Recent developments in IT for libraries

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Recent developments in IT for libraries

• Margaret Flett
• IT Services Group
• UCL Library Services

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Overview

• Introduction
• Online document delivery
• Resource gateways
• Personalisation
• Integration
• Implications Discussion

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Context UCL Library Services

• Exists to support teaching, learning, research
  and clinical practice
• Serves UCL members (students, staff), partners,
  others
• 10,000 electronic journals, 150 subscription
  databases, growing e-books collection
• Aleph library management system

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Context UCL Library Services

• MetaLib library gateway
• SFX resource linking
• Online reading lists
• Digitised exam papers
• Digitised images from special collections
• E-Prints institutional repository

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Trends in Library IT

• Driven by
• IT industry developments
• Library software supplier developments
• Library requirements
• User requirements
• How do these factors interact?

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Examples of trends

• Google-style interfaces
• Electronic resource management systems
• Management information tools

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Where are we now?

• Web-based services
• Third- and fourth-generation Library Management
  Systems (LMS)
• Add-on / stand-alone products from LMS suppliers
  no longer Integrated LMS
• Standards Z39.50, XML, OpenURL, etc.

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Some recent trends

• Online document delivery
• Resource gateways
• Personalisation
• Integration

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1. Online document delivery
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Online document delivery

• From library holdings and paper ILL to
• Electronic journals (subscription/free)
• Pay-per-view
• E-prints
• Electronic books
• Locally-digitised documents
• Electronic ILL
• Informal/Ephemeral internet information

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Online document delivery

• The appropriate copy problem
• 1. Proprietary links
• May or may not lead to licensed document
• Depend on publisher/supplier agreements
• Maintained by service provider
• 2. Digital Object Identifier (DOI) links
• May or may not lead to licensed document
• Maintained by publisher

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Online document delivery

• 3. OpenURL
• Provides inter-operability between a multitude of
  resources
• International standard
• Bundles object metadata plus information about
  the origin of the request
• Local link server required, to interpret
  OpenURL and provide appropriate links

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SOURCE eg Library catalogue List of
references AI database
TARGETS eg E-journal article Library
catalogue Document delivery
Links
OpenURL

• Link
• server

OpenURL
http//metalib.ucl.ac.uk9003/sfx_local?genrearti
cleissn0268-540X date2004volume20issue1
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Online document delivery

• OpenURL menu services
• Full Text
• Library holdings (catalogue searches)
• Related searches (author, citation, )
• Web searches
• Export citation
• ILL request
• All can be context-sensitive

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Search EconLit database for central banks
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Click on SFX button to view SFX menu of services
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Click on Full text link in SFX menu to see Full
text
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Online document delivery

• Electronic Resource Management
• Library admin side of user experience
• Manage e-resource life-cycle (acquisitions,
  maintenance, collection development)
• Complement (traditional) LMS, link resolver
  database, financial systems

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2. Resource gateways
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• Specialist databases
• Powerful searching
• Thesauri, indexes
• Learning overhead
• Each searched separately

• Resource gateways
• Resource discovery
• Cross-searching
• Single interface to learn
• Limited search functionality (common features
  only)

vs
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Resource gateways

• Commercial products locally customised
• Resource discovery
• Cross-searching technology required for
  inter-operability
• Appropriate authentication/authorisation
  (ideally single sign-on)

MetaLib demonstration ?
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3. Personalisation
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Personalisation

• Personal view on information resources
• Helps to combat information overload
• Influenced by Web search engines/portals, plus
  organisational portals
• MyLibrary, etc.
• SDI, alerts, RSS

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Search engine portal
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University Portal
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Library portal
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Weblogs (blogging)
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Personalisation

• Library-driven authorised resources, tailored
  resource sets, SDI
• User-driven look and feel, tailored resource
  sets, SDI

MetaLib demonstration ?
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4. Integration
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Integration

• Portals
• Integration of library resources within wider
  contexts
• Re-purposing of information
• Technical issues

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Integration - Examples

• Deep linking
• Embedding
• Integration

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1. Deep linking

• From any webpage, eg
• Find this journal article
• Cross-search Economics resources

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2. Embedding
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3. Integration

• Flexible embedding of library services
• At users point of need
• Combining of library data with related data
• Personalisation

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Integration

• Issues for library staff
• Marketing
• Collaboration
• Technology / data

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In conclusion
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Implications for library/information services

• Priorities
• User and/or administrative developments?
• Cost
• Technological expertise

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Discussion

• Online document delivery
• What are your services priorities for
  development in this area? What barriers are
  there?
• Resource gateways
• Is there a need for a single point of access to
  the electronic resources your service provides?
  What are the benefits? What are the barriers?

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Discussion

• Personalisation
• Would your users benefit from a personalised
  information environment? What steps can you take
  in this direction?
• Integration
• What scope is there within your organisation or
  beyond to integrate your online services into a
  wider environment?

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http//metalib.ucl.ac.uk
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