Library Automation and Digital Libraries

Class #5

LBSC 690

Information Technology

Agenda

• Questions

• System Analysis

• Library automation– What do libraries do?– How can computers be used?– What issues arise?

Applying Technology to Large Problems

• System analysis– How do we know what we need?

• User-centered design– How do we discern and satisfy user needs?

• Implementation– How do we build it?

• Management– How do organizations use technology?

Systems Analysis

• First steps:– Understand the task

• Limitations of existing approaches

– Understand the environment• Structure of the industry

• Then identify the information flows– e.g., Serials use impacts cancellation policy

• Only then can you design a solution

Library Activities

• What do libraries do?– Which of those things benefit from automation?

Library Activities

• Collection statistics

• Acquisition– Including serials

• Cataloging

• Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC)

• Circulation

• Reserve, recall, fines, interlibrary loan, reference, weeding, budget, etc.

• Preservation

Analyze the Information Flows

• Where does information originate?– Might come from multiple sources– Feedback loops may have no identifiable source

• Which parts should be automated?– Some things are easier to do without computers

• Which automated parts should be integrated?

• What other systems are involved?– And what information do they contain?

User-Centered Design• Start with user needs

– Who are the present and future users?– How can you understand their needs?

• Evaluate available technology– Off-the-shelf solutions– Custom-developed applications

• Implement something

• Evaluate it with real users

Implementation Requirements

• Availability– Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)– Mean Time To Repair (MTTR)

• Capacity– Number of users for each application– Response time

• Flexibility– Upgrade path

System Architecture

• Batch processing– Save it up and do it all at once

• Useful for recall notices, management reports, ...

• Timesharing– Everyone uses the same machine

• Simple but expensive design, limited upgrade path

• Client-Server

• Peer to peer

Client-Server Systems

• Divide the workload– Between client and server– Across several servers

• Several advantages– Easier upgrade path

• More machines, different division of work

– Higher availability• Put the same data on several servers

• Examples: Z39.50, the Web

Peer-To-Peer Networks

• Every machine can be a client or a server

• Goal: Use available CPU cycles anywhere– Requires a network and a coordination strategy

• Challenging in a heterogeneous environment– A common “reference architecture” is needed– Java is a step in that direction

• Centralized data management still common– Simplifies coordination

Management Issues• Retrospective conversion

– Even converting electronic information is expensive

• Management information– Peak capacity evaluation, audit trails, etc.– Sometimes costs more to collect than it is worth!

• Staff training

• End user training

• Privacy

Library Automation Summary

• Systems analysis– Required for complex multi-person tasks

• User-centered design– Based on user needs assessment

• Implementation– Client-server systems are the present trend

• Management– An essential link in the chain

Digital Libraries

• A library with digital devices?– OPACs, CDROMs, online search services, ...

• A library with digital content?– Programs, data files, digitized media, ...

• Digital content organized like a library?– Collection policy, cataloging, access, preservation

• Something we can’t quite express?– What happens when content meets network ...– Traditional library as a metaphor

Characteristics of Digital Objects

• Perfect reproduction– Copies are as good as the original

• Inexpensive and rapid distribution– Anywhere on the planet

• Compact storage– Measured in rooms, not buildings

• Easily searched– With retrieval and browsing strategies

Problems with Digital Media

• Display technology is generally inadequate– Many tasks are easier on paper than on a screen

• Acquisition and cataloging costs are inverted– Cataloging can dominate the life cycle cost!

• Some traditional cues are missing– Shiny new book vs dog-eared pages, ...

Access to Digital Materials

• End user searching– Retrieval and browsing

• Expert human intermediation– Reference service, information brokering

• Emergent behavior– Recommender systems

The Research Agenda

• Create the technology– NSF Digital Library Initiative I

• Digitize the content– NDL, NAIL, BLS, performing arts library, ...

• Develop the process– NSF Digital Library Initiative II

• Build the systems– Industry