Building Bridges Between Experts and Communities with Subscribe to Open
VALA2022 Vendor Presentation
Andrea Lopez
Director of Sales
Annual Reviews
Richard Gallagher
President and Editor-in-Chief
Annual Reviews
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Abstract
The world’s problems – at local, national, regional, and global scales – require research assessment and solutions. However, trust in experts is low, public understanding of the scientific method is poor and misinformation/fake news is widespread. Researchers are often uncomfortable in the public eye. Research is specialized, problems are interdisciplinary. Academic institutions and academic publishers do not place a strong enough emphasis on outreach. We need more bridges from research and academia to policy makers, businesses and workers, educators and students, doctors and patients, the media, and civil society.
We will give a brief description of a non-APC open access model, Subscribe to Open, that supports open access and open science and helps to guarantee the long- term scientific independence of research through a diversity of publishing models. Supporting the values of the scholarly reviews to the larger community and helping to meet the growing demand for open access publications, Annual Reviews first piloted Subscribe to Open in 2020. The model has been endorsed by cOAlitions S and has been adopted by a number of publishers who have come together to achieve fair and sustainable access to scholarly information.
Biography
Andrea Lopez is the Director of Sales, Partnerships & Initiatives at Annual Reviews. She has over 30 years of experience in academic publishing sales, 22 of those in STM publishing. Since the inception of the Site License program at Annual Reviews in 1999, she has been responsible for the sales and distribution of Annual Reviews, and most recently for the implementation of the Subscribe to Open Pilot. She is a founding member of the Subscribe to Open Community of Practice.
Gale Presents: Udemy – On Demand Courses for In Demand Skills
VALA2022 Vendor Presentation
Damian Almeida
Training Executive
Gale: A Cengage Company
Steve Sutcliffe
Enterprise Account Executive
Udemy
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Abstract
One of the greatest challenges lifelong learners face can also be their greatest opportunity. The employment landscape is continuously changing, students and workers are being tasked to learn new technologies and skills to stay competitive. The sudden outbreak of the deadly disease Covid-19 caused by a Corona Virus (SARS-CoV-2) shook the entire world, shifting the focus from classrooms and in-person training to remote learning as we try to maintain social distancing.
Gale, a Cengage Company have partnered with Udemy Business to offer Gale Presents: Udemy empowering lifelong learners to keep up with these demands, and elevate their skill set, on a digital platform that connects them to online up to date courses taught by world-class instructors. Gale Presents: Udemy connects students and workers to thousands of video-based online learning courses in technology, business and personal development by offering On Demand Courses for In Demand Skills.
Everyone’s learning journey is different and Gale Presents: Udemy courses offer’s lifelong learners the flexibility to choose on demand online courses for in-demand skills; a learner can schedule or plan their time for completion of courses available online. Learners can learn anytime and anywhere, thereby developing new skills in the process leading to life-long learning.
High-quality content alone isn’t sufficient. The Udemy Business marketplace content model ensures that they always have the most recent and high-quality content that makes learning enjoyable. Covering the latest skills on the most important topics learners need to stay ahead of the curve.
Udemy Business also offers thousands of courses taught by instructors in their native language (French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish). This top collection, curated from Udemy.com, helps learners get where they want to be.
Biography
As the Training Executive for Gale, Damian Almeida is responsible for assisting Gale’s customers with any training that is required on the Gale product line. Damian is also responsible for The Gale Digital Scholar Lab in the ANZ region.
Playing Nice: Bridging the Gap between Two Core Components of in Academia
VALA2022 Vendor Presentation
Tamar Sadeh
Teaching and Learning Solutions, Vice President
Ex Libris, a ProQuest Company
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Abstract
For many years, the technological worlds of learning management systems and library management systems have developed on separate tracks, with no technical bridge between them. While course materials have always been crucial to successful teaching and learning, the connection between the reading lists in syllabi and the library that provides the readings—physically or electronically—was supported more or less manually. As a result, finding and accessing readings posed a challenge for students, and libraries often lacked information about teaching and learning needs.
Over the last decade, course resource list solutions emerged as the missing link between libraries and learning technologies. Leveraging the LTI standard to integrate with learning management systems, resource list solutions enable libraries to offer services to academics and students in the right context—within the learning management system. Informed of the materials selected by academics, librarians can ensure the materials’ availability. Resource list solutions have also transformed the user experience of the teaching staff, who can easily compile resource lists from library and non-library materials of all types without worrying about broken links and copyright compliance.
The gap between libraries and learning technologies is not only about technology. For example, whereas libraries never track individual patrons’ usage (unless a library service requires this information), learning management systems focus on the relationship between academics and students and diligently monitor student engagement. And while the library service culminates in the delivery of a resource to the end user, learning management systems look at the ongoing interaction between academics and students.
Several ideas related to these gaps were raised by the Australian Leganto community and triggered the incorporation of new features in the Ex Libris Leganto® resource list solution. The first involves student engagement data (such as citation views, click-throughs to full text, and comments), which had previously been kept anonymous at all institutions. Libraries can now opt to provide academics with each student’s engagement data, the same type of information that the academics are used to obtaining from the learning management system. Although librarians cannot see this data, they can export it to institutional learning analytics platforms. Research carried out by Ex Libris and Curtin University shows that student engagement with course materials is a significant factor in identifying students at risk.
Other features that were added to the Leganto set of tools are Social Reading and Read & Respond assignments. These features support active learning, thus enhancing students’ engagement with each other, the academic, and course materials.
This session will expand on these new developments, which extend library technology’s options for “playing nice.” Not only do libraries provide resources needed for teaching and learning, but, with the same technology, libraries can also participate in institutional initiatives around student engagement, retention, and success. By transforming the static resource lists of the past to dynamic, active lists, today’s technology positions the library as an integral partner in academic teaching and learning.
Biography
With a degree in computer science and mathematics, Tamar Sadeh began her career developing search engines for structured and unstructured data. At Ex Libris, a ProQuest company, Tamar has taken an active role in the definition and marketing of the company’s various technologies since she joined in 1999. In the past few years, she has been leading the Company’s initiatives around teaching and learning. Tamar holds a doctorate from City University London’s School of Informatics. In parallel to her work at Ex Libris, Tamar is a narrator for audiobooks at the Central Library for the Blind.
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Abstract
Metadata is very important for libraries as there is a strong connection between good metadata and the ability of users to find the materials they need. Libraries invest a lot of effort and money in getting, fixing and creating high-quality metadata records for their collections.
This time consuming and costly task becomes even more difficult with the subscription models of electronic materials where libraries buy thousands of items at one time and it becomes impossible to review and improve the metadata of such big volumes. Add to that the fact that libraries are now trying to adapt their metadata to answer new needs and support modern technologies and search engines, in order to improve the exposure of the library materials and the discovery experience of the end users.
A lot of effort has been invested by the community in trying to find the right direction and technology to create metadata records in a way which will allow them to be connected to the world – to where the users are.
In this session we will review a new meta data platform by Ex Libris that is planned as a free, open, community-based platform to provide high-quality records in an efficient way and to support both existing and modern formats. Join this session to learn about this new revolutionary platform to share metadata openly with the community and make the library collections accessible in an effective way and in a modern experience.
Controlled Digital Lending Role in Ex Libris Products
VALA2022 Vendor Presentation
Daniel Greenberg
Product Manager
Ex Libris, a ProQuest Company
Judith Fraenkel
Product Manager
Ex Libris, a ProQuest Company
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Abstract
Ex Libris is working full steam on the development of new functions that will increase the compatibility of the company’s library software solutions with controlled digital lending. Controlled digital lending (CDL) is a practice that enables libraries to lend a digital copy of a physical resource in a “lend like print” manner—that is, in the same way in which they lend the physical resource itself.
The Controlled Digital Lending by Libraries group has defined three “core principles” of CDL: “A library must own a legal copy of the physical book, either by purchase or gift; the library must maintain an ‘owned to loaned’ ratio, simultaneously lending no more copies than it legally owns; the library must use technical measures to ensure that the digital file cannot be copied or redistributed”.
CDL enables libraries to cater to patrons with differing needs, such as a print disability or difficulty in accessing a library building.
In August 2021, a new tool was released as part of Ex Libris Alma® Digital, enabling a librarian to easily make CDL resources available for short-term use. The key principle of CDL is maintaining the own-to-loan ratio between the number of copies—both digital and physical—that the library holds and the number of concurrent copies in circulation.
To adhere to that principle, the librarian sets parameters for the number of concurrent users and the amount of time that the patron may use the resource. When the number of copy limit is met, students can register for the resource’s waiting list and be automatically notified when their turn comes. Technical mechanisms enable the library to prevent redistribution of the resource.
In addition to CDL functionalities that are already part of Ex Libris solutions, the company is planning to implement CDL for general circulation loans, and through the Ex Libris Rapido™ discovery-to-delivery resource sharing platform.
Ex Libris maintains a strategy of working with its customer community to ensure that the company’s solutions address customers’ needs. A community-led advisory group has been established to create a roadmap for implementing more CDL capabilities in Ex Libris products. The advisory group members bring to the table a broad range of expertise on CDL workflows and copyright issues.
In this session we will describe the various CDL services already implemented and draw out Ex Libris’ roadmap in this area for single libraries and resource sharing between libraries.
Biography
Daniel Greenberg is the Product manager of Alma Digital and Rosetta, Ex Libris’ digital asset management solutions for libraries, archives, special collections and more. Responsible for positioning Ex Libris as a lead player in the latest digital trends at libraries, resulting in an industry-focused and innovative roadmap. Previous experience includes many years of developing SaaS and on-premise software solutions.
Shelf-Reading Aurora Robot – solving everyday challenges with technology
VALA2022 Vendor Presentation
Veronica Steinicke
Intelligent RFID Solutions
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Abstract
The process of shelf reading is a complex, time consuming and routine library task. Misplaced and missing items within a library cause inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the catalogue. Automation of shelf reading using robotics combined with production of reports to allow for quick and accurate location of incorrectly ordered, missing or lost items reduces staff time and effort and improves catalogue accuracy and an improved patron experience.
The Senserbot Aurora robot has been used across the National Library Board of Singapore and Temasek Polytechnic for a number of years to automate the shelf reading tasks previously performed by library staff. The introduction of robotic automation to perform shelf reading tasks has saved both staff time and cost.
The Aurora robot combines hyper accurate RFID scanning with inbuilt safety features like object avoidance and detection technologies to ensure safe operation. The robot scans in excess of 6000 items per hour with a scan accuracy of 99.5% and automatically returns to recharge itself if the battery level becomes too low. Typically working overnight Aurora is capable of providing the exact location of library items at the level of shelf, tier and bay making it easy for both library staff and patrons to find books within the library. The robot also produces reports for any missing, misplaced , and items belonging to another branch or library allowing them to be easily identified.
Aurora has been used across National Library Board sites in Singapore and has added to staff and patron experience. It has reduced the need and time for manual shelf reading and at the same time saved significant staffing costs, also allowing library staff to be reallocated to more value added tasks within the service.
Biography
Veronica Steinicke is passionate about helping customer focused organisations enhance their service offering through technology. With over 20 years’ experience providing solutions to customers Veronica enjoys and values her many long term customer relationships. She now proudly leads Intelligent RFID Solutions as the Chief Executive Officer.
Paywalls and Pandemics: Improving User Experience and Ensuring Seamless Access
VALA2022 Vendor Presentation
Matt Hayes
Managing Director
Lean Library, SAGE Publications Ltd
Christos Skoutas Caroline Gauld
Lean Library, SAGE Publications Ltd
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Abstract
Easy access to content and seamless user experience can be a barrier for patrons when accessing library discovery services. There has been a shift in patron expectation in recent years as they have significantly moved away from the library as the starting point in their research process, and are more likely to use open search tools such as Google Scholar, further increasing the difficulties in resource access. A 2021 report by Lean Library found that 79% of faculty and 74% of students now begin their discovery process outside the library. A 2020 study from Evans and Schonfeld also looked at patron workflows in 117 libraries, and found that only 6% of patron discovery begins at the library.
Patrons are now used to a seamless user experience in all aspects of their online life – on platforms such as Google, Wikipedia and social media. With an increasing number of patrons now ‘digital natives’, there is an unintended digital divide emerging between patrons and the library. Users are expecting something different from the discovery than what they are getting, and their changing attitudes towards the digital experience mean the library needs to work harder to give them the expected level of experience in their discovery.
How do we improve the discovery experience for patrons, so that it better reflects their real-world preferences outside the library?
The University of Melbourne found that these user experience issues were accentuated during the pandemic, with the sudden move to remote learning. This session will explore how the University of Melbourne improved the user experience at their library throughout the pandemic, using OpenAthens and Lean Library to make access more seamless whilst maintaining data security.
Biography
Matt Hayes is Managing Director of Lean Library, Christos Skoutas is Senior Business Development Manager at OpenAthens, and Caroline Gauld is Manager of Discovery at the University of Melbourne.
