E-Resource Use and the Role of

the University Library

Objectives
Review the factors that affect and
determine the use of e-resources
Explain the part played by the university
library in enabling effective and sustainable
use


Objectives (continued)

Indicate constraints under which libraries
work
Suggest ways that academics and
administrators can assist the library
Issues in E-Resource Use
Technology
Costs
Management
Training
Content
Medium
Technology essentials
Dedicated Internet connection with
sufficient bandwidth
Campus backbone, LAN, WAN, and
peripheral hardware, e.g. printers
Computer workstations
Appropriate software
Support - maintenance, trouble shooting
Costs
Capital (infrastructure) investment: network,
bandwidth, hardware (computers, printers, etc.), software
Maintenance: insurance, repair, depreciation,
replacement, updating
Staff salaries
Training: staff and students
Consumables: journals, databases, document
delivery, paper, ink cartridges
Examples of costs
Bandwidth:
Makerere: $22,000 p.m. for 1.5Mbps/768Kbps
Univ. Ghana: $10,000 p.m. for 1Mbps/512Kbps
Infrastructure
Set up an IT network: $75 per student
Maintain an IT network: $50 per student p.a.
Computer
Initial purchase price of a Windows Computer is 20% of
total cost of ownership over five years


Examples of costs (continued)
Journal subscriptions
Average per title in 2003:
Social Sciences $758
Science $1,134
Medicine $661
Big deals (2004)
Blackwells Synergy: 670 titles $630,000
Springer (Kluwer): 1,200 titles $840,601
Wiley: 520 titles $654,000
Management
Selection and purchase
variety of publishers and aggregators
different delivery options
annual subscriptions
Legal implications
licences and copyright
Organization of information
guides to relevant resources
archiving
evaluation of use

Training
Users need to:
know how to use a PC
how to search for and find information resources
be aware of resources that are available
Different users have different needs:
academics, researchers, librarians, students,
administrators
Different training strategies required for
different users

Content
Much WWW content is Western-orientated
More locally produced content is required:
online indexes to locally published material, e.g. AJOL,
CARINDEX
online local journals
networked institutional repositories

Medium
Physical collections can still be important:
Print textbooks
Core journals in hard copy
Archives
CD-ROM for back files of journals,
databases for information retrieval


Role of the University Library
Access to Internet and PCs
Acquisition and administration of e-resources
Guides to relevant e-resources
User education
Assistance in setting up VLEs
Integration of traditional and digital materials

Access to Internet and PCs
Adequate number of PCs and peripherals
recommended library standard: 1 PC:25 students
Supervised facilities
trouble shooting, long opening hours, timetabled computer
use
Authentication
Bandwidth conservation
Selection of E-Resources
Is content suitable for programme needs?
Is online the most appropriate medium?
What are the licensing arrangements?
What are the costs?
Which delivery option is the most cost-effective?
What are the archiving arrangements?
Is e-journal identical to print? Does it have links to other
sites?



Purchase of E-Resources
Enter annual subscriptions
Negotiate best terms
Share costs with other libraries
Use library consortia to bring down costs
Monitoring and Evaluation
Collect statistics of online resource use:
who uses, how and when
What is the cost per article downloaded?
Decide whether a particular subscription is
worth its annual cost or whether the
information could be obtained more cheaply
by another delivery option
Guides to E- Resources
What e-resources are available through the
library?
Which are the most appropriate resources?
Library portals
User Education
Formal training in information literacy for u-
g students, combining IT skills with
information handling skills
Advanced subject-oriented training for p-g
students
Seminars at faculty or departmental level to
introduce new e-resources
One-to one workstation sessions

ICT-enabled Learning
Input at departmental and faculty levels to
curriculum development and programme
assessment
Provide library web pages with course
related resources, e.g. list of journals held,
full text of relevant articles, study guides for
those undertaking research
Integration of Print and E-
Resources
Selection policy that combines, compares
and contrasts all media
Integrated access to all library holdings,
e.g. through an OPAC (Online Public
Access Catalogue)
Constraints
Lack of funding
leading to deteriorating buildings and collections, decline
in use, demoralized library staff and marginalization of the
library
Lack of knowledge and skills in library staff
Lack of understanding and knowledge
amongst university staff about information
access and delivery
What Can You Do?
Some suggestions:
Become an ICT-champion, promoting the
use of e-resources in your department and
university
Become your departmental representative
on the Senate Library Committee
Campaign for the library to get its fair share
of the university budget
What Can You Do? (cont.)
Encourage the inclusion of funds for library
resources in project proposals and budgets
Talk to librarians and explain how you need
them to assist in your teaching and
research
Summary
Providing access to e-resources is a costly
and complex process
The library impacts everywhere on the
implementation and use of e-resources
The library requires funds, skills and
university-wide support to fulfil its role

Thank you
Any questions?