April 2026 - LIS-Forum - ncsi.iisc.ernet.in

#37: Interview with Ashley Farley of Gates Foundation on open access policy dynamics w.s.r. to the Foundation's OA policy
by Santosh C. H. 21 Apr '26

21 Apr '26

Dear Sir/ Madam, Greetings! Happy to share the 37th interview post on 'Open Interview'. In this interview, Ashley Farley, Senior Officer, Knowledge and Research Services at the Gates Foundation explores the evolving landscape of open access through the lens of funder policy, library practice, and global equity. Drawing on Ashley's experience at the Gates Foundation, it examines the motivations and principles behind open access policy, the challenges of implementation, and the role of initiatives such as Gates Open Research in rethinking scholarly publishing. The discussion also engages with critical issues including cost structures, prestige-driven systems, researcher incentives, and persistent inequalities between the Global North and Global South. Further, it reflects on how impact can be meaningfully assessed beyond traditional metrics, the shifting responsibilities of libraries, and the broader cultural and structural changes needed to advance a more equitable and sustainable open access ecosystem. -- Ashley Farley: For the past decade, Ashley has led the foundation’s Open Access Policy’s implementation and associated initiatives. She completed her Masters in Library and Information Sciences from the Information School of University of Washington. She has a deep passion for open access and strongly believes that freely accessible knowledge has the power to improve and save lives. *--* *Ashley Farley: Reducing barriers to accessing and reusing research increases its potential impact* https://openinterview.org/2026/04/21/ashley-farley-reducing-barriers-to-acc… Please read the post and share your valuable comments on the blog. Regards, Editor, Open Interview <https://openinterview.org/> -- Santosh C. H., PhD <https://santoshch.my.canva.site/home> University Librarian Central University of Haryana <http://cuh.ac.in/> | Virtual Tour of CUH <https://www.cuh.ac.in/virtual-tour-360.aspx> Mahendergarh-123 031 Haryana, India http://library.cuh.ac.in/ Cell: +91-99874 28147 -- Read the recent interview posts of: *Tracy Creagh, Qeensland University of Technology, Australia <https://openinterview.org/2026/03/30/tracy-creagh-misconceptions-about-open…>* -- DISCLAIMER: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail & discard all copies of the original message.

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Press release - New journal launch: CABI Multifunctional Landscapes
by Maria Campbell 16 Apr '26

16 Apr '26

*With apologies for cross-posting* Dear colleagues, We would like to share the announcement of a new, open access journal called CABI Multifunctional Landscapes. The new journal is dedicated to advancing integrated landscape research and practice, and is developed in partnership with 1000 Landscapes for 1 Billion People. The full press release is available here - https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/do/10.5555/news-journal-launch-cabi-mult… - and an excerpt is included below. Thank you for your attention. Maria Campbell Marketing Manager, CABI cabi.org - cabidigitallibrary.org ***** New journal launch: CABI Multifunctional Landscapes Wallingford, UK, 16 April 2026: CABI is delighted to announce the launch of CABI Multifunctional Landscapes. This is a new international, open access, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing integrated landscape research through inclusive, transdisciplinary, and practice-oriented research. CABI Multifunctional Landscapes is developed in close partnership with 1000 Landscapes for 1 Billion People (1000 Landscapes), a global collaboration working towards a shared vision of thriving, sustainable landscapes. The new journal emerges from extensive consultation with researchers, experts, practitioners, and policymakers working to support multifunctional landscapes. Feedback shows strong enthusiasm for a dedicated publication addressing the growing demand for evidence, policy insight, and practical lessons that support healthy landscapes and resilient economies. The journal aims to become a central hub for applied and integrative landscape knowledge, consolidating work that is currently scattered across multiple disciplines and publications. It also seeks to foster cross-learning between diverse communities of practice and research such as bioregional, territorial, and other place-based regenerative development. [Continues] P Think Green - don't print this email unless you really need to ************************************************************************ The information contained in this e-mail and any files transmitted with it is confidential and is for the exclusive use of the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient please note that any distribution, copying or use of this communication or the information in it is prohibited. Whilst CAB International trading as CABI takes steps to prevent the transmission of viruses via e-mail, we cannot guarantee that any e-mail or attachment is free from computer viruses and you are strongly advised to undertake your own anti-virus precautions. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us by e-mail at helpdesk(a)cabi.org or by telephone on +44 (0)1491 829199 and then delete the e-mail and any copies of it. CABI is an International Organization recognised by the UK Government under Statutory Instrument 1982 No. 1071... **************************************************************************

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Help shape DORA's strategic Plan
by Giovanna Lima 15 Apr '26

15 Apr '26

Dear colleagues, Please provide your input for DORA's Strategic Plan for 2027-2030! Our global survey aims to gather perspectives on what is working, where challenges remain, and how DORA can best support responsible research assessment across different contexts. The survey is open to researchers and all staff at universities, funders, publishers, and others with an interest in research assessment reform. Responses can be submitted individually or on behalf of an organization. It takes approximately 10 minutes, is open until 30 April 2026, and is available in seven languages. Survey link: https://bit.ly/DORA-Survey-2026 More information: https://sfdora.org/2026/04/01/dora-survey/ Community input will directly inform DORA’s priorities and activities for the next three years. We encourage you to participate and to share this invitation with others who may wish to contribute. Thank you for considering this! Warm regards, on behalf of the DORA team, Giovanna *Dr Giovanna Lima (she/her)* DORA Program Manager *Read and sign DORA at our website <https://sfdora.org/read/> * *Find useful resources at DORA Resource Library <https://sfdora.org/resource-library/>* *Follow us on LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/company/declaration-on-research-assessment-dora/> and Bluesky <https://bsky.app/profile/dorassessment.bsky.social>*

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MyDLIS Diamond Jubilee Summit on "TRANSFORMING INFORMATION ECOSYSTEM ".
by BP Prakash 15 Apr '26

15 Apr '26

Dear Adminstrator, Please post the below announcement in LIS-Forum. Thanks & Regards, BP Prakash ================================================================================== Dear All, The Department of Studies in Library and Information Science, University of Mysore (MyDLIS) is completing sixty years of purposeful service ! To commemorate this milestone, Mysore University Information and Library Science Alumni Network (MILAN) and MyDLIS are jointly organizing the *DIAMOND JUBILEE SUMMIT, *on 29th & 30th May , 2026 at Vijnana Bhavana, Manasagangotri, Mysuru. *Summit theme *: *TRANSFORMING INFORMATION ECOSYSTEM* ; Ensuring Secure, Ethical, and Inclusive Knowledge for the Future. *Introduction:* Libraries, academic institutions, government organisations, and businesses are now expected to manage information throughout its lifecycle with due attention to accuracy, security, accessibility, privacy, and ethical use. At the same time, concerns such as misinformation, emerging cyber threats, resource constraints, and copyright and licensing issues underline the need for continuous dialogue, capacity building, and coordinated action among all stakeholders. *Program Highlights* Inaugural address by Dr Vikram Sampath (Renowned historian & author) Workshop on ‘Data Carpentry’ by Prof Parthasarathy Mukhopadhyay. (Kalyani University). Invited talks (Fake news, Disinformation, Cybersecurity, Data privacy, Ethical information practices, digital inclusion, etc) by experts from the fields of Journalism, IT, Communication, Information Science and Education. Panel Discussion, Info Quiz and much more. Click here for more details: <https://sites.google.com/view/milan-mysore> *Registration Fee.* MILAN Members - ₹ 1,500. New MILAN Members – Combo offer (membership + registration) - ₹ 2,500. Others - ₹ 2,000 *How to register?* Using the link provided, please complete the Google form, make the required payment by using the QR Code and submit the form. < https://forms.gle/ML7hmTNBBpajhrL6A>. *Summit Secretariat* MILAN / Department of Studies in Library Information Science University of Mysore, Mysuru. Email: milan.mydlis(a)gmail.com, Portal : https://sites.google.com/view/milan-mysore. ==============================================================================

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Webinar: AI-Chatbot Integration for Library Management Systems (Koha, Axiell, hbz, et al.)
by Francis Jayakanth 15 Apr '26

15 Apr '26

Dear Members, Please find below a forwarded communication that may be of interest to the community. Best regards, Francis Jayakanth ----------------------------- From: AboutSomethinK <info(a)aboutsomethink.org> Sent: 14 April 2026 20:1 --------------------------- Dear Colleagues, We would like to invite you to a free webinar on April 29th where we will share our first-hand experiences connecting our AI-Chatbot solutions to various Library Management Systems (ILS) and shared data sources. The session is open to all interested libraries and will focus on AI-Chatbots integration with library management systems (ILS), with particular attention to Koha. We’ll also share some of our experience with integrations involving other ILS (aStec, Axiell, etc.) and shared data sources such as hbz — the consortium that manages library data for 20+ universities across North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. We’ll make the webinar as technical as necessary, but as non-technical as possible. For the Tech-Savvy: We will share some hands-on examples of the "how" behind the integrations. For Management & Staff: We will use clear, non-technical language to explain the broader logic of these connections. The aim is to provide you with a roadmap for integration that extends far beyond the specific case studies we present, helping you envision how AI can better serve your researchers and public patrons. Speaker: Tilman Scheel (CEO, ASK) Duration: one hour including Q&A Admission: FREE You can register at the following link: 29th April 16:00 CEST (Berlin) / 10:00 Eastern Time (New York) https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CzyXwmCFRdC-NuBkvPgz5g We are looking forward to your participation, ASK Team [https://pbwpey.clicks.mlsend.com/tl/v/eyJpdiI6IjhhU093UUpaclZkTXpSNEpkeWNsN…]

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Call for Applications: Research Data Coordinator – French Institute of Pondicherry
by Anna Poorani 13 Apr '26

13 Apr '26

Dear Colleagues, The Library and Publication Division of the French Institute of Pondicherry (IFP) is pleased to share a call for applications for the position of *Research Data Coordinator* under a short-term project on dataset survey and metadata curation. We would be grateful if you could circulate this announcement within your networks and among interested candidates. *Position Title:* Research Data Coordinator – Dataset Survey & Metadata Curation Project *Location:* French Institute of Pondicherry, 11, Saint Louis Street, Pondicherry – 605001 *About the Institution:* The French Institute of Pondicherry (IFP) is a research institution under the joint supervision of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the CNRS. The Institute hosts a multidisciplinary research environment across Indology, Social Sciences, Ecology, and Geomatics. *Project Overview:* The project aims to conduct an institutional survey of research datasets, develop a structured inventory, and establish foundational metadata to support integration with the Institute’s Digital Collections Portal. *Essential Qualifications:* - Postgraduate degree in Library & Information Science / Information Management / Digital Humanities or related field - Basic understanding of metadata and data organisation - Proficiency in Excel / Google Sheets *Application Details:* Applicants should submit a CV, cover letter, and contact details of two referees to *library(a)ifpindia.org <library(a)ifpindia.org>* *Deadline:* 20 April 2026 (23:59 IST) For further details, please visit: https://www.ifpindia.org We appreciate your support in sharing this opportunity. -- Warm Regards, Anna Poorani Viswanathan Bibliothécaire / Librarian Library and Publication Division Institut Français de Pondichéry (IFP) French Institute of Pondicherry (IFP) UMIFRE 21 / UAR 3330 CNRS-MAEE P.B. N°33, 11, Saint Louis Street Pondicherry - 605 001 Tel : 0091 - 413 - 22 31 661 E-mail : annapoorani(a)ifpindia.org Web Site : www.ifpindia.org

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Self publishing using digital tools
by Vimal Kumar V. 12 Apr '26

12 Apr '26

🏛️ Institute for Research & Publication Skills, Mumbai 📢 3-Day Online National Capacity Building Programme 📝 *SELF-PUBLISHING USING DIGITAL TOOLS* Empowering Academics to Publish, Share & Amplify Knowledge 📅 15-17 April 2026 (Revised Dates) ⏰ 07:00 PM – 08:30 PM 📚 Day-wise Topics: 🟢 DAY-1: Foundations of Academic Publishing; Trends; Publishing Methods & Strategies; Career Development 🟢 DAY-2: Editing & Reviewing; Design & Production; Digital Tools & Techniques; Ethical Practices 🟢 DAY-3: Publishing on Self-Publishing Platforms (Amazon KDP, Pothi, etc.); Open Access Publishing & Achieving Visibility 🎓 Trainer: *Dr. Vimal Kumar V.* (Assistant Librarian, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala) 💰 Registration Fee: • PhD/PG Students: ₹290 • Faculty/Others: ₹390 🎁 e-Certificate & Study Materials Included 📌 Limited Seats – Register Now! 🔗 Register on: https://forms.gle/7WCn9Gc1uS8wDWQo7 📞 +91-95883 36935 (WhatsApp) -- *Vimal Kumar V., PhD* Assistant Librarian Grade II Mahatma Gandhi University Library Kottayam, Kerala-686560 ------------------------------------------ My Home page:www.vimalkumar.info My Blogs:linuxhalwa.blogspot.com kohageek.blogspot.com moovandan.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------------------------- *"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." Alvin Toffler*

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(no subject)
by Subbiah Arunachalam 10 Apr '26

10 Apr '26

Friends, Here is some good news for OA enthusiasts. *Munich, April 8, 2026* – DEAL Open Access Services (DEAS), together with contributing partners the University of California Libraries, Consortia Colombia, the Council of Australasian University Librarians, the Max Planck Society, the German National Library of Science and Technology (TIB), and the South African National Library and Information Consortium, today announced *the establishment of OA Forward*—an internationally governed coordination initiative that builds on the achievements of the OA2020 movement to advance the next stage of open scholarly communication through coordinated engagement with publishers and other stakeholders. Sadly, there is no organization from India. Arun http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4398-4658 http://www.researcherid.com/rid/B-9925-2009

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STMet 2026 at Bali
by STM STMet 2024 10 Apr '26

10 Apr '26

Seventh International Conference on Science & Technology Metrics (STMet 2025) Physical/Virtual October 02=04, 2026 Bali, Indonesia Universitas Islam Negari Sunan Kalijaga, Indonesia Sessions will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, Bali.Indonesia https://www.socio.org.uk/stm Co-located with Springer Real-Time Intelligent Systems (https://www.socio.org.uk/rtis) Building metrics is key to measuring science and technology and translating those measures to improve outcomes. The metric is not confined to drawing numbers and analysing. Selecting a metric depends on synthesising multiple directions and evidence-based data, producing scientific and technological evaluation benchmarks and standards, and implementing them with real data to mark a full-fledged system. Recently, we have witnessed the emergence of new metrics-based models that aim to reflect the growth of science and technology. The proposed Science and Technology Metrics (STMet 2026) conference addresses assessing various aspects of science and technology using multiple metrics, which can be best expressed through different approaches. In addition to the standard conference track and the Doctoral Symposium, STMetrics will host several workshops and tutorials related to the conference theme. The workshops provide participants with a friendly, interactive atmosphere for presenting novel ideas and discussing the application of metrics in Science and Technology Systems. The tutorials aim to enable participants to familiarise themselves with the theoretical and practical aspects, as well as the application of metrics. The proposed conference includes invited talks, presentations, tutorials, workshops, and discussions. The STMet has tracks on specialized topics. The STMet addresses the themes below, but is not limited to them. The proposed conference includes invited talks, presentations, tutorials, workshops, and discussions. The STMet has tracks on specialized topics. The STMet addresses the themes below, but is not limited to them. AI-based evaluation AI-based Metrics Citation-based metrics Ranking of Journals, Institutions, and Countries Discipline and Domain Analysis Economic factors Databases and datasets for evaluation Evaluation Tools and Indicators Web-based metrics Visibility and impact Internationalisation Text-based Metrics Innovation indicators Wearable Devices Open data Download Scientific Collaboration and cooperation analysis National Evaluation Systems Open access and open publishing New indices for evaluation Altmetrics Web-based metrics Data Science and Digital Repositories Scientific Visualization e-Science in the Cloud Scientific Journalism Scientific Publications Scientific Knowledge Diffusion Research Data Access Co-working in Science Science, Innovation and Economic Performance Public Research Systems Future S & T Policies Translating Metrics to Science Policy Evaluation beyond Metrics All submitted papers will be reviewed by a double-blind (at least three reviewers) and participative peer review. The review process will enable selecting those who will be accepted for their presentation at the international conference. Authors of accepted papers who registered for the conference can access evaluations and feedback from reviewers who recommended acceptance, helping them improve the final version. Mentoring support is available to young researchers and authors from developing countries. Please note that all submitted papers undergo review and editing by senior editors. We will handle content enhancement and language editing. There is no fee for editing and language correction services. Selected post-conference modified versions of the papers will be published in the following journals. 1. COLLNET Journal of Scientometrics and Information Management 2. Journal of Digital Information Management 3. Performance Measurement and Metrics 4. International Journal of Computational Linguistics Research 5. Open Information Science (more journals under negotiation) There are no additional publication fees for the above journals. The STMet 2026 has many co-located workshops. Proceedings We publish the papers after restructuring and editing are complete. All the past conference papers are indexed in Google Scholar. The past STM proceedings are available with ISBN and DOI at https://dline.info/newl/STMProceedings Important Dates Submission of Papers: July 20, 2026 Notification of Acceptance/Rejection: August 15, 2026 Camera-ready: September 15, 2026 Registration: September 15, 2026 Conference Dates: October 02-04, 2026 General Chairs Grant Lewison, King’s College, UK Valentina Markusova, The All-Russian Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, Russia Organization Chairs Nurdin Laugu, Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Indonesia Erwin Halim, Bina Nusantara University - Indonesia Program Chairs Pit Pichappan, Digital Information Research Labs, India & UK Irvan Muliyadi, Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta. Indonesia Co-Program Chairs Amir Reza Asnafi, Shahid Beheshti University, Iran Kazuyuki, Motohashi, University of Tokyo, Japan Giovanni Abramo, National Research Council of Italy Workshop and Special Session Chairs Ulle Must, Estonian Research Council at Archimedes, Estonia Contact: stm(a)socio.org.uk

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Questions: Koha ILS customization
by hello＠ai4library.com 09 Apr '26

09 Apr '26

Hi LIS-Forum, AI4Library (https://www.ai4library.com<https://www.ai4library.com/>) provides digital and ILS services and brings a number of AI tools including vector database, chat, and information service for the library community. We would be interested to hear your thoughts on two customization requirements and if you have come across any solution. In the past, we have tested WhatsApp reminders for key events from Koha ILS (v.25.11) based on polling key tables. Polling is an inefficient mechanism. Koha ILS offers inbuilt trigger to send email and SMS notifications and the SMS notification can potentially be used to get the message to push to WhatsApp API. A web hook would be most efficient solution but there is no endpoint available yet. The second requirement is to provide the similar paginated catalogue that comes as a result of public OPAC search in the Koha public homepage (e.g., without the guest users making a search). The approach has been to use the public search endpoint in OPAC. However, response seems to be slower than the native OPAC search itself besides, it's not able to pull and display the title cover pages. Thank you for sharing your feedback. Best regards Atanu from AI4Library

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