Articles tagged with: Scholarly Communication

• Library supports for open access publishing

  Wednesday, October 25, 2023 | By Elizabeth Yates

  

  Library supports for open access publishing 

  Global celebrations of International Open Access Week from Oct. 23-29 are a good opportunity to highlight how the Library supports Brock researchers in achieving broad reach and deep impact for their publications. 

  Open Access refers to free, immediate online access to research and brings many benefits, including increased visibility for Brock research, higher citation rates and public access to publicly-funded research. Supporting open access has always been a key priority for the Library, which: 

  • Provides free hosting support for 12 open access, peer-reviewed scholarly journals operated by Brock researchers 
  • Disseminates Brock research globally via the open access Brock Digital Repository 
  • Invests in a wide range of open access platforms which benefit researchers and readers around the globe 
  • Participates in a growing number of read-and-publish agreements which allow Brock authors to publish for free, or at a discount, in journals which charge fees for full or hybrid open access publication 
  • Supports researchers in meeting the expectations of Brock University’s Open Access Policy  

  To learn more, please consider participating in Brock’s Open Access Week activities or email Elizabeth Yates, Research and Scholarly Communication Librarian ~ eyates@brocku.ca

  Tags: OA Week, Open Access, Scholarly Communication
  Categories: Main

• Open Access Week 2023: Celebrating community over commercialization

  Sunday, October 22, 2023 | By Elizabeth Yates

  

  Community over Commercialization is this year’s theme for International Open Access Week, Oct. 23-29. This is more than a slogan. It is a timely statement for a movement that has seen much growth in open access infrastructure and alternative providers in research years. These alternative publishing options for researchers emphasize and facilitate the building of an open access community of researchers and scholars, a deliberate alternative to commercial publishers, which are for-profit companies that extract profits from the work of scholars.

  The Brock Library continues to invest in several such open access platforms. The overall goal of these platforms is to make research freely available to readers around the world. These open infrastructure initiatives are examples of part of this growing movement that takes the products of publicly funded scholarly research out of the commercial sphere- a space largely controlled by a small number of actors, and moves this into a community-operated system of research sharing. The impact of such developments for open access research is far reaching. In this system, both the writers and readers of scholarship have access to the most current findings without having to navigate a paywall.

  To learn more, join Elizabeth Yates, Research and Scholarly Communication Librarian, and Laurie Morrison, Collections Librarian, on Oct. 24, 12-1 pm, for a discussion of the perils of prioritizing profit over the public good and the promise offered by community-controlled publishing platforms. Registration via ExperienceBU.

  This workshop is part of the Library’s Open Access Week activities, which also include an Oct. 26 workshop focusing on planning for open access publishing at little or no cost, a virtual collection of books and ebooks focused on open access and information sharing activities.

  Tags: OA Week, Open Access, Scholarly Communication
  Categories: Main

• Applications now being accepted to the Library Open Access Publishing Fund

  Wednesday, June 01, 2022 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  The Library Open Access Publishing Fund, which assists Brock researchers who wish to publish in a journal which levies article processing charges, is now taking applications for the 2022-23 budget year 

  As always, the fund operates on a first-come, first-served basis and applicants must meet the fund’s eligibility criteria. 

  This year’s criteria have been updated to help ensure the limited grant funding available will have maximum impact and effectiveness: 

  • Researchers who received a grant in 2021-22 may only apply for a 2022-23 grant after January 2023  
  • This grant is intended to support researchers with limited or no funding. Recipients of grants from funders such as the Tri-Agencies or other agencies are not eligible to apply 

  The Library provides other supports to help researchers make their work openly accessible for low or no cost: 

  • Researchers can make their scholarly articles open access – for free – by depositing a copy in the Brock Digital Repository, an online archive of Brock research which can be freely accessed by anyone. Authors can submit papers themselves or use the Library’s supported-deposit process. 
  • The Library has negotiated open access agreements and discounts with a growing number of publishers which allow Brock authors to publish in their journals for free, or at significantly lowered costs. 
  • And finally, researchers can search the Directory of Open Access Journals to select one of more than 12,000 scholarly, peer-reviewed open access journals which do not charge article processing fees. 

  As a reminder, the Brock University Open Access Policy stipulates that Brock authors are expected to make their research articles openly accessible by depositing copies in the Brock Digital Repository.  

  Questions? Contact Research and Scholarly Communication Librarian Elizabeth Yates ~ eyates@brocku.ca 

  Tags: Faculty, Graduate students, Open Access, Research, Scholarly Communication
  Categories: Main

• Open Access Publishing Fund update

  Monday, January 10, 2022 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  While the Library Open Access Publishing Fund is fully expended for the 2021-22 budget year, the Library continues to support Brock authors in making their research openly accessible – in many cases, at low or no cost.

  Researchers can make their scholarly articles open access – for free – by depositing a copy in the Brock Digital Repository, an online archive of Brock research which can be freely accessed by anyone. Authors can submit papers themselves or use the Library’s supported-deposit process.

  The Library has negotiated open access agreements and discounts with a growing number of publishers which allow Brock authors to publish in their journals for free, or at significantly lowered costs.

  And finally, researchers can search the Directory of Open Access Journals to select one of more than 12,000 scholarly, peer-reviewed open access journals which do not charge article processing fees.

  Questions? Contact Liaison and Scholarly Communication Librarian Elizabeth Yates ~ eyates@brocku.ca

  Tags: Faculty, Graduate students, Open Access, Research, Scholarly Communication
  Categories: Main

• International Open Access Week at Brock

  Monday, October 18, 2021 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  The Brock University Library will join in the global celebrations of International Open Access Week with two workshops highlighting how researchers can maximize the impact of their scholarship.

  • Oct. 26, 12-1 p.m. – Opening up graduate scholarship via the Brock Digital Repository, with Tim Ribaric, Acting Head of the Brock Digital Scholarship Lab and Map, Data and GIS Library, and Elizabeth Yates, Liaison and Scholarly Communication Librarian. This workshop will explore the process of showcasing graduate research via the Brock Digital Repository and highlight key considerations around publishing, copyright and embargoes. Register here.
  • Oct. 28, 12-1 p.m. – Maximizing Access and Impact: Support for Open Access Publishing at Brock, with Cal Murgu, Instructional Design Librarian, and Elizabeth Yates, Liaison and Scholarly Communication Librarian. This workshop will explore the benefits of open access publishing and highlight financial support available via the Library Open Access Publishing Fund and funding memberships with major publishers. Register here.

  Open Access refers to free, immediate online access to research. The theme of International Open Access Week is: It Matters How We Open Knowledge: Building Structural Equity. This theme aligns with the recent UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, which centres the need to “embrace a diversity of knowledge, practices, workflows, languages, research outputs and research topics”.  Open science, and open access publishing, can advance structural equity by ensuring equitable sharing of research outputs from scholars in both developed and developing nations.

  The Library strives to advance equitable open access practices by providing infrastructure to disseminate Brock’s research outputs via the Brock Digital Repository and Scholarly Journals at Brock, through education and advocacy, and by making financial investments to support a variety of open access platforms and projects.

  “During Open Access Week, we invite everyone in the Brock community to reflect on how they can break down barriers in how knowledge is created and shared,” says Elizabeth Yates, Liaison and Scholarly Communication Librarian. “And we hope that these workshops will spur conversations and actions which can help all of us advance equity – both individually and in our academic systems and communities.”

  More Open Access Week events from around the world can be found here.

   

   

   

   

  Tags: OA Week, Open Access, Scholarly Communication, Workshops
  Categories: Main

• Agreement with SAGE gives Brock authors more options for publishing Open Access

  Tuesday, March 02, 2021 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  Brock Library is pleased to share that The Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) and SAGE Publications have signed a transformative agreement that will give Brock authors increased support for Open Access publishing. 

  As of January 1, 2021, Brock-affiliated authors may now publish Open Access with no Article Processing Charges (APCs) in over 900 SAGE Choice journals. Brock authors will also receive a 40% discount on APCs in SAGE’s Gold Open Access Journals. More information for authors is available here. 

  Much of academic publishing output is behind paywalls that limit who can access and learn from this research. Transformative agreements are an emerging vehicle to shift scholarly publishing towards Open Access and broader availability of this research. These agreements transform libraries’ existing subscriptions to publishers’ journals so that they include not just access to articles, but also cover affiliated authors’ APCs. This is CRKN and Brock’s first transformative agreement. 

  Questions? Read more about Library support for Open Access publishing, or email Evelyn Feldman, Collections/Liaison Librarian, at efeldman@brocku.ca.  

   

   

   

  Tags: Faculty, Open Access, Scholarly Communication
  Categories: Main

• Celebrating Open Access Week and Brock’s new Open Access Policy

  Thursday, October 01, 2020 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  October 19-25 is the thirteenth International Open Access Week, an event for the research community around the world to spread awareness of the benefits of Open Access.

  Join in at Brock by attending a presentation on Tuesday, October 20 at 1pm, which will introduce the Open Access movement broadly, delve into how it works in journal publishing, and finish by tying this all together with Brock’s new Open Access Policy.

  The policy, recently adopted by Senate, calls for Brock researchers and scholars to deposit an electronic copy of their academic journal articles into the Brock University Digital Repository, an online collection of scholarly output produced by the Brock community and managed by the Library.

  Researchers can submit work themselves to the repository or use a Library service called Support for Sharing Your Work – complete a form, attach your articles and Library staff will deposit them on your behalf.

  More information about the open access policy, including answers to frequently asked questions and an opt-out form, can be found on the policy webpage.

  For event details and connection information, please visit ExperienceBU. For more information, please contact your Liaison Librarian.

  Tags: Digital Scholarship Lab, Events, OA Week, Open Access, Scholarly Communication
  Categories: Main

• Library supports Brock’s new Open Access Policy

  Thursday, June 18, 2020 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  With Brock becoming the 12th university in Canada to adopt an Open Access Policy, the Library is here to support researchers in making their work openly accessible. 

  The policy, recently adopted by Senate, calls for Brock researchers and scholars to deposit an electronic copy of their academic journal articles into the Brock University Digital Repository, an online collection of scholarly output produced by the Brock community and managed by the Library. 

  Researchers can submit work themselves to the repository or use a Library service called Support for Sharing Your Work – complete a form, attach your articles and Library staff will deposit them on your behalf. 

  More information about the open access policy, including answers to frequently asked questions and an opt-out form, can be found on the policy webpage. 

  For more information, contact Liaison and Scholarly Communication Librarian Elizabeth Yates – eyates@brocku.ca or your Liaison Librarian 

   

   

  Tags: Faculty, Open Access, Research, Scholarly Communication
  Categories: Main

• New tutorial helps researchers identify & claim their work

  Monday, April 27, 2020 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  Did you know that ORCID® is the most widely used method for researchers to assert their online identity? 

  A new report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) notes that ORCID “has become a de facto standard” in higher education and government sectors, with more than 60 per cent of researchers in those fields reporting using an ORCID iD to digitally identify their research. 

  ORCID – Open Researcher and Contributor ID – is what’s called a researcher identifier: a unique numeric identifier that persists over time.  Your ORCID id distinguishes you from other researchers and compiles a record in one spot that supports all of your professional activities – including career development, promotion and tenure processes and research funding applications. 

  The Brock University Library supports the use of ORCID and now offers a step-by-step tutorial which will help you sign up for this important research tool. 

  For more information, contact Liaison and Scholarly Communication Librarian Elizabeth Yates ~ eyates@brocku.ca 

   

  Tags: Research, Scholarly Communication
  Categories: Main

• Publish, don’t perish: how to spot deceptive publishers

  Monday, January 13, 2020 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  Academic publishing is a hugely profitable enterprise, so it’s no surprise that some dubious companies take advantage of researchers by charging publishing fees but then failing to deliver quality outcomes.

  These publishers are called “predatory” because of their unscrupulous business practices, which may include:

  • Failing to provide rigorous peer review
  • Making false claims about how journal articles are disseminated e.g. indexing in credible scholarly databases
  • Falsely claiming prestige markers e.g. Impact Factor
  • Charging article processing fees before an article is accepted for publication

  It can be challenging to avoid these problematic outlets, but a new quick guide from the Library can help.

  For further information, check the Library’s Journal Evaluation Strategies or contact your Librarian or Scholarly Communication Librarian Elizabeth Yates, eyates@brocku.ca

  Tags: Research, Scholarly Communication
  Categories: Main