UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
The 21st century library: a whole new ball game?
Helle Lauridsen, Serials SolutionsGraham Stone, University of Huddersfield
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
The 21st century library
• Overview• How did we get here?• Early adopters• The challenges• Products• User Experience• Discussion
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
How did we get here?
Physical Libraries
• 300 BC the library of Alexandria
• 1445 Gutenberg invents the printing press
• 1665 first issue of The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
• 1870’s the first abstracting indexes emerges
• 1960’s Citation indexing is invented
• 1970’s first online library catalogues
• 1980’s online searching through dial-up becomes common
• 1990’s first online full text
• 2000’s……. E- only libraries becoming the norm!
Online Libraries
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
Early adoptersEarly adopters
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
Early adopters
• A-Z list• Url maintenance• Remote access from outside Campus• Link from databases to full text • Aggregated email alert service • Federated search • Web based Reference Management
system• ERMS
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
Early adopters
• We have bought the systems at different times
• The systems are not interoperable resulting in duplication of effort
• The users are not particular happy about having to deal with different systems
• More advanced systems are now on the market, the early adopters may fall behind
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
The Challenges
• A mishmash of admin!
• Huge staff cost and drain on Technical Services time
• E-only has reached its tipping point for journals
• BUT we are still dealing with print (and it will not disappear)
• Users not happy with interfaces
• BUDGET FREEZE/CUT
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
A-Z
Library Catalogue
Subscription Agent Other
Resources
Federated Search
URL Linker
Full Text
Web Pages
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
The User Experience
Goal is not only to save administration costs but to enhance the user experience
• CIBER are currently carrying out extensive deep log analysis
• There is huge spend on e-resources, and users (including senior academics) are often unaware that the resources exist or that they can be accessed – “failure at the shelf”
• Better use experience = higher usage statistics = funding = renewal
• Real analysis of usage statistics can save you money
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
Ithaka Report 2006
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
The User Experience
• No clear and compelling starting place– Library Catalogue– Journal A-Z list– Federated Search– Repository– Google!
• Difficulty identifying appropriate resources– We are duplicating lists
• General lack of awareness of resources– Information overload
• We need a true one stop shop approach
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
Products
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
ProductsKnowledge Base
A-Z LinkingMARC
recordsFed.
SearchERMS
Next Gen. Interface
Usage StatsOverlap Analysis
Hosted
Serials Solutions X X X X X X X X X
Ex-Libris X X X X X X X
EBSCO X X X X X X X X X X
Innovative Interfaces
X X X X X X X
OCLC X X X X
SWETS X X X X X X X X
SummonX X
Aquabrowser X X
ELIN X X
Summa X X X
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
Recommendations
• This is a time of “revolution” – not evolution• Give print only the percentage of time it earns
by circulation• Flip the mental switch – it will lead to the right
behaviors and expectations
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
Recommendations
• Make resources discoverable– Build a real digital presence for the Library– Simplify the library entry page design– Access ALL library content through one search box
It’s not all in the OPAC
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
What next?
• Look at what you want to achieve– One stop shop– Less duplication of effort/more efficiencies– Increased user satisfaction– Increased usage– Better control of subscriptions
• Look at what the market has to offer– New systems vs. old systems– Interoperability– Mix and match– Future proofing
• Look at what you can afford– Make a 5 year plan
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
Accessibility -this is not an option
“We’re facing challenging budget years ahead. It’s essential that we raise the profile of the library and demonstrate real value”
John ShippUniversity Librarian at the University of Sydney
UKSG Conference
March/April 2009
Helle Lauridsen
Graham Stone
Are silos back? Any Questions?
[email protected]@hud.ac.uk