Mark and everyone,

I've been traveling and haven't had the chance to check the KIP website. I 
called the KIP team to get the latest details but haven't been able to connect 
yet, so here is what I know so far.

KIP does not post anything unless it is described as open access (available 
freely to all) or it has explicit permission, as it does from TSA to post the 
Texas Caver.

As I understand, NSS gave permission for KIP to post many of its materials, 
which included some Pennsylvania newsletters in its library. Some Pennsylvania 
cavers saw their newsletters and complained. Word quickly spread. KIP 
immediately withdrew those materials and others provided by NSS. Currently the 
KIP team is verifying what material provided by NSS the NSS had authority to 
post and which needs permission of grottos, regions, etc. It is professionally 
and legally vital for KIP to have proper permission, so removing those 
publications is necessary  until clear permission is in place.

I encourage everyone who has legal access to publications to continue posting 
them to KIP. If there is information in a publication you consider sensitive, 
just specify it and it can be redacted. Some organizations post their materials 
immediately to KIP while others ask it not be posted for a specified period. 
Some want certain information redacted and some don't.  The KIP team will work 
to meet the needs of the publishers.

The idea of creating password-protection for the materials isn't practical. 
First, it is contrary to KIP's open access purpose. Second, KIP hosts 
publications from over 20 countries and even more organizations. Setting up 
password protection for their members isn't practical and best left to each 
organization to set up on its own on its own website if it wants such 
protection.

In the worst case and some of the material does not reappear on KIP, first, 
don't blame KIP. Complain to the person or organization that published the 
material for not giving KIP permission to post it. Second, keep in mind that 
KIP has a private archive with scanned publications that it does not have 
permission to post. The KIP team is seeking permission for this material. Even 
where permission has been refused, KIP is designed for the long-term. KIP 
retains those digital files (which it can legally do as long as it doesn't 
distribute them) should the situation change some day. This has happened as 
organizations change priorities and publications go out of print (or the last 
copy is lost in a fire) and the publisher no longer sees any benefit in not 
freely posting their materials.

If I learn anything more of relevance, I'll be sure to post it to this list. 
Anyone wishing to distribute this message to others is welcome to do so.

George


Sent from my mobile phone

********************

George Veni, Ph.D.
Executive Director
National Cave and Karst Research Institute
400-1 Cascades Avenue
Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220-6215
USA
Office: 575-887-5517
Mobile: 210-863-5919
Fax: 575-887-5523
[email protected]
www.nckri.org




-------- Original message --------
From: Mark Minton via Texascavers <[email protected]>
Date: 2014/12/10 08:04 (GMT-07:00)
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Texascavers] Karst Information Portal


George,

   According to the Karst Information Portal home page, grotto newsletters
are soon to be withdrawn from open access. That seems like addressing
the potential problem of location information with a sledgehammer.
What's the point of having things on KIP if no one can get to them?
Maybe they should be put into a special "members only" area where NSS
members can log in with their NSS number and some other credentials to
see the newsletters. I've been actively promoting editors to make their
newsletters available through KIP and many have agreed. Now that all
looks like it might have been for naught. :-(

Mark

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