e-libraries 2002 - e104 enhanced library services: mobile computing at the kennedy library

E-LIBRARIES 2002 - E104

Enhanced Library Services:Mobile Computing at the Kennedy Library

http://mobilecomputing.calpoly.edu

Presented by

Navjit Brar

California Polytechnic State University

San Luis Obispo, CA

[email protected]


Library’s role in the 21st century

PreserveAccess to knowledge

PrintElectronic

Gate Count – down 35%Circulation statistics – down 15% Online database statistics – up 37%Web site statistics – 7,000 to 864,000 to 1.2 million

Physical space usageLess a collection of stacks & become a portal to informationSolitary scholar is disappearing


Physical space usageQuiet study space to group studyCollaborative learning environmentSocial space

Informal settings for discussionInformal settings for socializingAccess to electronic resources via data ports or wireless

technologyWith Food



Factors affecting the layout of new academic libraries are:

Growing importance of electronicsGrowing importance of digital librariesGrowing importance of digital collectionShift from individual learning to individual-

and-collaborative learningEmerging role of libraries as campus centers

and information commonsLess need to store printBudget constraints to meet the users’ needs.



Need to redefine the role of libraryWe no longer need to think in terms of space

We need to rethink what services we offer

We need to rethink how we will partner with other campus entities to meet the users’ needs.



To enable all students, faculty, and staff to communicate to anyone, from any place, at anytime, through access to the full range of resources needed in the learning and teaching experience.

CSU VISION


Vision & Mission of Cal Poly ITS: To connect people, processes, and content through the effective use of reliable information, computing, and telecommunications technologies and consulting services in support of the University’s core mission to provide quality education in a “learn by doing” environment.

ITS VISION


Reaching out: Building the Library’s Future

By reaching out, the library wants to actively make a difference in furthering the Cal Poly mission, and become a campus center for teaching and learning.

Advancing this theme means enhancing our current information systems and developing new services to bring information to our users at the time and point of need.

LIBRARY THEME


Library of the 21st CenturyDigital Teaching Library

DOCUMENT DELIVERY SVS

DATA STORAGE/ACCESS

CA

MP

US

BA

CK

BO

NE

COMPUTER LABS

RESEARCH LABS

PRINT COLLECTION

STUDY/SMARTROOMS

SMART TEACHINGCLASSROOM

SATELLITE/ ON DEMANDSERVICES

EJOURNALS,EBOOKS

ERESOURCES

LIBRARY’S DIGITIZED

COLLECTION

ELECTRONIC RESERVES

STUDENT DEVELOPMENTFACILITY

CENTER FOR ACADEMIC

EXCELLENCE

FULLTEXT DATABASES

E-LIBRARIES 2002 - E104CSU ITS/T11 Status and Direction 10/98 http://its.calstate.edu/systemwide_it_resources/its_report.pdf

CSU Integrated Technology Strategy

•Personal Productivity•Excellence in Learning & Teaching•Quality of Student Experience•Administrative Productivity and Quality

Initiatives/Projects

FULLTechnology Prerequisites

BASELINE

CURRENT

E-LIBRARIES 2002 - E104Network Hardware Software

AccessTraining Support

Outcomes

Mille

nniu

mW

irele

ss T

ech

nolo

gy D

igita

l Colle

ctions

Dig

ital T

each

ing Lib

rary

Lead in Collections

Collaborate in Teaching and Learning

Excel in Service

Foster OrganizationalChange

Initiatives

How to achieve the VISION

CURRENTBASELINE

FULLTechnology Prerequisites

Initiatives/Projects


Mobile Computing

Collaborative projects among Library & ITS:

Establishment of PolyConnect LabImplementation of Extended library hoursMigration of text-based online catalog to web-

based catalogUpgrade of the network infrastructure

including Internet2Institution of Open Access Ports to the Cal

Poly networkInstitution of Mobile Computing.


Open Port Services– Began in 1998– Provided an Ethernet network or Modem connection for internet

access as well as e-mail, ftp capability, other network services– Laptop or notebook computer with Ethernet card or built-in

modem with Macs running OS8 and PC’s at least Windows 95– Users registered their computer once with ITS and then use it in

open access buildings, library & University Union– Library had 68 & UU had 40 ports available– Circulation staff checked out the ports– Ended in 2002 after the full integration of Mobile computing

services in the Library & UU.

Mobile Computing


Mobile Computing

– Began in Fall 2001– Provided wireless access to students, faculty, and staff to the

campus network using Radio Frequency technology to transmit data through the air without wired cabling

– Not for high-bandwidth or high-security use– Based on physical space 150 ft range indoors, 300 ft range

outdoors– Pilot provides notebook computers for checkout– Services provided include access to library resources, software

access, and file & printing– 20 notebook computers, comprised of Dell PC’s running

Windows 2000 and Mac Power-Books with OS9.1 equipped with Industry standards-based 802.11b wireless network interface cards, 10mbps, shared.


Mobile Computing

– Each machine was loaded with standard suite of software– Wireless access point base stations were purchased & installed to

provide coverage for all areas of the library– 2 hours checkout from 8am to 11pm– Notebooks were configured to minimize the ability to download

and/or installation of new software, reconfigure operating system components

– Web site was developed to offer users diagnostic and trouble shooting procedures, and options for connecting to the network

– Personal laptops that includes wireless network card which uses IEEE802.11b standard technology with direct sequence spread spectrum is allowed to access Mobile Computing Network

– Services provided:• File and print services• Software access to all key server applications


– Data is collected:• With in house build tracking system• On use, unmet requests, availability due to equipment problems,

faculty versus student use patterns, daily, weekly, and quarterly user patterns

– User survey was administered to assess general user satisfaction and discover what users want to do with MC that they are unable to do satisfactorily and to identify inaccessible spaces within the library

Mobile Computing


Mobile ComputingSurvey results

• 98% student checkouts, only 2% faculty/staff• Only 4% of checkouts were overdue• College representation: 36% Engineering, Business 15%,

Agriculture 15%, Liberal Arts 15%, Science & Math 14%, Architecture 6%.

• Year in college: Senior 35%, Junior 32%, Sophomore 17%, Graduate 9%, Freshman 7%.

• Type of usage: School work 73%, Personal 21%; Work 6%.• Kind of usage: Web research, E-mail, Student Info Systems, Course

web sites, Word Processing, Personal surfing, Calendaring, Online classes, hacking.

• Why interested in Wireless: Roaming, to use personal computer, labs are too full, need own software, location of ports inconvenient.

• Ease of use: 80% found it easy to use, 18% were just okay with it, 2% found it difficult to use.

• Staff: 100% found staff to be very courteous.


•Equipment condition: 99% reported in good condition.

•Instructions: 80% found instructions to be helpful, some reported need of additional instructions in the software usage.

•Library Resources used: Online Catalog, E-Reserves, & Online databases.

•Brand of notebook: Dell, Apple, Toshiba, IBM, Sony, Gateway, Compaq, HP, Fujitsu, ProGen, ElitePC.

•Brand of wireless card: Airport (Mac), Orinoco, Lucent, Cisco, dlink, 3Com, linksys, E-Link, Dell Truemobile, netgear.

•During the course of this period, there were no stolen or damaged laptops or peripherals

•Nearly 50% of users also owned their own laptop computer

Mobile Computing


• Equipment– PC/MAC Laptop (including below items) $1,600-2100 per unit

Wireless cardCD Rom drive (for PC)Spare battery

– Insurance for computers ($500 deductible) $100/computer/year– Optional equipment, Storage Cart $2,000-2,500

• Operations– Checkout/Reservation program No cost

(FoxPro database from MDS)

• Maintenance– Reimage/testing of computers (monthly) 60 minutes/computer

• Support (quarterly cost)– Student Assistant counter help $2,800

(40hrs./week @$7/hr.)– Staff technical support $600

(2hrs./week @$30/hr.)

Mobile ComputingStart-up costs


Mobile Computing

• Wireless networks provide the infrastructure to support the actual key driver Mobile Computing

– Users (Faculty/Students) looking for “untethered” access to computing resources

– Comparative Environmental Scan Yahoo! Internet Life – • 100 Most Wired Colleges Report – 2001

http://www.yil.com/wiredcolleges/top100chart.pdf• Wireless access is now 5% of ranking weight in which Cal Poly

scored a “D” in this category – However based on grading criteria Cal poly would now receive a “B”

• Phase I– Kennedy Library

• Phase II– University Union


Mobile ComputingConclusions

• Service Related– Convenient access to a network appears to be main driver for wireless

access– Wireless support issues mirror wired support issues– Depending on the service Mobile Computing support could be complex

and hard to manage– A campus “Airwaves” Policy is critical to performance and security

• Technology Related– Wireless networks are currently less secure than wired networks– Wireless network speed is currently slower than wired networks– Wireless is currently a niche technology, primarily used for

convenience


Mobile ComputingFuture Plans

• Migrate the Mobile Computing program from ITS to the Library– Offer it via Circulation desk– Use Online catalog Circulation module to capture statistics– Conduct surveys– Provide ergonomic seating– Acquire AIRPAC software from the Library Management Vendor that

is a catalog interface designed for wireless devices (PDAs) to access. This will allow catalog search from anywhere; user can check call #, location, & availability as they move through the library stacks; users can check their record anywhere & anytime; allows automatic updating of handheld calendars and login from wireless device to server.

– Evaluate such issues as:• Access• Responsible use• Security of information being transmitted• Bandwidth management

e-libraries 2002 - e104 enhanced library services: mobile computing at the kennedy library

Documents

century slide

e104 librarys role

role of library

library theme slide

e104 enhanced library

e104 factors

csu vision slide

food librarys role