Post on 18-Dec-2015
Audit of walk-in access for members of the public to online resources at HE and FE libraries in the South-West of England
Funded by SWRLS (South West Regional Library Service)
Project AimsTo facilitate the provision of public access to educational / research materials that are increasingly available in online format only, thereby supporting widening participation and community education within the region through the sharing of information and expertise. This will be done by:
Conducting an audit of current policies and practices
Sharing information between colleagues in FE and HE libraries who are working on IT solutions for appropriate access
Promoting the resources and access policies
Producing a report summarising the outcomes and a directory with more detailed information about walk-in access to online resources in the region.
What is ‘walk-in access’?
Use of electronic resources by visitors, members of the public
Physically entering the premises, not available at a distance
The term walk-in access – licences, political correctness
Project Summary
This project will review the mechanisms in place, and being developed, in further and higher
education libraries, to provide walk-in access for the general public and
school students to electronic resources.
The Steering Group MembersClaire Holmes, Project Librarian, UWEDavid Boyd, Electronic Resources Librarian,
University of BristolEilidh Mackay, Assistant Librarian, UWEGeoff Cole, Community Engagement and
Schools Support Librarian, UWEIan Collins, Partnerships Librarian, UWEJacqueline Chelin, Deputy Librarian, UWEKaren Foster, Head of Learning Centre,
Yeovil College
Context –nationally/internationallySCONUL Task and Finish Group on Access Issues
– WATER (Walk-in Access To E-Resources) projectThe WATER project will seek the views of users, Library
Directors and SCONUL Access scheme representatives to identify the issues associated with implementation of walk-in access by UK HEIs
SCURL (Scottish Confederation of Universities and Research Libraries) Walk-in Access ProjectAn audit of current practice in members’ institutions, looking
at the definition of walk-in access, the mixed economy of authentication management, identity management
Literature Search – a starting pointLiterature search of relevant professional journals and
online information sources to establish best practice
SCONUL and UCISA (2007) HAERVI: HE access to e-resources in visited institutions.
RIN (2009) Overcoming barriers: access to research information content. Research report 2: Perspectives from libraries Research report 3: How institutions manage access to information
sources for non members Research report 4: Information access for members of research pools in
Scotland
RIN (2006) Access for members of the public to digital content help in university and college libraries: a report on current practice and recommendations for the future.
House of Commons Select Committee (2004) Scientific publications: free
for all?
Methodology
Audit in the form of a questionnaire chosen due to:Geographical area – South West regionNature of the investigationTime of year – autumn termAnalysis of resultsCost-saving
MethodologyCase Study benefits:
Visit – first hand view of the serviceFace-to-face discussionService – from staff and walk-in perspectiveIn-depth investigation of methods chosenAccuracy and detailBuild stronger relationships
Follow upTelephone interviews
Responses
41 questionnaires sent out to FEIs/HEIs in the SWRLS area
34 responses – 14 HEIs, 20 FEIs
6 HEIs offer walk-in access (though one has since withdrawn the service)
Figures and TrendsFor those not providing access (28 out of 34):
Two thirds of institutions do not have any plans to introduce the service in the future
The majority of institutions rarely or never receive requests from walk-in users to access electronic resources.
IT restrictions and legal issues over licences are the biggest factors preventing institutions from implementing the service
The biggest driver/motivating factor would be the simplification and standardisation of licences and their legal frameworks.
Figures and TrendsWhat has prevented institutions from providing
access to resources for walk-in users?
Legal issues over licences
23%
Safeguarding of learners on campus
13%Cost8%Staff time
15%
I.T restrictions, such as log-ons
26%
Have never thought of implementing
4% Space10%
What has prevented you from providing access to resources for walk-in users?
Figures and TrendsFor those providing access (6 out of 34):
Restrictions of the service varies - age, commerical use, opening hours
Over 80% require users to sign an Acceptable Use Policy
50/50 in terms of whether dedicated kiosks are provided or whether users can use any computer in the library
Most institutions provide temporary log-onsMajority provide access expiring at end of the dayIT restrictions and barriers greatest problem to
overcome
Figures and TrendsInstitutions that did not encounter technical
difficulties had help from their IT departments80% allow visitors to print50% allow visitors to save information to
memory stickMost institutions have a list of resources
permitted on their webpagesUptake of the service has been low for all
institutionsPromotion of the service is poor
Case Study 1The service was primarily introduced due to
feedback from students on validated/licensed courses 20 catalogue terminals can be used by walk-in usersUsers can select a resource from the catalogue or
use a list of permitted resourcesEZproxy authorises accessFirefox browser with kiosk modeNo facility for printing or saving yetUsers don’t need to sign Acceptable Use PolicyHave not monitored use but believe it to be lowEduroam available
Case Study 2Service in use for 3-4 years, introduced when IT and
library services were mergedIntroduced for two reasons – community and new
student logonsAccess is provided via Microsoft Active DirectoryThis application populates information about the user
into pre-prepared network accountsVisitors sign AUP and ID checkedWide range of resources permittedShibboleth used to authenticateAny computer can be used in the libraryEduroam availableDo not promote service
Outcomes of the projectWider access for non-HE students and general
public to online research resourcesSharing / promotion of expertise about walk-in
servicesFacilitating collaboration between sectors in
establishing walk-in servicesEncouraging further resource sharingContributing to other regional / national initiativesSupporting widening participation, lifelong
learning and community engagement
Implications of the project
Impact on organisations providing this serviceDemand / level of useSupport required from Library staff
Collaboration, egHEIs could support local FEIs to set up serviceFEIs and HEIs move towards offering a wider
community resource to support public libraries
RecommendationsSWRLS
Share this report more widely through web siteMaintain directory of institutions offering walk-in
accessMembers to consider potential audiences for such a
servicePromote outcomes of project to related national
projects
National bodies (eg JISC, SCONUL)Influence licence providers to simplify and clarify
walk-in access provisions
RecommendationsIndividual institutions in the South West
HEIs and FEIs to set up walk-in user service if not already providing one
Inform SWRLS of any changes in walk-in access policyTarget / promote service to appropriate audiences
through analysing requests receivedHEIs / FEIs to consider using EduroamClose liaison with IT department when planning /
implementing walk-in serviceUse institutional policies as driver for implementation
of walk-in serviceUse implementation to drive institutional policy!
List of Respondents - universitiesBath Spa University Bournemouth UniversityCranfield UniversityPlymouth UniversityRoyal Agricultural CollegeSouthampton Solent UniversityUniversity College Falmouth - Dartington College of
Arts University College Plymouth St Mark & St JohnUniversity College WinchesterUniversity of BathUniversity of BristolUniversity of ExeterUniversity of GloucestershireUniversity of the West of England (UWE)
List of Respondents – FE colleges Bicton College Bridgwater College Cirencester College
City College, Plymouth City of Bath College
City of Bristol College
Cornwall College
Exeter College
Filton College
Gloucestershire College
Hartpury College
New College, Swindon
South Devon College
Stode College
Stroud College
Swindon College
Truro and Penwith College
Weston College
Weymouth College
Yeovil College
Directory: Who offers access?University of Bathhttp://www.bath.ac.uk/library/users/visitors.html#walk
University of Exeterhttp://as.exeter.ac.uk/library/resources/e-resources/eligibility/
University College Falmouthhttp://library.falmouth.ac.uk/651/using-the-library/information-for/
walkin-users/article.asp
University of Gloucestershirehttp://insight.glos.ac.uk/departments/lis/Pages/default.aspx
Plymouth Universityhttp://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=634
Bibliography SCONUL and UCISA (2007) HAERVI: HE access to e-resources in visited
institutions. Available from: http://www.ucisa.ac.uk/publications/haervi_guide.aspx
RIN (2009) Overcoming barriers: access to research information content. Available from: http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/using-and-accessing-information-resources/overcoming-barriers-access-research-information
Research report 2: Perspectives from librariesResearch report 3: How institutions manage access to information sources for non membersResearch report 4: Information access for members of research pools in Scotland
RIN (2006) Access for members of the public to digital content help in university and college libraries: a report on current practice and recommendations for the future. Available from: http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/using-and-accessing-information-resources/public-access-licensed-journals-held-academic-lib
House of Commons Select Committee (2004) Scientific publications: free for all?
Available from: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmsctech/399/399.pdf
Contact usGeoff Cole, Community Engagement and
Schools Support Librarian, UWE. Email: Geoff.Cole@uwe.ac.ukJacqueline Chelin, Deputy Librarian, UWE. Email: Jacqueline.Chelin@uwe.ac.uk
March 2012