Post by Vijayakumar Jk.

Open Access Theses and Dissertations

OATD aims to be the best possible resource for finding open access graduate theses and dissertations published around the world. Metadata (information about the theses) comes from over 600 colleges, universities, and research institutions. OATD currently indexes over 1.5 million theses and dissertations.  URL: http://oatd.org/ 

Additional sources: LibGuide on ETDs http://libguides.kaust.edu.sa/etd

Intersections of Scholarly Communication and Information Literacy

Intersections of Scholarly Communication and Information Literacy: Creating Strategic Collaborations for a Changing Academic Environment. URL: http://acrl.ala.org/intersections/

A white paper published by the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), explores and articulates three intersections between scholarly communication and information literacy. The paper also provides strategies for librarians from different backgrounds to initiate collaborations within their own campus environments between information literacy and scholarly communication.

Skills for Leading Libraries of the Future | Leading From the Library

To prepare for future leadership, there are new skills we can all learn to improve the quality of our leadership, it’s important to make a commitment to acquiring those skills and helping others to do so.

Read more from Library Journal

Also found an interesting one here  

Worth browsing some resources listed by ALA at Library Leadership Training Resources

International CALIBER

The presentations (PPTs) and program of 9th International CALIBER held at INFLIBNET, Gandhinagar is now available to download

ACD Watch Latest Issue

My ACD Watch column, latest issue available from IFLA ACD Blog http://blogs.ifla.org/acd/acd-watch/

Rejuvenated Libraries for Empowered Users Dr. TAV Murthy Festschrift Volume, 2012-13

Sub: Rejuvenated Libraries for Empowered Users: Dr. TAV Murthy Festschrift Volume, 2012-13

Dear Colleagues,

We have received several contributions and proposals to this book project from different parts of the world. But there are many proposed contributors who have requested for more time. This is mainly due to the winter and x-mas vacations. To accommodate these requests and also to give a chance to other potential contributors, the last date for submissions is extended to January 15th, 2013. 

We are also happy to announce the availability of two best author awards.

First authors of two best chapters will be chosen to receive full financial support for a personal annual membership in any of these international library associations for a year - IFLA, ALA, CILIP, SLA, ASIST, IATUL, subjected to the eligibility of the winner.  These two awards will be announced before book publication and the decisions by the Board will be final.

In addition to this, first authors of all accepted chapters will receive a copy of the book in print format.

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Sorry for cross postings, if any.We are pleased to propose to bring out a festschrift edited volume in honor of Dr. TAV Murthy, the former director of INFLIBNET Center, India & ex President of Society for Information Science. 

Dr. Murthy requires no introduction among the Indian LIS community. He is the first professional to become the Director of Information and Library Network Centre (INFLIBNET), equivalent to the rank of a Central University Vice Chancellor in India. He has played the lead role in establishing the UGC Infonet and E-Journal Consortium under the umbrella of University Grants Commission. He has also initiated several projects for the development of libraries and transformed INFLBNET into a vibrant organization and made it as a catalyst in higher education and research libraries and campuses across the modern India.

More about Dr. TAV Murthy is at http://www.socio.org.uk/reju.php.

The proposed festschrift volume will include seminal and methodologically incremental papers, case studies and research articles in the various themes in Library & Information Science as described below. The proposed title of the volume “Rejuvenated Libraries for Empowered Users”, will focus on how the needs of technologically empowered users are met by technologically empowered libraries and librarians.

This will include, but not limited to the below sub themes;

1. Users: Empowered and Changed2. Library Spaces: Remodeled and Reorganized3. Search Interfaces and Systems: Enhanced and Integrated4. Collections and Services: Reformatted and Redesigned
5. Metrics and Marketing: Redefined
6. (Next Generation) Librarians: Rejuvenated

More details about the topic, submission process and styles can be found from http://www.socio.org.uk/reju.php

We invite the potential contributors to take part in this endeavor for honoring a library professional, who has made significant contributions to the uplift of the LIS profession, and promoting valuable services among Indian academic and research community. You can submit your paper (s) as contributed chapters to this proposed volume. Writings can include case studies, applied research, literature reviews and reports, but general articles may be avoided. The work can be based on a range of library settings such as academic, research, public, corporate, government, health/medical, law, and non-traditional libraries. The Editorial committee with the help of its international board of reviewers will blind review the submissions, and inform the author(s) accordingly.

The edited book will be published by Digital Information Research Ltd, UK (a division of the Society for Information Organization, Harrow, London, UK and articles/chapters will be indexed by leading A&I databases.

More details about the topic, submission process and styles can be found from http://www.socio.org.uk/reju.php

Last date for submission is extended to 15th January 2013.

Please use APA style of referencing when you cite previous works and literature.

All submissions will undergo the blind review process. The accepted submissions need to be revised before the camera ready. The submissions need to be original and contain technical merit.

With regards,

Editors of Dr. TAV Murthy Festschrift Volume, 2012-13

• Pit Pichappan, Zhejiang University
• Vijayakumar J. K., King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

E-Mail: tav.volume@gmail.com    
URL: http://www.socio.org.uk/reju.php 

International Advisory Board(confirmed)
Dr. TAV Murthy Festschrift Volume, 2012-13

Ajay PratapSingh, Banaras Hindu University.
AkhtarParvez, Indian Institute of Management Indore & MANLIBNET.
Ali Al-Aufi, Sultan Qaboos University.
AnandPratapSingh,GuruGobindSingh Indraprastha University.
Antonella De Robbio, University of Padua& E-LIS.
Bandi M. K., Mangalore University.
Bavakutty M., Kannur University.
ChaubeyO. N., Election Commission of India.
Daisy Jacobs, University of Zululand.
Edward Proctor, Duke University, University of North Carolina & CONSALD.
FrédéricBlin,BibliothèqueNationaleetUniversitaire de Strasbourg& IFLA.
Ganesan A., PRIST University.
Gopakumar V., Goa University.
Harish Chandra, Indian Institute of Technology Chennai, SLA Asian Chapter.
Helen Ladron de Guevara Cox, Mexican Librarians Association.
Ibrahim Ramjaun, National Library of Mauritius &Association of Professional Librarians.
ImmaSubiratsColl, Food and Agriculture Organization & E-LIS.
Jain P. K., Indian Institute of Economic Growth & SLA Asian Chapter.
Joseph Hafner, McGill University & IFLA.
Khan, M.T.M., Galgotias University.
Kishor Chandra Satpathy, National Institute of Technology Silchar.
LalithaPoluru, Nirma University.
Majid Pathan, American University of Antigua.
Manoj Kumar Sinha, Assam University.
Mats Nordström, Malmo Public Library.
MuttayyaKoganuramath, Central University of Gujarat& ILA Journal.
Naresh Kumar, Society for Information Science India.
Negi D.P., HG College of Engineering & Management.
PijushkantiPanigrahi, University of Calcutta & IASLIC.
Prakash K., Karnataka State Open University.
Prem Chand, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies.
PremilaGamage, Srilankan Institute of Policy Studies Library & IFLA.
Raj Kumar, Punjab University & SATKAL Trust.
Rashed S. Alzahrani, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology.
Regine Schmolling, State University Bremen & IFLA.
Sanjay Kumar Bihani, Ministry of Indian Foreign Affairs.
Sanjay Kataria, Banasthali University.
Saraswathy S., Amrita University.
Suhaimi bin Haji Abdul Karim, University of Brunei.
Suresh Chauhan, Jaipuria Institute of Management.
Suresh KumarB.O.,PanditDeendayal Petroleum University.
SusmitaCkakraborty, Bengal Engineering & Science University.
Tamara Pianos, German National Library of Economics.
Temjen T., Nagaland University.
Thiyam Satyabati Devi, University of Swaziland.
VaralakshmiR.S.R., AndhraUniversity.
Vijayakumar K. P., University of Kerala.
Vijayakumar P., Pondicherry University

About Dr. TAV Murthy

Dr. Murthy requires no introduction among the Indian LIS community. He is the first professional to become the Director of Information and Library Network Centre (INFLIBNET), equivalent to the rank of a Central University Vice Chancellor in India. He has played the lead role in establishing the UGC Infonet and E-Journal Consortium under the umbrella of University Grants Commission. He has also initiated several projects for the development of libraries and transformed INFLBNET into a vibrant organization and made it as a catalyst in higher education and research libraries and campuses across the modern India.

He also carries with him a wide and rich experience and expertise of around 45 years, having worked in managerial level at a number of major libraries in many prestigious institutions in India. After his research studies and services in the Catholic University and the Case Western Reserve University in the USA, he contributed to setting up and developing libraries of several prestigious organizations in India. He had a rare opportunity to head several prestigious libraries like the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, National Library of India, Central University of Hyderabad, English and Foreign Languages University, Indira Gandhi National Center for Arts and so on and contributed towards their modernization and application of latest technologies. During his professional life he has completed several projects and programs funded by organizations like FAO, World Bank, AGRIS, NISSAT/CSIR, SENDOC, ICAR etc.

He has been associated with many Indian universities and has supervised number of doctoral researchers and actively associated with the national and international professional associations, expert committees and has published more than 150 research papers at various levels. He authored a few books, edited several conference proceedings and acted as the editorial board member of several national and international journals. He visited around 30 countries for professional activities, represented India in library and documentation related matters for international organisations like UNESCO, OCLC, SAARC, NAFSA et, where he tried to promote a truly inclusive and mutually beneficial global information society.

He was the President and Fellow of Society for Information Science (SIS) India, Member Secretary of Ahmedabad Library Network (ADINET), Council Member of Indian Association for Special Libraries (IASLIC) and Indian Library Association (ILA). During his tenure in IGNCA New Delhi, he was a member and Regional Coordinator in IFLA Arts Libraries Section and instrumental in the organizing of IFLA Conference in India. He was also associated with organizing of conferences like ICADL, International CALIBERs, PLANNERs, SIS, ILA, IASLIC and many international and national programs. He is the recipient of the STAKAL National Librarian Award, SIS National Fellowship, and so on. He was invited by several Government and professional bodies as an expert in India and abroad.

Science.gov: The Power of 10

Science.gov/ was launched in December 2002 and has broken new ground in interagency collaboration. Senior information managers representing 13 Federal agencies forged a consensus on how national science organizations could improve public access to the nation’s rich and diverse scientific research information and partnered to create the Science.gov Web portal.

One of the successful gateways, still existing....  Press release here

Google killed Meebo: many libraries scrambled to replace this tool as their virtual reference engine

Competition in the virtual reference market got really hot this past summer. Recent developments in virtual reference offerings suggest the market is much more dynamic than most of us would have imagined a short time ago. With Google’s acquisition of Meebo and its subsequent decision to shut down the chat widget service, many libraries scrambled to replace this tool as their virtual reference engine.

In any case, libraries and individual librarians have been using Meebo since at least 2007 to provide free virtual reference services, so Meebo’s demise sent them scurrying for a replacement. The good news was that other significant changes in the virtual reference marketplace were taking place, providing reference librarians with plenty of options. 

Read the detailed article by William Breitbach from
http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/oct12/Breitbach--Your-Guide-to-Meebo-Options.shtml

The Current State of E-Resource Usage Data in Libraries

While COUNTER and SUSHI have helped libraries come a long way toward improving the adoption and availability of usage statistics for library market vendors, I soon came to learn that there is still a good amount of work libraries must do to get the data they need to make critical collection development and database budgeting decisions. Any librarian who has managed electronic resources has experienced the—for want of words—joy of gathering and analyzing usage statistics. Such statistics are important for evaluating the effectiveness of resources and for making important budgeting decisions. Unfortunately, the data are usually tedious to collect, inconsistently organized, of dubious accuracy, and anything but a joy to work with.

How can we make this better? Read this article by Josh Welker:

http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/nov12/Welker--Counting-on-COUNTER.shtml