NISO’s Shared E-Resource Understanding (SERU) Working Group

Posted on March 15, 2007 by Marie Kennedy

the SERU working group has put together a draft of best practices (titled SERU Framework–version 0.3); it is posted on their website at http://www.niso.org/committees/SERU/index.html.  this draft provides a clear outline of what the issues are in communications between libraries and publishers regarding gaining access to subscribed electronic content.  i heartily support efforts that lead us away from murky license agreements toward clear and simple usage guidelines.

if you go to the site listed above you will see that you can join their listserv, if you care to stay informed of SERU’s progress.

Posted in library, publishers | Comments Off on NISO’s Shared E-Resource Understanding (SERU) Working Group

publish your work in the past

Posted on March 15, 2007 by Marie Kennedy

a researcher had her work accepted for publication in 2006 in a prestigious journal, but instead of it being published in a 2006 issue it was published in a 2005 issue.  the 2005 issue was published in 2006.  in this way, the date of publication could have been before the researcher even began the research.

i wonder how you would report that publication in an annual report, assuming that the publication was done as a result of some grant funding.  it could possibly look like the researcher published on grant-funded research outside of the granting cycle.

p.s. publishers do crazy things sometimes.
p.p.s. this is an example of the strange scenarios that present themselves while one is sitting at the reference desk.

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don’t look at the pictures, just look at the text

Posted on March 9, 2007 by Marie Kennedy

when i first started working at this medical library i was heartily disturbed when i would pass by books with graphic images on the covers.  if the book is about a particular technique – let’s use open heart surgery for example – there will often be a picture of it on the cover.  intellectually i know that this is what medicine is about, but it’s still quite something else to be presented with the very real, very photographic visuals.

to combat my visceral reaction my mantra has been, “don’t look at the pictures, just look at the text.”  but just like those awful “family circus” comics, my eye is drawn to the images whether i want to look at them or not.  a curious thing is happening as a result; i am beginning to feel less repulsion and more curiosity as i spend more time around these books.  i still have a long way to go with the dental books that come in, however.  check back with me later to see how i’m progressing.

Posted in library, medicine | 2 Comments

shelling

Posted on March 8, 2007 by Marie Kennedy

awwww, my hometown is number 4 on cnn’s best beaches to look for shells (http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/03/08/bil.cl.shelling.beaches/index.html).  a snip from the article says that “When cold fronts roll in from the north, experienced shellers bundle up and hit the beach.”  i have many pictures in my photo album of me in varying states of growing up, bundled into a winter coat (with hood, for wind protection), carrying a shell bag.  we would frequently go during the winter, as the beach was not disturbed then, and we could find whole sand dollars tucked into the dunes.

more about galveston may be found at this website: http://www.galveston.com/default.asp

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preventive, preventative

Posted on March 6, 2007 by Marie Kennedy

both are correct.

Posted in the grammar doctor checks in | Comments Off on preventive, preventative

PubDrug update

Posted on March 5, 2007 by Marie Kennedy

A while back I mentioned that a wiki had been constructed in order to create a community-written collection of drug monographs.  It’s up and running, and participants are actively creating content.  So far, 7 monographs have been completed.  If you know drugs, help them construct a monograph or two!  They hope to create monographs for the top 200 drugs by the end of 2007.  The wiki may be found at http://www.smbrower.com/mediawiki/index.php/Main_Page.  Good luck to all involved!

Posted in drugs, medicine, OA, wiki | Comments Off on PubDrug update