VALA2002 Session 10 Hutley

Ebook Readers in Australian public libraries – are they REAL-e worth it?

VALA2002 CONCURRENT SESSION 10: e-books
Friday 8 February 2002, 10:45 – 11:15
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2002-proceedings/vala2002-session-10-hutley

Sue Hutley

Toowoomba City Library

Wendy Horwood

Brisbane City Council Library Service

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VALA2002 Session 10 Hutley Paper 27.24 KB

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Abstract

Hand-held ebook readers present many challenges for Australian libraries that want to integrate this emerging technology into their library’s service. In 2001, both Toowoomba City Library and the Brisbane City Council Library Service embarked on such projects. This paper reports on the differing experience of these two public library services, outlining difficulties encountered, customer reactions to the technology, and the central issues that acquiring and circulating these readers pose for public libraries in Australia.

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VALA2002 Session 6 Jesty

Receiving, responding to and recording research and reference enquiries electronically – the new 3Rs in enquiry services

VALA2002 CONCURRENT SESSION 6: e-research
Wednesday 6 February 2002, 15:10 – 15:40
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2002-proceedings/vala2002-session-6-jesty

Liz Jesty

State Library of Victoria

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VALA2002 Session 6 Jesty Paper 590.28 KB

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Abstract

This paper discusses the implementation of a Lotus Notes Research Information Management System – know as RIM-r – at the State Library of Victoria. This system captures, stores and indexes all extended research and reference enquiries with the aim of making that knowledge database available for access and re-use throughout the organisation. RIM-r has enabled the State Library of Victoria to receive, respond to and record enquiries electronically and to improve its ability to achieve its aim of being a major research and reference institution.

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VALA2002 Session 10 Garner

Examining one model of ebooks for an academic library setting

VALA2002 CONCURRENT SESSION 10: e-books
Friday 8 February 2002, 11:55 – 12:30
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2002-proceedings/vala2002-session-10-garner

Jane Garner, Lynne Horwood and Shirley Sullivan

University of Melbourne

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VALA2002 Session 10 Garner Paper 25.36 KB

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Abstract

In late 2000, CAVAL Collaborative Solutions organised a consortial purchase of netLibrary for interested member institutions. Throughout 2001, netLibrary was examined by a number of working groups at the University of Melbourne. This paper presents findings that cover a range of issues: acquisition, collection content, functionality, disability access issues, ereserve and administrative issues.

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VALA2002 Session 11 Cooke

The Cybrary – seamless for the customer, fine needlework for the staff

VALA2002 CONCURRENT SESSION 11: Portals and Content Delivery
Friday 8 February 2002, 10:45 – 11:15
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2002-proceedings/vala2002-session-11-cooke

Helen Cooke, Eric Hornsby and Heather Todd

University of Queensland

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VALA2002 Session 11 Cooke Paper 62.12 KB

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Abstract

The University of Queensland Cybrary delivers high quality customer focused innovative information resources, services and programs that are integrated with and central to the University’s teaching, learning and research activities. The Cybrary website – www.cybrary.uq.edu.au – enables customers to access information more or less seamlessly anywhere anytime. This paper will go behind the seams to discuss some of the technologies that underpin service delivery and some of the implications for the Cybrary’s human, physical and financial resources.

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VALA2002 Session 11 Leigh

Co-Branding and sticky web sites – E-Content and the library’s role

VALA2002 CONCURRENT SESSION 11: Portals and Content Delivery
Friday 8 February 2002, 11:20 – 11:50
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2002-proceedings/vala2002-session-11-leigh

Sally-Anne Leigh

University of Canberra

Simon Best

Department of Family and Community Services, ACT

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VALA2002 Session 11 Leigh Paper 622.65 KB

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Abstract

As the amount of real time access information grows exponentially, and vendors increasingly target end users, libraries face an increasingly difficult task to remain a central part of the information loop. Through branding services with library logos and common elements, libraries can maintain a continuing role in the process and further develop and enhance the partnerships, which exist between libraries and external partners. The use of portals as “sticky web sites” encourages libraries to be seen as a one-stop shop for information access. To remain at the forefront, libraries also must pay more attention to marketing principles.

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VALA2002 Session 7 Todd

E-statistics – are we comparing apples and oranges? Getting a grip on e-statistics to measure our performance: a University of Queensland Cybrary perspective

VALA2002 CONCURRENT SESSION 7: Performance and Useability
Thursday 7 February 2002, 14:00 – 14:30
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2002-proceedings/vala2002-session-7-todd

Heather Todd and Lisa Kruesi

University of Queensland

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VALA2002 Session 7 Todd Paper 72.43 KB

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Abstract

It is critical to identify the most efficient and effective means to gather and compare e-statistics for a range of electronic services that libraries provide. Since the mid-nineties projects have been underway by the ICOLC, the D-Lib Working Group, the ARL, EQUINOX partners and many others to develop performance measures based on e-statistics. As scholarly communication in Australia is in crisis having relevant and comparable e-statistics to help manage collections is crucial. This paper covers the University of Queensland Cybrary’s perspective on factors influencing successful use of e-resources, include user friendliness of systems, accessibility and promotion of the resources. The effectiveness of e-statistics measures is also covered.

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VALA2002 Session 11 Clark

User-Centred Evaluation and Design: A Subject Gateway Perspective

VALA2002 CONCURRENT SESSION 11: Portals and Content Delivery
Friday 8 February 2002, 11:55 – 12:30
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2002-proceedings/vala2002-session-11-clark

Nicole Clark and Denise Frost

University of Queensland

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VALA2002 Session 11 Clark Paper 289.50 KB

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Abstract

Customer expectations of gateway services as well as their information needs are dynamic. The Australasian Virtual Engineering Library (AVEL) has consequently taken an iterative approach to interface design, usability testing and customer needs analysis. User-centred design has ensured that AVEL remains relevant to the way its target audience seeks information to solve “real world” problems. This paper details the methodologies that have been employed by AVEL to discover the needs of customers. It particularly focuses on heuristic evaluation and scenario based testing as useful analysis tools. It looks at the importance of identifying and responding to the unique resource requirements and information seeking behaviours of discipline-specific target audiences and uses engineers and IT professionals as one example. The results of usability investigations and our responses to customer demands are discussed and some conclusions for future development are drawn.

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VALA2002 Session 7 Huggard

Monash Library Database Usage Survey

VALA2002 CONCURRENT SESSION 7: Performance and Useability
Thursday 7 February 2002, 14:35 – 15:05
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2002-proceedings/vala2002-session-7-huggard

Simon Huggard, Judy Hopley, David Groenewegen, David Horne, Lisa Smith and George Leighfield

Monash University Library

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VALA2002 Session 7 Huggard Paper 574.91 KB

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Abstract

Monash University Library (MUL) subscribes to approximately 200 electronic databases covering the full range of disciplines taught and researched at Monash University. A survey of users of these databases was conducted during March and April, 2001. The aim of the survey was to gain an understanding about the ways that users discover and select databases and the experiences they have when using these resources.

Feedback from users was predominantly focussed on the following issues: the need for quicker and simpler links to the many and varied databases; the difficulty of selecting relevant databases; improved search interfaces; better and more immediate online help; fewer technical problems and a reduction in password checks

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VALA2002 Session 12 Blake

Implementation of the OpenURL and the SFX Architecture in the Production Environment of a Digital Library

VALA2002 CONCURRENT SESSION 12: Standards and Protocols
Friday 8 February 2002, 10:45 – 11:15
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2002-proceedings/vala2002-session-12-blake

Miriam Blake

Los Alamos National Laboratory Research Library

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VALA2002 Session 12 Blake Paper 118.75 KB

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Abstract

The Los Alamos National Laboratory Research Library was an early adopter of the OpenURL framework, implementing the SFX architecture live across multiple in-house databases and an extensive electronic journal collection housed both internally and at outside publisher/aggregator sites. Basic issues of reference linking such as appropriate copy, context-sensitive linking, and the need for standards in open solutions are mentioned. Use of OpenURL in a general framework and its incorporation into SFX and deployment in the larger scholarly information environment is discussed. The paper focuses on practical considerations in the implementation of SFX and OpenURL in an evolving production environment.

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VALA2002 Session 2 Williams

Optimising Synergy between Metadata, Database Platform and Business Needs: the Case of SIM at RMIT

VALA2002 CONCURRENT SESSION 2: Metadata
Wednesday 6 February 2002, 11:55 – 12:30
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2002-proceedings/vala2002-session-2-williams

Rhys Williams, Troy Boulton, Phil Anderson and Cherryl Schauder

RMIT University

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VALA2002 Session 2 Williams Paper 325.29 KB

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Abstract

In 2000 RMIT University launched a Web Refurbishment Project using RMIT Multi Media Database Systems’ SIM (Structured Information Manager) software. The vision of the project was to create an enterprise-wide information environment which encompasses functions from communication and learning, to knowledge and information management, and record keeping. To achieve these goals the SIM database platform was configured to make extensive use of a mix of technical and business metadata to underpin the diverse functions required of the system. This paper outlines how metadata operates at different levels of the Web publishing system, from the perspectives of system development and programming, project design and management, and metadata standards development.

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