Showing papers in "Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship in 2015"
TL;DR: This article reports on the results of a survey in which students at one university were asked about their personal use of social media and their preferences for how the library uses social media.
Abstract: The majority of college students use social media of some kind, and academic libraries are increasingly using social media to reach them. Although studies have analyzed which platforms academic libraries most commonly use and case studies have provided examples of how libraries use specific platforms, there are few examinations of the usage habits and preferences of local user populations to guide library strategy in this space. This article reports on the results of a survey in which students at one university were asked about their personal use of social media and their preferences for how the library uses social media.
33 citations
TL;DR: This collaborative study is the result of the well-received 2013 survey examining workflows from libraries large and small, with e-resources staffing ranging from one person to large consortial arrangements.
Abstract: A primary role of any e-resources librarian or staff is troubleshooting electronic resources (e-resources). While much progress has been made in many areas of e-resources management (ERM) to understand the ERM lifecycle and to manage workflows, troubleshooting access remains a challenge. This collaborative study is the result of the well-received 2013 survey examining workflows from libraries large and small, with e-resources staffing ranging from one person to large consortial arrangements. The authors summarize the technological tools and products, the techniques, and the training methods libraries use to manage troubleshooting for electronic resources.
24 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a book that lives up to its title, "User Experience: A Guide to Understanding and Understanding UX", is presented. If you're reading this review with no idea what UX means (short for User Experience), this book is for you.
Abstract: This is a book that lives up to its title. If you're reading this review with no idea what UX means (short for User Experience), this book is for you. If you're already a UX convert, this book is f...
16 citations
TL;DR: Analysis of usage data and other qualitative measures as part of a systematic review of current and potential e-resources highlights underutilized resources, access issues, and value discrepancies.
Abstract: Just what does usage mean? And how does it relate to value? Is there a fair way to ascertain the value of resources? In regards to library resources, “use” can simply be an arbitrary quantitative concept. Knowing that searches and sessions are considered input measures while result clicks and views are output measures helps the process. With electronic resources, we parse our usage statistics (when we can get them) to arrive at a cost per use, and define whether that use is a view, a printout, or a download. Of course, there are discrepancies as we examine different e-resources; for instance, cost-per-use can be very different with e-books—the definition of a “section” varies from vendor to vendor, and vendors' attempts to limit mass downloading mean that some e-book titles have page number limits with no correlation to chapter length. Analysis of usage data and other qualitative measures as part of a systematic review of current and potential e-resources highlights underutilized resources, access issues,...
15 citations
TL;DR: Five members of the Information Policy & Access Center (iPAC) at the University of Maryland have joined together to produce this definitive work on what is commonly called the digital divide.
Abstract: Five members of the Information Policy & Access Center (iPAC) at the University of Maryland have joined together to produce this definitive work on what is commonly called the digital divide. Sever...
13 citations
TL;DR: The Fundamentals of Library Instruction is an excellent primer, which captures with persuasion and well-developed arguments the essence of this vital aspect of academic librarianship and obviate some of the pitfalls inherent in library instruction.
Abstract: There was a time not too long ago when the quality and reputation of academic libraries were measured by the number of volumes, serial titles held, size of staff, materials expenditures, gate count...
11 citations
TL;DR: This article discusses the accessibility of two content management systems, Berkeley Electronic Press's Digital Commons and OCLC's CONTENTdm, widely used in libraries to host institutional repository and digital collections content.
Abstract: This article discusses the accessibility of two content management systems, Berkeley Electronic Press's Digital Commons and OCLC's CONTENTdm, widely used in libraries to host institutional repository and digital collections content. Based on observations by a visually impaired student who used the JAWS screen reader to view the design and display of digital objects in both systems, we provide a general overview of the accessibility of each system. We discuss potential suggestions for accessibility-related improvements, and we offer ideas for library administrators of these systems about how to maximize the back-end configurations for accessibility.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a project team was assembled to transition a mixture of locally produced guides and guides created with the original LibGuides v1 software, and the best intentions in the migration process were outlined.
Abstract: Since 1997, the University of Saskatchewan Library has used “subject pages” to highlight key library resources. When Springshare announced it was launching LibGuides v2, a project team was assembled to transition a mixture of locally produced guides and guides created with the original LibGuides v1 software. This article synthesizes best practices for LibGuides found in the literature, outlines our best intentions in the migration process, and shares what actually transpired after considering factors such as technical challenges and institutional culture. We hope other academic libraries can learn from our experience and make decisions that suit their institution best.
8 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors conducted a survey of electronic resources managers and the way in which electronic resource management is structured at their institutions and found that most models focus on interdepartmental collaboration to accomplish the work of managing electronic resources.
Abstract: We have now reached a tipping point at which electronic resources comprise more than half of academic library budgets. Because of the increasing work associated with the ever-increasing number of e-resources, there is a trend to distribute work throughout the library even in the presence of an electronic resources department. In 2013, the author conducted a survey of electronic resources managers and the way in which electronic resource management is structured at their institutions. Most models focus on interdepartmental collaboration to accomplish the work of managing electronic resources.
8 citations
TL;DR: The process Auraria Library used to organize data from 100 access-problem reports, the insights the data generated, and the resulting tools that created better electronic access are presented.
Abstract: Broken links, incorrect metadata, platform changes, and other access issues plague libraries. While libraries have workflows and teams in place to address these problems, little is written on the valuable data gathered in the process. Analyzing this data can reveal the nature of a library's access problems. This article presents the process Auraria Library used to organize data from 100 access-problem reports, the insights the data generated, and the resulting tools that created better electronic access. By simply looking at the rich data that troubleshooting teams are gathering, libraries can make real changes to create a better user experience.
8 citations
TL;DR: The overall concept is to focus on and explore more about the future of ERM; taking a look at expanding current systems, tools, and practices in ways that will allow you to develop your own ideas and allow all of us involved in ERM work to think outside the box about what might be on the horizon.
Abstract: Welcome to the new Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship column entitled “ERM Ideas and Innovations,” which will appear in each issue of JERL for the next 2 years, and possibly more, beginning with this issue. The overall focus of each column will be to introduce and expand ideas, discuss innovations, and ultimately encourage and foster collaboration in electronic resources management (ERM) today. Some of the ideas we will discuss will focus on a new look on the practical applications and processes for ERM. However, the overall concept is to focus on and explore more about the future of ERM; taking a look at expanding current systems, tools, and practices in ways that will allow you to develop your own ideas and allow all of us involved in ERM work to think outside the box about what might be on the horizon. The fount of these ideas will be librarians at academic institutions, and these ideas can be applied and discussed at libraries of all kinds that manage electronic resources.
TL;DR: In the last couple of months new applications that allow users to live stream, as well as view directly from their phones, have exploded on the scene as discussed by the authors, and these new applications and how to do...
Abstract: In the last couple of months new applications that allow users to live stream, as well as view directly from their phones, have exploded on the scene. What are these new applications and how to do ...
TL;DR: This case study contrasts WebBridge and LinkSource and does not propose that one product is superior to another; however, the criteria and methods used to evaluate the products will be of use to those seeking to improve user access.
Abstract: This article will be of interest to librarians, particularly those in consortia that are evaluating OpenURL link resolvers. This case study contrasts WebBridge (an Innovative Interface product) and LinkSource (EBSCO's product). This study assisted us in the decision-making process of choosing an OpenURL link resolver that was sustainable to maintain and, most importantly, made it easier for users to access the full text of an article. This case study does not propose that one product is superior to another; however, the criteria and methods used to evaluate the products will be of use to those seeking to improve user access.
TL;DR: This is a preprint of an article in which the final and definitive form was published in Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship by Taylor & Francis (2015-08-17).
Abstract: This issue's ERM Ideas and Innovations column is from Randall A. Lowe, Collection Development, Acquisitions & Serials Librarian, Frostburg State University, and Lynda Aldana, Head of Technical Serv...
TL;DR: This article details the experience of the archives in its first year using a digital asset-management system, an institutional repository (IR), and a web-based discovery layer.
Abstract: In 2013–2014, Brooks Library at Central Washington University (CWU) launched library content in three systems: a digital asset-management system, an institutional repository (IR), and a web-based discovery layer. In early 2014, the archives at the library began to use these systems to disseminate media recently digitized from legacy formats. As the project progressed, the archives noted that these systems—while providing valuable storage and discovery capabilities—posed challenges when it came to metadata, interoperability, cost, preservation, and ease of access. This article details the experience of the archives in its first year using these systems.
TL;DR: The LDHI employees explained their exhibition creation workflow, progressing from project planning to creating online exhibition layouts, and how they trained their graduate assistants in the fundamentals of digital libraries.
Abstract: Several speakers discussed various aspects of the Lowcountry Digital History Initiative (LDHI1; http://ldhi.library.cofc.edu/about) (Lowcountry Digital Library, 2012b), a digital exhibition platform created by the Lowcountry Digital Library (LDI; http: //lcdl.library.cofc.edu/about) (Lowcountry Digital Library, 2012a). The LDHI employees discussed the technical aspects of the LDHI, including their migration from CONTENTdm (https://www.oclc.org/contentdm.en.html) (OCLC, 2015) to a Fedora open repository (http://fedorarepository.org/about (Fedora, 2015), which interacts well with Omeka; http://omeka.org/) (CHNM, 2015). The LDHI employees then explained their exhibition creation workflow, progressing from project planning to creating online exhibition layouts. They concluded by explaining how they trained their graduate assistants, most of whom came from a history background, in the fundamentals of digital libraries.
TL;DR: Bill Walker, Metadata and Imaging Specialist at Amigos Library Services did a presentation on the possible future of bibliographic records at the 2014 Missouri Library Association Annual Conference.
Abstract: Bill Walker, Metadata and Imaging Specialist at Amigos Library Services did a presentation on the possible future of bibliographic records at the 2014 Missouri Library Association Annual Conference...
TL;DR: Using community-organizing techniques can not only potentially increase the amount of feedback received but also deepen the relationship between the librarian and his or her constituent group.
Abstract: Database trials do not often garner a lot of feedback Using community-organizing techniques can not only potentially increase the amount of feedback received but also deepen the relationship between the librarian and his or her constituent group This is a case study of the use of community-organizing techniques in a series of database trials for the health sciences
TL;DR: Article-based publishing—Why ILL can’t help us, and why pay once, when you can pay twice.
Abstract: Oxford University Press (OUP) presented Oxford Research Encyclopedias (OREs Au: Removed apostrophe from ORE, okay? It does not show possessive or deleted letters.; http://oxfordre.com), its ambitio...
TL;DR: The contract-review and approval process for purchasing and renewing electronic resources at the University of Tennessee had become cumbersome to campus libraries, so a solution was found that restored a measure of autonomy to the libraries while ensuring that all units followed existing fiscal policies and were in compliance with state laws.
Abstract: The contract-review and approval process for purchasing and renewing electronic resources at the University of Tennessee had become cumbersome to campus libraries. To streamline existing procedures, the campus libraries, the Office of Contracts Administration, and the Purchasing Department collaborated to find a solution that restored a measure of autonomy to the libraries while ensuring that all units followed existing fiscal policies and were in compliance with state laws. The result was the creation of library master agreements, which have led to significant savings in both the cost and the time it takes to review and approve contracts.
TL;DR: Comparing accessibility between platforms helps librarians to make informed decisions when licensing ebook collections and Mune and Agee concluded that ebook vendors have a long way to go before achieving consistent accessibility.
Abstract: integrated text-to-speech services, and screen reader performance proved inconsistent between platforms—and even between individual PDFs within the same platform. Gale, EBL, and Springer are among the platforms most adaptable to user needs, while ebrary is one of the least. Mune and Agee concluded that ebook vendors have a long way to go before achieving consistent accessibility. Comparing accessibility between platforms helps librarians to make informed decisions when licensing ebook collections. Download the “Ebook Showdown” contributed paper at http://bit.ly/1HxOUu1 Finally, Sigrid Cordell and Melissa Gomis of the University of Michigan presented on “Looks Matter: The Impact of Visual and Inclusive Design on Usability, Accessibility, and Online Learning.” Cordell and Gomis suggested that designing e-resources with all users in mind not only helps users traditionally defined as disabled but also facilitates learning for all users. As a case study, presenters used the University of Michigan’s online tutorial “Beyond Plagiarism” (http://bit.ly/1c8fQT9). This tutorial exhibits a distinct color palate, captions and transcripts for all audiovisual aids, chunked text, and other features that follow best practices for usability and accessibility. Designers assessed the tutorial using WebAIM’s WAVE Web Accessibility Tool (http://wave.webaim.org/), plus user testing. Learning and inclusive design, including accessibility, seemed to go hand in hand. Download the “Looks Matter” contributed paper at http://bit.ly/1F4AwUi Accessibility is vital not only to comply with federal law but also to sustain the library profession’s mission to provide equal access to resources and services. According to an ALA fact sheet (http://bit.ly/1SkZ1Wi), American libraries in 2012 spent over $1.5 billion on electronic serials and databases, ebook and video platforms, and other e-resources. It makes sense financially, legally, and ethically for librarians to evaluate e-resources for accessibility and hold vendors to the standards that our communities deserve (and pay for). These three ACRL panels really drove that message home. Michael Rodriguez is the E-Learning Librarian at Hodges University, Fort Myers, Florida, where he manages electronic resources, the library website, and the ILS. He can be contacted by phone at 239-938-7727 and by e-mail at mrodriguez8@hodges.edu
TL;DR: This research provides librarians with a model for assessing and predicting which platforms patrons will use to access the same content, specifically comparing usage at the Ohio Library and Information Network (OhioLINK) Electronic Journal Center (EJC) and at Elsevier's ScienceDirect from 2007 to 2013.
Abstract: This research provides librarians with a model for assessing and predicting which platforms patrons will use to access the same content, specifically comparing usage at the Ohio Library and Information Network (OhioLINK) Electronic Journal Center (EJC) and at Elsevier's ScienceDirect from 2007 to 2013. Findings show that in the earlier years, the EJC was frequented more than ScienceDirect, but, over time, users have gravitated to ScienceDirect over the EJC at a significantly higher rate. In addition, the data show that the higher use of ScienceDirect began prior to and only grew after a devastating platform failure of the EJC in 2009.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors studied lifetime checkouts of DVDs and discovered surprisingly low usage, decline in value over time, and costly replacements for damaged or lost/stolen discs, all of which led to a video on demand patron-driven acquisition (PDA) pilot program.
Abstract: for reasons with which we are all familiar such as access issues for distance education, faculty demand, the “flipped classroom” concept, and aging DVD technology. The librarians studied lifetime checkouts of DVDs and discovered surprisingly low usage, decline in value over time, and costly replacements for damaged or lost/stolen discs, all of which led to launching a video on demand patron-driven acquisition (PDA) pilot program. In late 2013, the libraries launched a PDA program with Kanopy. They set a budget cap, opened access to over 20,000 titles, set purchase triggers, and paid close attention to usage. They were invoiced on a quarterly basis and only purchased the titles that were played greater than four times (fifth play triggered a purchase). The return on investment (ROI) was broken down into “plays per paid film” and showed a significant disparity of ROI from the Kanopy PDA films versus DVD lifetime checkouts versus a purchased collection of streaming videos. For approximate comparison purposes, the purchased collection cost per play was 200 times greater than the Kanopy PDA cost per play; and the DVD cost per play was 18 times greater than the Kanopy PDA cost per play. These approximations show the greatest value by far is the PDA triggered purchases. The presenters also spoke to the effort that was put into marketing the PDA program and how they promoted awareness of the purchase on demand program. After the awareness program was implemented, both libraries saw increases in the number of playbacks and purchases increased, but the purchases proved a better ROI than previously purchased DVDs or the purchased collection because patrons were selecting films of greater need than librarians trying to predict what users wanted to see. The PDA program was deemed successful and the libraries are using what they learned to inform other areas of collection development and promotion of other materials. They are targeting faculty with subject specialties and promoting specific collections. They are discussing the possibilities of other PDA programs and looking at ROI of other types of library materials. The data gathered during this PDA program is being used to inform the libraries on different aspects of collection development in our changing environment and how different types of media are being used in the classroom and how users are interacting with media in an educational setting. This session was especially useful to me as we begin to look at potential library purchasing or leasing models for streaming video. I was intrigued by the lack of ROI of the streaming video package that UMass Amherst purchased and the substantial difference in the ROI between streaming video and DVDs. The information about ROI was especially helpful in understanding the role librarians should or should not play in determining these types of media collections. Mary Ann Jones is Associate Professor/Coordinator of Electronic Resources and Acquisitions, Mississippi State University Libraries. She can be contacted by email at mjones@library.msstate.edu
TL;DR: This chapter discusses trials by Juries: Suggested practices for database trials, and a seasoned librarian puts a Sunshine State Library Leadership theory to the test.
Abstract: Cooke, R. C. (2014). A seasoned librarian puts a Sunshine State Library Leadership theory to the test. Florida Libraries; The Official Journal of the Florida Library Association, 57(2), 17–20. Fischer, C. (2007). Group therapy–Database trials. Against the Grain, 19(6), 65–66. Street, C. (2010). Getting the most from a database trial. Legal Information Management, 10(2), 147–148. doi:10.1017/S1472669610000551 Ritterbush, J. (2012). Trials by Juries: Suggested practices for database trials. Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship, 24(3), 240–243.