Recent developments in IT for libraries

1. Recent developments in IT for libraries Margaret Flett IT Services Group UCL Library Services

2. Overview • Introduction • Online document delivery • Resource gateways • Personalisation • Integration • Implications & Discussion

3. Context: UCL Library Services • Exists to support teaching, learning, research and clinical practice • Serves UCL members (students, staff), partners, others • 10,000 electronic journals, 150 subscription databases, growing e-books collection • Aleph library management system

4. Context: UCL Library Services • MetaLib library gateway • SFX resource linking • Online reading lists • Digitised exam papers • Digitised images from special collections • E-Prints institutional repository

5. Trends in Library IT Driven by: • IT industry developments • Library software supplier developments • Library requirements • User requirements How do these factors interact?

6. Examples of trends • Google-style interfaces • Electronic resource management systems • Management information tools

7. Where are we now? • Web-based services • Third- and fourth-generation Library Management Systems (LMS) • Add-on / stand-alone products from LMS suppliers – no longer “Integrated LMS” • Standards – Z39.50, XML, OpenURL, etc.

8. Some recent trends: • Online document delivery • Resource gateways • Personalisation • Integration

9. 1. Online document delivery

10. Online document delivery From library holdings and paper ILL to: • Electronic journals (subscription/free) • Pay-per-view • E-prints • Electronic books • Locally-digitised documents • Electronic ILL • Informal/Ephemeral internet information

11. Online document delivery The “appropriate copy” problem 1. Proprietary links • May or may not lead to licensed document • Depend on publisher/supplier agreements • Maintained by service provider 2. Digital Object Identifier (DOI) links • May or may not lead to licensed document • Maintained by publisher

12. Online document delivery 3. OpenURL • Provides inter-operability between a multitude of resources • International standard • Bundles object metadata plus information about the origin of the request • Local “link server” required, to interpret OpenURL and provide appropriate links

13. SOURCE eg Library catalogue List of references A&I database TARGETS eg E-journal article Library catalogue Document delivery Links OpenURL Link server OpenURL: http://metalib.ucl.ac.uk:9003/sfx_local?genre=article&issn=0268-540X &date=2004&volume=20&issue=1

14. Online document delivery OpenURL menu services: • Full Text • Library holdings (catalogue search[es]) • Related searches (author, citation, …) • Web searches • Export citation • ILL request All can be context-sensitive

15. Search EconLit database for “central banks”

16. Click on SFX button to view SFX menu of services

17. Click on “Full text” link in SFX menu to see Full text

18. Online document delivery Electronic Resource Management: • Library admin side of user experience • Manage e-resource life-cycle (acquisitions, maintenance, collection development) • Complement (traditional) LMS, link resolver database, financial systems

19. 2. Resource gateways

20. Specialist databases Powerful searching Thesauri, indexes Learning overhead Each searched separately Resource gateways Resource discovery Cross-searching Single interface to learn Limited search functionality (common features only) vs

21. Resource gateways • Commercial products – locally customised • Resource discovery • Cross-searching – technology required for inter-operability • Appropriate authentication/authorisation (ideally single sign-on) MetaLib demonstration 

22. 3. Personalisation

23. Personalisation • Personal view on information resources • Helps to combat information overload • Influenced by Web search engines/portals, plus organisational portals • “MyLibrary”, etc. • SDI, alerts, RSS

24. “Search engine” portal

25. University Portal

26. Library portal

27. Weblogs (blogging)

28. Personalisation • Library-driven: authorised resources, tailored resource sets, SDI • User-driven: look and feel, tailored resource sets, SDI MetaLib demonstration 

29. 4. Integration

30. Integration • Portals • Integration of library resources within wider contexts • Re-purposing of information • Technical issues

31. Integration - Examples • Deep linking • Embedding • Integration

32. 1. Deep linking From any webpage, eg: • Find this journal article • Cross-search Economics resources

33. 2. Embedding

34. 3. Integration • Flexible embedding of library services • At user’s point of need • Combining of library data with related data • Personalisation

37. Integration Issues for library staff: • Marketing • Collaboration • Technology / data

38. In conclusion…

39. Implications for library/information services • Priorities • User and/or administrative developments? • Cost • Technological expertise

40. Discussion • Online document delivery What are your service’s priorities for development in this area? What barriers are there? • Resource gateways Is there a need for a single point of access to the electronic resources your service provides? What are the benefits? What are the barriers?

41. Discussion • Personalisation Would your users benefit from a personalised information environment? What steps can you take in this direction? • Integration What scope is there within your organisation or beyond to integrate your online services into a wider environment?

42. http://metalib.ucl.ac.uk