About Mark MacEachern

I'm a health sciences librarian living and working in the midwest US.  I'll try to stay focused on 'matters librarian', but I can't promise anything. 

Contact me:

healthscienceslibrarian [at] gmail.com

Search
Navigation
Twitter
Links
Currently Reading
Friday
Jul302010

Digital Copyright

Attended (a portion of) a Copyright unconference at work this afternoon.  Jessica Litman opened the event w/ a talk re-establishing the importance of the end user in defining and redefining copyright.  Post-Litman, the session broke down into some break-aways.  Nice event - but didn't get to attend much beyond the (Litman) plenary.

Litman's book - Digital Copyright - is BTW available as a free download from the UM Library's institutional repository, Deep Blue.  Have d/l'd and will give it the 'ol read through later this year. 

Tuesday
Jul062010

How Google Works

Alright - the whole image doesn't fit here.  Too wide.  So - click out to see it all.  Stumbled on via Stephen's Lighthouse.

How Does Google Work?

Infographic by PPC Blog

 

Thursday
Jun172010

Video: NIH Peer Review Revealed

Earlier this week (possibly yesterday), the NIH released an excellent 14 min video on the process they use to evaluate grant applications.  From the news release:

The National Institutes of Health's Center for Scientific Review (CSR) today released a new video to show new applicants and others how NIH assesses over 80,000 grant applications each year to help find those with the most merit. With the majority of NIH’s $31 billion budget supporting grants to researchers, these assessments help ensure investments lead to significant advances in science and health.

"The video provides an inside look at the dynamic way reviewers evaluate NIH grant applications," said CSR Director Dr. Toni Scarpa. "You'll see the rigor and integrity of their efforts, which have enabled NIH to identify ground-breaking research year after year."

Also take a look at NIH Tips for Applicants.

Wednesday
Jun162010

On... Communication

...from the introduction to my copy of Gombrowicz's Ferdydurke:

...at worst the book will pass unnoticed, but friends and acquaintances when they meet me will certainly feel under an obligation to say to me the sort of thing that is always said when an author publishes a book.  I should like to ask them to do nothing of the sort.  No, let them say nothing, because, as a result of all sorts of falsifications, the social situation of the so-called 'artist' in our times has become so pretentious that whatever can be said in such circumstances sounds false, and the more sincerity and simplicity you put into your 'I enjoyed it enormously' or 'I like it very much indeed', the more shameful it is for him and for you.  I therefore beg you to keep silent.  Keep silent in hope of a better future.  For the time being - if you wish to let me know that the book pleased you - when you see me simply touch your right ear.  If you touch your left ear, I shall know that you didn't like it, and if you touch your nose it will mean that you are not sure... thus we shall avoid uncomfortable and even ridiculous situations and understand each other in silence.  My greetings to all.

Sunday
Jun132010

Plagiarism Video

[Cross-posted on Re:Generations]

A nice video on plagiarism, but I wonder how effective these types of scare tactics are in getting students to play by the rules.  I'm also skeptical of plagiarism detection services like Ephorus and Turn-it-in, and am opposed to their use and promotion in higher education.  But - besides that, the video's well-made...

via  Librarians Matter