Central Medical Library

Into the user environment now!

How the users changed and how

libraries can adjust

Guus van den Brekel

Coördinator Electronic Services, Central Medical LibraryUniversity Medical Center Groningen

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The build up …

• Introduction

• The Problem (in short)

• What to do on the SHORT term?

• What could we do NOW?

• Demo QuickSearch Library Toolbar

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T HE PROBLEM

LIBRARY DISCONNECTS

THE CHALLENGE

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Fragmentation of information

The user has to spend a lot of effort:

• To find them• To learn to use them separately• To search them separately• To evaluate them• To keep up with all individual changes• To repeat the above, constantly

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No Shortcuts

No Intersections

No Teleports -;)

No Visibility, lack of presence

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What we are up against …

We are not the only one anymore …

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So the World has changed, …the User has changed …

and the Libraries ……

just did not change enough

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How can we turn that around?

From product-oriented to user-

oriented

Dig into user-environments !

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Keep up with what they are doing!

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The new users

• they are more fascinated by new technologies

• Multitasking is a way of life;

• Staying connected is essential;

• Interactive, not isolation

• Zero tolerance for delay;

• Actions are more important than knowledge;

• Learning by doing, not by being told

• Trial-and-error approach to improvement

is a viable model for learning

• Cut-and-Paste Culture

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lab books

exhibitions

PDAs

learning management systems

campus portal

course materialtext book

personal collections

readinglists

Institutional repository

Digital collections

E-reserveCatalog Licensed

collections

Aggregations

Virtual reference

CatalogingILL

libraryuser environmentsresource environment

lab books

exhibitions

PDAs

learning management systems

campus portal

course materialtext book

personal collections

readinglists

Source: Lorcan Dempsey, Liber 2005

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But how do we start to change?

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• new central information system:

component-based software, no monolithic ILS

• Open standards and protocols: inter-operability

• modular web-based library services

• Web 2.0 social software

On The Long Term (1)On The SHORT Term (1)

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On The SHORT Term (2)

• use of logs stats, evaluate and re-use

• “Make the data work harder”.

Combinations of data-sets can be used to create new

services.

• in more ways than one; platform independent

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A Short Term example

“Building around the box”

From statistics to new services

From Metalib -> LiveTrix

http://Livetrix.ub.rug.nl

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Already implemented in LiveTrix

• Discovery/suggestion tool (no need to select

resource/database or subject first!

• Spellcheck/adviser

• Inline- SFX & lending info with OPAC records

• Impact factor info with Journals

• Related terms info

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Top Ten Technologies for Libraries to embraseWeblogsRSSWiki'sIM : Instant Messaging PodcastingOpenSource SoftwareSMS Text MessagingSocial SoftwareUser-created contentMashing-up services

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But what can we do NOW?

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“Quick and Easy”

Top Three “Tools”

• the Desktop

(desktop search application)

• The Office applications

(Research Task Pane)

• the Browser

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The Browser

• Browser extensions

– Bookmarklets

– User scripts

– Plugins

– Toolbars!

(Have a look at: Library Success : a best practice Wiki

)

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A Short Term example: the QuickSearch Library Toolbar

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Toolbar

• FREE software

• SAFE: No spam, spyware,POP-UPS or adverts

• EASY: quick creation and maintenance

• Completely web-based

• IE and Firefox

• Windows 2000 & Xp

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How does it work?

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To install or not to…..

• Some rights needed

• Offer it via network if IT doesn’t let you

• USB-stick with Portable Firefox!

“Your own portable library”

• Search functionality without Toolbar

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What do the users like about the Toolbar?

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Elements of the Toolbar

Visibility

Presence

Access

Search

Usability

Communication

Interaction

Actuality

Transparancy

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What are the Benefits of all this?

• increase usage collection & databases

(on & off campus)

• More contact moments user vs. library

• improve the awareness of library services in general

(branding)

• boost unknown valuable resources

• Posibilities to get better insight user search patterns and

needs

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And now for something completely different …

The ultimate chase for the user …

Extreme example of libraries following the users everywhere!

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Building a Library in a Virtual “environment”

Ok, but what are they doing in a

VIDEO GAME?

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The Second Life Medical Library 2.0

The chase for the Users ……

Into The User Environment : no limits

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Thank you for your attention.

This is a mash-up of articles, presentations, blog-posts published on these subjects, mixed with my own

experience and opinions. You can find all of them

athttp://del.icio.us/digicmb/cluj