DataBits Newsletter, Fall 2007

As the diverse nature of this issue illustrates, DataBits continues to be a platform for exchanging wide-ranging ideas
and resources for strategically and practically improving the practice of scientific Information Management. This issue features an article on career development in the field of Information Management by Karen Baker, a longtime LTER Information Manager who also conducts theoretical research in this field. We also hear critical opinions on the pros and cons and progress of networking in LTER, and learn of the status of a new and welcomed network project. The “Editorial” section has been renamed “Commentary” in order to capture the experience of community participants and to suggest that observations and opinions presented are open to dialogue. We also added a new section – “Good Tools and Programs” – for sharing experiences with third party tools and utilities, which starts off with three very handy contributions. Finally, this issue concludes with discussions and suggestions for further reading and a far from complete calendar promoting Information Management related meetings and conferences.

Announcement: Alternatively, this issue will be published with the Open Journal Systems software, developed by
the Public Knowledge Project, released under GNU GPL. Since the current format of DataBits is showing its age
(retro style rainbow banner, eek!) and there are more sophisticated ways than our copy-paste editing technique, we
are test driving OJS to to see if a) meets our needs and b) the learning curve is acceptable considering our rotating
editorship. Please evaluate the OJS version of DataBits for its look and feel. A likely next step for the Spring 2008
issue would be to make use of OJS’s article submission feature and customize the settings.

DataBits continues as a semi-annual electronic publication of the Long Term Ecological Research Network. It is designed to provide a timely, online resource for research information managers and to incorporate rotating coeditorship. Availability is through web browsing as well as hardcopy output. LTER mail list IMplus will receive
DataBits publication notification. Others may subscribe by sending email to majordomo@lternet.edu with two lines
“subscribe databits” and “end” as the message body. To communicate suggestions, articles, and/or interest in coediting, send email to databits-ed@lternet.edu.

—– Co-editors: Sabine Grabner (MCR), Wade Sheldon (GCE)

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