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Collection development activities that involve electronic content require knowledge of quantitative research methods. The ability to calculate cost per use, identify usage trends, and provide evidence for collection development decisions are essential skills in the digital age. Because of the dynamic nature of electronic resources, particularly e-books, it has been challenging to create standardized methods that support routine evaluations of collection materials. While the term quantitative analysis can seem daunting, I hope this issue of Library Technology Reports (vol. 53, no. 4), “Applying Quantitative Methods to E-book Collections,” demonstrates that it is possible to hone quantitative skill sets and develop an evaluation framework for e-book collections based around readily available quantitative data sources regardless of the size of an individual library system or equipment budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little has been written on attempts to understand access disruption trends holistically, such as through help ticket analyses. In chapter 3 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 58, no. 7), “Overview of Common Issues and Symptoms,” we summarize the available library science literature studies and then describe the common points of failure within library discovery system components. We cover access issues originating from user error, personal devices, discovery systems, link resolvers, knowledge bases, central indexes, IP and VPN authentication, EZproxy, federated identity management, and more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chapter 2 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 58, no. 7), “Components of E-resource Access,” defines the technology components through which library end users gain access to electronic materials, focusing on those that comprise the discovery service environment. We describe how each component works, the role it plays within the larger library system, and how metadata from these key systems plays an integral role in e-resource access. We discuss different types of metadata, the systems from which they originate, and the spheres of control that govern their management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this issue of Library Technology Reports (vol. 58, no. 7), “The Current Landscape of Electronic Resources Access Issues,” we discuss the current landscape of electronic resources access issues through the lens of the prevailing access tool employed by academic libraries: the discovery service. The report outlines the technical components through which library end users gain access to electronic materials through the discovery system environment and describes the common points of failure within them. The report also discusses the troubleshooting techniques and tools through which access issues are identified and diagnosed. The report closes with a discussion on new technological developments in library discovery and access, highlighting the new opportunities for access failure, as well as the initiatives aimed at mitigating these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on Vendor Products to Support Outreach and Marketing.

Explains the concept of the virtual library, a managed collection of information resources and services available electronically through the Internet. Library categories; Standard definition of digital libraries within the networked environment; Kay Gaspen's definition of the virtual library; A.J. Harley's definition of the virtual library; Hybrid library; Impact of the Internet and Web on libraries.

The article discusses the Free Reading Zones (FREZ) initiative to offer free access to electronic books (e-books). Topics include the use of sponsorship to fund the access rather than advertising within an e-book, the role of a reading application (app) in enabling people to use the FREZ on smartphones or tablets, and the business models of e-books in relation to the FREZ model.

This issue of Library Technology Reports (vol. 53, no. 7), "Free Reading Zones: Transforming Access to Books through Technology," explores Free Reading Zones (FREZ), which are designated areas that provide people free and uninterrupted access to e-books through sponsorships. The report sheds light on what FREZ is, how it came about, who's behind it, and what its short-term and long-term goals are. Roncevic explores how FREZ can empower the e-book industry--consumers, aggregators, distributers, and publishers--by equalizing access to knowledge and education in areas beyond thriving city communities. Describing her experience launching the first FREZ in a small European café and turning the entire country of Croatia into an open virtual library for one whole month, she shows how creating open virtual libraries can make reading more accessible and open. The goal of this report is to both inspire and motivate librarians to embrace the idea of open virtual libraries and attempt similar initiatives in their communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the importance of digital collections of a library for students. Topics discussed include the learning management system (LMS) embedded librarianship, the pricing models of the library for electronic books (e-books), and the start of the open-access movement in 1990 and open-access repository ArXiv.org with more than half a million of scholarly electronic articles.

The article discusses the evolution of library instruction at Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) in New Mexico. Topics covered include the increase in fall semester instruction sessions from 2009 to 2014, the creation of a standardized curriculum, and providing students with hands-on time in instruction sessions. Also mentioned is the mixing of new iPads with a slightly outdated SMARTboard.

In chapter 5 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 50, no. 7), “Social Media Curation,” the authors report on interviews with librarians at special libraries who curate large digital portals. These librarians’ major concerns center on ensuring the quality and integrity of their collections, ensuring the appropriate description of records, and ensuring that their efforts are discovered and used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses several aspects of increasing demand for electronic books (E-books). It mentions assessing value of e-book collections begins with a foundational knowledge of patron information needs and publishing trends and electronic content has resulted in a greater emphasis on e-book collection development. It also mentions role of technological innovations like virtual reality in disseminating information quickly around the globe.

Chapter 2 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 50, no. 3) "Electronic Resource Management Systems: A Workflow Approach" provides a brief overview of the areas necessary for successful electronic resource management as well as the current software available to manage them. The chapter discusses the knowledge base of resource information, management of acquisitions, collecting and saving administrative records, storing license information, and compiling and producing reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chapter 3 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 50, no. 2), "Streaming Video Resources for Teaching, Learning, and Research," provides a list of excellent examples of multimedia and web-based video resources. I've included brief annotations on why I feel the sites are usable particularly for learning management systems like Moodle, Sakai, etc., but also for content management systems like LibGuides and WordPress, which allow for embed of video and multimedia content. I've provided extensive explanation on a few sites I believe are innovative in the creation, maintenance, functionality, and organization of their content. I also detail some of the issues surrounding video search and the nature of multimedia items, as opposed to textual formats and retrieval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several appendixes are presented on topics including library surveys, search engines and product literature.

With ever-changing program offerings and a shift in usage of resources, some resources will need to be cancelled. Chapter 7 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 49, no. 2) "Techniques for Electronic Resource Management" covers the process once the decision has been made to cancel and replace a resource. First, notify the patrons of the change. Begin evaluation of replacement products, and do not forget that there may be open-access alternatives. The next phase is then to start the process all over again. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chapter 1 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 49, no. 1) "Resource Sharing in Libraries: Concepts, Products, Technologies, and Trends" presents some of the conceptual approaches available to libraries in the way that they provide access to materials to their patrons beyond their local collections. Models of resource sharing discussed include sharing an integrated library system among the members of a regional consortium; implementing a resource sharing environment to connect ILS implementations to enable consortial borrowing; and providing materials through document delivery services or global interlibrary loan systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As e-books emerge into the public consciousness, "open access" (a concept already familiar to scholarly publishers and academic libraries), will play an increasing role for all sorts of publishers and libraries. This chapter of The No Shelf Required Guide to E-book Purchasing discusses the meaning of open access in the context of e-books, the ways open access e-books can be supported, and the roles that open access e-books will play in libraries and in our society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Web scale discovery services for the library environment have the capacity to more easily connect researchers with the library's vast information repository. This includes locally held and hosted content, such as physical holdings, digital collections, and local institutional repositories. Perhaps more significantly, web scale discovery also accesses a huge array of remotely hosted content, often purchased or licensed by the library, such as publisher and aggregator content for tens of thousands of full-text journals, additional content from abstracting and indexing resources, and content from open access repositories. This chapter defines web scale discovery and highlights a few key concepts essential for understanding these services. For anyone who has worked a reference interview and heard a student utter, “I couldn't find an article in the library catalog,” web scale discovery services hold tremendous potential. Extensive research on user expectations in the discovery arena, and the tools used by those seeking information—tools often disassociated from the library and often overlooking much of what the library holds and licenses—provide ample rationale for why web scale discovery is important for the library environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For numerous reasons, libraries contemplating the purchase of a web scale discovery service should very carefully complete their homework. The following set of questions can serve as a primer for those engaging in their own evaluations of the increasingly competitive library web scale discovery space. Questions are divided into several topical areas: general and background questions; local library resources; publisher and aggregator indexed content; open access content; relevancy ranking; authentication and rights management; and the user interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a general release in mid-2009, Serials Solutions Summon is another early contender in the Web scale discovery space for libraries. Serials Solutions Summon was built from the ground up as a library Web scale discovery service. This chapter provides a brief history and overview of the Summon service, describes the local and remote content associated with the Summon index, and highlights some of the features, functionality, and flexibility associated with the Summon interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous chapters in this report have addressed the continuing importance of OpenURL linking in libraries and presented interface-based and data-based ways to improve local OpenURL link resolver systems. This chapter explores issues pertinent to the continued and expanded adoption of OpenURL and other linking technologies, with an eye toward incorporating the shift in library collections from ownership to access and our users' growing desire for instant access to online full text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on the launch of WorldCat Local, an online catalog system from OCLC designed to replace the cataloging function of a Library ILS with the next-generation features of Web searching. OCLC is a major bibliographic database representing over 10,000 libraries worldwide and allowing library users access to the largest database of its kind in the world. The pilot phase of WorldCat Local was implemented in high school and university libraries in California and Illinois with the first public viewing of the product at the University of Washington in April 2007. The ability of the system to display the logo of the local library and nearby holdings makes the massive database feel both local and global simultaneously.

This article presents a next generation library interface from ExLibris called Primo. Its discovery and delivery platform is tagged "Find It, Get It," and allows quick access to a library's print and electronic content. Primo also provides the expanded scope of federated search options and retrieval of remote databases and e-journals. ExLibris has multinational development partners in Primo including the Royal Library in Denmark, a consortium of libraries in Germany and several institutions including Boston College's Center for Library Automation. The distinctive concept of Primo is combining discovery and delivery efficiencies from both local and remote resources.

This article presents a detailed review of AquaBrowser, an alternative library interface developed by Medialab Solutions BV in Amsterdam that is in widespread use in the Netherlands as well as some American public libraries. AquaBrowser enables libraries to supplement or replace existing catalog systems and includes high-demand features such as faceted navigation, visual search, and relevancy ranking. Background of MediaLab Solutions is given along with critical analysis of the product's technology and architecture, current installations, RSS Feeds, and format viewing.

This article presents an introduction to editorial content of the July 1, 2007 edition of "Library Technology Reports."

The article summarizes presentations elsewhere in the issue regarding digital audiobook systems for libraries and other institutional customers. It examines competitive audiobook services such as Audible, OverDrive, and NetLibrary that offer digital audiobooks via downloading from the Web. The article also examines distribution models including Playaway, which delivers its digital audiobooks on preloaded, self-contained portable playback devices, and TumbleTalkingBooks, which streams its content over the Internet. Potential new vendors include Ingram Library Services and Audio-Read. The article presents reasons to wait, including the iPod impasse and the fact that most systems work better if the patron is outside the library.

The article discusses how wiki technology can be used in libraries. A wiki is an application that enables users to collaboratively develop a web site with no design experience. The information can be added to and edited by members of the community. The article suggests that wikis can be used in the library setting as lab books, for collaborative writing, as a knowledge base, or in a single-user scenario. The article presents details regarding how wikis operate. Several wikis created by librarians are discussed, including LibSuccess Wiki and Library Instruction Wiki. The article also offers advice concerning the best practices for library wikis.

The article discusses various new emerging metadata standards. At a Web site on the address, www.vraweb.org/CCOweb, there is a project of the Visual Resource Association (VRA). This is also responsible for the VRA Core 4.0 data structure or schema standard. The CCO is a new content standard for the visual and cultural resources community. The purpose of these standards is to provide a more standardized and international approach to cataloging both physical and digital visual and cultural objects. The cooperative cataloging and the impact of descriptive standards on interoperability is being given serious thinking now. As there is a lot of information about how CCO will work with VRA Core 4.0 and CDWA. There are no key projects currently available. Via a pulldown menu located in the upper right-hand corner of the Web page located at the address ww.vraweb.org/ccoweb/index.html, an excellent overview of current CCO developments was presented at the VRA 2004 conference in Portland and is available.

This article presents five examples of actual Internet user policies (IUP) from various libraries and vendors that could help you in creating an IUP for your library. Your IUP will be unique for your filtering strategy. The five following scenarios reproduced here accommodate several filtering scenarios. These are that the library is filtering to minimally comply with the Children's Internet Protection Act, that the library is filtering children's computers only, that filtering is done by the Internet service provider, that the library is not using filters and that the library is using a patron-authentication program integrated with its filter. The IUPs are from the Spokane County Library District, the Seattle Public Library, the Duchesne County Library, the Ames Public Library, and by the Cybraryn company.

Examines the complexities of delivering electronic journal content and the tools that address access and management issues. Difficulties in the adaptation of print-based practices to electronic journal format and its impression on journal content; Improvement of electronic journal access through cataloging and management; Evaluation of electronic resource use and electronic resource archiving.

An introduction is presented to the issue topic of the Free Reading Zones (FREZ) project and initiative, noting articles on the business model of the project, its relation to partnerships, and the experience of launching a FREZ site.

The next-generation catalog has clearly made an impact, and that impact can be measured; however, it is clear that these solutions have not met the demands of it users to the fullest and have not solved the problem of creating a compelling starting point for the research process. This chapter identifies how the NGC has impacted libraries and what lies in the future of discovery for libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction for the April 2008 issue of the periodical "Library Technology Reports" is presented.