Unveiling

a

new

user-centered

approach

on

the

delivery

of

library

services

5

key

insights

from

our

session

at

ER&L

Conference

2023

Back in March we were delighted to present three sessions at ER&L Conference 2023 in Austin, Texas on how libraries can amplify their value on campus. In this blog, we share 5 key insights from our session, Unveiling a new user-centered approach on the delivery of library services: A case study from Bangor University Library.

The session explored Bangor University library’s vision and plan to increase student engagement with resource lists and embedding EzProxy into research workflows to support researcher impact. The talk was chaired by Jessica Clemons (Director of Sales, Technology from Sage), with speakers Anna Jones, MLIS (Senior Program Manager, Community Relations, OCLC) and Alan Thomas (Teaching and Learning Support Manager, Bangor University library).

You can watch the full session recording below or read on to get a summary of 5 key insights from how one library used digital services at multiple points of the patron workflow to increase library impact and engagement of library-subscribed resources.

1.

63%

of

patrons

use

Google

to

find

resources

compared

to

35%

using

library

websites

Most students do not begin their search for resources on the library website. Our new report titled Librarian Futures report Part II: The Knowledge Gap between Librarians and Students found that 63% of patrons use Google to find resources compared to 35% using library websites. You can download the report here.

2.

Reading

lists

can

be

embedded

in

the

discovery

workflow

With the OCLC Worldshare Management Services (WMS) and Talis Aspire integration, students can more easily find resources that have been listed by their professors and faculty as they can be embedded in the discovery workflow. This also means that cataloguing workflows are integrated with the reading lists. It’s all supported by OCLC WorldCat data and makes it easier for library staff, too!

3.

The

library

is

everywhere.

Bangor

University

library

want

to

make

their

library

highly

accessible

whether

it’s

for

staff

or

students

Wherever patrons are in the world, accessing the library anytime, anywhere, any place is one of Bangor University library’s key strategies. Patrons being able to easily access reading materials and resources that the library purchases or leases is vital.

4.

70%

of

Bangor

University

library’s

collections

are

online.

How

can

these

e-resources

be

delivered

directly

to

patrons?

Both staff and students go to Google or Google Scholar first rather than the library website or discovery, so Bangor University library must ensure their material is findable through this route. Bangor University library use Lean Library to take care of EZproxy and authentications and route patrons straight through to accessing library materials, even when they begin their search outside of the library on the open web.

5.

Students

know

which

resources

they

should

be

engaging

with

via

reading

lists

which

fully

integrate

with

library

ecosystems.

Bangor University library have integrated Talis Aspire’s resource list management software with their Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) so that students are aware of which resources they should be prioritising. Students expect to be told what they have access to, so the reading lists present vetted and suitable material. If a professor is teaching statistics in psychology, the resource would also be available to students of biochemistry, therefore it would cross departments. Usage figures for the resources would go up and the cost per student would go down.