European Sources Online – the way ahead

Subscribers in Wales will be pleased to know that ESO will continue to be freely available to all public organisations and individuals for the rest of 2013 using the current access arrangements.

From 2014 we are changing the business model and editorial strategy of ESO so that it will become a free access service to anyone throughout the world.  At that point we will stop authentication procedures to gain access to ESO so there will be no need to notify us of IP addresses or request password access.

To discuss some of the thinking behind the changes taking place with ESO and to refresh you on what ESO can offer to seekers of European information within Wales, we are holding a short training session in Cardiff Central Library at 09:30 to 10:30 on Thursday 9 May 2013 in the Central Training Suite.

This session is part of an exciting day for Cardiff Central Library as they will be formally launching a new Europe Direct Information Centre on 9 May 2013 (Europe Day) and you are invited to take part in this event. To reserve your place both at the ESO Seminar and the wider event please email The Information Department at Cardiff Central Library infolibrary@cardiff.gov.uk or ring 029 2078 0963 / 0964.    Even if you cannot attend the ESO Seminar at 09:30 Ian Thomson, Executive Editor of ESO will be manning a Cardiff EDC stand in the Central Library all day and can answer any queries you might have.

Ian Thomson, ESO Executive Editor
European Sources Online
Information Services, Cardiff University
Email: eso@cardiff.ac.uk
Web: www.europeansources.info

Walk-in Access Wales Toolkit now available

The Walk-in Access Wales toolkit, funded by CyMAL: Museums Archives Libraries Wales, is now available to read, in English or Welsh, via the links below:

Walk-in Access Wales Toolkit

Pecyn Cymorth Mynediad Cerdded i Mewn Cymru

The toolkit has also been added to the Walk-in Access Wales blog on a separate page, entitled, “Walk-in Access Wales Toolkit“.

Thank you to all the steering group members for their contribution to the toolkit and to the project as a whole.

Bronwen Blatchford, Walk-in Access Wales Project Officer

Welsh Higher Education Electronic Library (WHEEL)

Welsh Higher Education Electronic Library (WHEEL)
A new steering group has convened to look at further development of collaborative purchase of e-resources in Wales:

• Mark Hughes (Swansea – Chair)
• Janet Peters (Cardiff)
• Sue Hodges (Bangor)
• Gillian McDonald (Cardiff)
• Julie Neenan (Cardiff Metropolitan)
• Mieko Yamaguchi (Bangor)

Welsh Higher Education Libraries Shared LMS Services

Link to the full report here:
http://blogs.cf.ac.uk/sharedlms/resource/JISC-Shared-LMS-Report.pdf

In July 2012 WHELF successfully obtained funding from the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) to explore the potential for a shared Library Management System across all higher education institutions and the NHS libraries in Wales.

The Library Systems Shared Services Feasibility Study (Wales) would provide a practical vision and roadmap for a shared model; exploring opportunities for integration and collaboration across the WHELF community.

The project was part of the JISC Library Systems Programme; which is exploring the significant changes in the Library systems market; including the development of ‘next-generation’, unified library systems which are seeking to bridge the gap between print and electronic resources, and the emergence of open source and community systems in the library market.

Given the complexity of the programme across all WHELF institutions, and the limited timescale associated with the project, the group concentrated on the most prevalent and practical issues for a shared all Wales HE library management system in broad terms:

·     A set of high-level agreed consortium requirements for a shared LMS.

·     A proposed governance model for the consortium.

·     High level recommendations on integration requirements for local systems; map communications standards which are applicable to the project against standards in use by suppliers.

·     A business case for a Wales-wide consortium LMS, including cost matrices for the different approaches presented.

·     Recommendations on the most cost-effective approach for software, hosting and ongoing management of the LMS.

Approach 

The project took the approach of engaging with all project partners to understand their requirements and strategic goals for the development of their LMS.  The project manager visited each partner site and conducted interviews with key staff – including Systems Librarians and IT staff, senior managers and other library staff.

The project has also engaged with LMS suppliers (including open source ‘vendors’) to understand their likely range and scale of costs for the provision of next generation systems, either hosted by the supplier or hosted at an institutional on behalf of the consortium.

Project outcome and next steps 

In February 2013 the final report of the project including recommendations was presented to WHELF at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.

The report was accepted in its entirety and WHELF have agreed that they want to pursue the option of developing a shared LMS inline with the reports recommendations.

Moving forward a Task and Finish group is being set up to agree the outline timescales  and decision-making process for the tender process. It will also firm up on likely overall costs and governance approach.

Recommendations taken forward

The Project has recommended that setting up an All-Wales Consortium with formal governance is the best option for provision of a shared service.  This in practice will require the consortium to formally agree which processes, working practices and configurations will be adhered to by all members as a whole.   A cloud solution hosted by a vendor (or open source vendor) is the preferred option, because this will provide the most cost-effective resilient solution.  A clear vision statement on the vision for shared LMS services in Wales will be required in order to ensure clarity of purpose and to provide a compelling statement of intent for senior stakeholders and staff to achieve buy-in to the strategic direction proposed.

The diversity of the institutions is recognised and acknowledged.  Additionally institutions are at various stages of their LMS lifecycle.  Therefore it is understood that the timing of any tender process undertaken by WHELF may not fit with other strategic priorities of individual institutions.  It will be essential to identify this prior to the commencement of any tender exercise, as misleading suppliers as to the size of the contract could lead to compensation claims.

Given the immaturity of the current next generation market it is recommended that the tender exercise commences in Jan 2014 at the earliest.  This provides both time for the market to continue to develop and also the preparation of a single set of requirements and tender documentation between now and this date. This time will also be required for obtaining institutional buy-in and developing governance structures.

A phased approach to implementation. It is anticipated that the first implementations will be no sooner than Summer 2014.

A task and finish group should be convened to quickly put together a high level plan, costs and cost allocation (i.e. funding) for the establishment of a project team for delivery of the tender and governance stages.

WHELF Walk-In Access Wales Event

The Carmarthen Campus of University of Wales Trinity Saint David played host
to an excellent event reviewing progress and experience gained in providing
walk-in access to members of the public to subscription electronic resources
within university libraries. A wide range of librarians, mostly from higher and
further education and public library authorities, attended the event providing
lively and informed debate.

Thanks to Stephen Gregory of CILIP Wales for this excellent blog post: http://cilipcymruwales.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/walk-in-access-wales-event.html

On behalf of WHELF, huge thanks to Alison Harding (Project Manager) and Bronwen Blatchford (Project Officer) for organising the event, to Vicky Stallard and Julie Neenan for their presentations, and to everyone for their contributions.

The Benefits of Sharing: a JISC LMS Pathfinder Project

On Friday 5th October, more than thirty library staff from across Scotland met together to discuss Library Management Systems.  Facilitated by Stephanie Taylor and Sheila Cannell, this one-day event asked the question, “Would a shared library management system improve services in Scotland?”

1. What do we need from an LMS?
2. What are the benefits and drawbacks to sharing?
3. Would a shared LMS work for Scotland?

The write-up of the event has now been published: http://libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk/benefitsofsharing/the-lms-day/

These discussions in Scotland are very relevant to WHELF …. our own shared LMS project is well underway and will report in the spring: http://blogs.cf.ac.uk/sharedlms/

Written Statement – Learning in Digital Wales

Chair of WHELF, Andrew Green, was a member of the Task and Finish Group which published its report entitled Find it, Make it, Use it, Share it – Learning in Digital Wales on 29 March 2012.

The Minister has considered the wide ranging recommendations in this report and has agreed an action plan for the use of digital technology to improve performance in schools.

He is establishing a National Digital Learning Council to provide expert and strategic guidance on the use of digital technology in teaching and learning in Wales.

In December 2012 he will be launching a new bilingual learning platform for Wales, for which the working title is Hwb.

National Digital Collection – Hwb will provide the online home for a national digital repository of teaching and learning resources.  This will include the thousands of curriculum and good practice resources which have previously been developed for our teachers’ website NGfL Cymru, which will be migrated to Hwb in December.

Hwb will host resources which can be used on a variety of platforms.  One element of Hwb, however, will be the use of the free iTunes University platform (iTunes U) in order to showcase the best educational resources and activities in Wales.

Hwb will also provide access to the wide range of free educational tools and resources which have been developed through the Microsoft Partners in Learning initiative.

Professional Development: Digital Technology and Computing
Establishing a team of Digital Leaders which will be drawn from the best practitioners using digital technology in Wales.

A Culture of Digital Citizenship
The world wide web provides a tremendous learning resource for children and young people.  As well as access to a vast range of information and educational tools, it provides an opportunity for learners across the world to share their own ideas, experience and creativity with one another.  We need to help learners develop the skills, confidence and maturity to navigate this new world and make good use of the opportunities it provides.  Most importantly, we also want to ensure that our children are safe online.

The new digital learning programme for Wales will, however, take a new approach to the use of social networking technologies in education.  Through this programme, and through Hwb, we will be encouraging schools to make full use of social technologies in order to engage learners and improve learning outcomes.

http://wales.gov.uk/about/cabinet/cabinetstatements/2012/learningindigitalwales/?lang=en

Shared LMS – new WHELF project to be funded by JISC

WHELF has been successful in its bid to JISC for a pathfinder project to investigate a broad range of potential new models and approaches to library systems and services.

Shared LMS: Business Case Evaluation
Building on the work of the earlier ‘WHELF: Sharing a Library Management System’ feasibility report the project will explore potential benefits and pain points inherent in a move from distributed to centralised hosting and infrastructure models for a suite of library systems software, while building a possible overall business case for such a move by the HEIs within the WHELF consortium.

The project will be led by Cardiff University on behalf of WHELF.

There will be close links with the project being funded in Scotland:
The Benefits of Sharing (How would a Shared Library Management System improve services in Scotland?)
This project will contribute towards a new vision for library systems by investigating the following question: “How would a shared library management system improve services in Scotland?”

http://infteam.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2012/05/30/the-future-of-library-systems-new-projects/

‘Find it, make it, use it, share it’

Education Minister Leighton Andrews has today (29 March) received the final report from the Digital Classroom Teaching Task and Finish Group which sets out how Welsh schools can deliver digital classrooms in a digital age.

http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/publications/wagreviews/digital/?lang=en

Led by Janet Hayward, currently headteacher at Cadoxton Primary School, the group considered what digital materials work in the classroom and how the Welsh Government can work towards all schools in Wales being able to deliver digitally.

The report makes a number of recommendations including the creation of a hub to enable learners and teachers to share best practice resources. The report also recommends the creation of a national digital collection of teaching and learning resources.

The Minister will now consider all of the recommendations set down in the report to see how technology in the classroom can be strengthened for the benefit of Wales’ learners.

Education Minister Leighton Andrews said:

“New technologies can offer new approaches to engage learners. Digital content, wireless access in classrooms, cloud computing and mobile handheld touch screen devices can revolutionise the way in which we communicate and share information with each other in the 21st Century.

“It’s not unreasonable for learners, parents and teachers to expect that the technology they use in their daily life can also be used in education. Across schools in Wales you will see an array of technology being used innovatively for learning and teaching.

“It is important that all learners and teachers have access to appropriate technology and can use it with confidence. We know there’s good practice out there, but as with many things in education, it’s important that schools learn and share the best ideas.

“I want Wales to a take a lead on digital inclusion and digital learning and this report shows us how we can achieve that goal.”

Chair of the Task and Finish Group Janet Hayward said:

“In Wales it is clear that there are some real pockets of outstanding practice in the use of technology to enhance learning outcomes.  We have a strong platform to build on.

“The recommendations do not provide a specific template of how a “digital classroom” should look. The recommendations provide more of a vision of how learners and teachers need to engage with and be supported in their use of technology and how we can develop and share world class content.  Hence the name of the report – Find it, make it, use it, share it – learning in digital Wales.

“We’re delighted to be able to present the Minister with our final report, it’s been a labour of love for the group. We are hugely optimistic that it will mark the beginning of a journey that will secure the best learning opportunities for Wales.”

National knowledge service

A UK-wide digital library for British higher education is in reach, says Ann Rossiter (SCONUL), if we can sort the licensing out.

The UK’s status as a world leader in research depends on its institutions having the best possible access to the full range of published work. Although we currently rank alongside the US and outstrip most European and Asian nations, we risk being overtaken in the next decade if we do not grasp the possibilities of new technology.

For the first time, a national digital library has become a realistic possibility, both technologically and economically. Such a shared service, delivering a national core collection of monographs and journals, would allow the UK to maintain its lead in delivering the best content electronically to all students, researchers and academics at higher education institutions. It would also overcome a significant barrier to new entrants to the higher education market: further education colleges would be able to buy into it, rather than having to build up their own individual libraries. The student experience would be improved by resources accessed through a national catalogue.

THES – read more