Research Information Contents News Weighing up peer review
Report from ALPSP conference The future of research in tough times
Research should be effi cient and effective
Libraries lay on the pressure over prices 19 How libraries deal with shrinking budgets
Ebooks help tackle information mountain 22 Some of the latest ebook developments The start of an adventure
26
Thoughts from Open Access Week Database versus search engine
Comparing ETDEWEB with Google Rethinking reference
We speak to Suzanne BeDell of Elsevier Products Diary
Interview Sarah Greene, editor in chief, F1000 29 30
33 41 42
Weighing up peer review 11 4 11
Is there an alternative way to evaluate research? The information battle
14 17 ON THE COVER
Ebooks help tackle information mountain
22 Leader: Siân Harris
Libraries lay on the pressure over prices
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19
The open challenge The events of the latest Open Access Week held in October (page 26) paint an enthusiastic picture of a global movement championing free access to research results as they are published, and an opening up of science. This year the global event has tried to engage researchers more fully. Tightening budgets mean that both libraries and publishers are faced with tough choices (see page 19). Whether or not open access is the solution is still up for debate, though. Speakers at the ALPSP annual conference in September (page 14) highlighted a range of challenges. These included the requirement for information professionals to acquire new skills and the long-term costs of hosting content. And these challenges are growing as the debate turns to an issue closer to researchers’ hearts, access to their research data.
COVER: Montage by Dean Farrow
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www.researchinformation.info/subscribe www.researchinformation.info Research Information December 2010/January 2011 3
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