Exploring Roles and Dislocations Academic Libraries (LIS 514) University of Western Ontario November 22, 2005 Digital Libraries & New Technologies Michael Ridley Chief Information Officer & Chief Librarian University of Guelph

Digital Libraries Lorna invited me …. These are very challenging issues & (frankly) I want to pick your brains I’m ALWAYS recruiting for new staff Why am I here?

Digital Libraries Executive Director Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) Automation to Transformation Personalization & Recommender Systems Digitization & Cultural Heritage Clifford Lynch

Digital Libraries The main point Academic libraries (indeed universities) are being transformed by technology. New technologies, information technologies & digital libraries are not just tools to be learned & used. IT is an environment in which we operate and are immersed. IT is an ecology.

Digital Libraries “When simple change becomes transformational change, the desire for continuity becomes a dysfunctional mirage.” The Mirage of Continuity (1999) Hawkins & Battin

Digital Libraries “The library of the future will combine … … with a managed digital space.”... a managed place …

Digital Libraries Stewardship Democracy Service Rationalism Privacy Equity of Access Intellectual Freedom Literacy and Learning Our Enduring Values

Towards the Digital Library Three Key Transformations

From Database/Repository to Environment (Managed Digital Space) Seamless (fully integrated with digital learning and research; beyond?) Community (resources, people, interaction, process, activities, services) Omnipresent (it will be wherever the users are) Dynamic & Organic (the users will construct it as much as we will)

From Information Management to Knowledge Management Explicit & Tacit Knowledge (beyond recorded information) Coherence & Sense Making (value added outcomes and benefits) People Centric (a focus on understanding not just data) Trusted Information Systems (status, reputation, influence, impact)

Wireless Communication (whenever, wherever, right now) From People Finding Information to Information Finding People Intelligent Agents Personal Information Systems (discovery, assistance, utility) Smart Information (telemetry, propagation) Managing People’s Interests (trusted information systems) Control (users not systems)

Digital Libraries Four Perspectives on: Changing Roles Disruptive Technologies / Ideas My Professional Life Roles and Dislocations

Web 2.0

Digital Libraries Web 2.0 Blogs Wikis Syndication (RSS) Tagging Social Networking

Digital Libraries Web 2.0: Implications The ILS is Dead Interoperability / Standards “We’re in Control.” Say What!? Living on the Bleeding Edge Lib 2.0

Data Curator

Digital Libraries Data Curator Acquire & Access; Understand & Transform Open Content Alliance / “Open Canada” Managing Digital Assets Digital Preservation

Venture Capitalist

Digital Libraries Venture Capitalist Canadian Research Knowledge Network ScholarsPortal Open Access Publishing Open Content Alliance / “Open Canada”

Digital Libraries Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) 26% $82.7M $42.1M $57.3M

Chief Information Officer

Digital Libraries Chief Information Officer Enterprise Vision Integration: IT, IS and IR Policy Development Transformation Librarian? IT Leader? Academic?

Digital Libraries The Digital Piñata Understanding a key problem

Digital Libraries Paul Saffo Institute for the Future “The future belongs to neither the conduit or content players, but to those who control the filtering, searching and sense-making tools we will rely on to navigate through the expanses of cyberspace.”

Digital Libraries Paul Saffo Institute for the Future “The future belongs to neither the conduit or content players, but to those who control the filtering, searching and sense-making tools we will rely on to navigate through the expanses of cyberspace.”

Digital Libraries Paul Saffo Institute for the Future “The future belongs to neither the conduit or content players, but to those who control the filtering, searching and sense-making tools we will rely on to navigate through the expanses of cyberspace.”

The Academic Librarian Just one more....

Digital Libraries Professional Challenges Vision = Action

Digital Libraries Professional Challenges Building Relationships

Digital Libraries Professional Challenges Learning

Digital Libraries Professional Challenges Leadership

Digital Libraries Professional Challenges Community Development

Digital Libraries Seeking Balance sustainability and innovation collaboration and competition self interest and common good financial climate and relentless change ideology and practicality autonomy and accountability

Digital Libraries The Way Forward: My Advice Self interest is OK (the opportunities are extraordinary) Dare to be great (but recognize this in others too) Trust your colleagues Politics are important (but people are more important) Keep your eye on the prize Shared objectives are powerful (but have formal agreements) (find them)

David Penniman School of Informatics University at Buffalo “To remain what it is, the library must change if it does not change, it will not remain what it is.” David Penniman University at Buffalo

Exploring Roles and Dislocations Questions, Comments & Discussion Digital Libraries & New Technologies Michael Ridley Chief Information Officer & Chief Librarian University of Guelph