The Emerging Virtual Research Library

The organization, functioning and the role of libraries in university communities continue to change dramatically. This volume addresses the issue by providing insight into the current changes and developments within the area of library science.

The chapters included in this book were developed from papers presented at "The Emerging Research Library: Our Role in the Digital Future" Conference sponsored by the University of Oklahoma Libraries. These chapters explore the emergence of a new form of academic library and the challenging issues we face as a profession because of the changing role of the academic library. Issues discussed include the changing profession, new publishing models, the reallocation of spaces, the preservation of past knowledge, changing user behaviours, and improving access to information. This book also provides possible suggestions for helping academic libraries transition into the future, including re-evaluation of professional expectations and abandoning past practices, enhancing the use of metadata, responding to user behaviours, long-term planning for preservation, the promotion of open access initiatives, and extending professional inclusion and collaboration. Each chapter engages the question of how academic libraries will adapt to the challenges arising from their new role as facilitators of research in the information age. Together these chapters present an impressive set of reflections on the changes that are necessary for emerging research libraries to flourish in an increasingly digital future, and this book is recommended reading for scholars and professional librarians. This book was published as a special issue of the Journal of Library Administration.

This book provides strategic insights drawn from librarians who are meeting the challenge of digital scholarship, utilizing the latest technologies and creating new knowledge in partnership with researchers, scholars, colleagues and students. The impact of digital on libraries has extended far beyond its transformation of content, to the development of services, the extension and enhancement of access to research and to teaching and learning systems. As a result,the fluidity of the digital environment can often be at odds with the more systematic approaches to development traditionally taken by academic libraries, which has also led to a new generation of roles and shifting responsibilities with staff training and development often playing ‘catch-up’. One of the key challenges to emerge is how best to demonstrate expertise in digital scholarship which draws on the specialist technical knowledge of the profession and maintains and grows its relevance for staff, students and researchers. This edited collection spans a wide range of contrasting perspectives, contexts, insights and case studies, which explore the relationships between digital scholarship, contemporary academic libraries and professional practice. The book demonstrates that there are opportunities to be bold, remodel, trial new approaches and reposition the library as a key partner in the process of digital scholarship. Content covered includes: • the impact of digital scholarship on organizational strategies • an insight into new services and roles, partnerships and collaborations • case studies exploring new technologies to support research and development • new approaches to service delivery • re-visioning of space, physical and virtual. This is an essential guide for librarians and information professionals involved in digital scholarship and communication, who wish to extend their awareness of emerging practices, as well as library administrators and students studying library and information science.

Interest in m-library services has grown exponentially in the last five years, as libraries are recognizing the potential of ubiquitous and increasingly sophisticated mobile devices. Building on the highly regarded M-Libraries: libraries on the move to provide virtual access, this new book brings together research and case studies from all corners of the globe on the development and delivery of library services and content to mobile devices. Based on the proceedings of the Second International M-Libraries Conference held in Vancouver, this new collection of contributions from authorities in the field serves to demonstrate the ingenuity and creativity of developers and service providers in this area, ranging from the innovative application of basic mobile phone technology to provide information services in remote parts of the globe lacking internet access, to the development of new tools and technologies which harness the full functionality of popular mobile phones. Key topics include: enhancing library access through the use of mobile technology the university library digital reading room mobile access for workplace and language training the role of an agent supplying content on mobile devices cyberlearning and reference services via mobile devices podcasting as an outreach tool service models for information therapy services delivered to mobiles bibliographic ontology and e-books health literacy and healthy action in the connected age a collaborative approach to support flexible, blended and technology-enhanced learning The collection demonstrates the emergence of an evidence base for m-libraries, with a number of contributions presenting the results of user surveys and studies of user behaviour. Readership: This highly topical book should be read by information professionals in all sectors, and by policy makers, researchers, developers, publishers and suppliers. It will also be of great interest to library and information studies students and newcomers to the profession.

Emerging Technologies for Librarians: A Practical Approach to Innovation focuses on the practical applications of emerging technologies in libraries, defining the technologies in the context of their use in real situations. Each chapter includes an overview of the use of emerging technologies in a particular work area that is followed by a list of relevant applications. Chapters cover work areas such as advertising, distance learning, metadata. and digital libraries, and also focus on applications, including mobile computing and web conferencing, followed by a conclusion. This book serves as a guide for those interested in learning about, and implementing, the available technologies that enhance library services, and also lists and discusses the types of emerging technologies that are available for a specific area of work. Discusses and reviews practical applications of emerging technologies for librarians Explores what emerging technologies are available in particular areas of library services Describes and evaluates applications Connects library work to innovations