The Hybrid Library Project

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The Hybrid Library Project

• Leeds University Library

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Faculty Teams at Leeds

• Small groups of subject librarians who liase with
  academic staff to provide library support to
  students
• Also deal directly with student enquiries
• Liaison Group is a group of Faculty Team
  Librarians who meet to discuss liaison activities

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Virtual/Managed Learning Environments at Leeds

• Nathan Bodington Building is a virtual
  building. Each academic department has a floor
  on which suites of rooms are used to provide
  course materials, assessments, etc to students
• VSP (Virtual Science Park) is similar to Nathan
  Bodington but is a commercial venture of the
  University. Companies can purchase a tenancy in
  the park
• Webpages are used by some departments to deliver
  teaching/learning materials

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Key Aims of the Project

• Develop liaison with academics to provide library
  support for specific modules
• Allow students to access the universe of
  information as well as module materials
• Work with a wide range of subjects and students
  from 1st year Undergraduates to taught Masters
  and off-campus students
• Support the students within their learning
  environment, I.e. departmental webpages, Nathan
  Bodington Building

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Project Information

• Internally funded
• One full time member of staff
• Part-time managerial and technical support
• Funded for 15 months from June 2000

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Liaison and Development of Hybrid Library
Resource

• Contact with Faculty Team Librarians to embed the
  project within Faculty Teams
• Faculty Team Librarians suggest possible
  modules/academics
• Contact/meeting with academics
• Development of the resource
• Report back to academic with draft version of
  resource
• Continued liaison via meetings, phone, email

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Components of a Hybrid Library Resource

• Course materials such as lecture notes,
  assessments
• Electronic reading lists
• Past exam papers
• Links to relevant websites/databases
• Online counter collection
• Tutorials/training materials
• Library contact information
• etc.

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Evaluation Activities

• Questionnaires for students
• Structured Interviews with academics
• Focus Groups with students and Faculty Team
  Librarians
• Cohort study
• Anecdotal evidence/comment

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The Future

• Need a well planned exit strategy to hand over to
  Faculty Teams
• Hybrid Library template or toolbox to enable
  academics to create their own resources
• Retain liaison between Faculty Teams and
  academics to provide best support for students

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URLs and Contact Information

• Claire Ryan, Hybrid Library Project Officer
• Tel [phone]
• Email c.a.ryan_at_leeds.ac.uk
• Demo Hybrid Library URL
• http//www.fldu.leeds.ac.uk/opensite/nbodington/st
  udents/library/hylib/10105959/