June 2006 - LIS-Forum - ncsi.iisc.ernet.in

MLIS - MSc
by junaise B 13 Jun '06

13 Jun '06

Dear LIS Members, I have read a lot of letters regarding the issue of changing the name. the youngsters in LIS field feel shy when they are introducing others, that they are LIBRARIANS. We have to understand one thing that, the entire works in the library( classification, book labelling, cataloguing, arranging the books in a helpful manner) should do ourself. All are trying to be a e-librarians, but who will do the troditional works in the libraries. As we know, without books there is no transfer of knowledge. So let us proudly announce that we are the LIBRARIANS, dont feel shy for that. Thanks Dear LIS Members, I have read a lot of letters regarding the issue of changing the name. the youngsters in LIS field feel shy when they are introducing others, that they are LIBRARIANS. We have to understand one thing that, the entire works in the library( classification, book labelling, cataloguing, arranging the books in a helpful manner) should do ourself. All are trying to be a e-librarians, but who will do the troditional works in the libraries. As we know, without books there is no transfer of knowledge. So let us proudly announce that we are the LIBRARIANS, dont feel shy for that. Thanks

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Change of MLIS degree
by anuradha.a＠tcs.com 13 Jun '06

13 Jun '06

Dear Professionals Changing of degree from MLIS to MSC may or may not help out. Positively I can say that revising/updating the syllabus of as per top 10 LIS university (ALA) will certainly fill up gap between the educational and professional competency as per the job market. Also accreditation from top universities like ALA will have better job Regards > > Anuradha Rao > > Bangalore =====-----=====-----===== Notice: The information contained in this e-mail message and/or attachments to it may contain confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, use, review, distribution, printing or copying of the information contained in this e-mail message and/or attachments to it are strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us by reply e-mail or telephone and immediately and permanently delete the message and any attachments. Thank you �Dear Professionals Changing of degree from MLIS to MSC may or may not help out. Positively I can say that revising/updating the syllabus of as per top 10 LIS university (ALA) will certainly fill up gap between the educational and professional competency as per the job market. Also accreditation from top universities like ALA will have better job Regards > > Anuradha Rao > > Bangalore =====-----=====-----===== Notice: The information contained in this e-mail message and/or attachments to it may contain confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, use, review, distribution, printing or copying of the information contained in this e-mail message and/or attachments to it are strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us by reply e-mail or telephone and immediately and permanently delete the message and any attachments. Thank you

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Digital mapping of India
by arun＠mssrf.res.in 13 Jun '06

13 Jun '06

friends: Here is a news story from The Times of India. Digital mapping of India on fast trackAdd to Clippings [ Monday, June 12, 2006 10:59:44 pmIANS ] NEW DELHI: India hopes to complete digital mapping of around 70 percent of the country in a year, leading to leveraging data assets for multi-functions like traffic management and infrastructure development. An example of its multi-dimensional use would be illustrated with the completion of a three-dimensional model of Chandni Chowk neighbourhood in the walled city area of the national capital by next month, Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal said here on Monday. The 3D model being developed with an investment of around Rs.100 million would enable civic authorities to not only chart the development that needs to be undertaken in one of the most densely populated parts of the capital but also monitor any violations of the city norms, Sibal said. On the digital mapping of the country, he said with the approval of the ministry of defence, task is to be undertaken by an autonomous body, the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), to be created under the ministry of science and technology. The cabinet had approved June 2 a proposal to set up the NSDI, which is to be manned by a 10-member panel headed by a CEO. "NSDI is a kind of soft infrastructure to be built at the national level for coordination, acquisition, processing, storage, distribution and improved utilisation of spatial (geographic location) data," said Sibal. A liberalised National Map Policy, approved last year, has helped India emulate the success of several developed countries, many of which are helping create a Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI). "Having got the go-ahead from the defence ministry about the areas that can be digitally mapped, the NSDI will utilise the data created by 15 national agencies like the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the Forest Survey of India (FSI) for its gigantic task under a public-private initiative," the minister said. T. Ramasami, the new secretary of Department of Science and Technology, explained that the digital mapping is to be achieved primarily by leveraging the data assets of major data generating agencies through the process of standardisation, creation of metadata and Internet-enabled access. "We hope to complete mapping of 60-70 percent of India within a year. The ministry of defence has cleared most areas barring (a stretch of) 50 km along the international borders on the land surface in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast region," said Brigadier R. Siva Kumar, director of NSDI. The digital mapping would allow the user to click on any geographical location to get details like longitude and latitude, altitude, forest mapping and other vital up-to-date inputs that are critical to any investment decision. The digital map has multiple uses including for navigational purpose. ---- Hope these digital maps are made readily available [open access] to the general public (on the Internet) at no cost. In most western countries taxis and cars are fitted with a device which clearly shows the map of the locality (at several levels of magnification) so the driver can choose a path avoiding traffic congestion. Arun [Subbiah Arunachalam]

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Libraries activating for Access to Knowledge
by arun＠mssrf.res.in 13 Jun '06

13 Jun '06

>From Peter Suber of "Open Access News" [Forwarding from eIFL.net. --Peter.] http://www.eifl.net/services/ipcis_pr.html Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL.net) and International Renaissance Foundation Libraries activating for Access to Knowledge PRESS RELEASE June 1, 2006 Advocacy for Access to Knowledge: copyright and libraries International seminar, Kiev, 26-27 May 2006 On 26-27 May 2006, the prestigious National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy hosted experts from former Soviet Union, Mongolia, South-East Asia and the Middle East at an international seminar on the role of libraries and access to knowledge. Thirty specialist librarians from twenty-five countries debated how copyright law impacts on access to information and knowledge, especially in the digital age and discussed policies and strategies to safeguard future access to our cultural and scientific heritage. Access to knowledge is essential for the functioning of a healthy and democratic society. Libraries are conduits that enable all members of the community to benefit from global information resources, ideas and opinions. However legal and technological restrictions on the sharing and re-use of content over the last decade have restricted library services. "Librarians must defend the interests of students, researchers and the general public who use the library. We must ensure that copyright is an enabler of access to knowledge, not a barrier. That is what this seminar is about", said Teresa Hackett, Project Manager eIFL-IP. Organised by Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL.net) and local partner Informatio Consortium, the event is supported by the UNESCO Information for All Programme. High level speakers from Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Ukraine and the UK shared their expertise with participants in a lively two days of learning and debate. "Librarians have an important role to play to ensure that international instruments concluded in the area of intellectual property are balanced and supportive of important public policy objectives such as access to knowledge and information", said Ahmed Abdel Latif, the speaker from Egypt who has represented his country in many negotiations on IP at different international fora. "Sharing knowledge is an essential function of society. Libraries and the Free Software community have a common interest in a copyright system that promotes the spread of knowledge so that ideas do not become monopolised. The Free Software Foundation Europe is delighted to work together with librarians for Access to Knowledge in the interest of users." said Karsten Gerloff, Free Software Foundation Europe. The International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) Copyright Committee was represented at the workshop by Barbara Stratton, Senior Copyright Adviser for the UK's Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, who said, "Libraries underpin the Information Society. It is absolutely vital that librarians are recognised by governments, legislators and the wider community as major stakeholders in the knowledge economy. It is in society's interests that librarians are fully consulted and involved in every stage of development copyright legislation." "With due respect to our international obligations and national copyright laws, it is our role to dream, seek, ask and work for an intellectual property system that provides proper balance between the rights of rightholders and the rights of society to access use and disseminate knowledge, education which in turn stimulates creativity", said Hala Essalmawi, Attorney at law, IPR officer, The library of Alexandria, Egypt. "We are delighted that eIFL.net chose to hold this seminar in Ukraine", said Iryna Kuchma, manager of International Renaissance Foundation, which runs a programme on Access to Knowledge. "There is a growing international movement for Access to Knowledge (A2K) which is pushing for changes to the global intellectual property system at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It is such an important issue and librarians have a key role to play", continued Iryna Kuchma. Fair access to information for all is essential to nurture education and stimulate innovation. This seminar is the first step to mobilise a network of library copyright experts in the region. Further information: http://www.eifl.net/services/ipcis.html Teresa Hackett, Project Manager eIFL-IP Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL) c/o ADN Kronos, Piazza Mastai 9 00153 Rome, Italy Tel: +(39)(06)5807216/17 E-mail: teresa.hackett(a)eifl.net http://www.eifl.net/ Iryna Kuchma, Social Capital and Academic Publications Program Manager International Renaissance Foundation 46, Artema Str., Kyiv, Ukraine, 04053 Telephone: (+380 44) 461-9500 Fax: (+380 44) 486 0166 E-mail: kuchma(a)irf.kiev.ua http://www.irf.kiev.ua/programs/scaap Notes for Editors eIFL eIFL.net is an international foundation which supports national library consortia in fifty transition and developing countries to negotiate and advocate for the wide availability of electronic resources to education, research and professional communities as well as governmental organisations and civil society. This global network embraces millions of users in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the Middle East. International Renaissance Foundation International Renaissance Foundation is private, grant-making foundation funded by George Soros which aims to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform. Funds are also allocated for diversification of information resources for the third sector, democratization of education and public health, development of social capital and academic publications.

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Fwd: Linking UK repositories - report published today (fwd)
by Subbiah Arunachalam 12 Jun '06

12 Jun '06

AMERICAN-SCIENTIST-OPEN-ACCESS-FORUM(a)LISTSERVER.SIGMAXI.ORG > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2006 12:55:04 +0100 > From: Philip Pothen <p.pothen(a)JISC.AC.UK> > To: JISC-DEVELOPMENT(a)JISCMAIL.AC.UK > Subject: Linking UK repositories - report published > today > > - Apologies for cross-posting - > > > > Time is right for major investment in repositories > infrastructure, says > report > > > > The research community should be engaged at the > highest level to encourage > the establishment of repositories in UK education > and research, says a > report published today. While one third of UK > universities have an Open > Access repository to house digital content such as > research papers, > pre-prints, theses, working papers, conference > proceedings, teaching > materials, etc., most have very little content in > them, the report > continues. > > > > Acknowledging that an important foundation has > already been laid in the > establishment of a repository infrastructure for the > UK, the report > commissioned by JISC says, however, that the time > is right for the > development of the shared, national services upon > which a step-change in the > adoption, development and use of institutional > repositories now depends. > > > > Beginning with an examination of user requirements, > the report sets out > which national services will be needed to support > such an infrastructure, > suggesting that support will be needed by the > community particularly in the > areas of metadata provision (to support > cross-searching and resource > discovery), IPR and copyright, and preservation. In > addition, says the > report, advocacy work to the author community is > critically important in > raising the levels of deposition of research > postprints. > > > > The report calls on JISC to take the leadership role > in these areas and to > construct where necessary the appropriate > communication channels with the > research community, with repositories and with > potential service providers, > and to coordinate their efforts. > > > > With JISC investing £3.5m in its digital > repositories programme and an > additional £13.5m over the next two years through > its capital programme, the > report provides both an evidence base on which JISC > can provide the strong > management role called for by the report, as well > as a set of > recommendations upon which to focus its activities > in this area. > > > > Neil Jacobs, repositories programme manager at JISC, > welcomed the > publication of the report, saying: "The Linking UK > Repositories" report > describes a landmark study by Key Perspectives Ltd > and the University of > Hull, in which organisational, technical and > business models for repository > services are reviewed. The report will chart the > way ahead for JISC and > others, as novel applications are built over the > emerging repository > infrastructure." > > > > The report was written by Alma Swan of Key > Perspectives and Chris Awre of > the University of Hull. > > > > The report is available from the Digital > Repositories page at: > http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=programme_digital_repositories > > > > > > > Dr Philip Pothen, > > JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee), > > King's College London, > > Strand Bridge House, > > 138-142 The Strand (3rd Floor), > > London WC2R 1HH > > > > 020 7848 2935 > > 07887 564 006 > > > > p.pothen(a)jisc.ac.uk > > http://www.jisc.ac.uk > > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

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Peer-Review is Dead – Long Live "Peer-Review 2.0"
by Sukhdev Singh 12 Jun '06

12 Jun '06

Peer-Review is Dead – Long Live "Peer-Review 2.0" Before an article gets published in a traditional scholarly journal – Print or Online – it undergoes a quality-check process called Peer Review. But this process does have some drawbacks. First one is that it is time-consuming process. Which adds to the delay in publication. Such a delay could be very significant if research results could be used to immediate problems – for example 'avian flu'. Second drawback is that it could add to the "biases" as quality control is in the hands of two or three peer-reviewers. Interactive nature of Internet has offered scholarly journals to experiment with peer-review process. "Nature" for example is undertaking an open peer review trial. In this trial, authors whose submissions to Nature are sent for peer review will also be offered the opportunity to participate in an open peer review process. In this three month trial, authors can choose to have their submissions posted on a preprint server for open comments, in parallel with the conventional peer review process. < http://openaccessjournals.blogspot.com/2006/06/trial-and-debate-over-peer-r… > Now an Open Access Publisher - Public Library of Science < http://www.plos.org/> is coming up with PLoS ONE < http://www.plosone.org/>. It claims to offer a new approach to the way that scientific research is communicated. It will "identify" papers that are technically sound and publish them "rapidly". These will be presented for open and continuous review to whole scientific community. They believe that published papers are not some form of absolute truth but part of an ongoing discussion. Interestingly their site PloS ONE is subtitled "Open Access 2.0". BMJ <http://bmj.bmjjournals.com> also has been trying to answer to the problems of traditional peer review [see its editorial - Peer review: reform or revolution? Time to open up the black box of peer review <http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7111/759>]. It also has a "RAPID RESPONSES" < http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters?lookup=by_date&days=1 > feature by which readers may write online comments to published articles. There are some extreme views as well to do away the "Peer-Review" as such. In a pitch for Wikipedia Concept, Peter Frishauf [Are Traditional Peer-Reviewed Medical Articles Obsolete? A Pitch for the Wikipedia Concept <http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/520070>, Requires Free Registeration] argues, " we depend on peer-reviewed articles in print and online. But is this method obsolete? And is there a better way? Traditional medical articles are often outdated before publication. Consider HIV, SARs, avian flu -- even hormone replacement therapy. They're not comprehensive: For any topic, we have to read dozens of articles to be informed. And bias is always present, regardless of peer review… Based on a radical new model of publishing, on Wikipedia nearly anyone with a Web connection can start or edit an article. Contributors must agree to write in neutral point of view (NPV). Opinion is fair game for deletion by the first Wikipedian who reads it -- typically within 30 seconds of publication." What ever it takes – the era of "Post-Publication Peer Review" has begun. I wish to call it "Peer-Review 2.0". Peer-Review is Dead – Long Live "Peer-Review 2.0" --Sukhdev Singh, NIC. http://openmed.nic.in

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Two Libraries Join Windows Live Book Search
by Farooque Shaheen 12 Jun '06

12 Jun '06

Microsoft announced that it had enhanced Windows Live Book Search, adding a new feature that would allow publishers to submit their in-copyright books to become part of the service. Additionally, more material would be added as a result of the addition of the University of California and the University of Toronto libraries, Microsoft said. The University of California library contains some 34 million books across 100 libraries on ten campuses, making it the world's largest academic library. The University of Toronto's collection spans some 15 million volumes and its considered one of the top research libraries in North America. http://www.betanews.com/article/Two_Libraries_Join_Windows_Live_Book_Search… Thanks & Regards, Farooque Shaheen, Tel. 080-26678388 # 4105 VOIP- 40366 Microsoft announced �that it had enhanced Windows Live Book Search, adding a new feature that would allow publishers to submit their in-copyright books to become part of the service. Additionally, more material would be added as a result of the addition of the University of California and the University of Toronto libraries, Microsoft said. The University of California library contains some 34 million books across 100 libraries on ten campuses, making it the world's largest academic library. The University of Toronto's collection spans some 15 million volumes and its considered one of the top research libraries in North America. http://www.betanews.com/article/Two_Libraries_Join_Windows_Live_Book_Search… Thanks & Regards, Farooque Shaheen, Tel. 080-26678388 # 4105 VOIP- 40366

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Call for candidates for prize on the use of ICT in education
by vimal kumar 12 Jun '06

12 Jun '06

Dear Professionals The UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Education is now calling for candidates. The award theme for 2006 is Innovative Learning Practices with Information and Communication Technologies. The prize is funded by the Kingdom of Bahrain. Launched in 2005, the $50,000 prize aims to reward the projects and best practices of individuals, institutions and NGOs in using ICT to enhance learning, teaching and overall educational performance. Deadline for submissions is 30 June 2006. Winners will be celebrated at an award ceremony to be held on 20 December 2006 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Only governments and international non-governmental organizations, maintaining formal consultative relations with UNESCO, may present candidatures. More details http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=22278&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECT… Vimal Kumar Asian School of Business Technopark Trivandrum-695 581 vimal0212(a)yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com Dear Professionals The UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Education is now calling for candidates. The award theme for 2006 is Innovative Learning Practices with Information and Communication Technologies. The prize is funded by the Kingdom of Bahrain. Launched in 2005, the $50,000 prize aims to reward the projects and best practices of individuals, institutions and NGOs in using ICT to enhance learning, teaching and overall educational performance. Deadline for submissions is 30 June 2006. Winners will be celebrated at an award ceremony to be held on 20 December 2006 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Only governments and international non-governmental organizations, maintaining formal consultative relations with UNESCO, may present candidatures. More details http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=22278&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECT… Vimal Kumar Asian School of Business Technopark Trivandrum-695 581 vimal0212(a)yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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US NSB supports OA
by arun＠mssrf.res.in 12 Jun '06

12 Jun '06

Here is an article from the New York Times. Arun ----- June 9, 2006 > Inconsistent Information Policies Jeopardize Research, Panel Says > By ANDREW C. REVKIN > http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/09/science/09research.html > > WASHINGTON, June 8 - The quality and credibility of government > research are being jeopardized by inconsistent policies for > communicating scientific findings to the public, says an > independent group of scientists that advises Congress and the > White House. > > The group, the National Science Board, examined the issue at the > request of Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona. Mr. McCain > sought the review in February after Civil Service workers and > scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration > and other agencies complained publicly that political appointees > had interfered with efforts to discuss global warming and other > controversial issues. > > The board canvassed an array of agencies like the space agency > and the National Institutes of Health and found a lack of clear, > consistent guidance to scientists and press offices on releasing > information to the public and the news media. > > In recent months, the board found, NASA and the National Oceanic > and Atmospheric Administration have taken "steps in the right > direction." But it said other agencies continued to lack > consistent standards. > > Where policies exist, the board said, they are often focused more > on restricting scientists' ability to discuss their findings than > on guaranteeing a free flow of information. > > The board's review, written as a letter to Mr. McCain, was posted > last month on the Web site of the National Science Foundation and > has been noted by several Web publications and trade journals > focused on science policy. > > Asked to comment on the report, a spokesman for the White House > Office of Science and Technology Policy replied in an e-mail > message that the office had "discussed the issue of > communications policy with agency chief scientists shortly after > the NASA incidents which are cited in the senator's letter, and > we continue to monitor agency practices." > > "We think the NASA response was excellent," the spokesman, > Benjamin Fallon, wrote, "and have distributed it to the agencies > as an example of a best practice and have not seen evidence that > the situation requires the development of a mandatory > one-size-fits-all policy." > > The scientific board acknowledged that agencies were entitled to > keep track of what their scientists were saying. But it > recommended that the White House science office develop a common > set of principles encouraging open communication of science and > discouraging "the intentional or unintentional suppression or > distortion of research findings." > > The report said that at most agencies policies were out of date, > unclear or handled in different ways by different field offices. > Clear guidelines, it added, could reduce confusion. > > The lack of uniformity appears to cause other problems, said > Warren M. Washington, a senior scientist at the National Center > for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., who is the chairman > of the science board and the lead author of the report. > > "The constant turnover of upper-level staff meant the policies > were constantly changing depending on who is boss or who the > midlevel supervisor was," Mr. Washington said in an interview. > > Mr. McCain, a senior member of the Committee on Commerce, Science > and Transportation, inserted an amendment into a bill last month > reflecting the science board's findings. The amendment calls for > the White House science office to create a "set of principles" > encouraging the "open exchange of data and results of research by > federal agency scientists." > > The bill has not been sent to the Senate floor for a vote. > > copyright 2006 The New York Times

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PhD guides
by sangeeta dhamdhere 10 Jun '06

10 Jun '06

Hello friends, I would like to register the Ph.D. programme and searching for the guide. Not yet decided from which university.Topic for the same is no doubt IT related. I am thankful if anybody will send me the list of guides along with their universities. Thanks & regards. Sangeeta Dhamdhere Librarian Modern College, Ganesh-Khind, Pune. Send instant messages to your online friends http://in.messenger.yahoo.com <br><br> Stay connected with your friends even when away from PC. Link: http://in.mobile.yahoo.com/new/messenger/

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