Here Comes the Sunburst: Measuring and Visualizing Scholarly Impact

Our ARL institution partnered with a new service (PlumX) to track, measure, and visualize faculty scholarly impact. In a pilot project, both traditional and emerging measures of scholarly impact were collected for 32 researchers. The presenters will chronicle the data management and enhancements applied, including utilizing content from our institutional repository, importing and enriching metadata, and using an intranet to organize work and collaborate with colleagues. Results will assist faculty and those who work with them to identify strengths and weaknesses of scholarly impact and where to focus efforts to increase research visibility

Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice - A new, peer-reviewed, online, Open Access journal

This poster discusses the development and focus of Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice, a new Open Access journal, created by the College & Research Division (CRD) of the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) and published by the University Library System (ULS), University of Pittsburgh

Impacts of a Standing Disaster Payment Program on U.S. Crop Insurance

This research investigates the potential effects of the standing disaster assistance program proposed in the Senate version of the 2008 Farm Bill. Results suggest no significant impact on producer crop insurance purchase decisions. Payments under the program should be expected to differ considerably across geographic regions and levels of diversification, with the program providing the greatest benefit to undiversified producers in more risky production regions (e.g., the Southern Plains).

Impacts of the SURE Standing Disaster Assistance Program on Producer Risk Management and Crop Insurance Programs

This research investigates the potential effects of the row crop provisions of the standing disaster assistance program (SURE) in the 2008 Farm Bill. Results suggest little impact on producer crop insurance purchase decisions, though the program does seem to provide an incentive for mid-level coverage. Payments under the program should be expected to differ considerably across geographic regions and levels of diversification, with the program providing the greatest benefit to undiversified producers in more risky production regions.crop insurance, disaster assistance, Farm Bill, SURE, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Risk and Uncertainty, Q12, Q18,

A Library Publisher & State Library Association Working Together--Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice

Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice (PaLRaP) is now readying its 3rd issue for publication. In 2012, the College and Research Division of the Pennsylvania Library Association and the University Library System E-Journal Publishing Program of the University of Pittsburgh joined together to find a way to more effectively highlight and share librarians’ scholarly and professional work. Originally envisioned as a journal focused on the work of Pennsylvania’s academic librarians, PaLRaP has evolved to become more inclusive of the larger professional community. The journal now includes other types of content (such as feature articles and news items) and aims to help new authors develop high-quality articles for publication. Along with the help of the library publisher, the editorial team is pursuing new opportunities, including rolling issues, more sophisticated statistics and usage measures, the ability to accept payments and donations, and opportunities for print on demand. The editors will discuss PaLRaP from inception to future plans and share thoughts on how library publishers and editors and can work together to incubate and improve scholarship and professional development

Developing a Peer-Reviewed Open Access Journal for Pennsylvania Librarians--Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice

In 2012, the College and Research Division of the Pennsylvania Library Association and the University Library System E-Journal Publishing Program of the University of Pittsburgh joined together to find a way to more effectively highlight and share librarians’ scholarly and professional work. This effort has resulted in Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice (PaLRaP), a peer-reviewed, open access journal for Pennsylvania library and information professionals. Editors of the journal will discuss the development of PaLRaP from initial concept to first issue and provide details of interest to anyone wanting to establish a new open access publication. Audience members will learn about the process of defining the journal’s focus and scope and the need to recruit volunteers to serve as section editors, peer reviewers, and authors. Presenters will also address challenges along the way and share some future plans for the journal. The editorial team is currently pursuing new opportunities, such as rolling issues, more sophisticated statistics and usage measures, the ability to accept payments and donations, and opportunities for print on demand

Open Access Ten Years Later: Where Are We Now?: A Roundtable Discussion

Open Access discussion questions, timeline, and definition presented at the spring 2013 conference of the Western Pennsylvania-West Virginia Chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries (WPWVC/ACRL)

Scholarly Communication and Publishing Lunch and Learn Talk #9: Using Altmetrics to Demonstrate Scholarly Impact

The March 2014 Scholarly Communication and Publishing Lunch and Learn Talk focuses on the use of alternative metrics or altmetrics to demonstrate scholarly impact. Altmetrics are defined and their possible uses are explored. PlumX by Plum Analytics, an altmetrics measuring and visualization tool, is demonstrated. The PlumX widget for demonstrating altmetrics is demonstrated as well and examples of impact for Pitt research are given. The Toolbox Tip for this presentation features an overview of the PlumX interface