Experimenting with scientific information. The biomedical library as an information lab. Jens De Groot, K.U.Leuven EAHIL Conference, 23 rd – 28 th of June 2008

Questions – outline Where do we come from? What are we? ( Where are we now? ) Where are we going?

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Founded in 1425 25 km east of Brussels Students : over 30.000 (2007) over 6.000 in Biomedical Sciences 12% not from Belgium Staff : > 17.000 (including 8400 from University Hospitals) University is associated with 12 colleges = all together more than 70.000 students

Founded in 1425

25 km east of Brussels

Students :

over 30.000 (2007)

over 6.000 in Biomedical Sciences

12% not from Belgium

Staff : > 17.000 (including 8400 from University Hospitals)

University is associated with 12 colleges = all together more than 70.000 students

University Hospitals Gasthuisberg

Campus library Biomedical Sciences

Where are we coming from? Library merged and opened in 1992 Patrons: mostly researchers and clinicians Services and collection: mainly focused on research Some figures 2 levels with collection in open stacks One level not open for the public (compactus) 2311 m 2 212 seats Budget: > 900.000 euro (2008)

Library merged and opened in 1992

Patrons: mostly researchers and clinicians

Services and collection: mainly focused on research

Some figures

2 levels with collection in open stacks

One level not open for the public (compactus)

2311 m 2

212 seats

Budget: > 900.000 euro (2008)

Library change stronger focus on the user development towards a fully electronic library information literacy in the biomedical curricula active support to researchers in matters like information retrieval, management and use improvement of internal and external communication reorganization of the physical space Key points strategic plan 2006-2008

stronger focus on the user

development towards a fully electronic library

information literacy in the biomedical curricula

active support to researchers in matters like information retrieval, management and use

improvement of internal and external communication

reorganization of the physical space

From information collector towards information mediator Saving space through: Reducing the number of paper subscriptions Stop binding journals which are online available Saving space through collaboration – depot service on regional level

Saving space through:

Reducing the number of paper subscriptions

Stop binding journals which are online available

Saving space through collaboration – depot service on regional level

Reducing the paper collection Reducing the number of paper subscriptions = Complex proces of (re)negotiating licences - 4592 electronic journals 4200 electronic journals Approx. 200 700 current journal titles in print 1200 current journal titles in print Future (2008-2010) 2008 2005

Reducing the number of paper subscriptions

= Complex proces of (re)negotiating licences

Storing journals 80% of the paper collection in reading rooms = online available Until 2007: journals systematically being bound From 2007, if online available: No binding anymore Stored in special cardboard boxes Transfered to closed stacks Nevertheless, still need for storage capacity

80% of the paper collection in reading rooms = online available

Until 2007: journals systematically being bound

From 2007, if online available:

No binding anymore

Stored in special cardboard boxes

Transfered to closed stacks

Nevertheless, still need for storage capacity

Saving space through collaboration A Flemish preservation project for biomedical journals 5 Flemish (academic) libraries + Royal Library of Belgium Concept: To preserve existing journal titles (within union catalogue) Each title is assigned to a single library – depot holder - who is responsible for preservation All other libraries may eliminate their copies 2008 : phase of practical realization Future: consortial arrangements for acquiring backfiles?

A Flemish preservation project for biomedical journals

5 Flemish (academic) libraries + Royal Library of Belgium

Concept:

To preserve existing journal titles (within union catalogue)

Each title is assigned to a single library – depot holder - who is responsible for preservation

All other libraries may eliminate their copies

2008 : phase of practical realization

Future: consortial arrangements for acquiring backfiles?

But do we really need more space ?

Number and... nature of visitors

The need for a students’ infrastructure Researchers and clinicians are well served: consulting information online from their desk + e-services Since 2005 transfer of all faculties to Gasthuisberg Students discovered the library as a place to study a place to meet a place to collaborate (assignments) A lack of student infrastructure at Gasthuisberg

Researchers and clinicians are well served: consulting information online from their desk + e-services

Since 2005 transfer of all faculties to Gasthuisberg

Students discovered the library as

a place to study

a place to meet

a place to collaborate (assignments)

A lack of student infrastructure at Gasthuisberg

The library as an information lab In the library students should: retrieve evaluate select manage information exchange reproduce present Information skills are becoming important in biomedical curricula (information literacy) The library’s traditional role changed from information collector towards information mediator and facilitator

In the library students should:

retrieve

evaluate

select

manage information

exchange

reproduce

present

Information skills are becoming important in biomedical curricula (information literacy)

The library’s traditional role changed from information collector towards information mediator and facilitator

We should not forget our physical space! To play this new role libraries should adapt their space (multifunctional rooms, multimedia facility, flexible furniture) Libraries schould give students the space and working rooms where they can search for, experiment with, work and reproduce, share and present the information they want. We should bring students, faculty and libraries together in new ways of teaching and e-learning “ (…) library space should be designed primarily for learning and not primarily for service is the first step in building a new paradigm.” (Scott Bennett)

To play this new role libraries should adapt their space (multifunctional rooms, multimedia facility, flexible furniture)

Libraries schould give students the space and working rooms where they can search for, experiment with, work and reproduce, share and present the information they want.

We should bring students, faculty and libraries together in new ways of teaching and e-learning

Short term: a simple reorganization Library space divided in three zones a zone for group work a mixed zone (high concentration of computers) a silent zone for study We reorganized the furniture We enlarged the opening hours (9am-9pm, except Fridays) This required no supplementary budget and was almost immediately implemented – with succes Summer 2008: complete renovation of our ICT infrastructure

Library space divided in three zones

a zone for group work

a mixed zone (high concentration of computers)

a silent zone for study

We reorganized the furniture

We enlarged the opening hours (9am-9pm, except Fridays)

This required no supplementary budget and was almost immediately implemented – with succes

Summer 2008: complete renovation of our ICT infrastructure

In the long term: a new concept Inspiration through visits of learning centres in the Netherlands and the UK A web survey (LibQual) at the end of this year A concept was written, proposed to the management of the Biomedical Group (campus) and formally supported A working group was created consisting of library staff, academic staff, students, ICT staff and educational staff, under presidency of our head librarian. Definitive proposal should be ready at the end of 2008 Remaining decision: a profound renovation of the library or the building of a new infrastructure

Inspiration through visits of learning centres in the Netherlands and the UK

A web survey (LibQual) at the end of this year

A concept was written, proposed to the management of the Biomedical Group (campus) and formally supported

A working group was created consisting of library staff, academic staff, students, ICT staff and educational staff, under presidency of our head librarian.

Definitive proposal should be ready at the end of 2008

Remaining decision: a profound renovation of the library or the building of a new infrastructure

What is in the concept? (1) Some ideas we used (Whitechurch) Reference and student workstations Collaborative learning rooms and areas Electronic classrooms Multimedia workstations Consultation stations Writing lab Lounge area

Some ideas we used (Whitechurch)

Reference and student workstations

Collaborative learning rooms and areas

Electronic classrooms

Multimedia workstations

Consultation stations

Writing lab

Lounge area

What is in the concept? (2) Some main principles Infrastructure should be open and easy accesible, preferably situated central and near the educational environment Focus on students’ needs Easy accessible for disabled persons Giving attention to (day) light, open spaces, comfort, accoustics, acclimatization, capacity (of seats), flexible and modular furniture, modern ICT facilities, multimedia rooms,... “ The hight-tech is in the social architecture”

Some main principles

Infrastructure should be open and easy accesible, preferably situated central and near the educational environment

Focus on students’ needs

Easy accessible for disabled persons

Giving attention to (day) light, open spaces, comfort, accoustics, acclimatization, capacity (of seats), flexible and modular furniture, modern ICT facilities, multimedia rooms,...

“ The hight-tech is in the social architecture”

Thank you! Jens De Groot [email_address] All kudos to Wouter Schallier