Many thanks to our delegates for making us a trending topic on Twitter at #ILI2010!
Getting more librarians published
Why aren’t more academic librarians publishing articles and books?
At Internet Librarian International, Helen Fallon (National University of Ireland, Maynooth) and Sharon Bostick (University of Missouri, Kansas City) talked about the evolution of the blog academicwritinglibrarian. It provides a collaborative platform to encourage librarians to write, publish and share insights and feedback
SerialsSolutions Breakfast at ILI
The networking started early on day 2 of Internet Librarian International as delegates gathered for the SerialsSolutions Summon focused breakfast and to hear a short presentation from Graham Stone of University of Huddersfield.
Public Libraries in Finland – where did it all go right?
Imagine a world where:
- Library issues per capita are increasing
- Annual state grants support the development of web services and other innovative library services
- Public libraries have a central role in facilitating the networked knowledge society and linking citizens to information
- Legislation ensures a level of professionalism in all public library staff
- Libraries and library policy have top level political support
At Internet Librarian International 2010, Babro Wigell-Ryynanen painted a compelling picture of the success of the public library service in Finland. The library’s role in supporting community and citizenship is a foundation of this success. The user is placed at the centre of all library thinking and this is what ensures a range of innovative services and new ways of using library spaces and collections.
For more information visit the tri-lingual sites www.minedu.fi or www.libraries.fi
Joining the Debate at Internet Librarian International
Information Today Europe eNews will be blogging from Internet Librarian International this week. The conference kicked off last night with a drinks reception sponsored by SLA Europe and Infotrieve where there was lots of debate around using social media to ‘amplify’ conferences in order to involve those who are unable to attend. We’ll be reporting on the hot topics and key issues on this blog and website so join in the debate here!
UK Medical Students Issued with iPhones for Study Purposes
The University of Leeds has announced that it is issuing smartphones to all fourth and fifth year medical students. The iPhones will provide access to progress files, assessment modules and educational materials.
According to the University, this is the first time a UK medical school has provided undergraduates with all the tools they need to study off campus via mobile phone technology.
520 medical students will be loaned an iPhone 3GS 16GB for the remainder of their course. The phones will be pre-loaded with a range of apps that will enable students to record notes on interesting cases whilst still on the wards, and test their knowledge of procedures they have just observed. Key medical textbooks and reference works, including guidelines on administering prescription drugs, will also be distributed as iPhone apps. A range of other relevant medical apps that can be downloaded free-of-charge or purchased will also be available.
Students will not be able to use the devices to access confidential patient databases and any case notes added to progress files will be anonymised. Lost or stolen phones will be wiped and disabled remotely. All devices are to be returned to the medical school before students graduate.
“Patient safety has been our primary aim in this development,” said Dr Richard Fuller, Director of the University of Leeds MBChB course. “By linking workplace learning and assessment in mobile technology formats, we have a groundbreaking opportunity to provide instant, timely and detailed feedback to students in practice from patients, peers and clinical staff. By recording this feedback, it allows students to review, plan and ‘feed-forward’ with tutors to ensure their development as safe, effective doctors.”
Internet Librarian International 2010 – Programme Unveiled
The conference programme for Internet Librarian International (London, 14 – 15 October) is now available.
Internet Librarian International is the innovation and technology conference for information professionals. Keynotes this year come from author Robert Rowland Smith and Hazel Hall of Edinburgh Napier University, who will explore the hidden potential of social media for information professionals and shares her tactics for exploiting social networks.
Over 50 speakers from around the world will present this year, representing a variety of industry sectors, including government, health, education, business and law.
Sessions include Relating value to price and budget, Monitoring and maximising organisational impact, Social and mobile tools, Hot topics in innovation and Digital services for customer satisfaction.
Members of CILIP, SLA Europe, and a number of other associations are all entitled to discounts on the delegate booking fee.
Further information, and download and view the programme here.
Google’s New Search Engine Results Page Examined
Google has rolled out a major set of changes to its search engine results pages. Left-hand navigational search facets are now turned on by default. Greg Notess examines the changes in detail in today’s Infotoday NewsBreak.
Challenges for Academic Libraries in Difficult Economic Times
A recently released guide from the Research Information Network reveals how academic librarians are experiencing and responding to financial cuts in the current economic climate.
Using data which was gathered in the UK and internationally, and which was then explored further during late 2009 with focus groups of senior librarians, the guide examines the financial position of libraries, their strategies for dealing with challenging economic circumstances, and the value of libraries.
The report reveals that, after a decade of growth in budgets and services, academic librarians now expect a sustained period of cuts over the next three to five years. Directors from across the sector reported that they were being asked to model cumulative cuts of between 5% and 10% a year.
The scale of these cuts means that librarians are having to reconsider the kinds and levels of service they can provide in support of their universities’ missions. The study reports that librarians across the sector are looking very closely at the costs of the ‘big deals’ and how they might be reduced. As a consequence, there is increased interested in national site licences covering the whole of the HE sector.
Other reductions being considered include opening hours, subject support for academic staff and students, and information skills training.
The report acknowledges that, in the very long term, it is possible that open access may help to reduce the pressure on library budgets. However, for the next three to five years at least, open access initiatives will continue to represent additional burdens on libraries, while the costs of running repositories, or paying publication fees, are not being offset by any significant reductions in subscription costs for scholarly journals.
The guide stresses that library directors from across the sector are keen to use the current financial difficulties as an opportunity to rethink what the library does, and to do things differently. But as yet there are few concrete proposals that will transform services or yield large-scale savings. The report concludes that sustaining world-class information services is of fundamental importance to UK universities. Libraries and their directors have a critical role to play, but they cannot do it all themselves. Leadership and partnership with champions from across the HE and information sectors will be critical to sustaining the outstanding position of UK universities.
