Audit of walk-in access for members of the public to online resources at HE and FE libraries in the South-West of England

Funded by SWRLS (South West Regional Library Service)

Project AimsTo facilitate the provision of public access to educational / research materials that are increasingly available in online format only, thereby supporting widening participation and community education within the region through the sharing of information and expertise. This will be done by:

Conducting an audit of current policies and practices

Sharing information between colleagues in FE and HE libraries who are working on IT solutions for appropriate access

  Promoting the resources and access policies

Producing a report summarising the outcomes and a directory with more detailed information about walk-in access to online resources in the region.

What is ‘walk-in access’?

Use of electronic resources by visitors, members of the public

Physically entering the premises, not available at a distance

The term walk-in access – licences, political correctness

Project Summary

This project will review the mechanisms in place, and being developed, in further and higher

education libraries, to provide walk-in access for the general public and

school students to electronic resources.

The Steering Group MembersClaire Holmes, Project Librarian, UWEDavid Boyd, Electronic Resources Librarian,

University of BristolEilidh Mackay, Assistant Librarian, UWEGeoff Cole, Community Engagement and

Schools Support Librarian, UWEIan Collins, Partnerships Librarian, UWEJacqueline Chelin, Deputy Librarian, UWEKaren Foster, Head of Learning Centre,

Yeovil College

Context –nationally/internationallySCONUL Task and Finish Group on Access Issues

– WATER (Walk-in Access To E-Resources) projectThe WATER project will seek the views of users, Library

Directors and SCONUL Access scheme representatives to identify the issues associated with implementation of walk-in access by UK HEIs

SCURL (Scottish Confederation of Universities and Research Libraries) Walk-in Access ProjectAn audit of current practice in members’ institutions, looking

at the definition of walk-in access, the mixed economy of authentication management, identity management

Literature Search – a starting pointLiterature search of relevant professional journals and

online information sources to establish best practice

SCONUL and UCISA (2007) HAERVI: HE access to e-resources in visited institutions.

RIN (2009) Overcoming barriers: access to research information content. Research report 2: Perspectives from libraries Research report 3: How institutions manage access to information

sources for non members Research report 4: Information access for members of research pools in

Scotland

RIN (2006) Access for members of the public to digital content help in university and college libraries: a report on current practice and recommendations for the future.

  House of Commons Select Committee (2004) Scientific publications: free

for all?

Methodology

Audit in the form of a questionnaire chosen due to:Geographical area – South West regionNature of the investigationTime of year – autumn termAnalysis of resultsCost-saving

MethodologyCase Study benefits:

Visit – first hand view of the serviceFace-to-face discussionService – from staff and walk-in perspectiveIn-depth investigation of methods chosenAccuracy and detailBuild stronger relationships

Follow upTelephone interviews

Responses

41 questionnaires sent out to FEIs/HEIs in the SWRLS area

34 responses – 14 HEIs, 20 FEIs

6 HEIs offer walk-in access (though one has since withdrawn the service)

Figures and TrendsFor those not providing access (28 out of 34):

Two thirds of institutions do not have any plans to introduce the service in the future

The majority of institutions rarely or never receive requests from walk-in users to access electronic resources.

IT restrictions and legal issues over licences are the biggest factors preventing institutions from implementing the service

The biggest driver/motivating factor would be the simplification and standardisation of licences and their legal frameworks.

Figures and TrendsWhat has prevented institutions from providing

access to resources for walk-in users?

Legal issues over licences

23%

Safeguarding of learners on campus

13%Cost8%Staff time

15%

I.T restrictions, such as log-ons

26%

Have never thought of implementing

4% Space10%

What has prevented you from providing access to resources for walk-in users?

Figures and TrendsFor those providing access (6 out of 34):

Restrictions of the service varies - age, commerical use, opening hours

Over 80% require users to sign an Acceptable Use Policy

50/50 in terms of whether dedicated kiosks are provided or whether users can use any computer in the library

Most institutions provide temporary log-onsMajority provide access expiring at end of the dayIT restrictions and barriers greatest problem to

overcome

Figures and TrendsInstitutions that did not encounter technical

difficulties had help from their IT departments80% allow visitors to print50% allow visitors to save information to

memory stickMost institutions have a list of resources

permitted on their webpagesUptake of the service has been low for all

institutionsPromotion of the service is poor

Case Study 1The service was primarily introduced due to

feedback from students on validated/licensed courses 20 catalogue terminals can be used by walk-in usersUsers can select a resource from the catalogue or

use a list of permitted resourcesEZproxy authorises accessFirefox browser with kiosk modeNo facility for printing or saving yetUsers don’t need to sign Acceptable Use PolicyHave not monitored use but believe it to be lowEduroam available

Case Study 2Service in use for 3-4 years, introduced when IT and

library services were mergedIntroduced for two reasons – community and new

student logonsAccess is provided via Microsoft Active DirectoryThis application populates information about the user

into pre-prepared network accountsVisitors sign AUP and ID checkedWide range of resources permittedShibboleth used to authenticateAny computer can be used in the libraryEduroam availableDo not promote service

Outcomes of the projectWider access for non-HE students and general

public to online research resourcesSharing / promotion of expertise about walk-in

servicesFacilitating collaboration between sectors in

establishing walk-in servicesEncouraging further resource sharingContributing to other regional / national initiativesSupporting widening participation, lifelong

learning and community engagement

Implications of the project

Impact on organisations providing this serviceDemand / level of useSupport required from Library staff

Collaboration, egHEIs could support local FEIs to set up serviceFEIs and HEIs move towards offering a wider

community resource to support public libraries

RecommendationsSWRLS

Share this report more widely through web siteMaintain directory of institutions offering walk-in

accessMembers to consider potential audiences for such a

servicePromote outcomes of project to related national

projects

National bodies (eg JISC, SCONUL)Influence licence providers to simplify and clarify

walk-in access provisions

RecommendationsIndividual institutions in the South West

HEIs and FEIs to set up walk-in user service if not already providing one

Inform SWRLS of any changes in walk-in access policyTarget / promote service to appropriate audiences

through analysing requests receivedHEIs / FEIs to consider using EduroamClose liaison with IT department when planning /

implementing walk-in serviceUse institutional policies as driver for implementation

of walk-in serviceUse implementation to drive institutional policy!

List of Respondents - universitiesBath Spa University Bournemouth UniversityCranfield UniversityPlymouth UniversityRoyal Agricultural CollegeSouthampton Solent UniversityUniversity College Falmouth - Dartington College of

Arts University College Plymouth St Mark & St JohnUniversity College WinchesterUniversity of BathUniversity of BristolUniversity of ExeterUniversity of GloucestershireUniversity of the West of England (UWE)

List of Respondents – FE colleges  Bicton College Bridgwater College  Cirencester College

City College, Plymouth  City of Bath College

City of Bristol College

Cornwall College

Exeter College

Filton College

Gloucestershire College

Hartpury College

New College, Swindon

South Devon College

Stode College

Stroud College

Swindon College

Truro and Penwith College

Weston College

Weymouth College

Yeovil College

Directory: Who offers access?University of Bathhttp://www.bath.ac.uk/library/users/visitors.html#walk

University of Exeterhttp://as.exeter.ac.uk/library/resources/e-resources/eligibility/

University College Falmouthhttp://library.falmouth.ac.uk/651/using-the-library/information-for/

walkin-users/article.asp

University of Gloucestershirehttp://insight.glos.ac.uk/departments/lis/Pages/default.aspx

Plymouth Universityhttp://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=634

Bibliography SCONUL and UCISA (2007) HAERVI: HE access to e-resources in visited

institutions. Available from: http://www.ucisa.ac.uk/publications/haervi_guide.aspx

RIN (2009) Overcoming barriers: access to research information content. Available from: http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/using-and-accessing-information-resources/overcoming-barriers-access-research-information

Research report 2: Perspectives from librariesResearch report 3: How institutions manage access to information sources for non membersResearch report 4: Information access for members of research pools in Scotland

RIN (2006) Access for members of the public to digital content help in university and college libraries: a report on current practice and recommendations for the future. Available from: http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/using-and-accessing-information-resources/public-access-licensed-journals-held-academic-lib

  House of Commons Select Committee (2004) Scientific publications: free for all?

Available from: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmsctech/399/399.pdf

Contact usGeoff Cole, Community Engagement and

Schools Support Librarian, UWE. Email: Geoff.Cole@uwe.ac.ukJacqueline Chelin, Deputy Librarian, UWE. Email: Jacqueline.Chelin@uwe.ac.uk

March 2012