Roy TennantThe California Digital Library

The Hybrid Library:From a State of Disarray

to a State of Grace

The Hybrid Library:From a State of Disarray

to a State of Grace

The Hybrid LibraryThe Hybrid Library

Libraries are, and will remain, a varied and complex mix of collections and services

Collections will continue to be in print, electronic, and digital formats

Services will need to be both physical and virtual

Staff will be called upon to gain new competencies and fulfill new roles

We must combine use of technology with our essential public service mission

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

— A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens

Libraries are in TroubleLibraries are in Trouble

Overall, usage is declining across the board (circulation, reference, etc.)

The common perception is that the Internet can now do it all

This may lead some to assume that libraries do not need as much support

The Common PerceptionThe Common Perception

The RealityThe Reality Too many information sources and too

many places to go check Not enough assistance at the time and

place they need it Not enough ways to filter, sort, and

otherwise narrow in on what is needed Not enough awareness of print resources Too enticing to think that which is easy to

find is good enough Our users have never needed us

more than they do now!

How Can We Be There for Them?How Can We Be There for Them?

Think creatively about how to better serve their needs (clean slate thinking)

Work cooperatively to develop robust services:– Cooperative online reference– Gateways, union catalogs, and crawled

indexes Be in their face and out of their way

Being “Out of Their Way”Being “Out of Their Way” Our users simply want to get their

work done Over-complicated search systems

hinder access for the majority — only librarians like to search, everyone else likes to find!

We must bring together access to multiple information resources

RemoteCatalogs

LocalCatalog Local

WebSite

RemoteWebSites

CD-ROMDatabases

VendorDbs

RemoteDigitalContent

LocalDigitalContent

RemoteCatalogs

LocalCatalog Local

WebSite

RemoteWebSites

CD-ROMDatabases

VendorDbs

RemoteDigitalContent

LocalDigitalContent

RemoteCatalogs

LocalCatalog Local

WebSite

RemoteWebSites

CD-ROMDatabases

VendorDbs

RemoteDigitalContent

LocalDigitalContent

RemoteCatalogs

LocalCatalog Local

WebSite

RemoteWebSites

CD-ROMDatabases

VendorDbs

RemoteDigitalContent

LocalDigitalContent

RemoteCatalogs

LocalCatalog Local

WebSite

RemoteWebSites

CD-ROMDatabases

VendorDbs

RemoteDigitalContent

LocalDigitalContent

RemoteCatalogs

LocalCatalog Local

WebSite

RemoteWebSites

CD-ROMDatabases

VendorDbs

RemoteDigitalContent

LocalDigitalContent

RemoteCatalogs

LocalCatalog Local

WebSite

RemoteWebSites

CD-ROMDatabases

VendorDbs

RemoteDigitalContent

LocalDigitalContent

Gateway SchematicGateway Schematic

User Interface

Pre- and Post-Processing Engine

LibraryCatalog

JournalArticle

DatabasesWeb Sites

DigitalLibrary

Collections

InteractiveAssistance

Being “Out of Their Way”: HowBeing “Out of Their Way”: How

Simplify the front end Complicate the back end:

– Search more sources– Pre-process the query– Post-process the results– Offer options for filtering, sorting

Provide ways the user can control and personalize their interface

• http://searchlight.cdlib.org/cgi-bin/searchlight

Being “In Their Face”: Why?Being “In Their Face”: Why?

Many catalogs and search systems are difficult to understand and use

Users need help at the moment they get stuck — email is inadequate

Unless assistance is obvious and convenient, the user will remain stuck

Other, readily available information sources, can be convenient but inadequate (web search engines, for example)

Being “In Their Face”Being “In Their Face”

Getting it RightGetting it Right

Only we can bring together access to the entire information universe

Only we are skilled at evaluation, selection, organization, delivery, and preservation of information

Only we can combine the power of the Internet with excellent public service

How to Get it RightHow to Get it Right

Strong and effective print collections Digital content when and where it

makes sense More information about print material

in our catalogs Strong integration of print and digital Easy and effective pathways to good

Internet resources

What it Means to Get it RightWhat it Means to Get it Right

It will be the very technologies that threaten us that will be our salvation

By getting it right, we will be more effective and more appreciated than ever before