Article-level metrics – Nov 9 talk

Article-level Metrics at PLoS (an alternate way to evaluate impact): A talk by Dr. Peter Binfield

  • Monday, November 9
  • 12 noon – 1:30 pm
  • 127 Dwinelle Hall*

Update: This talk has is now available online

(Please note that while the audio is fine, Dr. Binfield’s image appears only in the small inset of the video image for the first 13 minutes of the 70 minute talk.)

The Impact Factor of a journal (a measure of the number of citations to an entire journal) is commonly used by scientists and administrators as one indicator of the quality of individual articles within that journal. With the advent of the internet it is now possible to measure the worth of an individual article via so-called ‘article-level metrics’ (metrics which include citations, usage, bookmarks, blog coverage, and post publication commentary for a single article), and in this respect PLoS leads the world providing the data to allow this analysis.

Dr. Peter Binfield is Managing Editor of PLoS ONE (an open access title; the third largest journal in the world; and the recent winner of a prestigious award for ‘publishing innovation’).

For more information, see the PLoS website on article-level metrics or watch this short video.

Cookies and coffee will be served.

* 127 Dwinelle Hall: Enter Dwinelle by the main entrance near Sather Gate. Once inside the lobby, turn left and head down that short hallway, then turn right. (Or, just follow the signs.)


Dissertation Writer’s Room Opens June 21

Starting — or seeking to finish — work on your dissertation? Would a dedicated space encourage focus and concentration on your writing? Would being in the quiet company of fellow doctoral candidates from humanities and social science disciplines lend moral support to your efforts?

Graduate Division Dean Andrew Szeri and Doe Library’s Graduate Services staff are pleased to offer a new space dedicated to doctoral students advanced to candidacy: the Dissertation Writer’s Room, opening Monday, June 21, 2010, in 215 Doe.

Located at the rear of Graduate Services at 208 Doe Library, DWR hours will be Monday through Thursday, 9AM-9PM; Friday, 9AM-5PM; and Sunday, 1PM-9PM. As Graduate Services is reserved for the exclusive use of UCB graduate students, faculty, and staff, please remember to bring your UCB ID to show when you enter 208 Doe.

The DWR’s current capacity accommodates six students using the study tables and two using the reading chairs; this will be expanded as utilization increases. AirBears enables wireless Internet connections.

Overall, Doe’s Graduate Services is a study space for graduate students, housing ~25,000 volumes and a reserve library for graduate courses in the humanities and social sciences. The core collection comprises standard editions of core texts, works of major theorists, titles on Master’s exams reading lists, and other materials heavily used by graduate students in the humanities and social sciences. Graduate Services also houses the Modern Authors Collection (XMAC), comprised of the works of major 20th century English, American, and Anglophone literary authors,and a small collection of English and foreign language dictionaries.

By the way, in addition to the study spaces in Graduate Services, study carrels in the Gardner (MAIN) Stacks can be reserved by graduate students. Graduate students may apply at the Doe Circulation Desk for these carrels, and books from the Gardner (MAIN) Stacks may be charged out and kept in the carrels.

We hope you will check out this new space over the summer and in the coming academic year. Your feedback is most welcome; please write to graddean@berkeley.edu.