1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

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

9

Info. management: a proposal

10

Comments from his boss

“Vague but exciting”

“I like the browsing style this should make possible”

“Intuitively right and potentially user-friendly”

11

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

12

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.

13

14

15

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

16

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

17

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’

18

Aber.

19

Delhi

20

21

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

22

COBISS network

23

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

24

25

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/

26

27

28

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

29

30

31

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

32

33

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

34

35

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/

36

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

37

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.

38

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

39

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”.

40

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.