Post on 18-Dec-2015
Connected
!Conn
ected!
Observations on Libraries,
Information Technology and Our
Preferred Future
Michael Ridley
Chief LibrarianUniversity of Guelph
“When simple change becomes transformational
change, the desire for continuity becomes a dysfunctional mirage.”
The Mirage of Continuity (1999) Hawkins & Battin
Steve Mann - Cyborg
Collaborative,computer mediated
reality
The future of the human is the
cyborg
The “always on” Internet
service
equity of access
privacy
democracy
rationalism
intellectual freedom
literacy and learning
stewardship
Interactive!
Empowering!
Information rich!
Reflective?
Knowledge poor?
Way cool!
Control?
Way cool!
BuildingCommunity
in theVirtualWorld
“The library of the future will
combine a managed place with a managed digital space.”
Agora Project Proposal
(University of East Anglia)
Transformational change
Revolutionary impact
Evolutionary implementation
Understanding a Key Problem: The Electronic
Piñata
Paul SaffoInstitute for the Future
“The future belongs to neither the conduit or content players, but to those who control the filtering, searching and sense-making tools we will rely on to navigate through the expanses of cyberspace.”
sense-makingsearchingfiltering,
Towards the Digital Library
From
Database/Repository
to
Environment
(Managed Digital Space)
Seamless(fully integrated with
digital learningand research; beyond?)
Community(resources, people, interaction, process, activities, services)
Omnipresent(it will be wherever the users are)
Dynamic & Organic(the users will construct it as much as we will)
From
Information Management
to
Knowledge Management
Explicit & Tacit Knowledge(beyond recorded information)
Coherence & Sense Making(value added outcomes
and benefits)
People Centric(a focus on understanding not just data)
Trusted Information Systems(status, reputation, influence, impact)
Wireless Communication(whenever, wherever, right now)
From
People Finding Information
to
Information Finding People
Intelligent AgentsPersonal Information Systems(discovery, assistance, utility)
Smart Information(telemetry, propagation)
Managing People’s Interests(trusted information systems)
Control(users not systems)
• Key challenge to the legal basis of libraries
• Contract law vs. copyright law
• Private rights vs. public rights
Copyright & Intellectual Property
Copyright Act
WIPOGATS
WTO
TRIPSUCITA
• International law
• Global trade
• Trans-national Corporations
Copyright in a Digital Environment
The Bottom Line:
Digital resources are not covered by existing Copyright law nor by
institutional CANCOPY agreements.
$• Inflation
• Currency devaluation
• Support for libraries dropping
• New budget responsibilities (esp. IT)
$ $$
$$ $
226% increase in the cost of a
journal
192% increase in journals
expenditures
7% fewer journals
purchased
17% fewer monographs purchased
0%
150%
250%
-50%
$ from print to electronic
sustaining legacy & digitalcollections & services
$
local & collaborativespending
$
more, more more$
Words that Cause Apoplexy in Librarians
“Its all on the Internet …
…. and for free!”
So Now What?
The Innovation AgendaResurgence of the Public Good
Scholarly PublishingOntario Digital Library
Why am I so unbearably optimistic?
InnovationAgenda
Links to Library vendor databases
More than political posturing
Real investments in knowledge economy
Libraries as a key component
Trend #1
Examples
• Canada Foundation for Innovation
• Industry Canada - Indirect cost of research $200M ($400M base in 2003?)
• Ontario Innovation Trust
Canadian National Site Licensing Project (CNSLP)
• 64 universities
• $50M Project
• $20M from Canada Foundation for Innovation
Transformational consortial purchasing
What has CNSLP provided?
• significant acquisition of information resources
• rigorous & advantageous procurement process
• model license agreement
• proof of concept (national consortial purchasing)
Information Resources Acquired
• ~700 full text journals (chemistry, physics, general science & technology, engineering, health, environment, economics, law & social sciences)
• 2 full text reviewing journals (mathematics)• 3 citation indexes (covering ~8,500 journals in
arts, humanities, social sciences and sciences)
0
5
10
15
20
$M
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7
Information Resources
Negotiated Costs
Best Offer
Final Cost
82.7
57.3
42.1
0
20
40
60
80
100
$M
All Products
Total Negotiated Cost
Value
Best Offer
Final Cost
26%
Issues for CNSLP
• growing the project: investing and buying more
• sustainability beyond CFI funding
• additional discipline areas: social sciences, humanities, health care
Resurgence of the
Public GoodLinks to Library vendor databases
Social change
“Gift” economy
Libraries as a key component
Trend #2
Civic Duty
Global Perspective
Tenacious
Optimistic about the
Future Realistic about the Present
ScholarlyPublishing
Links to Library vendor databases
Reclaiming scholarship
Coordinated political action
Libraries as a key component
Trend #3
The Copyright Forum
• collaboration of associations representing the user community
• preserve concept of copyright by including digital resources
• maintain existing exceptions for educational institutions
OntarioDigitalLibrary
Links to Library vendor databases
Bridges rather than boundaries
Collaboration and cooperation
Access and equity
Innovation
Trend #4
www.odl.on.ca
www.accessola.com
What is the ODL?
• A digital network of information services and resources
• A partnership of all libraries in Ontario (university, college, public and school)
• A service for all Ontario citizens
What are the Benefits?
• Province wide consortial licensing of information resources
• Innovative, collaborative services supporting access and use
• Technological support (standards & interfaces)
• Training (technical and information literacy)
For Libraries?
What are the Benefits?
• One local point of entry to quality, electronic information resources and services
• Resources and services that are credible, available and adaptable
• Equitable access from anywhere in Ontario
For Users?
Strengthening
the Local Library
The School Library
The College Library
The Public Library
The University Library
The Shared Ontario Digital Library Infrastructure (resources & services)
The Hospital Library
What are the Challenges?
• Focus on benefits to the users
• Build and sustain library collaboration
• Maintain government attention
• Increase real investments
Next Steps for the ODL?
• business plan ($200K)– Requested by MTCU– Consultation & commitment
• implementation ($50M over 3 years)
• fully operational ($50M annually)
“When simple change becomes transformational
change, the desire for continuity becomes a dysfunctional mirage.”
The Mirage of Continuity (1999) Hawkins & Battin
W. David Penniman,Dean, School of InformaticsUniversity at Buffalo, SUNY
“To remain what it is,
the library must change…
it will not remain what it is.”
if it does not change,
Connected
!Conn
ected!
Observations on Libraries,
Information Technology and Our
Preferred Future
Michael RidleyChief Librarian
University of Guelphwww.uoguelph.ca/~mridley
mridley@uoguelph.ca
(519) 824-4120 x2181