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Michael Kelly at Library Journal reports that the Missouri Library Network Corporation and Amigos Library Services are exploring the possibility of merging their two operations, potentially creating ”the largest library consortium west of the Mississippi River, with approximately 1,000 libraries and cultural heritage institutions in 22 states.”
Read the Library Journal article here and Amigos statement here.
The Booksellers Association, along with the Publishers Association and the Society of Authors, provided written statements to the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) as part of an inquiry into library closures. These three entities aim to provide support for public libraries in the face of substantial funding cuts and a growing urgency for substantial changes to create a financially viable system in the long-term.
The BA argued that “There are no comprehensive guidelines for voluntary-run libraries and we cannot believe they will be sustainable in the long term.” Prominent library campaigner Desmond Clarke also added, “The committee’s decision to inquire into library closures indicate they are very much aware of the level of public concern and anger. While people understand that cuts are necessary, there is a strong feeling that these have been disproportionate and too little has been done to improve operational efficiency and reduce the 151 separately managed authorities.”
To view the complete article at the Bookseller, go to: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/libraries-are-essential-trade-tells-mps.html
LibraryJournal.com reports that the Association of College and Research Libraries’ Board of Directors approved a comprehensive revision of the association’s Standards for Libraries in Higher Education (SLHE) in October. This revision is meant to provide a stronger framework by which research libraries can demonstrate their value while facing growing scrutiny in a tough economic environment.
“These standards differ from previous versions by articulating expectations for library contributions to institutional effectiveness,” said University of Nevada-Las Vegas Dean of University Libraries Patricia Iannuzzi, who chaired the SLHE task force. “They also differ structurally from the previous version by providing a comprehensive framework using an outcomes-based approach, with evidence collected in ways most appropriate for each institution.”
To access a copy of the approved standards as well as to sign up for a introductory webcast, please go to:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/standardslibraries.cfm
If you, like many publishers, have been wondering why there is so much talk about semantic web, Publishing Technology has a series of videos on its blog that can give you the quick basics.
These cover the details of what semantic web technology can do for you as a publisher and why you should care. To discuss it in more detail, you can contact Rebecca Appleby in our Cambridge, MA office (rebecca.appleby@publishingtechnology.com).
In a recent survey poll of both large and smaller sized publishers, EBSCO projects that academic and Medical libraries can expect the same 4-6% increase in serials pricing for 2012 as in 2011.
As Steve Bosch from University of Arizona commented, “It seems that publishers may be listening to librarians who are increasingly vocal about the need to bridge the gap between reduced budgets and increasing subscription prices”
Despite a positive outlook, many libraries still face budget cuts. As the article highlights:
“Nevertheless, as libraries struggle with budget cuts, even these lower projected price increases could mean more cancelled periodicals. As reported in LJ’s Periodicals Price Survey, 34 percent of 450 respondents to EBSCO Information Services’ 2011 Library Collections and Budgeting Trends Survey—mostly academic libraries—reported budget cuts for 2011, and 44 percent expected cuts in the next fiscal year. The migration from print—or print plus online—to online only will continue in 2012, and subscriptions in all formats will be subject to cancellation to fit within budget parameters.”
Please visit The Library Journal website for additional information on this article : http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/community/academiclibraries/892115-265/ebsco_projects_4_to_6.html.csp
Publishing Technology China launches at the Beijing International Book Fair
Company to offer full-service digital publishing solutions for Chinese content.
London and Beijing, 31st August 2011 – Publishing Technology plc (LSE: PTO), the largest provider of software and services to the publishing industry, has announced its expansion into the prospering Chinese market by delivering local online hosting platforms and domestic sales representation.
Based in Beijing and managed by digital publishing expert Helen Sun, Publishing Technology China will directly target Chinese publishers, offering a complete publishing solution through ingentaconnect, the largest single platform for research publishers. Ms. Sun will combine her vast industry experience and knowledge of the Chinese market with an existing network of experienced sales representatives located around the country. The innovative technology together with native expertise will increase visibility of Chinese content, create new revenue streams, and facilitate sales to researchers and librarians globally.
The joint venture is the latest extension of Publishing Technology’s operations as demand for digital publishing solutions increases across the globe. Home to over 15,500 electronic publications and over 250 partners, the ingentaconnect interface will be offered in both Mandarin and Cantonese along with a subset of high-profile content to several thousand libraries across the country, creating a new user base for international publishers in addition to encouraging Chinese publishers to move online.
As part of the launch, the company’s Publishers Communication Group (PCG) division will also leverage the established national sales network to roll out its sales and marketing services. Initially, PCG will represent the American Association for Cancer Research in mainland China, as well as BioOne in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
George Lossius, CEO of Publishing Technology, commented: “The Chinese publishing industry is fast-paced and flourishing, currently growing at an astonishing rate of 19% a year. With over 8,000 academic journals and a booming scientific research community, second only to that of the US, China represents a major opportunity for us – and it is also relatively untapped in terms of digital resources for publishers and end users. Helen is a tremendously talented digital publishing expert with a proven track record in the Chinese market. This, coupled with Publishing Technology’s innovation and market-leading product, will make it a winning partnership.”
Helen Sun, CEO of Publishing Technology China said: “It is a great honour to work with such a trusted and established company as Publishing Technology, and even more exciting to become a part of it. The joint venture with Publishing Technology will provide not only world-leading technologies with proven marketing and customer service support to Chinese publishers, but it will also offer a great distribution platform in China to all publishers across the Atlantic. Our partnership combines leading digital technologies with digital content providers that already have a wide network within the publishing industry and library community in China and we look forward to welcoming more publishers to our rapidly increasing client base.”
Come visit us (PCG and Publishing Technology) at Booths 30 and 31 at next week’s SSP Conference in Boston.
In addition to discussing our latest projects, publisher signings, and regional initiatives (new office in India!), we will be be handing out our patented PCG Trivia Cards to all those that stop by. Think you have what it takes? Answer all 10 questions correctly and you could win a Nook Color!
During the Allen Press Emerging Trends in Scholarly Publishing Seminar held in Washington, DC last month, PCG’s Emilie Delquié presented an overview of how the Patron Driven Acquisition model is evolving in the library market. After a brief introduction of how PDA works, she examined some of the opportunities and challenges this new business model presents to publishers and librarians alike. Her presentation along with the other interesting talks given that day can be found online at http://allenpress.com/resources/archive.
This month’s ALPSP Seminar “Publishers and Library Consortia: Changing Expectations” explored the shifting sands of consortia-publisher relations, the consortia landscapes in Europe and North America, and what models are on their way in (PDA) and out (Knowledge Exchange-style partnerships). Speakers included Rick Anderson from the University of Utah, Richard Bennett from Springer, and Pierre Carbone from the French Ministry of Education, among others. Some of the highlights, courtesy of ALPSP.org, include:
SURFdiensten and international cooperation: the case of Knowledge Exchange (ppt)
Wilma Mossink, Legal Advisor, SURFfoundation/SURFdiensten, The Netherlands
Nol Verhagen, Licensing Working Group of Knowledge Exchange and advisor to the UKB Consortium of the Netherlands
Overview of the library consortia landscape in Europe (audio)(ppt)
Pierre Carbone, Library Inspector, French Ministry of Education
The consortia landscape in the USA (audio)(ppt)
Rick Anderson, Associate Director for Scholarly Resources & Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah
The global economic crisis and its impact on consortia licenses: a financial perspective (audio)(ppt)
Hazel Woodward, Cranfield University Librarian and Director of Cranfield Press
The past, the present and the future: a commercial publisher’s perspective on library consortia (audio)(presentation – link to prezi.com)
Richard Bennett, Vice President – Sales, North, West & Eastern Europe, Springer
The not-for-profit publisher and consortia negotiations (audio)(ppt)
Adam Gardner, Publishing Sales Director, CABI
Panel discussion: publishing collaborations and innovative licensing models (audio part 1) (audio part 2)
John Parsons, Senior Sales Manager, Europe, BioOne (ppt)
Robert Jacobs, Director of Publisher Relations, Swets (ppt)
Tom Taylor, President, DragonFly (ppt)
Emilie Delquie, Vice-president, Publishers Communication Group (ppt)
Several PCG managers will be in attendance at the ACRL conference this week in Philadelphia, as well as the UKSG Meeting in Harrogate, UK from April 4 to 6.
Please come visit at Booths 205 (ACRL) and 25 (UKSG), and email Vice President Emilie Delquie to set up a meeting (edelquie [at] pcgplus.com).
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