E-Resource Use and the Role of the University Library

Objectives

• Review the factors that affect and determine the use of e-resources

• Explain the part played by the university library in enabling effective and sustainable use

Objectives (continued)

• Indicate constraints under which libraries work

• Suggest ways that academics and administrators can assist the library

Issues in E-Resource Use

• Technology

• Costs

• Management

• Training

• Content

• Medium

Technology essentials

• Dedicated Internet connection with sufficient bandwidth

• Campus backbone, LAN, WAN, and peripheral hardware, e.g. printers

• Computer workstations

• Appropriate software

• Support - maintenance, trouble shooting

Costs• Capital (infrastructure) investment: network,

bandwidth, hardware (computers, printers, etc.), software

• Maintenance: insurance, repair, depreciation, replacement, updating

• Staff salaries• Training: staff and students

• Consumables: journals, databases, document delivery, paper, ink cartridges

Examples of costs

• Bandwidth:Makerere: $22,000 p.m. for 1.5Mbps/768KbpsUniv. Ghana: $10,000 p.m. for 1Mbps/512Kbps

• InfrastructureSet up an IT network: $75 per studentMaintain an IT network: $50 per student p.a.

• Computer Initial purchase price of a Windows Computer is 20% of

total cost of ownership over five years

Examples of costs (continued)• Journal subscriptions

Average per title in 2003:Social Sciences $758Science $1,134Medicine $661

Big deals (2004)Blackwells Synergy: 670 titles $630,000

Springer (Kluwer): 1,200 titles $840,601Wiley: 520 titles $654,000

Management• Selection and purchase

variety of publishers and aggregatorsdifferent delivery optionsannual subscriptions

• Legal implicationslicences and copyright

• Organization of informationguides to relevant resourcesarchivingevaluation of use

Training• Users need to:

know how to use a PChow to search for and find information resourcesbe aware of resources that are available

• Different users have different needs:academics, researchers, librarians, students, administrators

• Different training strategies required for different users

Content

• Much WWW content is Western-orientated

• More locally produced content is required:online indexes to locally published material, e.g. AJOL, CARINDEX

online local journals

networked institutional repositories

MediumPhysical collections can still be important:

• Print textbooks

• Core journals in hard copy

• Archives

• CD-ROM for back files of journals, databases for information retrieval

Role of the University Library• Access to Internet and PCs• Acquisition and administration of e-resources• Guides to relevant e-resources• User education• Assistance in setting up VLEs• Integration of traditional and digital materials

Access to Internet and PCs

• Adequate number of PCs and peripheralsrecommended library standard: 1 PC:25 students

• Supervised facilities trouble shooting, long opening hours, timetabled computer use

• Authentication

• Bandwidth conservation

Selection of E-Resources

• Is content suitable for programme needs?• Is online the most appropriate medium?• What are the licensing arrangements?• What are the costs?• Which delivery option is the most cost-effective?• What are the archiving arrangements?• Is e-journal identical to print? Does it have links to other

sites?

Purchase of E-Resources

• Enter annual subscriptions

• Negotiate best terms

• Share costs with other libraries

• Use library consortia to bring down costs

Monitoring and Evaluation• Collect statistics of online resource use:

who uses, how and when

• What is the cost per article downloaded?

• Decide whether a particular subscription is worth its annual cost or whether the information could be obtained more cheaply by another delivery option

Guides to E- Resources

• What e-resources are available through the library?

• Which are the most appropriate resources?

• Library portals

User Education• Formal training in information literacy for u-

g students, combining IT skills with information handling skills

• Advanced subject-oriented training for p-g students

• Seminars at faculty or departmental level to introduce new e-resources

• One-to one workstation sessions

ICT-enabled Learning

• Input at departmental and faculty levels to curriculum development and programme assessment

• Provide library web pages with course related resources, e.g. list of journals held, full text of relevant articles, study guides for those undertaking research

Integration of Print and E-Resources

• Selection policy that combines, compares and contrasts all media

• Integrated access to all library holdings, e.g. through an OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue)

Constraints• Lack of funding

leading to deteriorating buildings and collections, decline in use, demoralized library staff and marginalization of the library

• Lack of knowledge and skills in library staff

• Lack of understanding and knowledge amongst university staff about information access and delivery

What Can You Do?Some suggestions:

• Become an ICT-champion, promoting the use of e-resources in your department and university

• Become your departmental representative on the Senate Library Committee

• Campaign for the library to get its fair share of the university budget

What Can You Do? (cont.)

• Encourage the inclusion of funds for library resources in project proposals and budgets

• Talk to librarians and explain how you need them to assist in your teaching and research

Summary

• Providing access to e-resources is a costly and complex process

• The library impacts everywhere on the implementation and use of e-resources

• The library requires funds, skills and university-wide support to fulfil its role

Thank youAny questions?