www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries practical experiences of planning and delivering library e-services in the...

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Practical experiences of planning and delivering library e-services

in

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

UKOLN Public Web Manager’s EventMay 2004

Andrew Lewis

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

About this presentation

• Overview of what we have done.• Format: two parts

• Electronic library services in RBWM – what we are doing and why

• Webwords project.• Things that you might want to know

• Practical lessons learnt• Factors that affect the process• Q+A

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Windsor and Maidenhead

• The Borough• Population of approximately 140,000• Windsor and Maidenhead, plus 14 outlying villages• The Borough is essentially rural

1000 acres of National trust land 5000 acres of Crown Estate 83% of the Borough protected by metropolitan Green Belt.

• Legoland and Windsor Castle!

• Council• Liberal Democrat Controlled since 2003• Small Unitary Authority• In house IT activity

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Part one

e-services

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

e-services?

• Library Computers

• Web pages

• Computers games

• Remote access services

• Automated self-service

• Projects

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Library Computers

• Services available• MS Office, Catalogue, Internet, e-ref, etc• Games• Authenticated against LMS• Internet Access by age range not

filtering• Development

• E-services team develop and test• Working with Ops team• Reliance on IT for builds• Monitoring and Statistics

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Web pages• Structuring

• Navigation• Sections follow team responsibilities• Content management based upon this

• Format• Part of Borough website!• Simple, low graphics, no frames

• Standard Features• Service Information, locations, charges, documents

etc• Transactional

• Catalogue/e-reference• Book reviews/customer comments form • Online joining• Consultation

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

RBWM library web pages

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

What children get at library event• Something to do!

What parents see• Libraries provide activities for my kids• and they have children's web pages• and I can renew my books out of hours

Cross Marketing

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Computer Games

loader.exe

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Automated Self-Service

• Self-issue terminals at:• Windsor Library• Maidenhead Library

• Planned for • Datchet self-service library project

• Self-renewals by telephone• Using ITIVA system• More accessible than Internet

• Pharos print release station• Coin operated printing

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Projects

• Webwords• Thames Pilot• Smart Card• TV CAT• Eton Wick dual access ICT suite• Datchet Library • Maidenhead Library Improvements• Mobile Library Connectivity

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Remote access services

• Public• E-reference on web pages• Catalogue• Automated telephone renewals• Web cam link• e-mail and web form for customers

• Staff• Shared network drive/teleworking• Work.Together• Chat• Discussion lists

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Part two

webwords project

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

webwords

• Demonstration

• Keypoints

• Background

• Lessons Learnt

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

RBWM catalogue (Dynix WebPac)

http://www.webwords.org/audio/77.mp3

Thompson, Shelley

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Darlington Libraries

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Tameside Libraries (GEAC)

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Bridgend (Geac)

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Wandsworth (Dynix IPAC)

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Bournemouth (Talis)

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Webwords for reader development

• Allows staff to demonstrate around 500 books in one place

• Does not require getting any cassette or CD-players s out!

• Can be used anywhere via the web• Simple search interface

www.webwords.org

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Key points• Based upon user feedback

• Comments from blind people about readers• Allows browsing by hearing those readers

• Based upon standards• Standard web protocols (HTTP)• MARC – international catalogue standard• mp3 – de facto standard for sound files

• Cross platform • Will work with almost any system• Dynix, GEAC, TALIS, standalone web pages

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Background

• NOF Excellence Fund• Bid in 60 seconds• Previous experience in elderly and

housebound library services

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Lessons learnt

• What worked well• Simple successful concept that works• Allows shared use• Local control over implementation

• Learning points • Some library catalogues are not so

accessible• Longer term future depends on

content creation

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Summary

• Providing good e-services requires:• Planning

• Knowing what you want to do and why• Spending time gazing into the future• Establishing good relations with IT• The use of project planning• Accepting that resources are finite

• Luck• Attitudes of individuals• Organisational structure, and infrastructure

• Enthusiasm

www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries

Practical experiences of planning and delivering library e-services

in

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

UKOLN Public Web Manager’s EventMay 2004

Andrew Lewis