Lorcan Dempsey
Research and Membership for OCLC
Abstract:
The library collection has been central to library identity and service, however we are now seeing major changes in how libraries help discover, curate and create collections. This is a response to evolving research and learning behaviors in a network environment. This presentation considers trends which are influencing how we think about library curatorial activities and are reshaping their collections. The first direction is the ‘inside-out library’ which is a response to the reorganization of research work by the digital environment. The second is the facilitated collections, which is a response to the reorganization of the information space by the network.
There will also be a brief presentation of the results of some work by OCLC Research on the characteristics and diffusion of the Irish published record throughout the world.
Dr Danny Kingsley
Head of Scholarly Communication at University of Cambridge
Abstract:
Access to information has changed immeasurably in the past decade, bringing the traditional role of the academic library into question. Rather than a doomsday scenario, this situation offers huge potential for information professionals to situate the library at the heart of research support. ‘Scholarly communication’ is the umbrella term for the information exchange between research communities, research funders, the publishing industry and the general public. This talk will discuss the establishment of the Office of Scholarly Communication at Cambridge University, how it is now embedded within multiple administrative areas of the University and how it works collaboratively with the research community to identify areas that need expertise, support and services. By taking an open and transparent approach to this work, the Office of Scholarly Communication has had an impact not only within the institution, but nationally and internationally. This has not been without challenges, including working within a rigid university governance system and managing unstable funding sources. However this work is now more important than ever at a time when academic publishers are investing substantially in research management and analytics businesses. Libraries that embrace the management of the unique work created within their own institution may find themselves central to the research institution of the future. The alternative could be obsolescence.