VALA2008 Proceedings

The VALA2008 14th Biennial Conference and Exhibition was held at the Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne, Australia from 5 – 7 February 2008. The theme for this conference was “LIBRARIES / CHANGING SPACES, VIRTUAL PLACES”.

The following papers were presented at VALA2008. See also the VALA2008 Programme or the archived VALA2008 conference web site.

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

VALA2008 Session 10 Butters

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperNew RFID technologies & standards – what does it all mean for your library?

VALA 2008 CONCURRENT SESSION 10: Enabling Technologies
Wednesday 6 February 2008 14:00 – 14:30
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2008-proceedings/vala2008-session-10-butters

Alan Butters

Principal Consultant, Sybis
http://www.sybis.com.au

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VALA2008 Session 10 Butters Paper 43.20 KB
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VALA2008 Session 10 Butters Podcast 11 MB

Abstract

This paper explores practical issues of interest to libraries in two specific areas affecting RFID technology implementation the development of ISO standardisation and the debate over future technology platforms. Australian libraries are interested in knowing how they may plan for the emerging standardisation of the RFID tag data model and what this standardisation might mean for existing RFID systems. There is also growing debate about the relative merits of Ultra High Frequency (UHF) RFID systems, and whether this technology might form a future basis for library RFID systems.

VALA2008 Session 10 Bradley

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperLibraries interact: collaboration and community in the Australian library blogosphere

VALA 2008 CONCURRENT SESSION 10: Enabling Technologies
Wednesday 6 February 2008 14:35 – 15:05
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2008-proceedings/vala2008-session-10-bradley

Fiona Bradley

Information Services Librarian, University of Technology, Sydney Library
http://librariesinteract.info

Kathryn Greenhill

Emerging Technology Specialist, Murdoch University Library
http://librariesinteract.info

Constance Wiebrands

Acting Manager, Flexible Delivery and Lending Services, Curtin University Library
http://librariesinteract.info

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VALA2008 Session 10 Bradley Paper 54.15 KB

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Abstract

Since July 2006, a group of Australian librarians have co-ordinated the group blog librariesinteract.info (LINT). This blog was created as a forum for professional communication and discussion of change in the Australian library sector. Communication and planning is conducted using a variety of web tools including an email list, instant messaging, collaborative bookmarking and a wiki. This paper compares the experience of the LINT authors with that of other authors of collaborative library blogs, as reported in a survey of the library blogosphere in September 2007.

VALA2008 Session 10 Forsyth

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperFancy walkie talkies, Star Trek communicators or roving reference?

VALA 2008 CONCURRENT SESSION 10: Enabling Technologies
Wednesday 6 February 2008 15:10 – 15:40
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2008-proceedings/vala2008-session-10-forsyth

VALA Travel ScholarEllen Forsyth, 2006 VALA Travel Scholar

Consultant, Public Library Services, State Library of New South Wales
http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au

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VALA2008 Session 10 Forsyth Paper 74.24 KB
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VALA2008 Session 10 Forsyth Podcast 11 MB

Abstract

This paper investigates the customer service benefits of using Vocera badges, which utilise a portable wireless technology (WiFi), to facilitate roving reference service. Use of portable voice communication devices allows the help to be taken to the people and away from service desks. These communication technologies allow library staff to easily access the expertise of other staff. There are no library uses of Vocera devices in Australia at August 2007.

 

VALA2008 Plenary 4 Geist

VALA2008 Keynote SpeakerUnlocking Access: In Support of a Hands-On Internet Policy

Michael GeistVALA 2008 PLENARY 4: Michael Geist
Wednesday 6 February 2008, 16:10 – 17:25
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2008-proceedings/vala2008-plenary-4-geist

Michael Geist

Canada Research Chair of Internet and E-commerce Law, University of Ottawa, Canada
http://www.uottawa.ca/research

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VALA2008 Plenary 4 Geist Presentation 7.83 MB
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VALA2008 Plenary 4 Geist Podcast 26.05 MB

Abstract

The Internet and new technologies have ushered in a seemingly unlimited array of possibilities for access to knowledge, creativity, and public participation. Elected officials have been slow to develop the law and policy frameworks to match the Internet’s potential, however, opting instead for a “hands-off approach”. This presentation will highlight the role that the Internet is playing for new creativity and knowledge sharing, while identifying a forward-looking, hands-on policy approach.

 

VALA2008 Plenary 5 Wroblewski

VALA2008 Keynote SpeakerDesigning for today’s Web

VALA 2008 PLENARY 5: Luke Wroblewski
Luke WroblewskiThursday 7 February 2008 09:00 – 10:15
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2008-proceedings/vala2008-plenary-5-wroblewski

Luke Wroblewski

Senior Principal of Product Ideation & Design, Yahoo! Inc. and Principal of LukeW Interface Designs, USA, http://www.lukew.com and http://www.yahoo.com

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VALA2008 Plenary 6 Weibel Presentation 1.36 MB

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Abstract

In this presentation, Luke will dissect several important trends on the Web and their impact on the design of Web-based services and products. In particular: the trend from locomotion to manipulation and conversation (how to deal with crowded shelf space and purely digital services); the trend from sites to content experiences (how do we design when search, content aggregators, and display surfaces rule the Web); the trend from page-level interactions to micro-interactions (how can we explain available actions and their state); the move from only webmasters making content to everyone making content (what does this do to creative control). Addressing these trends is at the core of designing for today’s Web.

VALA2008 Session 11 Hider

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperThe use of information architecture guidelines by Australian libraries

VALA 2008 CONCURRENT SESSION 11: Websites
Thursday 7 February 2008 10:45 – 11:15
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2008-proceedings/vala2008-session-11-hider

Philip Hider

Senior Lecturer, School of Information Studies, Charles Sturt University
http://www.csu.edu.au

Sally Burford

Senior Lecturer, School of Professional Communication, University of Canberra
http://www.canberra.edu.au

Stuart Ferguson

Senior Lecturer, School of Information Studies, Charles Sturt University
http://www.csu.edu.au

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VALA2008 Session 11 Hider Paper 48.20 KB
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VALA2008 Session 11 Hider Podcast 11 MB

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a survey which aimed to examine the extent to which the information architecture (IA) of Australian library web sites is developed with reference to documented methods and guidelines. It was found that a majority of libraries used either in-house or external documents, or both, but that the nature of these documents varied greatly. The extent of libraries’ control over their own web sites also varied very widely. Although documentation was considered useful in some ways, respondents were more interested in developing the necessary IA skills and competencies than in standardisation.

VALA2008 Session 11 Law

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperObserving student researchers in their native habitat

VALA 2008 CONCURRENT SESSION 11: Websites
Thursday 7 February 2008 11:20 – 11:50
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2008-proceedings/vala2008-session-11-law

John Law

Director, Strategic Alliances and Platform Development, ProQuest
http://www.proquest.com

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VALA2008 Session 11 Law Paper 51.66 KB
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VALA2008 Session 11 Law Podcast 14 MB

Abstract

This paper discusses the challenges student researchers face when attempting to locate relevant e-resources, and the challenges university libraries face in ensuring that academic e-resources are accessible and understood by student researchers. The paper presents original quantitative and qualitative research on the ways in which students access and use academic e-resources, and a comparative analysis of the role of open Web search engines in academic research.

 

VALA2008 Session 11 Owen

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperDeakin Library website 2.0: iterative change for maximum gain

VALA 2008 CONCURRENT SESSION 11: Websites
Thursday 7 February 2008 11:55 – 12:30
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2008-proceedings/vala2008-session-11-owen

Sue Owen

Associate Librarian, Client Services, Deakin University Library
http://www.deakin.edu.au

Kat Clancy

Web Developer, Deakin University Library
http://www.deakin.edu.au

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VALA2008 Session 11 Owen Paper 560.56 KB
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VALA2008 Session 11 Owen Podcast 10 MB

Abstract

The purpose of library websites is evolving. Deakin University Library originally undertook to redevelop its website to provide improved access to information, resources and services and to better meet clients in their space. The first phase redeveloped the library homepage and top level link pages. During this time, social networking applications were becoming part of higher education. There were new choices: the Library website and search tools could undergo significant metamorphosis; adopt Web2.0 functionality and move from being the public face of the online library to the public space of its online community, with students and staff as active partners in its development.

 

VALA2008 Session 12 Murray

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperBuilding Web scale for libraries

VALA 2008 CONCURRENT SESSION 12: ILMS
Thursday 7 February 2008 10:45 – 11:15
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2008-proceedings/vala2008-session-12-murray

Robin Murray

Vice President, Global Product Management, OCLC
http://www.oclc.org

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VALA2008 Session 12 Murray Paper 246.77 KB
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VALA2008 Session 12 Murray Podcast 12 MB

Abstract

Picture a virtual city of key internet payers. Google has a main street address as do Yahoo! and MSN, but where do libraries reside? Change is afoot based on a need from libraries and suppliers alike to reduce redundancy and generate what we define as Web scale services. This paper explores what we mean by Web scale and how libraries can achieve it.

VALA2008 Session 12 Sokvitne

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperAll for naught: using existing bibliographic data to deliver modern search tools

VALA 2008 CONCURRENT SESSION 12: ILMS
Thursday 7 February 2008 11:20 – 11:50
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2008-proceedings/vala2008-session-12-sokvitne

Lloyd Sokvitne

Senior Manager (Digital Strategies), State Library of Tasmania
http://www.statelibrary.tas.gov.au

Jan Lavelle

Senior Librarian (Systems Development), State Library of Tasmania
http://www.statelibrary.tas.gov.au

Carmel Denholm

Senior Cataloguer (Metadata), State Library of Tasmania
http://www.statelibrary.tas.gov.au

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VALA2008 Session 12 Sokvitne Paper 368.29 KB
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VALA2008 Session 12 Sokvitne Podcast 10 MB

Abstract

In 2006, the State Library of Tasmania undertook a process to develop a facet-enabled catalogue that would replace its traditional OPAC. It became apparent that questions concerning which facets to provide were inextricably linked with the quality and availability of data from the traditional bibliographic database. This data reflected internal and external cataloguing policies that had varied over a number of years, and the State Library found that it had to extensively correct, modify, manipulate and create a range of data in order to provide the facets it required. This paper describes those processes in detail.