Contributed Paper Abstract
Applying Knowledge Management Principles to the Development of a Multi-functional Digital Library
Annette Williams, Assistant Director for Knowledge Management; Qinghua Kou, Health Systems Analyst Programmer; Taneya Koonce, Coordinator, Web Team; Nunzia B. Giuse, M.D., Director, Eskind Biomedical Library, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.
Purpose: Our first-generation Digital Library extended information delivery beyond the library building but failed to optimize its digital content's flexibility and librarians’ unique resource management skills. Applying knowledge management principles within the framework of library science, we developed a Digital Library, which eases the transition from print to electronic, optimizes its usability and creates a reusable, expandable information repository.
Setting/Participants/Resources: A large academic medical center library, library staff, library/informatics center resources and services
Brief description: Prior to July 2000, access to the Eskind Biomedical Library’s electronic offerings was supported at the point of need through a traditional linear interface, which lacked scalability for the tremendous growth of electronic resources and was incapable of accommodating descriptive resource information. The exponential increase in available resources required the library to channel a commensurate level of skill and effort to improve this electronic information delivery portal. Pulling together a matrix of skills from the library's talent pool and leveraging on technological advancements enabled a multidisciplinary approach to the development of a new Digital Library. This year-long process partnered librarians' unique organizational and technical skills to guide the development of a multidimensional design of a new portal to library-licensed resources and clinical applications. Our approach integrates knowledge, which traditionally has been fragmented among different areas of the library (collection development, information and education services, etc.); thus the resultant product is a knowledge composite containing resource description, searching guidelines, access and restriction information and learning opportunities. This new portal presents layers of resource information and offers customized interfaces for specific audiences.
Results/Outcomes: This multidisciplinary approach creates a centralized, logically-ordered comprehensive repository. Benefits include improved resource management capabilities, data storage in a reusable format, enhanced resource descriptions and audience-tailored interfaces.
Evaluation Method: In addition to analyzing resource usage statistics, we will measure portal performance, interface acceptance and user satisfaction through usability testing techniques.
Back to Contributed Papers
|
