[13233] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: personalized library interfaces
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Gambles,A)
Mon Apr 3 20:25:20 2000
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Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2000 16:14:00 +0100
From: "Gambles,A" <A.Gambles@LSE.AC.UK>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
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The HeadLine project (based at the London School of Economics in the UK) is
developing a Personal Information Environment which will accomplish several
aims. The PIE aims to provide its users (students, academics, library staff
etc.) with a "one-stop-shop". - That is a single interface to a multitude
of information resources and services. The PIE is personalised to the
user's needs (they are presented with pages of resources relevant to course,
their department) and allows user customisation. The user can create their
own lists of resources on their own pages.
From the user's point of view, the PIE aims to reduce "information overload"
by providing a tailored interface. However, PIE users are not restricted to
information resources and services within their subject/research area, they
are also provided with an "All resources" page which contains all of the
resources that the library provides access to. Also from the user's pov,
the PIE will allow seamless authentication to those resources that the user
has permission to access. The user will only have to input a username and
password once - when they log in.
From the librarian/PIE administrator's pov, the PIE will hopefully reduce
the amount of administrative work. Many academic librarians are currently
spending much time maintaining resource information on typically "flat"
library web pages. The metadata associated with the resources in the PIE is
contained within a Resource Description Model. The RDM is a relational
database which has enough complexity to cope with multiple instances of the
same resource (eg in the case of a journal: hard copy, full text via an
online database, abstracts via a stand-alone cd-rom) each with different
levels of user access. The RDM interfaces with a User Data Model and a PIE
Data Model to provide the user with a personalised interface.
Ideally, we would like to see the implementation of smart-card access to the
PIE so that users don't have any passwords to remember. Digital signatures
would promote efficiency...
We're going to be rolling out the first release of the PIE to students at
each of our partner sites in the Summer Term.
A demonstration version of the HeadLine PIE is currently available at:
http://www.headline.ac.uk/publications/pie/ . You will find out how "Pete"
(an Economics student) uses his PIE to add a new resource to his page and
then to search for information for his forthcoming assignment. The HeadLine
team is interested in your comments on the demonstration version on the PIE.
What do you think could be added/changed/improved?
Regards
Anne Gambles
HeadLine Project Officer
a.gambles@lse.ac.uk
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Eric Lease Morgan [SMTP:eric_morgan@ncsu.edu]
> Sent: Wednesday, 29 March 2000 17:04
> To: mylibrary@listserv.ncsu.edu; mylib-dev@hegel.lib.ncsu.edu;
> jaf30@cornell.edu; awade@microsoft.com; wayne@lib.med.utah.edu;
> headline-users@mailbase.ac.uk; jsghaphe@vcu.edu; dream@vcu.edu;
> dimel@calpoly.edu; b.kelly@ukoln.ac.uk; g.mcaleese@ulst.ac.uk;
> j.passmore@ulst.ac.uk; pacs-l@listserv.uh.edu
> Subject: personalized library interfaces
>
>
> This may be begging the question, but I'm curious and I would like to
> know what we are hoping to accomplish by creating personalized library
> interfaces, and if we could have any features we desired, then what
> would they be?
>
> At the NCSU Libraries we are developing such a personalized interface,
> and consequently we necessarily addressed these questions, but often
> times input from outside institutions helps clarify and focus the issues
> for everybody.
>
> Consequently, I am asking you what you think. What is the goal of
> personalization and ideally what functions would it provide? I will
> provide a summary for the list.
>
> --
> Eric "In Lancaster, Again" Lease Morgan
> Digital Library Initiatives Department, NCSU Libraries
> http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/staff/morgan/
