Editor's Note

Does a business plan always decide the fate of academic software projects? "Communities hold together through enlightened self-interest rather than complex contracts, restrictive licenses, and diversion of resources to sales forces and marketing." So wrote Brad Wheeler, Indiana University CIO, in response to criticisms of the OLE Project leveled by Ex Libris North America president Carl Grant (covered in LJAN previously). Speaking as a co-founder of the Sakai Project, the Kuali Foundation, and the HathiTrust repository, Wheeler argues that community-source projects are closely tied to the values of higher education. The rest of his comment is well worth reading as a good distillation of what's driving these large-scale open initiatives, especially in academic libraries.

In other news, details recently emerged about the competing plans from Baylor and Southern Methodist universities to house the George W. Bush presidential library. As a story from The Dallas Morning News makes clear, the choice of location is about a lot more than amenities.

Finally, stay tuned for a provocative essay next week from the UK about deep-linking and how published materials are shared with students. Until then, enjoy this week's Newswire.—Josh Hadro, Editor, Academic Newswire

• UC Academics Raise Major Concerns About Google Settlement
  Pricing, privacy are at issue; Google has responded to open access.
  more » » » 
• PW Survey: Librarians On the Fence Regarding Google Settlement
  More say they’re unsure about settlement approval than say they support or oppose it.
  more » » » 

• Proposed Closure of UCLA Arts Library Sparks Protest
  Worries about services and transparency prompt faculty letter and a petition.
  more » » » 
• Threats Lead to Event Cancellation at Library of Congress
  Visit by soldier known for Abu Ghraib is denounced.
  more » » » 
• Sub-Saharan Africa Gets Easier Access to Agricultural Journals
  With $1.8 million grant, Gates Foundation funds 50 percent of cost.
  more » » » 
• Peer to Peer Review: The Risks of Risk Management in Scholarly Publishing
  Barbara Fister thinks Yale University Press let us down.
  more » » » 
• From the Bell Tower: E-textbook Mania Strikes Higher Ed
  Academic libraries have an opportunity to reshape the textbook marketplace in terms of cost and content delivery, says Steven Bell, so let's not let it pass by while we sleep.
  more » » » 
• People
  The latest on people from the library world.
  more » » » 
• EBSCO develops SUSHI SDK; Serials Solutions enhances 360 Counter reporting; Project Conifer goes live with Evergreen
  LJ Academic Newswire's marketplace notes and announcements.
  more » » » 
• Best Sellers in Social Science
  November 2008 to date as identified by YBP Library Services.
  more » » »