Innovative Services and Future Challenges for Libraries

Perla T. GarciaDirector, De La Salle University Library

A presentation in PAARL seminar-workshop on the theme, Library & Information Services: New

Paradigm for the Digital Age

St. Paul Retreat House, Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet

May 17, 2006

Introduction

My topic presentation was mainly influenced by the conceptual framework that is aptly and briefly discussed by an article written by Anthi Katsirikou and Elena Sefertzi, Library Director, Technical University of Crete, Greece and Dr. of Sociology, Ag. Anastasias 8 Thessaloniki, Greece respectively

Concepts Concepts Concepts Concepts

“The library world is in the midst of technological restructuring.”

“ Every branch of library work changes continuously because of the technological facilities, although the missions and goals remain unaltered.”

“Libraries belong to professional division which involve the innovation and technology transfers in everyday life.”

In most cases innovation either as a product or as a procedure goes into the libraries, its not a phenomenon produced by them

•“On the strategic level libraries on average have developed the ability to > collect > process > assimilate technological innovation.”

“On the organizational level

libraries follow the changes which technology transfer dictates

> close co-operation with computer centers and

> external commercial information suppliers, software and hardware suppliers, science and technology achievements, etc.”

“It is too common to libraries to develop routines and Best Practices for every task,

derived by the technology they use, for the cost decrease, the time save and the increase of the effectiveness and efficiency.”

“The innovative process is the kind which libraries could adopt, as

innovation is composed of the systematic retrieve of changes and systematic analysis of the opportunities which these changes could contribute to economic and social improvement.”

“Innovation above all, is a

social procedure, as it is interpreted in terms such as

creativity,

desires,

fantasy and

the ability to take risks and to change.”

“ Innovation and technology transfer differentiates the role of the librarian and extends it beyond the limits of the information intermediary.”

“The librarian in order to involve, anticipate and especially produce innovation has to learn how to learn, as libraries have to learn how to change.”

Innovative practicesIn Collection Development Program

Transition from printed to electronic collection

> convergence of the roles of librarians in both public and technical services

> understanding the entire electronic information scenario:

>> procurement >> organization >> access >> public services

Innovative practices

In Information Delivery System

> beyond the library walls

> fee based or free access

> 24/7 or with time limitation

> feedback mechanism

Innovative practices

In User Education Program > tutorials or learning modules > interactive instruction > individualized hands on instruction > fluency in information literacy

Innovative practices

In staff training & development >Computer and information literacy

>Customer focused initiatives Interpersonal skills/attitudinal training Reference interview training Function or operational training Technical or equipment literacy Problem-handling procedures Library Service awareness and marketing

Innovative practices

Among Tangibles

> equipment

> facilities

> other physical attributes

Innovative practices

In Organizational Management > empowerment of customers and staff

> concurrent positions/ multitasking

> work ethics and standards

> organizational culture

> quality assurance

> community service

Innovative DL system

Open DLib: an infrastructure for new generation digital libraries

> developed at the DLib Center, ISTI-CNR, Pisa

> consists of an architectural infrastructure and a set of core DL services that can be customized to meet the needs of different user communities

Supports a new document model, called Document Model for Digital Library

DoMDL can represent a wide variety of multi-version documents with heterogeneous content, media, and structure

> For more information at http://www.OpenDLib.com

Conclusion

As new technologies continue to emerge and find their place in the provision of library and information services and resources there is no escape to introduce the corresponding transformation and restructuring of methods of service delivery.

The result is that libraries need to be in a continual state of strategic planning, implementation and assessment and reassessment of their innovative services and resource efforts in consonance with the evolving changes in the technological landscape.

New initiatives have to be introduced after improvements are evident.

References

Katsirikou, A, & Sefertzi, E. (2000) Innovation in the every day life of libraries. Technovation, 20(12): 705-709. Retrieved on 18 April 2006 at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_aset..

Castelli, D, Pagano, P., & Thanos, C. (2004). OpenDLib: an infrastructure for new generation digital libraries. Int J Digit Libr 4: 45-45. Retrieved 18 April 2006 at http://www.springerlink.com

Recess: Brain Aerobics

Question 1 Finished files are the result of years of scientific study combined with the experience of years…

Count every “F” in the aboveText. How many are there?

Question 2

The floppy was invented by IBM engineers led by Alan Shugart in 1971. It has undergone improvements in terms of size and storage capacity, from 8” to 5 ¼ “ to 3 ½”.

In what decade was the latest floppy introduced by Sony?

Question 3

DVD or Digital Versatile Disc was mainly developed by the company Matshusita and was announced in November 1995.

Who can be called the inventor of DVD?

Question 4

What other words can be retrieved when the phrase innova# is entered in the basic search statement?

The above search is an example of right truncation that expands search result.

Question 5

The name acronym for “Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle” was founded in 1994 by Jerry Yang and David Filo, two Ph.D students at Stanford University.

What is the popular name of this website?

Answers

1. 6 Fs .. All on the first go is a genius, three is normal, four is quite rare. 2. 1980s particularly in 1981. 3. There is no one person who can be called the inventor of DVD. 4. Innovator, innovators, innovate, innovates, innovated, innovation, innovations, innovating, innovative 5. Yahoo

Workshop Proper

Individual task: Prepare a list of new initiatives introduced in

your library or in your sphere of work in the past academic year. Categorize each under service, process, tangibles. Group task:

Map the individual lists to produce the innovation profile of the group. Select a routine or practice that can be applicable to implement in your library this coming year.

Wrap up after 30 minutes

Results of the workshop.

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That’s it folks.

Thank you.