What Does "Unsustainable" Mean?
We breeze by the statement that “scholarly publishing economics are unsustainable,” without contemplating what it actually means, how deep it goes, and why it has been allowed to get this way.
Interesting Findings from Ithaka S&R's Latest Faculty Survey
A new survey reinforces so long-term trends, but shows some surprising reversals that anyone interested in scholarly communication should note.
Librarians and Societies and Publishers – Oh My!
A meeting between librarians, publishers, and society leaders reveals common concerns and the ways in which roles are overlapping and mingling.
Six Mistakes the Library Staff Are Making
In a follow-up to the six mistakes sales reps make, here’s a list of six mistakes library staff can make. It’s a sobering comparison.
Achieving the "Golden Age of Librarians" — An Ambitious Project of Deep Redefinition
Are you a library or a librarian? How you answer that question may have a direct bearing on your ability to adapt to the digital age, T. Scott Plutchak tells us in a recent paper based on a 2011 lecture.
"Librarians" — An Endangered Species?
A recent analysis suggests some worrisome trends for librarianship.
Will a Renewed Re-examination of the Big Deal Itself Be a Big Deal?
As budgets make librarians look for better deals, the Big Deals fall under close scrutiny.
The Rhetorical Consequences of STM "Madlibs" — Saving [ __________ ] from [ ____________ ]
Instead of filling in the blanks of attribution with the same old agents, maybe we need to go beyond the usual suspects.
How Satisfied Are Librarians With Their Jobs? The Survey May Not Show
A Library Journal survey shows things are about the same. But who are they really talking to?
As Book Warehouses Vanish, Is It Time for Librarians to Stop Running Libraries?
Are librarians making the same mistake railroads made — forgetting their purpose to remain tied to their physical heritage?
Prices, Models, and Fairness: A (Partly) Imaginary Phone Conversation
[Phone rings.] Librarian: Hello? Sales Rep: Hello! Robert from Acme Scholarly Journals here. As you know, for the past year we’ve been working on a new pricing model for our journal package, and now that it’s ready my boss and […]
So You Want to Be An Academic Librarian? A Parody
The CHE features some of the parody videos about academic life, including this one about academic librarians.
State of the Art I — The Future of Academic Librarians
ACRL’s Kara Malenfant to publishers: “Don’t think of librarians as those who hold the purse-strings, because that is not how librarians view themselves.”
Librarians Do Gaga: Is “Glee” a New Business Model for Librarianship?
Librarians make a video parody of a Lady Gaga song, with some memorable results.
Two-Up Publishing & the Erosion of Print
The ACS’ new “rotated and condensed” printing model will give readers a new angle on print.