KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AND LIBRARIES Fatt-Cheong CHOY University Librarian Nanyang Technological University Singapore

1. MAIN FOCUS OF LIBRARIES Cataloguing & classification Circulation Reference Acquisitions Collection development Subscriptions Technology & systems Provide access to literature Delivery of document to users Print collection E-resources AV materials

2. NEED TO CHANGE FOCUS Diagnosis & advice Pharmacy ACCESS & COLLECTION USERS’ SPACE Most libraries should focus on increasing their presence and roles in facilitating knowledge transfer & exchange of our users instead of centering our work on the provision of access to literature.

3. CHANGES IN ACCESS PROVISION ROLE Library control access Library build collection – User use collection on site Library becomes invisible agent Electronic documents delivered to the user desktop Loss of continuous access when library funds are inadequate Electronic resources – lease rather than ownership Reduce access provided by library to users Scholarly communication crisis More content available outside of libraries Open access journal and institutional repositories More open access mandates Mega book digitization projects New forms of publications live solely on the web

4. GLOBAL DIGITAL LIBRARY? Emergence of global digital library Libraries OA Journals Institutional repositories Digital libraries Google print, scholar Pre-print servers Websites, blogs Rise in availability of literature on the Internet Decrease in importance of libraries in providing access to literature OCLC Study - Only 1% of users start search from a library web site NEW STUFF – e.g.datasets Publishers? Google? Libraries? WHO PROVIDE ACCESS

5. LEARNING FROM GOOGLE SEARCH BOX Libraries OA Journals Institutional repositories Digital libraries Google print, scholar Pre-print servers Websites, blogs Libraries constructing their own pieces in the digital world Research libraries – book digitization projects | National libraries – archiving websites | Academic libraries – Institutional repositories | Others – hosting e-journals & other contents World Cat (OCLC) OAISTER (U of Michigan) One search box Lesson from Google

6. OBSTACLES TO ACCESS - OPPORTUNITY Content locked up in IP rights and access control Need subscriptions and payment to access Sheer immensity of content Make discovery and location difficult Complexity of content Need good grasp of information infrastructure for non-superficial use Problems in using content Need skills in selecting, evaluating and interpreting content Require more intensive interaction with users Libraries should play important roles in these

7.1 ACCESS TO E-CONTENT Are users using library supplied content? Commercial Scholarly works Dissemination Recognition Reputation Open source Establish Advice Integrate ProfitPaid service Finance Negotiate Troubleshoot Manage OCLC Study (2005) – Only 10% of students said library fulfilled their info needs from their website Points to greater need to create awareness & greater interaction with users

7.2a MAKING AN IMPACT ON USERS Users Librarians Mismatch of expectations Low expectations of librarians Unfamiliarity Raise expectations Demonstrate value EXAMPLES Information architect for research group – Be personal reference librarian Host weblogs for courses – participate in e-learning activities Help individual set up their virtual library

7.2b MAKING AN IMPACT ON USERS Intensive – Lack of resources & sustainability Practical approach Doing is more important than Alternative? – decreasing engagement Give personal attention & understand real needs Engage gradually – learn as we do Use new tools (e.g. web 2.0) Convince library staff Need good relationship with users Users’ studies Futurologists’ predictions

Asymmetry of knowledge - Help users narrow gap through instruction & guidance 7.3 RAISING INFORMATION LITERACY USERS LIBRARIANS Use information superficially - UCL Study (2008) – Users search horizontally; Navigating & not using; “Dumbing” down of skills Does not invest time or effort in acquiring information skills Natural interest, skills & strength in information use Knowledge of information world Experience from daily work & problem solving Instructional services More than teaching use of specific tools & resources Holistic approach – develop independent learning skills & strategies in interacting with information environment Services, not just classes

7.4 LEARNING ENVIRONMENT Constructivist approach Lifestyle Student centered Responding to shift in learning pedagogy Enhancing self-learning & education environment Using print books has unique learning advantages over digital Isaac Asimov – “I received the fundamentals of my education in school, but that was not enough. My real education, the superstructure, the details, the true architecture, I got out of the public library” Enhance structure, organization and services to focus on exploration, discovery Collaborative spaces Interactive spaces Social spaces Community spaces KnowledgeExchange

7.5 BEYOND ACCESS – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE Literature DocumentsUseKnowledge Deliver LIBRARIES ??? Knowledge creation Focus more on knowledge creation, transfer, exchange Reading Using literature Making sense of information Declining reading skills Assimilating knowledge Transforming reference to digital environment Having access to documents is just a mean to an end. Knowing what to do with the document & deriving value from it is more important. Beyond promotion Personal bibliographic software

8. FINALLY Global Digital Library Individual library USERS’ SPACE