managers, but most stakeholders want their information quickly and to-the-point………………(unquote)
The full entry can be read Here.
4. Detours and Diversions - Do Open Access Publishers Face New Barriers?
Open access (OA) publishing seeks to eliminate paywalls for users. It has largely succeeded, but new diversions and distractions built into the commercial Internet may create new barriers that will be harder to deal with, notes Kent Anderson, in his post in the Scholarly Kitchen Blog.
The blog post says (quote): Without differentiation, content from borderline sources becomes easier to purvey effectively. Allowing questionable content to flood the field blocks access to good OA articles. Branding does matter to readers and publishers - it is a link of trust and a badge of authenticity. Predatory publishers already try to sow confusion around journal brands. If Google's AMP replaces branding, predatory journals and illegitimate articles may gain the same face validity as well-reviewed OA science and scholarship, which could be both an immediate and a long-term problem for OA publishers………………(unquote)
The full entry can be read Here.
5. Seven Global Learning Resources for K-12 Science Classrooms
Promote scientific inquiry and cultural awareness by engaging the students in global learning projects with students and scientists from all over the world. In her post in the EBSCOpost Blog, Chelsea Crowley shares seven resources for bringing global learning to the K-12 science classroom.
The blog post says (quote): Global learning in schools has gone beyond international pen pal programs. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Education published Succeeding Globally Through International Education and Engagement, a strategy which aims to strengthen U.S. education and advance the nation's international priorities by increasing global competencies, learning from other countries and engaging in education diplomacy. Global learning projects provide students of all ages with opportunities to develop cultural awareness and better understand their roles in the world. Educators can introduce global learning in a variety of ways, but a great place to start is in the science classroom. Students can participate in a variety of citizen scientist projects, many of which involve schools in other countries………………(unquote)
The full entry can be read Here.
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