Production Services in the Library:
Challenges & Opportunities

EDUCAUSE Midwest Regional Conference

March 13, 2006

Jim Duncan & Scott Fiddelke

Instructions for this Presentation

History: Commons as a Facility

• Mission: explore and support new technologies
• Service mandate: reach out to external communities, health science colleges

History: Shift in Roles

Revenue Generation
-or-
Why We Charge for Services

• Client culture expects charges
• “Products” get used – clients have stake in outcome
• Creates timeline pressures – prompt completion of project assignments
• Ramps up pressure on ICPS to create professional-grade projects

History: Turning Point

• QTVR experiments - Object VR
• Partnership with faculty member & grant application
• Development of a product: CD-ROM titled: Bones of the Skull
  

Production Services Scope: A Partnership

• Client: Focuses on...
  • Content
  • The act of teaching
  • Research

Production Services Scope: A Partnership

• Library: Focuses on…
  • Information design
  • Organization of content
  • Content creation & workflow
  • Access and delivery technologies

Production Services Scope: A Partnership

• Developers/Designers: Focus on...
  • Technology infrastructure
  • Programming
  • Instructional approach
  • Innovation

Production Services Scope: A Partnership

Strategic Project Selection

• Aligns with Library service goals
• Holds strong potential for Library/ICPS visibility and impact
• Offers integration with teaching/learning trends (global)
• Enhances client’s teaching/learning/research mission
• Provides Library/ICPS with experience using new tools, innovative technologies

Types of Projects: Broad Categories

• Databases
• Media & multimedia assets
  • Animations, Video production, Graphics
• Web sites - Includes delivery of resources above
• Application development
• Electronic publishing
  • Removable media, Web, Mobile devices
• Emerging Technology & experimentation

Example Project: iLecture

Example Project: Iowa Public Health Information

Example Project: Iowa Head & Neck Protocols Manual

Example Project: Neuroanatomy Animations

Example Project: Videos

Example Project: Immunology & Molecular Biology

 

Example Project: Iowa Consortium for Mental Health Data Collection

Example Project: Hardin Library News

Example Project: Rare Book Room Imaging Projects

 

Example Project: The University of Iowa Libraries

Example Project: Larynx Instructional Module

Recent Grant Proposals / Initiatives

• Grant – Innovations in Instructional Computing Awards - $26,000
• Grant – National Institute of Mental Health (Nursing) - $50,000
• Federal Earmark – International Public Health Information Delivery system - $408,000

Current Staffing

Digital Media Projects Manager 2 Half-time Graduate Assistants 1 Temporary Graduate Assistant Web Producer / Database Developer Asst. Director for Technology Services

Skills Graphic Design, Web Programming, Database Development, Application Programming, Information Architecture, Video Production, Search Engine Optimization, Instructional Design, and much more...

Production Services Visibility

Strategic Campus Partners - NOT Competitors

• ITS – Academic Technologies
• Digital Library Initiatives
• University Webmasters
• University Video Center
• ITS – Video Services
• OCRME – Office of Consultation & Research in Medical Education
• Dozens of small “production shops” and developers across campus

Discussion & Questions

Contact info:

Jim Duncan
jim-duncan@uiowa.edu
319-335-6928
Scott Fiddelke
scott-fiddelke@uiowa.edu
319-335-6955

http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/commons/icps