The Virtual Library report lists ninety-one recommendations organized into four key areas identified as essential to the development of a virtual library: collections, services, organization, and technology. The recommendations were further divided into long-term and short-term action items which were defined by the Committee as follows:
- Short term actions items tend to be specific and measurable, often including specific steps to complete the action.
- Long term action items tend to 1) emphasize review or maintenance pertaining to the short term action items and 2) are considered on-going.
Once the recommendations were developed, the Committee selected a subset as priorities and included them in the report's Executive Summary. The following sections provide the background and rationale for these actions to be priorities.
COLLECTIONS AND CONTENT
Historically, there has never been a heavy emphasis on cooperative collection development among the USF Libraries, either in print or electronic format. Since funding has not increased, a number of the report's recommendations focus on methods to improve cooperative collection development and enhance access to both print and electronic resources.
"...USF currently maintains a courier service between all of its libraries for inter-campus delivery of books and articles. While there is a goal for forty-eight hour turnaround time, it may take a week or more to process requests. The recommendation to achieve a twenty-four hour turnaround will be achieved with the use of Ariel software for the scanning and transmitting of articles and the ability for patrons to directly request books from other campuses through electronic forms.
A key element to improved cooperative collection development is the recommendation that, begininng with the next budget year, the USF Libraries allocate 20% off the top of the USF libraries collections budget to develop its electronic collections. The Electronic Collections Team has developed a list of electronic resources for consideration. Two have already been approved: Engineering Village and JSTOR.
As more full-text databases are added to the USF Libraries online catalog, the need for enhanced cataloging increases. The use of metadata to describe the contents of these and other media resources and the incorporation of SGML into the catalog record to provide hypertext links are essential to provide adequate access for users." ...
SERVICES
New technology has greatly enhanced the research resources of the USF Libraries to something far beyond the print resources available just ten years ago. But as new technology arrives, the complexity in utilizing the resources increases significantly. There are several recommendations included in the report to address these concerns but, as these issues are resolved, newer technologies will bring additional issues. For this reason a number of new services were recommended.
"...Since distance learning issues are a key area of importance to the USF Libraries, the implementation of a digitized full-text course reserve system will support the distance learning initiative at USF. The reserve system will provide the libraries an opportunity to incorporate current technological advances into a heavily used service. It will also allow the libraries to convert the service from a library staff point-of-service to an end-user initiated point-of-service.
As patrons begin to take advantage of electronic resources from their homes and other remote locations, it is crucial to provide instructional programs and affiliated services which enable the patron to effectively and efficiently utilize these resources. Online tutorials, well-designed help screens, electronic forms, and other methods of electronic communication are essential to ensure that electronic library users receive the same quality of instruction and assistance as those users who physically enter any of the USF Libraries.
As new resources are available in new formats, distributing information on these resources becomes of paramount importance. Patrons need to be aware of the many resources and the accompanying technology the libraries have to offer. This can be accomplished through classroom and group presentations, as well as print and electronic marketing efforts. Each new technolgy or resource serves as an opportunity to make contact with patrons and provide them with the information they need to successfully navigate the libraries' increased resources."
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
By necessity, the recommendations are heavily process oriented. Without the necessary organizational structure, skills, training, and manpower, the virtual library cannot be successfully implemented.
"...The very first step taken by the USF Library Directors upon approval of the Virtual Libary Project was the selection of the Project Manager who will coordinate and oversee the Project through its inception. The Project Manager, in turn, requested the Directors' approval to create the rest of the teams and project groups integral to the successful implementation of the report's recommendations. The Virtual Library Implementation Team, considered an oversight committee, was the first team to be created and consists of the USF Librarians from the Planning Committee and a new member from the Technical Services area.
The additional teams and project groups include:
- The Virtual Library Implementation Team (already implemented)
,
- The Electronic Collections Team (already implemented),
- The Digitization Project Group,
- The Electronic Dissertations and Theses Team,
- The Electronic Reserves/Document Delivery Team,
- The Interface Design Project Group,
- The Metadata/Cataloging Project Group, and
- The Marketing &Training/Staff Development Team.
The Implementation Team drafted charges for each Project Group and Team. These charges were, in turn, approved by the Library Directors. Common to all of the charges are:
- include recommendations where support is needed, including staffing and equipment, for successful implementation,
- develop a timeline for reporting progress and implementation,
- engage in continuous evaluation to ensure the charge of the group is being met,
- recommend policies and procedures as needed.
The emphasis on process is seen on the recommendations that have already been implemented:
- the hiring of the Project Manager,
- the creation of the Implementation and the Electronic Collections Teams,
- the development of charges for each Team and Project Group,
- the presentation to all library staff describing the Virtual Library project along with a call for volunteers for the Teams and Project Groups,
- a budget request for the Interface Designer,
- additional funding has been requested of the University by the USF Libraries to augment the libraries' electronic collections, and
- a grant proposal was prepared by the USF Libraries to be included in USF's application for the NSF meritorious applications grant for the Internet II project.
Since the Provost's Office is currently conducting an external review of the Libraries, the Libraries have not brought in a consultant to discuss organizational change." ...
INFRASTRUCTURE AND INTERFACE
The technology and technological expertise necessary to carry forward the Virtual Library Project falls under the category of infrastructure and interface. The key recommendations place an emphasis on quality by recommending standards for networks, personal computers, and applications. Standards are incorporated in all areas of the document, including preservation, transport protocols, media, coding, and services.
"...The Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota campus libraries each have a Systems Librarian or Manager who have effectively moved their respective libraries forward technologically. They form the core of the Interface Design Project Group. Since none of them will be able to devote themselves full-time to the Project, an Interface Designer will be hired to write code and create the underpinnings of the Gateway and paths to the databases and resources the Gateway will access.
As noted under the section on organizational structure, each Team and Project Group is charged with making recommendations for the necessary hardware, software, and supporting documentation needed to carry out their charge." ...
CITATION: Metz-Wiseman, Monica; Grohs, Kim; Hanson, Ardis; Neville, Tina, and Ed Sanchez (1996). A Blueprint for Development: The USF Libraries Virtual Library Project. Poster session presented at the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Annual Meeting, Nashville, Tennessee, April 1997. [http://www.fmhi.usf.edu/library/projects/acrl/usfview.html
