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Explore trial and evaluation in using library services outside the traditional campus setup, focusing on user needs, technical development, and stakeholder involvement. Learn about the goals, stakeholders, process, and outcomes of two innovative projects - CREE and Twin Peaks.
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Trial and evaluation in the use of library services away from the libraryChris Awre – University of HullRalph Quarles – Indiana University
Introduction • How many computers to run a campus? • How about libraries? • Why can’t we all get together? • Two paths to discerning user needs
CREE : Genesis • Increasing range of search tools available • Parallel development of institutional environments • Web look and feel, Portal, Virtual Learning Environment/Course Management System • How do search tools fit into these environments? • JISC funding to explore user requirements and new technologies(JSR 168 and WSRP)
CREE : Background • Institutional portal introduced in September 2003 (uPortal) http://www.hull.ac.uk/esig/portaltour/ • User requirements an integral part of implementing this - has resulted in up to 15,000 users per week • Library and library services underrepresented within the portal and away from home website
CREE : Goals • Examine user requirements for using different types of search tools in different institutional contexts • Inform future technical development across project partners and focus resources • Test feasibility of using JSR 168 and WSRP standards for presentation of search tools within conformant portals
CREE : Stakeholders • Project partners • University of Oxford & Newark and Sherwood College • Technical partners • Library staff • Impacts on future planning of service delivery • Most importantly - the users! • Requirements gathered according to role (teaching staff, undergraduate etc.)
CREE : Process • National online survey, Sept-Oct 2004 • Covered current and potential use of search tools in different contexts • Focus groups, Nov-Dec 2004 • Collective views and response to survey results • User testing with demonstrators, Apr-Jul 2005 • Feedback based on practical interaction • Each fed into the next stage
CREE : Test & Evaluation • Survey: Backed accepted search use wisdom and suggested open-mindedness to the use of search tools in different contexts • Focus groups: validated survey results and allowed search behaviour to be re-assessed • User testing: very positive response to use of search tools in different contexts • Subject resource access within VLE/CMS favoured • Full results at http://www.hull.ac.uk/esig/cree
Twin Peaks : Genesis • Collaborative libraries & campus computing • Evolution in IU course management systems • Point of need and opportunity
Twin Peaks : Background • Separate database driven library web 46,000 digital collections & 6M item catalogue http://www.libraries.iub.edu • Increasingly central campus collaboration and learning web http://oncourse.iu.edu , local version of… http://www.sakaiproject.org
Twin Peaks : Goals • To search at the “point of need” within course management & collaboration system • Create list of article level persistent links without “leaving” CMS for vendor site • Create functional tool in one year or less to allow demo, feedback, and potential use in early production version of new CMS
Twin Peaks : Stakeholders • On campus & remote users • Faculty • Undergraduate & Graduate students • Informed by LibQUAL+TM 2004 survey • Service staff • University IT Services staff • Library staff • Sakai project participants & partners
Twin Peaks : Process • Rapid prototyping • Evolutionary formative testing • Demonstrations to wider Sakai audience • “Rolling refinement”
Twin Peaks : Test & Evaluation • Demo site at http://129.79.35.230:8080/portal • Incorporation into users’ workflow • Wide solicitation of informal & formal feedback • Simultaneous prototyping by others • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) • Johns Hopkins University
Future Plans • CREE • Disseminate user requirements to all project partners and wider community • Develop contextual library services for delivery at Hull • Twin Peaks • Fall 2005 debut in IU production course systems ‘as is’ • Migration to a central resource service in Sakai • Planned addition to overall Sakai system v2.1