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Weekly News Digest
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October 20, 2015 — In addition to this week's NewsBreaks article and the monthly NewsLink Spotlight, Information Today, Inc. (ITI) offers Weekly News Digests that feature recent product news and company announcements. Watch for additional coverage to appear in the next print issue of Information Today.
CLICK HERE to view more Weekly News Digest items.
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EBSCO Introduces Resource for College and Career Readiness
EBSCO Information Services launched the PrepSTEP online learning platform to help students build the skills they need for college and career readiness. It offers a collection of academic and career-related resources in topics such as reading, math, science, basic computing, and workforce skills. Students can also use it to prepare for the GED, college placement, and occupational licensing tests, among others.The two versions currently available cover 2-year colleges and technical schools as well as 4-year colleges and universities. A high school version is coming soon. For more information, read the press release.
Overleaf and Springer Integrate Writing and Submission Platforms
Springer will integrate 20 of its journals and the Springer Transfer Desk with the Overleaf LaTeX and rich text collaborative writing and publishing platform, giving Springer authors access to a simplified writing and publishing tool.The 20 journals, including Climate Dynamics and Environmental and Resource Economics, will each have one-click submission links on the Overleaf platform that will send the files and metadata directly into Springer’s submission system. Additionally, each journal will have a link on its website to the Springer article template within Overleaf, giving authors a simple way to collaborate on and write articles. For more information, read the press release.
MIT Press Updates Its Institutional Subscription Database
MIT Press introduced enhancements to MIT CogNet, its institutional subscription database of six academic journals, 12 reference works, and 700-plus books in the cognitive sciences. “Academic librarians assess their subscription databases in late summer and fall, so having a new, functional version available was critical from a marketing perspective,” the press release states.Data Conversion Laboratory (DCL) helped with the content conversion—two of the publisher’s most significant reference books needed to be converted with mathematical formulas, tables, and images preserved. DCL had previously worked with MIT Press to create a simple, one-page opening to a book’s chapters that has MIT Press and CogNet branding as well as source information. Now, these pages are created from the original document’s XML-formatted metadata. For more information, read the press release.
Thomson Reuters and Samsung Join Forces
Thomson Reuters teamed up with Samsung to explore the development and optimization of enterprise solutions. They plan to use their joint expertise in mobile security, electronic devices, and intelligent IT to increase employee productivity and business success.During the first phase of their partnership, selected content and software applications from Thomson Reuters will be implemented on compatible Samsung devices and technologies to serve the legal and financial sectors. For more information, read the press release.
Palgrave Connect Ebooks Come to Springer Platforms
Springer will add all Palgrave Connect ebooks from Palgrave Macmillan to SpringerLink—and include thousands of ebooks in the Springer Book Archives—as a result of the Springer-Macmillan Science and Education merger.“Starting with the 2016 collections, all titles that would have been available on Palgrave Connect will be integrated into the Springer eBook collections,” according to the press release. “As a result, there are now 10 new eBook collections focusing on the humanities, social sciences and business, management and finance disciplines.” Backlist titles from Palgrave Macmillan also will join the Springer Book Archives, making previously hard-to-access books available in digital format. For more information, read the press release.
TLC Announces Newest Facet of CARL-Connect
The Library Corp. (TLC) announced the upcoming 2016 release of CARL•Connect Reports, which will include CARL•Connect Reports Concierge. This has a Live Chat feature that allows library directors to seek information about their reports from TLC’s subject matter experts. “Library Directors will no longer be burdened by last minute calls for statistics that cannot be met, or out of the box reports that do not allow for unique customizations, when their ILS Administrator is unavailable. Simply sharing your data needs in a Live Chat conversation is all that it takes to meet your reporting goals,” the press release notes.CARL•Connect Reports Concierge presents data in a visually appealing, easy-to-read output, such as a pie chart, that customers can share with their library’s stakeholders. For more information, read the press release.
W3C Works On Web Payment Systems
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) launched the Web Payments Working Group to discuss improvements to the online checkout and payment processes on the web. Its proposed standards apply to debit, credit, mobile, bitcoin, and other payment systems. Standardized APIs will establish the foundation for simplified processes, better security, automated secure payments, and more, making it easier for web developers to integrate existing and future payment flows into their services.For more information, read the press release.
Boopsie Caters to Small and Rural Libraries
Boopsie for Libraries released Express, a feature set for its mobile app specifically for small and rural public libraries serving less than 25,000 patrons. They can use Express to create a streamlined app with features such as Catalog Search using Smart Prefix search, ILS integration for holds and renewals, and Ask a Librarian.“Nearly 80% of U.S. libraries are classified as small libraries,” says Megan Vizzini, Boopsie’s VP of sales, accounts, and customer service. “Our new Express offering meets the needs of these small towns and cities where library resources are in demand, but libraries are not staffed with large teams of technology professionals. We’re here to help balance the needs of our library customers to serve geographically dispersed populations and libraries with small budgets.” For more information, read the press release.
Zepheira Upgrades Its Open Source Tools
Zepheira updated Linksmith and Scribe, its open source linked data management tools, to have better scalability, linkability, and internal and external linking. Scribe is publicly available on GitHub. Students and alumni of the Zepheira Practical Practitioner Training class have exclusive access to Linksmith, but the results of their work with the tool may be publicly shared.Zepheira also improved its open source MARC to BIBFRAME transformation engine, which underpins Linksmith. For more information, read the press release.
DPLA Curates Primary Sources for Students
The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) released its first group of Primary Source Sets for students and teachers in grades 6–12 and higher education. The sets, which were developed and reviewed by DPLA’s Education Advisory Committee, feature topics in U.S. history, literature, and culture. Each one offers an overview, 10–15 primary sources, links to additional resources, and a teaching guide.For more information, read the press release.
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Brandi Scardilli
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