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Networking of libraries: past and present and possible future
Lucy A. Tedd, Lecturer, Department of Information Studies, Aberystwyth
University
Editor: Program: electronic library and information systems February 2008
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Definition of a network
Oxford English Dictionary – 14 definitions:
“A system of interconnected computers”
Wikipedia:“In general, the term network can refer to
any interconnected group or system. More specifically, a network is any method of sharing information between two systems (human or mechanical).” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network
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Brief historical overview
1977 – seminar on networking held by Cataloguing and Indexing Group of UK Library Association. I presented a paper and identified :
• bibliographic or logical networks• computer or physical networks
L.A. Tedd (1977) Communications networks for computers-an introduction to the technical details Program: electronic library and information systems 11(4)135-144
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Bibliographic networks of the 1970s
Set up mainly to support shared cataloguing by means of a central database – often with records in MARC format
OCLC – then Ohio College Library Center in US. Fred Kilgour had set up OCLC to share resources between individual libraries and to reduce the rate of rise of library costs.
Birmingham Libraries Co-operative Mechanisation Project (BLCMP) in UK – similar aims to OCLC for 3 libraries: Birmingham Public, Birmingham University and Aston University
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Computer networks of the 1970s
Data networks developed for transmission of digital information as opposed to analogue (voice) data.
ARPANET – Advanced Research Projects Agency Network developed by the US Defense Communications Agency
Used packet switching technology and developed into the ‘network of networks’ known as the Internet
Early use for online searching of bibliographic databases
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Bibliographic networks of the 1980s and 1990s
Many countries developed local or national networks to assist with resource sharing
OCLC developed into a worldwide network providing a union catalogue of about 26m. records and used by 15,000 libraries in 47 countries by 1993
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Computer networks of the 1980s and 1990s
Growth of telecommunications networks to link (mainly) academic institutions nationally and internationally e.g. JANET – Joint Academic Network in the UK.
. Used in library community to search online library catalogues (OPACs) in other places.
Local area networks within libraries to link terminals, workstations etc.
The Web
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The beginning of the Web
Tim Berners-Lee worked at CERN – the Centre for research into nuclear physics in Geneva. He was worried about the loss of information about complex evolving systems and suggested a solution based on a distributed hypertext system.
http://www.w3.org/History/1989/proposal.html
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Comments from his boss
“Vague but exciting”
“I like the browsing style this should make possible”
“Intuitively right and potentially user-friendly”
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UKOLN – UK Office for Library Networking
1990- Set up with the primary goal to produce “a common strategy for networking in the UK library and information community”.
2008- UKOLN is a research organization that aims to inform practice and influence policy in the areas of: digital libraries, information systems, bibliographic management, and web technologies. It provides network information services, including the Ariadne magazine, and runs workshops and conferences.
http://www.ukoln.ac.uk
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Unesco and Networking
Unesco Libraries Portal provides information for librarians and library users on a variety of international initiatives.
Networks – part of Co-operation and links to various networks provided to include Unesco-based projects as well as country-based systems.
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OCLC’s Environmental Scan – 2003/4
Aim: To identify and describe issues and trends that are impacting OCLC, libraries, museums, archives and other allied organisations worldwide.
Method: Interviews with 100 key professionals in library, information, archival etc. work worldwide (including in India).
The 2003 OCLC Environmental Scan: Pattern Recognition. Dublin,Ohio: OCLC, 2004
www.oclc.org/info/escan/default.htm
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Interconnected environment
The library systems environment is becoming more densely interconnected. This is a result of several pressures:
“The need for more systems support for the range of library activities in a digital environment.
The evolution of consortial and other shared arrangements.
The need to interconnect with non-library systems such as learning management systems or campus portals.
The use of common services such as authentication across applications.” http://www.oclc.org/reports/escan/library/interconnected.htm
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Network of ‘e-offerings’ in any library
Access provided by:Library Management systemPortal/Gateway to licensed material
including e-journals, e-booksVirtual Learning Environment Institutional Repository of research and
possibly teaching materials developed ‘locally’
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Networks for LMS
Some libraries come together to acquire and use a library management system.
Sometimes national: e.g. COBISS network and software used for many libraries in Slovenia, Macedonia, Serbia , Montenegro etc.
http://www.cobiss.net/cobiss_platform.htm
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Library networks for sharing of resources
e.g. Massachusetts Library Network for sharing books, audiotapes, journals etc. between academic and public libraries in a given region.
http://mblc.state.ma.us/libraries/networks/index.php
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Consortia for purchasing e-materials in a network
Regional- Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium – UK
National- INFLIBNET
International - EiFL http://www.eifl.net
ICOLC – International Coalition of Library Consortia – includes INDEST -http://www.library.yale.edu/consortia/
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Physical network issues
Wi-Fi – wireless fidelity – for sending info. to/from wireless local area networks that might be in a physical library.
RFID – Radio Frequency Identification – for checking items in and out of a library
In UK a major project, the People’s Network, in early 2000s to provide free access to the Internet from all public libraries
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Networking of resources with VLE
Many academic institutions now have virtual learning environments (VLEs)and students study using online material prepared by lecturing staff along with ability to access appropriate resources vi the library.
Examples of VLE software: Blackboard, Moodle
http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=2962
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Social networking services and libraries – Web 2.0
Blogs, Wikis, RSS, podcasts, Facebook, MySpace, Flickr
“Libraries can now easily collaborate and create online communities, as well as explore new ways in which to communicate with, educate and attract new users - and also to market themselves” Phil Bradley, How to Use Web 2.0 in your Library. London: Facet, 2007.
Sample blog entry: Lorcan Dempsey – VP OCLC
http://orweblog.oclc.org/archives/001379.html
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The Economist debate on social networking
“The house believes that social networking technologies will bring large [positive] changes to educational methods, in and out of the classroom.”
Final vote count: Pro 63% / Con 37%
http://www.economist.com/debate/
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New Media Horizon Report 2007 –Technology Drivers
User-created content
Social networking
Mobile phones
Virtual worlds
New forms of scholarship
Multi-player educational gaming
http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2007_Horizon_Report.pdf
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ACRL Environmental Scan 2008
Library facilities and services growing increasingly integrated with research, teaching and learning programs.
Broader collaboration among academic, public, special and school librarians on topics of common concern.
The increasing needs of e-science and e-scholarship in the social sciences and the humanities, requiring new approaches to the design and delivery of core library services.
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ACRL –Environmental Scan – cont.
Increasing collaboration between academic libraries and university publication programs as their roles become increasingly complementary.
The shifting focus for academic libraries from the creation and management of large, on-site library collections to the design and delivery of library services.
The tools and techniques of social computing providing new opportunities for the design and delivery of library resources and services but putting more of a burden on library staff and systems.
http://www.acrl.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/whitepapers/Environmental_Scan_2.pdf
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OCLC 2007 report
Sharing, privacy and trust in our networked world. “The practice of using a social network to establish and
enhance relationships based on some common ground—shared interests, related skills, or a common geographic location—is as old as human societies, but social networking has flourished due to the ease of connecting on the Web. This OCLC membership report explores this web of social participation and cooperation on the Internet and how it may impact the library’s role”.
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Final word….
“[I]f the last few decades of library and information developments have taught us anything, then it’s surely that the really significant advances, and the most meaningful and lasting solutions, are cooperative ones. And more than that: they are tending to become global ones. MARC, AACR2 and even the Internet itself, are obvious examples of this, and there are many others; and the rise of consortia of every kind is testimony to the growing recognition of the value—the necessity even—of interinstitutional cooperation, at both local and international levels. […]
Reg Carr, The Future of Libraries and Collections: Keynote address to the Fiesole Collection Development Retreat, Oxford (20 July 2000), www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/librarian/fiesole/fiesole.htm.
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