Automation: Whither academic libraries?

Reviews the role of copyright in digital academic and research library development in the UK over the last 25 years, drawing on policy documents, legislative reviews and statutes, project documentation and programme syntheses. Finds that copyright-related issues have presented challenges for the development of digital libraries. UK copyright law has been reformed as a result of consultative reviews, but the role of high-level negotiations between stakeholder representatives and the development of model and blanket licences have arguably been more effective in supporting the development of digital libraries. Despite tensions between libraries and publishers, gradual cultural change and the roles played key players such funding councils and high-level representative groups have facilitated progress. The increasing trend towards open licensing presents new roles for libraries as well as challenges and new business opportunities for publishers. Concludes it is unclear what future UK copyright and research pol...

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Copyright and digital academic library development in the UK

The changing objectives and priorities of the University of Derby Electronic Library (UDEL) are briefly described, from its origins as an electronic reserve project, through its role in delivering online support for distributed learning, to its potential as a core component of a more broadly based electronic library service. Although current costs suggest that it is not scalable into a comprehensive University‐wide service, it is a successful and popular format with a reading list‐based front end. Closer integration with other online resources is important to encourage students to expand their horizons beyond prescribed sources, and offers a possible development route encompassing all of the above functions. This is discussed in terms of both financial and academic implications, and in the context of the increasing availability and importance of access to online resources for both campus‐based and distance learning students. A particular emphasis in future strategy is the need to ensure an appropriate interface between electronic library services and the virtual learning environment being developed within the University.

The University of Derby Electronic Library: a case study of some economic and academic aspects of a local digitised collection

This document is the final report of the Access to Core Course Materials Project and incorporates all previous reports, to provide a comprehensive account of the completed project. Separate reports are available documenting each stage of the project from the project web site at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/epd/tqef/core/. The report includes recommendations relating to the future of the project and electronic course materials at UCL. The recommendations are being presented to the UCL body SCILTA (Sub-Committee on Innovation in Learning and Teaching), in order to fulfil one of the project's key objectives. They will also be presented to various other College committees and are of relevance to other organisations considering implementing a similar service.

Access to Core Course Materials Project: final report

The demand for heavily used materials has led to Universities creating short loan collections and course readers — both have their problems, possibly soluble through digitisation. But the eLib On Demand/Electronic Reserve impact study made it clear that the economics of rights clearance and digitisation necessitated a cooperative approach. Addressing this the eLib project HERON, Higher Education Resources ON demand, is developing software and procedures to streamline rights clearance and digitisation and make it easier to check if texts have already been digitised. The operation of the software from pack building to copyright clearance, purchasing and fulfilment is described. HERON will be a self supporting commercial service by 2001.

Lisa McRory

Papers

Higher Education Resources ON demand — the HERON service