Description: This paper discusses open access and scholarly communication. The synergies of numerous emerging trends such as the development of open source software, global and explosive growth of social networking, interinstitutional data sharing, cross discipline collaborations, etc. provide new directions for scholarship. The rapid pace of development poses new threats and challenges to scholarly communication as well. Open access is increasingly viewed as a popular alternative to traditional distribution methods. Despite the overwhelming agreement regarding the concept of open access, there are however, significant differences and debate about a number of issues. This panel brings together diverse stakeholders, explores the current landscape and future direction of scholarly communication, and reflects on the overall implications on global scholarship.

Description: This paper discusses organizational alignment. Digital preservation is not just a technical issue: there are also many organizational implications that must be addressed. This essay first identifies requirements that distinguish successful from unsuccessful modes of organizing digital preservation and long-term access, then presents a series of case studies that examine examples of addressing those requirements. These case studies all represent cooperative or collaborative approaches, in keeping with current research that demonstrates that institutions must share the financial and organizational burden of digital preservation in order to make it cost-effective. The case studies are drawn both from Europe and the United States, and include both single repository solutions and distributed preservation networks. A special role is played by so-called "enabling institutions" - national or regional initiatives established to raise awareness of the issues and promote cooperation in research and development. The essay concludes by considering possible areas for community alignment and next steps.

Description: This paper accompanies a poster presentation on patron driven acquisitions. The ups and downs of initiating and assessing a patron acquisitions program at the University of North Texas (UNT) will be highlighted. Emphasis will be placed on changing the philosophy of collection development, how to start the program (through a jobber or direct), coordinating print and electronic acquisitions processes, and assessing the first year's purchases.

Description: This paper discusses assessments. Assessment is an essential part of a quality library instruction program. Librarians learn in library school, at conferences, in articles, and on the job that continuous assessment is necessary to ensure instruction is relevant and effective. So why aren't librarians implementing more assessment programs? Teachers of K-12 and college instructors have used assessment for innumerable years to determine if students are learning concepts and meeting objectives. The thought of not using assessment in the classroom is unthinkable for the majority of teachers. As librarians are doing more and more teaching and are considered teaching faculty in many school districts and at many institutions of higher education, it is more important than ever that we implement assessments in library classrooms.

Description: This paper discusses preservation. Abstract: The Educopia Institute, with the San Diego Supercomputer Center and the libraries of University of North Texas, Penn State, Virginia Tech, University of Utah, Georgia Tech, Boston College, and Clemson University, have received $300,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities to study, document, and model the use of data preparation and distributed digital preservation frameworks to collaboratively preserve digitized and born-digital newspaper collections.