Research and Markets: Best Practices of Academic Library Technology Directors.

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c21202) has announced the addition of Best Practices of Academic Library Technology Directors to their offering.

This study is based on interviews with IT directors and assistant directors of leading college and university libraries and consortiums, including The Research Libraries Group, Vanderbilt University, the University of Texas, Lewis & Clark College, Salt Lake Community College, the University of Washington, the California Institute of Technology, Hutchinson Community College and Australia's Monash University.

Just a few of the study's findings are:

--Technology Centers in academic libraries, often initially conceived for faculty or specialized students in art or engineering, are increasingly used by the average student. Supply of technology centers, properly marketed and conveniently situated, stimulates demand, surprisingly broad based demand.

--In general, students appear to appreciate the option of borrowing laptops from their library, and most libraries that offer this service report high levels of student enthusiasm. In addition, libraries report virtually no problems with theft or even poor maintenance of equipment. However, the time demands of storing, distributing, maintaining, providing net access, and assuring compliance with legally mandated use provisions leads many librarians to seek to limit the programs. In addition, the availability of lap tops in the library does not appear to significantly affect use of other library workstations.

--One participant points out that many cutting edge library services require php programming and that many smaller libraries in particular focus excessively on workstation maintenance and other issues.

--Ebook usage is steadily increasing especially among smaller libraries. Increased ease of use for patrons and librarians, a focus on downloadable titles rather than special viewing devices, and an increase in the number of titles available, has led to an upsurge in demand and usage. Other factors that have stimulated Ebook usage are the continuing advance of distance and cyberlearning, and the better integration of Ebooks into course management and electronic reserve systems and library catalogs. Some users complain about incompatibility among different vendors of Ebooks.

--Most libraries have some kind of wish list for the digitization for their special collections, particularly their photographic collections. However, expertise is still limited and plans are thin for integrating digitized special collections into library catalogs, or publicizing them effectively over the web. More thought needs to be given to the integration of special collections in to mainstream library catalogs and how to publicize special collection over the web, or in partnership with other institutions

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c21202