Debra Bailey
debrae@rice.edu

More threads from the past quarter can be found in the PAMnet Discussion Archive at http://listserv.nd.edu/archives/pamnet.html

Excessive Downloading of Articles
Howard Dess, Rutgers University, solicited advice on what other librarians do to enforce prohibitions on large-scale or programmatic downloads of articles from online journals. Mark Doyle, APS, says the issue is "about educating users to use resources responsibly." Jane Duffy, OSU, "had to deliver a clear and unambiguous explanation of why systematic downloading compromises our agreement with AIP." Clearly, it is a matter of continuous education to impart upon users the restrictions that licensing agreements play on fair and equal access to source material.

http://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0205&L=pamnet#22
http://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0205&L=pamnet#71
http://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0205&L=pamnet#72

This led into a continued conversation about what happens when, as Dess lamented, "somebody out there knows more about them than we do and has the power, in effect, to lock the library doors."

http://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0205&L=pamnet#78

The Mathematics Web Portal
According to Elsevier's Michiel Kolman, "part of MathematicsWeb is the preprint server which we launched last year (http://www.mathpreprints.com). This preprint server is certainly not restricted to (prospective) Elsevier Science authors only and is as such not communicated as an exclusive Elsevier service."

http://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0204&L=pamnet#37
http://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0205&L=pamnet#26

Plagiarized Math Book
Kris Fowler sent a post regarding the Oxford University Press recall of John L. Casti's Mathematical Mountaintops: The Five Most Famous Problems of All Time (Oxford, 2001) that provoked thoughts about issues of plagiarism and the importance of maintaining the recalled book for an accurate history of science collection. Bob Michaelson notes that "it might be better to insert a notice, perhaps supplied by the publisher, that the book contains plagiarized materials, and that the revised edition should be consulted." Dana Roth correctly asserts, "the inexcusable behavior was not working with the actual authors and describing the book as a collected reprinting of others works."

http://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0205&L=pamnet#35<

arXiv.org
Michael Leach posted the responses he received regarding the cancellation of journal subscriptions based (in whole or in part) on the availability of the articles in the arXiv.org e-print archive. Molly White, agrees that the pre-print use has had a significant effect on Nuclear Physics titles.

http://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0205&L=pamnet#57
http://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0205&L=pamnet#58

Michael Fosmire contributed information on his recent study of how well conference proceedings are represented on arXiv.org.

http://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0204&L=pamnet#56

PAM Division Strategic Plan Online
David Stern reported that the progress report on the 1999-2002 PAM Division Strategic Plan is now posted on the web:

http://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0206&L=pamnet#38

You Don't Look Like a Librarian!
Ruth A. Kneale posted Librarian's Views of Public Perception in the Internet Age. The online version includes survey questions, the response numbers, and a complete reference list. Kneale's graphics make this page humorous and informative.

http://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0206&L=pamnet#1

Remembering Bruce
Bruce Pelz passed away on Thursday, May 9, 2002. Many PAM members shared their memories of Bruce, including his creation of the name "PAMnet." He held the PAM offices of Division Chair, Bulletin Editor, Treasurer, and Hospitality Chair (at which he particularly excelled). Our sincerest condolences to his family. A memorial message board for Bruce can be found at http://www.lasfs.org/lasfs/bruce/.

http://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0206&L=pamnet#15
http://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0206&L=pamnet#79
http://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0206&L=pamnet#26