VALA2006 Proceedings

The VALA2006 13th Biennial Conference and Exhibition was held at Crown Towers, Melbourne, Australia from 8 – 10 February 2006. The theme for this conference was Connecting with Users.

The following programme was presented at VALA2006. See also VALA2006 Programme or the archived VALA2006 conference web site.

Creative Commons License All works are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License unless specifically stated.

VALA2006 Session 4 Lewis

VALA2006Wireless technology for South Australian public libraries: pilot project 2005

VALA 2006 CONCURRENT SESSION 4: New Technology
Wednesday 8 February 2006, 14:00 – 14:30
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2006-proceedings/vala2006-session-4-lewis

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperChristine Lewis

Manager, Information Technology Services, Public Library Services, South Australia
http://www.libraries.sa.gov.au/service/library

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VALA2006 Session 4 Lewis Paper 909.70 KB
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VALA2006 Session 4 Lewis Podcast 0.00 KB

Abstract

This paper outlines the course of action taken by Public Library Services to plan, implement and evaluate a wireless pilot project for the South Australian Public Library Network. The paper is a non-technical look into the considerations given to security and authentication issues and discusses the management of the technology from an infrastructure and library management point of view.

 

VALA2006 Session 4 Jeffries

VALA2006Exploring the application of RSS for library staff professional development and SDI services

VALA 2006 CONCURRENT SESSION 4: New Technology
Wednesday 8 February 2006, 14:35 – 15:05
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2006-proceedings/vala2006-session-4-jeffries

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperSandra Jeffries

Manager Client Services, University of Southern Queensland Library
http://libcat.usq.edu.au

Corey Wallis

Electronic Services Officer, University of Southern Queensland Library
http://libcat.usq.edu.au

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VALA2006 Session 4 Jeffries Paper 141.27 KB
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VALA2006 Session 4 Jeffries Podcast 9 MB

Abstract

Blog and XML feed technologies have provided new opportunities for information dissemination and communication. The University of Southern Queensland Library developed a virtual professional Reading Room using these technologies to provide a centralised, easily-accessible source for professional reading, based on SDI principles. The Reading Room also provides a discussion space so that Library staff can exchange views on readings of interest. This paper outlines the goals of the initiative, the processes used to establish the Reading Room, and the challenges dealt with along the way. Finally, it provides a preliminary evaluation of outcomes of the initiative and plans for the future.

 

VALA2006 Session 4 Volke

VALA2006Encouraging interaction online: the emerging roles of blogs/wikis/RSS in fostering and encouraging user participation

VALA 2006 CONCURRENT SESSION 4: New Technology
Wednesday 8 February 2006, 15:10 – 15:40
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2006-proceedings/vala2006-session-4-volke

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperSean Volke

Electronic Solutions Consultant, Thomson Gale Australia/NZ
http://gale.cengage.com.au

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VALA2006 Session 4 Volke Paper 793.62 KB
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VALA2006 Session 4 Volke Podcast 7 MB

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of three technologies: blogs, RSS and wikis. It gives an introduction to each and explores how they are being used within the library community. RSS is of particular interest to libraries; it provides opportunities for interacting with library users and is already being incorporated into library catalogues and websites. Wikis too show promise for future development.

 

VALA2006 Session 5 Treloar

VALA2006The ARROW Project after 2 years: are we hitting our targets?

VALA 2006 CONCURRENT SESSION 5: Digital Repositories
Wednesday 8 February 2006, 14:00 – 14:30
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2006-proceedings/vala2006-session-5-treloar

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperAndrew Treloar

Director, Information Management and Strategic Planning, Monash University
http://www.monash.edu.au

Geoff Payne

Director Library Corporate & Financial Services, Latrobe University
http://www.latrobe.edu.au

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VALA2006 Session 5 Treloar Paper 124.71 KB
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VALA2006 Session 5 Treloar Podcast 8 MB

Abstract

This paper focuses on the institutional repository work of the ARROW project, which has been developed within the following three stage framework:

  1. conceptualising and developing an ARROW institutional repository solution comprising software, policy frameworks and implementation strategies,
  2. implementing the ARROW repository within the project’s partner institutions, and
  3. offering the ARROW repository solution to other Australian universities.

The paper will look at the decisions the ARROW project made at the outset and provide a review of those decisions after two years of operation. It will also look forward at ARROW’s plans for 2006 and ongoing development work.

 

VALA2006 Session 5 Bradley

VALA2006Digital sustainability and digital repositories

VALA 2006 CONCURRENT SESSION 5: Digital Repositories
Wednesday 8 February 2006, 14:35 – 15:05
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2006-proceedings/vala2006-session-5-bradley

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperKevin Bradley

Sustainability Officer, Australian Partnership for Sustainable Repositories, National Library of Australia
http://www.nla.gov.au

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VALA2006 Session 5 Bradley Paper 54.12 KB
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VALA2006 Session 5 Bradley Podcast 9 MB

Abstract

The tasks associated with managing and backing up digital data are well known to IT managers, but the mere presence of the data stream is not the only criterion for preserving and maintaining digital content. Digital sustainability recognises that the continuity of digital information goes well beyond basic storing and managing of data and is integrated into the lifecycle of the information object. It includes technical, social and economic considerations. In 2004 a DEST-funded project, the Australian Partnership for Sustainable Repositories (APSR) initiated an investigative process to establish a centre of excellence for the management of digital collections. The APSR has an overall focus on the critical issues of the access continuity and the sustainability of digital collections, and this paper draws on the investigation of these issues in the University sector.

 

VALA2006 Session 6 Lodge

VALA2006What can librarians learn from the Internet’s 10 most popular sites?

VALA 2006 CONCURRENT SESSION 6: Usability
Wednesday 8 February 2006, 14:00 – 14:30
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2006-proceedings/vala2006-session-6-lodge

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperDamian Lodge

Associate Director – Centre for Information Studies, Charles Sturt University
http://www.csu.edu.au

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VALA2006 Session 6 Lodge Paper 391.03 KB
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VALA2006 Session 6 Lodge Podcast 8 MB

Abstract

This paper discusses results from research undertaken during 2005 which examined the Internet’s ten most popular websites and the functions and features of these websites that can be applied to library web pages. Qualitative interviews were undertaken with library web developers to provide an understanding of some of the issues affecting the library web pages that are being designed and built today. The research results provide valuable information from popular and library websites that can be used to improve the design, functionality, use of technology, content, feedback and planning of our next generation of websites.

 

VALA2006 Session 6 Foott

VALA2006A usability study of the library catalogue at Monash University Library

VALA 2006 CONCURRENT SESSION 6: Usability
Wednesday 8 February 2006, 14:35 – 15:05
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2006-proceedings/vala2006-session-6-foott

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperStephanie Foott

Web Manager, Monash University Library
http://lib.monash.edu.au

Simon Huggard

Systems Manager, Monash University Library
http://lib.monash.edu.au

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VALA2006 Session 6 Foott Paper 495.63 KB
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VALA2006 Session 6 Foott Podcast 10 MB

Abstract

During 2004, Monash University Library undertook a usability study of its library catalogue. A number of things were tested including terminology, search behaviour, search types, users’ ability to deal with mixed results, preferred interface and layout, including selection and formatting of records, as well as tasks to do with lending and requesting of items. Methodology and outcomes are discussed in the paper, as well as information relating to programs and documents used in the study.

 

VALA2006 Session 6 Alexander

VALA2006Usability versus accessibility: best friends or worst enemies?

VALA 2006 CONCURRENT SESSION 6: Usability
Wednesday 8 February 2006, 15:10 – 15:40
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2006-proceedings/vala2006-session-6-alexander

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperDey Alexander

Usability Specialist, Monash University
http://its.monash.edu.au

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VALA2006 Session 6 Alexander Paper 53.48 KB
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VALA2006 Session 6 Alexander Podcast 10 MB

Abstract

This paper discusses the relationship between usability and accessibility in web design which is thought by some to involve contradictory design requirements. It examines the relationship between the two design fields by comparing and contrasting definitions of each along with the techniques and methods used by their practitioners. It considers two commonly-expressed views of the relationship, concluding that both are misleading. The paper defends the view that usability and accessibility are complementary design philosophies and recommends that practitioners in each field embrace the methods and techniques of the other.

 

VALA2006 Plenary 2 Payette

VALA2006 Keynote SpeakerChoosing technology that can evolve with user needs: a service-oriented approach to e-research, e-scholarship and advanced scholarly publication

Sandy PayetteVALA 2008 PLENARY 2: Sandy Payette
Wednesday 8 February 2006, 16:10 – 17:25
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2006-proceedings/vala2006-plenary-2-payette

Sandy Payette

Researcher and Co-Director of the Fedora Project, Cornell Information Science, Cornell University, USA
http://www.infosci.cornell.edu and http://www.cs.cornell.edu/payette

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VALA2006 Plenary 2 Payette Paper 59.58 KB
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VALA2006 Plenary 2 Payette Podcast 20 MB

Abstract

Emerging trends in the processes of scholarly research and scholarly communication present significant challenges to libraries and other information-oriented institutions in terms of choosing technologies that best position for the future. The challenge of “connecting with users” has typically been associated with the most visible layer of an information system: the user interface itself. At the same time, it is essential that we understand how the choice of technologies that lie beneath this visible layer will reverberate throughout a system, ultimately enabling or disabling users in their creation, manipulation, and use of information resources. This is especially true over time as user needs change, and information must be re-used and repurposed for new or evolving contexts. The significance of service-oriented architectures, with Fedora as an example, is discussed in the context of meeting user requirements in the areas of institutional repositories, scholarly publication, e-research, and e-scholarship applications.