Electronic information - an implementer’s view Ian Winship Information Services University of Northumbria at Newcastle

3 Dec 1998 Electronic information - an implementor’s view 2 Some assumptions A university library service soon will not be primarily dependent on a physical building and its contents The electronic library is never static There is a huge market in information products The purpose of delivering information electronically is to allow each user to print off a personal copy of the information

3 Dec 1998 Electronic information - an implementor’s view 3 Some electronic milestones 1976 Dialup online in the UK ( electronic info ) 1982 Online library catalogues ( end-user IT ) 1988 CD-ROM ( end-user information ) 1991 BIDS ISI ( to the desktop ) 1993 Mosaic ( general use of electronic info ) 1993 Adobe Acrobat ( document publishing )

3 Dec 1998 Electronic information - an implementor’s view 4 What are we delivering? Form - CD-ROM, Web, non-Web online, locally held files Content - database, full text, reference/data, library catalogues Cost - subscription, additional, free How select?

3 Dec 1998 Electronic information - an implementor’s view 5 Why deliver electronically? Encouraged to by changes - modes of access, student types, student numbers, cost ‘efficiencies’ Users like/prefer it End user use is normal Equality of access Security of stock To impress!

3 Dec 1998 Electronic information - an implementor’s view 6 Delivery features Who - any university member anywhere? How - local network (CD or campus); the Web Where - staff desktop, public IT areas, home Presentation - desktop; Web pages; integrated - hybrid library?

3 Dec 1998 Electronic information - an implementor’s view 7 Delivery issues IT Service/departments involvement Suitable spec PCs/software availability Off-campus access - how? Printing or download? - charge? Copyright enforcement

3 Dec 1998 Electronic information - an implementor’s view 8 Passwords Too many

3 Dec 1998 Electronic information - an implementor’s view 9 Some passwords UNN Exam papers Fame ATHENSBIDS INSPEC RAPIDMCB Emerald ICivilETHES Cambridge UPAslib MintelCurrent legal info FT ProfileEstates Gazette Datastreaminside Web

3 Dec 1998 Electronic information - an implementor’s view 10 Passwords Too many - rationalise? IP address checking - not off-campus automatic logon hidden Web page printed list ATHENS - OK in principle; but a need for personal passwords local security needs

3 Dec 1998 Electronic information - an implementor’s view 11 User issues Expectations - full text/desktop. Users ignore print alternatives. IT, Internet and information searching skills Document delivery not ILL Documentation - what, format, where, used? How to learn of services Support available - online

3 Dec 1998 Electronic information - an implementor’s view 12 (Library) staff issues Electronic information is exciting, challenging, has great potential BUT Training, knowledge needs are wider Also IT support staff; dual role staff Good system/service reliability Prompt technical support

3 Dec 1998 Electronic information - an implementor’s view 13 Supplier policies Licences - CHEST: not overseas; NHS; CD-ROM: casual user; what is a site? Marketplace - competition How to influence - eg,commercial services; off-campus. At what level? Costs - increases, especially compared with previous format. What do we give up?

3 Dec 1998 Electronic information - an implementor’s view 14 JISC policies Lack of openness of JISC and committees Tendering for dataset supply - what principles? Multiple suppliers Proprietary interfaces for CHEST datasets Uncoordinated development - implementing the DNER; ejournals: NESLI vs CHEST

3 Dec 1998 Electronic information - an implementor’s view 15 Nevertheless There's no turning back