Library Technologies for Boutique Services

In this chapter I examine the latest Library technologies at the time of writing (Summer 2011) and test them against the central tenets of the boutique library concept to see if they compliment or contradict each other. I draw on two specific practical case studies from my own experience at my former employer, Royal Holloway, University of London Library Services (RHULLS), and also illustrate how easy it is now to set-up a boutique Library service from scratch thanks to web technologies. My focus is very much on practical and pragmatic practitioner experience with the odd discussion on the future of technology included, in the hope that this book delivers both immediate value and insight to the reader and a record of the current thinking about UK academic library systems

Next generation catalogues: an analysis of user search strategies and behavior

The movement from online catalogues to search and discovery systems has not addressed the goals of true resource discoverability. While catalogue user studies have focused on user search and discovery processes and experiences, and construction and manipulation of search queries, little insight is given to how searchers interact with search features of next generation catalogues. Better understanding of user experiences can help guide informed decisions when selecting and implementing new systems. In this study, fourteen graduate students completed a set of information seeking tasks using UIUC's VuFind installation. Observations of these interactions elicited insight into both search feature use and user understanding of the function of features. Participants used the basic search option for most searches. This is because users understand that basic search draws from a deep index that always gives results regardless of search terms; and because it is convenient, appearing at every level of the search, thus reducing effort and shortening search time. Participants rarely used advanced search but selected it as a secondary alternative, especially when searching for local library or print collections. Participants understand an online catalogue as a list of library holdings that provides access to local print collections; and offers options for refining voluminous result sets. Participants frequently used author, title, subject, keywords; and citation, search within, print, save, e-mailing, fulltext download that offered clear alternatives to searching and search reformulation respectively. Such features are familiar to users from past search experiences and puts them in control of the system. Participants understand the function of VuFind features based on their perception and preference that: VuFind will give relevant and current information because of the large collection size at UIUC; because of their prior experiences with quick, minimal effort search reformulation strategies; and VuFind‘s large result sets, presented in systematic and logical order. The evidence confirms that information tasks guide and shape the way searchers select and use system features. Participant search processes change during and after using a specific system. Alternatives to improve the design of more robust search features are proposed

Catalogue 2.0 and Bibliography 2.0 : Collaboratively Created Structured Resource Lists and their Aggregation

Paper presents how web 2.0 and its tools affect traditional library services and products such as catalogue and bibliography. Using set of social tools and their integration into the library services the user may be given a new means for personalization of traditional library tools. A whole new range of possibilities and usage scenarios open up not only for citations but also for multimedia and hyper textual interactivity with bibliography lists. These tools for bibliographic record management became easy to use but, in the same time, powerful enough to be accepted by library professionals. The paper presents key issues and possibilities surrounding the catalogue 2.0 and bibliography 2.0, points out the differences and similarities between them and suggests the possibility of integration or a creation of a network of these tools

Library Resources: Procurement, Innovation and Exploitation in a Digital World

The possibilities of the digital future require new models for procurement, innovation and exploitation. Emma Crowley and Chris Spencer describe the skills staff need to deliver resources in hybrid and digital environments. The chapter demonstrates the innovative ways that librarians use to procure and exploit the wealth of resources available in a digital world. They also describe the technological developments that can be adopted to improve workflow processes and they highlight the challenges faced on this fascinating journey

Development of Multilingual Resource Management Mechanisms for Libraries

Multilingual is one of the important concept in any library. This study is create on the basis of global recommendations and local requirement for each and every libraries. Select the multilingual components for setting up the multilingual cluster in different libraries to each user. Development of multilingual environment for accessing and retrieving the library resources among the users as well as library professionals. Now, the methodology of integration of Google Indic Transliteration for libraries have follow the five steps such as (i) selection of transliteration tools for libraries (ii) comparison of tools for libraries (iii) integration Methods in Koha for libraries (iv) Development of Google indic transliteration in Koha for users (v) testing for libraries (vi) results for libraries. Development of multilingual framework for libraries is also an important task in integrated library system and in this section have follow the some important steps such as (i) Bengali Language Installation in Koha for libraries (ii) Settings Multilingual System Preferences in Koha for libraries (iii) Translate the Modules for libraries (iv) Bengali Interface in Koha for libraries. Apart from these it has also shows the Bengali data entry process in Koha for libraries such as Data Entry through Ibus Avro Phonetics for libraries and Data Entry through Virtual Keyboard for libraries. Development of Multilingual Digital Resource Management for libraries by using the DSpace and Greenstone. Management of multilingual for libraries in different areas such as federated searching (VuFind Multilingual Discovery tool ; Multilingual Retrieval in OAI-PMH tool ; Multilingual Data Import through Z39.50 Server ). Multilingual bibliographic data edit through MarcEditor for the better management of integrated library management system. It has also create and editing the content by using the content management system tool for efficient and effective retrieval of multilingual digital content resources among the users

Development of Domain Specific Cluster : An Integrated Framework for College Libraries under the University of Burdwan

This paper discusses the development of six domain specific cluster software in the college libraries under the University of Burdwan. Library is the heart of educational institutions. So, as to select the open source relevant with comprehensive software and global parameters on the basis of global recommendations like IFLA-Working Group, Integrated Library System for Discovery Interface (ILS-DI), Request for Proposals (RFP), Request for Comments (RFC), Service Oriented Architectre (SOA) and Open Library Environment Projects (OLE) including the areas like integrated library system cluster, digital media archiving cluster, content management system cluster, learning content management system cluster, federated search system cluster and college communication interaction cluster for designing and developing the college libraries under the University of Burdwan. Also develop the single window based interface in six domain specific cluster for the college librarians and the users to access their necessary resources through open source software and open standards. These six domain specific cluster softwares are to be selected for easily managed the digital and library resources in the college libraries affiliated to the University of Burdwan. This integrated framework can easily managed the housekeeping operations and information retrieval systems like acquisition, cataloguing, circulation, member generation, authority control, report generation and online public access catalogue for the users as well as library professionals also

Applying Hierarchical Task Analysis Method to Discovery Layer Evaluation

While usability tests have been helpful in evaluating the success or failure of implementing discovery layers in the library context, the focus of usability tests has remained on the search interface rather than the discovery process for users. The informal site-­‐ and context specific usability tests have offered little to test the rigor of the discovery layers against the user goals, motivations and workflow they have been designed to support. This study proposes hierarchical task analysis (HTA) as an important complementary evaluation method to usability testing of discovery layers. Relevant literature is reviewed for the discovery layers and the HTA method. As no previous application of HTA to the evaluation of discovery layers was found, this paper presents the application of HTA as an expert based and workflow centered (e.g., retrieving a relevant book or a journal article) method to evaluating discovery layers. Purdue University’s Primo by Ex Libris was used to map eleven use cases as HTA charts. Nielsen’s Goal Composition theory was used as an analytical framework to evaluate the goal charts from two perspectives: a) users’ physical interactions (i.e., clicks), and b) user’s cognitive steps (i.e., decision points for what to do next). A brief comparison of HTA and usability test findings is offered as a way of conclusion

TERMS: Techniques for electronic resources management

Librarians and information specialists have been finding ways to manage electronic resources for over a decade now. However, much of this work has been an ad hoc and learn-as-you-go process. The literature on electronic resource management shows this work as being segmented into many different areas of traditional librarian roles within the library. In addition, the literature show how management of these resources has driven the development of various management tools in the market as well as serve as the greatest need in the development of next generation library systems. TERMS is an attempt to create a series of on-going and continually developing set of management best practices for electronic resource management in libraries

Informational Interfaces: A case study of the impact of discovery systems on biodiversity research and search at the Natural History Museum, London, UK

The Natural History Museum is one of the world’s leading research institutions for biological diversity research with collections comprising some 8 million specimens representing a vast wealth of data. It also holds one of the foremost collections of biodiversity-related literature in its Library and Archives, with over one million items catalogued, ranging from artworks and historical manuscripts to born-digital material such as journal articles. This study investigates the impact of discovery systems on search and research at the Natural History Museum with the objectives: to determine exact attitudes to searching for biodiversity information resources using the Library and Archives discovery system and the Data Portal; to explore how biodiversity information is discovered and used through the discovery system; to examine the impact of discovery systems on search and research; and to document the transition toward a digital, networked and aggregated discovery system approach to managing biodiversity information. To date, this is the first case study of the implementation of a discovery system in a natural history museum library with a focus on biodiversity research

Usability Test Results for a Discovery Tool in an Academic Library

Discovery tools are emerging in libraries. These tools offer library patrons the ability to concurrently search the library catalog and journal articles. While vendors rush to provide feature-rich interfaces and access to as much content as possible, librarians wonder about the usefulness of these tools to library patrons. In order to learn about both the utility and usability of EBSCO Discovery Service, James Madison University conducted a usability test with eight students and two faculty members. The test consisted of nine tasks focused on common patron requests or related to the utility of specific discovery tool features. Software recorded participants’ actions and time on task, human observers judged the success of each task, and a post-survey questionnaire gathered qualitative feedback and comments from the participants. Overall, participants were successful at most tasks, but specific usability problems suggested some interface changes for both EBSCO Discovery Service and JMU’s customizations of the tool. The study also raised several questions for libraries above and beyond any specific discovery tool interface, including the scope and purpose of a discovery tool versus other library systems, working with the large result sets made possible by discovery tools, and navigation between the tool and other library services and resources. This article will be of interest to those who are investigating discovery tools, selecting products, integrating discovery tools into a library web presence, or performing evaluations of similar systems