Stimulating Data Reuse with the New Wellcome Data Re-use Prizes to help unlock the value of research

In order to encourage not only research data management but to stimulate their reuse for new knowledge and broader health benefits, Wellcome Trust has launched two prizes to be won by anyone or group of people from anywhere in the world with novel ideas using Wellcome's open data. The winner of each prize will get £15,000 (approx. $19,000 USD). Two runners-up will get £5,000 (approx. $6,400 USD).
Click here for key dates and how to enter the competition.

My FSCI 2018: A Scholarship that Makes the Difference

FSCI 2018 Participants

Exactly one month ago, I was part of the august gathering of distinguished scholars, librarians, publishers, research funders and everyone else in the scholarly communications sector that attended the FORCE11 Scholarly Communications Institute for year 2018 (FSCI2018). The event took place at the very reputable campus of the renowned University of California, San Diego, La Jolla. Participation was global with participants turning up from six (6) continents among which, I guess, two of us from the blessed continent of Africa. I made it, substantially, courtesy of the tuition and travel scholarship granted by the organisers. That said, what is FSCI or even FORCE11 to start with?

FORCE11 (The Future of Research Communications and e-Scholarship 2011) is a community of scholars, librarians, archivists, publishers and research funders that has arisen organically to help facilitate the change toward improved knowledge creation and sharing. Individually and collectively, it aims to bring about a change in modern scholarly communications through the effective use of information technology. This they do through annual conferences since 2011 and FORCE11 Scholarly Communications Institute (FSCI) since 2017.

The FSCI, pronounced physkey, situated at the University of California, San Diego, is a week long summer training course, incorporating intensive coursework, seminar participation, group activities, lectures and hands-on training. Participants attended courses taught by world-wide leading experts in scholarly communications. Participants also have the opportunity to discuss the latest trends and gain expertise in new technologies in research flow, new forms of publication, new standards and expectations, and new ways of measuring and demonstrating success that are transforming science and scholarship.

The 2018 programme was structured to allow for one AM (morning) course all week and two PM (afternoon) courses within the week. These are really tempting courses, very appealing. Just like many participants had headaches choosing which course, I eventually settled for the following courses:

Inside Scholarly Communications Today (AM, Monday to Friday) where we covered topics like: History of scholarly communications, Technology and information transfer, Financial flows in scholarly publishing and Peer review and its complications. The course was taken by Cameron Neylon, PhD, Professor of Research Communications, Centre for Culture and Technology, Curtin University, Australia 

Open Data Visualization - Tools and Techniques to Better Report Data (PM, Monday-Tuesday) where we learnt about Superset data visualization software and were exposed to other scholarly communication software like Story Map, Dataverse, etc. With Superset, we tried our hands on novel ways data can be visualized beyond charts and graphs. Gaurav Godhwani, Technical Lead and Advisor, Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA India) and Chapter Leader, DataKind Bangalore instructed this course. He was the first participant I met upon arriving Revelle College, UCSD and now a friend.

Mentoring the Next Generation of Open Scholars: Approaches, Tools & Tactics (PM, Wednesday- Thursday): Scholarly publishing literacy, Copyright literacy, Open pedagogy, Open source and free software options were discussed. Robyn Hall, Scholarly Communications Librarian, MacEwan University, Edmonton, Canada chaired and instructed this beautiful course.
The benefits of the above courses are numerous. These, apart from plenary sessions, Do-A-Thon and short lightning talks exposed me to the trends, tools and techniques in scholarly communications and open education resources. The PowerPoint Karaoke was novel. Participating in FSCI has broadened my professional horizon. It has connected me to vast resources of people and materials needed to prosper in my new office of Scholarly Communications Librarian, the very first of such office to be so called in Nigeria, I guess.

Adegbilero-Iwari Idowu  and a Sea lion at the La Jolla Cove

As a trained Scholarly Communications Librarian, I can now go ahead to fulfill the demands of my office as a pioneer in my country and mentor others to greater success. But the scholarship makes the difference. I, thus, hope that the scholarship programme is continuous and enlarged so as to afford opportunities for more people, especially from Africa.

Worth mentioning as a special gain is the opportunity to meet Daniel Paul O'Donnell, Professor of English, University of Lethbridge, and among many things, the President of FORCE11. On the heels of this, Professor O'Donnell will be presenting the maiden edition of Visiting Library Scholar Lecture Series of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Nigeria come September 28, 2018. I am very upbeat at the opportunities it portends for us as an institution, Nigeria as a country and FORCE11 as a community.

Idowu and Claudia of Mississippi State University

La Jolla, an upscale city called a village, provides visitors with great, serene and inspiring experiences. While at UCSD, the 64 degrees cafeteria will ensure your appetites are satisfied but a visit to the Geisel Library will awe your heart. Besides, watching the sun set or kind of deep into the Pacific Ocean on the Piers of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, especially with confident narrations from Steven, the memory of your visit will just be evergreen.

God bless Lusia, Stephanie and all the administrators of the institute and the entire FORCE11 community. God willing, see you at FSCI2019...

Idowu Adegbilero-Iwari,

Scholarly Communications Librarian

Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Nigeria

2019 IFLA/OCLC Fellowship Applications: Call and Deadline

Idowu (2016 Fellow)

2016 IFLA/OCLC Fellows

The call for applications for the 2019 Jay Jordan IFLA/OCLC Early Career Development Fellowship Program has been made.

Deadline is 28 September 2018

This program, jointly sponsored by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and OCLC, provides early career development and continuing education for library and information science professionals from countries with developing economies.

Up to five individuals are selected for participation in this intensive four-week Fellowship program, based at OCLC headquarters in Dublin, Ohio, USA. The 2019 program will run from 16 March to 12 April 2019. The program gives Fellows opportunities to meet with leading information practitioners, visit libraries and other cultural heritage institutions, and explore topics including information technologies, library operations and management, and global cooperative librarianship.

Learn more about the IFLA/OCLC Fellowship Program:

https://www.oclc.org/en/about/awards/ifla-fellowship-program.html

Click to watch and hear from past Fellows 

Idowu receiving certificate of participation from Skip Prichard

Guidelines for the 2019 Fellowship Program:Guidelines in Word format

Guidelines in PDF format

Application for 2019 Fellowship Program:Applications in Word format

Applications in PDF format

CALL OPEN FOR EIFL PUBLIC LIBRARY INNOVATION AWARD

Adegbilero-Iwari Idowu

The call to apply for the 12th EIFL PUBLIC LIBRARY INNOVATION AWARD is open.
Public and community libraries in developing and transition countries that use digital technology (ICT) to improve lives with special focus on achieving any of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are encouraged to apply.
Prize of the Award: cash USD1,500 and kind.
Application closes January 11, 2018.
More information here

INASP/UNESCO Open Access Week competition

INASP is hosting a competition to provide small contributions of $500 for up to 10 successful applicants towards the costs of organising Open Access Week activities. The winners will also have the opportunity to share their Open Access activities via the INASP and UNESCO website, newsletter and the networks and all applicants might use www.openaccessweek.org to share ideas and get feedback.

Your activities might include: 

• Creating greater understanding of Open Access or the Open Access movement
• Increasing wider awareness and use of institutional repositories
• Promoting and providing training in Open Access resources
• Showcasing the open source software being used
• Using the opportunities provided by Open Access policies to create, share and improve access to information and electronic resources
• Having fun with your own competitions or displays

Open Access Week is an opportunity for the academic and research community to learn more about the potential benefits of Open Access, to share what they’ve learned with colleagues, and to help inspire wider participation in Open Access developments. For more information, see OpenAccessWeek.org.

Online application form:  https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/OACompetition2017

Application Deadline: Monday 28th August 2017
Successful applicants will be notified by: Friday 1st September 2017
Winners’ reports must be submitted to INASP by: 17th November 2017

Source: INASP/UNESCO Open Access Week Competition

For sample OA Week event, see Adegbilero-Iwari's winning activities for Elizade University, Nigeria at Elizade University 2016 Open Access Week Events

#Force2017 call for abstracts: What could you contribute to the most innovative event in scholarly communications?

Changing the Culture

This year’s Force11 Conference takes place in Berlin from 25-27 October. It will focus on Changing the Culture as a theme to guide discussions. The event is intended to create new partnerships and collaborations, and support the implementation of ideas generated at the conference, and in the FORCE11 working groups.

The #FORCE2017 Conference aims to contribute its fair share to changing the scholarly communications landscape.

We focus on dialog rather than monolog, on diversity both on-stage and among the audience. And we plan a program geared towards turning past experiences with---and future visions for---scholarly communication, into concrete next steps.

Check out the line-up of confirmed keynote speakers, and if you think you could add to the program please propose your story today.

"It was really pleasing to be reminded of just how cool and exciting 

it can be at the cutting edge of scholarly communication.” - 2016 delegate

Key dates and info

• 31st July: Earlybird registration 
• 15th August: Abstract submission (posters, demos, sessions)
• 25-27 October 2017: Conference dates!

Venue: Kalkscheune, Berlin

Conference Chair: Martin Fenner; Program Chair: Daniel Mietchen

Visit the main website for more information: www.force2017.org.

Apply Now for ETD2017 Travel Scholarships

Applications are now being accepted for ETD2017 travel scholarships. Travel grants for delegates to attend the ETD annual symposium are an investment in ETDs worldwide. The application deadline is March 31, 2017. Complete information is available online at http://www.usetda.org/usetda-conferences/etd2017/travel-grants/.
Further information at http://www.ndltd.org/events/news/applynowforetd2017travelscholarships

Carnegie CPD Programme

Enhancing librarians' ICT skills for research enablement in African universities: a Carnegie CPD programme  

The Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria, was awarded a grant by the Carnegie Corporation of New York to offer eight four-week residential continuing professional development (CPD) programmes for qualified librarians from Sub-Saharan Africa, for the period 2014 – 2016. 

The aims of the programme are to:

• Empower the next generation of library and information professionals within Sub-Saharan African countries with hands-on skills to apply current and emerging information and communication technologies (ICTs);
• Build capacity amongst library and information services (LIS) professionals to support and enable researchers.

Eligibility criteria and application process 

A.  Eligibility criteria

Academic librarians and LIS faculty in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda are eligible to apply for admission to this programme. Selection of candidates for this fully funded programme is highly competitive and is based inter alia on the following criteria:

• Current qualifications: at least a first degree in LIS from a government recognised and/or accredited tertiary education institution. Applicants with postgraduate degrees will also be eligible for selection if you comply with other criteria listed;
• Age eligibility 25 – 45 years;
• Work experience 5 – 7 years;
• Exceptions, for age and work experience, will be considered on a case by case basis when accompanied by a strong motivational letter from your manager or director;
• The availability of the required technologies in your current work environment or library;
• Past academic performance;
• Proficiency in English;
• Potential to explore and embrace emerging technologies;
• Willingness and ability to share what is learned with others in the profession;
• Demonstrated commitment of participant’s home institution to supporting sharing and future development activities;
• Willingness and ability to work as a team member;
• Interest in current international library issues.

B.    Application process

The following documents should be emailed to Joan de la Haye at Carnegie-cpd@up.ac.za: 

• A detailed CV (according to the specified template available here) which describes your work experience, current job description and responsibilities: involvement in ICTs combined with support of researchers will be a prerequisite. Also include a detailed description of ICT-related job responsibilities, knowledge of ICT technologies and programmes, and ICT-related training);
• A recommendation letter from your current employer / line manager, highlighting your current levels of technology skills;
• A commitment from your current employer that they will make time available for you to attend the four week programme as well as time to devote to your assignments after completing the programme;
• Academic documents and transcripts;
• Prospective students will be required to write an essay of approximately 1000 words explaining why they:
  • would like to participate in the programme, what they hope to learn from the programme,
  • should be selected for the programme and what they hope to contribute to the programme. 

Applicants should demonstrate the following in their essays:

• Potential to explore and embrace emerging technologies;
• Willingness and ability to share what is learned with others in the profession;
• Demonstrated commitment of participant’s home institution to supporting sharing and future development activities;
• Willingness and ability to work as a team member;
• Interest in current international library issues. 

Please note:

• Your application will be acknowledged within 72 hours. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please follow up.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• All participants are expected to comply with the requirements and adhere to the arrangements of the programme from the initial selection to the completion of the programme.

Grant conditions 

• Only participants from Carnegie countries namely Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda, will be considered for the programme.
• The funding covers books and other academic expenditures, flights, accommodation, and a daily stipend while in Pretoria.
• Medical insurance for non-South Africans, is included.
• Visa applications and personal expenses (for example medicine, laundry, internet top-ups, phone calls, etc.) are excluded. The grant also does not make provision for ICT equipment such as laptops, modems, etc. 

CPD programme themes 

1. Setting the context: Libraries, ICTs and research 
2. Leadership and innovation
3. Advanced Information literacy and advanced information retrieval
4. Social media for research discoverability in an academic environment
5. Mobile technology and mobility
6. Managing and organising information
7. Personal Information Management
8. Open Scholarship and Open Science (OS/S) – Publishing
9. Open Scholarship and Open Science – Institutional Repositories.
10. Open Scholarship and Open Science – Understanding and using research data management
11. Digitisation
12. Evaluating website architecture
13. Cloud services and storage
14. Virtual research environments
15. The next generation librarian 

Programme details 

• The four-week CPD programme is offered only in English.
• The programme is divided into distinct modules offering different information and each presented in a different format. The intention hereof is to provide a variety of activities that will be able to stimulate individual and group participation. These include:
  • Formal presentations
  • Workshops
  • Leadership tools
  • External visits
  • Evening speakers
• Lectures and practical training sessions will take place in the training venues in the Merensky Library of the Department of Library Services and the Tswelopele Smart Venue of the School of Information Technology.
• Free Wi-Fi is available in all training venues.
• All participants will be assessed on inter alia a portfolio of completed exercises done during the four-week programme, a group assignment and presentation on the last day of the programme, and a post-programme assignment.
• A minimum average final mark of 50% has to be obtained in order to pass. A final mark of 75% or higher will merit a distinction.
• The certificate of competence will be conferred on a participant who successfully completes the programme. 

Important Dates

Applications open: 28th of September 2015
Applications close: 28th of October 2015
Successful Candidates will be notified by the 30th of November 2015 
The course will commence on the 27st of February 2016

Contact Details 

Carnegie CPD Administration:

Ms Joan de la Haye

Email:  Carnegie-cpd@up.ac.za

Telephone: +27 12 420 2887

Presented in collaboration with the Centre for African Library Leadership.

Funded by: