LIBRARIES IN DIGITAL AGE * * * INTERUNIVERSITY CENTRE DUBROVNIK, May 2000 Providing content on the Internet Dr. Sanda Erdelez Graduate School of Library.

LIBRARIES IN DIGITAL AGE * * * INTERUNIVERSITY CENTREDUBROVNIK, May 2000

Providing content on the Internet

Dr. Sanda Erdelez

Graduate School of Library and Information Science

University of Texas at Austin

serdelez@gslis.utexas.edu

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

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)

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)

Why provide content on the Web?

• To provide service to users.

• To show others what you have.

• Because everyone else is there.

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

What is important to know about the users?

• Their needs and interests

• The level of their information and information technology literacy

• Their access capabilities

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

Quality of ContentReengineering criteria that are used to

promote information literacy on the Web• Establishing authority• Accuracy• Objectivity• Currency• CoverageAdapted from Alexander, J. E. & Tate, M. A.Web Wisdom,

Web Wisdom (1999)

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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?