Bibliography on open access in Latin America and the Caribbean

Bibliography on open access in Latin America and the Caribbean. Selection mainly based on open access publications describing open access initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Prepared for UNESCO-Latin America and the Caribbean Section of the UNESCO-GOAP Global Open Access Portal

Evaluating patterns of national and international collaboration in Cuban science using bibliometric tools

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to explore the hypothesis that collaboration was a key characteristic of Cuban science to maintain their scientific capacity during a period of economic restrictions and an important feature of Cuban science policy and practice for the benefit of society. Design/methodology/approach -- Collaboration was studied through Cuban scientific publications listed in PubMed for the period 1990-2010. The search was carried out using the advanced search engine of PubMed indicating oCubaW in the affiliation field. To identify participating institutions a second search was performed to find the affiliations of all authors per article through the link to the electronic journal. A data set was created to identify institutional publication patterns for the surveyed period. Institutions were classified in three categories according to their scientific production as Central, Middle or Distal: the pattern of collaboration between these categories was analysed. Findings -- Results indicate that collaboration between scientifically advanced institutions (Central) and a wide range of national institutions is a consequence of the social character of science in Cuba in which cooperation prevails. Although this finding comes from a limited field of biomedical science it is likely to reflect Cuban science policy in general. Originality/value -- Using bibliometric tools the study suggests that Cuban science policy and practice ensure the application of science for social needs by harnessing human resources through national and international collaboration, building in this way stronger scientific capacity

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity: using a case study to identify critical success factors contributing to the initiation of international collaborative projects.

This paper identifies factors that contribute to the successful initiation of international collaborative projects intended to support the development of education for librarianship and information sciences. It discusses the widespread failure to analyse the Critical Success Factors in international collaborative projects and proposes a case study methodology to identify these factors through an analysis of the decision by the European Commission's ALFA Programme to support REVISTAS, a study of the feasibility of digitising all Spanish and Portuguese journals in librarianship and information sciences, particularly those published in Latin America. To contextualise the proposal, it discusses the development of the 'Information Society' in Latin America, and the key role attributed to libraries and librarians. It then examines problems in the development of education and practice in librarianship and information sciences in the region, and in journal publishing for the profession, the availability of indexing and abstracting services, and the utility of document delivery services. It presents an outline of the author's initial research into the underlying challenges, and outlines the development of the international partnership that will deliver the planned outcomes of the REVISTAS project. Finally, it analyses the issues that have contributed to the establishment of this cooperative effort, and the limitations of this study

Document Availability and Delivery: Problems and Prospects for Developing Countries

The central theme of this paper was originally developed for the Third Conference on Librarians in International Development held at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, U.S.A. in May of 1991 . The idea for the paper had its roots in the Vllth World Congress of the International Association of Agricultural Librarians and Documentalists (IAALD) where Syed Salim Agha presented a paper entitled Effecting Information Transfer Through the Document Delivery Process in South East Asia. In that paper Syed Salim Agha outlined the barriers to document delivery along with potential solutions. His presentation left a lasting impression and six years later I found myself building on that paper for a presentation. Now, a decade later I am still building on his presentation. I am pleased to be submitting this paper for a volume honoring the career of Syed Salim Agha

Training in scientific writing and open access publishing: the NECOBELAC project experience in Europe and Latin America

This document reflects the activity of the NECOBELAC project with special reference to the training strategy intended to improve scientific writing and create awareness on Open Access (OA) publishing models. The acronym NECOBELAC stands for Network of COllaboration between Europe and Latin American Caribbean countries. The project was funded by the European Commission within the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Development in the area “Science in Society” for the years 2009-2012, and was coordinated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, the National Institute of Health in Italy. NECOBELAC represents a consolidation initiative in support of OA dissemination practices of scientific output in public health. The report is divided into two parts, the first one describes the project strategy and results achieved, the second one regards the NECOBELAC topic maps that were utilized as training tools in scientific writing and OA publishing

Training in scientific writing and open access publishing: the NECOBELAC project experience in Europe and Latin America

This document reflects the activity of the NECOBELAC project with special reference to the training strategy intended to improve scientific writing and create awareness on Open Access (OA) publishing models. The acronym NECOBELAC stands for Network of COllaboration between Europe and Latin American Caribbean countries. The project was funded by the European Commission within the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Development in the area “Science in Society” for the years 2009-2012, and was coordinated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, the National Institute of Health in Italy. NECOBELAC represents a consolidation initiative in support of OA dissemination practices of scientific output in public health. The report is divided into two parts, the first one describes the project strategy and results achieved, the second one regards the NECOBELAC topic maps that were utilized as training tools in scientific writing and OA publishing

Making the ‘Evolutionary Leap’: Using Open Knowledge Approaches to Improve Development Outcomes

The starting point of the Open Knowledge Hub project was our belief that the adoption of so-called ‘Open Knowledge’ approaches had the potential to improve the impact of research evidence on development outcomes and address inequalities in the visibility, accessibility and uptake of diverse knowledge about development. This paper describes what we learned about the drivers and motivations for knowledge organisations to engage with Open Knowledge approaches. It also addresses the issues and barriers to engagement that, we have argued, threaten to undermine these potential benefits. The paper looks at both direct learning from the project and external research evidence accumulated during our work

An overview of digital media in Latin America

An overview of digital media in Latin American is a focus and a contribution to emerging debate, international exchanges and the building of global scientific communication as a contribution to development. Contents Editorial introduction; Carlos Arcila Calderón, Mabel Calderín & Cosette Castro Chapter 1: Globalization of the information society; Jorge Hidalgo Chapter 2: Digital and interactive content production as a strategy for development – a brief study on the Latin American experience in digital free-to-air television; Cosette Castro Chapter 3: e-Research: the new paradigm of science in Latin America; Carlos Arcila Calderón, Mabel Calderín, Luis Núñez & Ysabel Briceño Chapter 4: Mobilizing the consumer as a partner in social networks: reflections on the commodification of subjectivities; Gisela Castro Chapter 5: The mediatization of reception by Brazilian online collaborative journalism: rules and protocols to control reader's participation; Paulo César Castro Chapter 6: A contract in transition: online press and its audience; Natalia Raimondo Anselmino Chapter 7: Interactivity in education: social and complex network analysis; Ana María Casnati Guberna, Claudia Ribeiro Santos Lopes, Dante Galeffi & Hernane Borges de Barros Pereira Chapter 8: Media transformations for journalistic practices in regional print media due to new technologies and the implications that shape the agendas of journalists and media companies; Henry Rubiano Daz

eHealth Conversations : using information management, dialogue, and knowledge exchange to move toward universal

The publication of eHealth Conversations, developed with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), represents a major step forward for the PAHO/WHO Strategy, since it explores ways of implementing regional mechanisms with free and equitable access to information and knowledge sharing. These initiatives aim to advance the goals of more informed, equitable, competitive, and democratic societies, where access to health information is considered a basic right. This publication is one of the instruments used by PAHO/WHO to develop the initiatives outlined in the Strategy, which coincides with the global eHealth strategy. One of the fundamental needs for the improvement of eHealth is the dissemination of information, and PAHO/WHO is assuming a leading role in this effort. The development of this new electronic publication is a key step in disseminating information that will be useful for decision makers on applying these technologies for the health of the Americas. This electronic book is one of the products of PAHO/WHO’s project: “eHealth Conversations: Using Information Management, Dialogue, and Knowledge Exchange to Move Toward Universal Access to Health.” Participants in these conversations included experts on electronic health and other specialties. Through virtual dialogues, the experts contributed with knowledge and reflections on the present and the future of eHealth in the Americas, analyzed the situation, and made recommendations for the implementation of electronic health initiatives. These recommendations are not only intended for PAHO/ WHO, but also for governments and the private sector. The aim of the project is to guarantee the convergence of local, national, and regional initiatives regarding the adoption and application of ICTs for public health, with special attention on critical issues in this field. It also intends to strengthen individual and collective capacities of health workers and institutions, connecting them in a network of on-line health networks, as well as to reinforce the PAHO/WHO eHealth program.Acknowledge the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) for its financial support in preparing this publication and developing the project titled “eHealth Conversations: Using Information Management, Dialogue, and Knowledge Exchange to Move Toward Universal Access to Health;