Transcript Networking of libraries: past and present and possible future Lucy A. Tedd, Lecturer, Department of Information Studies, Aberystwyth University Editor: Program: electronic library and information.

Networking of libraries: past and
present and possible future
Lucy A. Tedd,
Lecturer, Department of Information Studies, Aberystwyth
University
Editor: Program: electronic library and information systems
February 2008
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Definition of a network
Oxford English Dictionary – 14 definitions:
“A system of interconnected computers”
Wikipedia:
“In general, the term network can refer to
any interconnected group or system.
More specifically, a network is any
method of sharing information between
two systems (human or mechanical).”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network
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Brief historical overview
1977 – seminar on networking held by
Cataloguing and Indexing Group of UK
Library Association. I presented a paper and
identified :
• bibliographic or logical networks
• computer or physical networks
L.A. Tedd (1977) Communications networks for
computers-an introduction to the technical details
Program: electronic library and information
systems 11(4)135-144
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Bibliographic networks of the 1970s
Set up mainly to support shared cataloguing by means
of a central database – often with records in MARC
format
OCLC – then Ohio College Library Center in US. Fred
Kilgour had set up OCLC to share resources between
individual libraries and to reduce the rate of rise of
library costs.
Birmingham Libraries Co-operative Mechanisation
Project (BLCMP) in UK – similar aims to OCLC for 3
libraries: Birmingham Public, Birmingham University
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and Aston University
Computer networks of the 1970s
Data networks developed for transmission of digital
information as opposed to analogue (voice) data.
ARPANET – Advanced Research Projects Agency
Network developed by the US Defense
Communications Agency
Used packet switching technology and developed into
the ‘network of networks’ known as the Internet
Early use for online searching of bibliographic
databases
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Bibliographic networks of the
1980s and 1990s
Many countries developed local or
national networks to assist with
resource sharing
OCLC developed into a worldwide
network providing a union catalogue of
about 26m. records and used by 15,000
libraries in 47 countries by 1993
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Computer networks of the
1980s and 1990s
Growth of telecommunications networks to link
(mainly) academic institutions nationally and
internationally e.g. JANET – Joint Academic
Network in the UK.
. Used in library community to search online
library catalogues (OPACs) in other places.
Local area networks within libraries to link
terminals, workstations etc.
The Web
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The beginning of the Web
Tim Berners-Lee worked at CERN – the Centre
for research into nuclear physics in Geneva.
He was worried about the loss of information
about complex evolving systems and
suggested a solution based on a distributed
hypertext system.
http://www.w3.org/History/1989/proposal.html
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Info. management: a proposal
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Comments from his boss
“Vague but exciting”
“I like the browsing style this should make
possible”
“Intuitively right and potentially userfriendly”
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UKOLN – UK Office for Library
Networking
1990- Set up with the primary goal to produce “a
common strategy for networking in the UK library and
information community”.
2008- UKOLN is a research organization that aims to
inform practice and influence policy in the areas of:
digital libraries, information systems, bibliographic
management, and web technologies. It provides
network information services, including the Ariadne
magazine, and runs workshops and conferences.
http://www.ukoln.ac.uk
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Unesco and Networking
Unesco Libraries Portal provides
information for librarians and library
users on a variety of international
initiatives.
Networks – part of Co-operation and
links to various networks provided to
include Unesco-based projects as
well as country-based systems.
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OCLC’s Environmental Scan –
2003/4
Aim: To identify and describe issues and trends
that are impacting OCLC, libraries, museums,
archives and other allied organisations
worldwide.
Method: Interviews with 100 key professionals
in library, information, archival etc. work
worldwide (including in India).
The 2003 OCLC Environmental Scan: Pattern
Recognition. Dublin,Ohio: OCLC, 2004
www.oclc.org/info/escan/default.htm
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Interconnected environment
The library systems environment is becoming more
densely interconnected. This is a result of several
pressures:
“The need for more systems support for the range of
library activities in a digital environment.
The evolution of consortial and other shared
arrangements.
The need to interconnect with non-library systems such
as learning management systems or campus portals.
The use of common services such as authentication
across applications.”
http://www.oclc.org/reports/escan/library/interconnected.htm
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Network of ‘e-offerings’ in
any library
Access provided by:
Library Management system
Portal/Gateway to licensed material
including e-journals, e-books
Virtual Learning Environment
Institutional Repository of research and
possibly teaching materials developed
‘locally’
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Aber.
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Delhi
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Networks for LMS
Some libraries come together to acquire
and use a library management system.
Sometimes national: e.g. COBISS
network and software used for many
libraries in Slovenia, Macedonia, Serbia
, Montenegro etc.
http://www.cobiss.net/cobiss_platform.htm
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COBISS network
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Library networks for sharing of
resources
e.g. Massachusetts Library Network for
sharing books, audiotapes, journals
etc. between academic and public
libraries in a given region.
http://mblc.state.ma.us/libraries/networks/i
ndex.php
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Consortia for purchasing ematerials in a network
Regional- Southern Universities
Purchasing Consortium – UK
National- INFLIBNET
International - EiFL http://www.eifl.net
ICOLC – International Coalition of Library
Consortia – includes INDEST http://www.library.yale.edu/consortia/
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Physical network issues
Wi-Fi – wireless fidelity – for sending info.
to/from wireless local area networks that
might be in a physical library.
RFID – Radio Frequency Identification –
for checking items in and out of a library
In UK a major project, the People’s
Network, in early 2000s to provide free
access to the Internet from all public
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libraries
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Networking of resources with VLE
Many academic institutions now have virtual
learning environments (VLEs)and students
study using online material prepared by
lecturing staff along with ability to access
appropriate resources vi the library.
Examples of VLE software: Blackboard, Moodle
http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id
=2962
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Social networking services
and libraries – Web 2.0
Blogs, Wikis, RSS, podcasts, Facebook, MySpace,
Flickr
“Libraries can now easily collaborate and create
online communities, as well as explore new ways
in which to communicate with, educate and
attract new users - and also to market
themselves” Phil Bradley, How to Use Web 2.0 in
your Library. London: Facet, 2007.
Sample blog entry: Lorcan Dempsey – VP OCLC
http://orweblog.oclc.org/archives/001379.html
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The Economist debate on
social networking
“The house believes that social
networking technologies will bring
large [positive] changes to
educational methods, in and out of
the classroom.”
Final vote count: Pro 63% / Con 37%
http://www.economist.com/debate/
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New Media Horizon Report
2007 –Technology Drivers
User-created content
Social networking
Mobile phones
Virtual worlds
New forms of scholarship
Multi-player educational gaming
http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2007_Horizon_Repo
rt.pdf
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ACRL Environmental Scan
2008
Library facilities and services growing
increasingly integrated with research,
teaching and learning programs.
Broader collaboration among academic, public,
special and school librarians on topics of
common concern.
The increasing needs of e-science and escholarship in the social sciences and the
humanities, requiring new approaches to the
design and delivery of core library services.
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ACRL –Environmental Scan –
cont.
Increasing collaboration between academic libraries
and university publication programs as their roles
become increasingly complementary.
The shifting focus for academic libraries from the
creation and management of large, on-site library
collections to the design and delivery of library
services.
The tools and techniques of social computing providing
new opportunities for the design and delivery of
library resources and services but putting more of a
burden on library staff and systems.
http://www.acrl.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/whitepapers/Environmental_Scan_2.pdf
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OCLC 2007 report
Sharing, privacy and trust in our networked world.
“The practice of using a social network to establish and
enhance relationships based on some common
ground—shared interests, related skills, or a common
geographic location—is as old as human societies,
but social networking has flourished due to the ease
of connecting on the Web. This OCLC membership
report explores this web of social participation and
cooperation on the Internet and how it may impact
the library’s role”.
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Final word….
“[I]f the last few decades of library and information
developments have taught us anything, then it’s
surely that the really significant advances, and the
most meaningful and lasting solutions, are
cooperative ones. And more than that: they are
tending to become global ones. MARC, AACR2 and
even the Internet itself, are obvious examples of this,
and there are many others; and the rise of consortia
of every kind is testimony to the growing recognition
of the value—the necessity even—of interinstitutional
cooperation, at both local and international levels.
[…]
Reg Carr, The Future of Libraries and Collections:
Keynote address to the Fiesole Collection
Development Retreat, Oxford (20 July 2000),
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www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/librarian/fiesole/fiesole.htm.