Dr. Sanda Erdelez Graduate School of Library and Information Science University of Texas at Austin

1. LIBRARIES IN DIGITAL AGE * * * INTERUNIVERSITY CENTREDUBROVNIK, May 2000Providing content on the Internet Dr. Sanda Erdelez Graduate School of Library and Information Science University of Texas at Austin serdelez@gslis.utexas.edu

2. The overview • Libraries on the Web • Library users and the Web content • Types of content on the Web • Ensuring the quality of the content • The future

3. The explosion of the Web • Web sites growth: from 1.6 mil in 1997 to almost 5 mil in 1999 • 211% change from 1997 to 1999 • 55% of Web sites are in the US (down from 59% in 1998) • 80% of Web sites are in English (down from 84% in 1998)

4. How many libraries are on the Web? • Over 4,500 libraries listed in lib-web-cats • Over 3,000 libraries from over 90 countries listed in LibWeb • In the US, over 500 public libraries • In Europe, well over 1000 public libraries in some 30 countries, Finland leads with 247 libraries (EC, 1999)

5. Why provide content on the Web? • To provide service to users. • To show others what you have. • Because everyone else is there.

6. Who are the library users? • Traditional vs. new ways of looking at users • Users you “know” and users you don’t • User you may “see” in person and users you will never see

7. What is important to know about the users? • Their needs and interests • The level of their information and information technology literacy • Their access capabilities

8. User accessibility issues • Libraries and the digital divide • Accessibility to those with special needs - Web Content Accessibility Guidelines by W3C - ADA compliance rules - Bobby site, Bobby on NSK • Language as an accessibility issue - 80% of Web sites are in English

9. What type of content to provide on the Web • Online public access catalogs • Commercial indexes and databases • Unique elements of library collection • Other local resources and services • Links to content on the Internet

10. OPACs on the Web • old way - via telnet or tn3270 connection • new way - via graphical user interface on the Web • advantages of a Web-based catalog: • does not require installation of additional software • hyperlink connection to resources, subject headings and the Internet • easy-to-use, familiar interface

11. OPACs on the Web - Examples • Single site catalogs: Coeur d’ Alene Public Library, Idaho, USA - Athena St. Charles Publib Library, Illinois, USA - DRA • Co-operative projects: BIBSYS - shared library system for all Norwegian University Libraries CROLIST - Croatian Library Network Innovative Interfaces - Millenium

12. Commercial indexes, journals, ebooks • Selection of resources • Licensing issues • Dial-in access v. web-based • Indexes v. full text articles and books • Examples: • NYPL database access • Netlibrary (www.netlibrary.com)

13. Unique elements of library collection • Content that only you can provide • To digitize or not -- that is the question • Multimedia projects • Examples: • University of Texas - Austin map collection • The Karpeles Library manuscript collection • Truman Presidential Library

14. Other local resources and services • Extensions of traditional library services • checked book status and renewals • updates on new acquisitions • Community resources and services • job hunting • relocation • voting

15. Issues in deciding about selecting the content for the Web • Technical support and staff resources • Time in conversion and development • Is it a unique contribution? (nice to have or must have?). • Maintaining quality

16. Quality of Content Reengineering criteria that are used to promote information literacy on the Web • Establishing authority • Accuracy • Objectivity • Currency • Coverage Adapted from Alexander, J. E. & Tate, M. A.Web Wisdom, Web Wisdom (1999)

17. Authority • The institutional authority of libraries • Authority of locally created content v. content provided by others • Give credit to local content creators and inform users about their credentials • Inform users what content is provided by external sources and about their authority (e.g., annotate links to external Web sites)

18. Accuracy • Provide clues for verification of accuracy, e.g., list of sources used • Provide references for external verification in print or electronic format • Ensure frequent updates for time sensitive information (hours of operation, fees, policies)

19. Objectivity • Be careful for any evidence of bias in the information presented in both locally and externally created content • Clearly identify advertising so it can be differentiated from the information content

20. Currency • Indicate when information was produced and updated • Provide Time stamps on individual pages and page segments (if needed) • Provide visual indication of what is new on the main home page

21. Coverage • Put yourself in the shoes of your users: • Does the page contain information that is pertinent to your user’s needs? • How can this information be used? • What information and services may be missing? • Keep open, proactive dialog with users for feedback and suggestions

22. What good is wonderful content… ...when no one can get to it? • access speeds • server speed ...when no one knows about it? • marketing library web presence to users and the profession • registering with search engines • keeping track of who links to your site

23. The future... • From libraries on the Web to Library portals... • How will libraries complement other Web-based resources -- public and commercial? • How will libraries’ virtual form complement their physical form?