The SCOAP3 Open Access initiative has a unique potential to transform scholarly communication. It offers an opportunity to U.S. libraries of all sizes to experiment with Open Access in a cost-neutral fashion and make a real difference in Open Access. Come to the SCOAP3 forum at ALA in Chicago on July 11th to learn how you can get involved!

SCOAP3 aims to convert High-Energy Physics literature to Open Access by re-directing current subscription expenditures to a consortium that will centrally pay journals for peer-review and other editorial services, making articles Open Access. This is an innovative, cost-neutral, way to achieve Open Access without incurring in additional author fees.

SCOAP3 has so far collected pledges for a total of 9 Million $/year from partners in 22 countries, corresponding to 63% of its worldwide budget envelope. In the U.S., leading libraries and library consortia signed an Expression of Interest pledging to support the SCOAP3 initiative, if successful. These pledges represent 2.5 Million $/year, over 70% of the expected U.S. contribution. However, additional pledges for about 1 Million $/year are still needed to allow the initiative to move forward.

This forum, hosted by SCOAP3 spokesperson Salvatore Mele from CERN, complements the recent SCOAP3 ACRL and SPARC FAQs and webcast. It will present an overview of the SCOAP3 initiative and answer questions on the way the consortium will work.

The ALA event will take place on Saturday, July 11th 2009, 12:00pm-2:00pm at the Hyatt Regency, 151 East Wacker Drive, Truffles Room. Attendance is free and a light lunch will be available, but participants are kindly invited to register online where questions can be submitted in advance.

Additional resources:

• Info on SCOAP3
• ACRL & SPARC SCOAP3 FAQ
• Slides from the ACRL & SPARC SCOAP3 webcast
• Video from the ACRL & SPARC SCOAP3 Webcast
• SCOAP3 Expression of Interest

The July/ August issue of C&RL News is now available online and in the mail. Summer can offer a much needed time for academic and research librarians to reflect on the just completed academic year, work on the projects left lingering on the to-do list, and plan programming for upcoming semesters. The upcoming ALA Banned Books Week, held September 26–October 3, provides an opportunity to educate the campus community about censorship and freedom of expression issues. Melissa Hubbard outlines Southern Illinois University-Carbondale’s programming in her article “Banned Books Week and the Freedom of the Press.”

Summer break also offers a time to prepare orientation sessions for new students and faculty. “The huge hubbub” by Alice Wasielewski provides tips for planning fun and informative freshman orientations. In addition to students and faculty, libraries themselves can benefit from orientation-style programs. Uta Hussong-Christian, Sue Kunda, and Hannah Gascho Rempel describe the  Oregon State University Libraries In-Service Day in “By the people, for the people.” In our continuing look at the impact of the current economic climate on academic and research libraries, Kate Joranson and Eve Wider examine ways librarians can assist students preparing for an uncertain job market in “Librarians on the case.”

Make sure to take a look at all of the other great articles and columns in this month’s issue. Thanks for reading the News!

Features:

Banned Books Week and the Freedom of the Press - Melissa A. Hubbard
The huge hubbub- Alice Wasielewski
The Oregon State University Libraries annual In-Service Day - Uta Hussong-Christian, Sue Kunda, Hannah Gascho Rempel
Talkin’ ’bout my generation (Internet Resources) - Sidney Lowe and Susie Skarl
Librarians on the case
Vocera - Sarah Anne Murphy
The convenience of nonprobability - Dolores Skowronek and Larry Duerr

Departments:

In the News
News from the Field
Washington Hotline
Preservation News
Internet Reviews
New Publications
Grants and Acquisitions
People in the News
Fast Facts
Job Openings/Classified Ads
Product Ads

Choice hosted an open house on June 24 to celebrate their new Liberty Square offices in Middletown, Connecticut. Approximately 60 guests, including local library staff from Russell Public Library, Wesleyan University, Fairfield University, Trinity College, the University of Connecticut, Central Connecticut State University, Goodwin College, and many more; publisher representatives from ABC-CLIO/Greenwood and Credo Reference; and ALA/ ACRL staff and leaders, attended the informal celebration.

Guests mingled and toured the new office space while enjoying music by two flutists from Wesleyan University. Choice Editor and Publisher Irv Rockwood cut the cake and gave brief comments celebrating the opening of the new offices after a long planning and construction period.  Three Barnes and Noble gift certificates were raffled off and each guest received a Choice/ACRL bag as they left.  A slideshow with photographs of the old and new Choice offices along with images of past and present staff members and Choice events over the year added to the historical perspective. A commemorative book on the history of Choice in Middletown was presented to ACRL President Erika Linke, ACRL Executive Director Mary Ellen Davis, ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels, and ALA Associate Executive Director for Finance Greg Calloway.  Copies were also available for guests to peruse.

Designed in accordance with “green building” principles, Liberty Square features a prefabricated exterior wall system that provides excellent insulation, a high-efficiency heath and cooling system, insulating windows, and a recycled steel building frame. The Choice office unit is equipped with energy efficient lighting and switches, low volatility paint, green window treatments and furniture, and makes use of natural lighting whenever possible. Liberty Square is ALA’s first “green” building.

Additional images from the celebration are available on Flickr.

Congratulations to Choice on their new home!

ACRL is pleased to announce the launch of a new e-Learning Frequent Learner Program to help academic and research librarians maximize their professional development dollars during these challenging economic times. Starting Sept. 1, individuals or groups that register for three ACRL e-Learning courses or Webcasts will receive complimentary registration to one additional course or Webcast of equal or lesser value to the lowest cost paid e-Learning opportunity. Complete details and a full schedule of ACRL e-Learning opportunities are available on the ACRL e-Learning Web site.

“We understand the challenges facing academic and research librarians in the area of professional development in the current economy,” said ACRL President Erika Linke. “The Frequent Learner Program is ACRL’s way of ensuring continued access to quality online learning while helping with the bottom line.”

Enrollment in the Frequent Learner Program is automatic for all individuals and groups registering for ACRL e-Learning courses and Webcasts starting Sept. 1. No additional signup is required. Complimentary e-Learning must be redeemed within 18 months of the first course or Webcast. Frequent Learner Program rewards are only redeemable for ACRL e-Learning opportunities and have no cash value. ACRL e-Learning courses and Webcasts attended prior to Sept. 1, 2009, are not eligible for the Frequent Learner Program.

Complete rules and redemption details are available on the ACRL e-Learning Web site. Contact Jon Stahler at jstahler@ala.org or (312) 280-2511 with questions about the Frequent Learner Program and ACRL e-Learning opportunities.

Article Title: Is there an information literacy skills gap to be bridged? An examination of faculty perceptions and activities relating to information literacy in the United States and England
Author: Jacqui Weetman DaCosta
Accepted: June 29, 2009
Anticipated Publication Date: March 2010

New from ACRL,  Teaching Literary Research: Challenges in a Changing Environment is a collection of essays that explores the relationship between information literacy and literary research. English professors and librarians provide perspectives on this relationship through presentations of best practices in teaching students from first year undergraduate through graduate levels.

Their work focuses on the significance of information literacy to the teaching of research methods in literary studies. This volume meets the need for an expanded exploration of best practices in teaching literary research to students at various levels, undergraduate through graduate, and in various areas of literary focus. “The book” continues to be of utmost importance to the disciplines of language and literary study, but networks, databases, and digital works all have an impact on the research process of the literary scholar. This collection of essays confronts these challenges and presents effective practices as experienced from both the teaching faculty and librarian points of view.

Teaching Literary Research is #60 in the ACRL Publications in Librarianship monographic series, an occasional series focusing on research projects of interest to the academic library community. For more information on how to publish a PIL book contact the ACRL PIL Editor, Craig Gibson at jgibson1@gmu.edu.

Teaching Literary Research is available for purchase through the ALA Online Store and by telephone order at (866) 746-7252 in the U.S. or (770) 442-8633 for international customers

Alberta S. Bailey is Director for Public Services at the University of Arkansas University Libraries in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Alberta has been an ACRL member since 1997 and is your ACRL member of the week.

1. Describe yourself in three words:Reasonable, Supportive, Collaborative.

2. What are you reading right now? I am reading A Mercy by Toni Morrison.

3. Describe ACRL in three words: Relevant, Advocate, Leader.

4. Why did you join ACRL? I joined ACRL to connect and network with professionals in academic libraries in order to stay current in the practice of librarianship and to take advantage of opportunities for continuing education and self-development.

5. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? I value the intellectual challenge involved in the discovery of just the right information delivered at just the right time to satisfy study, teaching, research, teaching, service, and life-long learning needs of library constituents.

6. In your own words: Life for academic/librarians in the 21st century is about embracing and managing change.  It is meeting library users where they are and understanding how to effectively navigate the space between what the users want and what we think they need.  It is also about incorporating technology wherever appropriate to make the process easy, interesting, and collaborative. Innovative uses of technology that enhance learning and empower students and scholars to be more creative and productive is an important component of the academic library mission that propels the reach of the library beyond its walls.

Registration is now open for ACRL’s summer 2009 e-Learning opportunities.  We are offering a wide variety of online learning opportunities in summer 2009 to meet the demands of your schedule and budget. Full details and registration information are available on the ACRL Web site.

ACRL e-Learning Webcasts last from an hour and a half to two hours and take place in an interactive online classroom. Group discounts are available for all Webcasts. Summer 2009 Webcasts include:

Text Messaging Reference: Enhancing Reference Services with SMS (July 2, 2009)
Text messaging (also known as SMS) is now one of the most popular ways people connect with friends, family and information. This session introduces and covers the emerging field of SMS reference. It shares practical tips and best practices, as well as the management, technology and assessment considerations for this cutting edge service. Attendees will learn how to choose the best technology for SMS reference at their institution, what the advanced managerial considerations are and what is on the horizon for mobile reference services using SMS.

Academic Librarianship by Design: Enhancing the Libraries Integration into Course/Learning Management Systems (July 28, 2009)
This Webcast will explore the various methods that libraries can employ to further integrate their services and information literacy programs into Course/Learning Management Systems(e.g. Blackboard, ANGEL, eCollege). Using Blended Librarian principles, the Webcast will also explore and examine current ‘case studies’ that demonstrate how to appropriately identify and design library services for a Course/Learning Management System environment both at a course-level and a system-level.

Cyber Zed Shed Webcast Series 1: Facebook, Twitter, and Sprout (August 18, 2009)
Miss the ACRL 14th National Conference in Seattle or one of the Cyber Zed Shed presentations? Now is your chance to check out what you may have missed!  The first in a series of Cyber Zed Shed Webcasts will be feature 20-minute presentations on Facebook, Twitter and Sprout with ample time for questions and discussion.

Registration for upcoming ACRL e-Learning events is now open. Complete details and registration information is available online. Contact Jon Stahler at jstahler@ala.org or (312) 280-2511 with questions about ACRL e-Learning opportunities.

Janet S. Fore is Library Director of the Cushwa-Leighton Library at Saint Mary’s College in Norte Dame, Indiana.  Janet has been an ACRL member since 1985 and is your ACRL member of the week.

1. Describe yourself in three words: Curious, Collaborative, Laughter-Loving.

2. What are you reading right now? Ah, summer reading…The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse by Robert Rankin.

3. Describe ACRL in three words: Connecting, Evolving, Advocating.

4. Why did you join ACRL? To be connected to and learn with colleagues across library and institutional boundaries.

5. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? The focus on student learning.

6. In your own words: The direction to which we need to grow unfolds before us at an ever quickening pace.  Each of us must screw up the courage to learn and change to meet the challenges.

ACRL announces the publication of Influencing without Authority, second in the ACRL Active Guide Series.

Written by Melanie Hawks, frequent consultant and trainer on leadership and influence, Influencing Without Authority provides guidance to those seeking to gain support for their ideas, developing collaborative relationships and becoming recognized leaders regardless of their positions or titles.

Working effectively in the library profession means finding ways to reach and lead those who are not required to listen or follow. The ability to influence others is a required workplace skill and yet it is one in which very few people receive education. Influencing Without Authority is designed to help individuals develop the skills they need to influence peers, library administrators, college and university faculty, students and external stakeholders.

ACRL Active Guides is an occasional series devoted to providing practical guidance on workplace issues.

Influencing Without Authority is available for purchase through the ALA Online Store and by telephone order at (866) 746-7252 in the U.S. or (770) 442-8633 for international customers