Ohio Little Magazines

Abstract

The company now known as DC began as National Periodicals, publishing anthology series such as Adventure Comics, More Fun Comics, and Detective Comics. Superman, the first true “super-hero,” appeared on the scene in a brief story in Action Comics no. 1 (June, 1938). Batman appeared not long after, in the pages of Detective Comics no. 27 (May 1939)|3-and the world was never the same. In the late 1940s, National absorbed its competitor Ail-American Comics (which published such series as Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Green Arrow) and changed the company's name to Detective Comics, “DC” for short. The merger made DC the largest comic book company until the 1950s, when interest in the medium dried up, and Dell, who at that time published Walt Disney's comic books, took over the top spot.     

Rock is a Way of Life: The World of Rock ‘n’ Roll Fanzines and Fandom

Abstract

While advantages of electronic publications are obvious and far reaching, most electronic journals are still published also in print since libraries do not acquire electronic journals but only access them through licenses. Libraries with substantial electronic publications, however, no longer “compile” collections in a traditional sense. One consequence of electronic only access is that the permanent availability of information that implicitly used to be found in print collections is no longer guaranteed. Digital publishing dramatically alters both the roles of libraries and publishers in preserving records of science. This article discusses the contribution of national libraries, particularly the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB; National Library of the Netherlands), to cooperate with publishers to secure the permanent archiving of electronic publications.     

Serial conversations: a man for all reasons: an interview with clifford lynch

Abstract

In July 2004, Cindy Hepfer asked friends and colleagues: “What question would you like to ask Clifford Lynch if you had the chance?” As a result, Clifford Lynch discusses a wide variety of topics and issues impacting the serials community from Open Access, institutional repositories, what we can learn from Google and Amazon, and Shibboleth to where his favorite places are to travel and how he prepares for presentations.     

Culinary Magazines

Abstract

Marvel Comics, along with rival DC Comics, is one of the two powerhouses of the comic book industry and has been for many decades. The company was founded in 1939 by pulp magazine publisher Martin Goodman. Goodman owned various publishing houses responsible for a variety of pulp titles, including Marvel Science Stories. In 1939, a colleague persuaded Goodman that comic books were the upcoming trend in periodical publishing, so Good-man launched a book called Marvel Comics. Issue no. 1 contained a story by Bill Everett about the Sub-Mariner, as well as the first appearance of the Human Torch. Both characters quickly became leading draws of the Golden Age of comics. Soon after, Goodman hired writer Joe Simon and artist Jack Kirby, who were to become giants in the industry. Simon and Kirby created Captain America, a character who remains a comics icon even today. In those early days, Goodman also hired another future legend: writer Stan Lee, who happened to be Good-man's nephew.

Goodman's comic company was known officially as Timely Comics, Inc., then later as Atlas Publishing. The firm did not change its name to Marvel until the early 1960s. Timely benefitted from the comics boom of the early 1940s, but interest in super-hero stories waned later in the decade. Atlas briefly revived its super-hero line-up in 1954, but the company spent most of the next decade publishing romance, western, horror, and humor comics.1 1. Les Daniels, Marvel: Five Decades of the World's Greatest Comics (NY: Abrams, 1991), pp. 17–23, 26–36, 40–61.¹     

From Picas to Pixels: Life in the Trenches of Print and Web Publishing: An Interview with Rick and Andy Alfaro,Editors of FILE Magazine

Abstract

“They Might Be Giants” gets a facelift, tackles a new medium and welcomes a co-editor. Michael Brown and Jessica Teeter bring you this first installment of “From Picas to Pixels: Life in the Trenches of Print and Web Publishing.” This installment features an interview with the publishers of a Web magazine called FILE Magazine, A Collection of Unexpected Photography.     

Resource Description and Access: It’s Really Not So Bad

Abstract

This article provides a background for Comics Librarianship and the sources which can be, and are, used. The author describes the application of FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records) for serials to the cataloging of the comic book format and ways to adapt these methods to flat MARC records, to aid in retrieval of items. Sample records are included for illustration of methods.     

SUSHI to Go

Abstract

The Internet, Google, e-journals, packages, e-books and patron driven acquisitions have all been perceived as “a threat to libraries as we know them.” Yet, in spite of these developments and under the weight of chronic budget pressures, the typical academic library now offers more users better access to more content and services than ever before. In this session we will look at how librarians and the vendors that serve them have responded to these “threats” to their future to create new and improved services.     

A Comparative Review of Nonparametric Statistics Textbooks

ABSTRACT

In this article I will review six textbooks commonly set in University undergraduate nonparametric statistics courses. The books will be evaluated in terms of how key statistical concepts are presented; use of software; exercises; and location on a theory-applications axis and an algorithms-principles axis. The placement of books on these axes provides a novel guide for instructors looking for the book that best fits their approach to teaching nonparametric statistics.     

Archiving Websites: A Practical Guide for Information Management Professionals

Abstract

This edition of “From Picas to Pixels” takes an in-depth look at some innovative oral history collections at the University of Texas at Austin. Focusing on one collection in particular, the Texas Legacy Project, Quinn Stewart tells us about old and new ways to encode and offer up high quality transcribed video. Also discussed is the new technology application, Glifos Social Media Creator, that makes these new collections possible. Other ongoing oral history projects at the University of Texas at Austin are addressed.     

Barnwood

Abstract

Institutional repositories (IRs) have been developed and promoted primarily as a means to re-publish scholarly content previously published elsewhere—usually in journals, festschriften, or collections of articles. This essay discusses the use of IRs as the originating publisher of materials not previously published elsewhere and assesses their potential use as a viable “first resort” for scholarly publication and an already existing alternative to traditional commercial or university presses.     

Marriage and Family Periodical Indexes

Abstract

Auburn University Libraries wanted to reduce the amount of work devoted to current print issues in a manner acceptable to public service librarians and patrons. The Current Periodicals collection in the Ralph Brown Draughon (RBD) Library, the main library, has been reduced to only those periodical issues for which reliable online access is not available. Current issues that have online access are kept in the Acquisitions Department in a “closed stacks” arrangement. “Closed stacks” issues are available to patrons upon request. The experience at Auburn University demonstrates that reconfiguring processes for Current Periodicals involves collaboration between technical and public services with minimal difficulties and introduces new efficiencies. The librarians hope to save time and resources and reduce missing issues and claims. They are monitoring patron reaction to the change.     

The Art of the Win-Win Deal

Abstract

“The Art of the Win-Win Deal,” presented by Rob Ross, executive director of NC LIVE, discussed the art of negotiation from both perspectives: the library and the vendor. Ross negotiates with vendors on behalf of over 200 libraries in North Carolina.     

Just Popping In: Collections and Outreach Collaborations to Increase Student Engagement with Electronic Resources

Abstract

Promoting electronic resources in a physical space takes ingenuity and cross-library partnership. This article discusses a collaborative approach to promote electronic resources by an outreach librarian and an electronic collections librarian. As members of the teaching and research assistance team, the librarians observed how students relied on “big name,” multidisciplinary databases and were often intimidated by the expansive list of digital materials and electronic resources available to them. A literature review on the topic of similar promotional activities introduces the pop-up methodology used for the event. The purpose of the collaboration was to not only promote ebook collections but to also create awareness of the library outside of the traditional space, and librarians as resources. This collaboration resulted in student-librarian engagement, and a spike in ebook use was reported for the collection promoted.     

An Interview with Len Fulton,Founder of Dustbooks and Publisher of Small Press Review

Abstract

This installment of “They Might Be Giants” continues on the theme of little magazines and small presses. This time, we talked to Len Fulton who founded Dustbooks almost forty years ago and who is currently publishing Small Press Review, as well as a handful of annual directories and occasional book. Serials Review 2003; 29: 154–156.     

Cultural Anthropology and Open Access—Interview With Dominic Boyer,Cymene Howe,and Marcel LaFlamme

Abstract

In this installment of “Conversations,” Dominic Boyer, Cymene Howe, and Marcel LaFlamme, of the Cultural Anthropology editorial team, discuss the ins and outs of publishing a gold open access journal in the field of anthropology. Highlights of the discussion include Cultural Anthropology’s move to open access, the ethics of open access, the growth of international readership, ongoing publishing challenges in open access, and the role libraries can play with open access publishing.     

Shared Insights,Shared Collections

Abstract

Whitney Jordan, acquisitions librarian at Western Carolina University (WCU), presented “Shared Insights, Shared Collections” at the 28th Annual North Carolina Serials Conference. In her presentation, Jordan discussed the experiences of WCU and the Western North Carolina Library Network (WNCLN) in a consortium-based evidence-based acquisitions ebook pilot project. The three WNCLN consortium institutions partnered with Taylor & Francis to design an evidence-based ebook program, customized to each institution’s needs. Jordan emphasized the need for strong communication and effective project management in any collaborative collections project.     

The Cataloging of E-Book Readers: A Service Model-Oriented Approach

Abstract

The popularity of e-book readers has exploded over the past several years, and many libraries have begun purchasing and providing access to these devices for their patrons. A large body of academic literature addresses the popularity of e-book readers and the issues involved with purchasing them and licensing material for them, but there is a relatively slim body of literature regarding the cataloging of e-book readers. At present, there is no uniform approach to cataloging e-book readers and libraries are currently employing a number of different methods. This article will describe the approach to cataloging e-book readers adopted at the Z. Smith Reynolds Library of Wake Forest University, which is based on the local service model for e-readers that takes into account how patrons are expected to use the devices as well as licensing concerns about the use of titles on e-readers. In order to make the devices discoverable for patrons with a minimum of confusion, certain unusual cataloging practices are employed (such as coding e-readers as “realia” but giving them a general material designation (GMD) of “electronic resource”). This article argues that the RDA code should accommodate e-book readers by creating carrier types that accurately describe these devices in a way that patrons can understand.     

Authentication Methods and Recent Developments

Abstract

This segment of the “Sharpest Tool” column provides an overview of the current options for authentication for electronic resources and discusses recent developments in this area. Remote access to electronic resources is increasingly important as libraries purchase more and more electronic content. This column attempts to provide a baseline use for many terms relating to authentication, while incorporating discussions and concerns surrounding recent developments in authentication methods.