Product: Lean Library Access
- Product Features: Assist Messages
- Themes: Patron Promotion, User Centricity, Increasing Usage, Librarian/Patron Interactions, Patron Onboarding
Promoting the library directly into patron workflows: deploying Assist Messages at the point of need.
How Bern University of Applied Sciences uses Lean Library Access to:
- Streamline access to their library’s content and increase patron usage.
- Display the library brand over 100k times to patrons via the browser extension.
- Unlock over 3k paywalled resources for patrons, equivalent to over $125k savings.
“With Lean Library, we reach students and researchers wherever they are on the internet and guide them to where we provide access.” – Laura Tobler, Information
Specialist for eResources
Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) has a total enrolment of 7.7k. BFH is an internationally renowned Swiss university of applied sciences that attracts creative, proactive, and responsible individuals. The university has a practical focus and values being diverse, sound, and dynamic.
What is Lean Library Access?
Lean Library solves access issues and provides patrons with content as and when they need it, all while protecting their privacy and promoting your library’s brand.
• Consists of a browser plug-in for patrons, configured by an easy-to use dashboard for librarians.
• Core features for patrons include:
1. Alternatives feature with over 30M Open Access alternatives
2. scite Integrator for in-workflow citation analysis and context
3. Seamless Access to journals, eBooks and resources
4. ILL and DDS service integrations
5. Assist messages feature for in-workflow library-patron communication.
The Challenge
The BFH Library is integrated into all departments and divisions of the BFH. What makes it strong is the specialization of its sub-libraries. A wide range of academic documents of all kinds is on offer: from books, sheet music and DVDs to e-books, journals and databases, etc. But, in the digital age, the majority of patrons start their research journey outside of the library on sites like Google Scholar or PubMed and aren’t always aware of or easily accessing library resources.
“The great thing about Lean Library Access is that it allows for better discoverability of
both institution-licensed and freely available open access documents.”
Laura Tobler, Information Specialist for eResources
The Solution
Since 2019, Bern University of Applied Sciences used Lean Library Access to:
Drive usage, increase visibility, and save money. BFH also utilized our Library Assist feature, which enables libraries to communicate different personalized messages to patrons when they land on certainwebsites via a popup. BFH implemented multiple Assist messages in English, French, and German, including their most-viewed message that informs patrons that they can borrow physical editions of books from the library. In the last 12 months, over 21k patrons have viewed BFH’s Library Assist messages.
“Another great option of Lean Library is that the library can deposit important information in an appropriate place on the web to assist searchers. For example, news about current trainings, required login information or developments of services and offers.”
Laura Tobler, Information Specialist for eResources
LIBRARY BRANDING HAS BEEN SURFACED AND VIEWED OVER 100K TIMES TO PATRONS.
Matching Expectations
Today, BFH has over 1,500 active users of Lean Library, who have conducted a total of over 20k searches on Google Scholar and PubMed, and the Lean Library browser extension has been surfaced and viewed nearly 30k times by users to direct users to relevant library content and streamline their access. For example, eBook alternatives from the library catalogue have been surfaced and clicked by patrons 4.7k times via the Lean Library browser extension.
Laura works very closely with the Lean Library team and is one of our dedicated Library Advisors who helps feedback and shape the product. “I really appreciate working with the Lean Library team. The Lean Library team responds quickly and kindly to our concerns and is always open to suggestions. They, in turn, give us suggestions on how to better reach our users.”
Promoting Lean Library
Lean Library requires users to download the browser extension, so libraries need to promote it to their patrons to realize its full benefits. BFH has promoted Lean Library to their patrons in a variety of ways to ensure best usage. Lean Library is listed in various places on the library website as a resource for literature research support, is named in FAQs for patrons, and the library has also created dedicated flyers on how to download and use Lean Library.
“Our information literacy team recommends Lean Library to our users at every research training session. We rely on the word-of-mouth that this generates to inspire other members of the institution to adopt Lean Library. After all, what’s better than feedback from a professional colleague?.”
Laura Tobler, Information Specialist for eResources
Easy to download and install. Access to library resources from anywhere. Promoting the library’s brand. Support for patrons.
Find out more about Lean Library.
If you’d like to hear more or receive a product demo, get in touch.
