May 2020
NISO Virtual Conference:
Making Content Accessible: How Can Publishers and Libraries Better Satisfy the Obligation?
Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 12:00 pm Noon - 4:00 pm (Eastern Time)
Institutions of higher education (IHEs) have a legal and moral obligation to support the information needs of those in their community -- whether student or faculty -- to provide access to content regardless of individual ability or need for accommodation. They are required to provide access to information resources that are as close as possible to those resources provided to individuals who do not experience those impairments. But what goes into making an ebook, a textbook, or other course materials fully accessible? This event will bring together stakeholders to discuss current efforts made to ensure that all content is accessible and the challenges still to be overcome.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Violaine Iglesias, CEO & Co-founder, Cadmore Media
- Jamie Axelrod, Director, Disability Resources, Northern Arizona University
- Kara Kroes Li, Director of Product Management, EBSCO
- Rachel Comerford, Senior Director of Content Standards and Accessibility, Macmillan Learning
- George Kerscher, Chief Innovations Officer, DAISY Consortium
- Michael Johnson, Director, Content Partnerships, Benetech
NISO Training Series:
Agile Product and Project Management for Information Products and Services
Thursday, May 14, 2020 - July 2, 2020, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm (Eastern Time)
The past decade has seen a transformation in the way that information products and services are built with the shift to agile development methodologies. Agile approaches advocate incremental development driven by cross-functional, self-directed teams. Unlike more traditional waterfall methodologies, Agile allows teams to learn and adapt their approach along the way, validating that what they are building actually meets user needs. However, adopting agile does not mean doing away with planning all together and scaling agile to larger projects can be a challenge. Discipline and good practices are still required to ensure that resources are used wisely and overall project goals are met.
This training course is aimed at early-to-mid career professionals developing information products and services in the publishing, library technology and scholarly communications communities. Whether developing free, open-source services for the community or more traditional paid-for services, attendees will hear about key aspects of agile product development and project management for seasoned practitioners who have gained hard-won experience about what works and what doesn’t.
By the end of the course, attendees will have a good understanding of:
- The stages of agile product development
- Techniques for planning, managing and tracking agile projects
- The distinct roles that make up an agile team
- The key behaviors and processes which are important for success
Course Moderator and Guest Lecturers
Chris Shillum, Principal, Swiss House Information, will be serving as course moderator.
Guest Lecturers Include:
- Jonathan Clark, Principal, Jonathan Clark & Partners
- Eric Swenson, President, Swensonia Consulting
- Serena Rosenhan, VP, User Experience Design, Proquest
- Patricia Brennan, Director of Product, Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative
- Geoffrey Bilder, Director of Technology and Research, Crossref
- Deborah Boock, Senior Program Manager, Elsevier
The series consists of eight (8) segments, one per week and each lasting approximately 60-90 minutes.
NFAIS Forethought Webinar:
NFAIS Forethought: Artificial Intelligence #2 – Processes for Media Analysis and Extraction
Wednesday, May 20, 2020, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm (Eastern Time)
In order to implement artificial intelligence in a meaningful way, organizations with large collections of data must ensure that they have the support they need for processing, analyzing, and extracting meaningful data. Typically, this involves working with a technology provider with AI expertise. But what do you need to know before engaging their services? This event will help you answer this question by learning from the experience of others, as speakers from a variety of backgrounds address the practical needs, barriers, and benefits of embarking upon this process.
Confirmed speakers in this event include
- Jake Zarnegar, Chief Business Development Officer, Silverchair;
- Ruth Pickering, Co-Founder and Chief Business Development and Strategy Officer, Yewno
- Stuart Maxwell, Chief Operating Officer, Scholarly iQ.
NOTE: ALL members of NISO automatically receive sign-on credentials for this event as a member benefit. There is no need to register separately. Check your institutional membership status here.
June 2020
NISO Webinar:
No More Big Deal? Picking and Choosing Titles for Use
Wednesday, June 10 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm (Eastern Time)
More than 20 years since it was first introduced, some institutions are moving away from the “Big Deal”, which licenses institutional access to a critical mass of content. There are pros and cons of doing so, and this roundtable discussion will bring together speakers from institutions that have already stepped back from such deals and those for whom taking that step is — for whatever reason—- not yet an option. They will consider questions such as: What do their respective collection budgets permit? Do researcher or departmental needs run the risk of being sidelined or overlooked in either scenario? Is it really possible — or desirable — to go back to selecting content just for your own community’s needs?
This webinar is for everyone who wants to know more about this important topic, whether you work at an institution that is considering making — or has already made — this change, or at a publishing or other organization that is interested in understanding more about the decision-making process.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Keith Webster, Dean of University Libraries, Carnegie Mellon University
- Evviva Weinraub, Vice Provost for University Libraries, State University of New York at Buffalo
- Darby Orcutt, Assistant Head, Collections & Research Strategy, North Carolina State University.
NOTE: ALL members of NISO automatically receive sign-on credentials for this event as a member benefit. There is no need to register separately. Check your institutional membership status here.
NISO Virtual Conference:
Changes in Higher Education and The Information Marketplace
Wednesday, June 17, 2020, 12:00 pm Noon - 4:00 pm (Eastern Time)
Pressures on institutions of higher education in the United States became weightier in 2020, as universities and colleges of all sizes dealt with COVID-19. There was a focus on de-densifying campuses and adapting to a different type of pedagogy. Looking ahead to the next academic year, reductions in funding will severely constrict the work of extended state systems. Institutions face a shrinking pool of qualified student applicants. There will be heightened competition for research grants. Donations and endowments must be secured and guarded.
At the same time, there is new familiarity with educational technology, gains made through adoption of new infrastructure. Open educational resources, online learning and deepened digital engagement are positioned to become the norm. How does all of this impact on the long-term strategic planning for libraries and the providers that serve them? This event will gather key decision-makers from a variety of constituencies to address the "new normal" and consider the long-term implications for participating stakeholders.
Confirmed speakers for this event include:
- Linda Jones, Provost, Western New England University
- Dennis Clark, Dean of the Library, University of Arkansas
- Ralph Youngen, Director, Publishing Systems Integration, American Chemical Society
- Roger Schonfeld, Director, Libraries, Scholarly Communication, and Museums program, Ithaka
- Amy Pawlowski, Interim Executive Director, Ohiolink
- Dean O. Smith, Professor Emeritus, University of Hawaii, & Author of How University Budgets Work (2019, JHU Press)