Sura MicheleMay2005

News content – everyone needs it. All the more reason why libraries should be delivering it!: 

News content – everyone needs it. All the more reason why libraries should be delivering it! Michele Sura Electronic Resources Coordinator Statistics Canada Library suramic@statcan.ca 613-951-6186

Broad session overview : 

Broad session overview History of Statistics Canada’s experience with news content Electronic bias Reality of two computer networks Focus on explaining our recent venture into a joint Library-Communications partnership Some detail; Enough to be of interest But not enough to bore and frustrate! I hope! Examples of outreach opportunities

Personal bias: 

Personal bias How can news content and the delivery of news-related services be of worth to: Your library Your profession, and You! Oh yeah, and your client too!

News content is all around us – are your clients receiving it from you? : 

News content is all around us – are your clients receiving it from you? News accessible: Home Work Commuting time From: Radio Television Newswires Print sources – newspapers, magazines, trade publications Internet – free news sites, fee-based providers, blogs, RSS feeds

News = information = library: 

News = information = library Questions to ask of your library: Are we an essential resource in the minds of our clients? Answer will depend upon type of library Special libraries run a greater risk of hearing a “no” response Are we offering easily accessible filtered news content to our clients? If not, why not? Where is news coming from within parent organization?

News = information = library 2: 

News = information = library 2 Reliance on internal Communications group to provide news content means missed opportunity for library Room for both media relations and information specialists to provide full news services to organization Communications’ focus is on media monitoring for PR-related purposes Huge demand for news for research and analysis; not Communications’ responsibility to fulfill this need

News as a “survive and thrive” tactic: 

News as a “survive and thrive” tactic Easy way to enhance library’s profile Give clients access to information they need! A proven outreach strategy Marketing, training and search assistance opportunities flow easily and smoothly Could/should be an easy partnership with Communications group Library to handle content acquisition; search assistance and training Communications continues to focus on media monitoring of mentions of parent organization in the news; analysis of type of media coverage received and proper responses

Case study of Statistics Canada’s news situation: 

Case study of Statistics Canada’s news situation Overview of details: Uses of news content with the Agency History of accessing news content in Statistics Canada Evolution of print to electronic Communications vs. Library Our divisions E-news merger and improvement project Outreach opportunities

E-news used for: : 

E-news used for: Daily monitoring of contentious issues Monitoring of reception of releases in media Tracking events in areas of interest Understanding and explaining results and trends in own data Retrospective information for research and analysis

History of accessing news content in Statistics Canada : 

History of accessing news content in Statistics Canada Evolution of print to electronic content Print and microfilm collection in Library Print newspaper distribution service for divisions Print clipping archives in divisions

History of accessing news content in Statistics Canada 2 : 

History of accessing news content in Statistics Canada 2 “StatsCan in the news” clipping service since early 1980s from Communications Added up to a lot of wasted resources gathering and accessing news content

History of accessing news content in Statistics Canada 3 : 

History of accessing news content in Statistics Canada 3 No working partnership between Library and Communications Communications focused on media monitoring Access to minimal news sources Article distribution via email distribution lists

History of accessing news content in Statistics Canada 4: 

History of accessing news content in Statistics Canada 4 Implementation of basic electronic news service on Intranet Communications sending along some articles of interest to subject matter land Library responding to ad-hoc requests for news articles

History of accessing news content in Statistics Canada 5: 

History of accessing news content in Statistics Canada 5 Late 1999/2000 = start of change of focus Shift to focus on electronic information resources within Library Electronic news services at the forefront within information industry Lack of Internet access within StatsCan due to data security restrictions

History of accessing news content in Statistics Canada 6: 

History of accessing news content in Statistics Canada 6 Reduction in Library’s print regional newspaper subscriptions Start of Library’s campaign to Wean divisions off of reliance on print newspapers subscriptions Replace their inefficient print clipping files Change corporate print newspaper culture Become full partners of Agency’s research and analytical community

History of accessing news content in Statistics Canada 7: 

History of accessing news content in Statistics Canada 7 Looked for best and most complete electronic provider(s) of coast-to-coast Canadian, English and French newspapers, news wires, current affairs magazines, trade journals, television and radio transcripts U.S. and foreign sources needed too Evaluation of commercial e-news services Dow Jones Interactive / Factiva Eureka / Newscan Special Edition / Infomart.ca Plus Dialog, Lexis-Nexis

Library’s e-news services: first three years: 

Library’s e-news services: first three years June 2000 – spring 2003 Library focus on researchers, analysts and support staff Divisions must pay for their access 80 accounts to 200 to 450 to 275 Lots of resources expended on administering the cost of accounts At the same time, Library is part way through a campaign to acquire new $ for electronic collection (non-news)

Library’s e-news services: first three years 2: 

Library’s e-news services: first three years 2 June 2000 – spring 2003 (cont’d) Tons of training, searching assistance and promotional events Great success due to outreach But continue to battle lack of direct Internet access and cost of accounts Understanding terms of use of license agreements and conveying restrictions to clients a new but challenging role For commercial and free news sites

From Communications’ perspective : 

From Communications’ perspective June 2000 – spring 2003 Continued participation in Enterprise-wide agreement for media monitoring (Project Copper) Departmental access to 40 or so Canadian news sources Using second generation Intranet software

From divisions’ perspectives: 

From divisions’ perspectives June 2000 – spring 2003 Information have and have nots Information budgets not stable Managerial support necessary some embrace electronic news fully; some partially; some not at all

From divisions’ perspectives 2: 

From divisions’ perspectives 2 June 2000 – spring 2003 (cont’d) Development of divisional tools to assist with their work procedures Internal article archives Daily economic newsletter Informal distribution lists Responsibility not centralized Divisions unsure of who to consult Resulted in duplication of effort

Leading up to Library – Communications Merger: 

Leading up to Library – Communications Merger Spring 2003 – January 2005 Recognition in divisions that provision of their own value-added information services (daily newsletter and internal archives) not easy; Library asked for assistance Library starts providing complete media monitoring reports to help meet demands of analytical community Start of discussion between Library and Communications on “who does what” Recognition of toe-stepping

Leading up to Library – Communications Merger: 

Leading up to Library – Communications Merger External consultant hired to survey state of news gathering practices in Agency Complete affirmation of findings of Library outreach program Library starts Daily Human Resources Newsletter, following model of daily economic newsletter, to meet clients’ request

The merger: 

The merger Library and Communications merged in summer 2004 Consultant’s report finds need for improvement in service delivery model Support of Director given to review, evaluate, revise, improve and centralize news services offered to the Agency

Findings of consultant’s report: : 

Findings of consultant’s report: News information important for both media monitoring and supporting data analysis and research Diverse news gathering processes expend more money than need be Intranet news software in desperate need of updating

Findings of consultant’s report: : 

Findings of consultant’s report: Customized, targeted services delivered directly to employees are very appreciated Non-centralized service increased difficulty in conforming completely to terms of license agreements and following copyright law Lack of direct access to the Internet hinders research and analysis Strong need to centralize all news services under one office

E-news merger and improvement project: Phase 1: 

E-news merger and improvement project: Phase 1 Replacement of Intranet news software Evaluation of existing tools and survey of what’s being used by other government departments Review of Intranet news sources lists; possible expansion beyond Electronic Media Monitoring list Evaluation of direct (power) users vs. indirect (readers) users

E-news merger and improvement project: Phase 1 2: 

E-news merger and improvement project: Phase 1 2 Merger of existing news-related services and development of new services: contentious issues monitoring First 48 hours of coverage Complete media monitoring report Detailed media analysis Media Environment scan Daily newsletters Group folders Individual search assistance

E-news merger and improvement project: Phase 1 3: 

E-news merger and improvement project: Phase 1 3 Exploration and clarification of roles of library vs. media relations Meetings with e-news subscribing divisions to explain new service delivery model

Outreach opportunities abound: 

Outreach opportunities abound Presentations Training sessions Assistance in evaluation of research work procedures

Next steps: Phase 2 and beyond : 

Next steps: Phase 2 and beyond Complete acquisition and implementation of chosen news software Development of Agency folders of interest StatsCan in the News, Canadian Companies, Labour, Income etc. Large promotional campaign to roll out software Naming contest?

Next steps: Phase 2 and beyond 2: 

Next steps: Phase 2 and beyond 2 Improve Media relations officers’ access to commercial electronic news services infrequent use of media suppliers Continued expansion of daily (or weekly) newsletter service Bringing the existing divisional newsletters into fold Economics, human resources, ethnocultural and immigration, agricultural, justice – exist now Library, media relations and divisional editors

Next steps: Phase 2 and beyond 3: 

Next steps: Phase 2 and beyond 3 Completion of comprehensive review of where to find electronic version of Canadian news sources Direct from publishers, commercial e-news services, media suppliers Able to meet evolving and cyclical needs for content in addition to standard sources Ethnic news sources to be examined

Completing the merger : 

Completing the merger Smoothing out the HR bumps Who does what? Whose role is more valuable? Yes, there is room for both groups Encouraging an outreach role for media relations officers

Completing the merger 2: 

Completing the merger 2 Continued outreach so that the answers to: Are we an essential resource in the minds of our clients? Are we offering easily accessible filtered news content to our clients? are yes!

Thank you!: 

Thank you! Please do not hestitate to contact me directly if you would like additional information or clarification Michele Sura Electronic Resources Coordinator Statistics Canada Library suramic@statcan.ca 613-951-6186