Roy Tennant The California Digital Library The Hybrid Library: From a State of Disarray to a State of Grace The Hybrid Library: From a State of Disarray to a State of Grace

The Hybrid Library  Libraries are, and will remain, a varied and complex mix of collections and services  Collections will continue to be in print, electronic, and digital formats  Services will need to be both physical and virtual  Staff will be called upon to gain new competencies and fulfill new roles  We must combine use of technology with our essential public service mission

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” — A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens

Libraries are in Trouble  Overall, usage is declining across the board (circulation, reference, etc.)  The common perception is that the Internet can now do it all  This may lead some to assume that libraries do not need as much support

The Common Perception

The Reality  Too many information sources and too many places to go check  Not enough assistance at the time and place they need it  Not enough ways to filter, sort, and otherwise narrow in on what is needed  Not enough awareness of print resources  Too enticing to think that which is easy to find is good enough  Our users have never needed us more than they do now!

How Can We Be There for Them?  Think creatively about how to better serve their needs (clean slate thinking)  Work cooperatively to develop robust services: –Cooperative online reference –Gateways, union catalogs, and crawled indexes  Be in their face and out of their way

Being “Out of Their Way”  Our users simply want to get their work done  Over-complicated search systems hinder access for the majority — only librarians like to search, everyone else likes to find!  We must bring together access to multiple information resources

Remote Catalogs Local Catalog Local Web Site Remote Web Sites CD-ROM Databases Vendor Dbs Remote Digital Content Local Digital Content

Remote Catalogs Local Catalog Local Web Site Remote Web Sites CD-ROM Databases Vendor Dbs Remote Digital Content Local Digital Content

Remote Catalogs Local Catalog Local Web Site Remote Web Sites CD-ROM Databases Vendor Dbs Remote Digital Content Local Digital Content

Remote Catalogs Local Catalog Local Web Site Remote Web Sites CD-ROM Databases Vendor Dbs Remote Digital Content Local Digital Content

Remote Catalogs Local Catalog Local Web Site Remote Web Sites CD-ROM Databases Vendor Dbs Remote Digital Content Local Digital Content

Remote Catalogs Local Catalog Local Web Site Remote Web Sites CD-ROM Databases Vendor Dbs Remote Digital Content Local Digital Content

Remote Catalogs Local Catalog Local Web Site Remote Web Sites CD-ROM Databases Vendor Dbs Remote Digital Content Local Digital Content

Gateway Schematic User Interface Pre- and Post-Processing Engine Library Catalog Journal Article Databases Web Sites Digital Library Collections Interactive Assistance

Being “Out of Their Way”: How  Simplify the front end  Complicate the back end: –Search more sources –Pre-process the query –Post-process the results –Offer options for filtering, sorting  Provide ways the user can control and personalize their interface

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Being “In Their Face”: Why?  Many catalogs and search systems are difficult to understand and use  Users need help at the moment they get stuck — is inadequate  Unless assistance is obvious and convenient, the user will remain stuck  Other, readily available information sources, can be convenient but inadequate (web search engines, for example)

Being “In Their Face”

Getting it Right  Only we can bring together access to the entire information universe  Only we are skilled at evaluation, selection, organization, delivery, and preservation of information  Only we can combine the power of the Internet with excellent public service

How to Get it Right  Strong and effective print collections  Digital content when and where it makes sense  More information about print material in our catalogs  Strong integration of print and digital  Easy and effective pathways to good Internet resources

What it Means to Get it Right  It will be the very technologies that threaten us that will be our salvation  By getting it right, we will be more effective and more appreciated than ever before