Presentation on E-Developments in Academic Libraries

given at the Collaborative Partner Academic Support Development Day,

De Montfort University on Thursday 7th July 2011

Alison McNab

E-DEVELOPMENTS IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

Alison McNab

Academic Team ManagerLibrary Services, De Montfort University

AMcNab@dmu.ac.ukhttp://eclectic.estuff.our.dmu.ac.uk/

“The scale of the cuts means that libraries must rethink the kinds and levels of service they provide in support of their universities’ missions”

RIN/SCONUL Challenges for academic

libraries in difficult economic times

March 2010

THE CHALLENGE

STUDENTS AT THE HEART OF THE SYSTEM

DIFFICULT AND UNCERTAIN TIMES

• Tough times for FE and HE• A sustained period of cuts and

restructuring across the sector

• Disruptive technologies

“The iPad will help change the entire PC ecosystem” (Gartner 2010)

OVERVIEW

• E-induction• E-learning• E-enquiries• E-books• Everything going mobile• Engaging with students through social

media

E-INDUCTION• New approach to basic undergraduate induction in 2011/12• e-induction module link to be emailed to students before they

arrive: – students will be expected to complete the e-induction; the

motivation is to be able to “activate their library account”.– students must complete multiple choice questions; cannot

progress to next section unless all answers correct– e-induction will deal with all the “housekeeping” information

about the library– text will be made available via the library web pages (PDF)

• Groups offered a Library Trail to orient students around the building

• “Induction plus” still available for associate colleges & distance learning courses but needs to be arranged with subject librarian

E-LEARNING

1 Aug 2011: DMU launches the Centre for Enhancing Learning through Technology (CELT)

• CELT will support the delivery of the e-learning related objectives of the University Learning Teaching & Assessment Strategy (ULTAS)

• CELT will provide a physical and virtual hub for e-learning developments at DMU

http://www.learnex.dmu.ac.uk/

E-LEARNING PATHFINDER PROJECT

• Building enhanced institutional knowledge of both Web 2.0 technologies and developmental strategies that support pedagogic and epistemological participation.

• Implementing professional development strategies for staff in human resources, IT support and library services, for the integration of institutional and non-institutional virtual spaces.

• Delivering differentiated strategies for extending virtual spaces through social networks and user-generated content – aligned with e-learning networks, in order to deliver

improved retention and progression. • Scoping professional development methodologies that utilise

Web2.0 technologies

http://dmupathfinder.blogspot.com/

CURRENT ELT PROJECTS• LIDP: Library Impact Data Project - investigating library data

to see if there is any correlation with student attainment • PITSTOP: Supporting Students on Placement - investigating

impact of mediated asynchronous online discussion boards on student’s academic performance while on practice placements

• EXPLORER: Embedding eXisting & Proprietary Learning in an Open-source Repository to Evolve new Resources - improving workflows in collecting research data for the repository (DORA)

• SCOOTER: Sickle Cell Open: Online Topics and Educational Resources - producing educational resources on the topics of Sickle Cell Anaemia and Thalassemia

• TIGER: Transforming Interprofessional Groups through Educational Resources - investigating curriculum innovation through development of reusable, customisable Open Educational Resources (OERs) in Health and Social Care

E-ENQUIRIES @ DMU

Just Ask!

justask@dmu.ac.uk

• Response within 24 hours

• Referral service

E-BOOKS (1)

• JISC national e-books observatory project• Subscription e-books

– “free” e-books• Enhanced content

e-Book Finder• http://ebookfinder.labs.eduserv.org.uk/

E-BOOKS (2)

Accessibility advice from:• JISC TechDis

– http://www.jisctechdis.ac.uk/• British Dyslexia Association

– http://bdatech.org/• RNIB

– http://www.rnib.org.uk/

E-BOOKS (3)

• Handheld devices• Dedicated e-readers• PDFs• Leisure reading

EVERYTHING GOING MOBILE

• Why?–Student experience–Access on-the-go–Accessibility–Productivity tools

THE CHALLENGES OF MOBILE DELIVERY

• Promoting handheld access but avoiding excluding some users

• Providing support within the college / university community

• Identifying suitable mobile

content

IDENTIFYING SUITABLE MOBILE CONTENT

• Apps vs Mobile platforms• Curating or creating content?

• Subscription databases• E-journals / E-prints• E-books

MOBILE ACCESS TO E-RESOURCES

• Why?– Access on-the-go– Accessibility– Maximising access to subscription

resources• What?

– Mobile applications from publishers– Databases with mobile websites

ENGAGING WITH STUDENTS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

• PITSTOP project ran from Aug 2010 - Jan 2011. Funded by SWAP, the Social Policy and Social Work Subject Centre of the Higher Education Academy

• On-line discussion board:– for DMU social work students on their second year practice

placement– and for their practice educators, on site practice assessors

and tutors

• Mediated by Julie Kent (tutor) and Jason Eyre (subject librarian)

EVALUATION

• What are we doing?

• Why are we doing it?

• Is it effective?

ANY QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU