12 February 2013

UNL Ignores Proper Authors in Digital Commons

The Digital Commons program of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is showing an obvious disregard to authors of material presented on their website.

For every article presented for the 1983 Nebraska Bird Review, they have not indicated the author, but the current editor of the Nebraska Bird Review publication issued by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union.

This is more than ridiculous, it is completely wrong. It shows a lack of scholarly consideration to the time and energy spent by the author to research and write the article, prepare graphics, etc.

Articles of particular, personal concern, include:

  • * A 1903 BIRDING EXPEDITION IN CHERRY COUNTY, NEBRASKA
  • * SELECT BIRDING AREAS OF THE NIOBRARA RIVER REGION
  • * SOME BIRDS OF ANDERSON BRIDGE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA IN CHERRY COUNTY, NEBRASKA

It would make a huge difference on use of articles if the people responsible for this site would ask for permission to use first, rather than post first and not even inform the authors — who they may know how to contact — of their actions.

Digital Commons, UNL screenshot; 9:30 a.m. on February 12, 2013.

It is for this reason, that effective immediately UNL now longer has permission to post any articles written by James E. Ducey, that are protected by the U.S. Copyright Law, and for which permission has not been given.

My preference is to post those of particular interest here, as indicated in the several articles added last month, so the information can be readily available, and its presentation done to suit my standards.