Thursday, November 30, 2017

Green vs Gold: Digging into Open Access Models

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The world of open access contains a colourful array of options for researchers who want to make their findings publicly accessible. Terms like green OA, gold OA, and even diamond or platinum OA are often used by publishers and funding agencies to describe different kinds of "open," but the distinctions can be confusing!

What you need to know:

1. Green and Gold labels don't refer the the level of openness or the value of either model; they refer to the way articles are being made open:

Green Open Access mean that a version of the author's manuscript OR a copy of the published version of the article is made freely available through an institutional or subject repository, like ERA, PubMed Central, or arXiv.org. Green OA is usually free for the author, and may have conditions imposed by the journal. A recent article exploring the benefits of open science found that 72% of publishers allowed their articles to also be shared through green OA.

The University of Alberta Libraries can work with you or on your behalf to deposit your articles in our institutional repository, ERA: Education and Research Archive.

Gold Open Access means that the article is published by the journal as an open access article and is made available free of charge through the journal's publishing platform or website. Many (but not all) publishers charge article processing charges (or APCs) to authors to publish gold OA.


2. Green and Gold OA both meet the requirements of the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications.

If you are required by your granting agency to make your research OA, but aren't sure how, contact your subject librarian or the ERA Helpdesk as erahelp@ualberta.ca / 780-492-4359.

3. Green and Gold OA can peacefully co-exist. If an article is published in a gold OA journal, it can often be shared in an institutional repository as a green OA article. This can lead to greater exposure for OA articles, as well as provide additional safeguards for the long-term preservation of the article and allow institutions to display more complete collections of their researchers' works in their repositories.


4. There are better ways to understand how open a journal is. For example, the large non-profit OA publisher Public Library of Science (PLOS), the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), and the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA) have created HowOpenIsIt.This guide looks at the openness of content for readers, the ease with which authors can share their work, and whether software programs can mine text and metadata.

Look up your favourite journals on the OA Spectrum Evaluation Tool and see how they stack up!





Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Indigenous Reads: Beginning Your Reconciliation Journey at UAL

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Many thanks to Kayla Lar-Son for her contribution to this article.

Working within Indigenous librarianship, we often get asked how people can participate in reconciliation. Reconciliation can be very slippery as it is a topic that is partnered with intense emotions coming both from Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. While there is a lot of work to be done towards reconciliation, it doesn’t need to be a scary task. Everyone can and should participate!

...but where to begin?

There are many everyday ways to start your own journey towards reconciliation. There are lots of resources to get you started too! For example, you can check out Crystal Fraser and Sara Komarnisky’s “150 Acts of Reconciliation for the Last 150 Days of Canada’s 150”. OR! You can view RISE’s (Reconciliation in Solidarity) eZine: 150 Everyday Acts of Reconciliation. This issue features artwork and ideas from people all around Edmonton. Both resources suggest curling up with a good book.

This suggestion gets a librarian stamp of approval! If you’re looking where to start, I suggest looking to Indigenous writers (there are a lot!).

These are some of our favourites:

indigenous writes

If books aren’t your thing -- welcome to the club! Yes, I’m one of those crazy librarians that don’t read books. My books come in the form of Graphic Novels, Documentaries, and Children's Picture Books.

the outside circle



Really, it’s a sad day when I don’t have one of these in the my pocket for the train ride home:
  • Deer Woman: A Vignette by Elizabeth LaPensée (Please note: any item that does not have a link are on order. We’ll have them soon!)
    • Moonshot by Hope Nicholson
    • Tales of the Mighty Code Talkers by Arigon Starr
    • UNeducation, Vol 1: A Residential School Graphic Novel by Jason Eaglespeaker
    • Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time by Hope Nicholson
    • The Outside Circle: A Graphic Novel by Patti LaBoucane-Benson and Kelly Mellings

    If you have little ones at home, you might want to consider stopping in to HT Coutts Education & Physical Education Library. There are puppets there. Yes, puppets! That, and they have loads of Children’s Picture Books. There are many great books surrounding reconciliation and Residential Schools in our collection, but when I read to my kids, I am drawn to the books that highlight our stories.

    children's picture books


    My kiddos love:

    Once the kids are in bed, I would suggest easing away from text for the evening. When you are in “chill mode”, pop in one of these documentaries. If the library doesn’t have a physical copy, consider scoping out some of UAL’s film databases. Criterion-on-Demand and Kanopy both have great, blockbuster flicks! So, skip Netflix for one night and look up these titles at the library:

    rumble

    Whether you’re a bookworm or a film fanatic, these titles are sure to put you on a path towards further understanding the Indigenous Peoples of Canada.

    Until next time…

    Thursday, November 23, 2017

    Archives Move into RCRF

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    The archives move into the new Research and Collections Resource Facility (RCRF) will be complete at the end of November ... a month ahead of schedule!

    We expect that the Reading Room will be available for archive appointments in January. Stay tuned.

    Photos


    The Reading Room 


    Moving in




    Fun fact: the shrubbery at the front of the RCRF were chosen with the #yeg bunnies specifically in mind. The shrubs are snack-friendly for our local furry friends.

    Tuesday, November 21, 2017

    Bookmark this: 5 Major US Papers in 1 Place

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    Get real news from five of the most respected daily newspapers in the United States. Updated every morning with the latest issues, and with content going back to the 1980’s, US Major Daily Newspapers is the best place to search for timely news stories.

    Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
    Search across all five titles to compare how news stories are covered, or do a deep dive by looking at decades of coverage on important social, political, or business issues with one easy search.

    US Major Daily Newspapers includes:
    • The New York Times (1980-present)
    • Wall Street Journal (1984-present)
    • Washington Post (1987-present)
    • Los Angeles Times (1985-present)
    • Chicago Tribune (1985-present)

    And if you need to go back further in time for historical research, the Libraries have you covered with digital archives that go all the way back to the 19th century:


    Looking for Canadian or other international news? Check out the full list of News Sources the Libraries makes available to students and faculty.

    Tuesday, November 14, 2017

    Share the Space - Help Make the Library Comfortable

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    The University of Alberta Libraries is introducing a sharing campaign called "Share the Space" to remind everyone using library spaces to be mindful and courteous of others using the library. Sharing is at the heart of what we do in the library, as the collection and spaces are here for all to use. The library has a community expectations policy that includes the expectation that library users will "respect the comfort and safety of fellow library users and library staff." To ensure that everyone enjoys their library experience we ask for you to consider these key aspects when you spend time in the library:

    Clean Up Your Garbage
    In most areas of the libraries you are welcome to bring your food and drinks with you. Feel free to grab a coffee or bring snacks for your study session. Just remember to take away any garbage with you and ensure you leave behind a clean space for the next user.

    Be Careful of Strong Scents
    For some people strong scents or perfumes can cause serious physiological side-effects, such as headaches. Avoid using scented lotions or perfumes when you plan on spending time in the library.

    Mind the Library Noise Zones
    Many new users to the libraries may be unaware that each of our campus libraries has "Noise Zones" that indicate what level of conversation and sound is acceptable. Library users need our spaces for various purposes, some need a space to meet and plan group projects with classmates while others need a place to focus in quiet. Check out the library noise zones directory for your favourite library and be mindful of what type of activities your are doing in silent or quiet zones. The libraries also have numerous group study rooms you can book with your ccid and password for group meetings or study sessions.



    Share the Space
    The libraries provides study spaces and computer spaces for our community and many students rely on our computers to complete their school work. We discourage the 'claiming' of spaces by leaving behind belongings when leaving to go get food or to attend class. Make sure to take all your belongings with you when leaving the library. Also, many libraries now have laptop tables for those with laptops - avoid occupying a desktop computer seat if you are not using the computer.

    Finally, we encourage library users to let us know if they find they are experiencing an issue that affects their comfort and use of the library. You can always mention issues to library staff at library service desks or contact us via our chat service at ASK US on the website.

    Thursday, November 9, 2017

    Remembering the World Wars

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    The University of Alberta Libraries have several collections focused on the World Wars. Trench Journals and Unit Magazines of the First World War features rare magazines published by every type of military and support service unit, from every involved nation. Trench journals allowed men and women engaged in all aspects of World War I to share their thoughts and experiences.

    Canadian titles include:


    Flanders Fields
    The First World War is a collection of primary source materials organized by themes of Personal Experiences, Propaganda and Recruitment, and Visual Perspectives and Narratives. Canadian content includes materials from Mills Memorial Library’s First World War Collections at McMaster University such as personal collections, albums, photographs, trench journals, sheet music, visual sources and trench maps. Also included is material from the Vera Brittain Archive, a collection of her wartime diaries and letters and a heavily annotated first version of her celebrated autobiography Testament of Youth.

    The First World War collection also includes the sheet music for In Flanders’ Fields, the famous war poem written by Canadian Lieut. Col. John D. McCrae and set to music by Alfred Hiles Bergen.

    World War II: U.S. Documents on Planning, Operations, Intelligence, Axis War Crimes, and Refugees features primary source materials including Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Map Room Files, Records of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Records of the War Department Operations Division, U.S. Navy Action and Operational Reports, Records of the Office of War Information, Papers of the War Refugee Board, and Top Secret Studies on U.S. Communications Intelligence during World War II. The collection includes government documents, maps, reports and memoranda reflecting Canada’s participation in the war.