Attending: John Kolsti, Tom Palaima, Kenneth Ralls; Craig Burgler, Greg Harper; Nancy Elder, Susan Ardis, Joanna Hitchcock; Fred Heath, Dennis Dillon, Sue Phillips; Jocelyn Duffy
The next meeting of the committee will be held in ECJ 1.300 from noon until 1 P.M. on February 21, 2005, and will explore the idea of combining the science libraries, excepting Life Science, into a single science branch. Note added by Ken Ralls: the Life Science Library was excluded initially, but now will be part of the proposed Science and Technology Library.
Nancy Elder, head librarian of the Life Science Library, distributed a handout, "Overview of EndNote"
EndNote is database software used to create and output bibliographic references, and includes templates for more than forty types of materials. EndNote is the most heavily used bibliographic program on campus (Geology has some ProSite users). EndNote can output its information in 1,200 bibliographic styles, styles can be modified as needed, and a database may contain 100,000 records.
Most of the databases in the University Libraries are compatible with EndNote-though the library catalog is not-and open library catalogs such as that of the Library of Congress can be searched directly from it. EndNote also works as an add-on to MicroSoft Word to create bibliographies.
EndNote instruction in the University Libraries began in 2000. Some labs on campus have licensed EndNote, but most interested students and faculty will need to purchase their own copy (student license - $99; faculty - $175). Nancy offers library classes, classroom sessions and one-on-one help with the program.
Dr. Heath asked if EndNote is being taught on campus by anyone outside the libraries.
Nancy said that she had not found any colleges or writing centers offering EndNote instruction. The School of Nursing's Learning Resource Center purchased an EndNote license, and asked Nancy to teach them how to use it. She observed that she spends about half of her instruction time in Library classes, and the other half in classes or labs teaching and doing demonstrations.
Dr. Heath asked whether EndNote is advertised on Blackboard, and if an instruction module could be attached to Blackboard.
Nancy noted that there is a FAQ available, with email links to herself and Beth Kerr, another librarian who offers instruction on EndNote. The Undergraduate Library supports NoodleBib, a limited bibliographic reference tool that uses questionnaires for filling in information rather than a template, is web-based, and outputs in the APA and MLA styles only.
UT Press director Joanna Hitchcock and Dennis Dillon spoke to the committee regarding the recent symposium on publishing and the academy, which was held on campus.
The symposium brought together the perspectives of university presses, libraries and faculty. Scholarly publishers are looking for more marketable manuscripts, increasing the difficulty for faculty and graduates in getting published. Printing runs are decreasing, electronic publishing is on the rise, and such changes have affected academic promotion and tenure paths.
Departments are responding by asking graduate students to broaden their research topics, as presses broaden the research areas that they will publish (and limit the number of titles within specialized topics).
Within the UT Press, subsidies cover only 14 percent of production costs, while sales are expected to generate the remaining 86 percent. The presses need to balance their mission within funds received, while serving scholarship.
The market for information in journals is shrinking, and the current publishing system and its related costs restrict access to that information. The UT Libraries have been canceling an average of 3 journals per day, and new programs are still being added to the curriculum.
Professor Palaima commented that there are problems with the lack of a vetting process for online information, and also the lack of any guarantee that such information will continue to be available in the future.
Dennis Dillon noted that open-access journals might begin to take hold. Some programs have been able to build peer-reviewed, online journals that are paid for by the authors whose articles are published. The funding for the author usually comes through a grant or from an institution. He observed that open access is also a way around restricted access to information.
Joanna said that several of the larger university presses are publishing materials online that are peer-reviewed in the same manner as print materials.
A very lively general discussion followed, and Professor and chairperson Ralls recommended covering the topics of scholarly publishing and open access again next year in committee.
Sue Phillips briefly discussed database access for alumni, noting that current database contracts do not provide for such access but that some providers are willing to explore the idea. She said that libraries are aware of the need and the possibilities, and are investigating such access. While there is no progress to report presently, there may be more information later this year or early next fiscal year.
