libraries and the network platform: a new cooperative context lorcan dempsey 2006 oclc/frederick g....

Libraries and the network platform: a new cooperative context

Lorcan Dempsey

2006 OCLC/Frederick G. Kilgour Lecture in Information and Library Science. The School ofInformation and Library Science,The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

22 February 2006

Overview

Overview

The library and the network

The long tail and libraries

Network level

The balance between the library and the network moves to the network…

1. Resource sharing2. A&I and ejournals3. Time for the next step: the network

platform

Why?

1. Organizational redevelopment in a ‘flat’ world: from vertical integration to horizontal sourcing around shared processes

2. Long tail information infrastructure: building services for a network world

3. Focus on distinctive impact: build services around user workflow rather than expecting workflow to build around the library

Attention …

Trajectory: from vertical integration …

Collaboratively sourced

Third party

… to collaborative and third party sourcing around shared processes and data

Sourced

Ross Atkinson: The law of local access optimization

“Each service a library develops, every action it takes, every dollar it spends, has but one purpose – and that is to enhance local access to and use of relevant information. Any library resources used for any other purpose than the enhancement of local access and utility is misused.”

Sourcing decisions

CatalogingResource sharingA&IVirtual reference ‘Content layer’: storage and

preservation solutionsDiscoveryOn demand library systemsRegistriesKnowledge bases

Moving to the network level?

Overview

The library and the network

The long tail

The network level

The long tail

The long tail

Scarce shelf, spectrum or theater space drove behaviors

Locally assembled material available to local users

But …

A new information environment in the the network world ..

Long tail dynamic

Aggregate supply

Unified discovery Reduce transaction

costs: supply chain Consolidated

inventory Business intelligence

Aggregate demand

Mobilize and connect a large number of potential users on open web

E.g Google ads Platforms for others to

build on: APIs, browser tools, etc

Libraries and the long tail dynamic

Aggregate supply

Discovery? D2D Supply chain? Business

intelligence? Inventory?

Aggregate demand

Visible to limited users

Perceptions report

Libraries and the long tail dynamic

Aggregate supply?

1.7% of circulations are ILLs

Aggregate demand?

20% of collection accounted for 90% of use

(2 research libraries over ~4 years)

Each reader his/her book

Each book its reader

Use

RequestLocateDiscover Deliver

Example: aggregate supply: transaction costs

Each arrow is a potential added cost:In terms of attention or technical, policy, business or service gaps.

Challenges: find it?

Discovery:Find items, collections or services of interest

Fewer unified resources?

Metasearch? Where the user wants:

RSS, search engine, CMS, ….

Location:Find instances of discovered items and services on them

Catalogs Resolvers E-commerce sites

Challenges: find it?

Request:Request service

Place hold Place ILL request Initiate purchase

request, ….

Deliver:Service or item is delivered

From multiple sources

Libraries and the long tail?

1. The Library Long Tail is variably available to users.

2. Users are generally not aware of what is available to them (OCLC Perceptions Report)

3. A fragmented network presence: low gravitational pull

Overview

The library and the network

The long tail and libraries

Network level

New cooperative landscape ..

1. What would it look like if more services move to the network level?

2. Create systemwide efficiencies and impact through shared platforms.

3. Focus on creating local value: mobilizing information resources in user environments

Discovery to delivery

Find it

Get it

‘Paypal for libraries’

Things to think about:OpenWorldCatOCLC Fee ManagementPicture AustraliaGoogle ScholarRegistry of resolvers

Content management layer

To think about …JSTORCRLOff-site storageMass digitizationCoordinated LOCKSS

Business intelligence

To think about:Consolidated holdings?Consolidated usage data?Consolidated circ data?Consolidated resolution data?Consolidated download data?….

Directory

Collections

Libraries

Licenses

Terms, schema

Services

Institutions

Information objects

Policies

Move to the network level … organizational development

California Digital LibraryOhioLink, Pines, …RLG, OCLC, …Ithaka (JSTOR, ArtStor)DEF, NLA, …Open Content Alliance

Google scholarScopusOaisterOpen WorldCat

And now …

ChangeScrutiny of available organizations Change patterns of working

OCLC

Fred Kilgour