New library acquisitions

I am very pleased to announce that the library has made some recent acquisitions.  We are able to make these new purchases through a much reduced price due to federally  negotiated licensing; a three-year purchase plan and donations to library acquisitions.   The result is increased electronic access to significant journal collections, historic newspapers, parliamentary papers, and the holdings of the Center for Research Libraries.  Specifically this includes:

 

1)  Additional Blackwell, Oxford and Springer journal backfiles back to volume 1

 

2)  Several historical newspapers:

• New York Times (1851 - 2003)
• The Times Digital Archive (Times of London) - 1785 to 1985
• Wall Street Journal (1889 - 1989)
• Washington Post (1877 - 1990)

3) House of Commons Parliamentary Papers - 19th, 20th and 21st centuries

I am especially pleased that we will be joining  the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), a consortium of North American universities, colleges, and independent research libraries.  CRL’s mission is to “support advanced research and teaching in the humanities, sciences and social sciences by ensuring the survival and availability of the knowledge resources vital to these disciplines.”  Beginning in July 2007, our membership will allow us to provide “access to extensive and unique collections, opportunities for sharing resources and avoiding unnecessary costs”.  (materials are delivered electronically or through interlibrary loan–with a 3 day guarantee)  Since the Center has “over four million newspapers, journals, dissertations, archives, government publications and other traditional and digital resources for research and teaching” our membership dramatically increases our access to print scholarly literature, some of which is difficult or impossible to obtain through other means.

The libraries continue to work at the local, provincial and national levels to build comprehensive collections that support your teaching, learning and research needs. Please share this announcement in your faculty.  If there are any questions, please feel free to send them directly to me.  Thank you!

Pew survey on trust

An interesting new report on trust in the US is available from the Pew Research Center website.

Presentation to Ottawa Alumni

I recently had the pleasure of presenting to our alumni group in Ottawa.  The presentation was held at the  Library and Archives Canada Preservation Centre.  This is the transcript of my presentation on “change” in the libraries.  (I was not allowed to use slides or technology beyond the microphone!)

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Thank you for inviting me to join you here tonight.  I’m quite thrilled that you were interested in hearing from Mac’s new University librarian!  I’m also thrilled to be back in Ottawa, even if it will be a brief visit for me.  I’ve been to Ottawa many times and I must say that I always enjoy returning.  So, it’s good to be back.

I’ve been asked to talk to you today a little bit about myself but more importantly, about the changes that are taking place at McMaster’s libraries.  Tonight you’re going to hear that we’re doing some really exciting things. Several of these initiatives are “firsts” in Canadian libraries and one at least may be the first in the world.  There are so many exciting things happening I could take the rest of the evening but I know I’m the only thing between you and the tour so I’ll be brief.

I must admit, when first preparing this presentation I had prepared something entirely different from the presentation I’m delivering to you now. I had, in fact, prepared a powerpoint.  I mean, I am a tech guy – I love the stuff.  But then, they told me I couldn’t do a powerpoint because it would be too difficult in this beautiful location.  OH NO!  I said….  What would I do???  Well, I’d have to take a different approach…and so, here am I, sans props….. I have no technology….I almost feel naked!   So, let’s get on with it….it’s a little cold up here without my clothes….

There is no doubt that universities today are facing unparalleled challenges (austerity, competition for resources, competition for students, reduced public funding, new calls for accountability, new forms of learning, and new technologies).  Things are changing….and the pace of change is accelerating.    If you look around us, things have changed dramatically in our lifetime.  OK – for the record, I *am* over 40 in case any of you were wondering.  I have been doing this for more than 20 years so look past the youthful exterior and stay with me ….

But our greatest challenge today is to prepare our students to excel in the 21^st century….and in the 21^st century there is no denying that technology has had and will continue to have a huge impact on our lives.  When I first started working in libraries at the Dayton Public Library in Dayton, Ohio.  (Yes, I’m an American.  All I have to say about that is I’m sorry – I’m SO SORRY. We tried!  Half of us did not vote for the guy!) 

Anyway…..I digress…..

When I first started doing this we still had a manual check out system.   We photographed the back of the book using microfilm.  We kept track of what was checked out using something we called T-Cards (transaction cards) that we “needled” manually to determine what was overdue..  I’m sure all of you also remember the card catalog –remember that???  We had a little card on which we typed the information about the book.  Then we stuck all of the little cards into a drawer and you had to go through a drawer to find what you needed.  Sometimes you had to go through many drawers.

By today’s standards this sounds archaic.  We now have Google…..and Amazon….YouTube….Flickr —-we have the INTERNET.   Ok – I’m a librarian so I *know* that not everything is available on the web but SO MUCH IS!  We can share our thoughts on blogs…share our research thorugh wikis…..we can meet in Facebook, myspace…..we can share our favorite websites through del.ic.io.us…..WE CAN CONNECT – in ways never before possible —-we can CREATE….. COMMUNICATE….COLLABORATE….in ways never before possible  We live in a participatory culture where the lines between consumer and producer are blurring.  We are all becoming prosumers.

And there is evidence – plenty of it – that suggests today’s learners have changed as a result of this changing technological landscape.   Today’s learner is always on….always connected…always digital.  They want to be involved in their learning…want to be more than a captive audience.  They want to experience it as an active participant.

This is from “Got Game” – a publication out of Harvard on today’s generation of learners:

This new generation is indeed different from the boomers – very different – in ways that matter throughout business.  They have systematically different ways of working.  They choose systematically different skills to learn, and different ways to learn them.  They desire systematically different goals in life.  The way that members of this generation think abouit their careers, their companies, and their coworkers is a long way from what boomers have come to expect.  How hard this huge new cohort works, how they try to compete, how they fit into teams, how they take risks – all are different in statistically verifiable ways. “

Of the students entering Mac this fall:

-                     100 % will have used a computer

-                     90% will own their own desktop; nearly 70% will have BOTH a laptop AND a desktop

-                     100% will have played video games

-                     80% will respond that the internet has had a positive impact on their academics

-                     75% will say they use the internet more for reseach than the library.

 
Not only do we have to prepare our students for this world we live in, we have to prepare ourselves—-for them.  Our second greatest challenge is to recognize that things have changed dramatically and that we have to change as well.  We have to prepare the academy of today for the learner of tomorrow….they’re at the door…..they’re knocking….and they’re coming in.  Are e ready?

Our business has always been educating today’s youth.  However, how we do business cannot stay the same.  We must change quickly and dramatically.….and I’m proud to say that we’re doing that at Mac’s libraries.

My first day on the job was July 4, 2007.  (a little over seven months ago)  Since then a lot has happened – just ask my staff – at least one is here today!

We’re going through a transformation process within the libraries and making significant changes.  It’s a difficult process.  The libraries were under the same administration for something like 30 years.  Change is difficult but it’s especially difficult when the status quo is so firmly entrenched.   When “culture” and “personality” are so intertwined that it’s difficult to see where one starts and the other stops.    But, we’re making tremendous progress in four areas:  transforming ourselves, transforming our resources, transforming our services and transforming our facilities.

Transforming Ourselves: Under “transforming ourselves” I pleased to say that we’re changing how we do business.  We’re no longer sitting behind the desk waiting for people to come in.  We’re no longer accepting status quo.  In order to reach the students effectively, we have to reach the faculty.  We know that, while this generation of students may be the most technologically adept, they do not necessarily know how to use the technology effectively, legally or ethically.  Librarians must be partners in teaching and learning.  We can provide students with the instruction they need to become information fluent, numerate, visually fluent, and spatially fluent—-all skills that are needed in the 21^st century.

So, we’re hiring new librarians for new positions including:

Teaching and Learning –  to work with faculty and with our librarians to ensure that libraries are part of the teaching equation.

Digital Technologies – to build the technical infrastructure we need to support a 21^st century library

Digital Strategies – to assist in moving some of our unique special collections from print to digital

Immersive Learning – this also known as the gaming librarian – to explore new modes of delivering library services through gaming and virtual worlds.  This is truly a first.  I’m not aware of any other “gaming librarian” anywhere else in the world.

Marketing, Outreach, Communications Librarian

We’re also implementing a new model of librarianship called the “Liaison Librarian” to work side-by-side with faculty to develop the resources, services and support necessary to allow students to be successful in their programs.  We are where the faculty are….and we are where the students are. 

Transforming Our Resources: Under “transforming our resources” I’m pleased to say that we’re moving forward with more electronic resources  This year alone with purchased a number of new electronic resources that will expand access to our students faculty and staff.  These include: Britannica Online,  EEBO

And Springer E-Books.

I’m also proud to say that we’ve begun two important digitization projects.  These two projects are significant because they represent our first major digitization initiatives.  McMaster has some of the most significant collections in all of Canada and we’re opening those collections to the world through digitization. Digital Dissertations and Digital WWI Trench Maps

Transforming Our Services:  In terms of transforming our services I want to mention two Canadian firsts:  Digital Commons and Endeca.  Digital Commons is a web-based service that will allow us to archive and provide access to unique McMaster content.  We can publish electronic journals, capture faculty research, and student generated content.  McMaster is the first Canadian research library to select this platform to host our content.

Endeca’s information access platform is a web search engine.  You probably already know it but don’t recognize it by name.  Endeca provides the websites for Chapters and Home Depot, just to name a few.  When implemented it will allow library users to search our catalog in new ways using relevance ranking.  It will also integrate table of contents, book jackets, and book reviews. McMaster is the first Canadian research library to implement this solution.

Transforming Our Facilities:  Finally,  in terms of transforming our facilities we had the opening of a new student-centred Learning Commons @ Mills.    The Learning Commons @ Mills integrates traditional and emerging scholarly resources, information technology, expert help, instruction, and collaborative and individual study space.

Based on that success we are moving forward with a capital campaign item that will finance the implementation of the Learning Commons @ Thode.  This new facility has the potential of becoming the most exciting and most innovative space for supporting teaching and learning in Canada.  It will be a high tech/high touch facility that combines 21^st century resources, services and facilities to engage students and promote faculty use of innovative technologies and strategies that lead to greater student success.

In closing I’d like to emphasize that these are exciting times at McMaster and in the libraries and I’m honored to be a part of it.  I’d like to thank you again for inviting me to address your group this evening.  I look forward to working with you and the McMaster University extended family as we move forward.  Thank you

Hamilton Spectator

The local newspaper ran a story about us on February 8. You can read it online. They focused on gaming and virtual words.

2007 SirsiDynix Institute Advisory Council

I’ve just been appointed to the SirsiDynix Institute Advisory Council, a “a forum for professional development in the
library community”.  The forum includes Stephen Abram, vice president of innovation, SirsiDynix; Christine Mackenzie, CEO, Yarra Plenty Regional Library, Melbourne, Australia; Gina Millsap, executive director, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Topeka, Kan.; Anne E.C. Norman, director and state librarian, Delaware Division of Libraries/State Library, Dover, Del.; and David Warren, director, Richland County Public Library, Columbia, S.C.

I’m extremely excited about this opportunity to work with such a wonderful group of library leaders.

Full Press Release

ALA Conference on Gaming

ALA is sponsoring a conference on Gaming, Learning and Libraries

Mark your calendars! It looks interesting!

New Blog: Designing Better Libraries

A new blog has just been launched!  Designign Better Libraries is about “adapting new ways of thinking and acting that will promote the development and implementation of ideas, strategies and services that will create a better library experience for the users”.

Authors include:  Steven Bell, Michael J. Giarlo, Brian Matthews, John Shank, Jill Stover, Jeff Trzeciak

I’m excited by this topic and look forward to being a contributor to and reader of this blog!

Innovative New Honours Science Program @ Mac

The University Library is directly involved in the development of an exciting new Honours Science Program at McMaster. Set to begin in Fall 2008, the program is targeted to highly motivated, high achieving students. At its core is a thematic approach to teaching content. For example, the themes may include:

Building a brain (Topics: evolution of brain and behaviour, neurophysiology, motor control, perception and cognition). Covered by biologists, neuroscientists, psychologists, physicists, mathematicians, chemists, computer scientists, kinesiologists, engineers, and economists.

Searching for life on other planets (Topics: planets and stars, nature of orbits, chemical basis for life, necessary conditions, evolutionary timescales, signal detection, space flight, sampling for organic traces.) Covered by a broad range of disciplines, including Earth sciences, physics, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and computer science.

Some additional features include a residential program, a seamless master’s transition, new opportunities for collaboration and linkages with the local community.

The attached presentation provides a fuller description

Library transformation “big news” in Hamilton

An article about our transformation appeared in the local newspaper this morning.

PDF of the story is here

Digital WWI

The McMaster University Library has entered into a partnership with perimeterdigital of Toronto to provide imaging services for the conversion of 427 WWI trench maps and 478 WWI aerial photos.

In the early 1970’s McMaster University Library acquired a World War I collection which included 425 World War I military maps produced by the British Ordinance Survey (Military Survey). They range in scale from very detailed operations maps used for trench raids to very broad overview maps used to show the entire Front. The majority, however, is made up of 1:10,000, 1:20,000 and 1:40,000 scale “trench” maps used primarily by the artillery and officers of the line. The builk of the collection is from the years 1917 and 1918. The collection has specific Canadian interest, as the maps cover primarily the Canadian sector of the Front during this time period. By this time, Canadian troops were the elite forces and in the vanguard of “The Final Push”. Currently, this collection is only available for consultation by researchers who visit McMaster and then only during the Library ’s hours of opening. We are quite pleased to be launching into this new partnership that will provide universal access to these rare materials. Watch this space for an announcement when the project has been completed and is ready for use!

In particular, I would like to thank Cathy Moulder and Gord Beck for making this happen.