An Interview with Jason Clark: Content Delivery Platforms

For this installment of “From Picas to Pixels,” incoming editor Chad Hutchens interviews fellow librarian Jason Clark about building in-house content delivery platforms and applications using open source technologies. Specifically discussed is the Montana State University Libraries' Electronic Theses and Dissertations platform and its unique features. Can libraries compete with commercial vendors and publishers in offering Web applications and content delivery platforms? What new ways can we push content to our users?     

XML

Abstract

XML offers some significant enhancements and functionality over what can be achieved with HTML. Among them:

o ? XML is a language for defining markup languages. It is not restricted in scope to the fixed tags defined in HTML. Document types can be created that are customized to the application, type of data, and user community for which it is intended.

? Information content can be richer and easier to use, both because of the richer flexibility of tags and the hypertext linking abilities of XML are greater than those offered in HTML.

? Information should be more usable and accessible. Because of the nature of XML, communities will be able to create applications customized to their needs, rather than being restricted to software provided by major vendors as has become the case with HTML.

? XML files are valid SGML. They can be used in SGML environments outside of the Web. At the same time XML has removed many of the complexities inherent in SGML, providing a more simple model and thus making it easier to develop XML applications that would be the case for SGML.

     

U.K. Little Magazines: An Introductory Survey

Abstract

Standards are essential to guide both technical and information management in providing access to and delivery of content. Standards development, implementation, and use help the information community meet the needs of its users. The information community grapples with a myriad of methods for providing access to content and capturing transaction level information about access to and use of content. Publishers struggle with ways to manage increased content flow. The author discusses the 2002 revision of the Standard for Library Statistics, NISO Z39.7 (NISO is the National Information Standards Organization, a nonprofit association founded in 1939 and accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)), and the research and assessment that went into its evolution from a static index of data elements to a Web-based data dictionary embracing U.S. and international metrics for describing and measuring information services and delivery.     

Exploring Accessibility in DOAJ: A Case Study

Abstract

This study explores the accessibility of HTML articles indexed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). The researchers tested a random sample of journals that possessed the DOAJ seal of approval, added content in 2019, were published in English and had 50 or more indexed articles. From this sample, HTML full-text articles were randomly selected for accessibility testing, using the W3C Easy Checks. 131 journals on 22 platforms were reviewed. All content reviewed provided unique web page titles. The majority of articles reviewed allowed for increases in text size and had meaningful heading structure. The application of alternative text tags for images and form labels was inconsistent, as was the ability to use keyboard controls for page navigation. Further, most content did not clearly indicate cursor location. The most egregious accessibility issues came from design choices, which generated a variety of contrast errors. More in-depth studies of DOAJ and other OA indexes and content providers are recommended, as is requiring adherence to WCAG 2.0 accessibility criteria as a condition of article submission.     

How Much Do Print Backfiles Matter?

Abstract

As physical collections are increasingly pressed for space, libraries continue to look at practices such as weeding and off-site storage, coupled with services like on-demand article-level document delivery, as potential space solutions. As libraries discard long runs of print journals, though, what role do journal backfiles play going forward? When many see backfiles as space hogs, is there data that provides a compelling argument for keeping backfiles of journals, and, if so, how should those backfiles be handled and by whom? Incorporating information from an interview with Glenn Jaeger, owner of Absolute Backorder Service, interlibrary loan data from the University of Prince Edward Island, and examples from the literature, this Balance Point column looks at the role that print journal backfiles play in the library landscape.     

Comparing the BLUEs Under Two Linear Models

In this article, we consider two linear models, ?₁ = {y, X β, V ₁} and ?₂ = {y, X β, V ₂}, which differ only in their covariance matrices. Our main focus lies on the difference of the best linear unbiased estimators, BLUEs, of X β under these models. The corresponding problems between the models {y, X β, I _n } and {y, X β, V}, i.e., between the OLSE (ordinary least squares estimator) and BLUE, are pretty well studied. Our purpose is to review the corresponding considerations between the BLUEs of X β under ?₁ and ?₂. This article is an expository one presenting also new results.     

Modelling claim number using a new mixture model: negative binomial gamma distribution

ABSTRACT

In actuarial applications, mixed Poisson distributions are widely used for modelling claim counts as observed data on the number of claims often exhibit a variance noticeably exceeding the mean. In this study, a new claim number distribution is obtained by mixing negative binomial parameter p which is reparameterized as p?=?exp( ?λ) with Gamma distribution. Basic properties of this new distribution are given. Maximum likelihood estimators of the parameters are calculated using the Newton–Raphson and genetic algorithm (GA). We compared the performance of these methods in terms of efficiency by simulation. A numerical example is provided.     

Exploring Linked Data Through the Lens of Technical Services

ABSTRACT

Linked data has swept across the library community, making its way into special collections and catalog data. What would linked data look like in a technical services environment? This article will look at the intersection of linked data and technical services. The article will begin with an introduction to linked data concepts. This will be followed by a look at linked data technologies and publishing strategies. The article will close with a discussion of potential and real applications of linked data in technical services, benefits and challenges of linked data, and thoughts on how the library community can contribute to the linked data effort.     

Document Delivery as a Supplement or Replacement for Serial Subscriptions

Abstract

Increasing serials costs and shrinking budgets present challenges for academic libraries to continue providing sufficient access to scholarly articles. Rapid document delivery services can serve as an effective means to fill the gap caused by serials cancellations. This column examines several of the existing document delivery service providers and addresses issues involved in their implementation.     

The Impact of Web-Scale Discovery on the Use of Electronic Resources

Abstract

In 2015, the University of California, Berkeley, launched EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS), a web-scale discovery tool, with a goal of improving visibility and usage of collections. This study applies linear regression analysis to usage data for ebooks, ejournals, and abstracts and indexing (A&I) databases before and after implementation of EDS in order to identify correlations between the discovery layer and usage of library electronic resources across platforms. Our findings diverge from conclusions drawn in the previous literature that indicates that resource use generally increases after a discovery tool is implemented. We examine data from a longer period of time than the previous literature had, looking for statistically significant changes in resource use. The discovery layer at UC Berkeley did not lead to equal increases across platforms, but rather to a complex array of increases and decreases in use according to a variety of factors.     

Space-time estimation of a particle system model

Let X be a discrete time contact process (CP) on ?², as defined by Durrett and Levin (1994, Stochastic spatial models: a user's guide to ecological applications. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B, 343, 329–350). We study the estimation of the model based on space-time evolution of X, that is, T + 1 successive observations of X on a finite subset S of sites. We consider the maximum marginal pseudo-likelihood (MPL) estimator and show that, when T→∞, this estimator is consistent and asymptotically normal for a non-vanishing supercritical CP. Numerical studies confirm these theoretical ones.     

A study of generalized skew-normal distribution

Following the paper by Genton and Loperfido [Generalized skew-elliptical distributions and their quadratic forms, Ann. Inst. Statist. Math. 57 (2005), pp. 389–401], we say that Z has a generalized skew-normal distribution, if its probability density function (p.d.f.) is given by f(z)=2φ _p (z; ξ, Ω)π (z?ξ), z∈? ^p , where φ _p (·; ξ, Ω) is the p-dimensional normal p.d.f. with location vector ξ and scale matrix Ω, ξ∈? ^p , Ω>0, and π is a skewing function from ? ^p to ?, that is 0≤π (z)≤1 and π (?z)=1?π (z), ? z∈? ^p . First the distribution of linear transformations of Z are studied, and some moments of Z and its quadratic forms are derived. Next we obtain the joint moment-generating functions (m.g.f.’s) of linear and quadratic forms of Z and then investigate conditions for their independence. Finally explicit forms for the above distributions, m.g.f.’s and moments are derived when π (z)=κ (α′z), where α∈? ^p and κ is the normal, Laplace, logistic or uniform distribution function.     

Get Full Text Research and the Search for Appropriate Copies

Abstract

A group of the largest academic publishers has launched a new service to simplify access to full-text research for users of discovery services and scholarly collaboration platforms. While this service aims to provide easy access to full-text articles using article-level entitlement information linked to institutions through Seamlessaccess.org, it also introduces ambiguity. The service allows for publishers to direct users to alternative versions when a full-text entitlement is not found for the user, though users may already be entitled to full text through providers that do not participate in the service. Depending on specific implementations, this could lead to further confusion and make it more difficult for users to find an appropriate copy.     

Limit Distributions of Random Sums of Z+-Valued Random Variables

In this article, we formulate a transfer theorem in terms of probability generating functions and discuss two approaches to limit distributions of random sums of Z ₊-valued random variables. We then develop Z ₊-valued N-ID and ?-ID laws.