Digital Libraries: Local and Global

Digital Libraries: Local and Global

Alastair Dunning,

The European Library

23rd October 2012

twitter: @alastairdunning

email: alastair.dunning@kb.nl

Alastair Dunning,

The European Library

23rd October 2012

twitter: @alastairdunning

email: alastair.dunning@kb.nl

1

I previously worked at:

Arts and Humanities Data Service – An early digital library

JISC – A UK funding body for digital services in universities

I previously worked at:

Arts and Humanities Data Service – An early digital library

JISC – A UK funding body for digital services in universities

2

Currently work at:

The European Library, the library aggregator for Europeana(Based in The Hague, Netherlands)

Currently work at:

The European Library, the library aggregator for Europeana(Based in The Hague, Netherlands)

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European European Film GatewayFilm Gateway

(Film Archives)(Film Archives)Apex (Archives)Apex (Archives)

The EuropeanThe EuropeanLibraryLibrary

(Libraries)(Libraries)

EuropeanaEuropeana

A very select view of Europeana Eco-System

Also:Also:

Individual Individual content content

providers providers

LibrariesLibraries

ArchivesArchives

Museums Museums

National National aggregatorsaggregators

Other domain Other domain aggregatorsaggregators

{flat} {not flat}{flat} {not flat}

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Digitálna knižnica – a sense of worry ?

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“Despite all our technical and technological

achievements, at the beginning of the third

millennium our libraries are still only

providing traditional, common services and

procedures. Even if libraries have websites,

these are typically used as a bulletin board

describing their services. However, they do

not provide their services barrier-free.

Libraries stand or fall by their catalogs and

the only real change from the past has

been computerization.”

“Despite all our technical and technological

achievements, at the beginning of the third

millennium our libraries are still only

providing traditional, common services and

procedures. Even if libraries have websites,

these are typically used as a bulletin board

describing their services. However, they do

not provide their services barrier-free.

Libraries stand or fall by their catalogs and

the only real change from the past has

been computerization.”8

Do libraries still make sense?

Will we still be needed?

Do libraries still make sense?

Will we still be needed?

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- Decreasing funding

- Google; information found without visiting library

- Library collections less important for scientists and students

- Decreasing funding

- Google; information found without visiting library

- Library collections less important for scientists and students

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- Authority of library undermined by other sources of information

- Learning and Higher Education more focussed on vocational learning

- Difficult to change staff quickly

- Authority of library undermined by other sources of information

- Learning and Higher Education more focussed on vocational learning

- Difficult to change staff quickly

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“Bangor University is proposing to sack eight of its 12 librarians because students can find the information they need on the internet” The Guardian Newspaper February 2005

“Bangor University is proposing to sack eight of its 12 librarians because students can find the information they need on the internet” The Guardian Newspaper February 2005

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•

And yet there is still a role for the library

- filtering global information- building local community

•

And yet there is still a role for the library

- filtering global information- building local community

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Six roles for the library in making

the global localand the local global

Six roles for the library in making

the global localand the local global

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1. Providing Access1. Providing Access

1) The library (public, national, university) still has

a vital role to play in providing access to content

1) The library (public, national, university) still has

a vital role to play in providing access to content

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By content I mean eBooks, digital resources and especially journal articles

By content I mean eBooks, digital resources and especially journal articles

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80% of journal articles are not Open Access. 100% Open Access will still take time.

http://poynder.blogspot.nl/2011/06/open-access-by-numbers.html

80% of journal articles are not Open Access. 100% Open Access will still take time.

http://poynder.blogspot.nl/2011/06/open-access-by-numbers.html

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Libraries and their consortia have a vital role to play in gaining access to publisher content

Libraries and their consortia have a vital role to play in gaining access to publisher content

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Negotiating terms, content selection – point of delivery, use for research groups, alumni and others, advanced uses such as text mining

Negotiating terms, content selection – point of delivery, use for research groups, alumni and others, advanced uses such as text mining

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Imagine a researcher negotiating with publishers with out a library – access to journals would be difficult, more time consuming and expensive

Imagine a researcher negotiating with publishers with out a library – access to journals would be difficult, more time consuming and expensive

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But note: this does require some new skills and partners for librarians

But note: this does require some new skills and partners for librarians

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2. Providing Authentication2. Providing Authentication

2) Libraries also have a role to play in authenticating

access

2) Libraries also have a role to play in authenticating

access

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Who is allowed access to what ?Who is allowed access to what ?

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Is this a pupil, student, a researcher, a teacher, an official, a member of the public, a Slovakian, a European ?

Is this a pupil, student, a researcher, a teacher, an official, a member of the public, a Slovakian, a European ?

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Managing authentication is a vital service libraries can manage

Managing authentication is a vital service libraries can manage

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Governments, publishers and other private bodies appreciate that ability to segment audiences

Governments, publishers and other private bodies appreciate that ability to segment audiences

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An example: Publishers Random House have said ‘libraries own our eBooks’

http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/e-content/libraries-own-random-house-ebooks

An example: Publishers Random House have said ‘libraries own our eBooks’

http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/e-content/libraries-own-random-house-ebooks

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But note: this does require some new skills and partners for librarians

But note: this does require some new skills and partners for librarians

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3. filtering the deluge of information

3) Helping users navigate the deluge of information3) Helping users navigate the deluge of information

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There is a plenty of open information via Google, Wikipedia, online newspapers etc

There is a plenty of open information via Google, Wikipedia, online newspapers etc

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Some students misuse that information. But don’t assume that all students are naive

Some students misuse that information. But don’t assume that all students are naive

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Advanced students and researchers are more engaged with digital resources, but “The question arises as to whether doctoral students are being properly supported and equipped to navigate their way through the plethora and variety of research materials and sources available on the internet.”Researcher of Tomorrow Report, 2012

Advanced students and researchers are more engaged with digital resources, but “The question arises as to whether doctoral students are being properly supported and equipped to navigate their way through the plethora and variety of research materials and sources available on the internet.”Researcher of Tomorrow Report, 2012

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They still need help channelling that knowledge, connecting it to research resources, skills and methods

They still need help channelling that knowledge, connecting it to research resources, skills and methods

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Librarians can play that roleLibrarians can play that role

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But note: this does require some new skills and partners for librarians

But note: this does require some new skills and partners for librarians

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But’s the library is also about creating a sense of place; of community; global ideas in a local place

But’s the library is also about creating a sense of place; of community; global ideas in a local place

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4. encouraging communities of use

4) Libraries need to continue to grow communities of students, researchers,

publics

4) Libraries need to continue to grow communities of students, researchers,

publics

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Alan Gilbert Learning Commons at University of Alan Gilbert Learning Commons at University of Manchester - Open all hours of the day, and with Manchester - Open all hours of the day, and with Wi-Fi available throughout the building, students Wi-Fi available throughout the building, students will have access to a comfortable and up-to-date will have access to a comfortable and up-to-date

learning environment which caters for all of learning environment which caters for all of their needs their needs

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The University of Aberdeen The University of Aberdeen – “the wide-open floors are – “the wide-open floors are clearly intended as a social clearly intended as a social space as well as a place of space as well as a place of

learning, with Wi-Fi learning, with Wi-Fi available throughout the available throughout the building as it is around building as it is around much of the campus.”much of the campus.”

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The library as physical space for different types of learning and teaching – individual study, group study, group teaching, informal meeting. Computer access also important.

The library as physical space for different types of learning and teaching – individual study, group study, group teaching, informal meeting. Computer access also important.

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but this also includes virtual communitiesbut this also includes virtual communities

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5) But the library also needs to make its local content

global

5) But the library also needs to make its local content

global

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If Slovakian datasets, articles, books, theses, educational resources and cultural heritage needs to have an international impact …

If Slovakian datasets, articles, books, theses, educational resources and cultural heritage needs to have an international impact …

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… they need to expose them openly and internationally… they need to expose them openly and internationally

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Libraries have a key role in thisLibraries have a key role in this

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Digital content needs a home, and libraries can supply it.

Digital content needs a home, and libraries can supply it.

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Providing a stable home and related URL seems like a simple service – but it is vital and complex.

Providing a stable home and related URL seems like a simple service – but it is vital and complex.

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The preservation of that content is also complex, and potentially costly

The preservation of that content is also complex, and potentially costly

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But libraries are in the position to play that roleBut libraries are in the position to play that role

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Projects with EIFL to build repositories provide a start – but they need to become permanent

Projects with EIFL to build repositories provide a start – but they need to become permanent

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6. digitising special collections French National Library, Manuscripts, Nouvelles acquisitions latines 1203

6) Digitising special collections is also important. They are unique to libraries

6) Digitising special collections is also important. They are unique to libraries

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Special collections are unique and provide demonstration of a country’s and an institution’s identity

Special collections are unique and provide demonstration of a country’s and an institution’s identity

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Ie making local collections available globallyIe making local collections available globally

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But to achieve impact, finding ways to expose that content is vital

But to achieve impact, finding ways to expose that content is vital

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High quality metadata and Search Engine Optimisation are part of that

High quality metadata and Search Engine Optimisation are part of that

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This is also where The European Library (TEL) can help libraries

This is also where The European Library (TEL) can help libraries

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Exposure of content in The Europeana Library portal – aimed at research community

Exposure of content in The Europeana Library portal – aimed at research community

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Exposure of content in Europeana – aimed at other communities (secondary schools, tourism, creative industries)

Exposure of content in Europeana – aimed at other communities (secondary schools, tourism, creative industries)

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Content channeled into other sources (e.g. Summon, ProQuest, EBSCO)

Content channeled into other sources (e.g. Summon, ProQuest, EBSCO)

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Membership of The European Library also offers opportunity to be involved in EU projects and attend Europe-wide meetingssuch as new Europeana Cloud project

Membership of The European Library also offers opportunity to be involved in EU projects and attend Europe-wide meetingssuch as new Europeana Cloud project

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Invitation to join The European Library Invitation to join The European Library

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National Library of Slovakia already provides bibliographic records to the European Library

National Library of Slovakia already provides bibliographic records to the European Library

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The European Library also wants to expose content from Research Libraries

The European Library also wants to expose content from Research Libraries

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Catalogue records, collection descriptions, digitised material

Catalogue records, collection descriptions, digitised material

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Membership can be for individual universities or for consortium (groups) of libraries. The latter is cheaper.

Membership can be for individual universities or for consortium (groups) of libraries. The latter is cheaper.

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So membership of TEL is one element in making the local global.

So membership of TEL is one element in making the local global.

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1) Providing access to content2) Providing authentication3) Assisting digital literacy

4) Establishing and enhancing communities

5) Publishing, exposing and preserving content

6) Creating special collections identity

1) Providing access to content2) Providing authentication3) Assisting digital literacy

4) Establishing and enhancing communities

5) Publishing, exposing and preserving content

6) Creating special collections identity

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To summarise.

Libraries have an important role to play. But it’s different.

Alastair DunningThe European Libraryalastair.dunning@kb.nl / info@theeuropeanlibrary.org

To summarise.

Libraries have an important role to play. But it’s different.

Alastair DunningThe European Libraryalastair.dunning@kb.nl / info@theeuropeanlibrary.org

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CreditsCredits• Key - http://www.flickr.com/photos/32814074@N00/3281326965/

• Stepping Stones - http://www.flickr.com/photos/oatsy40/6818869372/

• Catching the Rain - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandiyan/75545427/

• Worry Lines - http://www.flickr.com/photos/eltman/5405842696/

• Chopok, Slovakia - http://www.flickr.com/photos/kabacim/6016060466/

• Flat Surfaces (Holland) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildphotons/2303958845/

• Aberdeen University Library (Copyright Adam Mork) via http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2012/jan/08/aberdeen-university-library-architecture

• Alan Gilbert Learning Commons - http://jrulenginfo.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/alan-gilbert-learning-commons/

• Key - http://www.flickr.com/photos/32814074@N00/3281326965/

• Stepping Stones - http://www.flickr.com/photos/oatsy40/6818869372/

• Catching the Rain - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandiyan/75545427/

• Worry Lines - http://www.flickr.com/photos/eltman/5405842696/

• Chopok, Slovakia - http://www.flickr.com/photos/kabacim/6016060466/

• Flat Surfaces (Holland) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildphotons/2303958845/

• Aberdeen University Library (Copyright Adam Mork) via http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2012/jan/08/aberdeen-university-library-architecture

• Alan Gilbert Learning Commons - http://jrulenginfo.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/alan-gilbert-learning-commons/