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New Electronic Resources Electronic Reserves Library Faculty Achievements Self-Service Options Borrowing Government Publications |
The University
at Albany’s Emerging Digital Library
by Meredith
A. Butler, Dean & Director of Libraries
During the past decade, Albany’s University Libraries have been engaged in providing high quality library services and traditional print collections, while at the same time developing electronic systems, collections and services. The rapid expansion of the Internet and the World Wide Web offers an opportunity to integrate print, electronic, and multi-media resources and provide access to an extraordinary array of information to library users. Integrating the Libraries’ online catalog, ADVANCE, research information on the Web, and electronic and media resources and delivering library services to the desktop are among our highest priorities. These priorities move us closer to our longer-term goal of a fully developed digital library.
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What is a digital library? The Digital Library Federation (DLF), a partnership of some of the nation’s largest research libraries offers the following working definition of digital libraries:
Digital libraries are organizations that provide the resources, including the specialized staff, to select, structure, offer intellectual access to, interpret, distribute, preserve the integrity of, and ensure the persistence over time of collections of digital works so that they are readily and economically available for use by a defined community or set of communities.Why create a Digital Library at the University at Albany? As the Web becomes ubiquitous and the network more reliable, more electronic content is created. The availability of the Web and its resources is rapidly changing the work habits of our faculty and students. Sending and receiving e-mail, using the Web for personal research, reading or browsing and consulting electronic resources have become routine and integrated into the fabric of daily academic life. Albany’s Libraries have played a key role in facilitating these changes. They must continue to be responsive to the changing needs and desires of faculty and students in order to support research, teaching and learning.
Albany’s Emerging
Digital Library. Our current activities to create Albany’s digital
library do not as yet encompass the full definition of DLF’s digital library.
To date, we have focussed on purchasing and integrating access to commercially
available print resources and transitioning them and our services to the
World Wide Web. We have developed a Library Home Page that has become an
exceptional resource for our users. Library Bibliographers have begun to
identify and evaluate Web research resources in a variety of disciplines
and to integrate or link these into discipline-focussed home pages and
guides. We are still at an early stage in the development of our digital
library and yet, we have made great progress. In this issue of Library
Update we highlight some of the ways digital resources and services
expand the quantity of available information and make our collections and
services easier to find and use.
New Research
Resources at Your Fingertips
by Bonita
Bryant, Assistant Director, Collection Development
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As part of SUNY’s commitment to create a SUNY virtual library, SUNY’s Office of Library and Information Services has purchased for all SUNY campuses the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia and Encyclopedia Americana, the Expanded Academic ASAP, and a basic package of OCLC FirstSearch databases, including WorldCat, a union catalog of books owned by libraries across the globe. FirstSearch also includes ArticleFirst (a general journal article database), ProceedingsFirst and PapersFirst (citations to conference presentations published and unpublished), ContentsFirst (tables of contents for titles covered by ArticleFirst), Dissertation Abstracts, the World Almanac, NetFirst (a database of Internet resources), and Reader’s Guide Abstracts to popular magazines.
As more journal publishers offer electronic versions of titles to which the library subscribes in paper format, the list of journals on the “Subscription Databases and Journals” page will expand. Library staff plan to identify and link these titles to the Library Home Page in the coming months. At present six science publishers are represented on this page. JSTOR and Project Muse offer a mix of humanities, social sciences, and science journals uniquely; JSTOR provides a growing number of complete journal runs from volume 1 through as recent as 1996 issues, while Project Muse mounts complete issues of titles published by Johns Hopkins University Press and cumulates those issues into an ever-expanding database.
Besides the Libraries’ extensive print and microform collections, which can be identified by choosing “Library Catalog” on the Web page, by clicking on “Virtual Library” users will find a huge, librarian-selected entree to the free sources on the World Wide Web, as well as to many of the resources also found on the “Subscription Databases and Journals” page. Bibliographers are at work expanding the number of links to research-level resources for specific disciplines; sample “Subject Resources” from the “Virtual Library” page.
While the Web
page provides a gateway to electronic resources available outside the library,
it is important to know that there are additional CD-ROM files available
on computer workstations in the University Library and the Dewey Library.
Also, for those who don’t yet have access to the Web/Internet from home,
character-based dial-up access continues to be available through the campus
modem pool leading users to the ADVANCE online catalog and its links to
research databases and other libraries’ holdings. Instructions for using
this approach are available at the libraries’ reference desks.
Electronic
Reserve Service
by Lorre
Smith, Librarian for Digital Library Initiatives
Professor Norma Jacobs, Accounting faculty member, investigated the University at Albany’s Electronic Reserves software/ system (ERes™) to facilitate mounting her course syllabi, create a link to her own Web pages, and develop a PowerPoint presentation about Internet investing. Professor Michael Jerison, Economics faculty member, explored the ERes system to decide if he wanted to use it to provide materials that Ph.D. candidates should review prior to the qualifying exams. Marty Manjak, Manager of the campus ResNet Coordinators, investigated the Electronic Reserves system to determine how the Coordinators could provide system support for users in the residence halls.
Through the Library Home Page, the University Libraries now offer an electronic reserves service so that faculty members with electronic files can have access to software which will help them to create a Web page quickly and deliver those electronic files across the campus network and to their students. For those faculty who have course readings, notes or syllabi in electronic format, the use of Academic Xpress Page™, the authoring software of the system, facilitates creation of course Web pages literally within a few minutes. The electronic reserves system is available through the Library Home Page (http://www.albany.edu/library/) under “Library Services” then select “Electronic Reserves” or go directly to URL http://eres.ulib.albany.edu/.
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Professors Jacobs and Jerison selected a few possibilities from many offered by the University Libraries’ electronic reserves system. Both faculty took advantage of the electronic reserves tutorial, offered in person by library staff, and they chose to take the tutorial instruction in their offices on their own desktop workstations. The tutorial experience provides individual faculty time to ask questions and try the system with a library staff member present. Library staff also demonstrate techniques for creating course pages and adding links to the course materials, whether they reside on the library server, or elsewhere on the World Wide Web. It’s also a chance to discuss what types of files are easiest for students to view and download and other considerations regarding file size and format. Demonstrations will be held for individual faculty members or groups of faculty, or for classes who will be using the electronic reserves system for course readings.
Once faculty members receive ERes accounts, they have complete control over the creation of pages and page content using the electronic forms. Telephone support for the electronic reserves system is available to answer questions, whether or not they have taken the tutorial. The electronic reserves system provides World Wide Web access to:
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Several faculty are attracted to the electronic reserves system because course materials are available to students via the World Wide Web twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Students in courses that use electronic reserves can find course materials easily, view them, and download them at their convenience. Mutilation of articles cannot occur in the electronic system, and there is never a time when you have to compete for the only existing copy.
Using electronic reserves system software, faculty can provide a chat room and bulletin board space for each course, so that out-of-class discussion can be facilitated via the campus network. The bulletin board can be used to make announcements to the class or as a communication space where students can feel comfortable exchanging ideas or asking questions.
Students can
always find course materials at a World Wide Web-capable workstation using
common browsers such as Netscape Navigator or MicroSoft Explorer.
The electronic reserves service provides one central World Wide Web address
for students
to find and use a variety of course materials. Faculty who have already
designed Web pages can help students find all courses and materials easily
by providing links in the electronic reserves system.
The Libraries
will provide electronic reserves system faculty accounts upon request.
The World Wide Web request form resides at:
http://www.albany.edu/library/forms/eres.html.
A request to the ERes Manager at:
eres@eres.ulib.albany.edu
will also provide
easy electronic access to the account request process. An information packet
is sent along with account
Library staff
are available, by appointment, to provide tutorials and classes to assist
faculty and students to use the electronic reserves software. They will
also provide brief in-class demonstrations of the service for students.
For additional
information or to request a faculty account, tutorial or demonstration,
contact any of the following people to make arrangements: University Library
– Lorre Smith, Librarian for Digital Library Initiatives,
LS973@csc.albany.edu,
442–8021 or Michael Bewsher,
MB93@csc.albany.edu,
442–3609; Dewey Library
– Peter Vonnegut,
dewcir@csc.albany.edu,
442–3369.
FACULTY
ACHIEVEMENTS
Selected notable
achievements of University Libraries’ Faculty between July 1997 and September
1998 include the
following:
GRANTS &
AWARDS
Benedict,
Marjorie
Gifford, Roger
Do It Yourself
The age-old question
about how much access and autonomy to give library users has recently been
answered. The University Library has decided “the more the better.” During
the past year, Circulation Services, Library Systems and the Network Services
Librarian have worked together to provide a variety of new services which
are designed to make it easier for users to use the library and to free
time for library staff to focus on better service to our users, such as
timely response to book and journal delivery requests.
Another recently
implemented new service is the Self-renewal option, available through the
ADVANCE online catalog to all registered borrowers. Library Systems staff
developed a custom program which enables users to renew their own material
online, remotely or from any of the library’s OPAC terminals. For those
faculty members and Ph.D. candidates who want it, the Libraries also offer
a computer generated renewal list which can be filled out and returned
in person or via the mail. Faculty and Ph.D. candidates must choose one
option or the other.
The University’s
Library Home Page also offers two additional new “self-service” options
for our users. After selecting “Library Services” on the Library Home Page,
choose “Request Forms” to request the delivery of material or to place
holds/recalls on circulating items. The Book/Journal Delivery Request form
allows a faculty member or student to have a book or journal article sent
to the campus library which is most convenient. For example, a book that
is housed in the Dewey Library can be delivered to the University Library
or vice versa. Users may also request that a journal article be photocopied
and delivered to the University at Albany library of their choice. (Users
must still pay the photocopying fees of 10¢ per page.)
A second new
Web form, the Hold/Recall Request form, allows a user to have a book that
is checked-out to another person held at the Circulation Desk when it is
returned. Anyone may recall a book from another borrower. The borrower
that has the book will be given two weeks to return it. When the book is
returned, the library notifies the requestor that the book he/she wanted
is available at the Circulation Desk.
As the University
Libraries take advantage of opportunities afforded by technological developments,
we look for ways to make it easier for people to use the library. Our new
services put more control in the hands of the library user and our users
are served faster and more conveniently. An added benefit of these new
services is the time they save for library staff as well.
As we develop
the Libraries’ ADVANCE system and build on the capabilities of the World
Wide Web to provide better library services, we would like to hear from
you, our users. Please tell us what you would like and what we can do to
assist your research and teaching. You can reach me at GB055@csc.albany.edu.
Borrowing
Government Publications
Looking for demographic
information, an analysis of the federal budget deficit, or a history of
the Marines? All this and more is available through the United States Depository
collection at the University Library. The Library was designated a Federal
Depository in 1964 and since that time the collection has grown to more
than 400,000 pieces in paper, microfiche, maps, floppy disks and CD-ROMs.
For the past
decade the Library has been working to both increase and simplify access
to this collection. In 1992, the Libraries purchased cataloging records
for federal documents received after June 1976 and loaded them into the
online catalog (ADVANCE). In 1996, as Internet addresses began appearing
in cataloging records for documents, we made them visible in the brief
catalog record and added a note that indicated this title was available
on the Internet. Most recently we have begun a three-year project to barcode
and link approximately 150,000 federal government documents to facilitate
lending these documents to users.
It has always
been possible to borrow many of the government documents, but it was necessary
to manually fill out a charge card for each piece. Not only was this process
time consuming, it was impossible to tell in ADVANCE whether an item was
checked out or not. Barcoding and linking items within the ADVANCE system
enables users to determine the status of an item by checking ADVANCE. In
addition, users will be able to charge their items out electronically at
the Circulation Desk or the SelfCheck System machine, just as they would
charge out a book. Loan periods for these government documents are the
same as loan periods for books. As part of this project we are security
stripping items as we barcode and link them. This will help to ensure that
the collection will remain intact and available for historical research.
If you have any
questions about this project or about the federal documents collection,
please contact Catherine M. Dwyer, Government Documents Librarian at 442–3549 or cd621@csc.albany.edu.
EDITOR: Dorothy Christiansen
information.
Bernnard, Deborah
F.
Cohen, Laura
B.
Hollingsworth,
Yolanda
http://www.albany.edu/library/internet/boolean.html>,
December 1997.
Juedes, Donald
R.
Kemp, Barbara
Knee, Michael
LaFond, Deborah
M.
Miller, Heather
Stanfill, Nancy
Wachs, Sharona
Williams, Geoffrey
P.
CONFERENCE PAPERS
(National)
Jacobson, Trudi
Place, Judith
Williams, Geoffrey
P.
by Gregory
Baron, Head of Circulation Services
The most visible
new service available at the University Library is the 3M SelfCheck System.
The new system is designed to save time by allowing users to check out
their own books. The SelfCheck System, which works like a bank’s ATM, also
increases efficiency by allowing Circulation staff to assist users with
more involved questions and transactions. As users become more familiar
with the self-check process, they see that it is fast, easy and fun to
use. The SelfCheck System fits in well with users’ busy lives, because
it decreases time spent waiting in lines. Users have responded positively
to the machine, using it to charge out 10,451 books during the past year.
At first skeptical, Circulation staff now embrace the new system, because
they realize that it has enhanced traditional service, not replaced it.
To access the
Self-renewal option via the Net, all a user needs to do is choose “Library
Services” from the ADVANCE main
menu screen, then choose the “Patron Information” option.
At the bottom of the patron information screen choose “Item list” then
“Renew lines(s).” It’s as easy as that. One note of caution, books and
other renewable materials are renewed beginning with the current date,
so it is important not to renew books too early. Remember too, not
all books are renewable. The computer will indicate if the item is non-renewable.
If so, it must be returned to the library.
by Catherine
M. Dwyer, Government Documents Librarian
LIBRARY UPDATE is a semi-annual
newsletter published to inform
faculty about University Libraries'
collections and services. Responses
from readers are very welcome.
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Mary Osielski
DESIGN & DESKTOP PUBLISHING:
Linda Reeves
PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Schmidt