Blog Buzz: June 1 – June 10

In open access news, Science Insider reports that publishers have proposed the creation of CHORUS in response to the recent announcement from the OSTP (in case you missed it, see this post from a while back). Over in blog land there is a positive overview from Kent Anderson at Scholarly Kitchen. Some open access advocates have a different take,  however. Jonathan Eisen is  “Highly Skeptical“, Michael Eisen offers A CHORUS of Boos… and the Library Loon agrees and says CHORUS is an attempt to control the infrastructure of open access materials (so it can be re-enclosed).

On the other hand, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported on another proposal called SHARE, put forward by a group of academic and library associations. Kevin Smith, Scholarly Communications Officer at Duke, says “For myself, I’d rather SHARE than join a CHORUS, for a number of reasons.”

ASCO Daily News this week had a great commentary by Dr. Anas Younes, Doctors in the Age of Social Media, which includes sections about finding the time, getting past initial fears and interacting with colleagues.

In It Takes a Library… Bobbi Newman argues that it is time to change the tenor of discussions about the future of libraries. Rather than pleading to “save libraries”, Newman says librarians should focus on the powerful role libraries and librarians play in their communities, quoting and linking to other librarians who have called for a rhetorical shift.

A Selection of TEDMED 2013 Talks Are Now Available for Viewing!

Listen to Susan Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH and others who gave TEDMED talks this year.

Dr. Desmond-Hellman became the ninth Chancellor of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in August 2009. An oncologist and renowned biotechnology leader, she holds the Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Distinguished Professor appointment at UCSF and oversees all aspects of the university and medical center’s strategy and operations.

Tech Zone: Online Support for Patients through New Technology

In the last few years, technology has created new opportunities for patient support and education. For example, this recent post on MSKCC’s blog On Cancer highlights the Center’s online education programs and virtual support groups, which allow patients and caregivers an opportunity to connect from a distance. This post will discuss some of the ways social media such as blogs, Twitter and message boards are allowing patients to share their experiences, learn more about their diseases and find resources for coping. Continue reading