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    February 27th, 2020LISWire aggregatorUncategorized

    EBSCO Information Services Acquires Linked Data Infrastructure Provider, Zepheira
    ~ Zepheira Uncovers Connections to Library Data and Supports Open Discovery ~

    IPSWICH, Mass. — February 27, 2020 — EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Zepheira, a provider of large-scale, decentralized linked data infrastructure. Zepheira’s mission is to connect libraries, archives and museums to make the world a smarter place. Zepheira uncovers previously hidden data and insights for patrons and facilitates connections between library systems and the open web. This acquisition reinforces EBSCO’s commitment to making information available when, where and how users need it.

    The team behind Zepheira were leaders within the Semantic Web Initiative for the World Wide Web Consortia (W3C) while at MIT and co-founded the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative at OCLC. More recently Zepheira provided the technical leadership for the Library of Congress in developing the BIBFRAME Linked Data standard for bibliographic data. These are trusted and highly utilized data standards and working groups setting industry standards in both the library and broader information services community.

    Zepheira’s linked data technology allows library data to be referenced on the open web and in knowledge panels by service providers such as Google. This makes it easier to bring additional patrons into the library system, expanding the reach of its content, and provides enriched and contextually relevant information for patrons. Following the integration of library collections data into the Google knowledge panel at the end of last year, the impact of these technologies for libraries is increasing. EBSCO first partnered with Zepheira in 2015 and the partnership includes data enrichment services with NoveList® Select, offering additional data access points to patrons searching for reading resources.

    Zepheira’s expertise and technologies combined with EBSCO’s resources, library collections and open web resources will bring advanced new capabilities to shared products and services. In the future, Zepheira’s linked data capabilities will have far-ranging applications across information discovery, resource management and stewardship.

    Founder and CEO of Zepheira, Eric Miller, says joining EBSCO is a great next step for Zepheira. “Our companies’ missions and cultures are closely aligned. With our combined capabilities and resources, we can more effectively weave the best of what libraries and the web offer each other and deliver increased value to the communities we both care about.”

    EBSCO Information Services Vice President, NoveList, Danielle Borasky, says this combination will leverage the power of EBSCO’s depth and breadth of content and large network of partners. “We know how important it is for libraries to be more visible and connected to their communities. We have been working with Zepheira to help libraries increase their reach and expand their data, making their collections available to a wider audience. With this acquisition, we look to continue our mission to make it easy for patrons to find the information they need through their library, anytime, anywhere.”

    About EBSCO Information Services
    EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is the leading discovery service provider for libraries worldwide with more than 11,000 discovery customers in over 100 countries. EBSCO Discovery Service™ (EDS) provides each institution with a comprehensive, single search box for its entire collection, offering unparalleled relevance ranking quality and extensive customization. EBSCO is also the preeminent provider of online research content for libraries, including hundreds of research databases, historical archives, point-of-care medical reference, and corporate learning tools serving millions of end users at tens of thousands of institutions. EBSCO is the leading provider of electronic journals & books for libraries, with subscription management for more than 360,000 serials, including more than 57,000 e-journals, as well as online access to more than 1,000,000 e-books. For more information, visit the EBSCO website at: www.ebsco.com. EBSCO Information Services is a division of EBSCO Industries Inc., a family owned company since 1944.

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    For more information, please contact:
    Kathleen McEvoy
    Vice President of Communications
    (800) 653-2726 ext. 2594
    kmcevoy@ebsco.com

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    February 26th, 2020LISWire aggregatorUncategorized

    Gale Presents: Udemy Connects Patrons to On-Demand Video Courses for Personalized Learning and Upskilling

    PLA Conference, NASHVILLE, Tenn. – February 26, 2020 – Gale, a Cengage company, today announced the launch of Gale Presents: Udemy, a new online learning platform for public libraries – powered by Udemy for Business – that provides patrons access to over 4,000 high-quality, on-demand video courses taught by world-class instructors across more than 75 categories. Now libraries can provide patrons with a personalized learning experience to gain the skills they need to compete in today’s economy.

    As the employment landscape continuously changes, workers are being tasked to learn new technologies and skills to stay competitive. Studies show that on average, workers change jobs 12 times in their lifetime[i], making it essential for libraries to offer services that help adults build new skills that align with industry trends and to prepare for the shift toward workforce automation. Gale Presents: Udemy empowers users to keep up with these demands, providing upskilling opportunities in areas such as business, tech, design and more to enable professional and personal success.

    View the video on Gale Presents: Udemy, here: http://bit.ly/2VmFEoS.

    “We partnered with Udemy because we have a shared belief in the power and joy of learning. Our mission for public libraries is to expand their role within the communities they serve by supporting their commitment to lifelong learning and workforce development,” said Paul Gazzolo, senior vice president and general manager at Gale. “Gale Presents: Udemy helps achieve this by providing self-paced, personalized learning opportunities that help libraries transform lives.”

    With a library card, along with a Google or Microsoft account at participating public libraries, patrons can access thousands of online courses as well as select instructors and content that best match their skills needs and learning preferences. Users can filter search results by course features, competency level, duration, topic and ratings, enabling them to pave their own learning journey. When courses are completed, users receive a certificate of course completion.

    “Libraries have always been centers for lifelong learning and personal and professional development, which is core to our mission at Udemy,” said Darren Shimkus, president of Udemy for Business. “We’re thrilled to partner with Gale to offer fresh content on relevant and cutting-edge topics, and arm patrons with the skills required in today’s workplace and beyond."

    Gale Presents: Udemy provides:

    • Unlimited, On-Demand Access to 4,000+ Curated Courses Across More Than 75 Categories: access to high-quality, in-demand content covering technical and business skills.

    • Curated Collection of Courses from the Udemy.com Marketplace: gives users access to the latest courses on top trending and relevant skills, helping them achieve success at work and in life.

    • Up-to-Date Courses: provides the most current and relevant content available on the market. Courses are updated or replaced monthly with new material on emerging topics, ensuring learners are developing skills in the most relevant, in-demand areas.

    • World-Class Instructors: users are taught by leading experts who are world-class thought leaders, subject matter experts, bestselling authors and award-winning professors who are working and making advancements in their fields.

    • Smart Recommendations: gives users course suggestions based on previous interactions with the platform.

    • Supplemental Course Resources: helps reinforce learning and put newly learned skills into practice. More than 60% of courses in Gale Presents: Udemy include assignments, quizzes, practice tests and coding exercises. Additionally, 90% of the courses offer subtitles and/or transcripts for video lectures to support a variety of learning styles.

    • Anytime, Anywhere Access: with the iOS and Android apps, users can download courses to view offline, listen with podcast-style audio and watch using Chromecast or Apple TV.

    Gale will showcase Gale Presents: Udemy at the Public Library Association (PLA) Conference, February 26-28 in Nashville, TN at Gale booth #712.

    For more information or to request a trial, visit the Gale Presents: Udemy webpage: http://bit.ly/2STILTz.

    About Cengage and Gale
    Cengage is the education and technology company built for learners. The company serves the higher education, K-12, professional, library and workforce training markets worldwide. Gale, a Cengage company, provides libraries with original and curated content, as well as modern research tools and technology that are crucial in connecting libraries to learning, and learners to libraries. For more than 60 years, Gale has partnered with libraries around the world to empower the discovery of knowledge and insights – where, when and how people need it. Gale has 500 employees globally with its main operations in Farmington Hills, Michigan. For more information, please visit www.gale.com.

    Follow Gale on:
    • Twitter - @galecengage
    • Gale blog - http://blog.gale.com/
    • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GaleCengage/

    Media Contact:
    Kayla Siefker, Gale, a Cengage company, 248-915-9624, kayla.siefker@cengage.com

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    [i] Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, “Number of Jobs, Labor Market Experience, and Earnings Growth: Results from a National Longitudinal Survey,” news release no. USDL-19-1520, August 22, 2019, https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/nlsoy.pdf.

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  • scissors
    February 24th, 2020LISWire aggregatorUncategorized

    The complete archive of The Book Collector, a literary journal founded by author Ian Fleming in 1952, is now available for individual and institutional subscriptions worldwide. It currently comprises 280 issues that can be seamlessly accessed on web, IOS and Android devices.

    Commenting on all aspects of the book, the quarterly issues of The Book Collector feature fascinating articles written by international experts together with book reviews, auction results indexed by title and author, details of book dealers’ catalogues and of exhibitions held worldwide. Ian Fleming, who was most famously known for his creation of the character of James Bond but who also had a lesser-known passion for book collecting, founded The Book Collector the same year that he wrote Casino Royale, the first Bond novel. The range and sharpness of the writing make The Book Collector an essential resource for all who are interested in our literary heritage, whether students, academics or literature enthusiasts.

    The new digital archive’s intuitive stacking interface means that each decade, year and issue benefits from the advanced search functionalities of the Exact Editions platform. Specific authors, articles and topics can be located instantly and shared with fellow subscribers at the touch of a button, constituting a seamless reader experience.

    The Book Collector is available in the Exact Editions individual and institutional shops here:

    Individuals: https://shop.exacteditions.com/the-book-collector

    Institutions: https://institutions.exacteditions.com/the-book-collector

    Publisher James Fleming said: “The brand new digital archive will be a resource that proves second to none to those who study or have a passion for literature. We’re excited to be working with Exact Editions to extend the journal’s reach to an international academic audience.”

    Managing Director of Exact Editions, Daryl Rayner, commented: “It’s a joy to have the complete archive of The Book Collector on the platform. The issues have transferred wonderfully to both web and mobile digital platforms and it will attract subscribers from around the globe.”

    About The Book Collector:

    The Book Collector has now been published without break for nearly seventy years. It comes out quarterly and offers 192 pages of wit, pleasure and knowledge on all aspects of the book. Each issue contains up to ten articles, illustrated as appropriate, plus reviews, prices at book auctions, obituaries and a section on world-wide book chat.

    About Exact Editions:

    Exact Editions is a digital publishing company based in London. It is a team of producers, developers and designers that turns periodicals with archives into dynamic, user-friendly digital editions. Exact Editions specialises in digitising content and selling subscriptions across web, iOS and Android platforms, for individuals and institutions.

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  • scissors
    February 20th, 2020LISWire aggregatorUncategorized

    Leiden / Boston / Paderborn / Singapore / Beijing – 20 February 2020

    Brill and The Hague Academy of International Law have renewed their co-publishing agreement for the publications of The Hague Academy, in print and online. With this new agreement the successful collaboration between the Academy and Brill of the past 15 years will be continued in the coming years.

    The publications of The Hague Academy include the Recueil des cours de l’Académie de droit international de La Haye/Collected Courses of The Hague Academy of International Law, the Centre for Studies and Research in International Law and the Pocket Book Series. All publications are available in print and electronic form.

    Erik De Baedts, Treasurer of The Hague Academy (based at the Peace Palace), says: “At times when tensions in international relations are rising, the field of international law is more important than ever. The publications the Hague Academy provides are a cornerstone in the further study and development of international law. The Academy highly appreciates the fact that Brill, through its networks and experience, is actively engaging in broader marketing and wider distribution of these publications throughout the world.”

    Hans van der Meij, Director of Academic Relations & Publishing Partnerships at Brill, comments: “We are very proud to continue our partnership with The Hague Academy of International Law in the coming years. We look forward to further expand the market coverage of its prestigious publishing program and to work with the Academy on the development of new publishing initiatives.”

    For more information on this collaboration, contact Hans van der Meij, Director of Academic Relations & Publishing Partnerships at Brill, via meij@brill.com.

    About The Hague Academy of International Law
    Since its beginning in 1923, The Hague Academy of International Law has been a leading center for high-level teaching and research in public and private international law. Every year, the Academy organizes its renowned Summer Courses for hundreds of participants from all over the world, and since 2019 it expanded its program with Winter Courses. The courses are given by distinguished experts, including academics, practitioners, diplomats, and other experts. The courses are published in the series Recueil des cours/Collected Courses, available both in print and electronic form.

    About Brill
    Founded in 1683 in Leiden, the Netherlands, Brill is a leading international academic publisher in Middle East and Islamic Studies, Asian Studies, Classical Studies, History, Biblical and Religious Studies, Languages & Linguistics, Literature & Cultural Studies, Philosophy, Biology, Education, Social Sciences and International Law. With offices in Leiden (NL), Boston (US), Paderborn (GER), Singapore (SG) and Beijing (CN), Brill today publishes over 300 journals and close to 1,400 new books and reference works each year, available in print and online. Brill also markets a large number of primary source research collections and databases. The company’s key customers are academic and research institutions, libraries, and scholars. Brill is a publicly traded company and is listed on Euronext Amsterdam NV. For further information, please visit Brill.com.

    View this media alert online: https://brill.com/newsitem/184/contract-renewal-the-hague-academy-of-int...

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  • scissors
    February 19th, 2020LISWire aggregatorUncategorized

    89 Middle Schools in Washington State Receive Curated Collection of Thorndike Press Large Print Books to Advance Literacy and Nurture Positive Reading Habits

    FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. and PULLMAN, Wash. – February 19, 2020 – Thorndike Press from Gale, a Cengage company, is helping the Washington State Library improve student literacy. The two organizations have partnered to deploy a special collection of 30 large print books to 89 middle school libraries across Washington state. Now reluctant and struggling readers have access to a valuable literacy intervention resource that not only strengthens and develops literacy skills, but also supports the development of lifelong reading habits students need to become future-ready learners.

    Research shows that large print text can improve reading confidence and skill level in students. A recent study conducted by Project Tomorrow®, an education nonprofit, indicates that students in grades 3-12 who read large print books developed stronger reading skills, felt more comfortable reading and adopted new, positive reading mindsets.

    “Reading is so important for overall learning and development. Our mission is to connect Washington through the power of libraries while building strong and informed communities, and reading accessibility is key to making that happen,” said Cindy Aden, Washington State Librarian. “We know that middle school can be a time when students’ reading habits may slow down and providing large print materials is one more way for school libraries to make sure their collections are accessible to all readers.”

    Thorndike Press large print books are similar in size and have the same cover art as the original edition. By using a 16-point font on thinner, higher quality paper and laying out the text to maximize the use of white space, the books reduce eyestrain and increase readability.

    The large print collection was funded by a grant program from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). All middle schools in Washington were eligible and invited to apply to receive the collection. Washington State Library selected Thorndike Press as a partner due to its broad selection of young adult titles, similar look to standard print editions and affordable pricing. Front Desk, The Stars Beneath our Feet, Dragon Pearl, On the Come Up and Puddin’ are among the 30 titles chosen by Washington State Library.

    Early reactions from grant recipients include:

    “We have a lot of students whose reading levels are well below middle school. Having large print books helps them access reading and books they generally are too afraid to try because of how long they are. With the larger font, they feel they can have a better chance at reading the book, don’t lose their place, and causes less frustration. The collection of books also gave them great variety for free choice.” –Middle School Librarian in Vancouver, WA

    “Several students have told me they really love the large print books because a larger font makes it ‘easier to read.’ I have no doubt, in the short time they've been available to students, they will continue to be popular. I have duplicate copies of several of these titles and when given a choice of format, I'm noticing that students actually prefer the large print.” –Middle School Librarian in Lacey, WA

    “I've had students choose to put a "regular" book back on the shelf so that they can take the large print edition instead.” –Middle School Librarian in Spokane Valley, WA

    “Large print materials are more than books, they are a gateway for students to find their passion for reading,” said Paul Gazzolo, senior vice president and general manager at Gale, a Cengage company. “The large print format is changing lives by providing readers with a literacy solution that works – I couldn’t be happier that we’re able to extend this opportunity to students across Washington state.”

    About Washington State Library
    The Washington State Library (WSL) is part of the Washington Office of the Secretary of State. Connecting Washington through the power of libraries, WSL seeks to build prosperous and informed communities by providing technology, access to information, and resources to its patrons. The Library connects Washingtonians to their history, employing digital initiatives and other preservation strategies to tell the stories of local communities and to celebrate our common heritage. In addition, WSL provides important resources for professional skills building and helps foster civic engagement by empowering state legislators and their staff, state agencies, and citizens with historical knowledge and research tools to make informed decisions.

    Follow WSL on:
    • Twitter - @WAStateLib
    • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonStateLibrary
    • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/washingtonstatelibrary/

    About Thorndike Press
    As the leading large print publisher, Thorndike Press from Gale, a Cengage company, helps readers of all ages enjoy books. Publishing unabridged reprints in large print format for middle grade and young adult readers started in 1999 and our catalog of more than 400 titles grows monthly with high-interest fiction and nonfiction books, including contemporary classics, award-winners and bestsellers. Our commitment to producing high quality, 100% guaranteed large print books supports young readers as they develop the skills necessary to become successful, confident, lifelong readers.

    Follow Thorndike Press on:
    • Twitter - @ThorndikePress
    • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ThorndikePress/

    About Cengage and Gale
    Cengage is the education and technology company built for learners. The company serves the higher education, K-12, professional, library and workforce training markets worldwide. Gale, a Cengage company, provides libraries with original and curated content, as well as the modern research tools and technology that are crucial in connecting libraries to learning, and learners to libraries. For more than 60 years, Gale has partnered with libraries around the world to empower the discovery of knowledge and insights – where, when and how people need it. Gale has 500 employees globally with its main operations in Farmington Hills, Michigan. For more information, please visit www.gale.com.

    Follow Gale on:
    • Twitter - @galecengage
    • Gale blog - http://blog.gale.com/
    • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GaleCengage/

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