Paula Morrison E-Resource Efficiency. What are electronic resources? An electronic resource is any information source that the library provides access.

Paula Morrison

E-Resource Efficiency

What are electronic resources?

An electronic resource is any information source that the library provides access to in an electronic format.

The library has purchased subscriptions to many electronic information resources in order to provide staff and students access to them free of charge.

E-resources include electronic journals, online databases and electronic books.

Aim, Scope & Objectives of ProjectAim– Examine the possibility of replacing the current manual PC log on system with an

automated one as a means of freeing up staff time to focus on creating awareness and understanding of e-resources available via the LRC webpages

Scope– Research into student and staff awareness and usage of e-resources– Research into options for creating more awareness of e-resources

Objectives– Implement automated PC log on system by December 2014– Increase awareness of e-resources amongst staff and students by June 2015– Raise the standard of work submitted by SERC students, due to the higher number of

students referencing e-resources, to be measured via exam results and external verifiers reports

– Enhance the student experience, to be measured via the reduction in negative comments made within the Student Satisfaction Survey 2014/15

Electronic library

Justification• New PC Log on system: queues at enquiry desk

due to manual log on system• Bring SERC in line with other HE providers and

match industry standards• Best method of freeing up staff• E-resources: Digital Era requirement• Lack of awareness of full portfolio of e-resources• Low usage statistics therefore small return on

investment in e-resources• External examiner’s report are requesting it

Justification continued..• Requirement by external examiners, the 2014

Foundation Degree in Sport external examiner’s report stated that:

‘there was an explicit requirement for students to present empirical evidence to support their

argument, with appropriate source information provided, correctly formatted. Students are somewhat restricted in the availability of online resources (access to journal articles)'.

Justification continued…

• LRC required to provide a ‘high quality and efficient public service’ (Programme for Government 2011-15)

• Intro of automated system will provide a ‘creative and innovative solution’ to prevent long queues to log onto PCs (College Development Plan, 2014-2017)

• ‘Flexible approach to learning through the use of technologies’ (FEMB, Feb 2004) both in College and at home

• The LRC must ‘ensure that there is an appropriate range and quantity of good quality learning resources…which are managed effectively to meet the needs of the learners’ (IQ:RS ‘Improving Quality: Raising Standards Section 3.4)

• High number of students travelling long distances to College

E-resources 24/7

Do you have access to a PC and internet at home?0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

YES

NO

Internet Access

Almost half of our students are not attending their nearest Campus

Research

Online Staff Survey - OneDrive

Online Student Survey – OneDrive

2013/14 Student Satisfaction Survey

GIS

Interviews with SERC Head of MILT, Systems Developer

Interview with Head of Library Services at QUB

Telephone research with Colleges in England and Wales

Student Survey

17%

42%

24%

10%

7%

Which resources have you accessed?

Moodle

e-books

PC/Printer

e-journals/databases

printed resources

Staff Survey

40%

30%

20%

5%5%

Which resources have you accessed?

All electronic resources

e-books

Journals

Databases

Videos

Available OptionsOption 1

Replacement of labour intensive manual PC log on

system with fully automated PC log on system in order

to free up existing staff to focus on creating awareness

of LRC electronic resources

Option 2

Employ additional staff (subject librarians) to carry out e-resource

information sessions

Option 3

Do nothing

Why choose Option 1

Implementation of fully automated system will:– Bring services available at SERC’s LRC in line

with industry standard– Free up existing staff to focus on creating

awareness of e-resources– Minimal cost attached (£4k)

Impact of projectEnd to queues at enquiry desk

Students will become more self-sufficient

Fewer negative comments in the Student Satisfaction Survey

Return on annual investment of £20k by LRC in e-resources

Higher standard of work submitted by students due to referencing of e-resources

Gaps in portfolio of e-resources will be identified

Students will save time/money avoiding long journeys into College

LRC will mirror College values of being ‘solutions focused, excellence driven, responsive and collaborative

Changing role of the LRC Assistant

Transition in mindset of staff and students at SERC as to role of LRC Assistant

How will LRC staff create awareness of e-resources?

Tailored information sessions will commence in January 2015 to HOS and staff delivering FE and HE programmes

Information sessions on specific e-resources will begin in January 2015 within LRCs and classrooms

Information session topics/days/times will be communicated to staff and students by email, student intranet, text, posters and College plasma screens

If project does not go ahead?LRC will not generate a return on 20k investment

Staff and students will remain unaware of the portfolio of e-resources

LRC will not be fully supportive of the work of the Curriculum

We will fall behind industry standards and therefore not contribute to the College’s drive to ‘be recognised as a world class provider of Further Education’

SERC will not address recommendations of external examiners reports

Standard of work by College students remains static

Recommendations for the future

Installation of 4 x self serve kiosks to further

free up staff time (£5k per Unit)

This will enable students to:

Self-sufficiently issue and renew multiple

books, pay fines, request books, view

account histories.

Recommendations for the future

Log on system: App for pre-booking PCs & ability by students to see waiting queues so that they are aware when a PC becomes free

Decrease in the demand for the printed word will result in less space required to store books, enabling more workstations to be created for students wishing to bring their own devices

Improve Wi-Fi within the 4 LRCs to encourage students to bring their own devices

Workshops for students who wish to bring in their own devices eg ‘How to download e-books onto your iPad?’

Paperless environment – when the stacks disappear?

Any Questions?