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ALIA-HLA submission to the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission, July 2008

This submission from the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and Health Libraries Australia (HLA) recommends the development of a system-wide, sustainable, national framework for cross-jurisdictional and cross-sectoral cooperation for health libraries to support the education and training of health professionals.

ALIA submission to the Review of the Australian Government’s use of Information and Communication Technology, July 2008

This submission from the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) discusses how government libraries provide a key part of the information management infrastructure of government agencies. In order for public service employees and clients of government agencies to benefit from online information resources an approach is needed to ensure that:
 
a) quality information resources are available cost-effectively to support policy development and program delivery;
b) government information is available to clients, with a single infrastructure for long term access;
c) public libraries have information and skills to fulfill their role supporting community access to government information; and
d) the collaborative infrastructure is used to delivery access to government information collections.

ALIA submission to Inquiry into the effects of the ongoing efficiency dividend on smaller public sector agencies, July 2008

This submission from the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) discusses the immense and valuable contribution that the National Library of Australia (NLA) provides to all Australians. The NLA plays a pivotal and crucial role in the intellectual life of Australia. This role has a direct effect on the economic prosperity and social health of Australia, as well as on the continuing vitality of Australia’s culture and heritage. The value of the National Library and its collections, most especially as a legal deposit collection, is absolutely vital to our democracy.
 
ALIA strongly advocates that the NLA be exempted from the efficiency dividend so that the National Library’s capacity to perform its core functions and to provide leadership in the digital economy is not diminished. The NLA plays a crucial role in promoting the free flow of information and ideas in the interest of all Australians and a thriving culture, economy and democracy.

ALIA-PLA submission to the Australian 2020 Summit, April 2008

This joint submission from the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and Public Libraries Australia addresses the following Summit topics:

  • Economic infrastructure, the digital economy and the future of our cities
  • Future directions for rural industries and rural communities
  • Towards a creative Australia: the future of the arts, film and design

ALIA submission to the 2007 Discussion Paper on the Extension of Legal Deposit, January 2008

This submission from the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) discusses the need for legislation to support the work being done by various agencies including the National Library and the National Film and Sound Archive to archive, preserve and provide access to our cultural heritage for future generations. 
 
The incredibly rapid growth in the delivery of information in electronic formats has left organisations responsible for the preservation of, and access to this information unable to adequately meet their obligations, in part because of the complexity of technological, economic and organisational requirements, but also because the existing deposit legislation is not designed for, or adequate to deal with this new digital environment.
 
There is no requirement that producers of films or musical recordings deposit copies with the National Film and Sound Archive and despite the dedicated work of those in the Archive much material is probably lost.

 

Special libraries directory 2020, 3rd edition

ALIA’s Special Libraries Working Group has put together this directory of special libraries to support collaboration. This directory is an update of the edition published earlier this year, and is not a comprehensive listing, but it does identify like-minded individuals working in similar situations. The aim is to enable people to share non-competitive information, insight, expertise, ideas and resources; to improve the sense of connectedness in a sector with many one-person libraries, and to strengthen special libraries’ advocacy network.

ALIA submission to Regional Telecommunications Review Discussion Paper, December 2007

This joint submission from the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA), Australian Law Librarians Association (ALLA), School Library Association of Victoria (SLAV) and Australian School Library Association (ASLA) supports the provision of high quality and reliable telecommunications in regional areas and the increasingly important role of libraries in supporting the nation through their support of communities.

Nancy Booker Honour Lecture 1998

The Nancy Booker Honour Lecture was instituted by the NSW Group of the Children's and Youth Services as a forum for children's and youth librarians and others concerned with the promotion of high quality children's literature and professional development in the field of children's and youth librarianship. 
 
The 1998 Nancy Booker Honour Lecture was presented by children's librarian Heather Fisher. She was also the recipient of the Marjorie Cotton Award and the ALIA study grant.

The links effect: the laws of attraction, linked data, and the national union catalogues of France and Britain

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
This conference paper outlines the key findings in relation to the differences and similarities of the French and British cases and their implications for an Australian process of linked data conversion, and suggests a best practice for implementing a linked data bibliographical release.
 
Abstract: Collection data locked in library catalogues can be released into the semantic web by transforming it into linked data thereby making it discoverable by anyone, anywhere. National bibliographies, comprising millions of bibliographic records and typically built over decades, contain a prime dataset ripe for transformation and exposure on the web. However, releasing a national union catalogue as linked data opens up a range of policy, procedure, organisational, infrastructure, training, financial, ownership and capacity questions that need to be addressed in order to create a sustainable data future for the national collection.
 
The British and French national libraries released their bibliographies as linked data in 2011, and their experiences provide valuable lessons for libraries considering adopting linked data for national collections. This paper will adopt a comparative approach in identifying the strategic and organisational drivers, enablers, and inhibitors to be considered in transforming a national bibliography into linked data. The study utilised a case analysis framework, with site visits, semi-structured interviews, informal discussions and document analysis employed in identifying and examining the key concepts and challenges involved in converting traditional national bibliographies into linked data platforms.  A comparative analysis of the French and British experiences was undertaken, with specific consideration given to the financial and organisational aspects of the process, in addition to policy and sustainability.

 

Libraries in the digital age

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
This conference paper discusses the opportunities and challenges experienced in developing a contemporary library service in a time of accelerating change.
 
Abstract: During 2016 Woollahra Libraries moved our much loved central Library, beautifully situated in a historic 468sqm house, as well as our Local History centre, housed in a separate building, into a new 2,234 sqm purpose built Library, in the centre of the Double Bay Shopping centre.  The challenge was how to maximise the use of technology into the new Library design to meet high community expectations; improve staff efficiency and effectiveness over three floors whilst still providing excellent customer service; and to ensure the new space allowed flexibility to meet an ever changing library and technological environment.

  • Introduction of a new Library Self Service model
  • Reviewed the hard copy collection size, setting performance standards for each collection and increasing the content of the digital collection
  • Identified available technology to achieve improvements in efficiency for both staff and customers including working with suppliers to develop technological enhancements, where suitable out of the box solutions were not available
  • Reviewed the Local History collection and implemented an ongoing digitisation project for the majority of the collection
  • Identification of community expectation for a state of the art library, what this means and how to implement in both design, application and technology
  • Developed new digital strategies for community engagement, including an online engagement platform, e-newsletter targeting based on reader preferences, social media and improved online experience.
  • Implemented strategies to future proof the Library against further technological and Library focus changes

 
Challenges:

  • Change management of both staff and customers
  • Staff skill level in understanding and applying new technology
  • The long lead time from library planning to completion of project has meant that some of the “new“ technology originally planned is now outdated. This has required us to remain flexible throughout the process and has had implications for design
  • Being the first to implement new technologies and technological advancements has been a time consuming and sometimes difficult process with suppliers.
  • The new Double Bay Library opens on May 28 2016, by the time the conference is held in February 2017 there will be an opportunity  to see how successful the planning and design for the new “state of the art” Double Bay Library has been.

 
Where to now?  What are the digital / technological trends for next 2-5 years and our next challenge is how to ensure that Woollahra Libraries remains at the cutting edge.

Australia Reads: 2020 campaign round up

For the Australia Reads 2020 rebrand we moved towards a fun, friendly and flexible look and feel that would appeal to kids and grown ups alike and allow us to easily pivot towards #AustraliaReadsAtHome during lockdown. The Australian Reading Hour, our major event, was delayed from September to November and all but one live author events were cancelled. The move posed significant challenges, but the three campaigns over the year created months of promotion of the benefits of reading.

Good data bad data: getting ready for linked data

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
[Peer reviewed] This conference paper discusses linked data in academic libraries.
 
Abstract: Linked data in libraries provides opportunities for increased discoverability and reuse and repurposing of content for new applications. The benefits extend beyond libraries, and is being seen increasingly in the cultural, academic, government, and health sectors. This presentation outlines the steps taken to prepare bibliographic records for linked data, and identifies other opportunities for libraries in developing linked data.
 
Libraries have many years of experience in creating and managing data. Legacy data is a valuable resource, but does not integrate well with new standards. To be successful in the new environment, metadata must differentiate between content and carrier, and must enable appropriate links to unambiguously identify entities to expose and leverage correct and relevant relationships. The implementation of RDA and the release of Library of Congress RDA authority records with the recent inclusion of URIs in 024 fields are significant and exciting developments.
 
The University of Sydney Library has approximately 3 million bibliographic records; a large percentage of these are AARC2 and some are AACR1. There are over 1 million Library of Congress authority records, but not all bibliographic records have been through authority control. In order to fill the gaps and to get the data fit for purpose, we decided to kick off by identifying significant and unique categories of resources to put through onsite quality checks followed by authority control and RDA conversion by our offsite vendor. The immediate benefit is more authorised access points and references providing helpful information delivered 24/7 to library clients. More than that, it is preparedness through data cleaning and enhancement to build the backbone of reliable links and better discoverability for the linked data future.
 
Libraries can play other roles to support linked data. They can promote the take up of persistent identifiers such as ORCID, publish their own institutional data in a linked data format for reuse, and ensure linked data capabilities are considered in the development of new library and institutional systems.

APLA-ALIA Standards and Guidelines for Australian Public Libraries, December 2020

In August 2020 the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) on behalf of the Australian Public Library Alliance (APLA) engaged I & J Management Services Pty. Ltd. to update the 2016 Guidelines, Standards and Outcome Measures for Australian Public Libraries. The purpose of the project was to establish national standards and guidelines for public libraries that reflect the evolving role of contemporary public libraries and to better recognise the different circumstances in the eight states and territories, allowing for appropriate local interpretation. The 2020 version was intended to:

  • achieve greater alignment between national and state/territory instruments, through reference to current NSW and Queensland public library guidelines. That is: Standards and Guidelines for NSW Public Libraries, 7th edition, 2020 update; Queensland Public Library Standards and Guidelines, 1 July 2020
  • present appropriately differentiated standards for different library types (by size and location) and present a mix of aspirational standards and minimum expectations
  • reduce duplication of other ALIA and industry standards through appropriate referencing
  • remove the detailed section on Outcome Measures which will now be addressed separately through more comprehensive work being undertaken by APLA
  • provide simpler categorisation and navigation through the standards and guidelines
  • be a ‘living’ document that can be updated more frequently and more quickly to respond to changes in the public library environment

 
This document was superceded by "APLA-ALIA Standards and Guidelines for Australian Public Libraries (May 2021)".

From metadata store to multifunctional research tool: how collaboration is reshaping research repositories

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
[Peer reviewed] This conference paper focuses on how the University of Western Australia (UWA) research repository was repositioned to fulfil a broader role in the University’s strategic research priorities and the forms of collaboration that were undertaken to achieve this.
 
Abstract: At UWA the Research Repository was initially developed within the Library as a tool for capturing and making available specific collections of UWA research outputs. It functioned as an end to itself as opposed to existing within a broader research life cycle and therefore the relevancy to the research community was limited.  Since the implementation of the repository there has been a growing focus within the national research assessment process on demonstrating the societal benefits and quality of publicly funded research. These developments presented the University Library with new challenges and opportunities to repurpose the Research Repository to support the University in this new environment and reposition it to become a more integrated presence in the research life cycle. Achieving this required identifying and building relationships with key stakeholders involved in research support and a collaborative approach to developing and expanding the role of the repository. 
 
This paper is a case study of how the UWA Research Repository was transformed from essentially a metadata store to a new system delivering researcher profiles, open access content, grant information, student supervision data and altmetric tools. It also focuses on the forms of collaboration that were involved in achieving this such as staff swaps, knowledge sharing, taking on new roles and non-traditional Library tasks, joint projects, and formal meetings. We analyse the original research repository project documentation and key stakeholder interviews in order to assess how the UWA Research Repository evolved through engagement with other areas in the University.
 
The collaboration and subsequent expansion of the repository model resulted in the Library and the repository moving beyond their traditional roles of simply providing storage and access to research publications. The resulting UWA Research Repository is relevant and has the buy-in and support of other departments on campus. As a result of this experience, the Library now also provides services and support of recognised strategic importance to the University in areas such as research publication collection and assessment and altmetrics, and is often invited to collaborate on new research support initiatives on campus.
 
Whilst national developments were the main drivers behind the need to expand the role of the UWA Research Repository, it was really the local collaboration and co-operation that resulted in its success and propelled the Library and repository in new and exciting directions. The UWA Research Repository is now seen as a solution on campus and the Library as a key partner in fulfilling the University’s strategic priorities for research. The UWA experience is an example of how collaboration can ensure a repository not only meets its goals, but exceeds them in unexpected ways. 

 

The year of living digitally

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
This conference paper discusses the role of new and emerging technologies in connecting people to library services. 
 
Abstract: Digital technology plays an increasingly major role in our lives. Greater access to information and the sharing of information is making us more informed citizens, giving us more control over our lives and how we create and develop our communities.  We are witnessing a change in the nature of work, people are living longer and healthier lives, and new kinds of tribalism and internationalism are emerging. In 2017, State Library of Queensland (SLQ) is exploring digital citizenship in all its forms through our Signature Program framework – a schedule of events and exhibitions. In partnership with communities and visitors, we are spending the next twelve months connecting, creating and exploring the changing digital nature of our economy, our political processes and our leisure activities. 
 
SLQ is committed to designing and delivering programs and services which, not only connect and engage with audiences, but are genuine collaborations with our audiences. In 2014 SLQ adopted an annual Signature Program framework focusing on a ‘theme’ of interest to the Queensland community through a range of activities, experiences and events. The Signature Program team engages with the community and partners to develop and deliver elements that are scalable and transferable for collaboration with regional communities. In 2017 this team will focus on digital citizenship, exploring meaning and experiences at the personal and state level to engage Queenslanders in conversation with experts and each other.
 
At SLQ we see technology as an enabler not a driver of our services.  We have a role in supporting the community to stay abreast of unprecedented changes resulting from the digitally enabled economy and society.  During our “year of living digitally”, we will engage with audiences to develop capabilities in data visualisation, big data and crowd sourced collaboration. Building on the groundwork laid by the National Year of Digital Inclusion (https://www.godigi.org.au/) and previous innovative SLQ-led projects, such as Tech Savvy Seniors and digital literacy resource kits for public libraries, our events and exhibitions schedule will allow individuals to explore their digital world and comprehend what the new Queensland will look like. SLQ’s aim is to co-create new knowledge and partner with others to undertake and facilitate research, and to support community-based research infrastructure. This paper will report on our planned schedule of engagement, document the community participation so far and invite partnerships and engagement from conference delegates.
 
The “year of living digitally” program explores how technology has given us new tools to question, understand, imagine, and better the world in which we live. The flow of big data and information now generates more economic value than the global goods trade.  Affordable and democratic access to communication technologies has resulted in a burgeoning creativity by diverse global voices. SLQ is leading the way in how libraries can explore the global and local benefits of sharing, disruption and convergence cultures with visitors and audiences.

 

Publication driven data sharing: Changing University of Queensland data sharing culture one paper at a time

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
This conference paper discusses a University of Queensland Library project which aims to source 500 publication related datasets and describe them in the institutional repository (IR) - UQ eSpace.
 
Abstract: The Royal Society Science Policy Centre concluded: “[…] data that underpin a journal article should be made concurrently available in an accessible database”  (2012). This principle is shared by funding bodies worldwide and is supported by a growing number of major publishers (Nature, 2016; PLOS, 2016; The Royal Society, 2016). Many disciplines have subject specific data repositories that align with open data initiatives, such as Dryad and PANGAEA. However, there is a gap in this space which can be partly filled by established institutional repository (IR) services, which offer reliable and robust solutions for publication-related datasets.
 
The Australian National Data Service (ANDS) and the University of Queensland (UQ) Library are collaborating on a project to explore using the IR (UQ eSpace) to store, describe, and share data underpinning UQ publications. Although pockets of researchers within UQ have well established data sharing practices, a data sharing culture has not yet been institutionalised. This project will allow us to capture the research data and provide us with a context for promoting data sharing practices with researchers. The project has two phases: a pilot that will allow us to create processes and gather feedback, and a larger rollout.
 
Our initial contact list of researchers included those who recently published in a journal on the Nature Index list or in a PLOS publication, all of which have a data sharing policy. In collaboration with Client Service Librarians, we use tailored and flexible approaches to contact the different researchers and groups. We have offered to create IR records for existing data, even if they are stored elsewhere (e.g. in Figshare). We have used this opportunity to advertise the IR as an attractive alternative for future data sharing activities.  
 
The project, which will continue to run until mid-2017, has had positive results. By providing a tangible service to meet an identified need we have established UQ eSpace as a useful tool for meeting publisher data sharing requirements. Taking a personalised approach by contacting researchers and groups directly, we were able to gather iterative feedback on our processes and systems, which allowed us to make crucial improvements along the way. 
In conversations with researchers, we have learned about their data sharing practices and pain points, which will inform future Library data management services.
 
So far, we have discovered that by approaching data sharing in this targeted way we have seen positive outcomes—a greater number of discoverable datasets in the IR and an improved data sharing culture. The data sharing landscape is still evolving and there are considerable issues for researchers and institutions to overcome. However, at UQ we have had positive outcomes with this approach to data sharing. It is too soon for the full impact on the University’s data sharing culture to be measured, but through this process we will continue to improve it one publication at a time. 
 

 

Indyreads, a local approach to eContent licensing, aggregation and access

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
This conference paper discusses an investigation into a new public library elending model.
 
Abstract: In late 2015, the State Library of New South Wales (SLNSW) in collaboration with Leichhardt Library and Parramatta City Library embarked on a year-long pilot, called indyreads, to investigate a new elending model. Issues around the availability of ebook titles for elending in Australia and concerns over the prevailing licensing, distribution & pricing models for digital content were prime considerations which informed the development of the pilot. A further impetus for the pilot was the opportunity to work directly with community authors and independent, mid-list and open access publishers to explore ways of making locally important digital content more readily available to readers. indyreads also explored the suitability of the platform for hosting digitised local studies publications including ebooks, oral history recordings and video content from the pilot site collections. ebooks in languages other than English were also purchased.
 
The two pilot libraries utilised an econtent management platform supplied by our technology partner Odilo, to smoothly integrate digital content (ePub, PDF, MP3 & MP4 files) into their online catalogues providing a seamless discovery, access and download experience for their library members. To facilitate the acquisition of econtent from Australian publishers, the SLNSW developed a NSW Public Library Agreement for Purchasing Electronic Content. The agreement creates a framework which supports perpetual access rights, content preservation and accessibility. The agreement stipulates a one copy one loan model as a default with the flexibility to accommodate greater concurrency at the discretion of the rights holder. The agreement also permits segmented content acquisition and shared consortia collections. The platform can apply digital rights management and concurrent access rules in accordance to the terms and conditions negotiated.
 
At the time of submitting this abstract indyreads was mid-way through the trial period and will conclude in October 2016. The initial results have been promising with the platform launched and a growing number of local publishers and authors providing content. The paper will provide a full analysis of indyreads with a specific focus on the technology utilised, the development and application of a new licensing agreement and the establishment of direct partnerships with local publishers and authors for the provision of digital content. Future directions beyond the pilot including the possibility of rolling the initiative out across the state will also be discussed.
 

 

Operational challenges and innovation for national web archiving

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
This conference paper discusses the National Libarary of Australia's web archiving programs.
 
Abstract: Twenty years ago the National Library of Australia (NLA) established one of the first programmes in the world to systematically collect, preserve and make accessible web content. This was a mere half decade after the functional implementation of the web itself. The NLA has continued to build content over the past two decades and now holds large amounts of archived web content – more than 400 terabytes of data in the combined collections of the PANDORA Archive, the Australian Government Web Archive and whole .au domain harvests. The Library built the prototype fit-for-purpose selective web archiving workflow systems (PANDAS) first implemented in 2001 and still operating in its third version. This system has made the collecting, archiving and delivery of Australian web materials a routine activity within the Library’s collection development operation.
 
While collecting web content demands ongoing and timely application to the collecting tasks, efficient workflow systems and established operational activity run the risk of promoting a degree of ‘operational complacency’ – a sense that the job has been done. However, web archiving demands continual strategic attention as well as agility and innovation in practice because of the transforming and dynamic character of the target media – not only in its form and format but in its function conceptualisation.
 
Over the past two years the National Library has entered into a renewed phase of web archiving development. In part this is driven by the need to bring together the Library’s selective and domain harvesting content collected over a long period, but also to make collecting more agile through access to a variety of collecting methods. In part development is also driven by the important strategic objective of integrating the discovery of archived web materials more effectively through its single discovery service, Trove.
 
This paper will discuss the issues – successes and shortcomings – involved in managing a large amount of unique legacy web archive material while continuing to develop and refocus infrastructure, workflows and relationships to effectively manage the collection, curation and archival discovery of this largest and most complex publishing medium. The paper does not present a case closed and ‘problem solved’ conclusion but identifies on the one hand the unique value and opportunities of large curated collections of web materials and, on the other, the limitations and considerable challenges that yet remain.
 
This paper will largely relate to the theme of innovation in practice. Web archiving requires a sustained and sustainable commitment to operational innovation to build large data collections of harvested content and to curate this material so as to facilitate access to the information for the development of knowledge.

 

ALIA New Generation Advisory Committee: Report on the 2020 COVID-19 survey results

In June 2020, Australia had faced its first lockdown and in many parts of the country we were starting to adapt to the ‘new normal’. The New Generation Advisory Committee (NGAC) noticed an apprehension among new professionals during two #AusLibChats. The May topic for #AusLibChat was Housebound and the June topic was Mindfulness. During both chats it was clear from the tweets that people were struggling to find peace during these stressful times. Many who were casuals lost their jobs. Others looking for employment were voicing their dismay at the lack of opportunities.

The NGAC composed a survey titled, “How has COVID-19 affected the careers of emerging GLAM professionals?” This report provides an insight into the experiences, opinions, and feelings of new generation professionals on how COVID-19 had, or was currently, affecting their careers.

Publish long and prosper: using new technologies to create the researcher of the future

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
This conference paper explores the Australian National University Library’s (ANU Library) innovative use of technology to develop a Small Private Online Course (SPOC) designed to help learners confidently navigate and achieve success in the rapidly changing global scholarly publishing landscape. 
 
Abstract: You have heard of MOOCS, now meet the more agile version. Hear how it can be created using innovative technologies (Padlet and Wikipages) to build modules that bring national and international presentations into a holistic program. Based on user research from ANU Yale and Oxford, the ANU Library identified the need for better support of Higher Degree and Early Career Research communities, along with the early career academic to be scholarly communication literate. The SPOC takes learners through a set of linked capabilities to produce a publish ready scholar. The SPOC was built with extensive user consultation using an agile model. Not only were users the test community, they are also the presenters adding a new dimension. The program taps into skills of national and international leaders, building on digital learning and MOOC research. The fundamental theory is constructivist learning which combined with CX gives a strong innovative approach to the use of the technologies.
 
The first module produced was quality publishing. It introduced publication ethics, peer review and copyright. All modules supports multi-modal learning, enriched by discussions and quizzes. Learners have the opportunity to self-assess and to learn from their peers. This collaborative and innovative project affords learners a unique opportunity to hear from local and global publishing experts and to draw on their knowledge of the issues present in the international scholarly publishing world. An essential element of learning is the engagement with ANU postgraduate students is the identification of sense of community as an essential, the ANU Library facilitates this through interactive sessions with conversations on Twitter for learners who are unable to attend in person; peer-to-peer learning; a Q&A student panel on copyright and third party rights.
 
The SPOC project demonstrates that libraries can bring new theories, technologies and international outreach to the digital environment. A key is collaboration between key stakeholders and student learning communities. University libraries are recognised for their role in literacy and learning. This project takes the principles applied in a library learning environment to an international audience creating knowledge of the range of issues in scholarly communication. , As employers and government call for more digitally literate graduates, this program will deliver capabilities that support research, digital and publishing capabilities idea for future scholars, policy makers and contributors of society around the globe. The ANU Library aims to achieve these capabilities through the creation of this unique resource enabling transformational learning which contributes to researchers’ scholarly communication and publishing knowledge and successful careers.

 

 

Research in the name of the law: creating a legal resource ‘One Stop Shop’ and case law database for Queensland police prosecutors

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
[Peer reviewed] This conference paper discusses the development of a case law database for Queensland police prosecutors.
 
Abstract: What can you get when you mix a time-poor police prosecutions unit, a team of committed librarians and a technology initiative dedicated to improving prosecution practice and efficiency? As QPS Library Services has discovered, actually, many great things! In partnership with the Queensland Police Service (QPS) Prosecution Corps, Library Services has redeveloped an existing information portal into a ‘one stop shop’ for all police legal resources, including a custom-made case law database which enables information access and sharing across prosecution units. This paper will share the story of our partnership with the QPS Prosecution Corps, and the evolution of the Case Law Database as a statewide data and information tool.
 
Since 1991, QPS Library Services has enjoyed a close working relationship with the QPS Prosecution Corps, providing information resources, research services and training support. There are around 270 prosecutors across Queensland, handling approximately 95% of all criminal matters in the Queensland Magistrates Courts. The prosecutors work in a busy environment that is unpredictable and time sensitive. They rely on experience, informed practice and research to guide their decision making. This is where Library Services is able to provide the most support. Since the advent of the QPS ProsTech Initiative in 2013, we have been able to leverage off an increased connection to technology in order to provide greater access to information at point of need.
 
The ProsTech Initiative was developed by QPS Legal Services to investigate new capabilities for prosecutors within the court room, including secure access to QPS systems utilising the Queensland Government’s Public Safety Network. The first stage of the initiative saw a rollout of laptops to prosecutors throughout the state to enable mobile access to information and systems wherever they may be. Working in partnership with the ProsTech project team, Library Services developed a ‘one stop shop’ for prosecutors: a single point of access for legal resources, case law, reference materials, manuals and more. The ‘one stop shop’ enables seamless access to legal information resources via QPS laptops from within the court room, a functionality not available to police prosecutors in other states.
 
As part of the ‘one stop shop’, a customised in-house database of frequently used legal cases was also created using the Library’s SirsiDynix Symphony and Enterprise software. Cases were hand-picked for inclusion by Library staff and QPS prosecutors across the state and catalogued by a dedicated librarian over a 1 year period. The Case Law Database currently holds over 1000 cases with metadata specifically of interest to QPS Prosecutors. It has allowed for a huge knowledge gap to be filled as it includes cases not available in other commercial databases. It has also enabled greater information and knowledge sharing across regional units, while preventing duplication of resources and potential breaches of copyright by individual teams saving copies of case law locally.
 
The ProsTech Initiative, including the ‘one stop shop’, was a finalist in the QPS 2015 Awards for Excellence. 

The new UX at State Library Victoria

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
This conference paper examines the thinking and planning behind the re-imagined SLV, including developments to the physical spaces, external drivers for change, and the impacts these changes will have both for people using the Library as well as for the staff working in it.
 
Abstract: State Library Victoria (SLV) has a proud history of innovating and adapting to change throughout its 160 years. In the latest reinvention, SLV has embarked on a major 5-year building redevelopment project. The $83m capital works project will see key heritage spaces transformed, restored and in some case reopened to the public for the first time in decades. The project will see the development of new library spaces, services and programs targeted at specific user groups, including children and families, and start-ups and SMEs. Running concurrently with the capital works project, SLV is redesigning its strategy, operations, service model and workforce plan. This organisational transformation is responding to shifts in community expectations of 21st century libraries, powered by the growing focus on the knowledge and creative economy, and ongoing digital disruption.
 
This paper will look at the opportunities and challenges in refreshing an established and well-loved institution to ensure it is relevant and contemporary for a diverse range of users and stakeholders now and in the future. We will give a behind-the-scenes view into running a project of this scale, from getting it off the ground and securing funding, through to the competing priorities given consideration in the planning and design stages, and initiating project management and procurement. We will delve into some of the pragmatic issues we are tackling to prepare for operating a reimagined library service.
 
While still in the middle of the project, we have many useful reflections and learnings to date that will give an insight into the many facets of a project of this scale and complexity. At the ALIA Online Conference 2015, we shared our findings from our Future Service Model project. This paper builds on those findings and takes them to the next stage of implementation. The State Library Victoria is on an exciting path of setting its future direction and exploring new frontiers. This paper will share some of our journey so far.

 

Professional Pathways: The future of library and information science (LIS) professional recognition in Australia

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Professional Pathways Initiative seeks to ensure a diverse, valued and supported library and information workforce into the future – read more at professionalpathways.alia.org.au.
 
On 30 November 2020, ALIA started the initiative with the Professional Pathways consultation draft for comment. This document for discussion outlined the preliminary aims of the project as developed through consultation with more than 450 a participants. The Project has developed from this initial consultation based on the feedback and additional evidence gathering activities, however this document is a useful point in time snapshot to aid an historic understanding of the project. 
 

An enterprise approach to research outputs collection, management and reporting at the University of South Australia: collaborating to innovate

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
[Peer reviewed] This conference paper discusses a project by the University of South Australia to develop a system to manage research ouputs.
 
Abstract: The challenge of ensuring that research outputs are captured in a timely manner, academics are not frustrated with administrative processes and using powerful tools such as ORCiD to their full advantage is one faced by all universities. Coupled with senior managers’ increasing information needs to use research outputs data to answer key questions such as ‘who should we be collaborating with?’ adds additional pressure for streamlined whole-of-university processes, often when different areas work at cross-purposes. Through an intentional ‘one team’ collaboration between Library, Business Intelligence and Planning, Information Strategy and Technology Services, Research and Innovation Services, and Human Resources teams, UniSA has managed to support schools and academics to deliver enhanced end‐user services and to introduce efficiencies across the organisation with the support of the Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research and Innovation. The benefits of this approach have led to the following in a time period of only 18 months:
 

  • the creation of the Collection of Research Outputs (CRO) online submissions and management system for all UniSA research outputs including journal articles, books and book chapters, conference papers, reports, patents, creative works, and Higher Degree and Masters by Research theses. CRO is currently harvesting 70% of all journal articles
  • widespread adoption of ORCiDs
  • output metadata being sufficiently complete and of high quality to automatically populate new design publicly-available staff home pages
  • significantly increased compliance with UniSA’s Open Access Policy which has required Library staff to develop new workflows to support post‐print lodgement into the University’s institutional Research Outputs Repository (ROR)
  • a more complete and up to date source of data to support Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research and Innovation’s desire to introduce measures of research productivity, which in some cases, will report and benchmark performance on outputs not necessarily included in statutory reporting requirements
  • integration of citation counts and Altmetrics, and affiliation and collaboration metadata into staff home pages, staff performance reports and ROR pages.

 
The project leveraged existing enterprise systems including Appian business process management workflow software, the Alma library management solution and vendor APIs. The system delivers academics automated weekly notifications of new research outputs harvested from Scopus and Web of Science. Academics then either claim or reject the output and upload the post-print where applicable. Academics are also able to use a DOI lookup or manually submit publication details. The development of the new Repository discovery interface was informed by stakeholders and the display also includes additional citation details, funding, and linked research datasets. A comprehensive whole‐of‐university communications plan (including support resources) was executed with capability building sessions delivered by Library and other staff. The system has been in operation since August 2015 and initial uptake has exceeded expectations with academics quickly adapting to and engaging with the new process. Typically, academics claim outputs within a week of notification and the average time for a researcher to review and finalise an output is under five minutes. 

 

Crowd-sourced curriculum-alignment data: a survey of school libraries and proof-of-concept

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
[Peer reviewed] This conference paper examines the results of a survey investigating teacher librarian attitudes towards curriculum resource alignment and crowd sourced metadata.
 
Abstract: Teacher librarians (TLs) are ideally placed to meet resource needs for Australian teachers and students, but have an expressed need for greater support in matching (or ‘aligning’) local and online resources to educational objectives such as those specified in the Australian Curriculum (eg Softlink 2014). This kind of alignment has been identified as being a crucial ingredient for improved student outcomes. Education Services Australia (ESA) has aligned digital resources to the Australian Curriculum since 2011. The Schools Catalogue Information Service (SCIS) is a business unit of ESA that creates and distributes MARC records to 93% of Australian school libraries. Whilst SCIS has not traditionally provided curriculum-alignment data, it is investigating how this might be done to best meet the needs of schools and fit TL workflows whilst being viable in terms of associated costs and resources. In his discussion of evaluator-driven alignment, Chadwick (2016) identified that TLs were well suited for making resource alignment judgements. Whilst doing this work within their own collection may benefit their school community, ESA is interested in the potential for TLs to create alignment data collectively. The viability of this is likely to depend on factors including TL motivation and capacity, and technical infrastructure for collating such data. 
 
This paper describes an online survey of 586 school library staff, conducted by ESA between 1 February and 11 March 2016. The survey examined TL attitudes towards resource alignment, the current alignment practices occurring in libraries, and TL opinions towards crowd-sourced alignment metadata. A large majority of respondents felt that alignment data would benefit both the school and the library. However, there was less support for alignments generated by other TLs than there was for alignments generated by an agency such as SCIS. It was important to respondents that resources were aligned to appropriate learning areas and year levels, and strong preferences were expressed for some learning areas over others. A possible mechanism for collecting and distributing crowd-sourced alignment metadata is presented in the form of a widget installed on the SCIS Voyager catalogue. By saving teacher time and directing students to a range of quality resources that directly target national learning priorities, this work has the potential to improve the position of school libraries as key players in whole-of-school delivery of curriculum-based teaching and learning. 
 

 

Painting with feedback

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
This conference paper discusses the management of public library user feedback.
 
Abstract: State Library of Queensland (SLQ) is committed to providing welcoming and engaging experiences for all visitors. To meet this commitment requires understanding from our visitors’ perspectives so in April 2014, State Library of Queensland implemented Tell us, a centralised visitor feedback database. This tool, managed by the Visitor Experience team, allows us to gather, analyse and respond to complaints, compliments, suggestions and comments from multiple channels. These channels include online forms, comment cards and verbal feedback. As a result, SLQ has greater visibility and awareness of our visitors’ needs and expectations. By analysing the feedback data, we have been able to identify changes and improvements to what we do and how we do it.
 
This paper will report on the successful collection and analysis of data via the Tell us database. This case study will also include data from our slightly whimsical Happiness touchscreen exit poll which was available in our Reception foyer from July 2015. In particular, this paper will explore the next stage of implementation – the reporting of collated feedback back to our visitors. In the interests of transparency and visitor engagement, the Visitor Experience team is aiming to close the feedback loop by presenting data about the feedback we receive and the changes we have undertaken in response back to our visitors. To do this, we are exploring how to communicate feedback responses via social media, traditional media channels and digital signage. This paper will report on our progress with making this feedback data accessible and comprehensible to visitors. It will also discuss the challenges associated with communicating responses to feedback. This paper is relevant to the theme of Data and information discovery as we outline how we are making data accessible and comprehensible and examine opportunities to create dialogue with our visitors.

 

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