Publishing OA – interested in getting started in OA?

The goal of Open Science, making the results of research freely accessible to all, leads naturally to an open access publishing model. Today there are many ways to share research findings and supporting data. Repositories, whether based on discipline or university affiliation, have long played a significant role in providing access to scholarly articles prior to their final publication or as homes to open books, data, or models. Open access publishers and their journals have gained credibility and publish many highly cited articles. And an increasing number of subscription-based publishers offer OA publishing options in their journals.
See our Open Access guide (https://libguides.lib.mtu.edu/openaccess) or contact library @mtu.edu for more information.

Open Access Week – Open Science

Open Science is not new. In fact it may be older than you think. The concept of sharing scientific knowledge can be traced to 17th century Europe, where the demand for shared knowledge and discoveries was so great it gave birth to scholarly societies and academic journals. Built on the notion that scientific research best benefits humanity when shared, open science encourages free or open access to the processes and products of research. This may include open peer review, methodology, tools, research results, data, and subsequent education tools.

Michigan Tech is no stranger to the principles of Open Science. The University hosts the Astrophysics Source Code Library (http://ascl.net/) and Michigan Tech Open Source Hardware initiative (https://openhardware.eit.mtu.edu/). In the last five years at least 1450 scientific articles have been published open access by Michigan Tech faculty and researchers. And the university’s repository, Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech continues to grow its collections of OA works.

Want to learn more? Contact us at library@mtu.edu!

Open Access Week 2021

The 2021 Open Access Week Advisory Committee chose the theme “It Matters How We Open Knowledge: Building Structural Equity.” OA week is October 25-31 this year and to celebrate, the library is sharing a series of posts related to this theme. Today, we share with you part of the Advisory committee’s discussion of the theme itself:

“This year’s theme intentionally aligns with the recently released UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, of which Open Access is a crucial component. Circulated in draft form following discussion by representatives of UNESCO’s 193 member countries, the Recommendation powerfully articulates and centers the importance of equity in pursuing a future for scholarship that is open by default.

Open Science should embrace a diversity of knowledge, practices, workflows, languages, research outputs and research topics that support the needs and epistemic pluralism of the scientific community as a whole, diverse research communities and scholars, as well as the wider public and knowledge holders beyond the traditional scientific community, including Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and social actors from different countries and regions, as appropriate. (UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, Page 7)”

Read the entire discussion of this year’s theme on the OA Week blog here: http://www.openaccessweek.org/profiles/blogs/2021-theme-announcement-english 

Tomorrow we’ll explore exactly what the term Open Science means and why it’s important for an institution like Michigan Technological University. 

Erin Matas Named Association of Research Libraries Leadership Fellow

Erin Matas, Director of the Van Pelt and Opie Library

Library Director Erin Matas is one of 20 information professionals selected from the U.S. and Canada to join the 2021-22 ARL Leadership Fellows cohort. The ARL Leadership Fellowship develops and prepares the next generation of senior library and archival leaders. Past Leadership Fellows have emerged as successful leaders in a wide array of roles and settings, including as deans and directors of leading research libraries and archives.

“I am thrilled to join this cohort because of the impact that the program’s goals will have on my approach to library leadership,” says Matas. “ARL’s priority is to advance scholarship through systemic changes at the intersections of public policy, institutional policy and the ever-changing landscape of how we research, teach and learn. This program is an exceptional opportunity for library leaders to join these conversations and bring important guidance to their home institutions.”

In their press release, ARL shared that the 2021-22 cohort brings together an immensely diverse and highly accomplished group of library leaders, representing the broadest range of research institutions and communities since the program began in 2004.

Provost Jackie Huntoon noted that Michigan Tech is proud to have a representative in the 2021-22 cohort of ARL Leadership Fellows. “Matas’ outstanding contributions on campus and beyond have clearly contributed to her selection. By participating as a Fellow, Erin will be able to continue to grow as a library professional and contribute her knowledge of best practices to the Michigan Tech community.”

Matas has been the director of the J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library since August 2020 and is also a graduate student in the Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors department.

“Irish by Invironment”*

The East Reading Room • October 14th, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

A presentation and interactive discussion with John Haeussler, sharing his research on local hockey players who made it big with Notre Dame in the early 1900s.
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When Notre Dame played its first informal hockey game in 1912, a student from Calumet was one of the stars. When the Irish began intercollegiate play in 1921, their roster featured three more Calumet High School alums.

ND’s first intercollegiate game was at the Amphidrome in Houghton; its first intercollegiate win at the Colosseum in Calumet.

In this 100th anniversary year, this presentation highlights the Copper Country’s contributions to Notre Dame Hockey’s formative years.
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John Haeussler has authored or co-authored two books on Hancock history. His current project is a biography of Bill Gray, the first Calumet High School alumnus to star at Notre Dame.

*The University of Notre Dame Football Review 1921, quoting legendary ND coach Knute Rockne, had this to say about Calumet’s Hunk Anderson and Ojay Larson: “Neither is of Celtic origin but as Rockne puts it, ‘they are Irish by invironment.’”

Image courtesy of Jim Bognar.

The BIG READ Community Reading Project and Discussion

Thursday, October 28th, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Portage Lake District Library.

Join the discussion of Joy Harjo’s “An American Sunrise” led by local author T. Marie Bertineau and poet M. Bartley Seigel.

This collection of poems chronicles Harjo’s journey of reconnecting with her ancestors and coming to terms with the removal history of her people from their homelands.

Pick up your free copy of the poetry collection at the Van Pelt and Opie Library or Portage Lake District Library starting October 1st.

Michigan Tech’s Van Pelt and Opie Library and Portage Lake District Library invite community members to participate in The NEA Big Read, a community reading project spanning the Upper Peninsula spearheaded by Peter White Public Library in Marquette.

NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

Archives Expanding Appointment Availability for Fall 2021

The Michigan Tech Archives will continue to operate on a by-appointment basis during the fall 2021 semester (Aug. 30 to Dec. 17) with expanded hours to include appointments on Mondays.

Appointments may be scheduled from 1-5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Requests for appointments must be confirmed by staff at least one business day prior to the desired time and are subject to availability.

Special accommodations for faculty seeking an on-site instruction session for their academic courses outside of the regular appointment period can be made — please contact the department for more information.

On-site research appointments in the Michigan Tech Archives can be scheduled via email at copper@mtu.edu, by phone at 906-487-2505, or by submitting a request through the online form.

Remote research services will remain robust and uninterrupted during this time, and questions may be directed to the contact information above. Online collections are always available on the web or through the library’s online catalog.

The Michigan Tech Archives is currently adhering to campus health and safety protocols. Please see the MTU Flex site for the latest COVID-19 related information and procedures.

Black History Month – with the USPTO

Michigan Tech’s Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) invites you to celebrate Black History Month by attending two free events hosted by the USPTO. Registration is required.

On Wednesday, February 10, get valuable insights from inventors Aprille Ericsson, Ayanna Howard, and Arlyne Simon during the “Three contemporary Black women inventors” online event. The panelists’ careers include success in areas as varied as mechanical engineering, robotics, writing successful books for young inventors, and more. Slots are limited, so register today for this free special event.

On Friday, February 12, learn firsthand from Philadelphia-based artist Elizabeth “Liz” Montague and Google Doodle team art director Angelica McKinley about how large scale creative projects are produced from concept to launch. During “A focus on business—The collaboration between cartoonist and illustrator Liz Montague and Google art director Angelica McKinley,” get a behind-the-scenes view of how they created the first guest artist Google Doodle slide show featuring groundbreaking Black cartoonist and activist Jackie Ormes. Register early for this free special event.

For more information on patents and trademarks and to schedule a remote consultation, contact Michigan Tech’s PTRC at library@mtu.edu.

Current Library Services

All floors and most study rooms of the library are open Monday through Thursday: 8am – Midnight; Friday: 8am – 7pm; and Saturday and Sunday 9am – 5pm. Outside these hours, the 24 hour spaces on the first and second floor can be accessed by swiping your ID at the door on the west side of the building (MUB side). Materials from the collection can be checked out at the Circulation Desk or picked up curbside. Productivity tools (laptops, calculators, etc.) are also available at the Circulation Desk or curbside.

The Michigan Tech Archives are open on a modified appointment-only basis. Appointments may be scheduled from 1pm to 5pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, subject to availability. Request an appointment via email at copper@mtu.edu, by phone at (906) 487-2505, or through our appointment form. As in the fall semester, appointment requests must be confirmed by an archives staff member a minimum of 24 hours in advance.

Remote research/reference help, consultations via Zoom, are available Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Online library instruction support is available by appointment. Interlibrary loan services are available from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Both physical and digital items may be requested.

Face coverings and social distancing are required inside the library building. All visitors to campus should fill out the Michigan Tech Visitor Symptom Tracking Form.

For updates visit the library homepage and FAQ page.