# Applications of ICT in Libraries/Using ICT in Professional Practice

This page is designed for the use of students undertaking the **Level 7
PDA** (Diploma ICTL) or the **Level 8 PDA**
(Advanced Diploma ICTL) in
**Applications of ICT in Libraries**.

These qualifications were developed by the **Scottish Library and
Information Council (SLIC)** and are
validated by the **Scottish Qualifications Authority
(SQA)**

**Using ICT in Professional Practice** is a core unit in both the
Diploma and Advanced Diploma programmes.

Information regarding the **background to the courses**, **content** and
**certification opportunities** can be obtained by following the **Level
7** (Diploma ICTL) or the **Level 8**
(Advanced Diploma ICTL) links.

You will have received **on-site training** allowing you to develop
specific operational knowledge of your library management system. This
might have been provided by the **supplier**, the **systems manager** or
other library staff.

In some cases your job role may not allow you to get practice in all of
the operations we describe in this Outcome. If this is the case, you
must at least understand what is going on and see **demonstrations** of
the operation. As an example, relatively few staff may actively add new
items to the catalogue but it will help your understanding of the
operation of the system as a whole if you can observe new items being
added.

You should know where to find information or instructions on
**procedures** relating to the use of the library management system. If
necessary you can create some "crib guides".

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 1.1**

You should have a good knowledge and understanding of the system and its
workflows. As an exercise, taking a typical item, such as a work of
fiction, draw up a flow chart which lists what happens at each stage
from stock selection, through the ordering and acquisitions process, to
the point when the item is made publicly available and is visible on the
catalogue.

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#### Borrower information

The two main elements in an automated system are the **borrowers** and
the **stock items**. The basic information held on the borrower, apart
from name, is address and contact details. There are usually several
classes of borrower.

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 1.2**

Before proceeding, jot down the different classes of borrower you are
aware of, and what the key differences are between them as far as the
automated system is concerned.

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#### Types of borrower

The **main categories of borrower**, common to most public libraries,
are:

-   adult
-   teen
-   junior
-   concession (e.g.: senior citizen, person in receipt of benefits)
-   disability (e.g.: visually or hearing impaired)
-   housebound
-   temporary (e.g.: transient worker)

You may have noted others.

The key differences are likely to be:

-   limits on the **type of items allowed**, e.g.: junior borrowers may
    not borrow adult stock without a parent\'s permission
-   different **loan periods** for different categories of borrower,
    e.g.: no limit on length of loan period for borrowers with
    disabilities
-   the **scale of fines** may vary with the different classes of
    borrower, e.g.: no fines for concessionary borrowers.

#### Registering and removing borrowers

The precise details of **registering and removing borrowers** can vary
significantly depending on the system in use at your location.

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 1.3**

Note down the steps you need to go through to:

-   register a borrower with the system.
-   remove a borrower from the system.

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In addition to the borrower details which are permanently on the system,
it may be necessary from time to time to add a **temporary message** to
alert members of staff to something connected with a particular
borrower. Some of these messages may be added automatically by the
system. Typical would be information about money owed by or due to the
borrower.

Staff will also be able to add specific messages.

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![](T_cap.gif "T_cap.gif"){width="50"} Before proceeding, jot down some
examples of messages which you might wish to add about borrowers.

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#### Messages about borrowers

You might want to ask for some of the **borrower data** to be verified,
e.g.: if you have tried unsuccessfully to contact the borrower by
telephone, you could add a note asking for the telephone number to be
checked. Other data which sometimes changes (and borrowers neglect to
inform the library) are home address and e-mail address.

Messages could be of a more **personal** nature "Mrs Jones left her
umbrella in the library on her last visit. It is in the lost property
cupboard." Or "Tell Mr O'Neill that we have got some good new stock in
about the Atkins diet." With these sorts of messages, do be careful to
keep them factual. Data protection legislation means that borrowers are
entitled to read any information stored in a computer about themselves.

Remember to **delete** these messages once they are no longer
applicable. Mr O'Neill will be pleased to be told once about the Atkins
diet books but he will not appreciate being reminded of them on every
visit to the library!

### The circulation module

**Issuing** and **discharging** items of library stock using an
automated system is usually quick and straightforward. Sometimes the
system will indicate a complexity in the transaction, e.g.: you are
prevented from issuing an item to a borrower. Although in almost all
cases the system will supply you with correct information regarding the
status of the borrower and their borrowing activities, the underlying
reasons may not be displayed on the screen.

However, you have to be able to explain the actions of the system to the
borrower. This requires both an excellent understanding of the library
authority rules (which guide the system) and the ability to access
quickly the required screens of the system to find the reasons for the
system\'s decisions.

You should have a good **understanding** and have had **practice** in
the main operations of the circulation module of the system.

**Issuing items**

This is the basic action of entering the issuing details, i.e.: borrower
and item barcodes on to the system.

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![](T_cap.gif "T_cap.gif"){width="50"} Before proceeding, jot down
problems that may occur with this task.

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#### Problems with issuing

We can think of several problems, such as:

-   With **self-issuing systems**, where the borrower is able to carry
    out self-issue over the Internet, borrowers, especially if they are
    inexperienced in doing this, can easily make a mistake.
-   The system indicates that the borrower\'s **lending limit** has been
    reached.
-   The borrower would like at this point to know **which other items**
    they have out on loan.
-   Different classes of items may have different **loan periods**,
    e.g.: DVDs may need to be returned within three days. Certain types
    of book may be lent for only one week instead of the general three
    weeks. The system may prompt you about this but you have to remember
    use the correct date stamp on the item.

You must be able to deal with these situations and be aware of relevant
**library policies** so that you can communicate quickly with the
borrower and explain the reason for any problems.

#### Discharging items

Most automated systems allow items to be discharged by entering only the
**item barcode**. They do not require borrower information to be
entered. This makes discharging items a simple and fast operation.
However, **additional steps** are sometimes required.

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![](T_cap.gif "T_cap.gif"){width="50"} Before proceeding, jot down
problems that may occur when discharging items.

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#### Problems with discharging items

We can think of several potential problems, such as:

-   The returned item is **damaged**. This must be shown on the system
    and the book sent for repair or disposal.
-   The returned item is subject to a **request by another borrower** or
    an inter-library loan. The system will prompt on this and you must
    follow reservation or ILL procedures.

#### Other circulation tasks

-   **Renewing items:** this is a variation on the issuing procedure.
    However, it may be a renewal over the telephone. This requires you
    to manually input the details into the system.
-   **Reserving Items:** make sure that you are familiar with the steps
    you must carry out on the system to input a reservation.
-   **Overdues:** most automated systems generate overdue notices
    automatically and the screen will show any fine incurred by the
    borrower at the point of return of the item.
-   **Charges and Fines:** reservations often require charges to be made
    to the borrower. Charges may also be made for interlibrary loans.
    The other common financial transaction is related to fines for late
    return of items.

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 1.4**

Make a list of the charges your library make to borrowers which must be
administered via the library\'s automated system.

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Data provided by the circulation control module of the automated
management system can make a significant contribution to the successful
management of stock. Used properly, the system can provide data on usage
for managers to support their decisions in areas such as stock selection
policy, opening hours, staffing levels, distribution of stock and
information for statutory and local performance indicators. A particular
use of the library management system is in monitoring the performance
(levels of issuing of resources) of existing stock.

### The acquisitions module

Once new stock to be purchased for the library has been selected (the
selection process is covered in outcome two of this unit) the automated
system plays a prominent part. Although details will differ, there are
three clear steps - **ordering, receipting** and **invoicing**. The
system then will allow the acquisitions process to run, using its
Reporting Systems and Order Transmission.

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 1.5**

Find out the procedures for placing and receiving stock orders on your
automated library system and how this interfaces with the system\'s
monetary reporting facility.

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The above are the procedural steps. However, the automated system is
equally powerful in aiding the acquisition process when it comes to
**financial control**.

The acquisition of new items for your library stock is governed
principally by an **acquisitions policy**. Different library authorities
will have different methods but the following is the basis of the
process:

-   The **total level of resources** available for the library service
    as a whole is set.
-   **Priorities** for spending are agreed.
-   The total budget is then broken down across the various **budget
    headings**, e.g.: fiction, non-fiction, DVDs, allocations to
    different branches etc.
-   Budget holders are informed of their **budget allocation** and
    acquisitions may proceed.

It is important that you clearly understand the **boundaries** of your
personal authority within the ordering of any stock selection process.
You may be permitted to place orders or this may only be done by a more
senior member of staff. Know what responsibility you have and your
accountability for actions within your remit.

Clearly the whole process of acquisitions is based on the **availability
of funds** to enable the purchase of new stock items. Thus, there is
always a very clearly defined method of deciding how much money can be
spent on the various types of new stock item.

The joy of an automated system is that it can give really hard data to
inform the acquisition process. It will give the **spending situation**
under the various budget headings. This includes both the projected and
the actual spending to date. Although you may not need to access this
management information, it is important for you to realise that you have
a vital part in this. You must always enter order information accurately
to ensure the system has the correct data for its calculations.

Of course there is also **non-financial information** in the data. For
instance, it can also give information on the performance of the various
suppliers used by the library. This allows the library managers to
select the best performing suppliers for future orders.

### The cataloguing and stock management modules

A library catalogue has two main functions:

1.  it is a **record** of the items which comprise the library stock
2.  it allows people to **seek out** suitable items they wish to use

The first appearance of automated systems in libraries related to
automation of the library catalogue. In the late 1960s computers became
powerful and available enough to allow libraries, particularly
**academic libraries**, to embark on 'computerising' their catalogues.
It is easy to see why this was more attractive than going for the
circulation system first. Users could use searching techniques to find
book titles by keywords. Networks were beginning to appear so that it
became possible to search for titles in **other libraries** remotely.
You must compare this with the position up till this point of using
paper or card indexes to find a book only by its author or subject.

From the user\'s point of view the cataloguing module of the automated
library system is the most powerful and useful part of it. Of course the
user has to learn how to use it to advantage, as indeed do those who
work in the library.

#### The advantages of automated catalogues

The advantages of automated catalogues are twofold:

1.  They permit sophisticated **searching** of the library stock.
2.  They link to the circulation control system so that not only can a
    borrower ascertain that the library service holds a particular item,
    they can also see its **loan status** at the time.

The search facility of the catalogue module is very flexible. It will
allow searching for items on author, title, accession number as well as
classification. However its greatest power for users is to search on
**subject keyword** or **word in title**. You will no doubt have to
demonstrate this feature to keen users of your library.

In your administrative work related to the catalogue, i.e.: stock
management, you are most likely to be locating items whose details are
known. You will be searching on author, title or accession number.
Having found the item, you may need to withdraw it, thus deleting its
entry in the catalogue.

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 1.6**

Note down the procedure to withdraw an item from the catalogue module of
the automated library system.

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#### Withdrawing items

Although the **basic deletion process** is very simple, there may be
complications. The system may require a special procedure if it is the
last remaining copy of a book, or if it is an item forming part of a
special collection. Clearly your library will have its unique rules for
this type of matter.

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 1.7**

Ascertain the policy in your library if an item being withdrawn is shown
to be the last copy of this title held within the library service.

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#### Adding items

You also need to understand how resources are added to the catalogue. In
some library services, library staff undertake much of the work related
to cataloguing and classifying items to be added to stock. In many other
services this is done **automatically** using records from the supplier
or downloaded from elsewhere during the order process. However, even
here, with certain items, such as donations to the library, it may be
necessary to create a new record and enter all its data manually.

\-\-\--

![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 1.8**

Note down the procedure to manually add an item to the catalogue module
of the automated library system.

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Of course, having found the item after successfully searching the
catalogue depends on knowing the layout and organisation of the
particular library. The catalogue entry will include a shelf mark.

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![](T_cap.gif "T_cap.gif"){width="50"} Before proceeding, note down how
fiction items are arranged in your library.

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#### Shelving items

Fiction is usually arranged by author surname in alphabetical order.
Then, within any one author, by title. Where no author exists, the
editor\'s surname or title is used alphabetically.

A popular method of shelving fiction is by the use of **genres**.
Essentially a set of genres are decided upon, e.g.: crime, fantasy,
science fiction, romance and the books are labelled correspondingly and
placed on the shelves in their appropriate genre. The catalogue entry
will indicate this.

Non-fiction is usually shelved by **subject** according to the local
classification system. Here too genres may be used, e.g.: libraries
frequently group all biographies together.

Whichever methods are used, stock items are always organised according
to agreed principles by libraries in order to aid the swift retrieval of
resources either physically from the shelved collection or virtually
from the library catalogue.

### Inter Library Loan module

You should be familiar with the steps associated with the ILL process.

It may be that the borrower has a specific item in mind, in which case
you must get a precise description of the item.

What information about a book would you ideally wish to have before
placing an ILL request?

To satisfy the British Library ILL form, a considerable amount of
information is required, indeed the full bibliographic details. In the
case of a book, these are the following:

-   Author
-   Title
-   Year of publication
-   Edition
-   ISBN
-   Publisher & place of publication
-   The source of the reference

And remember you also need to record the name and contact details of the
borrower.

If, as is likely, the borrower cannot supply you with full bibliographic
details of the item being requested, you will need to ascertain these
using appropriate bibliographic tools.

It may be that from the nature of the borrower request (they cannot find
an item to satisfy their quest) you may need to follow the reference
interview process, described in Unit 1 so that you have a clear
definition of the subject area required by the borrower.

#### Inter Library Loan procedures

Before embarking on the ILL procedure, it is always worth
**double-checking** your own library catalogue to verify that the
requested item is not actually in your stock. If it is not, your library
service will have **procurement procedures** and appropriate ways of
securing the item. For example, this might be purchasing the item,
instigating an internal ILL or carrying out an external ILL.

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 1.9**

Check out your library authority\'s procurement procedures for securing
an item which might be subject to an ILL.

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Let us assume that an ILL will be required. The automated library system
will allow the following steps to be carried out:

-   The initiation of an ILL request
-   Tracking the progress of an ILL request
-   Informing the borrower of the arrival of an inter-loaned item
-   Issuing the inter-loaned item
-   Discharging the inter-loaned item
-   Recalling an inter-loaned item
-   Recording the return of an inter-loaned item to its home library

#### Using Inter Library Loans

You should be familiar with all aspects of the Inter Library Loan system
in use at your own location.

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 1.10**

Make yourself familiar with the Inter Library Loan module of your
automated library management system for:

-   Initiating an ILL request
-   Monitoring progress of an ILL request
-   Carrying out internal ILL procedures for issue, discharge, recall of
    ILL items to client
-   Carrying out procedures for receipt of and return of ILL item
    from/to home library.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

You will find that the rules governing the use of ILL items will vary
from those for stock items found in your own library. It is important to
be aware of these conditions and to be able to explain them to the
borrower.

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![](T_cap.gif "T_cap.gif"){width="50"} Before proceeding, jot down some
points which you think might be different for ILL items.

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#### Rules governing Inter Library Loans

Three important points are as follows:

**Costs:** your library may make a charge, thus passing on some of the
ILL cost to the borrower, e.g.: fines for late return - there are
additional penalties for non-return of British Library items within loan
period.

**Timescales:** you will need to give as accurate as possible an
estimate of the time taken to secure the item. Also the period of time
that the borrower can hold the item may be different from the loan
period for similar items in your own library stock.

**Restrictions on use**: it may be that the item may only be consulted
within your library and not borrowed. There may be photocopying
restrictions on the item.

## Use ICT sources in stock selection

### Criteria for stock selection

Although you may not be responsible for the **selection** and
**acquisition** of materials for your library, you may contribute to the
identification of appropriate materials for the service. You certainly
need to understand the **principles** of stock selection for public
libraries.

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![](T_cap.gif "T_cap.gif"){width="50"} Before proceeding, jot down the
information you think you would need to make decisions on which stock to
purchase.

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#### Selecting stock

The two main drivers in stock selection are the **current demands of the
borrowers** and the **current stock available**.

The current demand has to be **audited**. This is relatively simple when
an automated library system is being used. In fact, it is possible to be
overwhelmed by the available statistics from an automated system. So a
careful approach is required in deciding which categories, fiction
genres and authors to run statistics on.

This information on borrowing can be compared with the current stock
provision. Broadly speaking there should be a match between the two.
Thus looking at the detective genre, if the books by two popular authors
show a great disparity such that the books by author X are on loan five
times as much as author Y, there may be a good case for purchasing more
copies of the books by author X.

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![](T_cap.gif "T_cap.gif"){width="50"} Before proceeding, think of
circumstances where this may not be valid

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#### Factors affecting demand

It would be important to take into account any **reading promotions**
carried out by the library on author X. Another factor might be that
author Y\'s books are shelved in an inaccessible place. Perhaps X\'s
books are paperback and Y\'s are hardback and your borrowers prefer the
paperback format.

The conclusions on the previous page are made under the assumption that
the **stock levels, display methods** and **format** are roughly the
same for both authors

You also need to be aware of reading promotions external to your library
which might drive a boom in borrowing books by author X. Although it may
still be valid to increase your stock because there is a genuine and
sustainable increase in interest in reading author X as a result of rave
reviews on a television arts programme, you do need to question the
**sustainability**. You do not want to be left six months later with a
shelf full of author X\'s books which are no longer being borrowed.

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![](T_cap.gif "T_cap.gif"){width="50"} Before proceeding, think of other
reasons for choosing items for stock apart from balancing stock and
demand.

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#### Additional criteria for stock selection

Apart from this **balancing of stock and demand**, we think that the
following points will drive stock choice.

**Gaps in stock** which need to be filled. Obvious examples are new
novels by favourite authors, or earlier novels which have never been in
the stock of the library. There will also be a need for **replacement
copies** due to poor condition or because material is out of date in the
case of reference items for instance.

There will also be some form of **stock development plan** for your
library. This may cover the need for more diverse formats, including
non-book resources, as well as new directions of book materials.

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 2.1**

Note down the stock development plans for your library. If necessary ask
other library colleagues.

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All the above points go to making up the **stock selection policy** for
your library. From this policy, it is possible to identify criteria for
selection of new stock items.

It is now possible to use **online selection tools** to find possible
new items and assess them against the agreed stock selection criteria.

### Online library catalogues

Of the possible ways of finding suitable material for stock selection,
the use of online library catalogues of other libraries has the
advantage that the materials ought to be properly catalogued and so easy
to find using keywords.

QUESTION TextEntry1: Online library catalogues

This ability to search other library\'s catalogues is increasingly
possible because it is becoming commonplace for libraries to have
catalogues which can be searched via the Internet. The **UK Public
Libraries Page** is a useful resource, linking to the web-available
catalogues.

<http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/square/ac940/weblibs.html>

Some services **combine** together the catalogues of several libraries.
A single-search interface is used to cross-search multiple catalogues in
a single search action. In Wales there is
CatCymru which enables the
searching of library catalogues across all public, FE and HE libraries
in Wales

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 2.2**

Go to the UK Public Libraries Page and find examples of public library
services with combined catalogues. (There are several examples of this.)

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#### Combined catalogues

Some websites combine catalogues of collections with a common theme.
Here are some more examples of catalogues to explore:

-   **British Library** <http://catalogue.bl.uk>
-   **Northern Ireland**
    <http://www.ni-libraries.net/library-card/library-catalogue/>
-   **CatCymru** <http://library.wales.org/catcymru/>
-   **Birmingham** <http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/libcat>

#### Differences between catalogues

The catalogues we looked at on the previous page vary in the details
they provide and in the range of functions which can be performed. They
do however offer the opportunity to trace resources. Here you are using
the existing systems for inter-library loan as a helpful way of allowing
library staff to view each other\'s collections.

Some services may have automatic links to bibliographic service
providers such as **Talis** or subscriptions to services such as
**Whittaker\'s Books in Print**.

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 2.3**

Go to the Northern Ireland catalogue <https://opac.librariesni.org.uk/>
and search under author for Dan Brown\'s "The Da Vinci Code". Look
through the list and select the correct author. Follow the links and
note that you can clearly see format, availability and reserve the item
online. Compare this to the information available for the same book from
your service.

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QUESTION TextEntry1:

### Publishers' and booksellers' websites

The most obvious place on the Internet to look for new stock items is of
course the library booksellers' and publishers' websites. These
companies aim to sell the items and so one would expect that they
contain the most **up to date information** on things like prices and
publication dates for the items.

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![](T_cap.gif "T_cap.gif"){width="50"} Before proceeding, think of other
more negative points about the use of such websites.

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#### Negative aspects to commercial sites

Well, you have to bear in mind that publishers and booksellers have a
**commercial imperative** and thus the content may be biased or might
not provide full information.

You must exercise **caution** when using these websites to select
material and you must therefore ensure that any selected materials do
properly match the agreed selection criteria.

#### Example sites

Here is a small selection of useful sites:

-   **Askews** <http://www.askews.co.uk/site/default_askews.asp>
-   **Bertram Library services**
    <http://libraryservices.bertrams.com/BertramLibraryServices/>
-   **Booksellers Association** <http://www.booksellers.org.uk/>
-   **Scottish Bibliographies Online**
    <http://www.scotlandsculture.org/sbo/sbo.htm>
-   **Welsh Books Council** <http://www.cllc.org.uk/>
-   **Books from Scotland** <http://www.booksfromscotland.com>

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 2.4**

Go to the Harper Collins website (http://www.harpercollins.com) and
follow links from the home page to New Releases, Forthcoming Titles and
Best Sellers. Look for a favourite author in these sections and note the
information you can find about the author, forthcoming events, full list
of titles in print, range of formats titles are available in and links
to author\'s websites. NB: You can also register for an author tracker
facility and to find out about new writing.

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#### Services offered

Some of the websites offer a range of sophisticated services --
pre-publication ordering facilities, EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)
information, download facilities of MARC (Machine Reading Catalogue)
records and tracking systems for current orders.

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 2.4**

Choose one of your own library suppliers, view their website and make a
note of the services apart from straight forward sale of items which
they provide. Find out how well they integrate with your automated
library management system. You may find it useful to ask your colleagues
about this.

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### Online reviews and personal evaluations

The Internet provides a great potential for reviewing potential new
stock items. There are many websites which will provide this sort of
service. An obvious choice is the bookseller Amazon

However, there are many others' including sites linked to newspapers.
Here are some examples:

-   **The Guardian book review site**
    <http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/>
-   **The Independent book review site**
    <http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/>

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![](T_cap.gif "T_cap.gif"){width="50"} Before proceeding, think of more
negative points about the use of such websites.

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#### Negative aspects of online reviews

You have to treat reviews which have been posted on the Internet with
some caution. They often include only part of the entire review and the
views of the individual reviewer are unlikely to have been through a
**rigorous editorial process**, unlike print journals.

It is also possible to review extracts of audio/visual materials using
the Internet, again candidates should return to the stock selection
policy for guidance prior to purchase.

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 2.4**

Go to the Guardian\'s website <http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/> and
compare one of the reviews with the book blurb on the publisher\'s
website or another review on the same title. Look at style, content,
detail and overall conclusion of the reviews with a view to their
helpfulness within stock selection.

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## Use ICT in continuing library practice and professional development

### Discussion lists

Online discussion lists (sometimes called groups, newsgroups or forums)
are the Internet version of electronic **bulletin boards**, popular
among computer users long before Internet. A user can post comments on a
topic and other users can respond. Messages are visible to all members
of the group and some services provide extensions such as file storage
and calendaring. The original newsgroup service, **Usenet**, is now
available via Google Groups (http://groups.google.co.uk). Other services
include **Jiglu** (http://www.jiglu.com/) and **Yahoo Groups**
(http://groups.yahoo.com).

Discussion lists are a useful tool for both individual professional
development and solving specific problems. Lists work in the following
way. You have to sign up as a member, giving your e-mail address. Any of
the members can send in an e-mail with information of interest to the
group or a question. All these e-mails are forwarded automatically to
all list members. This usually generates a flurry of helpful responses.

Some lists are **moderated** so that the e-mails are only posted after
they have been vetted. For the lists you use, you should be aware which
are vetted and which allow e-mails to be sent instantaneously.

We can classify discussion lists into three broad categories:

-   professional discussion lists run by or for the professional library
    bodies
-   government or local government sponsored lists
-   ad hoc lists run by interested people or groups.

#### Professional discussion lists

JISC mail (the service provided by the Joint Information Systems
Committee) is one of the key providers of discussion lists and has a
number of **public library, special interest** and **library profession
groups**. The home page is <http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/>. You can search
for different lists based on topic and there are many related to
libraries.

You can see a list of library categories on this page:

<http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/mailinglists/category/Library.html>

Three specific examples of lists which can be used for professional
matters by library staff are:

-   **LIS-PUB-LIBS:** is a forum for discussion of issues relating to UK
    public libraries. See the joining page at:
    <http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=lis-pub-libs>
-   **LIS-SCOTLAND:** is a forum for discussion of issues relating to
    Scotland. See the joining page at:
    <http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=lis-scotland&A=1>
-   **LIS-Wales:** is a forum for discussion of issues relating to
    Wales. See the joining page at:
    <https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=lis-wales>

CILIP has a range of professional discussion lists which are targeted at
supporting members of library staff who share particular professional
interests or working environments. Visit
<http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/mailinglists/category/Library.html> to browse
the library discussion lists (you can search for the CILIP sponsored
discussion lists using \'LIS-CILIP\').

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 3.1**

Select an appropriate online discussion group on a subject that
interests you e.g. information literacy, youth library work or
mentoring. Join a group (you will find more at
<http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/mailinglists>) and read some of the recent
discussions.

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#### Government sponsored lists

Non-library-specific discussion groups, such as those run on local
authority websites or the websites of other agencies may also be useful.
An example is the **Welsh Assembly Government** which offers a range of
consultation and discussion forums (you have to register to access the
forums):

<http://wales.gov.uk/?lang=en>

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 3.2**

Search the Internet for a discussion list for your geographic area,
perhaps run by your local authority.

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#### Ad hoc groups and lists

There is a range of commercial service providers such as:

-   **Yahoo Groups** <http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/>
-   **Jiglu** <http://www.jiglu.com/>
-   **Freeboards** <http://www.freeboards.net/main.htm>

They provide discussion groups (lists) free of charge. These offer
simple, alternative ways to start discussion lists for groups, e.g.
Community Services Group (Scotland) at:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/csgscotland/> Of course this also means
that you can also easily set up a group to discuss any topic you choose.
This approach can allow you to share ideas in the professional field.

Social networking websites have a huge potential for useful exchanges of
news, information and ideas. Many of them have established areas for
library interests. The main problems are the quality of the content and
access from within local authority firewalls. Here are some sites to
look at, if you can access them.

-   **CILIPS** <https://twitter.com/CILIPScotland>
-   **CILIP South East Branch Flickr**
    <http://www.flickr.com/photos/cilip-se/>
-   **CILIP Career Development Group Facebook**
    <http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2421438148>
-   **Welsh libraries blog** <http://libalyson.wordpress.com/>
-   **Del-i-cious**
-   **Scottish libraries blog**
    <http://scottishlibraries.wordpress.com/>
-   **Scottish Library and Information Council**
    <http://www.scottishlibraries.org/> which incorporates a range of
    web 2.0 tools. Guidance on using web 2.0 in a library and
    information service context have been published and are interesting
    reading.

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 3.3**

Taking any one of the three group providers mentioned above, explore how
to set up a group for your own use.For all three use the group index or
search system to find groups related to library work.

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### Professional websites

You should be familiar with and able to access a range of key
professional websites to support you in your professional practice.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

![](T_cap.gif "T_cap.gif"){width="50"} Before proceeding, jot down any
websites you can think of which fall into the above category.

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#### Types of professional website

The websites you have listed are likely to fall into one of three
categories:

-   Websites of the **strategic agencies**
-   Websites of **professional associations** and **special interest
    groups**
-   Websites of **local agencies**

#### Websites of the strategic agencies

Each of the 4 UK home nations has its own strategic agency for
libraries. These are:

-   **Arts Council England**
    <http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/what-we-do/supporting-libraries/>
-   **Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC)**
    <http://www.scottishlibraries.org/>
-   **Museums Archives and Libraries Wales (CyMAL)**
    <http://www.cymal.wales.gov.uk/>
-   **Library and Information Services Council (Northern Ireland)
    LISC(NI)** <http://www.liscni.co.uk/>

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 3.4**

Look at each of these 4 websites and compare the information given.

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#### Websites of professional associations and special interest groups

All **professional associations** have websites. These usually comprise
pages which can be accessed by anyone plus further sections which are
**available only to members** who use a password to access them. The
main professional association in the library field is the **Chartered
Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)** at:
<http://www.cilip.org.uk/>

Many relevant special interest groups have websites. These can be
particularly useful as they often act as portal sites, collecting links
to other websites based on the same or similar topics. Examples are:

-   **CILIP Multimedia Information and Technology Group**
    <http://mmitblog.wordpress.com/>
-   **The Historic Libraries Forum**
    <http://www.historiclibrariesforum.org.uk/>
-   **International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and
    Documentation Centres** <http://www.iaml-uk-irl.org/>

#### Websites of local agencies

You should also be aware of the importance of the contents and functions
of your own **local authority website** and **local intranet**.

Simple client enquiries made at the library counter or over the
telephone can often be answered from these sources and it is useful to
be well informed regarding content and layout so that site navigation
takes the minimum amount of time.

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 3.5**

Spend some time making yourself familiar with the website run by your
own local authority.

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### Online professional journals

**Online journals** offer a readily accessible and searchable source of
professional information. Some are freely available but others operate
on a subscription basis. Examples are:

-   **CILIP Update**
    <http://www.cilip.org.uk/publications/updatemagazine>
-   **CILIP in Scotland** <http://www.cilips.org.uk/>
-   **Journal of Information Literacy**
    <http://ojs.lboro.ac.uk/ojs/index.php/JIL>

CILIP members enjoy free online access to the **Journal of Information
Science** and J**ournal of Librarianship and Information Science** from
the CILIP website.

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![](A_Cap_Digital.svg "A_Cap_Digital.svg"){width="50"} **ACTIVITY 3.6**

Look at the latest issue of CILIP Update at
<http://www.cilip.org.uk/publications/updatemagazine> Familiarise
yourself with the layout and content. Is there anything in this issue
which is of interest to you in your current job role?

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You should get into the habit of regularly checking on-line journals to
gather information and ideas which are relevant to your own continuing
professional development.

