The Closed-Loop: Academic Publication Data Conundrum

Abstract

In this talk we will discuss the problems inherent in the publications-as-data model of large publishing and educational technology platforms. The datafication of scholarly communications establishes a closed-loop pipeline endangering library values and university goals through the narrowing of impact-ratio focused research and the development of a surveillance publishing model. These new methods of extracting value from scholarly content producers and consumers could dramatically impact the future of academic freedom for students, faculty, and libraries. Universities are in a unique position as we have become both the data source and the consumer for publications and data regarding the use of the publications. We will look at distinct aspects of these content models and the ways in which they present problems to the diversity of university research, library acquisitions, and data security for library users.