DiVLE The 4i Project (Interoperable, Institutional, Integrated Implementation)

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DiVLEThe 4i Project(Interoperable,
Institutional, Integrated Implementation)

• Clare Uhomoibhi
• Information Services (Library)
• Alan Masson
• Institute of Lifelong Learning

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Project Team

• Project Director John Kennedy
• Assistant Director Alan Masson (Lifelong
  Learning)
• Project Manager Clare Uhomoibhi
• Development Officers x 2
• Systems Support Assistants x 4
• Technical Support Barney Carolan
  (Infrastructure)
• Partners
• WebCT Inc
• Talis Information Ltd
• Athens Access Management Service

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Project Objectives

• To fully assess the impact of institution wide
  VLE-Library system integration on library
  business processes and the user experience.
• To further develop technical integration methods
  to facilitate better interoperability between
  diverse systems and platforms and across
  institutions.

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Enhancing Library Services

• If students are enrolled for a module, we know
  quite a lot about who they are and what they are
  likely to be studying.
• Can we provide users with a contextual view of
  library and other appropriate resources?
• Can we facilitate through authentication to
  protected resources for bona fide UU users?

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Realising VLE - Library Integration

• A common, granular view of the library necessary
  TalisList
• A means of passing on user and module
  information between systems - LSP
• An integrated approach to authentication Athens
  DA

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TalisList

• A standalone web-based resource list management
  system that integrates with LMS and institutional
  VLE.
• Provides a CONTEXTUAL gateway through which
  internal and external learning resources can be
  delivered.
• Centrally managed by Library, with option to
  grant academics editing rights.

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List management issues

• List processing often triggers the need to
  purchase new titles and/or extra copies
• Reading lists rarely received on time
• Lists often refer to
• older editions of titles/volumes of journals
• material that is not subscribed to in electronic
  form or held on any of the campus libraries
• material that is not held on the campus where the
  module is being run
• Lists often require clarification with academic
  staff

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Issues to Consider

• Identification of sustainable resource list
  creation and management processes.
• Assessing potential impact on general library
  business processes.
• Embedding associated tasks within staff structure.

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Anticipated Outcomes

• Improved academic/library liaison
• Reduced user queries through online provision of
  up-to-date module resource lists.
• gt awareness (and usage) of electronic resources
• Seamless access to paper-based and electronic
  resources through TalisList gateway.
• Informed resource management strategy
• Modular view of Library, centrally maintained

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Library Service Point

• UU cookie model developed to shape library
  services to the context in which the student is
  presently operating.
• A LibTicket cookie (containing user and module
  information) is passed from WebCT to the
  appropriate library service via the browser.
• Initially, each service reading lists
  (TalisList) and borrower services (Talis) read
  and acted on cookie independently.
• Requests from WebCT for library services are now
  channelled through a single interface, the LSP.

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LSP Menu

• LSP currently offers students dynamic links to
• Main Library Website and Catalogue (generic)
• My Module Reading List (module-specific)
• Library Information Services for My Faculty
  (faculty-specific)
• My Electronic Information Services (Athens)
  (person-specific)
• New additions to the Library in My Subject
  (school-specific)
• Past exam papers for this module
  (module-specific)
• My Library Account (person-specific)

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Library Links in VLE

• All live modules in WebCT have the following
  links permanently visible in the navigation bar
• Library (Main Library Website and Catalogue)
• Library services (LSP)
• Module resources (My Module Reading List in
  TalisList)
• Subject guide (Library Information Services for
  My Faculty)

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Advantages of LSP (i)

• Provides fixed reference point through which VLE
  users may request library services from within
  WebCT
• Any changes to the URL for library services
  requested need only be implemented at the LSP,
  and not in the VLE.
• Authorises trusted access to other library
  services on the basis that the user has been
  authenticated locally.

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Advantages of LSP (ii)

• Acts on information received to lookup and
  distribute data to other library services,
  preventing duplication of effort.
• Provides choice of accessing service requested
  directly or from a menu of service and support
  options.

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Advantages of LSP (iii)

• Key advantage - interim approach to a web
  services model of systems integration.
• Data structures etc. ready to go WS.
• Project provides good understanding of user needs
  and potential benefits as web services and other
  standards emerge.

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Accessing Electronic Resources

• Recent developments
• Proliferation of resources
• Growth in demand for off-campus access
• Concern about secure access to services
• Students subject to information overload
• Increased administration from Library perspective
• Baseline audit of queries from distance learners
  indicates that the majority relate to Athens.

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Athens Devolved Authentication

• Local authentication service is a trusted service
  for access to AthensSSO resources
• Enables synchronised authentication to VLE and
  Athens-protected library resources (LAA mode)
• Eases integration of local and external services
• Improves accuracy of user credentials
• Reduces administrative workload
• Easier for end users
• Secure solution

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Evaluation activities

• Logging of LSP requests
• Server logs - spatial, temporal and technical
  profiles of service usage
• Collation of person, mode of study and course
  data
• Formative feedback from learners, academics and
  library staff.

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Module resource lists

• Number live 400
• Number under development 800
• Bulk upload capability becoming a priority

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UU Strategic Objectives

1. To have a WebCT course area for all UU modules
   (7k) completed 2002
2. To have Talislist hosted module resource lists
   for all modules ongoing
3. To have an integrated WebCT / Athens DA login
   process completed Feb. 2003
4. To have a contextual WebCT - library integration
   between module course areas and library services
   and resources LSP completed Feb. 2003

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In conclusion

• The LSP, and Athens DA result in seamless
  integration of
• course content (in WebCT)
• resource lists (in TalisList)
• external Athens-protected resources (e.g.
  electronic journals)
• locally hosted services (catalogue, exam papers
  etc)
• Related Library developments include
• HERON (Higher Education Resources On-Demand)
• Self-service Inter Library Loans
• Email alerting service for academics
• 4i Project website
• http//www.ulster.ac.uk/library/4i

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