|
| |||
|
|
|
|
|
John Forys - Discussion Leader
Michael Levine-Clark - Recorder
Question #1: What do we want digital collections for the campus to accomplish?
provide better service to patrons
provide access to unique materials (unavailable otherwise)
provide access to materials available elsewhere (but previously unavailable here)
provide digital access to formerly non-digital material
have a greater variety of access points
make greater use of collections
use digitization to preserve materials
provide cross-platform/database searching
make full use of what we already have, whatís already been developed
generate publicity for the library
There was interest in developing an income-generating project, some examples given were JSTOR, Art & Life in Africa, and UI Foundation software developed for on-site use and now being sold for a profit.
Some common themes that arose in the discussion of question one:
We want to provide better service.
We would like to provide greater access.
We want to make data available in a greater number of ways.
Question #2: What needs to be addressed in the design of the collection?
If we are going to work with a variety of platforms, we will need a standardized interface. The WWW is a good example of the ease of use that uniformity brings.
We wondered who would be involved in the design process.
Vendors, library consortia, publishers would all have to participate.
How should librarians be involved?
One means of involvement for librarians should be participation on standards committees.
We were concerned about "understandability" ñ knowing how the system works on all levels (interface, software, hardware, content). One potential problem: proprietary algorithms owned by OVID for example.
Features that interested us:
a. The capability to do profiling
b. The possibilities of "push" technology.
Some additional issues:
a. Make sure that the system is flexible.
b. Will there be a loss of mediation by the librarian?
c. What about copyright/licensing issues?
Our main concerns:
a. Make sure that there are standards in place.
b. The system must have built in flexibility ñ so that it can be added to, adapted to changing issues.
c. "Understandability" ñ We must be able to understand enough about how it works to explain it to users.
d. It must be easy to use and simple to navigate so that anyone can use it.
e. There must be some way of maintaining privacy for users (maximum access. with maximum. privacy).
Question #3: Beyond design, what are the three most pressing issues facing this university as we begin to address building digital collections?
Resources/Money. Do we transfer funds/staff away from books? Will other resources suffer?
Adequate staff. Will we need to hire more staff, staff with different sets of skills?
Publicity. It will be important to make our users aware of our digital collections.
The campus infrastructure will have to be updated. This includes wiring, hardware, and software.
The content of digital collections must reflect the missions and goals of the Libraries and the University. We need to set priorities as to which collections to pursue in light of fact of limited funding.
It will be necessary to identify our audience and potential partnerships (beyond CIC).
On campus, we should coordinate with other departments/collections.
The major issues for this section were:
Resources. If we have limited resources, where does a digital collection fit in? Should it be a priority?
Infrastructure. In order for digital collections to be a possibility, the campus must be fully wired and the latest hardware and software must be available.
Audience. We must be aware of who our users are. This can help guide content.
Content. Content should reflect the mission of the Libraries. Can also guide who the audience will be.
Question #4: a) How might workflow in support units change (in library and on campus?
As the collections become digital, and thus no longer tied to one physical place, we envision consultations occurring outside of the library (This is already happening). Librarians will go to offices and classrooms to help use resources.
As users become used to the idea that digital information comes to them, there may be increased demand for delivery of materials in all formats.
As services change, will we want to charge?
If so, there will likely be tiered services. For instance, students may get free service, while researchers with grants may need to pay.
We will need to consider outsourcing (of scanning, coding, indexing) in order to complete our tasks. It is possible that as we gain expertise, other libraries could outsource to us.
Question #4: b) What tools/skills should be the focus for the next 3-5 years?
We will need to learn about fundraising and grant writing.
We will have to understand intellectual property issues.
There will be design issues to be studied.
We will have to study prototyping.
We should learn how to conduct user-needs assessments
In order to promote our digital collections, we will need marketing skills.
We must learn programming and other technical skills.
At the same time, it is important to keep up with basic skills such as cataloging.
Human skills (public service skills) will still be important as well.
We were struck by the fact that we discussed business skills before computer skills came up. This may have something to do with our discussions prior to this question. In general, we saw a need to learn business and technical (computer) skills while preserving traditional library skills and maintaining a focus on human skills.
Question #5: We did not get to question #5.
Discussion Group 2 [top]
Jim Loter - Discussion Leader
Sandra Ballasch - Recorder
Question #1: What do we want digital collections for the campus to accomplish?
The major goals/objectives of digital collections would include enhanced access to, preservation of and efficiency of use of these new resources. In addition, the nature of digital resources makes possible the provision of added value elements to resources that already exist in the traditional print and micro formats. The promotion of these new resources would not only make our patrons aware of them but also promote the library and its services anew to them. This is going to be necessary if the library is to continue to make an effort to be included at ever earlier stages in the scholarly publication process.
Some additional concerns and issues:
Provide access to special collections that are difficult to access in their original format due to factors such as rarity, fragility, etc.
Cut down on the need for duplication of expensive titles.
Because of the nature of the Internet and the WWW digital collections can provide greater visibility for the library and our collections as well as greater access to the individual resources themselves. Such things as multiple search access points and various ways of capturing the results of searches would be possible in a digital format.
The involvement of the library in the digitization process can help move the library into a more prominent position in the publication process. We would become partners with the creators instead of simply customers.
Question #2: What needs to be addressed in the design of the collection?
The infrastructure (hardware, software and staff resources) necessary to provide and support these new resources must be flexible enough to adapt to the nature of digital collections.
Consideration needs to be given to how to both take advantage of the capabilities of the digital format and still protect the intellectual integrity of the source material.
How the necessary collaboration with internal operations (ITS, departments, etc.) and external entities (other universities, other libraries, etc.) will be structured.
An effort needs to be made to collect information on who the users of these collections are and what they "want" and/or "need".
The addition of digital collection to our existing mix make even more imperative that the library continue to inform our users in the areas of critical thinking skills. A continued emphasis on the development of traditional research skills will become even more important and more and more electronic resources are added to the mix. Ease of searching does not guarantee a quality result
Some additional concerns and issues:
Development of uniform front-end interfaces to these new resources.
The university must have a better grasp of the knowledge base of our students, staff and faculty as well as what those outside the organization know and are doing. Collaboration then becomes a necessity for survival.
Coordination of efforts and expression of needs with other producers (commercial, other libraries or universities) is a vital next step. These efforts would need to include such concerns as standardization of such things as encoding methods.
Priorities of materials to actually be digitized will need to be determined.
Question #3: Beyond design, what are the three most pressing issues facing this university as we begin to address building digital collections?
It is important that the university continue to address the campus-wide organizational structure to ensure that cooperation and collaboration between individuals and departments will be encouraged and enabled.
The technical expertise of the university community among both the academic staff, including faculty, staff, students and the technical staff continues to grow. And grow together.
The issue of intellectual property rights, copyright, must continue to be addressed by the university community.
Some additional concerns and issues:
Money
Rights management
User and staff education efforts
Question #4: How might workflow in support units change?
Some processes and procedures will be automated in one degree or another. For example, in cataloging such activities as authority processing, could be automated to a greater degree than is currently possible.
The relationships between the public and technical services operations will continue to evolve and change. Some activities may well disappear and other change from one operation to another. Collaborative relationships will become ever more necessary to work in a more digitized environment. Not only within the library but between the library and such operations as The Center for Teaching, ITS, etc.
Some additional concerns and issues:
Prospect of staff turnover from retirements in the next decade. Much knowledge of the campus and library will be lost.
The possibility of telecommuting or distance users will need to be addressed in terms of hardware software and staff and staff training initiatives.
The possibility of more interactive applications and the infrastructure to support them.
The need for an inventory of existing technologies and expertise in the library, ITS, etc.
Question #5: How can we best promote the availability and use of new digital collections?
We need to continue to build a network of advocates for the library and its services in academic departments on campus.
We need to work with "early adapters" of technology among the faculty and staff.
Both of these endeavors will help to make the library more visible to upper administration and promote our activities and needs.
All of the above can be done using a mix of traditional media channels (i.e. The Daily Iowan, The FYI, etc.) and new publicity and public relations channels as they develop.
Some additional concerns and issues:
The need for strong support from the university administration at the highest levels.
A more effective use of LWIS as a resource.
More presentations and publications by library staff - to increase the visibility of the library, such as talking to classes and other course integrated instruction.
The need to move on a next generation ILS.
Discussion Group 3 [top]
Jean Donham - Discussion Leader
Karen Zimmerman - Recorder
Question #1: What do we want Digital Collections to accomplish for this campus?
Better access to full text such as commercially digitized material
To be able to get at the full library at any time without items beingchecked out or unavailable, no matter what type of document
Is there a niche for this campus in the greater scheme?
a) Government Documents: This library could domore for digitizing state documents in order to provide better access for state docs
b) Could participate in more cooperative projects
c) This campus has a unique position by virtue of having Law, Medicine,Business, Engineering along with Liberal Arts. We should demonstrate how these can be interconnected; become more interdisciplinary inapproach and activities.
Better guidance for users and more user instruction as part of digital services
Having a standardized interface for users
To have everything from the card catalog in the OPAC
Get better feedback from users--what do they really want? Build in various methods of obtaining information from test projects.
Question #2: What needs to be addressed in the design of the collection?
Need access from off-campus (e.g. licensed products)
Need to continually evaluate and balance the infrastructure. What can it handle? How keep it advancing to the next level of technology?
Need a guide map of suitable levels of assistance to guide people toward relevant and appropriate sources
Need search interfaces that have different levels of sophistication (basic vs. advanced). Sometimes this is difference in vocabulary.
Discussion: Can a civil engineer do good searching in electronic engineering resources? Are the terminologies similar enough? Or would the person do an advanced level search in one area but only basic in the other?
Library science students don't feel that knowing advanced features of search engines help searches; that system builders need to study how people use them.
Different interfaces may turn an advanced searcher from one system into a novice searcher on another. Will canonical interface solve this? Is it possible to use the same search interface for several databases? Novice users should have common interface, but advanced users should have more options available.
Question #3: Beyond design, what are the three most pressing issues facing this university as we begin to build Digital Collections?
Staff training to support development of services and funding to support staff
Need to determine ways of getting funds to develop prototypes.
a) build partnerships on campus
b) grants
Equipment and preservation issues: Keeping formats useable. Preserving informational content but also maintaining artifactual value when necessary.
A new role for libraries: capturing ephemeral art for archives
Collaboration with ITS is crucial: Make sure they know what our needs are. ITS needs funding in order to provide for our needs. Restructure administratively for better communication.
More collaboration with other campus units: Continuing Education & Distance Education. Connections are increasing with TWIST, User Education programs, Departmental libraries. Expand on these connections.
Question #4: How might workflow in support units change?
New vocabulary presented by this symposium indicates need for staff training
Restructure ITS/Libraries to be more collaborative administratively.
Question raised: If too coordinated would it inhibit experimentation and diversity?
Reduce intimidation by showing staff what's behind the scenes. Show HTML structure behind the Web; show database structure. Demystify the technology.
Nurture closer cooperation between Libraries and School of Library and Information Science. Could be a more mutually beneficial relationship.
Continue working with units such as the Center for Teaching to learn more about faculty interests.
Explore use of researchers' databases via Sponsored Programs
GIS brings a multitude of associations including Geography, Regional and Urban Planning and others.
New technology and new opportunities can be daunting for the staff. How to instill the excitement in the staff to buy into the challenge. They have to see it serving a purpose beyond the fact that "everybody's doing it."
Show how it improves library service.
Prioritize! The amount of workflow is doubled to keep up "traditional" and add new at the same time.
Question #5: How can we best promote the availability and use of new digital collections?
Publicity via e-mail, web pages, flyers
Instructional programs
Get into classrooms! Look at individual departments for digital collection needs
Work with Continuing Education/Off-Campus/ICN for off-campus publicity
Librarians need to perceive of themselves and promote the perception of themselves as educators.
Discussion Group 4 [top]
Christine Lee - Discussion Leader
Lissa Lord - Recorder
Question #1: What do we want digital collections for the campus to accomplish?
Timely display; accurate recreation of text
Wide area networking of A & I resources as well as secondary reference sources
Better support of instructional development
Build electronic curriculum in the library
Rights Clearance (copyright, etc.)
Collaborative ventures with Library Science Department in research and student utilization
Access to primary sources
Attention to format and mode of access
Support distance learning
Valid archives; authenticity of text
Enhanced reserve materials
Electronic reserves
Flexibility in construction, selection and output
Structuring material for ease of use
Question #2: What needs to be addressed in the design of the collection?
Customized interface
User interface orientation
Portability and platform neutrality
Plan for technological change and evolution
Making sense of the environment for the user
Identification of resources
Aids of discovery (ie: metadata)
Change within user groups themselves (user base sophistication)
Mindful of the limitations of the distance learner (ie: downloading speed)
Develop useful core resources
Question #3: Beyond design, what are the three most pressing issues facing this university as we begin to address building digital collections?
a. Strong campus computing infrastructure
"The last mile of infrastructure" ... from campus network to the user Staff resources; skills; redefinition of responsibility
Money
b. Ask the customers --- User Needs
User acceptance of digital information and academic use of technology
User ability to benefit from distributed remote design and accessc. Encourage a "Politics of Sharing"
Collaboration --- breaking down barriers
Creation of a fabric of things that all fit together
Core collections for all users
Concept of "worldview" on campus and within the library
Question #4: What tools and skills should be the focus for the next 3-5 years?
Technical expertise and training (HTML and SGML coding as well as for Data Conversion)
Rights Management / Copyright
Preservation of medium and software
Evaluation of digital resources for the academic community at the University of Iowa
Reference expertise
Evaluation and planning of ALL services (electronic as well as all formats; various uses; subject classification)
Definition: Core Skill Set
Support for staff development (time off and financial assistance)
Cataloging: conversion; training; support
Project management skills
Question #5: How can we best promote the availability and use of new digital collections?
Face to face interaction with faculty and TAs (buttonholing) (targeting)
One URL to promote library resources campus: market this one URL aggressively ("Find out here ..." "Whatís new --- one URL" "Everywhere --- One URL" ... on buses, taverns, laundries, apartments, housing, etc.)