Designing the real virtual library: an overview of the preparation of an upgrade for the University of Queensland Library

Two of the branches of the University of Queensland Library, both serving staff and students in the social sciences and humanities disciplines, were designed and built some 25 years ago. A ten million dollar upgrade project is being designed to link the two buildings, amalgamate library services, and provide the basis for the delivery of information services in person to staff and students on the St Lucia campus, and via desktop dial-up means to staff and students in their offices or homes. While information technology has been a driving force in the building design, the centrality of the client has been the prime focus

The dream team: sharing architect and librarian skills to ensure library design excellence

Many library managers around the world are developing close working relationships with architects to ensure that the design of libraries meets client needs, functional requirements, and efficiency criteria, with attractive inspiring buildings providing a sense of community for various types of use and user. At the University of Queensland, in Brisbane, Australia, a model of library service delivery was developed through an effective partnership of the then University Librarian and the Principal of a local architectural firm. Library design and refurbishment at the University of Queensland used innovative design principles, blending the perspectives of both the librarian and the architect in a unique partnership which was both personally rewarding and professionally successful

Funding down under: Entrepreneurial approaches to generating income at the University of Queensland Cybrary

The government, from both national and regional sources, is the primary source of funds for universities and their libraries in Australia. Student numbers and financial allocations are set by the federal government. Government policy changes in relation to higher education funding have impacted considerably in the last few years and the percentage of total income emanating from the federal government has steadily deteriorated. Student fees, on both a partial and full basis, have been introduced as part of the funding mix. Most university libraries in Australia are funded by their parent organizations, usually through a fixed percentage of overall university income. Cost pressures have been experienced by university libraries through reductions in government income, and excessive increases in the costs of library materials, but also through a steadily falling value of the Australian currency against other major world currencies. This paper reviews the environment of Australian university libraries and focuses on the University of Queensland Cybrary as a case study, reviewing initiatives that have been adopted to increase income

Coming Out: Making the Virtual Library Visible in Today\u27s World

This is the age of the virtual customer. A silent virtual revolution has led to tumultuous and disruptive changes in environmental, financial, educational, and information environments. As the Library becomes increasingly virtual, it is becoming virtually invisible – as are library customers. Libraries are redefining their roles, managing their migration from the print past to an online future in a time of spiralling costs and declining incomes, redefining their products and services and refocusing on their customers, many of whom they rarely if ever see. How do we position the Library in the marketplace? What is the message to be conveyed to a new generation of customers? What are the information needs to be met? What are the Library’s products and services? What is the story to be told? How are the Library’s products and services most effectively marketed? What communication strategies should be used to bridge the virtual and the real worlds? The paper explores ways in which the Library and its message can be “flipped”. The promotion of goods and services that simplify client experiences is one direction. Less can be more. Ways of rebuilding relationships and establishing rapport with clients are presented. Possible approaches to the development of meaningful engaging content for particular audiences are outlined. Strategies in use by leading edge libraries are identified. Uses of social media in marketing and improving website content are obvious strategies. Designing product and promotional means for mobile devices is an essential component. Collaborating with others and using “influencers” and recommender services will enhance capacity. Ways of making the virtual library visible and telling the story effectively in a largely invisible domain are outlined and transformative strategies explored

Australian subject gateways, the successes and the challenges

The paper provides an overview of subject gateway development in Australia and takes a closer look at three subject gateways coordinated by the University of Queensland: AustLit: Australian Literature Gateway; AVEL Sustainability Knowledge Network, an engineering and sustainable development gateway; and WebLaw, a gateway for legal professionals. The challenges facing subject gateways are examined, including interoperability, coordination and most significantly, sustainability. The paper concludes with the overarching questions being considered by gateway coordinators such as the place of subject gateways and their future given trends in the evolution of the web.<br /

Cybrary Support for Learning, Teaching and Research at The University of Queensland - the 1998 University of the Year

The Library has taken a leadership role in addressing the real needs of students in the 21st Century. It is working collaboratively with students and staff to meet their learning and teaching needs as new technological and service possibilities become available. The Library has integrated new web developments with traditional services to create Australia's first Cybrary - a 'virtual library' in a 'wired university'. The Cybrary is an indispensable, integrated approach to meet the information demands of lifelong learning and problem based teaching. It is a powerful support for flexible learning and an enhancement to flexible teaching. The University of Queensland Library has traditionally been an early adopter of technology. In the early 1970s online databases were searched for clients; then an electronic catalogue was introduced. When CD-ROM technology opened up the world of enduser access to electronic bibliographic databases the Library was among the first to provide its clients with these products. As a proactive electronic service provider, the Library has adopted and utilized Internet and Web technology as a vehicle to provide better service to its clients. As a result of its prompt and innovative adoption of leading edge technologies the Library has developed the Cybrary. The services offered through the Cybrary support the complex and varied learning journeys that both students and staff undertake in the current educational environment. Students and staff are able to control their own research and learning to a degree not known before. Last year the Library was recognised for its innovative Cybrary services when it jointly won the highly regarded Institutional Award for Services to Australian Students in the Australian Awards for University Teaching. The paper describes the Cybrary's components and the challenges faced in its implementation

Strategic planning and quality management at the University of Queensland Library

This paper describes the University of Queensland Library’s strategic planning and quality management processes. Priority areas, benchmarking initiatives and performance measurement are discussed, as is the Annual Review, at which priority areas for address in the coming year are determined. One of the strengths of the Library’s quality program, through the planning process, is that new initiatives, once proven are then integrated into standard operating procedure. Both the staff and the Library benefit from this, and the Library’s culture is one of continuous improvement. The customer is the focus of all activities. Successful outcomes to which the strategic planning and quality processes have contributed are described

Erneuerbare Energien

ERNEUERBARE ENERGIEN Erneuerbare Energien / Schmidt, Janine (Rights reserved) ( -