As libraries continue to engage with an ever-shifting information landscape, it is apparent that their efforts would be facilitated by a shared view of how library services should be organized and surfaced in these new settings and contexts. Recent discussions in a variety of areas underscore this point.
Decision-making in the current environment is challenging. Since the systems "department" consists of only two people, only one of whom has experience and talent in programming, we need to be realistic (some may call it fatalistic) about what we can build and what we should buy. While buying solutions may not be the ideal answer to all of the issues listed below, we need to consider where our talents and efforts are best applied.
Institutional repositories: what is the role of the library in collecting, managing, and preserving institutional scholarly output, and what services should be offered to faculty and students in this regard? Spring 2009: we have been approached by the provost to create a "faculty bibliography", or storage facility, for faculty and staff to upload their creative output, including articles, papers, presentations, performances, etc. We are interpreting this as the beginning of an institutional repository. Given the complexity of the such a project (data collection, ingest, management, storage, and subsequent output), we are forced to consider a purchased solution. See FacultyBibliographyAndBeyond.
Metasearch: how can the fragmented pieces of library collections be brought together to simplify and improve the search experience of the user? Spring 2009: It is widely believed that the concept of federated searching (reaching into databases to pull out information "on the fly") is not sustainable or scalable. Instead, the concept of harvesting and collecting metadata from various sources, and presenting it in a uniform way, with links back to the original material, seems to be the way of the future. (?? there is a better way of describing this, I am sure) This might be called enterprise data warehousing???
E-learning and course management systems: how can library services be lifted out of traditional library environments and inserted into the emerging workflows of "e-scholars" and "e-learners"? Spring 2009: As the popularity of WebCT?/Blackboard (and its successors) on campus increases, it will be important for us to move into that environment to deliver services and connect the virtual classroom to the virtual library. Summer 2009, VK: The Library may want to consider undertaking a more prominent role in the area considered "academic technology" and offer services in the implementation and deployment of applications and services for student learning. This may include Blackboard, ERes?, wikis, blogs, etc. Taking a greater role in this area would serve two purposes - to heighten the visibility of the library in technology, and to allow the librarians an opportunity to position resources closer to the classroom.
Exposing library collections to search engines: how can libraries surface their collections in the general Web search environment, and how can users be provisioned with better tools to navigate an increasingly complex information landscape?
managing and maintaining the Library's web site
-web site design and maintenance, graphics design, electronic publishing, helpdesk coordination
-quality review of web pages and digital images
-Summer 2009, VK: with the purchase of Springshare's Libguides, we have an opportunity to refocus the web presence on subjects and disciplines, and to distribute the responsibility for web site maintenance among the library faculty.
providing access to online resources
-administrative and technical support for online resources
creating digital collections based on existing General Libraries collections and archival collections
supporting electronic resource sharing activities within CSU System and others
system administration relating to the installation and configuration of the application software on the stations
access control, software development, system administration and content management