I read with interest a recent post by Maria Konnikova who contributes weekly to the newyorker.com on topics focused on psychology and science.  Her post “Being a Better Online Reader” (July 16, 2014) highlights several researchers who have explored onscreen reading behavior as it compares to reading print.  Obviously, reading online provides a multi-layer dimension where the reader can scroll and browse, move to links embedded in the page, change the font size and ultimately read in a less linear fashion.  The reading experience is definitely different! Continue reading →

I just returned from the Special Libraries Association Annual Conference in Vancouver, Canada. While my return flight was uneventful, getting to the conference was quite the opposite. In short, I arrived and my bag didn’t.

From the moment I disembarked until the moment my bag finally arrived at the hotel (that would be 2:00 am, local time and two days later!) I soon discovered that my dealings with this airline were more about “reactive” customer service – I reacted, they countered with a template response. At no point during the multiple conversations I had, both in person and on the phone, did they mention possible options or provide any kind of support – I even had to ask for a tooth brush when I submitted my initial claim form! Only when I finally asked what they suggest I do since I had nothing to wear for a session I was moderating, did they share that I could purchase something to wear and submit the bill. Continue reading →

Calculating and measuring a researcher’s scientific impact is certainly not an easy task. Currently, one of the most common measures is the H-index, developed in 2005 by Professor Jorge Eduardo Hirsch to determine both the quantity and quality of an individual’s research performance/output.  The index is a measure of the number of publications (productivity) a scientist has published and how often these papers are cited (impact). For example, if a scientist has an H-index of 15 this means that 15 papers have been cited at least 15 times. Continue reading →