Library PortalsLibrary Portals

John Akeroyd

Portal DefinitionsPortal Definitions

Enterprise Information Portals are applications that enable companies to unlock internally and externally stored information, and provide users a single gateway to personalized information needed to make informed business decisions

Definition of a PortalDefinition of a Portal– Gateway that provides a single

point of entry to information and tools

– Web-based aggregation point– Targeted user groups– “My” homepage– Easy– Accessible from anywhere,

anytime

Not all web-sites are portals

Functions of PortalsFunctions of Portals

Single touch point Content and document management Personalization —Integration — Collaboration —Authenticate only once

AuthenticationAuthentication

Most enterprise portals provide single sign-on capabilities to their users. This requires a user to authenticate only once. Access control lists manage the mapping between portal content and services over the portal user base.

Often LDAPShibboleth for 3rd part data

InteroperabilityInteroperability

Defined as: exchanging data via a common set of business procedures,

and to read and write the same file formats and use the same protocols

StandardsStandards

JSR 168 is the Portlet Specification Java Specification Request (JSR) from the Java Community Process (JCP). To enable interoperability between Java portlets and Web portals, this specification defines a set of APIs for portal computing that address the areas of aggregation, personalization, presentation, and security.

RepositoryRepositoryLearning

Repository Repository

Portal

User User

RepositoryResearch

RepositoryRecords

RepositoryBibiographic

UserUser

LDAP

Types of PortalsTypes of Portals

Enterprise wide: businessUniversity/student/staffLibrarySubject

Library PortalsLibrary Portals

Access to local resourcesAccess to remote resourcesLinks to other on site servicesPersonalised servicesCommon Authentication

Examples of PortalsExamples of Portals Library system based

– Metafind– Metalib– Encompass

Publisher based– Illumina– Scopus

Open source– OJAX; Ajax-powered metasearch service– OAIster

InteroperabilityInteroperability

R ep o s ito r y

O A I-P M HS erv er

R ep o s ito r y

O A I-P M HS erv er

R ep o s ito r y

O A I-P M HS erv er

R ep o s ito r y

O A I-P M HS erv er

L in k in gS er v ic e

O A I-P M HH arv es ter

Br o w s eS er v ic e

O A I-P M HH arv es ter

S ear c hS er v ic e

O A I-P M HH arv es ter

Service Providers

Data Providers

Open Archive Initiative – Protocol for Metadata Harvesting

Figure from Carl Lagoze

Connected IssuesConnected Issues

Back end management eg access to ejournal data

Open URLHarvesting: different model eg OAIChannels, RSS

Problems with Library portalsProblems with Library portals

Are thye neededAre they technically viableHow easy is it to integrate outputsCan they compete with Google

University ContextUniversity Context

Student portalsStaff portalsExpertise and Knowledge transfer

See Portal Trends in Higher Education by Brad Englert, Partner, Accenture February 19, 2003

RepositoryRepositoryLearning

Repository Repository

Portal

User User

RepositoryResearch

RepositoryRecords

RepositoryBibiographic

UserUser

LDAP

Student portalsStudent portals

Access– Records of results, marks, – Course content, handouts, papers– Finance/fees– Timetables– Welfare– Library and IT services

Services and Benefits for Services and Benefits for StudentsStudents

Services– Universities currently have a wide range of student-oriented services

View curriculum alternatives Access own records (exam grades etc) Access online library resources/databases

– Have further to go in offering transactional services Expected benefits

– Highest rated was improved services for current students Expectation gap

– Wide-range of services provided by universities may not all be wanted by students

– Students want services that are: Easy to use, reliable and fast Customizable Transactional

Key Findings: Student Centric

Services and Benefits for Services and Benefits for AdministrationAdministration

Services

– Access information such as:

University policies/procedures

Key grading/enrollment statistics online

Student recruiting Information

Expected benefits– First and foremost, help staff improve

services to students and faculty – Reduce administrative cost – Improve staff environment

Key Findings: Student Centric

Current Status of Portal Current Status of Portal DevelopmentDevelopment

Virtually all institutions (96%) are either planning, developing, or have already implemented a portal

Meeting Portal ObjectivesMeeting Portal Objectives

Most universities have started development

Most have a long way to go to meet their objectives– 60% said that their objectives had

evolved significantly in the past 2 years

Higher expectations Improved technology

Four universities met their objectives

Key Findings: Evolutionary

Key Reasons for Portal Key Reasons for Portal DevelopmentDevelopment

Improved service delivery, not cost savings, is the primary reason behind portal development.

Top Reasons For Portal Development (Multiple Responses)

0 5 10 15 20 25Maintain alumni network

Attract business / research partnersOffer distance / flexible learning

Engage / connect / build communityEnhance university image / raise profile

Attract studentsImprove administration efficiency

Offer personalized / customized / targeted serviceImprove service to students/staff

Integrate / streamline information & services

Number of universities

2319

1412

9

854

3

2

Key Findings: Improve Service

Challenges in Portal Challenges in Portal DevelopmentDevelopment

Main Challenges in Portal Development (Multiple Responses)

Lack of internal expertise / resources

Interoperability / legacy systems / integration of decentralized sites

Obtaining buy-in from all stakeholders / satisfy diversified needs

4

4

4

5

5

15

17

20

0 5 10 15 20

Other technology problems

Security issues / protection of student data

Time / speed

Over-ambitious goals

Cost / budgetary issues

Number of responses

Key Findings: Improve Service

Implementation and FundingImplementation and Funding How will universities develop their portal?

– 25% believe they are capable of completely ‘going it alone’– Most universities are using a combination of:

in-house resources buying in a number of packages tailoring package to meet their own requirements

– Half would consider outsourcing or using an external contractor for portal development

How will universities fund their portal? – 60% will increase budgets– 25% budget remain as-is– 15% reduce budgets

Key Findings: Tech Led

SummarySummaryFive major themes:

1. Portal development is evolutionary rather than revolutionary2. Improved service delivery, not cost savings, is the primary

driver behind portal development3. University portals’ strong emphasis on serving current

students better may risk under serving other key user groups4. In the main, portals are being technology led rather than user

led, with resources first directed to what is obvious and easy-to-do

5. Improving usage among key user groups will be accomplished through multiple approaches

Students will use portals if they work well

Summary

Portal FuturesPortal Futures

Enterprise information portals, which connect people with information

Enterprise collaborative portals, which provide collaborative computing capabilities of all kinds

Enterprise expertise portals, which connect people with other people based on their abilities, expertise, and interests

Enterprise knowledge portals, which combine all of the above to deliver personalized content based on what each user is actually doing.