Another Blog from a Librarian (as if we need one)

From: Scrivener, Laurie L.
Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 2:07 PM
Subject: database cancellations

Colleagues,

The University Libraries has completed a review of database subscriptions, identifying resources we will no longer retain in order to address continuing increases in database subscription costs and meet budget reduction targets.  The review considered resource coverage, uniqueness, alternative access, subject area value, current price and price trend, usage, cost per use, and licensing.  Cancelations will occur throughout the 2019-2020 academic year, based on renewal dates.

The Library Database Subscriptions guide provides the list of databases identified for cancelation; these databases will also be identified within the databases & e-reference listing on the library website.  We are currently negotiating with one of our vendors, ProQuest; the outcome of these negotiations may result in additional databases being added to the cancelation list.  Questions or comments may be directed to me at lscrivener@ou.edu. While the Libraries will attempt to retain resources for which feedback is received, we must reduce our database spend and thus all feedback will be weighed against other reductions that would be required to hold down costs and meet our budget reduction target.

Best,
Laurie

From: Scrivener, Laurie L.
Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2019 1:09 PM
Subject: Springer journals

Dear Colleagues,

The library’s review of journal titles from the publisher Springer is now complete. Please see this page for information on what was cut and what was retained: http://guides.ou.edu/serialsprojects/springer.

I appreciate your assistance on this completely unpleasant – to say the least – project.

Best,

Laurie

From: Scrivener, Laurie L.
Sent: Monday, February 4, 2019 9:18 AM
Subject: Springer journals cut

Colleagues,

The University Libraries continues to work to reduce its budget through June 2020 under a university administration-mandated permanent budget reduction.  The budget reduction is affecting multiple aspects of the Libraries’ operations, including collections.

To help meet the mandated budget reduction, we will not renew a journal agreement with Springer, which is set to expire December 31, 2019.  This agreement provides access to nearly all Springer journals but requires maintaining a specific monetary commitment which cannot be sustained because of the budget reduction mandate.

The Springer review is currently underway; we plan to reduce our spending with this publisher by approximately $225,000.  We will continue to provide students and faculty access to Springer journals through a combination of continued subscriptions, aggregators like JSTOR, and interlibrary loan.  The data points being utilized in the review, national and OU trends related to library collections, and FAQs are available to view and download.  An Excel file of all Springer titles under review may be found here.  Feedback on Springer titles may be provided to me now through April 26.

NOTE:  

·        As part of the terms of our Springer agreement, all currently available Springer content will continue to be accessible from 2020 onward; this means that if we choose to not continue subscribing to a title, we will still have access to all currently available content, up to and including 2019 articles. 

·        Springer also publishes the Nature suite of journals.  We have a separate agreement for Nature journals and our Springer review will not include Nature titles.

The Libraries will post reduction recommendations by mid-March and will continue to seek campus feedback through April 26, 2019.  If you have questions or feedback, please contact me at lscrivener@ou.edu or 325-1903.

Please share this information with colleagues in your department.

Sincerely,

Laurie

From: Scrivener, Laurie L.
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2019 3:26 PM
Subject: Undergraduate Research Award from the University Libraries

I’m happy to announce that the library will again be sponsoring undergraduate research awards. Would you mind sharing this information about the awards with faculty in your areas and encouraging students to apply?

Best,

Laurie

The deadline for the Undergraduate Research Award is coming up. Students must apply with OU’s CASH system by February 1st, 2019 to be eligible for the award. 

The OU Libraries seek to acknowledge undergraduate research of all kinds and in a variety of formats. For example, successful projects may:

• incorporate primary sources from the Libraries’ special collections;
• take the form of digital scholarship that integrates digital techniques and tools;
• result in the visualization of spatial or numeric data;
• reflect creative scholarship such as poetry, music, film, and other forms of individual expression grounded in research.

Up to three awards may be given. One each in the amounts of $1,500, $1,000, and $750.

For questions about the application process or the evaluation process, please email Magen Bednar (magen.bednar@ou.edu). 

From: Scrivener, Laurie L.
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2018 8:51 AM
Subject: database trial: Women and Social Movements in Modern Empires Since 1820

Dear Colleagues,

Through September 30^th we have a trial of a database, Women and Social Movements in Modern Empires Since 1820. The database contains 75,000 pages of historical documents in full text exploring prominent themes in world history since 1820: conquest, colonization, settlement, resistance, and post-coloniality, as told through women’s voices. If you click on the trial link and then click “browse document clusters” you can see that the database covers Asia, Europe, Native women in North America, and much more. (See publisher’s page for more information).

This is a direct link to the trial or find it alphabetically under the “Databases & E-Reference” link on the library’s home page. In the database A-Z listing there is a link to a survey to provide us feedback about the database. Please fill out the survey if you are interested in this database!

Feel free to share this email with colleagues or students who might be interested in this resource.

Best,
Laurie

From: Scrivener, Laurie L.
Sent: Friday, February 9, 2018 9:33 AM
Subject: Alternative Textbook Grants

Dear Colleagues,

I’ve been asked to forward you this information about the library’s Alternative Textbook Grants; please pass on to faculty in your departments.

OU Libraries’ Alternative Textbook Grants help reduce the cost of course materials by supporting the adoption, modification, or creation of open course content. Open Educational Resources (OER) are educational materials that are distributed at no cost and with legal permission for the public to freely use, share, and build upon the content. OER  inspire pedagogy and give faculty more freedom over their instructional materials and. To date, the Alternative Textbook Grant has saved OU students $1.9 million. Apply today to enable new ways of learning or attend a drop-in session to learn more. Applications are due 3/2/2018.

Best,
Laurie

From: Scrivener, Laurie L.
Sent: Tuesday, November 7, 2017 9:19 AM
Subject: new database: Pravda

Dear Colleagues,

I’m happy to let you know that the library has added the Russian newspaper Pravda to our database list. Here is a direct link to it, or find it in the A-Z list on the library’s home page.

Pravda Digital Archive 

Pravda was the official voice of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Russia) between 1918 and 1991; the digital archive covers 1912-2016.

Please share with colleagues who might be interested in this resource.

Best,
Laurie