The Source: news about digital libraries and library innovations from around the web

Introducing The Source

What to withdraw: Print collections management in the wake of digitization (Note: PDF)

From the Ithaka S+R website

As journals are increasingly accessed in digitised form, many libraries have grown interested in de-accessioning little-used print originals; but desires to re-purpose space often come into conflict with concerns about preservation. This paper analyses which types of journals can be withdrawn responsibly today and how that set of materials can be expanded to allow libraries the maximum possible flexibility and savings in the future.
This report is intended to allow libraries to redeploy the resources devoted to print collections management to special collections, digital collections, or new services.


Defining “Non-commercial”: A study of how the online population understands “Non-commercial Use” (Note: PDF)

From the Creative Commons website

In 2008-09, Creative Commons commissioned a study from a professional market research firm to explore understandings of the terms “commercial use” and “non-commercial use” among Internet users when used in the context of content found online. The study was comprised of two components – an empirical study of understandings of Internet users in the United States, and an informal study for comparison purposes of a broader, worldwide group of Internet users consisting of those generally more familiar with CC but not taking part in the empirical survey (dubbed “Creative Commons Friends and Family” or “CCFF”). The primary objectives of the study were two-fold:
1) to survey variations in the general online population’s understanding of the terms “commercial use” and “non-commercial use,” when used in the context of the wide variety of copyrighted works and content made available on the Internet
2) to provide information and analysis that would be useful to Creative Commons and to others in understanding the points of connection and potential disconnection between creators and users of works licensed under Creative Commons non-commercial, or “NC,” licenses or other public copyright licenses prohibiting commercial use.


JPEG 2000 as a Preservation and Access Format for the Wellcome Trust Digital Library

From the Wellcome Library website

JPEG2000 is a relatively new image file format, created by the JPEG Committee in 2000. JPEG2000, despite its name, is not a JPEG format, but utilises a clever compression technology that maximises quality while minimizing file sizes.
Seeking to determine exactly which JPEG2000 format to use to meet the aims of long-term storage and accessible delivery services, the Wellcome Library commissioned a report by Simon Tanner, Director of King's Consultancy Service (KDCS). The report was written in conjunction with Robert Buckley of Xerox Corporation, an expert in the technical specifications of the JPEG2000 format.


National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (Note: PDF)

From the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) website

The NAPLAN literacy and numeracy tests are conducted in May each year for all students across Australia in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. All students in the same year level are assessed on the same test items in the assessment domains of Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation) and Numeracy.
Each year, over one million students nationally sit the NAPLAN tests, providing students, parents, teachers, schools and school systems with important information about the literacy and numeracy achievements of students.


Libraries of the Future

From the Inside Higher Ed website

The university library of the future will be sparsely staffed, highly decentralized, and have a physical plant consisting of little more than special collections and study areas. That's what Daniel Greenstein, vice provost for academic planning and programs at the University of California System, told a room full of university librarians at Baruch College of City University of New York, where the higher education technology group Ithaka held a meeting to discuss "sustainable scholarship."


Going Mobile: How publishers are preparing for the burgeoning digital market (Note: PDF)

From the Audit Bureau of Circulations website

The proliferation of mobile devices in our culture is hardly a surprise to anyone walking down city streets, drinking coffee at a corner café or observing the driver sitting next to you in traffic. The Audit Bureau of Circulations and its digital subsidiary, ABC Interactive, recently conducted an online survey of our print publisher members to learn more about current mobile initiatives and plans, and the impact of mobile on their business models. The survey results provide an early stage snapshot of the activities taking place in and around the mobile market as both publishers and buyers focus their attention on this burgeoning space.


Communicating knowledge: How and why UK researchers publish and disseminate their findings (Note: PDF)

From the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) website

This report, published by the Research Information Network (RIN) and JISC, shows how researchers are concerned by what they perceive as mixed messages about the channels they should use to communicate their research findings. The report highlights the need for more consistent and effective guidance from funders and higher educational institutions. If they wish to encourage researchers to disseminate their work through a variety of channels as well as in high-status journals, they must give stronger and more positive messages about how those channels will be valued when it comes to assessing researchers' performance they must give stronger and more positive messages about how those channels will be valued when it comes to assessing researchers' performance.