Cambridge University Library

Arcadia Seminar: 1st December 2009 "Scholarly Publishing 2.0 Squared" , Dr Doug Clow

Abstract:

How is Web 2.0 – and now Web Squared – changing scholarly publishing?

There are dramatic changes underway in the world of publishing, which have profound implications for scholarly activity. These changes are in essence quantitative (more, faster, cheaper) rather than fundamental ones of type, but the quantitative shift on this scale is in itself qualitative and transformatory.  The proliferation of information and information sources make the assessment of quality and importance ever more important, and to more people.  New forms of scholarly publishing have emerged, and are developing rapidly, including academics’ use of social networks and blogs, the Open Access movement, and Open Educational Resources (OER).

In this seminar, Doug Clow will explore these issues, and sketch out an organising vision of this rapidly-changing landscape, discussing the implications for authors,  reviewers, editors, publishers, librarians, funders, readers, and all those with an interest in what scholars do.

About the speaker

Dr Doug Clow is a Lecturer in Interactive Media Development at the Institute of Educational Technology at The Open University (OU). His work includes the Knowledge Network (a controlled-access publishing system for sharing expertise within the OU), and OLnet (a project funded by the Hewlett Foundation to increase the quantity and quality of research on Open Educational Resources).  He is an Editor of the Journal of Interactive Media in Education, which has pioneered public, open review of journal articles since 1996.   He keeps a blog at http://dougclow.wordpress.com and uses Twitter as @dougclow.

This talk is part of the Arcadia Project Seminars series. Please notify mh569@cam.ac.uk if you plan to attend.

Time: 6pm
Location: Wolfson College, Roger Needham Room

Arcadia Seminar: 24th Nov. "The Problem of Reading Lists" , Huw Jones, UL

Reading lists are the area in which academic workflows, student needs and library services interact most directly. They act as a bridge between two of the University’s most important assets – academic expertise and library resources. They are fundamental to undergraduate learning and to library collection development. To date, there have been many attempts to solve the ‘problem’ of reading lists, with limited success.

I will examine if there is a problem with reading lists, and what the nature of that problem might be. Are the real issues to do with cooperation and collaboration between bodies involved in pedagogical support? If so, what is the solution, and where might it lead us in the future?”

About the speaker

Huw Jones is System Support Librarian at the University Library, offering services, support and training to libraries across Cambridge. He has a particular interest in developing interfaces which take advantage of advances in technology to facilitate new ways of working.

Having studied history at Manchester University, he worked in a range of libraries in Manchester and Cambridge before joining Electronic Systems and Services at the University Library in 2004. He has since developed a range of integrated online services for librarians, and worked on various projects from data duplication to user education.

From April to June 2009, Huw held an Arcadia Fellowship to investigate issues surrounding the introduction of a reading list system in Cambridge. His findings (published in a report available at Reading Lists in Cambridge: A Standard System?) will form the basis of this seminar.

This talk is part of the Arcadia Project Seminars series. Please notify mh569@cam.ac.uk if you plan to attend.

Time: 6pm
Location: Wolfson College, Old Combination Room (OCR)