JISC Report Gives Insight Into E-book Usage
JISC has recently released preliminary results of one of the largest investigations ever undertaken into the usage of e-books by students. The results provide useful lessons for all of us and suggest that unlimited use models are the way to go. This data will help information providers and librarians alike clarify what is needed. JISC’s view is that current e-book models are not working for librarians.
During the last two years, the JISC national e-books observatory has collaborated with universities in the UK, gathering real time evidence on how course text e-books are actually used by students and teachers. The project
commenced in 2007 with the licensing of 36 course text e-books for students on business management, media studies, engineering and medicine courses. These e-books were selected by the higher education community and made available free of charge to all users in UK higher education. 127 universities, 76% of all higher education, participated in the project and worked with JISC Collections and CIBER at University College London on the deep log analysis study.
Information Literacy “Sans Frontieres”
Information Literacy “Sans Frontieres”
We asked Peter Godwin to write about information literacy (IL) a topic that will be discussed at the Libraries of the future Bodleian debate on April 2nd 2009 LOFT09. Peter highlights that ‘The disaggregation of information or the content being out of the container challenges us to make sense of what is discovered on the Web.’ He concludes that the emphasis for IL should be on clarity and simplicity with step-by-step integration of IL elements delivered within course assignments. Further, that whilst subject discipline and knowledge of its makeup will remain of paramount importance there are shifts in emphasis which the extra content from the Web 2.0 world throws in to the mix which demand IL for the future to embrace and focus more on ‘issues of authority, eInformation Literacy “Sans Frontieres”valuation, synthesis and ethical use, and less on searching.’
Also relevant to this area JISC funds the following projects:
The JISC/BL Google generation work:
The study considers whether or not as a result of the digital transition and resources being created digitally, young people, the ‘Google generation’, are searching for and researching content in new ways and if so, how this will shape the way they research and search in the future
whether or not new ways of searching and researching for content will prove to be any different from the way that existing researchers/scholars wor
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/resourcediscovery/googlegen.aspx
Developing personalisation for the Information Environment (1 & 2):
This study investigates how the JISC Information Environment (IE) may make use (or should be developed to make use) of adaptive personalisation in order to enhance the user experience. It will specifically consider the ways in which infrastructure established to support the UK Access Management Federation (the UK Federation) could support adaptive personalisation of JISC services, and the potential privacy and legal barriers to such use.
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/resourcediscovery/Personalisation.aspx
Discovery to Delivery at EDINA and Mimas (D2D@E&M)
The overall aim of the project is to improve the quality of the user experience for UK researchers and students in their tasks of finding and gaining access to scholarly publications. Coherency will be established between Copac, SUNCAT and Zetoc. This will be achieved through the creation of a scholarly communications web site (together with scoping for a portal) and by establishing links from Copac and SUNCAT to Zetoc. There will also be work carried out to offer a series of delivery options, via a Broker, once discovery has been made. Finally, the project will develop facilities which will allow users to personalise their requirements.
and other relavant JISC projects include:
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/resourcediscovery/d2dateandm.aspx
FlyWeb: Linking Laboratory Image Data with Public Databases and Publication Repositories
The project is developing a data web linking a number of sources of genomic data relating to the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. This data web is being provided as a service to software developers and bioinformaticians. To demonstrate the potential of this data web, the project is also building on-line data search and mashup tools on top of the data web that help scientists to be more productive and generate insights, through quick and easy location, comparison and analysis of data from different sources.
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/resourcediscovery/flyweb.aspx
Library Management Systems Horizon Scan
The Projects objectives included:
the supply and demand sides of the LMS / ERM market Users expect ease of discovery, workflow and delivery influenced by Google and Web 2.0
Quantify procurement timeframes, typical costs, annual cost of ownership, product differentiation and value.
Conduct a horizon scan focused on the role of library systems amidst the shift from ‘content to context’.
Assess the emerging use of SOA, open standards and Open Source in terms of requirements, readiness and product match
Make recommendations on most effective engagement of library services with library related systems and the JISC Information Environment
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/resourcediscovery/libraryms.aspx
Towards Implementation of Library 2.0 and the e-Framework (TILE)
The precursor JISC and SCONUL Library Management Systems study (April 2008) highlights challenges relating to practice, services and products. Meanwhile ideas are constantly being developed by early adopters, which offer opportunities to understand user expectations, gather professional practice and identify technical demands.
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/resourcediscovery/tile.aspx
Also related briefing paper: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/publications/modellinglibrarydomain.aspx
Metadata-based DYNamIc Query Interface for Cross(X)-searching content resources (DYNIQX)
DYNIQX investigated current cross-search systems and effect of metadata in search, explore an innovative dynamic query interface, and carry out extensive user task-based evaluation to evaluate and compare different search systems.
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/resourcediscovery/dyniqx.aspx
Metadata Generation for Resource Discovery
This project evaluates auto-generation techniques such as 1) the harvesting of metatags from document headers 2) content (e.g. keyword) extraction from the body of documents 3) automatic metadata enhancement using controlled vocabularies 4) text and data mining. Consideration is given to workflow issues and Web services approaches. The project considers a range of text and non-textual resource types.
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/resourcediscovery/autometgen.aspx
JISC’s Libraries of the Future Guardian supplement
A Guardian supplement published yesterday explores the achievements of academic libraries in the UK, assesses current challenges and looks forward to the future.
Sponsored by JISC and published free with yesterday’s Education Guardian, the supplement begins with some of the questions raised by the recently published Google Generation report, commissioned by JISC and the British Library, which explored the issue of ‘information literacy’. The report called for libraries to respond urgently to the changing needs of their users and to understand the new means of searching and navigating information.
In a lead article, editor Stephen Hoare says that academic libraries are indeed rising to the challenges and, he writes, ‘changing faster than at any time in their history. Information technology, online databases, and catalogues and digitised archives have put the library back at the heart of teaching, learning and academic research on campus.’
The supplement also explores the ways in which libraries are changing physically as they incorporate functions more commonly associated with leisure activities and become more flexible and technology-rich ‘learning spaces’. Other articles explores open access, the phenomenon of ‘Library 2.0 – the integration of user generated content with traditional library content – e-books, new business models, digitisation, digital preservation and much more.
Among the areas of activity funded or supported by JISC covered in the supplement are: the repositories partnership Sherpa; JISC’s student expectations research; services such as Intute, copac and the Archives Hub; the digitisation programme, including projects such as the Archival Sound Recordings and the British Library 19th century newspapers project; the LOCKSS journals preservation project; the electronic e-theses online service EThOS; the national e-books observatory project, and a number of others.
The supplement marks the start of ‘Libraries of the Future’, an attempt by JISC to initiate a debate about academic libraries and to open up - with partner organisations and librarians themselves - a debate about the future of the academic and research library.
See the online version of the supplement here.
Challenges for the digital librarian
In an increasingly complex, ICT-intensive world, digital libraries face multiple challenges, but perhaps the greatest is to achieve a recognised and indeed indispensable presence within the workflow of their user communities. With the increased emphasis on Web 2.0 technologies, digital library developers will need to be agile to ensure that they demonstrate both ease of interoperability across disparate end user systems and added value in terms of the content they can deliver. This session will reflect on key strategies to achieve long-term success within this scenario. On the panel here at the JISC conference in Birmingham are:
Ian Dolphin, Head of eStrategy & eServices, University of Hull - Session Chair
Peter Brophy, Director, Centre for Research in Library & Information Management, Manchester Metropolitan University
David Kay, Director, Sero Consulting
Read on for the debate
Library of the future debate: live now
From eLib to the Library of the future will present an overview of the long term changes that will lead to the library of the future by highlighting the emerging issues that face libraries and information services today and taking a view into the future. On the panel are:
- Catherine Grout, Programme Director (e-Content), JISC - Session Chair
- Jon Duke and Andy Jordan, Directors, Duke & Jordan Ltd
- Jean Sykes, Librarian and Director of IT Services, LSE
- Lorcan Dempsey, Vice President and Chief Strategist, OCLC
- Ian Dolphin Programme Director (Information Environment), JISC
Read on for the debate…
The e-textbook debate: live now
As part of the National E-books Observatory Project and the first in a series of events for JISC’s Libraries of the Future programme, the JISC National E-textbook Debate provides a unique opportunity to quiz a panel of experts and to openly debate the future role of the library in the provision of electronic textbooks. Gathered here in Birmingham on the panel are:
Tom Davy, CEO of Cengage
Dominic Knight, MD of Palgrave
Sue McKnight, Director of Libraries and Knowledge Resources at Nottingham Trent University
Mandy Phillips, Information Resources Manager at Edge Hill University
Chair: Malcolm Read
Read on to follow the debate as it happens… Read more
Join the debate
Two key debates on the libraries of the future will be taking place at the JISC conference over the next couple of days and you can follow them as they happen, and add your own comments, through this blog.
On Monday April 14 at 18.00, Revolution or Evolution: the JISC National E Textbook Debate provides a unique opportunity to quiz a panel of experts and to openly debate the future role of the library in the provision of electronic textbooks.
JISC’s Executive Secretary, Malcolm Read, will be chairing the event. The panel of experts consists of publishers and librarians. Representing the publishing community we have Tom Davy, CEO of Cengage and Dominic Knight, MD of Palgrave. Representing the library community we have Sue McKnight, Director of Libraries and Knowledge Resources at Nottingham Trent University and Mandy Phillips, Information Resources Manager at Edge Hill University.
Each will have their own viewpoint, some arguing that in order to meet expectations and demand the institution/library purchase model must continue and some arguing against the institutional/library purchase model of e-textbooks on the grounds of sustainability and diversity of needs.
On Tuesday April 15 at 11.15, From eLib to the Library of the future will present an overview of the long term changes that will lead to the library of the future by highlighting the emerging issues that face libraries and information services today and taking a view into the future.
- Catherine Grout, Programme Director (e-Content), JISC - Session Chair
- Jon Duke and Andy Jordan, Directors, Duke & Jordan Ltd
- Jean Sykes, Librarian and Director of IT Services, LSE
- Lorcan Dempsey, Vice President and Chief Strategist, OCLC
- Ian Dolphin Programme Director (Information Environment), JISC
Let the debate begin!
What does the academic library of the future look like? Where do its walls begin and end? On campus? On our desktop? At home? Does it still have a function as a separate and distinct space? Or has it become the first step to an all-virtual future?
Libraries have never been more interesting, difficult and challenging… So says Lynne Brindley, CEO of the British Library: ‘What is a library and what should it be in 2012, 2020 and beyond are questions that require thought and debate.’
Plans are now in place for this debate which kicks off next week at the JISC conference. Sessions at the conference will explore this theme and hopefully some of the questions above. A Guardian supplement the following week will take them up too and hopefully, before long, we’ll all be giving them thought and debate…
‘I’m delighted that JISC is up for the task,’ says Lynne Brindley, about JISC’s new campaign theme. We hope others are too!