F.A.I.R. is fair for research: Australian initaitves to improve openness in the scholarly communications environment

Disruptive changes are transforming the scholarly communications environment. In an era of false reporting and fake news, quality information and verifiable data is essential. However, much of the world’s best publicly funded research remains hidden behind commercial publisher paywalls. Unlocking this research can help solve the world’s greatest research and social challenges, and result in a more informed society. This paper will explore how, within the Australian context, librarians are seeking to make research more findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR). The Australasian Open Access Strategy Group (AOASG) and the Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL) have worked on a range of initiatives to improve the openness of research including the establishment and implementation of the F.A.I.R. Policy Statement – www.fair-access.net.au/fair-statement. The statement was created through consultation with a range of stakeholders, including government and funding agencies, providing opportunities for libraries to demonstrate leadership. A range of projects under a new CAUL Program for Fair, affordable and open access to knowledge, have been established. These include an improved repository environment, an exploration of researchers retaining rights to their research, and the consistent collection of open access costs. The AOASG is undertaking a communication campaign to increase awareness of the benefits of open access, establish communities of practice, and to progress critical areas for development through a range of complimentary projects. This paper will outline how strategic partnership, collaboration and leadership within the Australian library context can address challenges globally, resulting in a better information environment for all. The paper and presentation will aim to encourage coordinated innovation among stakeholders to progress the open access movement in similar ways the world over

Next Generation Skills and Leaders: Future Proofing UWA Library

The shifting sands and rising tides of digital disruption within academic libraries, and the continually evolving demands and expectations of university leaders, academics and students, require innovative solutions and effective leadership. In 2018, the Library at the University of Western Australia (UWA) commenced two initiatives to future proof its workforce, preparing staff to take advantage and innovate within the rapid pace of change. Leading for Success is a leadership program designed to provide library staff with a contemporary and relevant skill-set to initiate and lead change to develop and deliver new initiatives. This program builds on a strong history of successful leadership development at UWA Library. Designed and delivered in partnership with UWA’s Organisational Development unit, the University Library is leading the way through the creation of a program that can be adapted and delivered into other areas of the University. The program aims to prepare staff for new challenges and opportunities, including higher-level positions, which contributes to succession planning within the Library and the wider University. In 2018, the Library also commenced a project to develop a workforce plan to identify current and near-future skills required for library staff. This has resulted in the production of a dynamic skills matrix for use as a tool for mapping current staff capabilities and to assist with professional developmental planning for individual staff and teams. The plan is assisting the Library to future proof its workforce and enable staff to engage proactively in career development. This paper will describe the elements of the two programs and make comparisons with library staff development initiatives delivered elsewhere. It will evaluate the success of the two programs from the perspective of the participants, and provide a framework for other institutions wishing to develop similar initiatives

Adding up the Flipped Subscription Model

One of the common pathways proposed to achieving a global open access scholarly publishing model is the “flipped” approach. In this scenario, journal publishers “flip” their pricing model from subscription to gold open access (gold OA) and library budgets are redirected from supporting subscriptions to Article Publishing Costs (APCs) associated with gold OA. Initiatives such as OA2020, and more recently Plan S, have to varying degrees advocated for this approach. Underlying the flipped model is the assumption there is enough money in the global academic library subscription system to cover the costs of a scholarly publishing model based on APCs. A number of studies have tested this assumption including the Mellon Foundation Pay It Forward report which focused on large, research intensive universities in North America and the Max Planck Digital Library Open Access Policy white paper which used global market reports and publishing figures to derive their calculations. However, is this assumption valid for other sized universities or using different analytical approaches? In 2018, the Matariki Network of Universities (an international collaborative venture of seven medium sized universities) used its unique partnership to test this assumption for medium-sized universities using shared subscription and publishing data. The project had two specific objectives. Firstly, to determine if the amount of money paid by Matariki institutions for journal subscriptions both individually and collectively is enough to cover APC costs of a flipped model. Secondly, to determine what the average APC cost would need to be if each Matariki institution only had their subscription budget to cover gold OA publishing. This paper describes the approach taken in the study and outlines the findings in comparison to other studies. It will also discuss the implications of the results in the context of current initiatives supporting a flipped model

Dissecting the Within-Africa Ancestry of Populations of African Descent in the Americas

The ancestry of African-descended Americans is known to be drawn from three distinct populations: African, European, and Native American. While many studies consider this continental admixture, few account for the genetically distinct sources of ancestry within Africa--the continent with the highest genetic variation. Here, we dissect the within-Africa genetic ancestry of various populations of the Americas self-identified as having primarily African ancestry using uniparentally inherited mitochondrial DNA.We first confirmed that our results obtained using uniparentally-derived group admixture estimates are correlated with the average autosomal-derived individual admixture estimates (hence are relevant to genomic ancestry) by assessing continental admixture using both types of markers (mtDNA and Y-chromosome vs. ancestry informative markers). We then focused on the within-Africa maternal ancestry, mining our comprehensive database of published mtDNA variation (∼5800 individuals from 143 African populations) that helped us thoroughly dissect the African mtDNA pool. Using this well-defined African mtDNA variation, we quantified the relative contributions of maternal genetic ancestry from multiple W/WC/SW/SE (West to South East) African populations to the different pools of today's African-descended Americans of North and South America and the Caribbean.Our analysis revealed that both continental admixture and within-Africa admixture may be critical to achieving an adequate understanding of the ancestry of African-descended Americans. While continental ancestry reflects gender-specific admixture processes influenced by different socio-historical practices in the Americas, the within-Africa maternal ancestry reflects the diverse colonial histories of the slave trade. We have confirmed that there is a genetic thread connecting Africa and the Americas, where each colonial system supplied their colonies in the Americas with slaves from African colonies they controlled or that were available for them at the time. This historical connection is reflected in different relative contributions from populations of W/WC/SW/SE Africa to geographically distinct Africa-derived populations of the Americas, adding to the complexity of genomic ancestry in groups ostensibly united by the same demographic label

2017 Update of ESC/EAS Task Force on practical clinical guidance for proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibition in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or in familial hypercholesterolaemia

A correction has been published: European Heart Journal, Volume 39, Issue 22, 7 June 2018, Pages 2105Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2017.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Making sense of flipping data

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to detail the approach used in a project that worked with journal publication, subscription and article processing charges (APC) data. The project aim was to test if the resources allocated by the Matariki Network of Universities, a group of seven medium-sized universities, would pay for APC at the current level of publishing activity. Design/methodology/approach Data were collated and analysed from three years (2015–2017) for each of the seven partners. Findings A range of assumptions were made in dealing with the data. It was difficult to identify a subscription package that was common to all the partners. Data were not always consistent and in some instances it was incomplete. An iterative and flexible approach was required in this project. Even though testing had been carried out during planning, changes had to be made as the project was carried out. The timetable had to be flexible as those working on the project dealt with their day-to-day operational priorities and to enable each of the partners to contribute as resources allowed. Practical implications As alternative models of scholarly journal publication are evolving, it is important that the implications of these be tested to inform planning. Details of this testing need to be shared so that others can confirm the results, consider the approach and apply lessons learned. Originality/value This paper focuses on the details of the investigation so that others interested in repeating this project, or carrying out a similar project, can consider this in their planning

"Thanks for being awesome": using the learning organisation model to enhance client service

Abstract: Aim Libraries are increasingly expected to demonstrate their value to parent organisations as well as an ability to be flexible and adaptable in a rapidly Senge (1990) Keywords: learning organisation, academic libraries, IT support, training BACKGROUND In 2009 the department Information Services was established within the University of Western Australia (UWA). Information Services combined the two pre-existing sections of Information Technology Services and the Library. The integration provided the catalyst for a number of improvements and changes to service delivery, including student IT support. Early in 2012, an organisational change process was initiated within Research and Learning Support (RLS), one of the five directorates within Information Services. At that time RLS was providing traditional services from its six subject libraries, including lending, information literacy and reference services. Many of these services had decreased in volume (lending of print materials had, for example, decreased by 35% in eight years) prompting a review of the service delivery model. The three aims of the organisational change process were: to define a new service model for student IT support including provision of service from all six subject libraries; to implement a new style of service point to encourage a more collegial relationship with clients; and to reduce the focus on print collections and lending services due to increased availability of electronic resources. This paper focuses on the use of the learning organization model in relation to the implementation of the new service model for student IT support