Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Open source publishing platforms for scholarly research

Now, we have come up with a list of free, open-source software to disseminate research and manage the entire scholarly publishing workflow, from submission to indexing, in case of books, journals, and preprints. These are the publishing software by Public Knowledge Project (PKP)

Now, we have come up with a list of free, open-source software to disseminate research and manage the entire scholarly publishing workflow, from submission to indexing, in case of books, journals, and preprints. These are the publishing software by Public Knowledge Project (PKP). From the beginning, PKP has been developing publishing platforms, such as OJS, OMP, and OPS, based on the principles and licensing of free and open-source software (FOSS). In its effort to support the publishing of open access journals, books, and preprints, PKP is an integral part of the scholarly publishing ecosystem, offering infrastructure that is as open as the science it aims to support.


For Journals Open Journal Systems (OJS) is the world’s most widely used journal management and publishing software. Manage your entire researcher-to-reader workflow for submission, peer review, and production from one place.

Download OJS See Demo See Showcase
For Books Open Monograph Press (OMP) is an end-to-end solution for publishing books with full metadata. Publish your monographs and edited volumes with full metadata for worldwide dissemination and discovery.

Download OMP See Demo See Showcase
For Preprints Open Preprint Systems (OPS) provides everything needed to run a fully-featured preprint server for researchers. Accelerate research by allowing researchers to upload datasets, revise papers, and link preprints to the final published work.

Download OPS See Demo See Showcase
Hosting Services PKP Publishing Services can host your OJS, OMP, and OPS installation on professionally maintained and secured servers with guaranteed uptime.

Hosting Plans

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Puzzle 4





👉  Answers

  1. 3. a the company that developed and released Chatgpt.
  2. 5. a cloud-based interlibrary loan (ILL) management system by OCLC.
  3. 6. an input that a user feeds to an AI system in order to get a desired result or output.
  4. 9. The company that developed CiteScore.

  1. 1. The Open Data Format meets these Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship.
  2. 2. It is also called green open access model.
  3. 4. Headquarter of the National Digital Library of India
  4. 5. It is a basic unit of text that an LLM uses to understand and generate language.

Saturday, January 04, 2025

AGORA: The Ultimate Hub for AI Governance Documents

 



Artificial intelligence (AI) is fascinating everyone and influencing almost every aspect of life, directly and indirectly. AI tools are widely used across various domains. From professional workflows to everyday personal tasks, AI is becoming an indispensable tool in enhancing productivity and creativity. Tools like chatbots, virtual assistants, and automated data processing software help professionals streamline their workflows, improve efficiency, and save time. Students benefit from AI-driven platforms that assist in writing assignments, understanding complex topics, and learning new skills through interactive tools. Researchers and scientists rely on AI for data management, conducting analyses, and even drafting and reviewing academic papers. AI accelerates scientific discovery by processing large datasets quickly and uncovering patterns that humans might miss.

Friday, December 27, 2024

The Ultimate Guide to Publishing, Sharing, and Distributing Your E-Book

Writing and publishing your book as an ebook has become incredibly accessible in today's digital age. From crafting the content to distributing the final product, there are numerous steps involved in the publishing journey. Thankfully, various platforms streamline this entire process, making it easier for authors to navigate each stage effectively. I'll be sharing some of these useful resources to help you along the way.

Self-Publishing Flowchart
What is Self-Publishing?

What is Self-Publishing?

A method of publishing where authors can publish and distribute their work independently without needing a traditional publisher.

Self-publishing allows writers to retain full control over their work, including pricing, rights, and marketing.

Key Points:

  • Author Control: The author makes all decisions about the book.
  • No Middleman: No traditional publisher involved.
  • Platforms: Books are usually published through online platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) etc.
  • Higher Royalties: Authors typically earn higher royalties compared to traditional publishing.
  • Costs and Risks: The author usually bears the cost of production, marketing, and promotion.

In short, self-publishing allows authors to directly publish and sell their work to readers worldwide.

Popular Assisted Self-Publishing Companies
Company Name URL Image
Kindle Direct Publishing Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is Amazon's self-publishing platform that enables authors to publish eBooks and paperbacks, reaching millions of readers globally.
Visit KDP
KDP
Blurb, Inc. Blurb is a platform that helps authors and artists create, publish, and sell their books. It specializes in high-quality print-on-demand services for photo books and art books.
Visit Blurb
Blurb Inc.
CreateSpace CreateSpace, now part of Amazon, allows authors to publish physical books through print-on-demand services. It also offers eBook publishing and distribution.
Visit CreateSpace
CreateSpace
DiggyPOD DiggyPOD is a self-publishing service offering both print-on-demand and offset printing. It helps authors with book design, printing, and worldwide distribution.
Visit DiggyPOD
DiggyPOD
Lulu Lulu provides a variety of self-publishing services including print-on-demand, ebook publishing, and marketing services. It is popular for producing custom and small batch prints.
Visit Lulu
Lulu
Notion Press Notion Press is an Indian self-publishing platform that provides a wide range of services, including printing, eBook conversion, editing, and book distribution.
Visit Notion Press
Notion Press
These companies help authors with formatting, cover design, and marketing, allowing for easier self-publishing with professional support.
Popular E-Book Platforms

These platforms allow authors to publish and distribute e-books to a wide audience. Many are integrated with major online stores.

Company Name URL Image
Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) allows authors to self-publish their e-books and paperbacks on Amazon, reaching millions of readers globally.
Visit KDP
KDP
Apple's App Store (iOS) The App Store allows authors to publish their e-books for iOS devices, reaching users through Apple Books.
Visit App Store
App Store
Barnes & Noble Barnes & Noble allows authors to publish e-books through their Nook Press platform, offering distribution to the Nook e-reader.
Visit Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Blurb, Inc. Blurb allows authors to create and publish e-books, with a focus on high-quality photo books, art books, and other visually-focused works.
Visit Blurb
Blurb
Kobo Writing Life Kobo Writing Life enables authors to publish e-books and distribute them to Kobo's global network of readers.
Visit Kobo Writing Life
Kobo Writing Life
Lulu Lulu provides self-publishing services for authors, including both print-on-demand and e-book publishing options.
Visit Lulu
Lulu
Smashwords Smashwords is an e-book distributor that allows authors to publish and distribute their e-books to major retailers and libraries.
Visit Smashwords
Smashwords
Wattpad Wattpad is a popular platform where authors can share stories, get feedback from readers, and turn their work into books or movies.
Visit Wattpad
Wattpad
Once the book is ready, authors can publish their e-book on major platforms, which have large customer bases.
Digital Distribution Platforms

These platforms distribute e-books and digital content across various online stores and devices.

Platform Name URL Image
Amazon Kindle Amazon Kindle is the leading e-book distribution platform, allowing authors to publish e-books directly on Amazon's Kindle Store.
Visit Amazon Kindle
Amazon Kindle
Apple Books Store Apple Books Store is a platform for authors to publish their e-books and distribute them to iPhone, iPad, and Mac users.
Visit Apple Books Store
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble Nook Barnes & Noble's Nook platform allows authors to publish e-books and distribute them through the Nook e-reader and app.
Visit Barnes & Noble Nook
Barnes & Noble
Google Play Books Google Play Books offers authors the ability to distribute e-books through Google's platform, which can be read on Android devices and through the web.
Visit Google Play Books
Google Play Books
Kindle Direct Publishing Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is Amazon's self-publishing platform for authors to publish e-books and paperbacks, reaching millions of readers.
Visit Kindle Direct Publishing
KDP
Kindle Store The Kindle Store is Amazon's e-book marketplace where authors can publish and sell their books directly to Kindle users.
Visit Kindle Store
Kindle Store
Lulu.com Lulu offers e-book distribution through various online retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more, in addition to print-on-demand services.
Visit Lulu.com
Lulu
Smashwords Smashwords is a global distributor for indie authors, offering a variety of digital formats for e-book publication and distribution.
Visit Smashwords
Smashwords
Wattpad Wattpad is a platform for both professional and amateur writers to share their stories, and also includes features for e-book publishing and distribution.
Visit Wattpad
Wattpad
Wikibooks Wikibooks is a collection of open-content textbooks and educational materials, allowing authors to distribute their e-books freely.
Visit Wikibooks
Wikibooks
These platforms distribute e-books across multiple platforms, making it easier to reach a wider audience. They also help manage royalties and reporting.
Final Step: Publish, Share & Distribute

End User Process: Publish, Share & Distribute

  • Step 1: Write and format the e-book.
  • Step 2: Choose an assisted self-publishing company for extra support or go solo with tools like Scrivener or Adobe InDesign.
  • Step 3: Upload the e-book to a popular e-book platform (Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, etc.).
  • Step 4: Use a digital distribution platform to spread the e-book to multiple platforms.
  • Step 5: Market the book via social media, email newsletters, and more to increase visibility.
This final step outlines the user journey from writing the book to sharing and distributing it to a global audience.

Thursday, November 28, 2024

One Nation One Subscription: countrywide equitable access to scholarly journals in India



An announcement of a landmark decision of Indian Government to introduce ‘One Nation One subscription’ scheme for youths and students by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw have brought a new zeal in young scholars deprived of scholarly journals behind paywalls. In response to the Prime minister Shri Narendra Modi's  clarion call of "Jai Anusandhan" on the occasion of 15th August, 2022, vision of making India Atmanirbhar and Viksitbharat@2047, and also to achieve  the goal of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 the Union Cabinet has approved One Nation One Subscription scheme to offer seamless,  country-wide access to international high impact scholarly research articles and journal publications to students, faculty and researchers of all Higher Education Institutions managed by the central government and state governments and Research & Development Institutions of the central government.  The scheme is expected to provide broader access to research journals for institutions that previously lacked sufficient resources. 


Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Launch of BharatGen: an Indian ChatGPT

BharatGen—launched in India on September 30, 2024—a groundbreaking initiative in generative AI—designed to transform public service delivery and enhance citizen participation through foundational models in language, speech, and computer vision. The event took place in New Delhi, attended by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State, who emphasized India's commitment to fostering homegrown technologies.

Friday, October 04, 2024

Authors' concern over publishers selling their research to AI developers






Gradually, publishers are moving towards a deal with tech companies including Microsoft, Google, Open AI, Apple and Meta. The deal is that the publishers will get compensation for their content being used to feed and train large language models (LLMs) or other generative AI models. Academic papers having high information content are valuable for these LLMs. Lucy Lu Wang, who co-created S2ORC, a data set based on 81.1 million academic papers, says "Training models on a large body of scientific information also give them a much better ability to reason about scientific topics."[1] Recently Taylor and Francis made a deal with Microsoft in July for selling access to its authors’ work to AI firm, also Routledge, Wiley, Sage, Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press are in the same line.

Publishers probably view these deal as an alternative as their data is already being harvested by these firms without an agreement. According to a Sage spokesperson “We believe that a preferable route is to offer clear licensing routes to our content that protect rights and include payment for the use of content by the LLM that we can pass on to authors and societies." [2] Informa, the parent company of Taylor & Francis and Routledge has recently revealed to make $75m from AI deals and Wiley to make $44m from two AI partnerships. The Independent Publishers Guild’s Autumn Conference is one of the biggest and best events of the UK publishing year held recently on September 17, 22024 in London, UK and the most discussed topic was AI and licensing.

 
 Possible use of content by AI companies         

In the article published in Leiter Reports, a philosophy blog, "Cambridge University Press now asking authors whether they want to license their publications for LLMs."[3] CUP discussed the possible use of author's content by AI developers.

If your work is part of a generative AI licensing agreement, it could be used for: 
 
  • Training and testing the foundational models that are then used to create, for example, personal assistant and chatbot tools or discoverability summaries.
  • As part of banks of authoritative content that are used, on a perpetual basis, to check and verify the accuracy of information provided by AI tools. 

  

 Benefits of this licensing to authors            


  1. Publishers can monetize their archives and content by AI companies paying them to use it to train their LLMs.
  2. It may improve the quality and accuracy of tools that are increasingly going to be used in everyday life.
  3. There may also be opportunities for your content to have greater visibility and impact if it is properly cited and attributed by AI tools.


 Authors' concerns          


In all of these deals authors rights have been ignored causing authors' concern about their work that is being fed to LLMs without even any information and remuneration for their work. The Society of Authors (SoA) has more than 12000 members. It has written a letter stating that they do not consent to these tech companies involved in using their work in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

The letter by SOA Policy Team (August 2024) states:

“Our members have instructed us to put you on express notice that they do not authorise or otherwise grant permission for the use of any of their copyright-protected works in relation to, without limitation, the training; development; or operation of AI models (including the generation of Infringing Works), by large language models or other generative AI models, unless they have first specifically agreed licensing arrangements for the use of their work.” It warns that this “continues to cause great harm to creators’ livelihoods and jeopardizes the future of the profession, which in turn threatens our creative industries and our cultural capital”. [4]

The letter by The Creative Rights Alliance (August 2024) which represents over 500,000 creators, has also written a similar letter to tech companies. [5] There are a few more cases which support the fact that tech firms should not use copyright-protected works without permission or compensation, and that these firms should seek licenses and create transparency for rights holders. Authors have also angered on publishers like Taylor & Francis dealing with Microsoft for selling authors' research for $10m. [6] Sage confirmed that it will pay royalties on any licensing income to the authors, editors and societies based on according to contracts. [7] Authors having their research content with CUP are more relaxed as the Cambridge University Press (CUP) is carefully considering how best to license their content to generative licensing providers and have created a set of principles to guide our decision-making. [8]

These focus on:
  • author attribution
  • the creation of formal licensing arrangements to govern content
  • obtaining permissions from rights holders
  • obtaining fair remuneration for the use of content.

CUP’s "opt-in" approach [9] involves asking for the consent of all authors and rights-holders for being the part of generative AI licensing agreement before licensing their content to providers of generative AI technologies. 
The Bookseller - News - Sage confirms it is in talks to license content to AI firms [10]
 

Overall, the evolving landscape of publishing in relation to generative AI presents both opportunities and challenges for authors and publishers alike. with the licensing of academic content between publishers and these tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and Open AI, etc, there is a clear potential for monetization and enhanced visibility for authors' works.  However, the concerns surrounding authors' rights and compensation cannot be ignored. Many authors express anger with the existing practices, feeling their contributions are exploited without proper recognition or remuneration.

Organizations such as the Society of Authors and the Creative Rights Alliance are advocating for transparent licensing agreements that respect authors’ rights and ensure fair compensation. Meanwhile, publishers like Cambridge University Press are adopting an "opt-in" approach, prioritizing author consent and establishing principles for ethical licensing.

As the discussions around AI and copyright continue to evolve, it is very important for all stakeholders—authors, publishers, and tech companies to collaborate in creating a framework that protects the rights and prestige of authors. Finding a balance between the advantages of AI in making research more accessible and the need to respect authors' work is essential for the future of publishing in the age of artificial intelligence. 


 Reference        


  1. 1. Has your paper been used to train an AI model? Almost certainly (nature.com)
  2. 2. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/sage-confirms-it-is-in-talks-to-license-content-to-ai-firms
  3. 3. https://leiterreports.typepad.com/blog/2024/05/cambridge-university-press-now-asking-authors-whether-they-want-to-license-their-publications-for-ll.html
  4. 4. The Society of Authors writes to tech companies asserting members’ rights around uses of their works by generative AI - The Society of Authors
  5. 5. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/creators-demand-immediate-change-from-companies-developing-ai-after-unlawful-use-of-content
  6. 6. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/academic-authors-shocked-after-taylor--francis-sells-access-to-their-research-to-microsoft-ai
  7. 7. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/sage-confirms-it-is-in-talks-to-license-content-to-ai-firms
  8. 8. The Bookseller - News - IPG 2024 Autumn Conference dominated by AI and licensing discussions
  9. 9. https://infogram.com/1p9g1kvndzqkrkt7523yd02wk3b3grmm9mw?live&utm_campaign=LLM+Comms&utm_medium=bitly&utm_source=Email
  10. 10. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/sage-confirms-it-is-in-talks-to-license-content-to-ai-firms
  11. 11. Open-access expansion threatens academic publishing industry (insidehighered.com)
  12. 12. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/wiley-set-to-earn-44m-from-ai-rights-deals-confirms-no-opt-out-for-authors
  13. 13. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/society-of-authors-writes-to-ai-firms-demanding-appropriate-remuneration-and-consent-for-authors
  14. 14. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/anthropic-sued-by-us-authors-over-use-of-pirated-books-to-train-ai-chatbot
  15. 15. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/taylor-francis-set-to-make-58m-from-ai-in-2024-as-it-reveals-second-partnership
  16. 16. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02599-9



Thursday, August 15, 2024

How about the ability to visualize journal article with 3D, AR and VR technologies?




The fundamental structure of any research article remains a simple document comprised of text and printable figures. Printable media have some limitations to represent scientific communication. It constrains complex scientific data into 2D static figures, hindering our ability to effectively exchange the complex and extensive information. Although the practice of of using digital supplementary material to include digital media with articles is common to modernize articles. Unfortunately, recent metrics indicate these materials are accessed by as few as .04% of readers. [1] [2]

Now the whole scenario is changing and the way content is created, consumed and interacted has changed drastically in digital world. Publishing industry is now revolutionizing with cutting edge technologies Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) and 3D. Adoption of smartphones, emergence of native browser integration of the web graphics library (WebGL) are now the part of modern era scientific communication. These bring an immersive captivating experience for readers and improving readers engagement. In disciplines of sciences and medical sciences and others also, authors who include 3D models such as molecular structures and tissue illustrations as part of their manuscript submission will have the opportunity to turn them into interactive AR-viewable objects. Before knowing that how these technologies are being used in publishing it is important to know the basic concepts of AR and VR.

Saturday, June 22, 2024

Principles for Library Ownership of Digital Books by Library Futures

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Sunday, May 26, 2024

Quiz on modern trends in library and information science (Series 10)

Friday, May 17, 2024

Don't share sensitive information to ChatGPT/Google Gemini

Don't share sensitive information to ChatGPT/Google Gemini Chats may be reviewed and used to train their models.ChatGPT, like many AI models, operates on the principle of learning from interactions. While this enhances its ability to generate relevant and helpful responses, it also raises concerns about privacy and data security.

Don't share sensitive information to ChatGPT/Google Gemini Chats may be reviewed and used to train their models.

ChatGPT, like many AI models, operates on the principle of learning from interactions. While this enhances its ability to generate relevant and helpful responses, it also raises concerns about privacy and data security. Users must remain vigilant about the information they share, especially when it pertains to sensitive or confidential matters.

Key Considerations for Protecting Privacy in Chat Interactions

    Mindful Sharing

    Before sharing sensitive information in a chat, consider whether it's necessary and appropriate. Avoid divulging personal details, financial information, or other sensitive data unless absolutely essential.


    Encryption and Security

    Opt for platforms that prioritize encryption and robust security measures. Look for end-to-end encryption, which ensures that only the sender and recipient can access the messages, minimizing the risk of interception.


    Awareness of AI Presence

    When interacting with AI models like ChatGPT, be mindful that the conversations may be recorded and used for training purposes. Avoid sharing confidential information or anything you wouldn't want to be stored or analyzed.


    Clear Communication

    Clearly communicate any boundaries or limitations regarding the information you're comfortable sharing. If you're unsure about the security of a chat platform or AI model, err on the side of caution and refrain from sharing sensitive data.


    Regular Monitoring

    Periodically review your chat history and delete any messages containing sensitive information. This reduces the likelihood of unintended exposure or data breaches.


    Stay Informed

    Stay updated on the latest developments in chat platform security and privacy policies. Be cautious of any changes that may impact the confidentiality of your conversations.


    By adopting these practices, users can mitigate the risks associated with sharing sensitive information in chat interactions. While chat platforms offer convenience and connectivity, safeguarding privacy should always remain a top priority.

    Remember, what you share in a chat conversation could have long-lasting implications. By exercising caution and mindfulness, you can protect your privacy and ensure a safer online experience for yourself and others.