text: DSpace Community: http://hdl.handle.net/2381/9166 2019-07-21T14:49:29Z 2019-07-21T14:49:29Z Smuggling Silks into Eighteenth-Century Britain: Geography, Perpetrators, and Consumers Farrell, William http://hdl.handle.net/2381/37386 2016-04-20T02:05:30Z 2016-04-19T15:09:07Z Title: Smuggling Silks into Eighteenth-Century Britain: Geography, Perpetrators, and Consumers Authors: Farrell, William Abstract: As part of protectionist policy in eighteenth-century Britain, imported silks were banned from being sold. Although it is known that bans on imported textiles were widely broken, there have been few systematic studies of the contraband trade in silks. Using customs' records, this article shows how smuggling supplied the demand for imported consumer goods. The illegal trade in silk was diverse, bringing in a variety of products from Asia and Europe. The evidence supports a market segmentation analysis of the different products and their consumers. The trade with Asia supplied "populuxe goods" in the form of handkerchiefs that appealed to a broad, middling customer base. These were brought into the country by the East India Company's trading network. By contrast, continental Europe provided contraband for the high-fashion market. These silks were distributed in more informal and personal ways—travelers and diplomats being the main offenders. The official response to these black markets differed, with silks from Europe posing particular problems for enforcement. Finally, this article provides a reassessment of the transnational influences—specifically the relative importance of Asia and Europe—on production and consumption of consumer goods in Britain. 2016-04-19T15:09:07Z Changing the library brand: a case study Wynne, Benjamin B. L. Rowlands, Ian Dixon, Simon Donohue, Neil http://hdl.handle.net/2381/37161 2016-04-07T02:25:16Z 2016-04-06T10:50:27Z Title: Changing the library brand: a case study Authors: Wynne, Benjamin B. L.; Rowlands, Ian; Dixon, Simon; Donohue, Neil Abstract: This article outlines some of the opportunities and challenges of changing what the library "brand" means to academic and professional services staff in the rapidly changing environment of UK higher education, taking the University of Leicester as a case study. It makes a practitioner contribution to the growing body of evidence of how libraries are extending their role and how their customers are responding. It begins by considering the drivers for change in the higher education and scholarly information environments and how these are influencing the development of library services at the University of Leicester. The topics considered include researcher development, Digital Humanities, Open Access, independent learning, and curating the university's own information assets. The impact of these developments is outlined and how an evolving approach to strategic marketing is beginning to change perceptions as the boundaries of the library's role extend. 2016-04-06T10:50:27Z Digging deeper: Developing our capability to understand our users Aitkins, Jo Baines, Heather Donohue, Neil Hannis, Jodie Patel, Dips http://hdl.handle.net/2381/33180 2015-10-07T02:00:40Z 2015-10-06T13:34:14Z Title: Digging deeper: Developing our capability to understand our users Authors: Aitkins, Jo; Baines, Heather; Donohue, Neil; Hannis, Jodie; Patel, Dips Abstract: User satisfaction and the student experience have always been our underpinning raison d'être. Our national student survey library satisfaction rating is 92% and we also hold the customer service excellence award; however, we are never ever complacent. Our LibQUAL survey of 2014 saw increased satisfaction, but it also highlighted that our users felt that we could be better at handling their service problems and making electronic resources available. So how could we dig deeper to understand our users better, and what might we further improve? 2015-10-06T13:34:14Z Introduction: Household and family in past time further explored Schürer, Kevin http://hdl.handle.net/2381/21364 2015-08-11T13:47:30Z 2012-10-24T09:10:04Z Title: Introduction: Household and family in past time further explored Authors: Schürer, Kevin 2012-10-24T09:10:04Z Home-school technologies: Considering the family Fraser, Katie O'Malley, C. Rodden, T. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/21020 2015-08-11T13:51:16Z 2012-10-24T09:09:14Z Title: Home-school technologies: Considering the family Authors: Fraser, Katie; O'Malley, C.; Rodden, T. Abstract: Research has focused on building technologies to support children in their transitions between home and school [9] without a developed sense of how individual families react to such technologies. We interviewed three different families about their reactions to ubiquitous computing technologies designed to support home-school transitions. We found that families were willing to use such technologies to share information among themselves, but that mechanisms for filtering this information would be a challenge for designers. Further, families were reluctant to share information with outsiders, such as teachers. We will discuss the implications of these findings for both future technologies, and further research into their design. 2012-10-24T09:09:14Z Analysis of academic attitudes and existing processes to inform the design of teaching and learning material repositories: A user-centred approach King, M. Loddington, Steve Manuel, S. Oppenheim, C. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/18037 2015-08-11T13:56:03Z 2012-10-24T09:04:42Z Title: Analysis of academic attitudes and existing processes to inform the design of teaching and learning material repositories: A user-centred approach Authors: King, M.; Loddington, Steve; Manuel, S.; Oppenheim, C. Abstract: The last couple of years have brought a rise in the number of institutional repositories throughout the world and within UK Higher Education institutions, with the majority of these repositories being devoted to research output. Repositories containing teaching and learning material are less common and the workflows and business processes surrounding these types of repositories were unclear. The user motivations to contributing to and downloading from repositories were also unknown. This article reports on two studies: a wide-scale survey carried out with HE staff to identify barriers and incentives to contributing to teaching material repositories; and interviews carried out as part of a workflow study at Loughborough University, to identify existing practice in the creation and sharing of teaching material. Confusion is reported with regard to the difference between a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and a repository. However, many different purposes of a teaching and learning material repository are highlighted. This article discusses how repositories could successfully interoperate with other institutional applications and highlights the benefits of teaching material repositories to the user, through scenarios. Recommendations relating to the key aspects of the design and implementation of a repository service are outlined. 2012-10-24T09:04:42Z A case study of the development of WebPA: An online peer-moderated marking tool Loddington, Steve Pond, K. Wilkinson, N. Willmot, P. Wilkinson, N. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/18035 2015-08-11T14:04:16Z 2012-10-24T09:04:41Z Title: A case study of the development of WebPA: An online peer-moderated marking tool Authors: Loddington, Steve; Pond, K.; Wilkinson, N.; Willmot, P.; Wilkinson, N. Abstract: Peer moderation of group work in higher education is rapidly advancing through the use of technological developments and is increasingly being informed by pedagogical research. The highly successful WebPA online assessment system has gone through a number of development phases over its 15-year history and has now evolved into a relatively mature and flexible tool for facilitating group work. This paper presents a case study of the approaches that have been used in the system's development from the technical perspective, and describes how the scope of the project has massively expanded and that the development has been continually backed by a sound and wide-ranging pedagogy. The benefits of using the online system are shown to be underpinned throughout by examples of good practice in the supervision of academic group work. A critical evaluation of the tool and surrounding pedagogical practices highlight future areas for technical expansion. 2012-10-24T09:04:41Z A comparison of academics' attitudes towards the rights protection of their research and teaching materials Gadd, E. Loddington, Steve Oppenheim, C. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/18036 2015-08-11T14:08:48Z 2012-10-24T09:04:41Z Title: A comparison of academics' attitudes towards the rights protection of their research and teaching materials Authors: Gadd, E.; Loddington, Steve; Oppenheim, C. Abstract: This paper compares two JISC-funded surveys. The first was undertaken by the Rights MEtadata for Open Archiving (RoMEO) project and focused on the rights protection required by academic authors sharing their research outputs in an open-access environment. The second was carried out by the Rights and Rewards project and focused on the rights protection required by authors sharing their teaching materials in the same way. The data are compared. The study reports confusion amongst both researchers and teachers as to copyright ownership in the materials they produced. Researchers were more restrictive about the permissions they would allow, but were liberal about terms and conditions. Teachers would allow many permissions, but under stricter terms and conditions. The study concludes that a single rights solution could not be used for both research and teaching materials. 2012-10-24T09:04:41Z Digital repositories ten years on: What do scientific researchers think of them and how do they use them? Nicholas, D. Watkinson, A. Brown, D. Rowlands, Ian Jamali, H. R. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/13766 2015-08-11T14:10:53Z 2012-10-24T08:57:01Z Title: Digital repositories ten years on: What do scientific researchers think of them and how do they use them? Authors: Nicholas, D.; Watkinson, A.; Brown, D.; Rowlands, Ian; Jamali, H. R. Abstract: Digital repositories have been with us for more than a decade, and despite the considerable media and conference attention they engender, we know very little about their use by academics. This paper sets out to address this by reporting on how well they are used, what they are used for, what researchers' think of them, and where they thought they were going. Nearly 1,700 scientific researchers, mostly physical scientists, responded to an international survey of digital repositories, making it the largest survey of its kind. High deposit rates were found and mandates appear to be working, especially with younger researchers. Repositories have made significant inroads in terms of impact and use despite, in the case of institutional repositories, the very limited resources deployed. Subject repositories, like arXiv and PubMed Central, have certainly come of age but institutional repositories probably have not come of age yet although there are drivers in place which, in theory anyway, are moving them towards early adulthood. 2012-10-24T08:57:01Z In their very own words: Authors and scholarly journal publishing Nicholas, D. Jamali, H. R. M. Huntington, P. Rowlands, Ian http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11891 2015-08-11T14:59:43Z 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Title: In their very own words: Authors and scholarly journal publishing Authors: Nicholas, D.; Jamali, H. R. M.; Huntington, P.; Rowlands, Ian Abstract: This paper presents the results of a major investigation by questionnaire of author attitudes towards scholarly publishing, which was funded by the Publisher's Association. Altogether, the views of nearly 4,000 authors were obtained and this paper concerns just those thousand or so authors who accepted the invitation to write freely about their own personal feelings and experiences. Using QSR N6 textual analysis software, their comments were processed and themes extracted. While the rest of the questionnaire, which was formed of closed-question, tick-box type questions, clearly must have had some impact on their thinking, the authors had considerable latitude in regard to what they could say. The paper provides a unique opportunity to hear their views directly. The pressing topics turned out to be (in rough order of concern): the peer-review system, copyright, journal prices, alternative business models for journal publishing, big deals, Elsevier, electronic publishing and digital journals. 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Knowledge production, consumption and impact: Policy indicators for a changing world Rowlands, Ian http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11892 2015-08-11T15:00:44Z 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Title: Knowledge production, consumption and impact: Policy indicators for a changing world Authors: Rowlands, Ian Abstract: This paper provides a high‐level overview of some of the main research themes and preoccupations that are reported in this special ciber issue of Aslib Proceedings: New Information Perspectives. The research activities of ciber are drawn together in the quest for a better understanding of the policy implications of large‐scale knowledge production systems against the backdrop of profound technical change, uncertainty over business models, and new forms of consumer behaviour. The paper presents a series of conceptual frameworks that aim to contextualise ciber's work in bibliometrics, cybermetrics, research evaluation, scholarly communication, user studies, publishing strategies and policy analysis. The transparency that metrics can bring to the evaluation debate and the pivotal role of human information behaviour in determining those metrics, are discussed. 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Scholarly communication in the digital environment: The 2005 survey of journal author behaviour and attitudes Rowlands, Ian Nicholas, D. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11889 2015-08-11T14:57:35Z 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Title: Scholarly communication in the digital environment: The 2005 survey of journal author behaviour and attitudes Authors: Rowlands, Ian; Nicholas, D. 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Open access journal publishing: The views of some of the world's senior authors Nicholas, D. Huntington, P. Rowlands, Ian http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11890 2015-08-11T14:58:11Z 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Title: Open access journal publishing: The views of some of the world's senior authors Authors: Nicholas, D.; Huntington, P.; Rowlands, Ian 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Journal diffusion factors: A new approach to measuring research influence Rowlands, Ian http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11893 2015-08-11T15:01:08Z 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Title: Journal diffusion factors: A new approach to measuring research influence Authors: Rowlands, Ian 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z What do faculty and students really think about e-books? Rowlands, Ian Nicholas, D. Jamali, H. R. Huntington, P. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11879 2015-08-12T08:55:09Z 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Title: What do faculty and students really think about e-books? Authors: Rowlands, Ian; Nicholas, D.; Jamali, H. R.; Huntington, P. Abstract: Purpose: – The purpose of this article is to report on a large‐scale survey that was carried out to assess academic users' awareness, perceptions and existing levels of use of e‐books. The survey also seeks to find out about the purposes to which electronic books were put, and to obtain an understanding of the most effective library marketing and communication channels. Design/methodology/approach: – An e‐mail invitation to participate in the survey was distributed to all UCL staff and students (approximately 27,000) in November 2006, and 1,818 completions were received, an effective response rate of at least 6.7 per cent. Statistical analyses were carried out on the data using Software Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings: – The survey findings point to various ways in which user uptake and acceptance of e‐books may be encouraged. Book discovery behaviour, a key issue for publishers and librarians in both print and electronic environments, emerges as a critical focus for service delivery and enhancement. Originality/value: – The survey is part of an action research project, CIBER's SuperBook, that will further investigate the issues raised in this initial benchmarking survey using deep log analysis and qualitative methods. The paper partly fills the gap in the literature on e‐books which has mainly focused on usage and not the users. 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z The missing link: Journal usage metrics Rowlands, Ian Nicholas, D. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11881 2015-08-12T09:01:51Z 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Title: The missing link: Journal usage metrics Authors: Rowlands, Ian; Nicholas, D. Abstract: Purpose – The aim of this short communication is to contribute to a growing debate about how we can measure the "quality" of journals. More specifically, the paper argues the need for a new range of standardized indicators based on reader (rather than author‐facing) metrics. Design/methodology/approach – This is a thought experiment, outlining the kinds of usage indicators that could be developed alongside the traditional ISI measures of impact, immediacy and obsolescence. Findings – The time is ripe to develop a set of standardised measures of journal usage that are as easy to understand, and as universally accepted, as ISI's current citation‐based indicators. By linking article publication year to full text downloads, this article argues that very considerable value could be extracted from what, in many cases, is almost uninterpretable data. Practical implications – Indicators in the form proposed could find a wide variety of applications, from helping librarians to assess the potential value‐for‐money of bundled journal deals, to helping policy‐makers and scholarly communication researchers to better understand the dynamics of knowledge diffusion. Originality/value – The development of standardized usage factors in the form suggested here would radically shift the centre of gravity in bibliometrics research from the author to the reader. This remains largely unexplored territory. 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z On the tips of their tongues: Authors and their views on scholarly publishing Nicholas, D. Jamali, H. R. Rowlands, Ian http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11884 2015-08-12T08:51:08Z 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Title: On the tips of their tongues: Authors and their views on scholarly publishing Authors: Nicholas, D.; Jamali, H. R.; Rowlands, Ian Abstract: The paper presents the results of an international questionnaire survey of the attitudes of senior authors towards scholarly publishing. It was commissioned by the Publishers Association (PA) and the International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM). A total of 5,513 authors participated. The questionnaire included 22 closed questions and one open-ended question that 1,943 authors used to freely express their views. Using QSR N6 textual analysis software, their comments were processed and themes extracted. The main concerns of the authors were the peer-review process, faster publishing, better access to journals, journal prices, and issues related to electronic publishing. 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Research productivity and the journals system: A study of immunology and microbiology authors Rowlands, Ian Olivieri, R. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11882 2015-08-12T08:59:20Z 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Title: Research productivity and the journals system: A study of immunology and microbiology authors Authors: Rowlands, Ian; Olivieri, R. Abstract: This paper considers the role that the journals system plays in supporting scientific productivity: a critical issue for publishers, librarians and research managers at a time of considerable upheaval in scholarly communication, notably the rise of open access models. The survey findings presented here support the unfashionable view that reader open access is something of a non-issue for the two author communities studied: corresponding authors in immunology and microbiology. Other issues, notably how financial and human resources are organised and deployed appear to be much more serious issues for biomedical researchers. The key policy implication of this work is that Europe could improve its research performance by listening more carefully to its scientists and harnessing those resources more effectively. 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Ideas on creating a consumer market for scholarly journals Nicholas, D. Huntington, P. Dobrowolski, T. Rowlands, Ian http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11883 2015-08-12T08:57:13Z 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Title: Ideas on creating a consumer market for scholarly journals Authors: Nicholas, D.; Huntington, P.; Dobrowolski, T.; Rowlands, Ian Abstract: Based upon the CIBER surveys of the behaviour of scholars using research journals online the authors propose a market structure for the publication of research in which payments would be made at the article level by individual users – using credits supplied by their institutions or research funders – broadly along the lines of the iTunes model. 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Revisiting 'obsolescence' and journal article 'decay' through usage data: An analysis of digital journal use by year of publication Nicholas, D. Huntington, P. Dobrowolski, T. Jamali M H. R. Rowlands, Ian Polydoratou, P. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11887 2015-08-12T09:03:15Z 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Title: Revisiting 'obsolescence' and journal article 'decay' through usage data: An analysis of digital journal use by year of publication Authors: Nicholas, D.; Huntington, P.; Dobrowolski, T.; Jamali M H. R.; Rowlands, Ian; Polydoratou, P. 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Electronic journals and user behavior: A review of recent research Rowlands, Ian http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11880 2015-08-12T09:00:18Z 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Title: Electronic journals and user behavior: A review of recent research Authors: Rowlands, Ian 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Diffusion factors Frandsen, T. F. Rousseau, R. Rowlands, Ian http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11885 2015-08-12T09:05:50Z 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Title: Diffusion factors Authors: Frandsen, T. F.; Rousseau, R.; Rowlands, Ian Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to clarify earlier work on journal diffusion metrics. Classical journal indicators such as the Garfield impact factor do not measure the breadth of influence across the literature of a particular journal title. As a new approach to measuring research influence, the study complements these existing metrics with a series of formally described diffusion factors. Design/methodology/approach – Using a publication‐citation matrix as an organising construct, the paper develops formal descriptions of two forms of diffusion metric: "relative diffusion factors" and "journal diffusion factors" in both their synchronous and diachronous forms. It also provides worked examples for selected library and information science and economics journals, plus a sample of health information papers to illustrate their construction and use. Findings – Diffusion factors capture different aspects of the citation reception process than existing bibliometric measures. The paper shows that diffusion factors can be applied at the whole journal level or for sets of articles and that they provide a richer evidence base for citation analyses than traditional measures alone. Research limitations/implications – The focus of this paper is on clarifying the concepts underlying diffusion factors and there is unlimited scope for further work to apply these metrics to much larger and more comprehensive data sets than has been attempted here. Practical implications – These new tools extend the range of tools available for bibliometric, and possibly webometric, analysis. Diffusion factors might find particular application in studies where the research questions focus on the dynamic aspects of innovation and knowledge transfer. Originality/value – This paper will be of interest to those with theoretical interests in informetric distributions as well as those interested in science policy and innovation studies. 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Emerald authorship data, Lotka's law and research productivity Rowlands, Ian http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11888 2015-08-12T09:06:46Z 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Title: Emerald authorship data, Lotka's law and research productivity Authors: Rowlands, Ian Abstract: Purpose – This paper offers a practical insight into the application of Lotka's law of author productivity to the question of how likely it is that an author will return to a particular publisher (rather than make another contribution to a subject literature, which is its usual application). The question of author loyalty, especially repeat visits, is one which is of great interest to publishers. Design/methodology/approach – This paper shows, possibly for the first time, that the author productivity distribution predicted by Lotka's law for subject literatures also holds for publisher aggregates, in this case, all Emerald authors. Findings – The ideas presented here are speculative and programmatic: they raise questions and provide a robust intellectual framework for further research into the determinants of author loyalty, as seen from the publisher side. Practical implications – The implications for commissioning editors and marketing departments in journal publishing houses are that repeat visiting authors are indeed scarce commodities, not necessarily because of barriers put in their way by publishers, but because research production is very asymmetrically skewed in favour of a small productive élite. Originality/value – By analysing survey data it should be possible, within very broad parameters, to identify clusters of say high, medium and low research activity authors. This would provide insight into potential "hot spots" of future publishing intent and, in the case of dense and overworked research areas, early warning as to when to start looking elsewhere for future articles. 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z The changing scholarly communication landscape: An international survey of senior researchers Rowlands, Ian Nicholas, D. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11886 2015-08-12T09:04:58Z 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Title: The changing scholarly communication landscape: An international survey of senior researchers Authors: Rowlands, Ian; Nicholas, D. Abstract: This survey reports on the behaviour, attitudes, and perceptions of 5,513 senior journal authors on a range of issues relating to the scholarly communication system. 2012-10-24T08:54:24Z Google Generation II: Web behaviour experiments with the BBC Nicholas, D. Rowlands, Ian Clark, D. Williams, P. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11860 2015-08-12T09:08:44Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: Google Generation II: Web behaviour experiments with the BBC Authors: Nicholas, D.; Rowlands, Ian; Clark, D.; Williams, P. Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on continuing research undertaken on the way the Google Generation behave on the internet and to compare this with an earlier highly publicised study by the paper's authors. Design/methodology/approach – This research use a televised practical experiment and a remote web global test incorporating search, working memory and multi‐tasking experiments. Findings – The Google Generation appears to behave very differently from older generations. By their own admission they are less confident about their searching prowess and this is also demonstrated by the fact that they viewed fewer pages, visited fewer domains and undertook fewer searches. Also, tellingly, their search statements were much more the product of cut and paste. The Google Generation also have poorer working memories and are less competent at multi‐tasking, both of which may have implications for researching in an online environment. Originality/value – The paper introduces of multi‐tasking and cognitive measurement in evaluating and describing information‐seeking behaviour; comparing the web behaviour of young and old; the first time this has been shown on public television. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Social media use in the research workflow Rowlands, Ian Nicholas, D. Russell, B. Canty, N. Watkinson, A. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11859 2015-08-12T09:07:57Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: Social media use in the research workflow Authors: Rowlands, Ian; Nicholas, D.; Russell, B.; Canty, N.; Watkinson, A. Abstract: The paper reports on a major international survey, covering 2,000 researchers, which investigated the use of social media in the research workflow. The topic is the second to emerge from the Charleston Observatory, the research adjunct of the popular annual Charleston Conference (http://www.katina.info/conference/). The study shows that social media have found serious application at all points of the research lifecycle, from identifying research opportunities to disseminating findings at the end. The three most popular social media tools in a research setting were those for collaborative authoring, conferencing, and scheduling meetings. The most popular brands used tend to be mainstream anchor technologies or 'household brands', such as Twitter. Age is a poor predictor of social media use in a research context, and humanities and social science scholars avail themselves most of social media. Journals, conference proceedings, and edited books remain the core traditional means of disseminating research, with institutional repositories highly valued as well, but social media have become important complementary channels for disseminating and discovering research. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z E-journals, researchers - and the new librarians Nicholas, D. Rowlands, Ian Williams, P. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11861 2015-08-12T09:09:30Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: E-journals, researchers - and the new librarians Authors: Nicholas, D.; Rowlands, Ian; Williams, P. Abstract: This paper provides the results of a two-year investigation into the use of e-journals by the UK research community. Log analysis, questionnaires, interviews, and observation were used to collect the information. The results are presented in a FAQ format to make the key findings accessible. The main findings are that journals have become central to most disciplines, and that the e-form has become the prime means of access. The results for history suggest that the old scholarly communication mantras (scientists primarily communicate through articles, historians through monographs) are rapidly breaking down. Indeed, all researchers seem addicted to journal content. Research without this resource now seems unthinkable; journals are a researcher's lifeblood. Gateway services, hugely popular in science, are re-intermediating the broken chain between publisher and reader; they are the new librarians. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Social media use in the research workflow Nicholas, D. Rowlands, Ian http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11858 2015-08-12T09:10:35Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: Social media use in the research workflow Authors: Nicholas, D.; Rowlands, Ian Abstract: The paper reports on a major international questionnaire survey that investigated the use of social media in the research workflow. The topic is the second to emerge from the Charleston Observatory. The study of more than 2000 researchers shows that social media impact on all points of the research lifecycle, from identifying research opportunities to disseminating findings at the end. The three most popular social media tools in a research setting were those for collaborative authoring, conferencing, and scheduling meetings. The most popular brands used tend to be mainstream anchor technologies or 'household brands', like Twitter and Skype. Age is a poor predictor of social media use in a research context and scientists avail themselves most of social media. Journals, conference proceedings and edited books remain the core traditional means of disseminating research, with institutional repositories highly valued as well, but social media has become an important complementary channel for disseminating and discovering research. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z The attitudes and behaviours of illegal downloaders Williams, P. Nicholas, D. Rowlands, Ian http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11865 2015-08-12T09:13:49Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: The attitudes and behaviours of illegal downloaders Authors: Williams, P.; Nicholas, D.; Rowlands, Ian Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to summarise and evaluate the literature on digital consumer behaviour and attitudes towards digital piracy. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a review and synthesis of the academic literature on the subject, using the authors' unique "pro‐forma" approach to the evaluation of individual papers. Findings – A major limitation in the studies reported became apparent. They are almost exclusively concerned with the behaviours and attitudes of young people. There is a dearth of studies looking at demographic differences, and also a lack of longitudinal work. Given these constraints, the literature strongly suggests that social and situational factors impact on the likelihood of illegally obtaining digital content more than ethical considerations. Anonymity is a strong indicator, "de‐individualising" people and releasing them from traditional societal constraints and making the digital world far different from the physical one. The literature is ambiguous on whether punishment acts as a deterrent. Practical implications – The main point that comes out of these studies is that the digital world is not the same as the physical world. It is changing basic assumptions about the idea of ownership, sharing, and copying content. Laws prohibiting all unauthorised downloading potentially criminalise millions of people, so new and creative business models are needed to resolve the problem. Originality/value – The authors believe this to be the first systematic review of current literature in this area since the issue became topical with the Pirate Bay trial and the Government's Digital Britain report. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z E-journal usage and impact in scholarly research: A review of the literature Williams, P. Nicholas, D. Rowlands, Ian http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11862 2015-08-12T09:11:17Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: E-journal usage and impact in scholarly research: A review of the literature Authors: Williams, P.; Nicholas, D.; Rowlands, Ian Abstract: This article reviews the literature dealing with scholarly information behavior around the use of e-journals. Its aims are to examine the use and impact the availability of e-journals has had on the community of scholars, mainly from the UK, but looking also at literature from other countries. Results demonstrated the huge rise in availability and take-up of e-journals, although there are mixed findings regarding the fate of the print format. Access to e-literature is dominated by keyword searching, with subject-specific (e.g., chemical abstracts); or general academic (Web of Knowledge) gateways and search engines (typically Google) all used above publishers platforms, alerts, and other ways to find literature. The value of e-journals has been shown to be high, both in terms of in gaining new insights and helping with teaching, and in measure of "Contingent valuation": the time or cost incurred by not having provision. Barriers to e-journal use included non-purchase of titles by the library and years or volumes not available electronically. Although many disciplinary differences exist, due to their differing natures and means of scholarly communication, nevertheless, the review concludes that it is now unthinkable for researchers to work without the convenience and comprehensiveness that e-journals provide them. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Diversity in the e-journal use and information-seeking behaviour of UK researchers Nicholas, D. Rowlands, Ian Huntington, P. Jamali, H. R. Salazar, P. H. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11867 2015-08-12T10:12:29Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: Diversity in the e-journal use and information-seeking behaviour of UK researchers Authors: Nicholas, D.; Rowlands, Ian; Huntington, P.; Jamali, H. R.; Salazar, P. H. Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present some of the results of the project "Evaluating the usage and impact of e‐journals in the UK". The particular research reported here evaluated the use of the ScienceDirect journals database with regard to Life Sciences, Economics, Chemistry, Earth & Environmental Sciences and Physics by ten major UK research institutions. The aim of the study is to investigate researchers' digital behaviour, and to ascertain whether their use and behaviours varied by subjects and disciplines, or in relation to the institutions in which they worked. Design/methodology/approach – Raw logs for ScienceDirect were obtained for the period January to April 2007, were subject to deep log techniques and analysed using the Software Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings – Typically, 5 per cent of the ScienceDirect journals viewed accounted for a third to half of all use. A high proportion of researchers entered the ScienceDirect site via a third‐party site, and this was especially so in the case of the Life Sciences and in the highest‐ranked research institutions. There were significant institutional and subject differences in information‐seeking behaviour. In the most research‐intensive institutions, per capita journal use was highest and their users spent much less time on each visit. There were significant differences of the order of 100‐300 per cent in the age of material viewed between subjects and institutions. Just four months after ScienceDirect content was opened to Google indexing, a third of traffic to the site's Physics journals came via that route. Originality/value – The research is one of the very few studies to investigate subject and institutional differences with regard to the information seeking and use of UK researchers, something UK academic librarians should particularly welcome. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Researchers' E-journal use and information seeking behaviour Nicholas, D. Williams, P. Rowlands, Ian Jamali, H. R. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11864 2015-08-12T10:16:20Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: Researchers' E-journal use and information seeking behaviour Authors: Nicholas, D.; Williams, P.; Rowlands, Ian; Jamali, H. R. Abstract: This paper presents the results of the second phase of a Research Information Network study, which sought to establish the impact of e-journals on the scholarly behaviour of researchers in the UK. The first phase of the project was a deep log analysis of the usage and information seeking behaviour of researchers in connection with the ScienceDirect and Oxford Journals databases. This paper reports on the second phase, which sought to explain and provide context for the deep log data by taking the questions raised by the quantitative study to the research community via interview, questionnaire and observation. Nine major research institutions took part, six subjects were covered and the behaviour of about 1400 people was analyzed. Findings show that academic journals have become central to all disciplines and that the e-form is the prime means of access. Most importantly the study demonstrates that computer usage logs provide an accurate picture of online behaviour. High levels of gateway service use point to the re-intermediating of the broken chain between publisher and reader. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z The economic downturn and libraries: An international survey Rowlands, Ian Nicholas, D. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11868 2015-08-12T10:17:40Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: The economic downturn and libraries: An international survey Authors: Rowlands, Ian; Nicholas, D. Abstract: There is some concern that libraries, particularly university libraries, are facing a very bleak future because of the word-wide economic downturn. Much of the evidence regarding the economic problems and consequent impacts is parochial, far from robust, and there is a suspicion of stakeholders talking the situation up. This paper presents robust and independent evidence on the extent to which libraries from around the world are experiencing financial hardship, the impacts that result, and what the future looks like. Comparative analyses are made on the grounds of country, sector, and size of institution. The particular situation of university libraries is highlighted and the implications of the findings are examined from the perspective of scholarly publishers. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z The impact of the economic downturn on libraries: With special reference to university libraries Nicholas, D. Rowlands, Ian Jubb, M. Jamali, H. R. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11863 2015-08-12T10:14:40Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: The impact of the economic downturn on libraries: With special reference to university libraries Authors: Nicholas, D.; Rowlands, Ian; Jubb, M.; Jamali, H. R. Abstract: Evidence is presented of the extent to which libraries from around the world are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the world-wide economic downturn. Comparative analyses are provides on the grounds of country, sector and size of institution. The article concentrates on the situation of UK and US university libraries and is based on the findings of two research projects: (1) a global questionnaire survey to which more than 800 institutions responded; (2) a focus group study involving 16 UK university librarians. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Viewing and reading behaviour in a virtual environment: The full-text download and what can be read into it Nicholas, D. Huntington, P. Jamali, H. R. Rowlands, Ian Dobrowolski, T. Tenopir, C. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11876 2015-08-12T10:27:12Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: Viewing and reading behaviour in a virtual environment: The full-text download and what can be read into it Authors: Nicholas, D.; Huntington, P.; Jamali, H. R.; Rowlands, Ian; Dobrowolski, T.; Tenopir, C. Abstract: Purpose – This article aims to focus on usage data in respect to full‐text downloads of journal articles, which is considered an important usage (satisfaction) metric by librarians and publishers. The purpose is to evaluate the evidence regarding full‐text viewing by pooling together data on the full‐text viewing of tens of thousands of users studied as part of a number of investigations of e‐journal databases conducted during the Virtual Scholar research programme. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the web logs of a number of electronic journal libraries including OhioLINK and ScienceDirect using Deep Log Analysis, which is a more sophisticated form of transactional log analysis. The frequency, characteristics and diversity of full‐text viewing are examined. The article also features an investigation into the time spent online viewing full‐text articles in order to get a clearer understanding of the significance of full‐text viewing, especially in regard to reading. Findings – The main findings are that there is a great deal of variety amongst scholars in their full‐text viewing habits and that a large proportion of views are very cursory in nature, although there is survey evidence to suggest that reading goes on offline. Originality/value – This is the first time that full‐text viewing evidence is studied on such a large scale. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Science journal editors' views on publication ethics: results of an international survey Wager, E. Fiack, S. Graf, C. Robinson, A. Rowlands, Ian http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11871 2015-08-12T10:20:07Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: Science journal editors' views on publication ethics: results of an international survey Authors: Wager, E.; Fiack, S.; Graf, C.; Robinson, A.; Rowlands, Ian Abstract: Background: Breaches of publication ethics such as plagiarism, data fabrication and redundant publication are recognised as forms of research misconduct that can undermine the scientific literature. We surveyed journal editors to determine their views about a range of publication ethics issues. Methods: Questionnaire sent to 524 editors-in-chief of Wiley-Blackwell science journals asking about the severity and frequency of 16 ethical issues at their journals, their confidence in handling such issues, and their awareness and use of guidelines. Results: Responses were obtained from 231 editors (44%), of whom 48% edited healthcare journals. The general level of concern about the 16 issues was low, with mean severity scores of <1 (on a scale of 0–3) for all but one. The issue of greatest concern (mean score 1.19) was redundant publication. Most editors felt confident in handling the issues, with <15% feeling "not at all confident" for all but one of the issues (gift authorship, 22% not confident). Most editors believed such problems occurred less than once a year and >20% of the editors stated that 12 of the 16 items never occurred at their journal. However, 13%–47% did not know the frequency of the problems. Awareness and use of guidelines was generally low. Most editors were unaware of all except other journals' instructions. Conclusions: Most editors of science journals seem not very concerned about publication ethics and believe that misconduct occurs only rarely in their journals. Many editors are unfamiliar with available guidelines but would welcome more guidance or training. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z UK scholarly e-book usage: A landmark survey Nicholas, D. Rowlands, Ian Clark, D. Huntington, P. Jamali, H. R. Ollé, C. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11875 2015-08-12T10:28:49Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: UK scholarly e-book usage: A landmark survey Authors: Nicholas, D.; Rowlands, Ian; Clark, D.; Huntington, P.; Jamali, H. R.; Ollé, C. Abstract: Purpose – This JISC funded UK National E‐Books Observatory study is a benchmarking survey of e‐book usage and perceptions in more than 120 participating universities. The paper aims to present the results that investigated: use of e‐books in general (methods of obtaining e‐books, reasons for using, viewing/reading behaviour in connection with e‐books); use of e‐books provided by the library; use of JISC collection texts (use and awareness); use of the library and print material in general. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on an online survey which was conducted between 18 January and 1 March 2008, over which period 22,437 full or partial responses were received. Findings – The study shows that e‐book penetration is very strong (61.8 per cent of all students are already using them in connection with their scholarly work, as teachers or students), so the e‐book revolution has already happened but clearly it has some way to go. Originality/value – The paper presents the results of the biggest survey of its kind ever conducted, which represents a huge advance in one's knowledge of e‐book use on a national scale. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Online use and information seeking behaviour: Institutional and subject comparisons of UK researchers Nicholas, D. Clark, D. Rowlands, Ian Jamali, H. R. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11870 2015-08-12T10:22:45Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: Online use and information seeking behaviour: Institutional and subject comparisons of UK researchers Authors: Nicholas, D.; Clark, D.; Rowlands, Ian; Jamali, H. R. Abstract: The paper reports on the results of the project 'Evaluating the usage and impact of e-journals in the UK'. Using deep log analysis techniques, we evaluated the use of the Oxford Journals database in regard to life sciences, economics and history by 10 major UK research institutions. The aim of the study was to investigate researchers' digital behaviour, and to ascertain whether it varied by subjects and disciplines, or in relation to the institutions. The findings revealed significant subject and institutional differences. Life scientists were the biggest users. Economists made the greatest use of abstracts. Historians proved to be the most active searchers. Research intensive universities were characterized by high volume use and short session times, light sessions, and sessions which utilized few of the search functions available. Open access journals featured strongly in the ranked lists of life sciences and history; and Google was an extremely popular means of accessing journal content, especially so in the case of historians. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z E-textbook use, information seeking behaviour and its impact: Case study business and management Nicholas, D. Rowlands, Ian Jamali, H. R. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11869 2015-08-12T10:25:11Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: E-textbook use, information seeking behaviour and its impact: Case study business and management Authors: Nicholas, D.; Rowlands, Ian; Jamali, H. R. Abstract: This paper evaluates the e-book usage and information seeking and reading behaviour of thousands of business and management students. Comparisons are made with students in other subjects. The data largely come from the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC)-funded National e-Books Observatory (NeBO) project as well as the JISC User Behaviour Observational Study. The main sources of data were: a) transactional logs obtained from the MyiLibrary platform regarding 127 UK universities; b) questionnaire data for more than 5000 students and staff at these universities; c) hard-copy library circulation and retail sales data; and d) focus groups held with 50 staff and students from selected universities. The main findings were that e-textbooks can prove to be extremely popular and widely used, mainly for obtaining snippets of information and for fact finding. The main reason for using e-textbooks was ease of access and convenience. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Scholarly e-books: The views of 16,000 academics: Results from the JISC National E-Book Observatory Jamali, H. R. Nicholas, D. Rowlands, Ian http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11872 2015-08-12T10:31:54Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: Scholarly e-books: The views of 16,000 academics: Results from the JISC National E-Book Observatory Authors: Jamali, H. R.; Nicholas, D.; Rowlands, Ian Abstract: Purpose – This study, a part of JISC‐funded UK National E‐Books Observatory, aims to find out about the perspective of students and academics, the main e‐book users, on e‐books. Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides an analysis of two open‐ended questions about e‐books, contained in a UK national survey conducted between 18 January and 1 March 2008. The survey obtained a response from more than 20,000 academic staff and students; 16,000 free‐text responses were obtained to these two questions. Findings – The study discloses that convenience associated with online access along with searchability was the biggest advantage of e‐books. The study shows a potential market for e‐textbooks; however, e‐books have yet to become more student‐friendly by improving features such as printing and screenreading. Originality/value – This is the biggest survey of its kind ever conducted and it improves one's knowledge of what the academic community thinks of e‐books. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Student digital information-seeking behaviour in context Nicholas, D. Huntington, P. Rowlands, Ian Fieldhouse, M. Jamali, H. R. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11873 2015-08-12T10:36:38Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: Student digital information-seeking behaviour in context Authors: Nicholas, D.; Huntington, P.; Rowlands, Ian; Fieldhouse, M.; Jamali, H. R. Abstract: Purpose – This study provides evidence on the actual information‐seeking behaviour of students in a digital scholarly environment, not what they thought they did. It also compares student information‐seeking behaviour with that of other academic communities, and, in some cases, for practitioners. Design/methodology/approach – Data were gathered as part of CIBER's ongoing Virtual Scholar programme. In particular log data from two digital journals libraries, Blackwell Synergy and OhioLINK, and one e‐book collection (Oxford Scholarship Online) are utilized. Findings – The study showed a distinctive form of information‐seeking behaviour associated with students and differences between them and other members of the academic community. For example, students constituted the biggest users in terms of sessions and pages viewed, and they were more likely to undertake longer online sessions. Undergraduates and postgraduates were the most likely users of library links to access scholarly databases, suggesting an important "hot link" role for libraries. Originality/value – Few studies have focused on the actual (rather than perceived) information‐seeking behaviour of students. The study fills that gap. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z The role and future of the monograph in arts and humanities research Williams, P. Stevenson, I. Nicholas, D. Watkinson, A. Rowlands, Ian http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11874 2015-08-12T10:34:17Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: The role and future of the monograph in arts and humanities research Authors: Williams, P.; Stevenson, I.; Nicholas, D.; Watkinson, A.; Rowlands, Ian Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on a project undertaken at University College London (UCL) examining the role and value of the academic monograph – considering continuing decline in sales and usage – and its possible survival in the digital age. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative approach was adopted, in which 17 arts and humanities academics were interviewed in‐depth on their experiences and views. Findings – The monograph continues to be of great value in the arts and humanities field, and is seen as essential for career progression. Much concern was expressed about the decline in quality of this and other forms of writing, with pressures of the university Research Assessment Exercise foremost in contributing to this decline. Reservations were expressed about moving towards digital versions of the monograph, although print‐on‐demand was considered to be a viable option to enable the continuing publication of specialist works. Originality/value – This is the first in‐depth study of the role, value and future of the monograph from the viewpoint of the scholar, and so gives a unique insight into the scholarly communication behaviour of arts and humanities researchers. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Understanding Information Behaviour: How Do Students and Faculty Find Books? Rowlands, Ian Nicholas, D. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11877 2015-08-12T10:38:13Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: Understanding Information Behaviour: How Do Students and Faculty Find Books? Authors: Rowlands, Ian; Nicholas, D. Abstract: Faculty and students at University College London (UCL) were polled online in November 2006 as part of a wider investigation into the impact of e-books in UK higher education. One of the survey questions probed the strategies that members of the academic community use to identify the conventional printed books that they need for work, study, or leisure. This article reports on a quasi-experimental statistical investigation of the survey findings for this single question. Multivariate data analysis suggests that book discovery is very highly structured, with gender, subject discipline, and academic status offering powerful predictors of certain underlying behavioural strategies. A model of book discovery strategies is developed and this is used to help segment the survey population into those with high or low levels of dependence on formal library systems or nonlibrary-based solutions. The paper concludes with a discussion of some of the practical implications of these findings for librarians, publishers, and booksellers. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Creating a consumer market for scholarly journals Nicholas, D. Huntington, P. Dobrowolski, T. Rowlands, Ian http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11878 2015-08-12T10:40:37Z 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z Title: Creating a consumer market for scholarly journals Authors: Nicholas, D.; Huntington, P.; Dobrowolski, T.; Rowlands, Ian Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose an alternative method for individuals to obtain documents using credits supplied by their institution to purchase at article level. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on the experience and knowledge gained from the extensive work that CIBER has done in analyzing the usage of large‐scale journal databases. Findings – It was found that such an approach has many advantages over the current librarian‐driven process. Originality/value – Digital content is variously neglected, abused, free, and expensive. This paper is as much about stimulating some new thinking in this important area as about setting out a new scholarly communication market model. 2012-10-24T08:54:23Z No fate but what we make? Current trends and challenges in the UK document supply community Johnson, GJ http://hdl.handle.net/2381/11805 2012-10-24T08:54:21Z 2012-10-24T08:54:21Z Title: No fate but what we make? Current trends and challenges in the UK document supply community Authors: Johnson, GJ 2012-10-24T08:54:21Z UKCoRR – At the Heart of the UK Open Access Repository Landscape Johnson, Gareth J. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/10872 2012-07-23T08:44:18Z 2012-07-03T11:39:34Z Title: UKCoRR – At the Heart of the UK Open Access Repository Landscape Authors: Johnson, Gareth J. 2012-07-03T11:39:34Z Social Media, Academic Research and the Role of University Libraries Nicholas, David Watkinson, Anthony Rowlands, Ian Jubb, Michael http://hdl.handle.net/2381/10858 2012-06-27T01:01:23Z 2012-06-26T11:27:22Z Title: Social Media, Academic Research and the Role of University Libraries Authors: Nicholas, David; Watkinson, Anthony; Rowlands, Ian; Jubb, Michael Description: NOTICE: this is the author's version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Academic Librarianship. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Academic Librarianship, [37 (5), pp. 373-375, (2011)] DOI#10.1016/j.acalib.2011.06.023 2012-06-26T11:27:22Z eTheses: Mandates, Embargoes, Compliance, Impact and Sanctions - The results of a brief survey Johnson, Gareth J. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/10803 2012-06-08T01:01:25Z 2012-06-07T10:06:56Z Title: eTheses: Mandates, Embargoes, Compliance, Impact and Sanctions - The results of a brief survey Authors: Johnson, Gareth J. Abstract: Following a discussion with the Director of Library Services and the Graduate Dean a brief questionnaire was mounted on Survey Monkey and distributed to UKCoRR members. In total 25 institutions responded. To ensure disambiguation of answers respondents were asked to include details of their organisation Specific answers are anonymised as a condition of the openness of the responses. 2012-06-07T10:06:56Z Survivors Guide to Conferences Johnson, Gareth J. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/10184 2012-03-14T02:01:39Z 2012-03-13T14:52:55Z Title: Survivors Guide to Conferences Authors: Johnson, Gareth J. 2012-03-13T14:52:55Z The Unspoken Rules of Blogging Johnson, Gareth J. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/10177 2012-03-13T02:01:46Z 2012-03-12T16:39:37Z Title: The Unspoken Rules of Blogging Authors: Johnson, Gareth J. 2012-03-12T16:39:37Z


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Or download our app "Guided Lessons by Education.com" on your device's app store.
Make Your Own Piñata!
A longtime staple of birthday parties, the candy-filled piñata is a part of everyone's childhood. Now, your family can make its own piñata! It's a great way to practise fine motor skills, follow directions, and have fun. Plus, you can be creative about what goes inside, whether it's candy, toys, or clues to a treasure hunt!
What You Need:
- Measuring cups
- Scissors
- Mixing bowl
- 1 balloon
- 6-8 cups water
- Finger paint
- 3-4 cups flour
- Masking tape
- Newspaper
- Large spoon
- Piñata fillers such as candy, toys, etc.
What You Do:
- Have your child use safety scissors to cut newspaper into several long strips. Then blow up the balloon and set these materials aside for later.
- Make the papier-mâché mixture. Mix 1 cup flour with 2 cups water in a mixing bowl with a large spoon. Continue this until you have mixed about 4 cups of flour and 8 cups of water and get a gluey consistency. If using a larger balloon, you may need more mixture. You can add a few tablespoons of salt to prevent molding.
- Have your child help you dip the newspaper strips into the mixture and place around the balloon. Continue until the balloon is covered in strips. Let dry.
- After the piñata is dry, help your child to paint it using fingerpaint. You can decorate the pinata as a (roundish) animal, such as a bumblebee, pig, or tropical fish, or simply make a creative design. Let dry.
- After the paint is completely dry and the paper has hardened, use scissors to cut a small door in one side of the piñata, and puncture the balloon. Next, fill the piñata with candy or toys. Close the door and tape it tightly shut.
Now you're ready to party! The kids will love having friends or family over to break the piñata with a bat. It's a fun way to exercise creativity and practise and fine motor skills, so get started!

subset: commoncrawl


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Many Happy Returns: A Parent's Guide
Aug 9, 2006 4:00 AM EDT
New characters! New episodes! New seasons! Check out our helpful guide to our favorite returning kids shows on broadcast, cable and satellite. PreschoolFirst up, Sesame Street (PBS) celebrates the start of Season 37 next week by adding the magical… Read more


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Do you ever play Xbox 360 and wish you had a controller to match the spinning gold rims on your decked out automobile? Well, if you do – you are in luck! Microsoft announced today via Major Nelson's Blog that an Xbox 360 special edition chrome series gold wireless controller (wow, that is a mouthful) will be released in August for $54.99.
The special edition controller will feature Microsoft's new transforming D-pad and will be available in the United States and select regions worldwide. Customers in the USA will have to purchase the controller exclusively at GameStop and Microsoft Store locations.
If worse comes to worse and you don't like the controller after you purchase it, you can always melt down the chrome gold finish to use as a faux tooth.
Let us know what you think about this work of… art.
Source: Major Nelson's Blog


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Inspired by "Capture The Canyon" from collector Julie Hendricksen
Quiltmaker: Laura Boehnke
Tonga Batiks from Timeless Treasures were used to make this bright nine-blocks wall hanging. By alternating the values of batiks in the blocks, the quiltmaker created a secondary Nine-Patch pattern.
Plan the Quilt
This quilt uses two fabrics in each block. Five blocks are medium/dark, and four blocks are medium/light which creates a secondary Nine-Patch design. Want to make a scrappier version of this quilt? View a slide show of ideas for fabric close-ups and different block versions. Or, download this project for ideas using multiple fabrics in each block. For a scrappy version, you'll need 729—1-3/4" squares total (81 for each of the nine—11-1/4" square–finished blocks).
5—1/4-yard pieces assorted dark batiks in purple and blue (blocks)
9—1/4-yard pieces assorted medium batiks in blue, red, green, orange, and purple (blocks)
4—1/4-yard pieces assorted light batiks in yellow, pink, and green (blocks)
5/8 yard blue–and–black batik (border, binding)
2-1/2 yards backing fabric
46" square batting
Finished quilt: 39-1/4" square
Finished block: 11-1/4" square
Quantities are for 44/45"-wide, 100% cotton fabrics.
Measurements include 1/4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated. {C}


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The 2011 AAA Photo Contest is a showcase of anthropology at its best. Of the 93 photos submitted, AAA members selected their favorites in each of the four categories: Practice, People, Place and Process. You can view the top 20 photos in Anthropology News. Here on the AAA blog, we featured several of the photos in a blog series, Photo Friday.
Photo Courtesy of Michael Eilenberg
Contest Category: People
Caption: 76-year-old Ringgit gently handles his prime fighting cock after dressing its wounds from a recent cockfight. For several months Ringgit's clan had been in conflict with a neighbouring clan over ownership to a piece of forest. It was decided that the dispute should be solved through a cockfight with the winning party gaining control of the forest. Besides, from being important arenas for networking and making deals cockfights are often used by the Iban in West Kalimantan, Indonesia to settle internal disagreement and disputes. In this remote part of Indonesia where state institutions are weak, customary law still plays a crucial role in conflict settlement. West Kalimantan, Indonesia. April 2011.
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Joe Flacco did his 50 Cent-thing during the 38-35 double-overtime win Saturday over the Denver Broncos -- he got money.
The question has followed the Baltimore Ravens quarterback all year: How much is the free-agent-to-be worth?
Flacco's regular-season numbers don't warrant elite cash, but he's the only quarterback in NFL history to reach the playoffs in his first five seasons, and this will be his third conference championship.
"He's so valuable," NFL Network analyst Michael Lombardi said Sunday on "First on the Field." "How many quarterbacks could do what Joe Flacco did yesterday in terms of his ability to make throws up the field, his ability to lead this team, his ability to come from behind? Look, Joe Flacco's not perfect all season, but the answer is who could be better than Joe Flacco? That's what's going to force the Ravens to pay him and pay him heavily.
NFL Replay will re-air the Baltimore Ravens' 38-35 win over the Denver Broncos from the AFC divisional playoffs on Monday, Jan. 14
at 8 p.m. ET.
» NFL Network schedule
» Relive the playoffs with Game Rewind
"Now they know who he is. ... Now they know they can pay him and be comfortable. He got them to the conference championship game. To me, that's the mark of excellence."
This has been the point many missed all season. No, Flacco isn't Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning or Drew Brees. But Rodgers, Manning and Brees will sit at home this week. Flacco might not be a top-five quarterback, but he's in that next group, and he wins playoff games. Flacco stands tall in the pocket and has the arm to make every throw.
In a league where the majority of teams are searching for a franchise signal-caller, there's no way the Ravens will let Flacco walk over a couple of dollars.
Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.


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Title: A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations 7th ed
Author: Turabian, Kate L
Publisher: U of Chicago Press; Publication Date: 2007
Hardcover; ISBN: 9780226823362
Edition: 7th Volumes: 1; Pages: 482
List Price in Cloth: $43.00 Our price: $43.00
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For close to sixty years Kate L. Turabian's Manual for Writers has offered comprehensive and detailed guidance to authors of research papers--term papers, theses, and dissertations. Now the editors of The Chicago Manual of Style have revised Turabian's Manual to bring the details of style into conformity with the fourteenth edition of The Chicago Manual. This new edition of Turabian also reflects the way students work today, taking into account the role of personal computers in the preparation and presentation of their papers.The familiar organization of this popular book remains largely unchanged. Chapter 1 describes the parts of a long formal paper. Chapters 2-5 introduce the mechanics of writing style, from abbreviations to quotations. Chapters 6 and 7 show how to prepare and refer to tables and illustrations. The section on documentation, chapters 8-12, describes two of the most commonly used systems of citation; these chapters provide many examples including guidance on how to cite electronic documents. Chapter 13, on manuscript preparation, shows how to take advantage of word processing software to present the elements of a paper clearly and effectively. Chapter 14 offers more than two dozen sample pages illustrating ways of formatting some of the complex features found in many research papers.Authoritative, comprehensive, easy to use, and filled with good sense, this new edition will be the standard for yet another generation of students and their teachers.Kate Turabian (1893-1987) was dissertation secretary at the University of Chicago from 1930 to 1958. This manual and her Student's Guide for Writing College Papers made her name so well known that she has become "part of the folklore of American higher education" (Quill and Scroll).
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Sheet music downloads have become the preferred method of acquiring classical music repertoire. Created by professional musicians, EveryNote.com presents classical sheet music download of over 20.000 popular and hard-to-find music scores over 1000 composers. A major Internet provider of classical sheet music files download online, EveryNote.com offers the largest and most complete digital sheet music download library on the Web in the world. Instantly download, view and print your favorite classical music score. Everynote.com currently offers thousands of classical music compositions for Piano, Violin, Cello, Flute, Clarinet, Classical Guitar, Voice, Chamber and Choral music.Many more instruments, composers, genres added every day! EveryNote.com has been featured in The New York Times, Globe and Mail, Musical America and many other publications.
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I try to think of what mother nature would have done if she suffered major brain damage.
You are wrong.
Starship Troopers 2 had only two things worth seeing, but she died early on
Wow... that's a lot.
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Remember when I though 10,000 posts was a lot? Well the Spore forum alone just recently topped 10,000, (currently 10,009). Steve, are you still working on splitting up that forum? Do you need help? After all 10,000+ posts is a lot to go through.
Vivec, you're the best forum member ever.
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Gym King effortlessly blend gym wear with comfort, style and everyday vibes. A relatively new brand formed in 2014, Gym King have gone from strength to strength, establishing themselves as a serious contender in todays casual clothing market.
As seen on celebrities around the world we are excited to be stocking Gym King as an addition to our website.


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Members of the U.S. women's sitting volleyball team blocking a competitor during the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
Standing volleyball first appeared in the Paralympic program at the 1976 Games in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Sitting volleyball was introduced at the following Games in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Paralympic volleyball is divided into two major disciplines: sitting and standing. For the Athens Games in 2004, however, only sitting volleyball was on the Paralympic program. Athens also introduced the first Paralympic competition for women's sitting volleyball, and the U.S. came away with the bronze medal.
Paralympic volleyball follows the same rules as its non-disabled counterpart with a few modifications to accommodate the various disabilities. In sitting volleyball, the net is about 3.5 feet high, and the court is 10 x 6 meters with a two-meter attack line. Players are allowed to block serves, but one "cheek" must be in contact with the floor whenever they make contact with the ball. In standing volleyball, a mix of disabilities must be represented on the court at all time to equalize the level of play.
Paralympic volleyball competition is open to male and female athletes with physical disabilities such as amputation/limb loss, spinal cord injury/wheelchair-users and cerebral palsy/brain injury/stroke.
E-mail your questions about sitting volleyball. Find a local program in your community - visit the Paralympic Resource Network.
For more on Sitting Volleyball:
USA Volleyball
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Baruch College Nutures Innovative Thinkers and Produces Entrepreneurs
Students sign up to participate in the SmartPitch Challenge 2014.
NEW YORK, NY- February 4, 2014 -Baruch College takes pride in nurturing undergraduate and graduate students' creativity, innovation and drive by offering them a quality higher education that is affordable and enriching.
One of the many disciplines of study that attract students to Baruch College is Entrepreneurship.
In 2013, for the sixth year in a row, Baruch College was included on the "Top 25 Undergraduate Programs for Entrepreneurship" list by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine. Evaluations were based on key criteria such as teaching entrepreneurship business fundamentals in the classroom; staffing departments with successful entrepreneurs; excellence in mentorship; and providing experiential or entrepreneurial opportunities outside of the classroom.
Through the undergraduate and graduate Entrepreneurship programs at Baruch, students learn the skills that will help them make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality.
Such is the case for Elizabeth Alpern, a student in the part-time MBA program in the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College. The entrepreneurship major, who plans to graduate in May 2015, was recently named to Forbes "30 Under 30" in the category of "Food and Wine."
Elizabeth and her business partner Jeffrey Yoskowitz, opened their business The Gefilteria, in Brooklyn, NY in 2012. The Gefilteria offers Old World Jewish foods, like gefilte fish, borscht and kvass, to the modern world. Their products are available in stores throughout the New York Metro Area and in other cities including Philadelphia, PA; Columbus, OH; and Los Angeles, CA. Their products can also be purchased online and shipped nationwide.
Elizabeth admits she started the business with very little business knowledge or experience, but she has been able expand her knowledge and learn skills through Baruch College's MBA Program.
"I was an ambitious cook, but I knew that I had a lot to learn," Elizabeth says. "I came to Baruch to get solid analytical skills for making business decisions. I am now in my second year here and I have not been disappointed. Much of what I learn in class translates directly to my business."
Students, like Elizabeth, have been able to acquire essential skills through courses, workshops and networking opportunities offered by The Lawrence N. Field Center for Entrepreneurship at Zicklin School of Business. Along with Baruch's Small Business Development Center Business (SBDC), the Field Center brings together advisors, alumni and volunteers to support the entrepreneurial endeavors of start-ups and established businesses and the college's constituents.
In addition, the Field Center hosts a variety of events and competition that explore different levels of entrepreneurship. This spring a diverse group of young entrepreneurs from the City University of New York (CUNY) will compete in the 12th Annual IVE SmartPitch Challenge, hosted by Baruch and the Lawrence N. Field Center for Entrepreneurship. SmartPitch, created by the CUNY Institute for Virtual Enterprise, gives student entrepreneurs an opportunity to create and validate a business concept, pitch their idea and follow a business plan to ultimately launch their business.
Baruch MBA student John Fout, founder of Sohha Savory Yogurt, took advantage of this opportunity and won a $2,500 prize during the SmartPitch Challenge in 2013. John entered SmartPitch with his idea for Greek yogurt, made from a family recipe featuring sea salt, cultures and the highest quality milk rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Sohha Savory Yogurt offers an alternative to other popular high-sugar Greek yogurts and does not contain any genetically modified ingredients.
John values the experience he received from the competition hosted by the Field Center at Baruch.
"One of the great things about the competition is that you're pitching the business and the concept," said John, who started the company along with his wife, by selling their creation in local farmers markets in Park Slope, Bushwick, and Morningside Heights. "You're already selling people on the product. It helps you build up your story to get people excited about the product. The competition helps you plan; the process just helps you develop everything."
After his success in SmartPitch, John has been able to open a store in NYC's Chelsea Market, and continues new ways to combine yogurt with vegetables and other savory toppings like spices and nuts, as is popular in Mediterranean countries.
"Doing well in the competition helped to get validation for the business," John said about his success in establishing a store in Chelsea Market. "I'm grateful for what I learned through the entire experience."
About Baruch College:
Baruch College is a senior college in the City University of New York (CUNY) with a total enrollment of more than 17,000 students, who represent 160 countries and speak more than 100 languages. Ranked among the top 15% of U.S. colleges and the No. 5 public regional university, Baruch College is regularly recognized as among the most ethnically diverse colleges in the country. As a public institution with a tradition of academic excellence, Baruch College offers accessibility and opportunity for students from every corner of New York City and from around the world. For more about Baruch College, go to http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/.
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Brussels, 13 April 2011
Single Market Act – Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Single Market?
The Single Market of the European Union is the common area between the 27 EU countries where goods, services, capital and persons can circulate freely. The Single Market also ensures that European citizens are free to live, work, study and do business where they want in the EU.
The Single Market is the core of the cooperation between the 27 Member States of the European Union. Yet getting it up and running took many years.
It all started with the 1957 Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC). This Treaty set out a timeline for the original six founding members (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg and the Netherlands) to abolish customs barriers within the Community and establish a common customs tariff to be applied to goods from non-EEC countries. This objective was achieved on 1 July 1968.
In June 1985, the European Commission, under its then President, Jacques Delors, published an action programme seeking to abolish, within seven years, all physical, technical and tax-related barriers to free movement within the Community. The aim was to stimulate industrial and commercial expansion within a large, unified economic area.
By amending the original 1957 Treaty, the EEC gained the enabling instrument for the Single Market. The revised Treaty – the Single European Act - came into force in July 1987. The Single Market was finally put in place on 1 January 1993.
With these barriers removed and national markets opened, more firms can now compete against each other. This means lower prices – and wider choice – for the consumer. Firms selling in the Single Market now have unrestricted access to nearly 500 million consumers in the European Union.
Between 1992 and 2006, it is estimated that the Single Market generated 2.75 million jobs and 2.15% of extra growth for the European economy – that is €518 extra for every person in the EU in 2006 alone. Intra-European trade currently accounts for 17% and 28% of world trade in goods and services respectively. Phone calls in Europe cost a fraction of what they did 10 years ago, many air fares in Europe have fallen significantly and new routes have opened up. Households and businesses are now able to choose who supplies them with electricity and gas.
2. Why are you proposing a Single Market Act?
The Single Market has been a valuable shield for the European Union in helping to weather the economic and financial crisis. But the effects of the crisis are still hitting Europe very hard: almost 10% of our active population – 23 million people – is currently unemployed.
In this situation, it is all the more important to exploit any additional and yet untapped potential of the Single Market to generate sustainable economic growth and additional employment. The Single Market Act proposes 12 key actions to boost European competitiveness and to unlock economic growth and jobs which, considering the crisis, we want to see adopted by the end of 2012.
But the Single Market will not work properly if citizens and businesses cannot use it and experience its benefits on a day to day basis. The financial crisis has dented people's expectations and confidence in markets and sometimes in the Single Market itself. It is the objective of the Single Market Act to strengthen this confidence.
3. How will the Single Market Act meet these challenges and restore confidence?
If we want to kick-start new growth that is both sustainable and fair, Europe needs to equip itself properly and act with strength and determination. A collective commitment at European level is required from all the players involved – European, national or regional, public or private, economic and social - making these goals their own. This is where the Single Market Act comes in.
In May 2010, at the request of President Barroso, Professor Mario Monti presented his report on 'A New Strategy for the Single Market'.
This was followed on 27 October 2010 by the Commission's Communication 'Towards a Single Market Act' (see IP/10/1390) outlining 50 potential priority measures to re-launch the Single Market and kick-started a Europe-wide debate on the future priorities of single market policy.
For four months debates were held throughout Europe – in Member States, EU institutions and consultative bodies, national parliaments, regions, local authorities, with civil society, trade unions, business federations, NGOs, and all other stakeholders. Questions that were asked were: Are these 50 measures the right measures? Are there alternatives? Are there issues we have forgotten?
The purpose of the public debate was to generate a dialogue between citizens and stakeholders across Europe on single market issues that matter to them. As a result, more than 800 contributions were received from a wide range of respondents, reflecting the keen interest of European citizens, businesses, workers and civil society at large in the single market. More than 30% of responses came from individual citizens. Nearly three-quarters of respondents expressed a positive view of the Single Market Act and a large number came forward with useful comments and ideas on the overall exercise or the individual proposed actions1.
Following the wide-ranging public debate, the Commission is now putting forward its Single Market Act with twelve key priority measures. These actions are put forward on the basis of the opinions expressed by the European Parliament in its Resolutions on the Single Market2, by the EU Council3, the European Economic and Social Committee4 and the Committee of the Regions5, as well as in response to the public consultation.
The Commission commits itself to delivering these proposals as soon as possible in order to guarantee adoption by the European Parliament and the EU Council of the legislative proposals by the end of 2012, in time for the 20th anniversary of the Single Market.
4. What are the key proposals of the Single Market Act?
The Communication on the Single Market Act sets out twelve levers that can boost growth and enhance citizens' confidence in the Single Market. Within each of these levers, a key action is singled out which, if adopted quickly by European legislators and properly transposed and implemented by Member States, can have a concrete effect on restoring economic competitiveness and the participation of citizens in the single market, in their multiple role of active citizens, workers, consumers, students etc.
For each lever, other important actions are also included - to be delivered in parallel with a slightly longer timetable – which will benefit from the impetus given to the key actions. Taken together, all these initiatives will significantly boost growth.
A separate section is devoted to the governance of the single market which is an essential condition to deliver results, and in particular focuses on (i) dialogue with civil society and evaluation; (ii) partnership approach with all single market actors; (iii) better information for citizens and businesses; and (iv) better implementation and enforcement of single market rules.
The twelve key actions are:
(1) Improving access to finance for the more than 20 million European SMEs by introducing legislation to make it easier for venture capital funds established in one Member State to invest freely in any other Member State.
(2) Facilitating the mobility of citizens by modernising legislation on the recognition of professional qualifications awarded in another Member State.
(3) Supporting research and innovation by establishing a unitary patent protection and a unified patent litigation system (see IP/11/470 and MEMO/11/240).
(4) Helping consumer-business relations by facilitating alternative dispute resolution in the single market. For example, increased confidence in cross-border e-commerce is thought to produce an economic increase of approximately 0.02 % of EU gross domestic product, i.e. € 2.5 billion.
(5) Boosting the free movement of services by facilitating the definition of services standards at European level. A well functioning services market is of utmost importance in generating growth and jobs in Europe. When growth in the European economy was on average 2.1% per year between 1998 and 2008, the services sector was growing by 2.8% year. Jobs in the services sector have increased by 2% per year, compared to an average of 1% for the economy as a whole.
(6) Improving transport and energy infrastructures in the single market by introducing legislation to identify and implement strategic European projects in order to obtain a seamless, efficient and ecologically friendly network. By 2020, investment in these could create 775 000 jobs and increase GDP by €19 billion.
(7) Developing the digital single market by ensuring the pan-European operation of electronic identification and signatures.
(8) Facilitating social entrepreneurship by setting up a European framework for the development of ethical investment funds.
(9) Improving energy taxation by ensuring a consistent tax treatment of different energy sources (see IP/11/468 and MEMO/11/238).
(10) Enhancing social cohesion by improving the application of legislation on the posting of workers from one Member State to another and by ensuring that social rights are applied. Today, more than 1 million people are posted to another Member State in the framework of service provision.
(11) Improving the regulatory business environment by simplifying accounting rules which can generate potential savings of €1.5 billion per year for 1.1 million small companies and of €5.2 billion per year for 5.9 million micro-enterprises.
(12) Modernising public procurement legislation to make rules more simple and flexible and to foster demand for environmentally sustainable, socially responsible and innovative goods, services and works. The open and transparent tendering procedures required under EU public procurement rules mean more competition, stronger safeguards against corruption and better service and value for money for taxpayers.
Alongside these twelve key actions, the Single Market Act puts forward more than 60 additional policy actions, which the Commission will propose in line with the above policy objectives.
5. Is there a deadline for adopting these measures?
The European Commission commits itself to presenting proposals for each of the twelve key priority actions outlined in the Single Market Act as soon as possible in order to guarantee the adoption by the European Parliament and the EU Council of the legislative proposals by the end of 2012. The Commission calls on the European Parliament and the EU Council to respond to the invitation by the European Council to adopt these key priority proposals by the end of 2012.
6. Why did you not include all 50 proposals put forward in the October 2010 Communication 'Towards a Single Market Act'?
The objective of the October Communication was to propose potential priority measures for a wide public debate. On the basis of this debate, the Commission has now identified twelve key actions to be delivered as a priority.
However, Commission activity will not be limited to these twelve key priority actions. The Commission will deliver on a host of parallel policy initiatives also set out in the Single Market Act. The top priority will be nonetheless to deliver the twelve key actions by the end of 2012.
7. What are the next steps?
Beyond setting out actions to focus on in the coming 18 months, the Commission will start preparing to develop the single market beyond 2012. These preparations will be fed by a comprehensive economic study, whose results should allow identifying niches where there is untapped growth potential, and identify possible new levers for growth.
Link to EU 2020 strategy:
More information is available at:
3057th Council meeting: 17668/1/10 REV 1
CdR 330/2010fin-ECOS-V-009
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