The library at Imperial College London outlined their strategy to expand online access to library resources for alumni from 2015-2020. They began by benchmarking other Russell Group universities and modifying licensing agreements to allow remote access for alumni for non-commercial purposes. In 2016, the library increased the number of online collections available to alumni from 3 to 14 and worked to address challenges like access management and publisher awareness of alumni use. Going forward, they plan to continue expanding collections available online, track usage data, and address issues preventing a consistent user experience for on-campus and online alumni users.

1. Library
Services
Our Path to Alumni Online Access
From Cul-de-Sac to Information Super-Highway
Michela Wilkins, Head of Library Liaison (Business,
Engineering & Natural Sciences) #Mic_Library
Stuart Dempster, Head of Information Resources
#StuDempster

2. In 2012 we offered this to alumni for online access…

3. 2015 – Alumni are important…

4. Our Strategy 2015-20…
We will build strong relationships with our
alumni and friends. This lifelong exchange
of ideas and support benefits all of us…
 We will create a programme of services,
activities and communications for our
alumni and friends tailored to their
experiences and interests.
 We will revitalise our relationship with
our alumni and friends and seek their
support in delivering our academic
mission and building Imperial’s global
reputation.

5. In the beginning….our first steps…in 2015
Horizon Scanning Benchmarking
Checked Agreements Modified Negotiations
The first option would exclude online
remote access for alumni and the
second option should include online
remote access alumni for non-
commercial purposes. We currently
have approximately 2,000 alumni
registered to access some
information resources, via an
authentication process in our Alumni
Office.

6. And now…we see…in 2016
Alumni Office Liaison Inaugural Library Presence
New and renewed Subs Usage and impact

7. In May 2016 we offered this to alumni for online access…

8. Russell Group Comparisons (May 2016):
Alumni Remote Access to Online Collections
0
0
1
0
1
0
16
0
3
1
0
3
0
7
0
0
9
0
0
0
0
3
4
1
0 5 10 15 20
Birmingham
Bristol
Cambridge
Cardiff
Durham
Edinburgh
Exeter
Glasgow
Imperial College
King's College London
Leeds
Liverpool
LSE
Manchester
Newcastle
Nottingham
Oxford
Queen Mary
QUB
Sheffield
Southampton
UCL
Warwick
York
Online
We are here now
Source: Alumni/Library web pages

9. Russell Group Comparisons (December 2016):
Alumni Remote Access to Online Collections
0
0
1
0
1
0
16
0
14
1
0
3
0
7
0
0
9
0
0
0
0
3
4
1
0 5 10 15 20
Birmingham
Bristol
Cambridge
Cardiff
Durham
Edinburgh
Exeter
Glasgow
Imperial College
King's College London
Leeds
Liverpool
LSE
Manchester
Newcastle
Nottingham
Oxford
Queen Mary
QUB
Sheffield
Southampton
UCL
Warwick
York
Online
Where we will be

10. Transforming our stance: Rapid Improvement Exercise
DMAIC
Source: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/about/leadership-and-strategy/provost/operational-excellence/current-
activity/library-services/subscriptions-management/

11. Coming soon…
 OECD i-Library Statistics
(Eduserv)
 Duke University Press (JC)
 BioOne (JC)
 Ebsco Education Db (JC)
 RSM Journals (Sage)
 IMechE Journals (Sage)
 IOS Press (JC)
 Annual Reviews (JC)

12. Tools and Benefits Realisation
8 ‘New’
Collections
via KB+
6 ‘New’ Collections
via our new
Negotiations
Framework
Baseline: Licensing
and Negotiation Skills

13. Inconvenient truths….
 Access and Identity Management
(Shibboleth, EZProxy etc.) not possible
 Licence Definitions: ‘Authorised Users’,
‘Non-commercial use’, ‘Silent’…
 Nascent publisher awareness
 Nascent College awareness
 Usage data and impact measurements
 Unrealistic expectations
 Disparity between online and walk-in user
experience(s)
 Disparity of provision (subject, formats…)
 Additional operational overheads
 Additional costs…

15. Contacts…
Michela Wilkins michela.wilkins@imperial.ac.uk
Stuart Dempster s.dempster@imperial.ac.uk