Live notes, so an incomplete, partial record of what actually happened.
Tags: oxlib15
My asides in {}
Stella Butler, Opening Address
What does it mean to be a research library?
Collections are the heart of the library. But what does a collection mean today? The idea of all our collection lasting in perpetuity is gone - see subscriptions to resources. Book are borrowed less and therefore less prominent in how a collection conceptualised.
LIS architecture will need interoperability to accommodate the various functions, collections, and responsibilities of libraries.7
If we don't improve we will seem sluggish compared to Google, Wikipedia, et cetara. We need ease of use.
Andrew Green, The Future of Research Libraries
Even in 1975 digital world was beginning to poke it's nose into the academic research library - academic libraries felt the impact of the digital before other parts of the university, and at that time libraries were the adopters/gatekeepers of technology in the institution. The latter held sway probably into this century...
WWW gives students and staff an operational independence from the library, they can - and do - bypass the information streams coming out of the library. This can shake the confidence of librarians and reduce the standing of libraries in HE.
Common collections. University libraries once had to duplicate between them as local access only option. Today, common collections of print collections loosing visibility, momentum accelerated by librarians packing them off to stores. Electronic resources far more visible and massive growth (it is, almost entirely, where knowledge and scholarly comms happens). SCONUL 2013 electronic resources account for ~70% of library collection spend. Collections are thus there to serve immediate needs, which is a shift in conceptualisation of collections.
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Andrew Green focusing on diminishing role staff play in 'common collections' - increased focus on #infolit, copyright, user needs #oxlib15
— Liz McCarthy (@mccarthy_liz) July 21, 2015
Unique or distinctive collections. RLUK report [http://www.rluk.ac.uk/work/rlukudc/](Unique and Distinctive Collections: opportunities for research libraries) worth a read. Libraries should cherish this collections and use them to help the library and institution a special flavour, attractiveness. Challenges: visibility; staffing (or new types of staffing who aren't closed by nature, obsessed with cataloguing et al); more digital people in libraries who closely collaborate with researchers.
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>The best special collections research starts with a conversation between a library specialist and a researcher - Andrew Green #oxlib15
— Charlie Lythgoe (@maniccharlie) July 21, 2015
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>.@NLWales hired professor of digital collections - does lack of professor/research posts hinder UK librarians? It's normal in USA! #oxlib15
— Liz McCarthy (@mccarthy_liz) July 21, 2015
Appealing to a wider audience through distinctive collections is a proper aim of a research library: local aspect; reach; must demonstrate relevance outside of the academy;
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>YES: Andrew Green suggests even research libraries should be appealing to wider audiences #oxlib15
— Liz McCarthy (@mccarthy_liz) July 21, 2015
but this is hard while safeguarding responsibility to local students and researchers.
Karen Blackman, Google: The answer to life, the universe and everything {Lec 3}
@karenblakeman, RBA Information Services
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Next up for me: @karenblakeman on Google - the answer to life, the universe & everything? (& the implications...) #oxlib15
— Liz McCarthy (@mccarthy_liz) July 21, 2015
Google basis its notion of fact on repetition of knowledge in various places. Google uses AI to build search results and present useful material. So we need to search judiciously, follow up on sources of information.
Hilla Wait & Laura Cracknell, Tablets {Lec 2}
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>#oxlib15 I'm in an introduction to tablets. I don't need an intro to tablets. I'm here to glean ideas for introducing the stuff I introduce.
— James Baker (@j_w_baker) July 21, 2015
{what makes a good intro: big bold slides/words; perhaps ask people what they need/want/care about?}
Haiku Deck - deck builder with cleared licences
Martin Poulter, Adventures in Wiki World: harnessing pedantry for peaceful ends {Lec 2}
Wikimedia lowers the barrier to being a knowledge philanthropist
WikiSource. Place for transcribed/fixed text that people can then find and therefore know about someone you care about and have holdings related to.
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>#oxlib15 @mlpoulter extolling the virtues of the wonderful @wikisource, the free library that anyone can improve https://t.co/6mbA516Eaw
— James Baker (@j_w_baker) July 21, 2015
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>#oxlib15 And yes, 'anyone can improve' is a good thing. And 'anyone' could/should/must(?) include library folk.
— James Baker (@j_w_baker) July 21, 2015
There is a satisfaction in seeing something messy and sorting it out.
James Baker {Lec 1}
My notes and deck for talk Library Users of the Future... Or, projecting outward from that fringe of researchers we struggle to support today.
Jan Wilkinson, Leadership & Embedding a Culture of Innovation {Lec 1}
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Different professionalisations are needed in modern libraries to traditional staffing models. #oxlib15 #ToughButFair
— Anna James (@superteadrinker) July 21, 2015
How to get from good to great?
Market Intelligence - finding out the brutal truth about what is going well and what is going wrong with core services.
Strategy - bottom up understanding of needs from students through 'Eureka' challenge for students to come up with ideas. Gameification of library services. Projects that allows students to book ahead. Click and collect.
Culture - get away from being servants to academic masters; creating an environment where risks can be taken; openness over why we do things like we do them.
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Librarians need to speak up and challenge in meetings rather than not then grumble later! #oxlib15
— Anna James (@superteadrinker) July 21, 2015
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Really refreshing to hear about what sounds like quite a dramatic cultural change in working practices at U of Manchester Library #oxlib15
— Liz McCarthy (@mccarthy_liz) July 21, 2015
Libraries don't have to be places that just develop librarians.
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Usual focus on broader skills needed. What's balance between learning frm other sectors vs MLIS programmes stepping up their game? #oxlib15
— Liz McCarthy (@mccarthy_liz) July 21, 2015
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