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Public Library Networking

Sarah Ormes

Public Library Networking Research Officer

UKOLN

http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/

Email: s.l.ormes@ukoln.ac.uk

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Today and Tomorrow

•Current situation• services• national policy

•Future developments• possible services

•Ways forward

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Current Situation in UK Libraries•74% of library authorities have an Internet connection

•9% of libraries have an Internet connection

•5% of public libraries provide public access

•Majority connect via dial-up or over council networks

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What Do The Statistics Mean?

•Services vary greatly• Dependent on local vision• Dependent on local finances

•Low staff awareness

•Erratic training levels

•But lots of enthusiasm

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Actual Services

•Reference library use

•Public access Internet services

•Catalogues online

•Community information online

•Public library web sites

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Reference Library Use

•An new reference resource• CLIP (Croydon Libraries Internet

Project)

•E-mail in reference questions• Individual libraries• Ask A Librarian

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Public Access Internet Services•Service provider varies

• Library run• Coynet• Input/Output

•Charges vary

•Policies vary• Filtered or not filtered

•Mainly for adults

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Catalogues Online

•Very common in academic libraries but still very rare in public libraries

•How interactive is?• Can you reserve books?• Can you view your library record?

•How useful are web catalogues really?

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Community Information Online•Making the database web accessible

•Croydon Online - developing web pages for the local community

• Businesses• Schools• Local clubs

•Project CIRCE

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Public Library Web sites

•Majority are• static• unimaginative• online leaflets

•Not controlled by the library

•There are exceptions to the rule though

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Leeds Online

•Council wide information

•Interactive and dynamic

•Local history photos•searchable archive•webcards•videos•chatboard

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New Library: The People’s Network

•A timely vision • content driven• scenario led

•Importance of training

•New Library briefing pack

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Outcomes

•Gaining Government’s ear• All public libraries (where practical)

connected by 2002

•Re-direction of lottery money• £50 million for content• £20 million for training • Possibly for books and infrastructure

too

•Wolfson money

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Other Policies To Consider

•National Grid for Learning

•Green paper on Lifelong Learning

•Cross sectoral collaboration

•Regional developments

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Lifelong Learning Centre

•Access point to online education and training

•New forms of collaboration with other sectors

•The use of public library material in digital learning packages

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Public Access Services

•A routine service

•Training classes provided by librarians

•Used by the public to•do research•book holidays•interact with government•talk to gorillas

•A free service?

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Children’s Services

•Providing access to validated resources•Working with schools electronically•Using electronic resources to promote literature services

• Stories From the Web

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Content Led Services?

•More public information online

•Local history and local studies collections digitised

• working regionally• working with other sectors

•Literature services developed• Online bookshops already doing it

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The 24 Hour Library

•Moving the library out of its building• Not just a catalogue• Access to databases via web pages• Taking content off the shelves and

onto the network

•Improving services• More effective outreach

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The Future - Part One

•Should 100% connectivity (where possible) the only aim?

• The American experience suggests not

•Sometimes painful re-assessment of aims and priorities

•New staff skills required

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The Future - Part Two

•Funding from new sources• Commercial partnerships• Cross-sectoral partnerships• Public library partnerships (EARL)

•Developing a wider vision• Regionally• Culturally