Scholarly Communication and Publishing Research Group

This research group was set up to investigate all areas of digital publishing and scholarly communication. The research group is headed by Dr Jenny Fry of the Information Science Department at Loughborough University.

Remit

We are developing a broad approach to scholarly communication which focuses on digital scholarship including informal communication, data sharing and virtual research environments. Digital publishing is also defined in the broadest sense, with an emphasis on scholarly and academic publishing, but not excluding other types of publishing. Digital publishing is defined as the use of electronic networks for the creation, structuring, retrieval and dissemination of organised bodies of information that are intended for use beyond a closed group of users. Web, online and CD-ROM publishing will be covered, as will electronic methods of administration and pre-press leading primarily to printed publications.

Aspects of scholarly communication and publishing to be covered will include technical, social, psychological, economic, legal and business approaches to the study of electronic publishing.

Activities

The objectives are:

• The encouragement of joint or collaborative research between different members of the group
  
• Pooling of expertise and information about possible funding sources and the development of research proposalsPublication of research articles and presentations at conferences based on collaborative research work undertaken within EPICentre
  
• The operation of a private e-mail discussion list for members
  
• The operation of a website
  
• The holding of regular meetings

Members

Jenny Fry, Steve Probets, John Feather, James Dearnley, Charles Oppenheim, Ann O'Brien, Sally Maynard, Anne Morris.

Projects

• Current and recent Projects
  • Behavioural research: Authors and users vis‑à‑vis journals and repositories
  • Publication and dissemination behaviour of Researchers and the influence of research assessment 2009
  • Registry of Electronic Licences (Oppenheim & Probets). JISC funded.
  • Web Analytics Evaluation (Dearnley).
• Past Projects
  • UK Scholarly Journals Baseline Report
  • Copyright Knowledge Bank (Oppenheim & Probets). JISC funded.
  • A Delivery, Management and Access Model for E-prints (Rowland).
  • Electronic Books in Public Libraries (Dearnley, McKnight & Morris).
  • RoMEO project (Oppenheim & Probets). JISC funded.
  • Survey on the use of different forms of Scholarly Output (Maynard + Oppenheim). JISC funded.

  Many of these projects have been undertaken in association with other research groups or with external partners.

Contacting us:
For further information on the group, its research projects or inquiries concerning research or consultancy, please contact Dr Jenny Fry on 01509-223074, e mail : J.Fry@lboro.ac.uk