Information Services & Use - Volume 44, issue 3

Authors: Engelen-Visser, Astrid

Article Type: Meeting Report

Abstract: This report summarizes APE 2024 (Academic Publishing in Europe, 9–10 January 2024, Berlin, Germany), the 19th edition of the yearly conference bringing together stakeholders within the realm of scholarly publishing. This year’s conference, moderated by Brill’s Chief Publishing Officer Jasmin Lange, was themed ‘Keep the Conversation Going,’ and highlighted topics such as publishers contributing to the SDGs, research integrity, the pros and cons of AI, and open science.

Keywords: APE 2024, scholarly communication, artificial intelligence, LLMs, research integrity, reviewer recognition, business models, transformative agreements, subscribe to open, sustainable development goals, open science, change management, dotcoms to watch, start-ups, peer review, academic freedom

DOI: 10.3233/ISU-240007

Citation: Information Services & Use, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 195-202, 2024

Authors: Dawson, Stephanie | Morka, Agata | Rapple, Charlie | Gosalia, Nikesh | Dhand, Ritu

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to eradicate poverty and inequality, protect the planet, and ensure health, justice, and prosperity for all, emphasizing inclusivity. Within the realm of scholarly publishing, the panel discussion Can scholarly publishers change the world? The role of the SDGs within the publishing industry held at Academic Publishing in Europe 2024, highlighted the business advantages of aligning with SDGs and made a plea to reshape the narrative beyond mere moral obligation as well as to galvanize stakeholders to take action and promote engagement, offering a clear direction. This paper expands on the panel …discussion, which was moderated by Stephanie Dawson, CEO, ScienceOpen. Panellists were Agata Morka, Regional Director, Publishing Development, PLOS, Charlie Rapple, Chief Customer Officer and Co-founder, Kudos, Nikesh Gosalia, President Global Academic and Publisher Relations, Cactus Communications, and Ritu Dhand, Chief Scientific Officer, Springer Nature. Show more

Keywords: SDGs, scholarly publishing, APE 2024, panel discussion, science communication

DOI: 10.3233/ISU-240017

Citation: Information Services & Use, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 203-214, 2024

Authors: Feetham-Walker, Laura | Holst, Faye | Chapman, Hannah | Dixon, Miriam

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Laura Feetham-Walker, Reviewer Engagement Manager at IOP Publishing, recently won the Academic Publishing in Europe (APE) Innovation award for invigorating the peer review process with the launch of the Peer Review Excellence programme , a comprehensive training and recognition programme, and introducing co-review and reviewer feedback. In this paper, we discuss how IOP Publishing has implemented these innovations and how they can future-proof a process that has served the academic community for centuries. We also discuss how some of these innovations have already proven effective in counteracting the peer review crisis.

Keywords: Peer review, IOP Publishing, APE 2024, innovation award, training, recognition, scholarly publishing

DOI: 10.3233/ISU-240011

Citation: Information Services & Use, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 215-220, 2024

Authors: Wilson, Martin | Charkin, Richard

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Martin Wilson interviewed Richard Charkin about his biography “My Back Pages” in APE’s wake-up session on the second day of the conference. In the memoir, Charkin reflects on fifty years in the business in an “undeniably personal history of publishing”. This paper includes excerpts from the memoir, and an introduction by Martin Wilson.

Keywords: Publishing, history, memoir, biography, interview, APE 2024, Academic Publishing in Europe, career

DOI: 10.3233/ISU-240008

Citation: Information Services & Use, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 221-222, 2024

Authors: Roelandse, Martijn | Day, Adam | Altena, Tijmen | Løvland Manheim, Harald | Lumb, Elliot | Campos, Benito

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper reports on the Dotcoms to Watch session at Academic Publishing in Europe (APE) 2024. Five out of the seven selected startups that gave a brief presentation in the session expand upon their talks and reflect on their participation. They are Clear Skies, Global Campus, Ludenso, Signals and Visual Abstract. The startups address challenges faced by the scholarly publishing industry and deal with research integrity, identifying and combating papermills, peer reviewer identification and matchmaking, and graphical abstracts.

Keywords: Dotcoms to Watch, APE 2024, research integrity, papermills, peer review, graphical abstracts

DOI: 10.3233/ISU-240004

Citation: Information Services & Use, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 223-227, 2024

Authors: Fund, Sven | Dyke, Gareth

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Incentives for efforts expended in peer review remain controversial, as one of us [https://www.morressier.com/o/event/655b8f316515150019d5f90b/sessions/6569ca7c8d0e640013427ec3?eventId=655b8f316515150019d5f90b ] reported at the recent APE Meeting in Berlin 2024. Publishers and researchers have different views on if, and how, peer review should and could be rewarded. We surveyed researchers regularly performing peer review for journals as well as editors and journal managers who assign articles in order to look at the use of incentives and how these influence behavior. Incentives for peer review remain relatively rare overall: Results show that more than 80% of editorial board members said they ‘did not reward’ or ‘rewarded in …less than 25% of cases’, while, at the same time, the same proportion of respondents felt that rewarding peer reviewers would be a good idea. The majority of our respondents felt that giving ‘something was better than nothing’ and that a token incentive would help. In terms of actual rewards, APC tokens are both wanted (52%) and awarded (42%) while certificates are given far more (43%) than they are actually wanted (12%). Surprisingly, money is given out far less (4%) than wanted (27%); this reward is not actually desired as much as one might expect. Show more

Keywords: APE 2024, peer review, reviewer rewards, STM publishing

DOI: 10.3233/ISU-240003

Citation: Information Services & Use, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 229-235, 2024

Authors: Rahman, Mostafizur | Atikuzzaman, Md.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The main aim of the present study is to investigate public university students’ social media-based copyright awareness as well as their knowledge-sharing practices. Students from a public university in Bangladesh were the target population of the study. A well-structured questionnaire was designed using Google Forms and distributed to the students via different social media platforms. A total of 267 students responded to the survey. The findings of the study showed that most of the students use Facebook and YouTube to connect with their friends and family. The majority of the students were aware of SM-based copyright practices and reported giving …credit to the original writer while sharing their writings on SM. The test results found significant differences in students’ SM-based knowledge-sharing practices based on their awareness regarding SM terms and services and self-reported frequency of violating copyright in SM. However, students’ SM-based knowledge-sharing practices were significantly associated with their years of experience with SM, awareness regarding SM copyright terms and services, and their self-reported frequency of copyright violation. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt in Bangladesh to examine public University students’ social media-based copyright awareness and knowledge-sharing practices. Show more

Keywords: Copyright awareness, social media, knowledge sharing, demographic differences, University students, Bangladesh

DOI: 10.3233/ISU-240006

Citation: Information Services & Use, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 237-254, 2024

Authors: Yu, Jian

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Blockchain technology provides a technical solution for the challenges faced by e-government, such as low efficiency, excessive energy consumption, and lack of trust mechanisms. It can promote the establishment of a more efficient and high-quality government service system, thereby enhancing the public trust of the government. Although blockchain technology provides theoretical innovation to traditional governance structures with its decentralization, consensus mechanisms, and enhanced trust, its impact and ability to transform existing governance structures still have limitations in practical applications. Based on an in-depth analysis of the concept and application boundaries of blockchain, this article explores its value in the field …of e-government. At the same time, it systematically proposes strategic suggestions to promote the development of blockchain technology in the field of e-government from multiple aspects such as institutional construction, technical standardization, and professional talent cultivation, in response to its limitations and application risks. By accelerating technology research and development and standard construction, strengthening high-level promotion, optimizing promotion competition mechanisms, and conducting rooted research, the application and promotion of blockchain in government governance can be accelerated, laying a solid foundation for building a future intelligent and transparent government service model. Show more

Keywords: Blockchain, e-government, application scenarios, government informationization, government management

DOI: 10.3233/ISU-240013

Citation: Information Services & Use, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 255-266, 2024