Altmetrics and the humanities

This article seeks to explain altmetrics (alternative metrics) to the Arts & Humanities communities. Altmetrics are non-traditional metrics that cover not just conventional citation counts but others methods such as downloads, social media shares and other measures of research impact such as inclusion of academic work in policy documents (Wilsdon et al 2015 : 5). Although the application of altmetrics started in the Sciences and had an initial focus on the journal article, recent technological developments among the providers of altmetric indicators and a widening of the scope of altmetrics to include books and book chapters makes this a subject with which researchers across A&H disciplines now need to engage. The presence of the multi-coloured donut ring seen alongside academic articles in university repositories and on journal articles is becoming ubiquitous (ugh) and the article explains what these symbols mean and how they are provided

Special issue: academic book of the future

This special issue of Convergence brings together innovative theoretical and methodological frameworks that explore themes around the academic book of the future in Arts and Humanities disciplines

Research to support the British Library's work on emerging formats

A report for the British Library examining the issues around the legal deposit and preservation of apps, interactive narratives and databases

The experience of first time novelists in the United Kingdom

The role of the author in the publishing process is often overlooked given the momentous changes taking place across the industry. This article considers the experience of those who have had their first novel published by a British publisher. The article is based on the results of an online survey conducted in 2011 among first time novelists. The survey sought to understand from the author’s perspective the interaction between author, publisher and agent across the publishing process. The survey asked how authors discovered their agent, what publishers were selected and why, what editorial work was carried out on the manuscript after the publishers accepted it, how authors judged the work undertaken by the publisher and how the book was promoted. The survey questioned authors about their backgrounds and their careers after the first novel was published. Given the importance of the agent in trade publishing in the UK the research suggests that for the majority of authors the agent is their ‘go to’ place for help with commercial aspects of the business

Social Media in Libraries: It's like, Complicated

Abstract This article considers how some major libraries across the world are using social media platforms. Libraries have engaged with the 'household brands' familiar to us all regardless of geographic location or language although their use of the platforms varies widely. Although there are no surprises in how the platforms are used and what content is made available by each library, the overall impression is of patchy use of the platforms, with some libraries fully embracing all platforms while others concentrating on fewer. A key message is that high quality images for websites seems to succeed in engaging with people. The article is based around social media data collected from library accounts on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Blogs between July and August 2012, extended for three months for YouTube due to the lack of regularly submitted content. After a discussion about the role of social media in libraries the data is analysed for each platform

Publishing & technology: the digital revolution, democratisation and new technologies

Publishing is currently going through dramatic changes, from globalisation to the digital revolution. A whole culture of events, practices and processes has emerged centred around books and writing, which means that scholars of publishing need to understand it as a social and cultural practice as much as it is a business. This book explores the culture, practice and business of book production, distribution, publication and reception. It discusses topics as diverse as emerging publishing models, book making, writers' festivals, fan communities, celebrity authors, new publishing technologies, self-publishing, book design and the role of class, race, gender and sexuality in publishing or book culture. This volume will be of interest to those in the disciplines of publishing studies, creative writing, English literature, cultural studies and cultural industries

Career development in academic and professional publishing

This chapter sets out the options available to entrants into this publishing sector and considers subsequent career development. There are now various professional qualifications and training courses available both for those entering the sector and those at various levels within it. The academic and professional publishing industry increasingly seeks people who have digital skills whether they are in editorial or marketing: knowledge of and preferably experience of technology is now considered vital. This Appendix was written following a survey and interviews conducted by the authors with individuals working across academic and professional publishing in the UK, Germany and North America. Other recent surveys are also used

PPIB Mutations Cause Severe Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Deficiency of cartilage-associated protein (CRTAP) or prolyl 3-hydroxylase 1(P3H1) has been reported in autosomal-recessive lethal or severe osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). CRTAP, P3H1, and cyclophilin B (CyPB) form an intracellular collagen-modifying complex that 3-hydroxylates proline at position 986 (P986) in the α1 chains of collagen type I. This 3-prolyl hydroxylation is decreased in patients with CRTAP and P3H1 deficiency. It was suspected that mutations in the PPIB gene encoding CyPB would also cause OI with decreased collagen 3-prolyl hydroxylation. To our knowledge we present the first two families with recessive OI caused by PPIB gene mutations. The clinical phenotype is compatible with OI Sillence type II-B/III as seen with COL1A1/2, CRTAP, and LEPRE1 mutations. The percentage of 3-hydroxylated P986 residues in patients with PPIB mutations is decreased in comparison to normal, but it is higher than in patients with CRTAP and LEPRE1 mutations. This result and the fact that CyPB is demonstrable independent of CRTAP and P3H1, along with reported decreased 3-prolyl hydroxylation due to deficiency of CRTAP lacking the catalytic hydroxylation domain and the known function of CyPB as a cis-trans isomerase, suggest that recessive OI is caused by a dysfunctional P3H1/CRTAP/CyPB complex rather than by the lack of 3-prolyl hydroxylation of a single proline residue in the α1 chains of collagen type I