ia content

Slide1: 

IA = Content NCTM Chris Taylor Manager, Information Access Service University of Queensland Library

Hypothesis: 

Hypothesis That “content as king” is dead Long live content NCTM

The present: Libraries v Google?: 

The present: Libraries v Google?

The future?: 

The future? “The future is already here. Its just not evenly distributed.” (William Gibson) “The future is out there, you just have to pick the winners” “The future is out there; I am eager to see what it holds. I want to do something with my life: I want to be a cyborg.” (The Guardian Newspaper) The Semantic Web v Digital Rights Management

Information Access Service: 

Information Access Service Acquisitions Cataloguing Materials processing Catalogue Collection development policy Materials budget Library membership Circulation policies and training Document delivery policies and training Document supply Copyright Metadata Library system Web organisation and content Institutional repositories

Hypothesis: 

Hypothesis IA = Content NCTM

I = Information: 

I = Information Data embedded in a context of relevance to the recipient Information resources = Collections of messages organised in useful ways Its not: Data = Characters on which operations are performed by computers Knowledge = Information internalised

A = Access: 

A = Access An channel or doorway The method of approaching a place or person, or the right to use or look at something

IA = Information access: 

IA = Information access Building channels to resources that help satisfy user’s information needs Information retrieval = the process of matching a user’s query to stored information Its not: Data mining = extracting patterns from data Knowledge management = a physical impossibility!

Hypothesis: 

Hypothesis Information Access = Content NCTM

Content: 

Content The substance of a document or resource Multiple dimensions: Published v unpublished Content carriers Content surrogates v content itself Heart’s content = a librarian on seeing a satisfied customer

User-centric Content - the challenge: 

User-centric Content - the challenge Individuals are faced with diverse, over-supply of information choices Information is available via multiple channels Bewildering range of media types Information comes to individuals unfiltered

Content in the future: 

Content in the future Print is not dead, it is just getting an increasing number of strange bed-fellows New types of content and carriers must be rapidly incorporated into our business models Open Access Movement: Institutional repositories E-publishing Creative Commons Corporate information

Content in the future: 

Content in the future The boundaries between content and access to it will become blurred Access to metadata will be free, access to content will be chargeable DRM – Digital Rights Management: Exploit online content Pay per view Fair-dealing goes out the door

N = Navigation : 

N = Navigation The science of finding a way from one place to another Information navigator = a person who determines in which directions to search for information Many paths from which to choose: Library-defined v user-defined Pre-coordinated v post-coordinated Precision v recall

User-centric Navigation : 

User-centric Navigation Must be capable of making the right choices in navigational paths Must be lead easily to the information Needs are matched to available content “Availability” has different meanings for different users Undergraduate = “in their hot little hand” Researcher = “if it exists, I want it”

Navigation in the future: 

Navigation in the future Multiple paths to information One path does not fit all The head-long rush to a single navigational path to combat Google is not in our users’ best interests Increasingly user-defined Access Grid

Hypothesis: 

Hypothesis Information Access = Content Navigation CTM

C = Context: 

C = Context Relationships within and between parts of a person, place or object No information resource is an island Must be placed in context, so as to better understand the resource itself Seams are important! The key is contextual metadata

Context in the future: 

Context in the future Most web content is designed for humans to read and determine if useful Semantic web - information is given well-defined meaning, better enabling computers and people to work in cooperation Software agents roaming across the web carrying out sophisticated task for users, e.g. newsbots Underpinning it all – yet more metadata!

Hypothesis: 

Hypothesis Information Access = Content Navigation Context TM

T = Training: 

T = Training The process of learning the skills you need to do a particular job with proficiency Information literacy = the ability to recognise when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate and effectively use the information Investment strategy: Help users to help themselves Life-long learning More cost-effective for the library

Training in the future: 

Training in the future One-to-one based services are in retreat: Too time-consuming Too expensive Staff-based lending has dropped dramatically Reference assistance is next More group training - more cost effective In context: In class (real or virtual) At the workplace

Hypothesis: 

Hypothesis Information Access = Content Navigation Context Training M

M = Management: 

M = Management The application of skill in the use or control of things the organisation of stuff Create order out of chaos Cunning, manipulation, trickery; the use of scheming, intrigue, prudence, to achieve an end

Management in the future: 

Management in the future We are uniquely placed to make IA = Content NCTM work The more of the above that we get involved in the better: For our customers For ourselves Too important to leave to reference librarians and techos

IA = Content NCTM: 

IA = Content NCTM Information Access equals Content powered by Navigation Context Training Management Hypothesis proved? Our customers will be the judge

Information Access Management: 

Information Access Management I AM, You are, We are, The only game in town! Thank you