The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) recently joined other members of the Library Copyright Alliance (LCA) - the American Library Association (ALA) and the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) - and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) to file a friend of the court brief (PDF) in Authors Guild v. Google, Inc.. In the lawsuit authors allege that Google violated copyright by scanning books to create Google Book Search (GBS), a search tool similar to its Internet search engine.
The LCA/EFF brief defends GBS as permissible under the doctrine of fair use, a flexible right that allows copying without payment or permission where the public benefit strongly outweighs the harm to individual rightsholders. It further argues that Google Book Search is tremendously beneficial to the public, that this public benefit tilts the analysis firmly in favour of fair use, that a legislative 'fix' is both unnecessary and unworkable, and that the Authors Guild should not be permitted to shut down Google Book Search after encouraging public reliance on the tool for years.
The members of LCA have long had a commitment to supporting libraries' interest in the Google Book Search settlement agreement.
Electronic research databases provider EBSCO Publishing, US, and YBP Library Services, the academic division of Baker & Taylor, have expanded the EBSCO eBook models that are available in YBP's acquisition and collection development interface, GOBI3. Librarians who manage their e-book collections through GOBI3 now have additional access options for the more than 320,000 e-book titles from eBooks on EBSCOhost.
EBSCO customers have long been able to order eBooks through GOBI3 using the single user (1U) model. The upgraded access provides more flexibility to library selectors acquiring titles from eBooks on EBSCOhost through GOBI3. In addition to single user, the integration includes three user (3U) and unlimited user (UU) access models, as well as Demand-Driven Acquisitions. eBooks from EBSCO are all available with no fees and no markups. This is meant to make it as convenient and cost-effective as possible for librarians adding to their collections.
Having eBooks on EBSCOhost titles available through GOBI3 reportedly allows selectors to view and select eBooks through the library's existing workflow. Librarians will be able to select single user and multi-user access (1U, 3U and UU), as well as choose titles to make available through DDA, allowing libraries to pre-select titles that are only purchased when patron usage determines need.
Jossey-Bass, an imprint of John Wiley & Sons, Inc., US, has announced a publishing partnership with the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) to publish a series of 3-5 co-branded books annually. The first book in this series will be published in early 2013.
The primary focus will be on professional handbooks designed to help a wide spectrum of association and non-profit professionals work more effectively and advance their organisations. The handbooks will also be available as an e-book on all major e-readers. Both organisations will continue to publish other offerings under their own imprints. Jossey-Bass will also distribute some titles published by ASAE's Association Management Press.
Jossey-Bass provides tools, services and publications that inform and inspire those committed to developing themselves, their organisations and their communities. Jossey-Bass' publications feature the work of some of the world's most respected authors in leadership, management, business, non-profit, K-12 and Higher Education, and public health.
Syracuse University Library has launched its new website highlighting the Summon web-scale discovery service from Serials Solutions, a ProQuest business. Librarians expect the search solution to improve access to the library's vast collection. Students and staff will experience simplified discovery of many types of resources across multiple disciplines.
With the Summon service, researchers will be able to search the Syracuse University library catalogue, digital collections, and the SUrface repository, plus nearly 80,000 electronic journals, over 500 research databases, newspapers, images, government documents, digital audio and video in the library's collections. Digital repositories from other colleges and universities, as well as other open-access archives on the web included in the Summon index, will be easily discoverable using the single search box.
Used by more than 450 libraries in more than 40 countries, the Summon service claims to be the first and only discovery service based on a unified index of content, leveraging the richest possible metadata from multiple sources to improve discovery across the breadth of a library's collection. In just three years, the Summon unified index has grown from 200 million items to more than one billion items – with the vast majority of article and book content full-text searchable.
McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., US, has announced the acquisition of Key Curriculum, a privately held developer of mathematics learning technology in the K-12 and higher education markets. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
The acquisition of Key Curriculum is projected to strengthen McGraw-Hill Education's position as a leader in dynamic mathematics education technology at a time when the US market for digital STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education technologies is increasing substantially.
Key Curriculum's solutions – which are developed by mathematics educators – seek to engage students and promote the deeper understanding of course material that is a primary focus of the Common Core State Standards. Sketchpad, Key Curriculum's signature product, enables students to learn math in a hands-on manner by allowing them to visualise, explore and experience the abstractions of math, from basic numbers to calculus.
Several of Key Curriculum's other solutions focus on data analysis: Fathom deepens students' data analysis skills and understanding of statistics, and TinkerPlots helps build students' understanding of data by transforming data into clear representations.
McGraw-Hill Education will continue to sell Key Curriculum products as standalone solutions, regardless of the curriculum adopted by the institution. Customers using McGraw-Hill Education's math programmes can expect deeper integration between these products and Key Curriculum solutions in the future.
Open access publisher BioMed Central, UK, has announced the addition of two more journals from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) to its portfolio. The move follows the launch of DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences in July 2012.
Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders and Iranian Journal of Environmental Health Science & Engineering have now published their first articles with BioMed Central. Both journals are published on behalf of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, who also cover their article processing.
Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders seeks to provide a forum for scientific inquiry of the highest standard in the fields of diabetes and metabolic disorders. As well as an editorial by Editor-in-Chief Bagher Larijani, the inaugural articles include original research on the Anti-inflammatory effect of insulin in rabbits with hypercholesterolemia as well as an investigation into the relationship between antioxidant enzymes in red blood cells and body mass index in type II diabetes.
Edited by Simin Nasseri, Iranian Journal of Environmental Health Science & Engineering publishes work on all aspects of environmental health science, engineering and management including water pollution and treatment, air control, noise and radiation control, environmental biotechnology and nanotechnology and food safety and hygiene. The journal launches with original research articles on the natural gamma radiation dose rates in the Ardebil Province of Iran and the use of the aquatic worm Lumbriculus variegates to reduce sludge levels in wastewater treatment plants.
Academic publisher Maney Publishing, UK, has announced the acquisition of the International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering and Transportation Letters: the International Journal of Transportation Research from J. Ross Publishing. Maney will publish these titles from 2013, bringing its list of materials science and engineering journals to thirty.
J. Ross Publishing is a publisher of applied business and technical books as well as multimedia and online products for global professional markets. The firm collaborates with industry leaders to provide critical and timely information that keeps today’s professionals on top of new and important advances in their fields.
The International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering is a quarterly journal of peer-reviewed original papers, technical notes, and book reviews by international scholars, covering all topics of geotechnical engineering. Previous subjects covered include rock engineering, soil dynamics and geosynthetics. Editor-in-Chief Braja M. Das is also known for his editorship of major textbooks in geotechnical engineering, and together with his journal leadership, he continues to influence the foundations and expansion of geotechnical engineering.
Transportation Letters: the International Journal of Transportation Research is also published quarterly. This title focuses on transportation research alongside empirical findings, methodological papers, and theoretical and conceptual insights across all areas of research. With the journal Editors-in-Chief Konstadinos G. Goulias and Abolfazl Mohammadian are making significant contributions to the growing international impact of transportation research.
The journals will be published in association with J. Ross Publishing and both firms will work together to ensure a smooth handover. In addition, Maney and J. Ross will enjoy a marketing partnership to further the book programme at J. Ross.
STM publisher Woodhead Publishing Limited, UK, has announced its offer of discounted e-books to all JISC members until September 14, 2012. The deal allows JISC members to buy any 'Pick 'n' Mix' selection of e-books on Woodhead Publishing Online and Chandos Publishing Online at an exclusive discount, depending on the JISC banding of the institution.
Woodhead Publishing Online offers over 760 e-books on perpetual access in niche areas of Materials and engineering; Food science, technology and nutrition; Textile technology; and Energy and environmental technology. The site was launched in 2010 and it has since become recognised by universities, research institutions and corporations worldwide as a significant resource of high quality content on new science and technology in the fields in which WP specialises. Flexible purchase options, high-quality content and lack of user restrictions have led to immediate success in the e-products arena, with over 40 customers worldwide having already invested in the content.
Chandos Publishing, a publisher in Library and Information Management, is an imprint of Woodhead Publishing. Chandos Publishing Online offers over 280 e-books in the areas of Information Management, Library Management and Asian Studies.
ARL joins LCA members and EFF in amicus brief supporting Google Book Settlement
BioMed Central adds two more journals from Tehran University of Medical Sciences to its portfolio