2017 Charleston Library Conference

This presentation explores an exciting development in altmetrics: Open, Free, Easy Altmetrics for Everyone! Building on the beta release of Crossref Event Data, two non-profit, mission-driven organizations, the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) and Impactstory, are partnering to build an open website and API that is easy to use by publishers, librarians and researchers.

While the Crossref Event Data service brings an open source of altmetrics data, its native data format cannot be used without additional processing to calculate, aggregate, and represent the altmetrics information. The new website and API being developed by ImpactStory in partnership with PKP, to be launched in the fall of 2017, will provide metrics, graphs, and maps in ways that are directly beneficial for individuals, publishers, and institutions.

Come hear from the developer, a publisher adopter, and a librarian how this initiative will support the adoption of open source software that enables a more open and diverse environment of scholarly activities, increasing adoption and ensuring the sustainability of alternative metrics tools and services based on open technologies.

Discussion will focus on practical ways publishers and librarians can use this service to improve stakeholder experiences, as well as the pros and cons of this new service specifically. We’ll also compare the advantages and disadvantages of this and other existing altmetrics solutions, along with brief coverage of the uses and pitfalls of altmetrics in general.