Emerging Technologies & Innovation
Josh Bishoff, Jim Hahn, Bill Mischo, Chris Prom, Beth Sandore Namachchivaya, David Ward
Strategic Planning Task Force Open Meeting
July 14, 2011
Major Accomplishments
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Federated search: EasySearch‐‐discovery of content across many resource types; recommender system;
Mobile library: m.library.illinois.edu‐‐search library content;
Location‐based mobile services: discover Library resources & services near you;
Virtual reference: IMCollaborator—connects experts across many physical locations;
Archives description and discovery system: Archon;
Digital collection discovery w/OAI‐PMH: Illinois Harvest; Digital collections & content; OAI‐ORE (digital object re‐use and exchange)
Researcher profiles system: BibApp / Connections
Text data mining: MONK; HathiTrust Research Center
Note: funding for the above now comes from external funding: grants, awards, endowments, for a total of ~ $750,000 / yr.
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Impact
• User benefits:
– Save time & identify relevant resources for research;
– Find and manipulate special collection content in convenient and innovative ways;
– Enable mobile discovery of library resources & services;
• Broader professional impact:
– Illinois open source software and shared applications for hundreds of libraries world‐wide;
– Internationally high profile of Illinois technology achievements;
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Opportunities
• Illinois is poised to pioneer:
– Location‐based / context‐aware virtual service and content delivery applications (EasySearch AND location‐
based, dynamically‐generated content & services);
– Next generation archives access and management system development – (ArchivesSpace);
– Virtual reference interaction suite (IMCollaborator)
– Flexible manipulation of digitized texts (Bamboo)
– Researcher suite of workflow and profile tools (BibApp, IDEALS, Scholarly Commons sandbox applications);
– Management of locally created digital content;
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Initiatives
• Search, discovery & interaction services
– Web‐scale discovery services
– Location & context‐aware virtual services
– Virtual reference and interaction tools & services
• Data curation workflow tools
– Develop accessible tools that facilitate selection, preservation, discovery, and use of Illinois local scholarly resources with long‐
term value.
• Technology innovation framework
– Innovation environment established
– Innovation lifecycle defined
– Relationships with campus / external groups 5
Success Metrics
• Use and usability analysis;
• Analysis of use information—transaction logs, use statistics‐
‐analytics;
• Uptake by other libraries‐‐use of code base/API’s/App’s.
• Sustainability path identified (for products that prove they can support strategic directions);
• Peer‐reviewed publications; conference presentations
• Grant awards to support partial or full prototyping/design
• Partnerships (CIC, DLF, other) to do collaborative development
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Resources Needed
• Lightweight application and vetting process
– Technology: • Infrastructure (equipment, software, training)
• Training
• Support
– People:
• Pool of technical staff to offset external funding:
• Formalize faculty and staff assignments from Library units for development and assessment;
• Organizational:
– Emerging technologies team
– Establish relationships with SC, Media Commons, I3, ICHASS, Office of CIO, NCSA
– Outfit Emerging technologies lab spaces in Grainger, UGL Media commons
– Dedicate / % time of faculty/ AP’s
– Support for collaboration with other institutions (travel)
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• Users:
Impact
– Research breakthroughs using innovative methods; – Insinuate content and opportunities for interaction with library experts into users’ lives where and when they want it;
– Easy integration of scholarly and primary resources in learning & instruction;
• Profession:
– Introduce & assess new and / or improved services;
– Contribute to research like no other library can;
– Influence development through partnerships with commercial technology, other organizations;
– Promote adoption of information standards;
– Nail the innovation cycle; use it in other settings;
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Task Force Questions and Discussion
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