Contents and Leader


Research information


October/November 2020 l Issue 110


Libraries, the cloud and Covid-19


4


Remote access to a library’s resources and services has become especially important following the emergence of the new coronavirus, writes David Stuart


Platform number one 10


Six industry experts tell Tim Gillett where the future destination is likely to lie for platform providers


‘An irreplaceable source of information’


20


Gaëlle Béquet, director of ISSN International Centre, outlines the work of the Keepers Registry – followed by interviews with four of its partner agencies


Swimming against the tide


Oluchi Ojinamma Okere considers Nigerian academic libraries and their struggle for relevance


A catalyst for change in how we conduct and evaluate research 30


Research has long been a vital part of how we advance human knowledge to better understand our world and improve lives, writes Andrew Plume


Where’s the policy and financial support for OA books?


Ros Pyne explores findings from a collaborative white paper with COARD into the geographic reach of OA book scholarship


32 28


What we’ve learned from a watershed year


The events of 2020 have created a watershed for everyone in our industry, writes Jamie Hutchins


In search of the entrepreneurial state


Institutions of higher learning have performed two core functions: teaching and research, writes Daniel Hook


Twenty-five years on – enabling access to knowledge


As OpenAthens celebrates its 25th anniversary, Jon Bentley discusses the organisation’s growth, industry changes and what to expect in the future


Bringing method to madness 42


Data is everywhere – but where does it come from, where is it being stored, and is it worth keeping? It is crucial to take stock, says Paul Stokes


Dividing lines 44


In August Research Information’s Tim Gillett hosted a panel discussion on ‘bridging the digital divide’. Here we publish some extracts from the event


Leading from the front 48


Self-confessed workaholic Jignesh Bhate describes the foundation and progress of Molecular Connections over nearly 20 years


40 36


Editorial and administrative team Editor: Tim Gillett tim.gillett@europascience.com +44 (0) 1223 221040 Specialist reporter: Rebecca Pool Design: David Houghton/Zöe Andrews Partnership & events executive: Charlie Mitchell charlie.mitchell@europascience.com Advertising team Advertising manager: Mike Nelson mike.nelson@europascience.com +44 (0) 1223 221039 Corporate team Managing director: Warren Clark Research Information is published by Europa Science Ltd, 4 Signet Court, Cambridge, CB5 8LA l ISSN 1744-8026 Tel: +44 (0) 1223 211170 l Fax: +44 (0) 1223 213385 Web: www.researchinformation.info


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Subscriptions: Free registrations available to qualifying individuals – register online at www.researchinformation.info Subscriptions £180 a year for six issues to readers outside registration requirements. Single issue £30. Orders to Europa Science Ltd, RI Circulation, 4 Signet Court, Cambridge, CB5 8LA Tel: +44 (0) 1223 211170 Fax: +44 (0) 1223 213385 ©2019 Europa Science Ltd. While every care has been taken in the compilation of this magazine, errors or omissions are not the responsibility of the publishers or of the editorial staff. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers or editorial staff. All rights reserved. Unless specifically stated, goods or services mentioned are not formally endorsed by Europa Science Ltd, which does not guarantee or endorse or accept any liability for any goods and/or services featured in this publication. Cover: Shutterstock.com


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October/November 2020 Research Information 3


In August, Research Information held the latest in its series of online panel discussions, entitled: Bridge over Troubled Water – How do we span the Digital Divide? Despite some technical difficulties meaning that one of our guests was unable to join us from Nigeria – thereby perfectly illustrating the divide under discussion – our two remaining panellists Elaine Westbrooks and David Prosser made a superb job of describing and defining the divide as it affects them and their organisations. While there was little optimism that the divide has in fact narrowed in recent years (in fact it has probably grown) there were several silver linings mentioned, and a rallying call for the rest of the scholarly communications industry to play its part in providing solutions to the problem. It seems strange that we will not be handing out print copies of this magazine at Frankfurt Book Fair and Charleston Conference this year, but there’s plenty in this packed issue nonetheless. We have features on libraries and the cloud, on publishing platforms, and on the sterling work if ISSN and its Keepers Registry – along with a whole host of analysis pieces and an interview with Jignesh Bhate of Molecular Connections. Lastly, the countdown to CISPC 2020 is well and truly under way, and on page 50 we outline the latest news regarding the event, which will now be held in a 100 per cent virtual manner. It promises to be an entertaining and informative couple of days – for the latest news and to register for the event, please visit www.cispc-event.com


@researchinfo 34


Leader: Tim Gillett Long division


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