Collection Services have purchased 50 crates similar to those used for the hamper run. These new crates are grey with black handles and will be used to transport theses to CEPS via the bindery, as part of the digitisation project. CS is likely to need exclusive use of these crates for the next couple of years but beyond that they are likely to be available for other purposes. Cynthia.

Just a reminder that Glenda Rowsell from YBP will be offering training in using GOBI as a selection tool from 10am until noon tomorrow. Information Librarians from all branches are welcome to attend. Cynthia.

This will be held 10.30 – 11.30 am on Monday 24th May in the Level 4 seminar room. All welcome. Cynthia.

Another manager asked me if I could do a short session on the change proposal as it affects Collection Services. She thinks a number of people might be interested in this, so I am proposing to do a brief session in the staffroom on Monday between 2 and 2.30 pm. All welcome. Cynthia.

I have asked Library IT to remove crates 1-15 from the booking system. They are required to transport and store theses that are going to CEPS for digitisation. If anyone knows the whereabouts of crates 1,3 10 & 11 (large blue crates with green handles) could they please ensure that they are returned to Central Library, marked for the attention of Margaret McK? Many thanks. Cynthia.

From 2010 the Library has a stated preference for e-books over print where these are available. Print copies will still be purchased where they offer a superior user experience e.g. art books.
When titles are recommended Acquisitions staff are now checking for the availability of an e-version and are ordering these where appropriate.
We have been ordering from EBL for a week or so now and our Ebrary account is now set up so we can commence ordering from them. To date we have ordered about 200 titles. These had stockpiled while we have been waiting for our accounts to be set up. (We have also been transitioning to our preferred monograph supplier for the next three years, YBP).
We are finding that the e-books are generally supplied within 24-48 hours compared with the average fill time of 42 days for print. Add to this the fact that e-books don’t need physical processing and that means they can be made available very quickly.
Once supplied the e-books are available 24/7 (barring technical glitches) and in most instances will be available to multiple users simultaneously.
Accessing e-books will eliminate the problems that students have finding books on the shelves and the ability for multiple users to access high demand titles should eliminate much of the negative feedback about insufficient copies of high demand materials.
E-books offer keyword searching so allow users to hone in on the relevant sections of the book. Automatic citation is available for cut and pasted material. E-book vendors are increasingly setting up to allow access from mobile devices so access can be literally anytime, anywhere.
Ebooks are not susceptible to loss or damage and represent a reduction in storage costs for the Library.
Once we have received e-books on the various platforms we have identified, a project group will be set up to look at the technical and access issues to inform our decisions about which platforms should have preference.
A significant disadvantage of e-books is that it is not realistic, or permissible to print the entire book as is done with serial articles. Publishers have built-in printing and copying & pasting restrictions. As with anything new, it is going to take time for some of our users to adjust.
Cynthia

The budget summary that was sent out to some Library staff this morning contained erroneous information. New mail-merge documents have had to be set up for 2010 and in the process of setting these up, some of the information got scambled. Heads of Departments and LLOs have been sent corrected figures. For Library staff who wish to see the correct figures please look at the 2010 budget summary at K:/collections/CollBudget/budget_summary_2010.xlsx. Departments have been asked to spend a quarter of their book budget by 23 April in an attempt to try and smooth the pattern of book ordering. Cynthia.

As part of a project to catalogue some of the music in the Special Collections Room, Evelyn Robertson and Julie Provan are going to come in on a casual basis and do some cataloguing for Collection Services. Julie will begin on Monday 11th and Evelyn will begin on Monday 18th January. They will each work two or three days a week. Having this backfill will allow Alison and Nicole, who are our music specialists to work on the music. Also Erin Upjohn-Beatson will be sorting music from the SCR over the next few weeks. She will be working in Information Services and will be supervised primarily by Bronwnyn Matthews.

This is prior warning that the Collection Services Department will be going out for a Christmas lunch between noon and 3pm this Thursday (10th December).We will lock the Workroom when we leave. Cynthia.

I am offering them some Christmas cake as a bit of an enticement if they come early. Please don’t eat it before they get the chance to have some. You are welcome to what is left over. Cynthia.