About UCEEL

At this point in time it might be useful to clarify what a Digital Library is, provide a picture of what benefits it will bring and update colleagues on the current position.

There are many definitions of a digital library but the following statement is one that best illustrates what is being developed at UCE:

“A Digital Library system provides a means of integrating text, image, audio and video resources. These resources can then be delivered across a network to authorised users wherever they are located, whenever they need them"

Potential benefits of the Digital Library

• Supports distance learning - both students on formal distance learning courses and part time students who work full time and find access to the library difficult.
• Levels the playing field by giving everyone access to high quality resources.
• Enriches learning by giving access to primary rather than secondary materials and objects.
• Allows integration of simulations and visualisations to enhance learning.
• Allows “learn-at-your-own-pace” - ensuring success
• Facilitates access to high demand information
• Allows information to be accessed by higher numbers of users for longer periods i.e. improved value for money
• Allows the preservation of special material while facilitating increased access
• Provides enhanced opportunities for co-operation and collaboration within UCE and with potential external organisations.

Content

At present, the main collections housed by the digital library are:

• Past Exam Papers
• Journal Articles
• Book Extracts
• Student Projects

Future content of the digital library is likely to be developed via three routes:

• Material to support Faculty learning and teaching objectives. The first two Faculties to work with the Project Team were the Technology Innovation Centre (TIC) and Faculty of Computing, Information and English (CIE) . Discussions with other Faculties are ongoing to identify target areas for further phases of development.
• Library driven initiatives e.g. digitisation of special collections housed in the Library.
• Central University requirements e.g. higher level theses.

As well as the material mentioned above, content could include images, audio, videos, slides, simulations etc.

Infrastructure

Following a formal tendering process the LSC Group was chosen to supply the Digital Library system software. LSC Group markets the FORMTEK ORION system. The system is used in a large number of multinational companies including NIKE, Boeing, VW and Volvo.

LSC also provided web design services to develop the user interface in collaboration with the Digital Library staff and focus groups from within the library and student population.

Funding and Evaluation

UCE received a capital allocation from HEFCE of £1,062,000 over three years to be used for the purchase of hardware and software. Funding for the appointment of Digital Library Project staff was secured, partly from external funding that the Library received from the Research Support Libraries Programme (RSLP). A revenue allocation has been made out of the Library’s central budget to cover areas like copyright fees, training costs, consultancy, travel expenses, consumables etc.

Two groups oversee the development of the Digital Library. The first is the Digital Library Steering Group, chaired by David Tidmarsh. The Steering Group is concerned with monitoring project spend and ensuring that project deliverables are achieved. The second group is the Digital Library Management Group, chaired by Judith Andrews. This group is responsible for the ongoing progress of the project.

The Centre for Information Research (CIRT), part of the Faculty of Computing, Information and English (CIE) worked with the UCE Library on a proposal to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to develop an evaluation model for sustaining electronic library developments. HEFCE approved the proposal and UCEEL is now a test bed site for models of evaluating good practice in digital libraries, which may become a standard for other digital libraries to follow. The proposal includes working with other Universities who are developing digital libraries and ECDU (Electronic Copyright and Digitisation Unit) , formerly known as UDEL (University of Derby Electronic Library), has been selected as the second test bed site.

The project is now known as eVALUEd and has it's own website and public mailing list.

This page last updated 12/02/03 by Nikki Griffin. Send comments to the UCEEL team .