Library News

UIC celebrates Open Access Week, October 19-23, 2009, with three programs sponsored by the Library that explore the principles, advantages, and impact of providing unfettered access to research results. The open access movement advocates the unrestricted sharing of information via the Internet for the benefit of society. Open access is gaining strength as research funders (for example, the U.S. National Institutes of Health), policy makers, and universities increase support for or mandate free access to research results.

Scholarly Publishing Unbound
Panelists include:
Clifford Lynch, Executive Director for the Coalition for Networked Information
Michael Tanner, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, UIC
Robert Bruegmann, Professor, Art History, UIC
Barbara Risman, Professor, Sociology, UIC
Moderator: Mary Case, University Librarian, UIC
When : Thursday October 22, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.
Where: 713 SCE

For decades, scholars have advanced in their fields by publishing in print — whether in peer-reviewed books or articles in refereed journals — or by exhibiting and performing in prestigious venues. Today, the possibilities of online “publication” in open access journals, unbundled articles, vast data sets, Web-based exhibits, and other forms of electronic dissemination challenge the well-established, bounded system. The rate of change varies among different disciplines. Young faculty who seek promotion and tenure face choices their predecessors did not have to consider. Senior scholars, committed to quality and traditions in their fields, may find themselves forced to rethink publishing and standards of achievement.

This panel will explore the current state of scholarly publishing and the prospects for the future.

Lunch will follow the panel discussion.

Students for Open Access present Award Winning Sparky Videos
When: Thursday October 22, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.
Where: 713 SCE

Fame and fortune! In 2008, five UIC students won the $1,000 Grand Prize in the Sparky Awards, a video contest to promote the value of sharing information. The award-winning students will talk about the idea behind their video and how their views on information access shaped the video. Professor Nancy John will discuss how students can enter this year’s contest and describe how the Sparky Awards can be made part of a course syllabus.

To see a picture of the winning UIC team and link to their video, see the Sparky Awards Web site.

So you want to start a journal…Launching and sustaining a scholarly journal
When: Friday October 23, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Reserve Reading Room, Daley Library

The possibility of publishing on the Web has allowed new models for scholarly journals, even as traditional journals remain central to the academic enterprise. Five academics with extensive experience in journal publishing provide a range of perspectives on launching and sustaining scholarly journals.

Panel includes:
Judith Gardiner, Professor, English and Gender & Women’s Studies, UIC; member of the editorial collective of Feminist Studies
Mark Mattaini; Associate Professor, Jane Adams College of Social Work, UIC; editor of Behavior and Social Issues
Brooke Shipley; Professor, Math Statistics and Computer Science, UIC; editorial board member for Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society; Homology, Homotopy, and Applications; Theory and Applications of Categories; Topology and its Applications
Neil Smalheiser; Associate Professor, Psychiatry, UIC; editor of Journal of Biomedical Discovery and Collaboration
Ed Valauskas, Lecturer, endowed Follett Chair (2005-7), Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Dominican University; chief editor and founder of First Monday

Light refreshments will be offered.

A recording of So you want to start a journal…Launching and sustaining a scholarly journal is available via eRooms.