Library Technology Reports – serie

Library Technology Reports, January 2018 (54:1)As the world of information access has pivoted from physical goods to digital screens, the ways that libraries measure themselves have changed. For years, measurements such as door counts, circulation tracking, and material tracking have been used to evaluate library building usage. With new advances in sensor technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning, computer vision, and more, we are now beginning to be able to monitor spaces in ways that were previously unthinkable.In Library Technology Reports (vol. 54, no. 1), “Library Spaces and Smart Buildings: Technology, Metrics, and Itera­tive Design,” Jason Griffey explores these technologies and provides librarians and other interested parties with a look into what’s possible in the current state of technology for smart library buildings. In this report, Jason Griffey;Covers three case studies that explore how librarians are using technological tools to analyze library spacesShares new ways to think about your space and how you can measure building usageExplores the future of technological change and smart library buildingsLooking at three different projects that involved space metrics and analysis in libraries, this report shows how Virginia Tech; Con­cordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and the Measure the Future project are using technologi­cal tools to analyze library spaces to improve their environment for their users. Virginia Tech is research­ing how furniture movement acts as a stand-in for patron activity. Concordia University experimented with a project that monitored noise levels. The Mea­sure the Future project is using computer vision to see how patrons move around in library spaces and derive “attention” measures from those movements while doing so with a strong protection on any sort of identification of patrons. Finally, Griffey takes a look at what the next five to ten years of technological progress will bring and how that might change the possibilities for a smart library.

It seems that every day there is news of a security breach or invasion of privacy. From ransomware to widespread breaches of private data, the news is full of scare stories. Sometimes it seems that there is nothing that you can do to protect your data. Luckily, there are strategies you can implement and actions you can take to reduce your risk. You can learn to see beyond the hype of media scare stories and learn what’s worth paying attention to by following certain best practices. This issue of Library Technology Reports (volume 54, no. 3), “Privacy and Security Online: Best Practices for Cybersecurity,” answers the following questions:What are the best ways to back up data?What’s the best thing to do if your device is lost or stolen?How do intruders get access to your data?Can criminals hold your data captive and ask for ransom?Is your laptop’s or smartphone’s traffic being harvested when on public Wi-Fi?Should you trust a password manager?Is it advisable to use Touch ID or Face ID on iPhones?How can you browse the web privately and anonymously?How can you protect your privacy on Facebook?Should you use encrypted messaging and email? How?How can you control your privacy if you use smart home devices like Amazon Alexa or Google Home?Using advice from security experts, this report discusses the difference between possible threats and likely risks. It also provides advice on how to make your own security plan and concludes with ideas for sharing this information with your library users.

This issue of Library Technology Reports (vol. 54, no. 4) looks into the wide definition of accessibility for library patrons within the area of instruction. This topic is discussed in some depth in schools of library science as well as in faculty development and instructional design. This report will encourage readers to think more critically about the technologies that faculty and staff use to address the needs of all patrons served. This report will also aid in identifying and using new methods for addressing the needs of all patrons through a wide range of modalities (closed-captioning, transcription, video, text to speech, image to text, etc.).This contributed work will examine accessibility, technology, and librarianship across a wide spectrum. Ida Mae Craddock will discuss using virtual reality and Google Expeditions with second language learners. Helen Turner and Patrick Lee Lucas will delve into universal design and providing equitable access to students in the University of Kentucky’s College of Design. George Shaw will investigate instruction and access for students taking an online computer programming course. Robert Browder will discuss how to make library materials accessible to readers through PDF scanning. Stacy Brown will discuss the impact of littleBits with students at the K–12 level in libraries. Aisha S. Haynes will examine Quality Matters accessibility measures, online instruction, library partnerships, and professional development. Stacy Hammer will complete the report with a look into the differentiation of instruction in libraries and how technology can be used with students in the K–12 setting.

This issue of Library Technology Reports (vol. 54, no. 5) looks at integrating library resources into learning management systems. Library resource integration in a local learning management system (LMS) can be streamlined through the application of the Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) standard, which allows connectivity between the LMS and other learning tools. Despite its convenience, the implementation of an LTI tool can be a complicated process both technically and administratively.In this issue of Library Technology Reports, learning design librarian Amanda Clossen explores Pennsylvania State University Libraries’ large-scale implementation of Springshare’s LTI tool within Canvas. Beginning with the data gathering that guided Penn State’s strategy, this report covers:the technical aspects of implementation, with a focus on guides and reservesstrategies for embedding librarians within learning management systemsoutreach and assessment effortsmajor roadblocks and pain points, as well as ways to anticipate and easily overcome these challengesThrough the examples explored in this guide, readers will gain practical ideas on how to integrate library resources within their own LMS.

This issue of Library Technology Reports argues that the near future of library work will be enormously impacted and perhaps forever changed as a result of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning systems becoming commonplace. It will do so through both essays on theory and predictions of the future of these systems in libraries and also through essays on current events and systems currently being developed in and by libraries. A variety of librarians will discuss their own AI and machine learning projects, how they implemented AI and to what ends, and what they see as useful for the future of libraries in considering AI systems and services. First up is an essay relating the development and design of a machine learning system developed by a library and deployed to production in a library anywhere in the US. The system is HAMLET (How about Machine Learning Enhanced Theses) by Andromeda Yelton, currently a developer at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard. At MIT, she created and developed HAMLET. Next, in chapter three, we have an essay by Bohyun Kim, CTO and associate professor at the University of Rhode Island Libraries, where she discusses the launch of their Artificial Intelligence Lab, which is housed in the library on campus. Then in chapter four, Craig Boman, Discovery Services Librarian and assistant librarian at Miami University Libraries, looks at his attempts to use a type of machine learning to build a system to assign formal subject headings to unclassified, full-text works. This report will conclude with a discussion of possibilities and potentials for using AI in libraries and library science.

Professionals in the field of librarianship are creative when it comes to the delivery of information and instruction. If face-to-face options aren’t available, librarians look to digital means, and there are so many options out there—from podcasting, blogging, and edutubing. In this issue of Library Technology Reports (vol. 55, no. 5), the authors explore how these forms of digital media and others can help enhance information dissemination and library instruction.

This issue of Library Technology Reports (vol. 55, no. 7), Protecting Privacy on Library Websites: Critical Technologies and Implementation Trends, explores the issues and technologies needed to deploy a library website with adequate protections for the privacy of those who visit. Without the implementation of standard encryption components, the online information-seeking activities of website visitors are vulnerable to exposure. Even when a site is properly encrypted, privacy can be circumvented through tracking agents placed on the site for analytics or advertising. Following discussion of the technical issues with implications for user privacy, this report includes the results of a broad study of the state of practice for these privacy-related technologies among public and academic libraries in the United States. This study reveals great progress among these libraries in the strengthening of privacy on their websites, though substantial gaps remain.

This issue of Library Technology Reports (vol. 55, no. 8), "Blockchain in Libraries," examines the application of blockchain in libraries. Blockchain technology has the ability to transform how libraries provide services and organize information. To date, most of these applications are still in the conceptual stage. However, sooner or later, development and implementation will follow. This report is intended to provide a primer on the technology and some thought starters. In chapter 2, the concept of blockchain is explained. Chapter 3 provides eight thought and conversation starters that look at how blockchain could be applied in libraries. Chapter 4 looks at the barriers and challenges of implementing blockchain in libraries. Chapter 5 raises some questions around ethical issues that librarians should consider with respect to blockchain implementation.

While academic libraries have traditionally focused on discovery, helping users to seamlessly access resources available behind a paywall is becoming equally important. The emergence of Sci-Hub into the public eye has led not only to more academic piracy but also to the discovery that academic users were using Sci-Hub for the sheer convenience of not needing to authenticate. This and other reasons have led to the suspicion that there is a need to improve and streamline the processes for users to authenticate and access resources available behind paywalls. While the traditional solutions are IP authentication and federated access, we now have a slew of possible alternatives or improvements. These include initiatives like SeamlessAccess and GetFTR as well as the emergence of new third-party tools known as access broker browser extensions, such as Lean Library and LibKey Nomad. Google has also been working toward a solution dubbed Campus Activated Subscriber Access (CASA), while the rise of content syndication partnerships between publishers like Springer Nature and ResearchGate gives the possibility of authentication using researcher profiles. This issue of Library Technology Reports will walk the interested nontechnical librarian through understanding the fundamentals needed to plan for these new developments.

Video content is an increasingly important part of library marketing, outreach, instruction, and more. In order for this content to be inclusive for all patrons, it is vital that it be made accessible. However, large quantities of video content are still shared without adequate accessibility features, such as captions, transcriptions, audio descriptions, sign language interpretation, and accessible media players. This issue of Library Technology Reports (vol. 57, no. 3) will help librarians to understand these various accessibility features and how they are used. It will also give them the knowledge and tools necessary to ensure that the videos they share, create, and purchase for their collections are accessible to all patrons.

As a provider of public space and digital content, your library is duty-bound to promote equitable access to all users, regardless of whether they use assistive technology. In this issue of Library Technology Reports, editor Booth makes the case that that attention to the core principles of consistency, flexibility, and simplicity go hand in hand with libraries' commitments to open information and accessibility. Even when staffing levels or resources aren't ideal, libraries can substantially improve the experience of people with disabilities. In this issue, expert contributors address standards, spaces and services, devices, websites, and collections, offering advice on:Assistive technology products, including screen readers, literacy software, and speech inputE-books and e-readers for users with print disabilities, with charts comparing accessibility features of the most common e-readersThe nuts and bolts of using HTML, CSS, Javascript, or JQUERY for accessibilityBest practices for evaluating vendor database compliance

Supplementing your local collection through resource sharing is a smart way to ensure your library has the resources to satisfy the needs of your users. Marshall Breeding’s new Library Technology Report explores technologies and strategies for sharing resources, helping you streamline workflows and improve resource-sharing services. Covering key strategies like interlibrary loan, consortial borrowing, document delivery, and shared collections, you’ll also learn about such trends and services as: OCLC WorldCat Resource Sharing, and other systems that facilitate cooperative, reciprocal lendingSystem-to-system communications that allow integrated systems to interact with resource-sharing environmentsTechnical components that reliably automate patron requests, routing to suppliers with tools for tracking, reporting, and staff intervention as neededSpecialised applications that simplify document delivery, such as Ariel, Odyssey, or OCLC s Article ExchangeHow the NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol (NCIP) can enable borrowing among consortial libraries using separate integrated library systemsThe Orbis Cascade Alliance consortium, examined using a case study

Best practices for managing e-resources are critical--two decades after the advent of electronic journals and databases, librarians are still grappling with how to effectively manage these resources in conjunction with their print resources. Now e-books have become yet another stream of purchasing and management, while economic pressures mean that librarians have to justify every penny spent on collections and resource development. This issue of Library Technology Reports details a project by Jill Emery and Graham Stone, Techniques in Electronic Resource Management (TERMS). It encourages open peer commentary and crowdsourcing of areas of best practice for each of the six stages of the e-resources life cycle: Investigation of new content for purchase or additionAcquisition of new contentImplementationOngoing evaluation and accessAnnual reviewCancellation and replacement reviewNo matter their level of experience, all those involved with e-resource management will find this Report a valuable reference.

E-book vendors continue to experiment: adjustments to business models, consolidation of content, and mergers with competitors mean constant change. What’s good for innovation can equal confusion when it comes to choosing an e-book platform for your library. Making a sound purchasing decision requires research and close consideration of trade-offs, and Roncevic’s new issue of Library Technology Reports will get you started. Based on surveys of e-book vendors with an established presence in academic, public, and/or K–12 library markets, this report includesBackground and business model descriptions for 51 leading e-book vendorsFour tables comparing content, technical specifications, functionality, and business modelsAn at-a-glance overview of platforms, including vendor website URLsBulleted checklists of factors to consider, and questions to ask vendorsAn examination of the blurring channels of publisher, aggregator, and distributor platforms, with advice to help you avoid content overlap

Computers increasingly collect, manage, and analyse data for scholarly research. Linked data gives libraries the ability to support this e-research, making it a powerful tool. Libraries are at a tipping point in adoption of linked data, and this issue of Library Technology Reports explores current research in linked open data, explaining concepts and pioneering services, such asFive building blocks of metadata data model, content rules, metadata schema, data serialisation, and data exchangeThree case studies Europeana, Digital Public Library of America, and BIBFRAMEHow libraries, archives and museums are currently addressing such issues as metadata quality, open data and business models, cross community engagement, and implementation

Everyone agrees that innovation is a worthy aim, but what does innovation actually entail?  And what does it mean for a library organisation? For this issue of Library Technology Reports, Jason Vaughan reviewed professional literature, both scholarly and mainstream, and surveyed library directors to learn their views on how technological innovation is impacting today's libraries. Identifying common threads from a mix of perspectives, his findings provide clarity on the subject as well as an ideal way for readers to begin a discussion at their own organization. Gathering a range of insights about technological innovation, Vaughan presentsA summary of General Electric's GE Global Innovation BarometerPhrases and words common to job ads referencing innovationCriteria of awards for technological innovationAnalysis, charts, and graphs of responses to a 10-question survey

To get to the bottom of a successful approach to Electronic Resource Management (ERM), Anderson interviewed staff at 11 institutions about their ERM implementations. Among her conclusions, presented in this issue of Library Technology Reports, is that grasping the intricacies of your workflow - analyzing each step to reveal the gaps and problems - at the beginning is crucial to selecting and implementing an ERM. Whether the system will be used to fill a gap, aggregate critical data, or replace a tedious manual process, the best solution for your library depends on factors such as your current software setup, staffing levels, and local support from systems staff. Providing guidance to library technology decision-makers, this report offers coverage of such important topics as:The five major elements of managing electronic resources: knowledge bases, acquisitions, administration and contracts, licensing, and reporting;Vendor systems from EBSCO, Ex Libris, and Innovative Interfaces, as well as three open source (OS) solutions;How ERMs function as a component of the library service platforms of OCLC Worldshare, Ex Libris Alma, Serial Solutions Intota, Kuali OLE, and Innovative Interfaces Sierra

As the maker movement continues to grow and 3-D printers become more affordable, an expanding group of hobbyists is keen to explore this new technology. In the time-honored tradition of introducing new technologies, many libraries are considering purchasing a 3-D printer. Jason Griffey, an early enthusiast of 3-D printing, has researched the marketplace and seen several systems first hand at the Consumer Electronics Show. In this report he introduces readers to the 3-D printing marketplace, covering such topics as:How fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing workBasic terminology such as build plate, spool, nozzle hot end, direct extruder, and Bowden extruderPlastics used, such as ABS, PLA, and othersDescriptions, price ranges, and filament specs for 3-D printers from MakerBot, Printrbot, Solidoodle, and other manufacturersSuggested staff skills for performing basic maintenance tasksWhere to find both ready-to-use designs and the software for customizing, from beginning to advanced systems

Social media allows you to scale up a core librarian practice connecting your community to information and learning-- across geographic boundaries, 24/7. Addressing curation as the term is used colloquially, this issue of Library Technology Reports draws from 17 in-depth interviews to show how libraries are using social media to collect, organize, share, and interpret in short, how to tell a digital story to a specific audience.Additionally the authors use data, collected through an online survey that encompassed all library types, to offer a snapshot of this important collecting-connecting-curating-contributing practice. Also included is an annotated directory covering 66 tools for social media curation, organized by category with links to the websites.

Learning even the rudiments of how to code can increase productivity and effectiveness for librarians and their organizations, and getting started is easier than you might think. The result of interviews with more than 50 librarians, this issue of Library Technology Reports describes and links to dozens of short programs, most with less than 100 lines of code, that are in place and solving problems in libraries today.For example, Becky Yoose eliminated several steps in automating a purchase process triggered by patron-driven acquisition, measurably saving catalogers’ time. Yelton also addresses organizational issues such as gaining buy-in from administrators, collaborating with nontechnical staff, and overcoming institutional barriers. Coverage includes:Scripts that present data to help decision-makersStreamlining data import, export, and clean-upImproving user experience with Javascript or jQeryThree “deep dive” examples with line-by-line analysis, addressing patron alerts, ILS reporting, and a LibGuides organizerSurvey respondents’ recommendations on how to learn coding