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Researchers 'Open for Collaboration' Through UK Libraries

By Allison Elliott-Shannon

(Oct. 22, 2015) — Open Access is a consistent theme in university libraries across the world, as researchers seek to share and collaborate in new ways. “Open for Collaboration” is the theme of Open Access Week 2015, a global event taking place Oct. 19–25. As scholars, research institutions and funding agencies acknowledge the benefits of open access, they have made an increasing number of scholarly content freely available online for people to reuse and build upon for innovation. 

An advocate for open access, University of Kentucky Libraries has forged collaborative partnerships with various campus units to enable free online access to unique research and scholarship via UK’s institutional repository, UKnowledge. UKnowledge houses remarkable collections. Just like the theme of Open Access Week, UK Libraries is open for collaboration. UK faculty and students interested in using the resources and services made available by UKnowledge can contact Adrian Ho, director of Digital Scholarship at UK Libraries, for information and assistance. 

Highlights from the UKnowledge Open Access collection:

Ablation Workshop

Alexandre Martin from the UK College of Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering has been a key organizer of the NASA-sponsored Ablation Workshop in the past few years. To ensure high visibility and ready access to the outcomes of the workshop, Martin collaborated with UK Libraries to publish online proceedings on UKnowledge. Scientists and engineers anywhere in the world who specialize in aerothermodynamic ablation can now effortlessly access papers, presentations and test cases discussed at the workshop with just a few clicks. 

A Glimpse into Ancient Mexico: Writings of the Aztecs, Mixtec and Maya

To celebrate ¡Viva México! in the 2013-14 academic year, Chris Pool and Barry Kidder from the UK College of Arts and Sciences Department of Anthropology annotated facsimile codices housed in UK Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center and had them digitized for a virtual exhibit. The annotated images, which can be examined in detail using UKnowledge’s zoom and pan functionalities, tell little-known stories about the ancient cultures in Mexico. Some intriguing images in the exhibit have attracted attention from around the world and have been downloaded hundreds of times. 

Agricultural Economics Textbook Gallery

David L. Debertin, a professor emeritus of the UK College of Agriculture Department of Agricultural Economics, is a leader in knowledge sharing. Based on his experience of teaching applied economics, he authored and self-published five textbooks and made them freely downloadable online. One of the textbooks offers 98 pages of illustrations that demonstrate Debertin’s skills as a production economist and also as a graphics artist. Another title provides spreadsheets, PowerPoint slides and class materials to facilitate teaching and learning in the digital era. 

disClosure: A Journal of Social Theory

Published by the Committee on Social Theory in the College of Arts and Sciences, disClosure is an annual thematic scholarly journal that investigates new directions in contemporary social theory through a variety of media including scholarly essays, poetry and visual art. The complete run of 24 issues is freely accessible via UKnowledge. disClosure welcomes new submissions to the 2016 issue. More information is available in the call for papers.

Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center Special Report

The Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC) is a partnership between the Kentucky Department for Public Health and UK’s College of Public Health. Its studies cover important topics and combine rigorous academic inquiry with practical public health initiatives. KIPRC has also published other reports that address work-related fatality.