Public Library Networking

1
Public Library Networking

• Sarah Ormes
• Public Library Networking Research Officer
• UKOLN
• http//www.ukoln.ac.uk/
• Email s.l.ormes_at_ukoln.ac.uk

2
Today and Tomorrow

• Current situation
• services
• national policy
• Future developments
• possible services
• Ways forward

3
Current Situation in UK Libraries

• 74 of library authorities have an Internet
  connection
• 9 of libraries have an Internet connection
• 5 of public libraries provide public access
• Majority connect via dial-up or over council
  networks

4
What Do The Statistics Mean?

• Services vary greatly
• Dependent on local vision
• Dependent on local finances
• Low staff awareness
• Erratic training levels
• But lots of enthusiasm

5
Actual Services

• Reference library use
• Public access Internet services
• Catalogues online
• Community information online
• Public library web sites

6
Reference Library Use

• An new reference resource
• CLIP (Croydon Libraries Internet Project)
• E-mail in reference questions
• Individual libraries
• Ask A Librarian

7
Public Access Internet Services

• Service provider varies
• Library run
• Coynet
• Input/Output
• Charges vary
• Policies vary
• Filtered or not filtered
• Mainly for adults

8
Catalogues Online

• Very common in academic libraries but still very
  rare in public libraries
• How interactive is?
• Can you reserve books?
• Can you view your library record?
• How useful are web catalogues really?

9
Community Information Online

• Making the database web accessible
• Croydon Online - developing web pages for the
  local community
• Businesses
• Schools
• Local clubs
• Project CIRCE

10
Public Library Web sites

• Majority are
• static
• unimaginative
• online leaflets
• Not controlled by the library
• There are exceptions to the rule though

11
Leeds Online

• Council wide information
• Interactive and dynamic

• Local history photos
• searchable archive
• webcards
• videos
• chatboard

12
New Library The Peoples Network

• A timely vision
• content driven
• scenario led
• Importance of training
• New Library briefing pack

13
Outcomes

• Gaining Governments ear
• All public libraries (where practical) connected
  by 2002
• Re-direction of lottery money
• 50 million for content
• 20 million for training
• Possibly for books and infrastructure too
• Wolfson money

14
Other Policies To Consider

• National Grid for Learning
• Green paper on Lifelong Learning
• Cross sectoral collaboration
• Regional developments

15
Lifelong Learning Centre

• Access point to online education and training
• New forms of collaboration with other sectors
• The use of public library material in digital
  learning packages

16
Public Access Services

• A routine service
• Training classes provided by librarians

• Used by the public to
• do research
• book holidays
• interact with government
• talk to gorillas

• A free service?

17
Childrens Services

• Providing access to validated resources
• Working with schools electronically
• Using electronic resources to promote literature
  services
• Stories From the Web

18
Content Led Services?

• More public information online
• Local history and local studies collections
  digitised
• working regionally
• working with other sectors
• Literature services developed
• Online bookshops already doing it

19
The 24 Hour Library

• Moving the library out of its building
• Not just a catalogue
• Access to databases via web pages
• Taking content off the shelves and onto the
  network
• Improving services
• More effective outreach

20
The Future - Part One

• Should 100 connectivity (where possible) the
  only aim?
• The American experience suggests not
• Sometimes painful re-assessment of aims and
  priorities
• New staff skills required

21
The Future - Part Two

• Funding from new sources
• Commercial partnerships
• Cross-sectoral partnerships
• Public library partnerships (EARL)
• Developing a wider vision
• Regionally
• Culturally