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

Web site for NewGenLib
by Mailing List Manager 03 Mar '04

03 Mar '04

Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 08:20:59 +0530 From: Jai Haravu <haravu(a)newgenlib.com> Dear List members I am happy to let members of the list know that the first generation web site for NewGenLib (a library automation and networking solution developed as an initiatve of the Kesavan Institute of Information and Knowledge Management, http://www.kiikm.org/ in partnership with Verus Solutions Pvt., Ltd.) is now ready and can be seen at http://www.newgenlib.com/. I am also happy to let you know that Goa Univ has invited us to install it on their Server. They propose to build a network of Goa university library and some of the better equipped college libraries in Goa. Preliminary work on this has just been done and soon hopefully, their catalogue database should be accessible on a public domain server of the Univ. I welcome feedback from members. Best regards. L J Haravu 69 Krishnapuri Colony West Marredpally Secunderabad 500026 Tel: (91)-40-27803947

1 0

Seminar on Digital Libraries
by Mailing List Manager 03 Mar '04

03 Mar '04

Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2004 10:56:45 +0530 (IST) From: DRTC General <drtc(a)isibang.ac.in> Documentation Research and Training Centere, Bangalore Indian Statistical Institute & Max Mueller Bhavan (Goethe Institut), Bangalore invite you to a seminar on DIGITAL LIBRARIES on 8th March, 2004, Monday at 10.00 am Speakers: 1. Dr. Erich J Neuhold, Chairman, IEEE Technical Committee on Digital Libraries 2. Dr. A.R.D. Prasad, Documentation Research and Training Centre, ISI, Bangalore Venue: DRTC, ISI, 8th Mile, Mysore Road, Bangalore 560059 PROGRAMME 10.00 - 10.05 : Welcome address by Dr. I.K. Ravichandra Rao, Head, DRTC,ISI, Bangalore Centre 10.05 - 10.10 : Opening Remark by Ms. Juliane Stegner, Director, Max Mueller Bhavan, Bangalore 10.10 - 11.00 : LDL: Librarians' Digital Libraries by Dr. A.R.D. Prasad 11.00 - 11.30 : Coffee Break 11.30 - 1.30 : Personalization in Digital Libraries-An extended View by Dr. Erich J. Neuhold 1.30 - 2.30 : Lunch Break 2.30 - 4.30 : Tutorial on Web Technologies and persistent information and knowledge representation by Dr. Erich J. Neuhold 4.30 pm : Vote of Thanks by Dr. Devika P Madalli Please confirm your participation to drtc(a)isibang.ac.in before 5.3.2004 Professor and Head, DRTC,ISI

1 0

On the Need to Take Both Roads to Open Access
by Mailing List Manager 03 Mar '04

03 Mar '04

Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2004 04:12:59 +0000 (GMT) From: "[iso-8859-1] Subbiah Arunachalam" <subbiah_a(a)yahoo.com> Friends: Working with ICT and development, and specifically with refereed research literature, we strongly support Stevan Harnad's message regarding the imbalance between OAPub ["gold"] and OAArch ["green"],both in the debates in discussion lists and in the general media coverage of OA. [BOAI-2 ("OAPub" "gold"): Publish your article in a suitable open-access journal whenever one exists. BOAI-1 ("OAArch" "green"): Otherwise, publish your article in a suitable toll-access journal and also self-archive it.] http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/~harnad/Temp/self-archiving_files/Slide0026.gif http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/~harnad/Temp/self-archiving_files/Slide0027.gif Of course, ALL OA support is greatly welcomed, but OAPub will take some time to achieve. For those in the developing world who cannot wait, we are doing all we can to raise awareness about the opportunities offered by OAArch, by writing, talking, organising workshops for establishing archives .... Bioline International is doing sterling work showing the way by archiving all the 24 developing country journals it currently distributes -- http://bioline.utsc.utoronto.ca --. But more help is needed from the international scientific community. We would like to call on all those commited to the OA movement to redress the balance in your promotional activities by explaining to all that with OAArch nothing else need change. All organisations, including developing country institutes, can archive their refereed published research as soon as they have set up their own archives or, even easier, can use one of the other interoperable archives already established. At a stroke, the S to N, N to S and S to S knowledge gaps can begin to close. No need to worry about the fate of established journals, no need to worry about economic models, no need to worry about costs/workload/quality/ - no need to change anything else atall. Scholarly publishing continues in its well known and reliable path. Perhaps the other argument that will most pursuade researchers in the developed world is that the 'missing' research is essential for their own research too. They think they know it all, but search for 'gene', say, through the yet embryonic Bioline archive and the results will show that they do not. Search for 'malaria' in the main Bioline site -- http://www.bioline.org.br -- and a wealth of important data emerges. Developing country knowledge is essential for us all. The other most pursuasive argument to encourage archiving by scientists and their institutes in the developed world is the greatly increased impact of everyone's archived research -- http://archives.eprints.org/eprints.php --. This is what all scientists, and every institute funding their work, most want. Why hide their achievements when institutional archiving is available to all? The OAPub route will progress and the economic debate will be resolved over time, but the OAArch can happen now and we owe it to our scientific colleagues in the less priviledged countries - and to ourselves - to 'just do it'. Ideas as to how to speed up this reform would be very welcome from subscribers to this list. Subbiah Arunachalam, Trustee EPT, MS Swaminathan Institute, Chennai Leslie Chan, Trustee EPT, University of Toronto Barbara Kirsop, Secretary EPT, UK Electronic Publishing Trust for Development <http://www.epublishingtrust.org> On the Need to Take Both Roads to Open Access http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/~harnad/Hypermail/Amsci/2995.html The Green Road to Open Access: A Leveraged Transition http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/~harnad/Hypermail/Amsci/3378.html The Green and Gold Roads to Open Access http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/~harnad/Hypermail/Amsci/3147.html

1 0

tracing the evolution of knowledge and ideas
by Mailing List Manager 03 Mar '04

03 Mar '04

Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 09:45:17 +0530 From: Subbiah Arunachalam <arun(a)mssrf.res.in> Friends: Here is some good news for scientometricists and others interested in tracing the evolution of knowledge and ideas. Thomson-ISI will use the CiteSeer software developed by Steve Lawrence and colleagues at NEC Research, Princeton, to create citation-based services that would cover not only print journals but also the papers in the 'open access' web domain. Read on: Thomson ISI to Track Web-Based Scholarship with NEC's CiteSeer By Barbara Quint With the Open Access movement bringing Web-based scholarship to increased prominence, leading A&I services that have long provided the access tools to identify scholarship face new challenges. Thomson ISI, a longtime leader in netting scholarship, primarily through citation patterns, has launched a new initiative to handle this problem. It will collaborate with NEC Laboratories America to create a comprehensive, multidisciplinary citation index for Web-based scholarly resources. Due out in early 2005, the new Web Citation Index will tap a number of technologies developed by NEC, primarily the "autonomous citation indexing" tools of NEC's CiteSeer software. CiteSeer has been highly praised for its strength at monitoring and connecting research for computer literature. <http://www.infotoday.com/newsbreaks/nb040301-1.shtml> . Arun [Subbiah Arunachalam]

1 0

Technology for libraries
by Mailing List Manager 03 Mar '04

03 Mar '04

Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 09:34:19 +0530 From: Subbiah Arunachalam <arun(a)mssrf.res.in> Here is an article by a well-known professional and columnist. Many Indian librarians may find it useful. Although this article talks of commercial products, I thought it could trigger some research and action among computer-savvy Indian librarians. Best wishes. Arun Cool Tech Tools for Libraries By Paula J. Hane While thinking about topics for this article, I was struck by how frequently I'm drawn to discussing search engine developments, enterprise content management solutions, and visualization interfaces-kind of techie stuff. What about some good, solid news about libraries, I thought? So, in reviewing the news and developments over the last few weeks, I was pleased to find a couple of interesting announcements of products that offer libraries real help in doing their jobs better. And, guess what? The products are the result of some neat technological advances-they're cool techie tools. I've been following news about applications for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for more than a dozen years. The April 1992 cover story of Database magazine (which I edited at the time) was an introduction to GIS and detailed the linking of maps and databases for business applications. Now, a small, privately owned company in Pasadena, Calif., called CIVIC Technologies (<http://www.civictechnologies.com>) is helping libraries use a specialized GIS tool to help deliver more effective public services. Marc Futterman, president and CEO, is an architect who used GIS in city planning and realized the potential for libraries to take advantage of similar tools. In 1999, he co-founded CIVIC Technologies, which offered a customized GIS application designed specifically to help librarians understand and use their data for planning and decision-making purposes. The company uses GIS technology developed by its business partner, Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI), a well-known GIS developer. Last year, LibraryDecision was introduced as a Web service. Since then, a variety of public libraries throughout the U.S. have selected it to better match library services to user needs, reallocate resources, revise service area boundaries, and plan for new facilities. LibraryDecision helps librarians analyze, visualize, and interpret demographic data (census and local geographic data) in combination with information from their ILS on patron usage, collections, circulation, and facilities. Combining these and other diverse sources gives librarians a clear picture of their community and provides insights into the patterns of library usage and service demand. Current customers of LibraryDecision are incorporating ILS information from Dynix, TLC, and Innovative systems. According to Futterman: "We designed LibraryDecision to be useful to a diverse range of public libraries and each of our customer's conditions are [sic] unique: size, location, and population. What they have in common is the need for a robust, but affordable, GIS tool set that will enable them to intelligently plan for and manage the delivery of more effective public services." LibraryDecision has a tiered pricing model, depending on the number and type of libraries. A small, single-library jurisdiction can expect to pay under $1,000, while the cost for the largest multisite library might be $15,000. Futterman said the company would be announcing partnerships with some of the ILS vendors and was looking at future joint-product development with ESRI. I hear from a colleague that there are two other GIS applications for libraries: GeoLib (<http://www.geolib.org>), an IMLS grant program at Florida State University, and CybraryView (<http://www.cybraryn.com>). I haven't checked them out yet, but you might want to if you need planning assistance. One company that is well-known in library circles is Sirsi Corp., which is celebrating 25 years in business. The company just announced several innovative products that build upon its Sirsi Rooms technology, which provides content in the context of "virtual rooms." The new Sirsi Digital Community Center Kiosk is an ATM-like device with a touch screen monitor that makes it possible for libraries to deliver information, resources, and services to people and places that might otherwise not have access to the physical library. Fred E. Goodman, president of Public Information Kiosk, Inc. (<http://www.pik.com/pik>), Sirsi's partner for the kiosk device, stated: "The kiosks are the first units designed to deliver community information, resources, and services in an unattended environment, providing users with self-service options 24 hours per day. The kiosks are easily installed in shopping malls, government office buildings, senior citizen complexes, hospitals, transportation centers, and other high-traffic locations where citizens live, learn, work, and seek information." The kiosk device plus the virtual room construct gives libraries a chance to make a real difference in public places in their communities, delivering valuable content and resources geared to specific needs. It greatly expands a library's service capabilities and extends its reach and visibility. Sirsi also introduced the Sirsi Digital Heritage Room, powered by Sirsi Hyperion Digital Media Archive and Sirsi Rooms technologies. The new Web-hosted solution provides libraries with an easy and cost-effective way to preserve images, documents, and more. It is especially designed for libraries that may not have the resources for scanning collections, data loading, or administering a server with digital content. Sirsi will scan and bulk-load the images and associated metadata, which is fully searchable. As an optional feature, the textual material in the collection-newspapers, documents, journals-can be indexed and searched using full-text search capabilities licensed from Convera Corp. The product is scheduled to be available in the spring of 2004. Cool technology that helps libraries provide better library services. I like it. Paula J. Hane is Information Today, Inc.'s news bureau chief and editor of NewsBreaks. Her e-mail address is phane(a)infotoday.com <mailto:phane@infotoday.com>.

1 0

IFLA has formally endorsed open access publishing
by Mailing List Manager 03 Mar '04

03 Mar '04

From: Subbiah Arunachalam <arun(a)mssrf.res.in> To: lis-forum(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in, franc(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in Friends: IFLA has formally endorsed open access publishing: http://www.ifla.org/V/press/oa240204.html IFLA supports Open Access movement PRESS RELEASE 24 February 2004 IFLA HQ The Hague, Netherlands The IFLA Governing Board has adopted a statement on 'Open access to Scholarly Literature and Research documentation </V/cdoc/open-access04.html>' Welcoming the IFLA statement, President-elect Alex Byrne noted IFLA's long commitment to open access to information, especially its concern for access to scholarly literature in the developing world. He said: "IFLA recognises that achieving affordable, global access to scholarly information and research documentation will require a great deal of commitment and a variety of strategies. IFLA strongly supports the Open Access movement and welcomes the launch of many OA compliant publications. IFLA also acknowledges the need to address the challenge on a number of fronts and in partnership with many stakeholders." One of the principal concerns identified by Alex Byrne was to support and defend the moral rights of creators, while simultaneously seeking balance in copyright legislation to protect and extend the public domain and public interest in access to information. "This is fundamental to many areas including health, education, development and culture", he added. Subbiah Arunachalam

1 0

10th annual lectures of Informatics - was very informative (fwd)
by Mailing List Manager 01 Mar '04

01 Mar '04

Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 12:35:25 +0530 From: Rajeev K R <krr(a)sasken.com> Hi, 10th annual lectures of Informatics held on yesterday at Leea Palace, Bangalore was very informative. On behalf of Library professionals, I would like to thank all Informatics team members to organise such an interesting & informative lecture. Mr. Mick Bass - HP Labs, the man behind Dspace delivered a 2 hr intresting lecture on Dspace architecture and other details. He pointed that there are only few organisations in the world which have started to explore the full features of Dspace. In India, there is only one fully productive site and it is at DRTC, ISI. The digital library site (on Dspace) at DRTC (https://drtc.isibang.ac.in/index.jsp) is specifically designed for dessiminating the Library/Information resources. So you may upload your papers/articles at DRTC digial library to make it available to the whole library community. With Warm Regards Rajeev K R Library & Information Center Sasken Communication Technologies Limited 139/25, Ring Road, Domlur Bangalore - 560071 India Email: krr(a)sasken.com Tel: + 91 80 25355501 Extn: 2021 Fax: + 91 80 25351133 URL: www.sasken.com

1 0

Global Biodiversity Database
by Mailing List Manager 01 Mar '04

01 Mar '04

Date: Sun, 29 Feb 2004 12:54:10 +0530 From: Subbiah Arunachalam <arun(a)mssrf.res.in> Friends: > Here is something of interest to information scientists. From the latest > issue of Science (AAAS). All Indian Biodiversity databases should join > this world initiative. > > For years, experts have dreamed of a single Web site that would unite all > knowledge of the world's living things. Last month, an effort to do just > that debuted: the Global Biodiversity Information Facility's (GBIF's) new > Biodiversity Data Portal. The site lets users simultaneously search over 1 > million taxonomic records from museum collections, botanical gardens, and > global storehouses such as FishBase. Whether you're curious about a > mushroom, a newt, or the bacterium that causes tetanus, the portal > provides the latest on classification and nomenclature. Some of the > 30-plus linked data sources allow you to browse collection and observation > records and use them to map species' distributions. Others, such as > CephBase, also list details such as diet and size for creatures like the > white-spotted octopus (Octopus macropus). GBIF, a consortium of more than > 30 countries, hopes that more museums and other organizations will connect > their databases. > <http://www.gbif.net/portal> > Regards. > Arun > [Subbiah Arunachalam] > >

1 0

Invitation to 10th Annual Lecture on Informatics
by Mailing List Manager 26 Feb '04

26 Feb '04

Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2004 17:36:50 +0530 From: mouna1 <mouna1(a)informindia.co.in> Informatics (India) Limited, Bangalore Cordially invites you to 10th ANNUAL LECTURE ON INFORMATICS and WORKSHOP ON DSpace Date : 29 February 2004 -- Sunday Time : 10.15AM - 4PM Venue : The Leela Palace, (Grand Ball Room), Airport Road, Bangalore PROGRAM DETAILS Morning: 10:15AM--12:45PM: ANNUAL LECTURE ON INFORMATICS PRESIDED BY Padmavibhushan Dr K Kasturirangan, MP, Rajyasabha Former Chairman, ISRO, Bangalore SPEAKERS Padmashri Prof. P Balaram, Editor, Current Science Professor, Molecular Biophysics Unit. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, TOPIC: SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTOMETRICS Dr (Ms) Ching-Chih Chen, Professor, Graduate School of Library & Information Science, Simmons College, Boston, USA . TOPIC : PAST FORWARD - DIGITAL MEDIA FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE Post Lunch : 2PM - 4PM : WORKSHOP ON DSpace (Jointly organized by HP Labs India and Informatics (India) Ltd) PRESIDED BY Prof. J Shashidhara Prasad Vice Chancellor, University of Mysore, Mysore Presented by : Mr Mick Bass, Manager - Research and Business Development, HP Laboratories Hewlett-Packard Company, USA REGISTRATION IS FREE. CONTACT ; mouna(a)informindia.co.in <mailto:mouna@informindia.co.in> Phone : 91 80 23365940 ( Priya ) FAX : 91 80 23344598 ____________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________ About DSpace and The Workshop: DSpace (<www.DSpace.org> <<http://www.dspace.org>>) is an open-source institutional repository system developed by HP Labs and MITLibraries. Mr Mick Bass, HP's Research Manager responsible for DSpace, will provide an overview of the DSpace system and describe a range of supporting efforts to which HP and MIT are contributing. Mick will describe the functionality of the current and upcoming 1.2 release of the DSpace system, and the DSpace Roadmap beyond the 1.2 release. He will also describe SIMILE (web.mit.edu/simile) a current research activity which aims to augment DSpace using Semantic Web Components and Techniques to provide end-to-end support for capturing, navigating, browsing, and searching heterogeneous community-specific schemes, metadata, and content types. ____________________________________________________________________________ _________

1 0

[DIGLIB] DPC/OCLC: An Introduction to OAIS (Open Archival Information System) - fwd
by Mailing List Manager 26 Feb '04

26 Feb '04

Please excuse cross postings. Thanks, Smita C. Librarian Indian Institute of Geomagnetism New Mumbai The first of a series of Technology Watch reports commissioned by the DPC is now available from: http://www.dpconline.org/graphics/reports/index.html#intoais The aims of the DPC Technology Watch Service are to identify and track developments in IT, standards and tools which are critical to digital preservation activities. The DPC has commissioned reports from experts on topics known to be of crucial interest and importance for digital preservation. The reports have been specifically commissioned to be written in a style which is suitable for a national and international audience with a wide range of backgrounds and written in clear, plain English which avoids unnecessary jargon and acronyms. The first of these reports is a DPC/OCLC report on An Introduction to OAIS (Open Archival Information System), authored by Brian Lavoie, from OCLC. The influence of OAIS extended, at a very early stage, well beyond the space data community it was initiated by but it still retains an aura of a complex framework applicable only to a highly specialised community. This report provides a clear introduction to OAIS accessible to all who have an interest in preserving digital information. It provides practical examples as well as contextual information about the development of OAIS. **************************** Maggie Jones DPC Coordinator Raymond Burton Library University of York Heslington YORK Y010 5DD Tel: +44 (0) 1904 321 131 Email: mjj4(a)york.ac.uk http://www.dpconline.org

1 0