Strategic intention F
Executive owner(s)
Joseph Hafner
Jenn Riley
Collaborators
Collection Services staff for underlying data improvements
User Experience and Assessment staff for collecting user preference and user behavior data
Digital Initiatives staff for analyzing ARL trends
Various staff from User Services, Collection Services, and Digital Initiatives for engaging with WorldCat Discovery beta, raising awareness of current technologies, and ongoing discussion of needs
Project update(s)
Information can be found on the Library Intranet, in the "Library Catalogue" space.
Project scope
Maintaining both WorldCat and Aleph for at least one more year will allow the marketplace to mature and the staff to become more knowledgeable about how these systems work before making major changes. Monitor developments during this time so that we can be prepared to strategically and efficiently move forward when the time comes.
During this time, do the following:
- Continue to collaboratively make improvements to the underlying data that drives these systems, improving the user experience.
- Prioritize collecting significant amounts of data on qualitative user preferences and quantitative user behaviours related to discovery of information to drive future decision making.
- Analyze ARL libraries’ software selections in each of these areas.
- Closely monitor professional communication channels such as journal literature, conference presentations, listservs, and social media to ensure familiarity with software options in each of these areas.
- Actively engage library staff in evaluation and training during the WorldCat Discovery beta period and raise awareness among library staff about the technologies and data sources involved in these systems.
Deadline: December 2014/Spring 2015
| Item | Objective | Outcome measure | Target | Deadline |
Status Sept 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sophisticated expertise in utilizing current systems in order to help users at the highest level with present platforms and contribute to their most effective performance. | Relevant to position and function, all staff to attend training and/or information sessions. Evaluation form/survey distributed at the end of each session. | 1) Hold open office hours for WorldCat Local monthly.
2) Invite new librarians to WorldCat Local sessions. 3) Share information about in person and online training opportunities from vendors.4) Have both a public service and a DI/CS committees participate in the WorldCat Discovery Beta Committees. |
|
|
| 2 | User behaviour and preference data related to discovery systems. | Data on user behaviour and preference data collected, analyzed, and communciated to library staff. |
At least three studies of user preferences and behaviour performed and data distributed. Study information placed on the library intranet. 1) User search behaviour in WorldCat Local and Aleph study complete. 2) Ed Bilodeau planning literature review of discovery studies, and follow up studies with McGill faculty. |
|
|
| 3 | Wide familiarity with the library systems marketplace and pros/cons of various options among library staff. | Studies of practices at other universities performed and communicated to library staff. |
At least two reports produced on peer libraries’ resource discovery and management trends. Study information placed on the library intranet. 1) Report on technology selection at ARL libraries complete February 2014. New report with updated data issued June 2015. 2) Planning report summarizing findings of Marshall Breeding's vendor satisfaction surveys. |
|
|
| 4 |
Improved user discovery experience. |
Higher LibQUAL+2015 scores for Information Control. |
LibQual survey administered; expecting results summer 2015. |
|
|
| 5 | Watch what BCI and OCUL/Scholar's Portal are doing to look at Province-wide catalogues |
Participate in BCI's process Review documents produced by them |
Carole Urbain participating on the BCI Committee with advice from Jenn Riley and Joseph Hafner. Strategic Presentation Dossier and Preliminary Business Plan are available on the library intranet. Decide if there is something that we learn from and/or participate in |
|
