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Planned industrial action at The BL – Thu 16 May and Fri 17 May

By Kieron L Jones, on 14 May 2013

http://www.bl.uk/notices/industrialactionmay.html

British Library Labs Competition Live

By Kieron L Jones, on 7 May 2013

British Library Labs Competition Live

Calling all researchers and developers!

Propose an innovative and transformative project that answers a research question using the British Library’s digital collections / data and if your idea is chosen, the Labs team will work with you to make it happen and you could win a prize of up to £3,000.

From the digitisation of thousands of books, newspapers and manuscripts, the collecting of UK websites, bird sounds or location data for our maps, over the last two decades we’ve been faithfully amassing a vast and wide-ranging digital collection for the nation. What remains elusive however is understanding what researchers need in place in order to unlock the potential for new discoveries within these fascinating and diverse digital collections. The Labs competition is designed to attract scholars, explorers and trailblazers to the Library who see the potential for new and innovative research lurking within these immense digital collections. Through soliciting innovative and transformative projects utilising this content you will be giving us a steer as to the types of platforms, arrangements, services and tools needed to surface it. We’ll even throw the Library’s resources behind you to make your idea a reality.

To find out more, visit the competition pages http://labs.bl.uk/Competition+2013 (deadline for submission of ideas is the 26 June 2013), sign up to the wiki,  express your interest and participate in one of the related events, virtually (17 May 2013, 1500 GMT), hack event in London on the 28 and 29 May, 2013 or one of our roadshow events.

Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research

By Kieron L Jones, on 3 May 2013

We now have access to the Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR).  ICPSR acquires, preserves, enhances and distributes original social science research data for research and instruction.  You will need to create an account in order to download data.

 “Our data advance scientific knowledge by making it possible for students, policymakers and researchers to conduct secondary analyses.  We are a leading training resource in quantitative analysis methods.

 Membership benefits

  • A wealth of data.  ICPSR provides access to important data in the social sciences and benefits all faculty and students across a campus.
  • Access to training and instruction at discounted rates.  Members of ICPSR receive discounted tuition and travel stipends toward ICPSR’s renowned Summer Program in Quantitative Methods of Social Research.
  • User support.  ICPSR has over 45 years of experience in supporting data use.”

The History of the British Pound

By Kieron L Jones, on 1 May 2013

“The British pound, also now known as the pound sterling, is generally considered to be the world’s oldest currency that is still actively used and circulated. It originated during the 760s when King Offa of the Mercian kingdom (present-day Staffordshire) introduced the silver penny into the coinage of the time. Inspired by the Carolingian system, 240 of the new pennies equaled a pound in silver. Additional subdivisions of coins included farthings and shillings. Shortly after introducing this system in Mercia, the surrounding Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of the Heptarchy followed suit and also adopted it. Eventually the pound became the standard monetary unit in the region.”  Read more

Many thanks to the Lexington Middle School History Club in Nebraska for the suggestion!

Sustainable Organization Library

By Kieron L Jones, on 19 April 2013

We now have a trial to the Sustainable Organization Library 2013 until 11th June.  “The Sustainable Organization Library (SOL) is a focused library of key texts (almost 400 volumes) in governance, sustainability and environmental management.  Available either to own outright or to rent on an annual basis, SOL gives instant access to the world’s best writers in the area; case studies on best practice from international organizations; evidence-based research and in-depth analysis from thinkers around the globe.  Partner publishers included in SOL include Greenleaf Publishing, Practical Action Publishing, and the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME).”

Open Book Publishers

By Kieron L Jones, on 18 April 2013

“At Open Book Publishers we are changing the nature of the traditional academic book. Our books are published in hardback, paperback, pdf and ebook editions, but they also include a free online edition that can be read via our website, or embedded anywhere. We are proud to say that our online editions are currently being accessed by thousands of readers each month in over 120 countries. In addition, our digital publishing model allows us to extend our books well beyond the printed page. On our website, we produce online supplementary material, including extra chapters, reviews, links, image galleries and other digital resources — these can be found on the individual product page for each book.”

Economic Fables by Ariel Rubinstein can be read for free online here:

http://www.openbookpublishers.com/reader/136

Is Behavioral Economics Doomed? by David K. Levine is available here:

http://www.openbookpublishers.com/reader/77

And Peace and Democratic Society by Amartya Sen is here:

http://www.openbookpublishers.com/reader/78

Newly acquired books

By Kieron L Jones, on 17 April 2013

Stock, Wendy A. Introduction to economics : social issues and economic thinking / Wendy A. Stock. Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, c2013.
ECONOMICS C 30 STO

Kaye, George. The value of uncertainty : dealing with risk in the equity derivatives market / George Kaye. London : Imperial College Press, c2013.
ECONOMICS J 11 KAY

The Great Recession and the distribution of household income / edited by Stephen P. Jenkins … [et Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2013.
ECONOMICS V 100 JEN

De Vogli, Roberto. Progress or collapse : the crises of market greed / Roberto De Vogli. London : Routledge, 2013.
ECONOMICS Y 70 DEV

Parke, Carol S. Essential first steps to data analysis : scenario-based examples using SPSS / Carol S. Parke. Los Angeles ; London : SAGE, c2013.
PUBLIC POLICY HA 32 PAR

Dodds, Anneliese. Comparative public policy / Anneliese Dodds. Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.
PUBLIC POLICY JF 51 DOD

Democracy in motion : evaluating the practice and impact of deliberative civic engagement / edited b Oxford : Oxford University Press, c2012.
PUBLIC POLICY JF 799 NAB

Constructing a policy-making state? : policy dynamics in the EU / edited by Jeremy Richardson. Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2012.
PUBLIC POLICY JN 30 RIC

International Historical Statistics

By Kieron L Jones, on 17 April 2013

We have a trial to International Historical Statistics until 11th May.

“The IHS series is a unique collection of statistics covering a wide range of socioeconomic topics. It is a collection of data sets taken from hundreds of disparate primary sources, including both official national and international abstracts – back to 1750. The new online edition provides updated statistics to 2010 – covering 260 years. The collection is a truly interdisciplinary resource; it will be of interest to academics, researchers and students in sociology, politics, history, economics, business, environment, international relations, geography and statistical studies and related professional services alike.”

Statistics Learning Centre

By Kieron L Jones, on 16 April 2013

StatsLC provides support for learning and teaching statistics in various settings and media.

Our materials are correct and based on current research on how statistics is best taught and learnt. StatsLC provides support for learning and teaching statistics in various settings and media.

Over the years we have developed over 15 teaching videos related to statistics and Excel. They receive over 1000 hits a day. You can see them at Creative Heuristics on YouTube and UCMSCI on YouTube.”

ElgarOnline

By Kieron L Jones, on 26 March 2013

We have a trial to over 400 titles on ElgarOnline mainly in the areas of economics & finance and business & management.

The trial runs until 30th April 2013.  To access follow this link:

http://elgaronline.com/browse?access=user