Next Generation of ILS

I made a presentation on the topic " Emerging Trends in Integrated Library Systems and the Implications for Library Operations & Services"

The problem

1. The number of electronic resources available on the Web has grown dramatically since mid-1990s.
2. Libraries are beginning to depend heavily on electronic resources. All kinds of libraries spend a major portion of their collection budgets on subscription to electronic content.
3. Existing integrated library systems (ILS) can not handle the functions necessary for effective electronic resources management. Only some minor concessions to electronic content emerged, such as static links through the 856 tag in the MARC record.The core ILS didn’t evolve in step with these changes. Management of these identified resources has become somewhat difficult.To better deal with new world of Web-based electronic content, Integration and cohesiveness of the automation environment is needed.

User Expectations

User now compare their libraries’ services to such recent innovations as the Google search engine. They expect libraries to provide similar levels of simplicity. Libraries no longer want to search myriad information silo but desire one-stop search and retrieval. Libraries no longer serve hundreds users in a controlled environment but thousands of users over the web. Power users get used to use particular tool with powerful functionality. Flexibility and options are needed. How library organize, present and deliver electronic resources to user in different needs?

Future of ILSs

1. A library automation system must include a full suite of modules for each aspect of library operation. Be able to handle extremely large collections. Provide sophisticated features. Adhere to library standards. Sustain many multiple users and high volume transactions.
2. Re-integrating: Integrating multiple diverse systems rather than implementing a single package. Reality is no one product that will solve all of automation challenges that libraries face today. A library needs an entire arsenal of software in order to manage and provide access to information in all its current shapes and forms. Libraries will get more control and the ability to create a highly customized environment, it involves a lot of planning, design and coordination.

Challenges for Electronic Resources Management

The most significant challenges to managing electronic resources in an academic environment are:

• The number of electronic resources available on the Web has grown dramatically since mid-1990s.
• Libraries are beginning to depend heavily on electronic resources.
• Existing integrated library systems (ILS) can not handle the functions necessary for effective electronic resources management.
• Management of these identified resources has become somewhat difficult.
• User expects libraries to provide similar levels of simplicity as Google.

The challenges incorporated in every procedure of electronic resource access and management which reflect as:

• Acquisition challenges: Defining the value of subscription; Product selection and trial; Ordering; Managing and keeping track of license agreements
• Implementation
• Establishing access, managing links, setting up cross-Reference etc.
• Cataloging: Integrate commercial online materials substantially into library collection and OPAC.
• Web presentation: present e-resources on the library Web site.
• Providing user support and trouble shooting.
• Use assessment and analysis need to be done in order to do evaluation for cancellation or renewal
• Preservation
• What supposed to be persevered since content in e-resources is leased and the library doesn’t own it.
• How are we going to preserve the e-content

How would we overcome these challenges?

Cooperative Effort and management are needed

• Cooperative efforts from libraries, consortia, publisher, serial agents and support companies, and library system vendors are needed.
• The formation of a consensus that standards to help guide the development of ERM systems were indeed desirable.
• ERM systems need to be overlaid on or otherwise linked to existing tools, such as Serials or acquisition systems, online catalogs and e-resources gateways. It is therefore critical to establish predictable pathways among variant data streams.

Collaborate Efforts within the library are needed

• Electronic Resource Librarian set up a trial of product.
• Subject liaisons or Reference Group work with faculty closely to suggest/review a trial of products and gather feedback on them.
• Consortia purchasing and pricing can conserve budget.
• Scholarly Communication reform initiatives
• Selection policies and Strategic plans
• Selection guidelines need consider content, added values, technical considerations, licensing and business arrangements and service impact etc.
• Electronic Resource Librarian work with System person to implement access issues.
• Usage analysis and user feedback to help on the renewal/cancellation decision.
• Build digital repository for electronic content we own.

Comments on PALA workshop:Low-Cost Techniques for Creating an Interactive Web Site

This is very interesting topic to me. I remember how much time and effort were spent when I implemented Interactive Web Site at school in order get the Web Server (Linux Platform like Apache server)and MySQL server setting up. In this presentation, John Houser from Palinet introduced a hosting service only cost $75 / year. It will host web server and all SQL databases. It is a standard Linux hosting called Siteground. He also introduced the following tools

• Drupal: Content Management System (CMS).I heard about this before and was stuck on the setting up server.It is a free and open source modular content management system (CMS) written in the programming language PHP. A CMS is a tool used by Web administrators to automatically track online visitors and prepare customized content for consumption, usually as HTML-based Web pages. Drupal, like many modern CMSs, allows the system administrator to customize the content and display of the Web site with little or no programming.
• Weather widget from weatherforyou.com
• Bloglines feed from clips.It is a selection service. It creates a feed from clippings of stories taken from other news or blog feeds. It can replace a traditional clippings file
• Wordpress blogs.Wordpress is a Open source blog publishing system written in PHP and backed by a MySQL database. It can be used as a service or run on your own server
• MediaWiki. As we well known, Wikis are social software. Wiki forms a space for both collaboration and self-publishing. Many Wikis support blogging, discussion forums, and other structured content. MediaWiki has been used widely. It is Open source with lots of extensions to add functionality. It is same software and interface as Wikipedia.Wiki tuned to support public contributions to content. Pages are editable via the Web. Content stored in database. Wiki is good for maintaining information that changes frequently. It is also good for preservation of ephemeral data.
• Google Custom Search Engine.
  You can create a search engine tailored to your use
  • Include one website, multiple websites, or specific webpages
  • Host the search box and results on your own website
  • Customize the colors and branding to match your existing webpages
Since we can create custom search for a particular subject area and put it on our Web site. This must be a perfect tool for creating subject pathfinder.

PALA Conference 2007

This is very good conference. I had opportunity to attend lots of interesting workshops.
First I’d like to list the interesting topics as follows:
• Beyond Browsing: Online Tools You Can Use
Explore the latest online tools that enable us to better manage information via internet, including CiteULike, LibraryThing, Bloglines, del.icio.us, Clipmarks and Tiny URL, etc.
• Low-Cost Techniques for Creating an Interactive Web Site
To bring customers to their Web sites and keep them returning, many libraries are adding interactive features. With limited budgets and technical support, blogs, wikis, RSS feeds and other devices may seem out of reach, yet new online tools make such features easy. In this session, you will learn ways to make your library Web site interactive for less-in both time and money.
• Launching a Redesign of Your Library’s Web Site? What Do Users Want?
Launching a redesign of your library’s Web site? This program discusses how the staff at one academic library used focus groups and Web usability testing to discover user’s perceptions of its Web site before beginning the redesign process. In addition, the session will cover some tips and techniques to design a web site that is more accessible to all users based on universal design concepts.
• Futuring Methods for Libraries (Part I & II)
Join speakers from the institution for the Future at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland for a lively discussion on future thinking relative to library issues. Learn to imagine the possible, assess the probable, avoid the preventable and decide on the preferable. The program promotes future thinking, foresight and the ability to advise, consult and train, while facilitating creativity and planning. Engage in exercises for thinking about the future and learn sources of information about futuring methods. Part II moves from theoretical to the practical as apply futuring tools to real-life library scenarios.
• Who and What Comes After the Millennials?
• Information Literacy Trends within the Virtual World of Second Life
The popular internet-based virtual world Second Life is currently populated by more than four million individuals worldwide, many of whom are over the age of 45. This presentation will explore the emerging social and cultural network that facilitates the “learning ecology” of Second Life and will uncover information literacy trends within the virtual realm.
• Understanding the Problem before You Solve it: Effective Resource-Based Assignments
Thoughtful resource-based assignments are effective tools for developing students’ information skills. Although a well-crafted learning experience is a thing of beauty, there is more science than art in their design. In this session, participants will examine resource-based assignments in their higher education and pedagogical context, as well as their role in developing students’ information literacy.
• The Impact of the Internet on Politics
There have been many predictions about the impact of the Internet on politics. Is the internet the lever for direct democracy? Or is it a wedge for political polarization? Either conclusion may prove too simple. To understand how technology might reshape politics, consider what has been learned from the initial decade of online campaigning, and how various fears and hopes have fared.
• The Next Internet: Telecommunications Reform and Network Policy
Jeff Kuhns is senior director of Information Technology Services at Pennsylvania State University, and a spokesman for the EDUCAUSE and Internet2 organizations. He administers the telecommunications and Internet needs of Penn State and will speak on the importance of keeping the Internet open to all – the issues of “net neutrality” and the reform of telecommunications policy. Higher education uses the internet to provide vital distance learning, medical services and telemedicine, and a wide variety of social and information services to the general populace, as well as communications and information resources for student and faculty researchers. Universities are constantly developing new internet-based applications and services that are intended to be shared with the American public. Kuhns argues that the future of American education, innovation and competitiveness depends upon the availability of an open Internet. The owner of the broadband networks must not be allowed to close down the Internet or give preferential treatment to their own services.
• Beyond the Library Wall: Strategies for Building Library Outreach Programs on Your Campus
In academic libraries, outreach programs are an important way of reaching constituencies who might not take full advantage of library services. This session will offer examples of such programs, including Libraries’ Open House, programs for adult learners, orientation for international students, reference services in the campus student union building (the HUB), and the library sessions for high school and community groups.
• DMCA, TEACH and Copyright in Higher Education
The program will offer an overview of the current state of copyright in higher education, including information concerning the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and the TEACH Act.
• The “Wild, Wild Web”
The Internet is the “Wild Wild Web” and you need to know how to navigate the various problems patrons and fellow employees may encounter. Learn the difference between spam and harassment, who those Nigerians really are, what phishing is and how to deal with MySpace, Facebook and other online social networking Web site issues, plus much more!
• Blogging, Wikis, RSS and More in the Classroom
Academic libraries, serving communities engaged in information creation and exchange, can benefit by using and promoting Web 2.0 tools. Wikis, blogs, RSS and data sharing provide new means of information delivery, distribution and manipulation. Blogging is a versatile tool that can be used in lieu of PowerPoint or other media as a presentation tool and for teaching. However, the classroom blog will require a certain amount of market savvy to convince students and faculty of the medium’s merit. Learn how librarians can educate faculty and students to the possibilities for enhanced education and research. To view a sample classroom blog, go to http://edlaw-scranton.blogspot.com/

Adding customized searchs and services to a web browser toolbar

Recently, Federated / Meta search become hot topic. Patrons like doing search in Google instead of library web sites and catalogs.  In order to adopt library to the new environment,Many libraries are using customized toolbar to point patron to the catalog and popular full-text databases,besides federated search software like MuseGlobal or Ex Libris’Metalib. Firefox was the first to offer this feature, now Internet Explorer 7 also includes built-in search customization as well. This is very interesting to me.

Adding customized searchs and services to  a web browser toolbar requires additional software to be installed on the local PC. Toolbar companies like Softomate and Conduit, as well as IE 7  and Firefox, provide simple methods for adding search services on a web page. Web browser offers a search box in the top right corner of the toolbar. The default search is most often search engine like Google, and a drop down menu displays the customized searches. The user simply types keywords in the search box and then performs the same search on different sites by choosing options in the drop down menu. You can choose the Google option to search in Google, then just clikc drop down menu pick "EBSCO" option to repeat the search in EBSCO databases.

Comparing with full range of databases search, toolbar customized search is limited in functionality point view. However, this is a convenient start point which can  provide an intuitive way for user to use resources.

Comments on Academic Libraries and 2.0

I was very impressed by Laura's A librarian's 2.0 manifesto. Today I went to her Library 2.0 blog to read Academic Libraries and 2.0. I cound't agree her more on the point about librarian's role of educator and leadership.As a example, when software IE, Internet Explorer upgrade to 7 with advanced feature on RSS feed who should be the person to spread and instruct things to our student? Instead of IT person, Librarian should instruct students on this. That's why we should stay ahead of new technologies. I also had experience one student came to me ask help to use Word2003 to open up a Word file with .docx as extension instead of common .doc. Actually .docx file come from Word2007. I needed to dowload a converter software to convert .docx file to .doc(rtf)file. We will need time to go to either Library 2.0 and Librarian 2.0,as far as we get familiar and comfortable to adopt ourselves to new coming technologies. we will be feel more comfortable to provide instruction and services to faculty and students in academic environment.