Yumma Darruwa Ngunnawal

Welcome from Ngunnawal and Ngambri country.

I am very pleased to welcome Della Fraser as the SIS Indigenous Project Officer. It will be a 9-month project with a dedicated leader. The project will include extensive consultation with staff and colleagues elsewhere in the University, including the First Nations Portfolio, Tjabal Centre, Indigenous Perspectives Network PLC, and colleges.

ANU COVID-19

COVID inspections are no longer required. If you see supplies are running low of hand sanitiser or masks do let the relevant people know in your building.

Please read all the messages from the University about COVID-19.

All COVID updates will be communicated to staff and students via the weekly On Campus email newsletter. You can find previous staff On Campus and student On Campus editions on the ANU website.

Symonston storage

The first collection material has moved in:

SIS Symposium

You can now book your spot at our fabulous symposium on 11 October. Visit Eventbrite for more details and to book!

WHS

A call for nominations will be out shortly for a Health and Safety Representative (HSR) now that Peter has retired.

Library Advisory Committee

The Committee met and asked to pass on to all staff thanks for the excellent work this year. They are particularly appreciative of the support for students now that we are back on campus.

Buildings

After the completion of the roof works the temporary parenting room on Level 2 of Chifley was dismantled. The parenting room on level 4 is fully operational.

Academic Quality Assessment Committee

AQAC’s agenda included:

·       TEQSA Re-registration Application – August 2023 Update

·       Academic Plan Update - ANU Undergraduate Curriculum Framework

·       Coursework Courses Grades Distribution Analysis Report Semester

·       eForm Transition Programs update

·       Summary of Annual Privacy Report

·       Proposed 2024 AQAC Forward Work Plan

·       Self-Assessment Survey 2023

CAUL & CONZUL

·       The CAUL meeting on 14 and 15 September 2023 was a well-attended opportunity to discuss key strategic issues and review programs designed to improve university activities.

·       Congratulations to the winners of the CAUL awards:

o   Indigenous Leader Award – Kim Tairi, Kaitoha Puka (University Librarian), Auckland University of Technology

o   Emerging leader - Kat Cain, Library Partner, Deakin University

o   Outstanding Library Team Award - University of Sydney Library’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols Team

o   Distinguished Service Award - Bob Gerrity, University Librarian, Monash University

·       Nominations for the CAUL awards are on the website CAUL Awards. The award categories are:

• Indigenous Leader Award
• Emerging Leader Award
• Outstanding Library Team Award
• Distinguished Service Award.

Group of 8 Librarians

The Group met this week - topics included an update on Open Access Working Group, an update on developments and opportunities with OCLC, Review of Workplan, and Focus Groups for 2023.

Copyright

·       The summary of the Third Roundtable on Copyright on 28 and 29 August relating to the implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for copyright law, and the definition of ‘broadcast’ for the purposes of the Copyright Act 1968 in now online.

·       U.S. Copyright Office issued a notice of inquiry (NOI) in the Federal Register on copyright and artificial intelligence (AI). The Office is undertaking a study of the copyright law and policy issues raised by generative AI and is assessing whether legislative or regulatory steps are warranted. The Office will use the record it assembles to advise Congress; inform its regulatory work; and offer information and resources to the public, courts, and other government entities considering these issues.

A flying visitor

A bird (noisy miner) was trapped in Kathryn’s office for much of a morning this week. Thanks to Rob and Belinda for the extraction. Most of the muck left behind was dust and particles from the window ledges.

Feedback

Text reads: This Library (Hancock) is more like a home to me now ❤ Never did I ever think in my life that I would have so much fun in a library!!! I spend most of my best moments with my friends here!!! Here’s to studying, looking, making matches & gossiping in Hancock 

**

Last week Chifley hosted the College of Science writing workshop for academic staff and selected HDR candidates.

A great success and thank you to Mel for coordinating with Dr Penny King and all the help from Janne, Sadia, Vanessa and Nic. Penny was super appreciative.

Penny to Vanessa - “I love librarians – they’re so organised”

A lovely thank you card from several of the workshop attendees is above. Text reads:

·       Dear Mel, Thanks so much for setting up such a productive space to work for the week! Dan :)

·       Thanks for helping to create and protect a space for us to achieve lots. KJ.

·       Thanks for helping make it such a great workshop! Elisa

·       Thanks so much for creating this perfect space for writing! Alana

·       Thank you for your work in putting this workshop together! Eli

·       Thanks for your time! Craig

·       Awesome spot, thanks for having us - Graham

·       Thanks so much! Catherine

·       Thanks so much for sharing your time and experience! Best, Tony

·       Dear Mel, Thanks for creating a friendly space for us! Daisy.

·       Dear Mel, Thank you so much for all of your help setting up the library. I loved the signs and it was great to have your help every morning and before the event. All the best, Penny.

Photo features: Professor Kiaran Kirk (Dean, College of Science), Professor Penny Brothers (Director, Research School of Chemistry), Professor Geoff Carey (Associate Director Research, Fenner School), and Dr Penny King.

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Roxanne Missingham

Director, Scholarly Information Services

ANU Press and open access

Congratulations to Susan Murray

Congratulations to 2023 Mike Horsley Award recipient Susan Murray, Publisher at Sydney University Press. Susan demonstrated excellence in dedicated service, admirable values and steadfast leadership and her innovative approach to scholarly publishing has made significant contributions to the sector.

The Open Access Fund at Edinburgh University Press

Edinburgh University Press (EUP) recently announced the inauguration of its Open Access Fund, which sets aside £250,000 “to publish Open Access editions of 50 research publications by University of Edinburgh staff” over the next five years. Read the interview with the Press’s Chief Executive, Nicola Ramsey, about this exciting new initiative.

Print Revenue and Open Access Monographs: A University Press Study

Key findings from this IthakaS+R study include:

·       OA titles can generate significant print revenue

·       OA titles can generate meaningful digital revenue

·       Outliers are essential

·       Titles with both hard and soft cover formats generate the most revenue

·       Sales vary widely by field

·       An opportunity to increase print sales?

Pledge to Open: Taylor & Francis

Taylor & Francis have announced the launch of Pledge to Open, a new collaborative funding open access books initiative, in conjunction with Jisc and other international member partners, to ensure the widest possible dissemination and impact of our research book titles. The Pledge to Open pilot aims to transform 70 front list research book titles into open access. It is based on universally-acknowledged price bandings, making funding fair and equitable across institutions. Participating institutions can choose which collection or collections they would like to pledge for and pay a one-off fee per collection to support its transformation to open access. In return, they receive perpetual unlimited multi-user access for the titles of the collections they pledge for, irrespective of any funding thresholds being met for this pilot.

Open Access to University Press Frontlists: a call to action

This post by Curtis Brundy, Laura Hanscom, Barbara Kern, and Brigitte Weinstein calls for a new mindset for authors, publishers and libraries to work together on this issue.

Open repository

Open Access Week 2023

“Community over Commercialization” is the theme for this year’s International Open Access Week (October 23-29): The website is up now.

New research resources

·       Child population, economic development and regional inequality of education resources in China

·       The Sources of Strength Australia Project: A cluster randomised controlled trial of a peer-connectedness school-based program to promote help-seeking in adolescents

·       Non-core liabilities and interest rate pass-through: bank-level evidence from Indonesia

·       Realizing resilience for decision-making

·       Paddock Near By

Keeping up to date

Protecting library rights: considerations for congress

Katherine Klosek is the director of Information Policy and Federal Relations at the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). This article suggests approaches that the US Congress may take to protect library rights, including revisiting a 2002 legislative proposal by Representative Zoe Lofgren … If members of Congress wish to consider a federal solution to prohibitive contracts, they may start by revisiting the Digital Choice and Freedom Act, 5 which, Representative Zoe Lofgren introduced in 2002. Had the bill passed, a provision of it would have created a new section of the US Copyright Act asserting that license terms that restrict or limit any of the limitations on exclusive rights are not enforceable under any state statute.

2023 Library Design Showcase

American Libraries’ annual celebration of new and renovated libraries that address patron needs in exciting and effective ways is well worth reading.

Artificial intelligence (AI) in tertiary education

Jisc has issued this third edition of the current state of play, including insights into emerging use cases and guidance on ethical considerations.

Regulation of AI around the world

A very useful report from the Law Library of Congress is available on their website.

Law libraries launch initiative to prepare for artificial intelligence future

A group of leading law schools, led by the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, has announced an exciting new initiative called the Future of Law Libraries: Artificial Intelligence, Opportunities, and Advancement. The goal of this collaborative project is to prepare law libraries across the country to strategically incorporate artificial intelligence into their operations to enhance collections, instruction/training and services.

Future of Privacy Forum

The Forum has published a report on corporate-academic partnerships that provides practical recommendations for companies and researchers who want to share data for research. The Report, Data Sharing for Research: A Compendium of Case Studies, Analysis, and Recommendations, demonstrates how, for many organisations, data-sharing partnerships are transitioning from being considered an experimental business activity to an expected business competency.

New guidance to develop a data inventory

The Office of the National Data Commissioner (ONDC) has released a new guide to developing a data inventory. There are now 56 organisations that have taken the step of onboarding to Dataplace.

OpenAI, Microsoft hit with new US consumer privacy class action

A useful commentary from Blake Brittain is available on Rueters.

IFLA Academic & Research Libraries (ARL) Section

The Section’s latest “Hot Topics” session, "From Gutenberg to ChatGPT: Will AI change the mission of academic and research libraries?” was attended by over 300 persons on-site. It has been a landmark for the IFLA WLIC 2023 Congress in Rotterdam. The related videos and slides can be found on the IFLA website.

Kummargii Yulendji Symposium Sparks Meaningful Conversations

Over 200 representatives of the publishing, research, and information industries attended Kummargii Yulendji Symposium last week, both online and in-person, to engage in meaningful discussions about the ways we describe, apply, and amplify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academic outputs. Read more on the Informit website.

ARL, coalition partners to congress: do not restrict the promise of generative AI

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) joined libraries, civil society organizations, and legal experts and scholars in a letter expressing concern to Congress about calls for new copyright restrictions in response to the recent emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI).

The AI Update

Duane Morris updates us on developments from the US Copyright Offices and work by Microsoft and Adobe.

From HR

The Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor’s Annual Awards open today, closing 5pm Monday 9 October.

The Awards are a celebration of the depth and diversity of talent within the ANU staff community. They are an opportunity for the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor to recognise the achievements of professional and academic staff for their impact to the ANU, as well as the local, national and international community.

Award categories include accomplishments such as early career academic excellence, impact and engagement, health and safety, excellence in advancing research, service to the campus community and more. Sponsors can nominate individuals or teams, but be sure to check eligibility before putting in a nomination.

I am also pleased to announce the introduction of two new awards in 2023, with the addition of the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Sustainability, alongside the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Culture Champion.

Further information for each award, including how to make a nomination, is on the HR website, and any queries should go to awards@anu.edu.au

Kind regards,

Kate Witenden

Chief People Officer

Coming events

Mis & disinformation in Australian academic libraries

When? Wednesday 11 October 1pm AEST

Where? Melbourne

More details. A research review seminar with Dr Nicole Johnston (Edith Cowan University). More information is available on the ALIA website.

ARDC

Shaping Research Software: An Interview

A conversation by ARDC with Dr Manodeep Sinha about his award-winning software package for rapidly measuring the spatial distribution of galaxies and his advocacy for research software engineering. Read more here.

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