Appendix B - Standards and Guidelines for Library Automation and Electronic Resources

 

Overview:  The access and use of information resources is a critical aspect of student learning and success and instructional improvement. The primary focus of the library and learning resources technology and electronic resources initiatives is to provide faculty and students access to the resources in the CCC system’s libraries and learning resources programs.  The first phase initiative was a three year program designed to establish library automation capability at all CCC libraries.  Upon completion, students, faculty, and administrators sould be able to search any CCC or CSU library. 

 

The library automation and electronic resource initiative was a required area within the TTIP.  The initiative was the second of the four areas that inter-connect all of the colleges and districts via the 4CNet.  The initiative is based on the principles that emphasize as a required standard library automation and compliance with Z.39.50. The rationale is to allow for the creation of a statewide "system" that maximizes shared resources and increases student and faculty access to instructional collections and services.  It addresses standards and guidelines associated with library automation, digitizing catalogs for on-line uses, and electronic resources.

 

Background:  In the Fall of 1996, the Library Automation Standards and Guidelines Committee met to establish preliminary standards for the Library Automation and Electronic Resources Initiative.  A Library and Learning Resources Automation Survey was administered to the colleges in August 1997, to determine the level of automation and utilization of technology by college libraries and learning resource centers.  Ninety-eight percent (98%) of the colleges responded to the survey.

 

The plan to implement Library Automation in every CCC college was distributed over a three year period. The first year of the initiative was 1997-98. The total cost over the three year period calculated at $200,000 per college is $21,400,000. In year one, colleges were required to convert at least 75% of their catalog records to the US MARC format and to acquire a FAX machine for the library.  US MARC is the foundation format for library automation and electronic resources.  It is the universal format for the conversion of library collections into a machine readable format.  Fax machines are essential for borrowing and lending information within the community college system.

 

 

In years two and three, colleges were to acquire and install a library automation system consistent with the established system wide standards and develop a Library Technology Plan.  The level of technological integration varied throughout the CCC's.  The initiative was based on the principle that there should be no "disincentives" to further technology integration on the part of those libraries that currently meet the "required areas".

 

 

 

 

Required Areas were:

 

1.      Library Automation system (defined as OPAC, Cataloging, Circulation modules) that is  Z.39.50 ANSI compliant, due to be completed by June 30, 2001.

 

2.      Library Technology Plan, due by June 30, 2000.

 

Library Automation System and Directly Related Costs.  The library automation system was to adhere to the Z.39.50 ANSI protocol. The initial modules to be acquired and or upgraded were: 

 

      Cataloging,

      Electronic Public Catalog (OPAC), and,

      Circulation.

 

If an existing automation system does not meet the Z.39.50 ANSI protocol and the college has not committed funds to upgrade to the Z..39.50 ANSI protocol within one fiscal year, the system was to have been upgraded to this protocol before funds could be expended in other areas.  (Documentation to this effect was to be included with the expenditure plan.)

 

Library Technology Plan.  Every college was to have a Library and Learning Resources Technology Plan and funds could have been used for this purpose.  Workshops and Model frameworks coordinated by the Library and Learning Resources Telecommunications Committee were conducted in 1998-99.  The Library Technology Plan was to have been developed under the leadership of the Library Dean or Director for the college.

 

Other Library Areas

 

When a college  met the two required standards for libraries, the telecommunications funds could have been spent in any of the seven areas of the TTIP.  Colleges may have elected to retain these funds within the library area.  If so, they could have expended funds in any one of eleven library areas.  They were:

 

1.      Enabling technologies for disability access. (This was highly recommended in fiscal year 2000-2001)

2.      Electronic Resources & Databases

No more than 10% of the college’s total allocation could be spent on electronic resources and databases until the following criteria are met:

·      an automation system with the Z.39.50 ANSI protocol,

·      a minimum of five public access points (terminals) in the library, and,

·      remote access capability for a minimum of five simultaneous users.

3.      Internet Connectivity & Access

Every library should have a degree of Internet connectivity and access which should include:

·      Web Access to staff and public users,

·      E-Mail access from outside users to the library, and

·      Telnet access to the on-line catalog.

4.      Library Teaching Lab

5.      Library WEB Server

6.      Multi-media workstations/Collections

7.      Electronic Reserves software

8.      Instructional development workstations/peripherals

9.      CD-ROM networks

10.  Service Maintenance Contracts on above Technologies.

11.  Library Technical Support staff.

 

Status:         

The three year TTIP program’s initial objectives have been achieved through the standards met and the library plans submitted.  This first phase initiative was a three year program designed to establish library automation capability at all CCC libraries. The focus for 2000-01 will be on on-going Online Information Resources such as subscriptions, which might include some of the following areas:

 

1.      A periodicals database of at least 1,000 full-text titles;

2.      A newspaper database in full-text format;

3.      An online encyclopedia resource and

4.      An online bibliographic verification and evaluation database.

 

Additional electronic resources can be acquired once the above areas are met.

 

Funding: Each college site will receive an allocation of $37,383 for these electronic resources