UKSG 22nd Annual Conference/4th European Serials Conference : Programme

UMIST, Manchester 12 - 14 April 1999

As we all move hesitantly into the uncharted waters of electronic communication for scholarly and research literature, it becomes more important than ever that all parties in the chain maintain contact with each other. This is the only way that we can move the debate and the practical consequences forward. It is entirely appropriate therefore that the 22nd UK Serials Group Conference and Exhibition should be a combined event with the 4th European Serials Conference, and that over three days all of those attending will have the opportunity to hear about and discuss initiatives and developments from across Europe. A carefully thought-out programme has been put together which addresses the major issues of the day and offers a wide range of perspectives. There is plenty of opportunity for discussion by way of the extensive workshop options, and a major exhibition of the latest products and services will be open throughout the Conference. The language of the Conference is English.

Monday 12 April

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Concurrent Sessions - Monday 12th April

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Tuesday 13 April

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Concurrent Sessions - Tuesday 13th April

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Wednesday 14 April

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Workshops

It will greatly benefit all workshop participants if they can undertake some advance preparation in their chosen subjects, and bring with them to the sessions any documentation from their own organisations likely to be of general interest.

1. User surveys

   Galen Ives, Priority Search Ltd

   Consulting users is easy to do badly! Consultation is basically an exercise in social research, and the same rules apply as in any such research. Important considerations include methodology (qualitative or quantitative?), population (sampled and if so, how?) and the purpose of the research (e.g. to improve services or establish performance indicators).

2. Re-engineering library services: human resource management

   Lars Bjornshauge, Technical Knowledge Center of Denmark

   The most important precondition and largely neglected issue in transforming library services is the human resource side. Taking lessons learned form the JULIA project at the Technical Knowledge Center of Denmark as a point of departure, this workshop will outline and discuss key aspects of human resource management in the transition towards the electronic library. Key aspects include: taking advantage of IT in job design; continuous on the job training; domestic PCs as a tool for development of staff competence.

3. Effectiveness of publishers' Websites

   Tony Kidd, University of Glasgow

   The varied strategies that publishers have employed to give themselves a presence on the World Wide Web will be investigated. Concentrating on journal publishers, we shall consider issues of clarity, comprehensiveness (including links beyond an individual publisher's offerings), and utility, and look for examples of innovation and imaginative use of Web facilities.

4. Internet search engines

   Sue Welsh, Croydon Online

   Altavista, Excite, HotBot and Infoseek are familiar names to the Internet savvy, but do we always use them effectively? This workshop will look at the major search engines and their exploitation, including how to get better results when searching for information and their role in promotion of web sites.

5. Developments in service delivery

   Judith Palmer, John Radcliffe Hospital

   Evidence-based health care has provided the stimulus for health librarians to become more closely involved in supporting the needs of their user population in ways that were not obvious ten or even five years ago. The impact of EBHC together with the explosion of services on the Internet has meant that we now have to look at radically new ways to deliver information and library services and increase our role as educators and quality filters. Are libraries with walls still necessary or is the only continuing and essential requirement one for information professionals who have the vision and energy to work in ways that we might not have dreamed of?

6. Back issues: management, purchasing, developments

   Don Jaeger, Alfred Jaeger Inc

   This workshop will focus on the transition of back volume vendors from Antiquarians to Collection Development Specialists. It will also touch upon current trends such as document delivery, electronic journals, access versus ownership and archiving issues which should spark some interesting conversation from the publishers, librarians and vendors in attendance. Full participation will be expected.

7. Cataloguing e-journals/Web OPAC

   Frances Boyle, University of Liverpool

   E-journals, in all their guises, are here to stay and as such they become another resource that requires management, maintenance and resourcing. Integrating this new resource into an existing library catalogue presents its own range of problems, some of which will be explored in the workshop.

8. Performance measures for the electronic library

   John Crawford, Glasgow Caledonian University

   This workshop will look at the possibility of developing simple performance measures for the electronic library. Research in the area will be briefly reviewed, the practical problems will be discussed, and the workshop will then look at possible ways forward.

9. Official publications

   Frances Shipsey, British Library of Political and Economic Science

   The workshop will look at a range of issues relating to official serial publications, including: post-privatisation questions (Stationery Office and non-Stationery Office publications, experience from other governments and inter-governmental organisations); electronic developments (CD-ROMs, Internet publication); acquisition (use of subscription agents versus ordering direct from government organisations). There will be opportunities to share experience, and discuss problems encountered with government organisations and IGOs, e.g. bibliographic control, supply, invoicing.

10. Athens - access management service delivery on a national scale

    Edward Zedlewski, NISS

    This workshop will present the experience gained in delivering a national Access Management service and seek to explore the future needs of the stakeholders. Authentication, authorisation and user administration are amongst the issues affecting subscribers and service providers. How are these requirements delivered? What does the future hold technologically and what do stakeholders need? This is your opportunity to gain an understanding of the key issues and influence the future development of Athens.

11. Promotion and training for e-journals

    Heather Dawson and Nerys Webster, British Library of Political and Economic Science

    One of the main challenges of library management of electronic journals is how, having gained access to the titles, we promote and encourage use of them amongst readers with varying degrees of enthusiasm and IT ability. This workshop will address different methods of advertising electronic journals and the type of support which the institution can provide to users to promote repeat use. Examples will be drawn from current practice at BLPES, which is involved in a number of electronic journal projects, and comparisons made with experiences at other libraries in both the commercial and academic sectors.

    The UKSG have a forthcoming event on this subject. Please see the UKSG Events page for further details.

12. Effective use of electronic information: the student and the tutor

    Graham Walton & Catherine Edwards, University of Northumbria at Newcastle

    A brief introduction to eLib's IMPEL2 (Monitoring Organisational and Cultural Change) and HyLiFe (Hybrid Library of the Future) Projects will lead into an interactive workshop where participants will investigate the use of electronic information in Higher Education. The session will involve the identification of problems and solutions which can then be compared with findings of the IMPEL2 Project.

13. Licensing issues (i)

    Rollo Turner, Association of Subscription Agents

    The workshop will focus on how to achieve acceptable licences in practice and the desirable features in such licences, such as the use of common clauses and features where practicable, especially covering site definition, permitted use and users, and perpetual access after termination including archiving issues. Other topics for discussion will include 'fair dealing' and acceptable restrictions on use; clauses requiring libraries to use best endeavours in the policing of licences; and the role of intermediaries in negotiating and explaining licences and in providing systems which manage the access to a variety of resources with different terms and conditions.

14. Licensing issues (ii)

    Sally Morris, Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers

    Electronic products, increasingly, are licensed rather than bought outright. Every supplier seems to have a different licence, and some of the terms and conditions can be problematic for libraries e.g. definitions of 'site' and of 'authorised user'; interpretation of 'fair dealing' when it relates to redistribution of electronic material; the retention of files (or access rights) after termination of the licence. The workshop will look at the possibilities of convergence of terms and conditions, and at the important role of intermediaries in negotiating and explaining licences and in managing access to and use of a variety of resources.

15. Serials management software

    Johan van Halm, Johan van Halm Information Consultancy

    This workshop will explore the operational requirements of serials librarians regarding the various software packages available in the market place. We shall distinguish between modules for serials management included with integrated systems, and stand-alone packages sold by specialist vendors, examining the advantages and disadvantages of each. A compilation of features included by vendors will be provided, and omissions noted. The workshop will try to formulate minimum requirements, to be passed over in due course to vendors.

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General information

Please note: In recent years the UKSG and European conferences have attracted more delegates than can be accommodated. To ensure a balance between all industry sectors represented at the conference, each organisation will initially be restricted to three delegates, whether attending full or part time.

Introduction

Manchester is a modern European city, the second most important conurbation in the UK, but has many reminders of another era, with buildings, facades and monuments in the ornate Victorian style of the period of its great industrial growth. With its industry and financial institutions, seats of learning, culture, entertainment, sport and shopping facilities, Manchester is the regional centre and capital of the north west of England. UMIST is a compact campus situated in the heart of the city.

Travel

Manchester is well served by the motorway network from all parts of the UK. Manchester Piccadilly railway station has a link to all mainline stations in Britain, with average travel time from London of 2.5 hours, Glasgow 3.5 hours and Birmingham 1.5 hours. National Express Coaches arrive at Chorlton Street coach station from many destinations around the country. Manchester Airport has a comprehensive network of domestic, European and international services, and a frequent air shuttle service operates between London and Manchester. There is a direct rail link to Piccadilly Station from Terminal 1, every 15 minutes from 05.00 to 22.00 and once an hour during the night.

Local tourist information and a map will be included with the confirmation of registration.

Accommodation

Delegates will be accommodated in single rooms with their own bathroom in the Weston Building at UMIST. Additional ensuite accommodation has been reserved at the Britannia Hotel, a short walk from the University. Delegates will be housed in UMIST, and the hotel rooms allocated when the University accommodation is full.

For delegates preferring to arrive on the Sunday before the Conference (11 April), an informal dinner at a local venue and bed and breakfast for the night at the University is being offered. In addition, bed and breakfast accommodation at the University is available on the Saturday night (10 April) and Wednesday night following the close of conference (14 April). Please see booking form for details of these optional extras.

Workshops

There will be three workshop sessions, one on each day of the conference. Each session will offer fifteen workshops. Delegates may attend a different workshop on each day, chosen at the time of booking.

Informal group meetings and receptions

From 16.45 to 17.45 on Tuesday 13 April there will be an opportunity for any group or organisation to arrange a meeting or reception. Rooms will be provided. If you would like to host an event during this hour, please e-mail the Business Manager (karen@uksg.org) with an outline proposal and anticipated numbers. Once arranged, information will be posted on the UKSG Website to give delegates advance information. Boards will be available at registration for delegates to sign up to an option.

Special requirements and catering

Please indicate on the booking form if a vegetarian diet is required. There is the option of having a packed lunch on Wednesday 14 April for those delegates who need to leave immediately after the close of Conference. Advanced notice is required; please see booking form. If you have any other special dietary or access needs please contact the Business Manager at the time of booking.

Fees

The full residential fee for UKSG members is £265 + UK VAT of £46.38 (£311.38), and £330 + £57.75 VAT (£387.75) for non-members. The non-member fee includes membership for 1999 of a European national serials group or the UK Serials Group. Please select your preference on the booking form. Please note that UK VAT is payable by all delegates to this Conference.

Closing date, cancellations and surcharge

The closing date for applications is 19 March 1999. There will be a charge of 50% of the Conference fee for any cancellations received after 19 March 1999. Cancellations received after 26 March 1999 will not be eligible for refund. Bookings received after 19 March will attract a late-booking surcharge of 10% due to the additional administration incurred.