2 Virtual Library Service Development
2.1 Information Access
Locally-mounted Databases.
Following exploration of several options, the Library adopted the following
strategy for database access. If possible, databases will be mounted locally on
the OVID system. If this is not feasible, web based access is the next preferred
option. Only if this option is also not available, will a database be mounted on
the CD-ROM network. These priorities may be modified on grounds of price, speed
of access and response time. Meanwhile, in conformity with the strategy an
unlimited site license for the OVID software (including OVID Java) and a further
156 Gigabytes of disk storage were purchased for the Library's OVID server,
using the 1998 Research Infrastructure Block Grant. A program of progressively
migrating databases from the CD-ROM network to OVID began late in the year.
Audio and Video on Demand (AoD)
Excellent progress was made on this project. The Rotunda theatres were fitted
out for digital recording at the start of the year. Lectures in fourteen
subjects were routinely recorded in both semesters. In semester 2 the entire
recording process was automated based on a given start time and recording
duration. The software for this was developed by ANSPAG (Faculty of
Engineering). Teaching staff have generally been enthusiastic about
participating in the project. Students have also embraced the new system: in the
period August to October the 14 digitally recorded subjects were accessed 5,353
times, almost as often as tapes for the 43 conventionally recorded subjects were
borrowed (5,589 times). Over 40% of the accesses to the digitally recorded
lectures were from off-campus.
Electronic Reserve
The Electronic Reserve database grew relatively slowly, pending resolution of
the copyright issues by the Copyright Tribunal. By the end of November the
database contained 1,080 digitised items, including 20 cover to cover books and
6 cover to cover journals. These were primarily prescribed readings for courses
at the University's Berwick campus. It is planned to migrate the database to the
Image Server system, part of the Voyager library system. This will provide a
more robust environment and will be simpler to access from other locations.
Meanwhile work has begun towards replicating the existing e-reserve system at
the Sunway campus, Malaysia.
Web Developments
The Library's web site was completely restructured in early 1998, with an
emphasis on a more uniform presentation, and a more integrated approach to
information provided at the top level and that provided by the various
"sites", such as branch and subjects pages. The new Voyager library
system offers opportunities to further integrate the web site with the Library
catalogue to create a portal for information. Several major new areas were added
including Current Affairs on the Net, Flexible Library Services and The Virtual
Librarian (information literacy site).
Online service statistics were collected for the first time in 1998. The
statistics show a heavy usage of databases and Internet resources. The Library's
databases were accessed 193,931 times via the OPAC. The Library's homepages were
accessed 1,014,324 times. The home pages include a total of all webpage usage
for all libraries and divisions. The number of searches conducted on the OPAC
was 2,819,334 and the www was searched 1,572,780 times.
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