GLAM: Global Access Management GLAM: Global Access Management

Sally Chambers

University of London

TF-AACE Workshop, Malaga: 20th – 21st November, 2003

What e-learners and e-librarians want from AA technologies

Overview

•Needs of application areas = needs of users?•External Programme e-learning community•Online Library for External Programme students•AA technologies in the Online Library•User problems with AA technologies•What do eLearners and eLibrarians want from AA technologies?•Need for compatibility with security software?

TF-AACE Workshop, Malaga: 20th – 21st November, 2003

External Programme e-learning community

•30,000 distance / elearning students worldwide•eCampus: Student Registry Database, Virtual Learning Environment, Online Library resources, Student Discussion Fora.•Varying specifications of computers, internet connectivity and computer literacy•Ideal: Authorised access to the eCampus using a single username and password

TF-AACE Workshop, Malaga: 20th – 21st November, 2003

Location of External Programme students

TF-AACE Workshop, Malaga: 20th – 21st November, 2003

The Americas

5%

Asia Pacific57%

Middle East1%

Eastern Europe

1%

Caribbean8%

Western Europe17%

South Asia6%

Africa5%

AfricaThe AmericasSouth AsiaAsia PacificCaribbeanEastern EuropeMiddle EastWestern Europe

Online Library - Goals

To provide off-campus / remote authorised access to licensed online resources ensuring compliance with licence agreements

To provide professional support and guidance in the effective use of online library resources

TF-AACE Workshop, Malaga: 20th – 21st November, 2003

AA Technologies in the Online Library (1)

1. Online Registration for personal Athens accounts• Online self-creation of username / password• Checked against download of data from student

registry database• Self-creation of personal Athens account via

proxy server (Athens is IP controlled)

TF-AACE Workshop, Malaga: 20th – 21st November, 2003

AA Technologies in the Online Library (2)

2. Manual creation of Athens accounts• Students request Athens account using online form

– account details automatically sent by email• Athens accounts created in advance of online

course - posted / sent via WebCT to student 3. Manual request for usernames / passwords for non-

Athens protected resources4. Evaluation version of PAPI (through JISC-funded

GLAM project)

TF-AACE Workshop, Malaga: 20th – 21st November, 2003

User problems with AA Technologies• 75%+ of Online Library enquiries about username /

passwords: – How to get a username / password– Usability / technical problems with online Athens

registration process– Forgotten Athens username / password– Unable to login (technical / usability problems)

• Support should be for information skills not logging on!

TF-AACE Workshop, Malaga: 20th – 21st November, 2003

what e-learners want…

•Logging into personalised services (e.g. saved searches / alerting services) using AA username and password•Clarity about which username / password for which resource / service•Effective methods for retrieving / resetting forgotten usernames / passwords•Logging on from home / work, i.e. from different computers

TF-AACE Workshop, Malaga: 20th – 21st November, 2003

what e-learners want…•Quick login to resources over a modem•Be able to easily see which resources access to and when account / login expires•Login to multiple resources at once – ability to easily move between resources•User-friendly usernames and passwords (e.g. find institutional identifiers confusing)•Information about the resource (e.g. descriptions) at point of access

TF-AACE Workshop, Malaga: 20th – 21st November, 2003

what e-librarians want…

•Improved usability for students, therefore less enquiries…or more enquiries about information skills!•Easy to access / flexible statistics, comparisons across all resources / user groups•How to get username / password to students•Management of the student lifecycle – renewal of accounts annually to ensure compliance with licence agreements•Ability to customise error messages for students

TF-AACE Workshop, Malaga: 20th – 21st November, 2003

what e-librarians want…•One AA method for all online library resources•“My account” details, so students know which resources they have access to, or just show the resources that they have access to and “hide” the rest?•User-friendly and flexible e-resource management - ability to provide access to resources via library web pages, catalogues, Virtual Learning Environments etc.

TF-AACE Workshop, Malaga: 20th – 21st November, 2003

Compatibility with security software?

•New technologies working against AA technologies, e.g. security software:Pop-up blockers, e.g. Google Tool Bar, Personal Firewalls etc.Again…user education is required!

TF-AACE Workshop, Malaga: 20th – 21st November, 2003

Conclusion

•The importance of the user can not be underestimated in the development and implementation of AA technologies•Need to raise awareness of AA technologies (in non-technical terms) for librarians and other information professionals•AA technologies need to be central to the business processes of the user community served.

TF-AACE Workshop, Malaga: 20th – 21st November, 2003

Further information?Further information?

www.glam.lon.ac.uk

www.external.ull.ac.uk