The keynote presentation at the 2015 WiLS / RL&LL Annual ILL Meeting

1. Libraries
Leading the Way
HOW LIBRARY-DEVELOPED TECHNOLOGY
CAN CHANGE HOW LIBRARIES DO BUSINESS
WiLS & RL&LL, MADISON WI, 2015

2. How can libraries lead the way in
technology development?
In order for libraries to continue to provide the services our
patrons have come to expect of us, we must take a more
active role in developing technology that anticipates the
changing environment while staying true to our core values.

3. LIBRARY NEEDS

4. HowDoWe Learn the Needsof Our Libraries?
4
OBSERVATIONS
Observations
As library professionals, we are on the front lines of
patron needs and expectations
Library Values
In order to know how to act we need to refer to
values that we can rely on, to make sure we are
appropriately meeting the needs and expectations
of our patrons

5. Types of Observation
5
Surveys and Assessment
Regular, standardized collections of feedback
from your patrons
Visual Observation
What you see happening at your institution
Best Practices
What other libraries are doing successfully
Personal Experience
What you have done personally that works
Trends
Can you anticipate future needs by observing
broad social and technological trends?
Feelings and Empathic Design
Pay attention to how your patrons feel about
your library’s services

6. What AreLibraryValues?
According to the American Library Association
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Access Confidentiality/Privacy Democracy
Education and Learning Diversity

7. 7
Intellectual Freedom Public Good Preservation
Social Responsibility Professionalism and Service

8. Solutions Present Themselves
WhenWe BalanceObservation and LibraryValues
8
Observation Values
Provides a single 24/7 reference point for common TTU
Library questions
Interactive Kiosk Project
App for iOS and Android devices that scans book barcodes and
indicates whether the TTU Library owns the book; either way,
the patron can request the book
Book Raider Project
A system for the interlibrary loan of eBooks; currently used
among the 33 GWLA Libraries in a pilot project with Springer
Occam’s Reader Project

9. FIRST CHALLENGE:
INTERACTIVE KIOSK

10. Interactive Kiosk
Values and Observations
10
Texas Tech Libraries has four separate elevators and
students are quite often confused
Students Get Lost
The Kiosk is never closed
Need an Always Available Solution
We need an alternative service point for times when the
desk is really crowded or students don’t think their question
warrants a staff member
Busy Service Desks Require Alternate Service Point
We use a simple touch-screen interface that is intuitive and
inviting to library patrons
Easy to Use and Intuitive
Since the Kiosk is a passive system, the patron can choose
the level of interaction they would like to have
Empowers Patron to Interact with Library on Their Terms

11. Provides an interactive 24/7 service point
The Kiosk is active any time the library is open
Answers the top 10 questions posed at the Service Desk
We ran an assessment survey and determined the most
asked questions; we felt these would be good to include
for patrons
Provides building directions
We also have a way-finding issue in our library, and the
kiosk is a good opportunity to provide directional guidance
Programmed as simple web pages
The Kiosk was designed in a way that can be updated
and evolve over time as patron needs change
About the Interactive Kiosk

12. SECOND CHALLENGE:
BOOK RAIDER

13. BookRaider
Values and Observations
13
We need to engage them with library services on the devices
they use daily
Patrons Increasingly Use Mobile Devices
This is one of the missions of Texas Tech University Libraries
Anytime, Anywhere Access to Library Resources
Book Raider source code will be published on our website
Intended to be a Model for Other Libraries
Patrons can access materials through the library without
interacting with a person, even off site
Discreet Relationship between Patron and Resources
Patron information is not stored or tracked in any way
Library Does Not Track App Data

14. A free app available for iOS and Android devices
We want the app to be free and available to as many
patrons as possible
Students can scan the barcode of any book
The app is designed to allow the patron to scan the
barcode of any commercially available book
Services after scanning
The app searches the TTU Libraries for the book, then
allows the patron to make a request for the book through
TTU Document Delivery office
A library in your pocket
The app was designed to allow the TTU patron to have a
connection with the library no matter where they are, to
have access to resources anytime, anywhere
About Book Raider

15. THIRD CHALLENGE:
OCCAM’S READER

16. Occam’s Reader
Values and Observations
16
eBooks will continue to serve a vital need in the academic
library in particular; many institutions have a dedicated
budget for eBooks
eBooks are a growing resource in libraries
With the proliferation of eBooks, this type of resource is
becoming increasingly unavailable via the traditional methods
of interlibrary loan
How can we maintain traditional services in the age of eBooks
Patrons want a system they can understand and use easily
in a variety of settings
We need a simple explanation
Through collaborative negotiations, we are able to access the
eBooks for patrons while keeping personal information private
We need a process that would meet the needs of vendors
while protecting patrons
By following traditional ILL methods and adding a new
resources of eBooks, libraries can maintain their role a
protector of patron privacy and give new access to materials
previously unavailable
Protecting patron privacy through
long established ILL procedures

17. Occam’s ReaderTimeline
Our Story So Far
17
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Planning Begins
GLWA Launches eBook Lending
Task Force; first Occam’s Reader
planning meetings happen
Proof of Concept
Proof of concept is demonstrated
to GWLA Deans at their Fall
meeting
Pilot Project
Springer-GWLA pilot project
begins; first live transaction
recorded on April 7th; over 250
eBooks shared by the end of the
calendar year
Expansion
Pilot project continues through
May; over 650 eBooks lent so far;
design begins for Occam’s Reader
2.0; plans to expand libraries and
publishers are announced
Alpha Testing
Alpha testing begins in the Spring,
and major publisher expresses
interest in the project in the Fall

18. Meet the Occam’s Reader Team
Texas Tech, University of Hawaii at Manoa, and GWLA
18

19. HowOccam’sReaderWorks
From patron request to request completed
19
01
Patron makes an ILL request in the normal
manner, Borrowing staff confirms with add-on
Patron Request
02
ILL staff at the lending library receives the
request in ILLiad, and the request is
automatically routed to the Occam’s Reader
processing queue
ILL Staff Receives Request
03
ILL staff activates the Occam's Reader ILLiad
add-on and launches the Occam's Reader
software; the software takes the next steps in
the transaction
ILL Staff Activates Occam’s Reader
06
Borrowing library receives the email with login
credentials, forwards it to the patron, and closes
the request in their normal manner
Borrowing Library Completes Request
05
The Occam’s Reader software generates an
email with the URL for the eBook and the login
credentials to access it; the email is then sent by
the lending library to the borrowing institution
Lending Library Sends Email
04
Occam's Reader performs the image conversion
process and sends the converted eBook to the
OccamsReader.org server
Occam’s Reader Processes/Uploads

20. Current Features of Occam’sReader
Used in the Pilot Project
20
ILL staff has access to the Occams Reader
discovery layer to place requests
Borrower
Provides secure online access
to borrowed eBooks
Server
Occams Reader integrates fully with
existing ILL and ILLiad workflows
Lender
Current system supports PDF
and plain text eBooks
Lender
Occams Reader interface discourages piracy
through simplicity
Server
eBooks are viewable on any device with an
internet connection; patrons also have
image manipulation controls
Borrower

21. LUA script and PHP webpages
All ILLiad addons must be LUA scripts, and the PHP pages
let information flow back and forth between ILLiad and
Occam’s Reader
Borrowing add-on
This is how the ILL staff access the discovery layer
Discovery layer
The discovery layer was a necessary partnership with
Springer to make eBooks easier to find
Lending add-on
This launches the local OR client software. The local client
processes the book, sends it to the OR server, and emails
the borrowing library that the book is ready
ILLIAD add-on and client integration
ILLiadadd-onfeaturesof Occam’s Reader

22. Occams Reader Conversion
Uses .NET framework
Launches from within ILLiad client
To coincide with existing ILL workflows
Generates the image for the server
The software converts the PDF into
images, sends the zip file to the server,
and generates the login credential email
Open Source Prerequisites
Imagemagick, GhostScript, and 7zip
ImageConversion Softwareof Occam’s Reader

23. Web basedeBookReader
Current Pilot Project
23
The simplicity of the image
allows for the web viewer to
work across a variety of web
browsers
Multiple browser functionality
The web viewer uses the Occam’s
Reader generated image files.
This allows for easier viewing on
the web viewer
Displays PNG images
The simple images do not provide
OCR or other metadata functions.
The viewer does have a set of
controls that include previous,
next, jump to page, and set a
specific page
Navigational controls
The web viewer does have a set of
controls that allows the patron to
manipulate the image by zooming,
panning, and rotating
Image manipulation

24. Web ViewerSample
Important Features
24
Full-Color Images
Clear Text on Default Settings
Works in Any Browser
Full Demo: OccamsReader.org/demo

25. OccamsReaderPilot Statistics
March 2014 through March 2015
25
964,655 Springer eBooks
113,854 distinct Springer Titles
1.8 million unique page views
Average time on site 30+ minutes
Over 650 books have been sent

26. Pilot terms
Just the tip of the iceberg
The loan period for chapters is set at 90
days; his is the accepted timeframe for ILL
currently
Chapter loan period At NO point do we share or collect
patron information
We share only the citation information of
the book and the library that requested and
filled the item
Loan and Request Details
The loan period for full books is set at 14
days. This was an agreed upon, but
somewhat arbitrary number
Full Book loan period
We are allowed to send both chapters of
books and the full book during the pilot
Chapters and Full books
We do share some data with Springer as
part of our agreement to get access and
permission to lend eBooks
Request details

27. BENEFITS AND NEW DIRECTIONS

28. UnansweredQuestions, Unintended Consequences
And things to ponder…
Since Occams Reader allows the library to
loan a single book. Should a library be
allowed to purchase individual titles from a
vendor?
Single title purchase
The vendor collaboration on the shared
discovery layer illustrates a huge potential
for increasing discoverability of eBooks,
given the variety of ways in which they are
discoverable now
The discovery layer
The use of Occam’s Reader adds to the
conversation about whether or not libraries
can own an eBook
Do libraries own these eBooks?
Occam’s Reader is a good example of a
library-developed viewer hosting vendor
content – could this be a model for all
future eBook viewers?
Content Collaboration
We don’t yet know the correct answer to
this question
How long should the lending period be?

29. OccamsReaderhas lead to a numberof new directions
29
Licensing of Content
We should examine the
licensing terms we sign to see
if they can include a caveat for
ILL of eBooks now that the
system exists
Resource Sharing
If we increasingly hide our
collections behind
authentication systems,
how will ILL work for
eBooks that are behind
similar systems
eBook Ownership
Occam’s Reader usage has
opened the question of
whether or not libraries own
these books and thus can
lend them
Content Collaboration
Occam’s Reader is a good
example of how libraries and
vendors can work together to
meet both their needs
Single purchase
If we can ILL for a single
book shouldn’t we have
the option to then
purchase a single title
Occams Reader

30. Occam’s Reader2.0 SystemFeatures
30
Improved Statistical Tracking
With the dedicated transmission
system, we can enhance the accuracy
of the data we send to the publishers
Secure Transmission System
We are working to design a
transmission system to work
independently of OCLC to allow for
faster requesting and faster
fulfillment
Enhanced Image Conversion Process
We have improved the speed in
which the Occams Reader client
converts the images and send them
to the server
Refined Discovery Layer
We are working to refine the
discovery layer to allow for faster
searching and locating of eBooks
ILLiad and non-ILLiad
Next version of Occams Reader will
support both ILLiad and non-ILLiad
libraries
Expand Library and Publisher Participation
We want to add all the libraries to
the project that wish to join. We have
also contacted other publishers to
evaluate their interest

31. 31
Includes the ability to export a citation
Supports a responsive designIncludes a recommend for purchase
Incorporates a thumbnail browser
Provides a watermarking option Adds touchscreen functionality
Occams Reader 2.0 viewer features

32. Viewer2.0 Sample
Important Features
32
Supports responsive design and touch controls
Provide a “recommend for purchase” button
Incorporate a thumbnail slider for easy browsing
Pages can be watermarked

33. WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

34. The Message is:
34
You can do it
01
For cheaper than you think02
And with better results than you expect
03
Because libraries can best define the problems
04
And find solutions that embody library values05

35. ThankYou
We would love to answer your questions!
RYAN LITSEY
ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN, DOCUMENT DELIVERY
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
RYAN.LITSEY@TTU.EDU
KENNY KETNER
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
KENNY.KETNER@TTU.EDU