American Library Association Conference June 2010: recurring conversation topics

With libraries undergoing an almost universal experience—migrating from print to electronic collections, while experiencing budget constraints— talk at this summer’s annual American Library Association (ALA) conference orbited around several common topics and one primary question:

How do we meet the library patron/customer/user where they are?

In conversations with librarians, publishers, technologists, and e-book aggregators, the iFactory team was impressed by the shared goal to provide content and research tools that are topically relevant, oriented to the user experience, and make research more efficient.   From these conversations, the iFactory team picked up on some obvious trends that are relevant to the PubFactory platform and our publishing partners.

• Mixed content – Most library users don’t know or care about the difference between reference works, monographs, and journals. They simply want to search and find the content they need to address their research questions. Publishers and librarians are actively considering the reality of integrating journal and reference content on common platforms. This benefits users by limiting access control hurdles, making reference content more discoverable, and providing contextually relevant article-to-article links that allow users to continue their research. As librarian Sue Polanka recorded in her summary from ALA, linking journal and reference content provides some measure of solution to the number one publishing challenge—discoverability.
• Platform interlinking – Just like the mixed content platforms, users want content to be linked between platforms so the can simply jump from resource to resource in pursuit of their relevant topics. Credo Reference and ebrary created some ripples at ALA with the announcement that Credo’s Topic Pages will include ebrary content.
• Free content – More than ever, online publishers are discussing free content strategies as a way to drive discoverability of library resources. With most library users beginning their research with a Google search, having free content that links authenticated users straight into subscription resources is an important strategy for publishers. The release of the Oxford Dictionaries Online free site is an example of how PubFactory supports this strategy for Oxford University Press.
• Mobile devices – The consensus is that the ubiquity of mobile devices on campus will influence scholarly research and reference, but how? Check out this presentation on mobile trends by digital publishing consultant Alix Vance from earlier in June.
• PDA is hot* – Patron Driven Access is the rage among the e-book aggregators. While EBL has pioneered this model, ebrary and Netlibrary have recently expanded their offerings to include demand driven accounts. With patron driven access, users and their research needs drive library collection development. As Cindi Trainor of Eastern Kentucky University said about PDA, “You ask for it, we get it for you.” For an interesting case study, check out this University of Texas, Austin review of their pilot PDA program that opened the entire EBL’s catalogue to the library.

*NOT this kind of PDA!

Implications and questions for PubFactory and our publishing partners

A few weeks following ALA, the iFactory team is asking how these trends impact PubFactory. What do we need to be working on to address the needs of our publishing partners and their end users?

The iFactory team built PubFactory to provide an out-of-the-box platform solution for publishers that can integrate mixed content in a seamless user experience. With libraries and users demanding integrated content, the next step for PubFactory is to continue to work with publishing partners to link relevant article level content together. The goal, here, is to answer the user question: Where do I go next after reading this article?

Following this same user question, what can PubFactory do to facilitate authenticated linking between our various publishing partner’s products? How can PubFactory support linking to eBook aggregator and other non-PubFactory platforms?

The importance of a free content strategy will further the role of PubFactory as platform that supports institutional access while simultaneous allowing a flexible firewall and search engine optimization that helps to ensure publisher resources will be discoverable for library users.

How will publisher platforms influence the way students and scholars conduct research on their mobile devices? How does a library patron’s mobile experience sync with a Web-based resource experience?

With the eBook aggregators forging a PDA business model, will publishers be offering demand driven access to their entire digital catalogue?

Following this summer’s ALA, the PubFactory team and our publishing partners will be spending more time putting ourselves in the shoes of the end user.

Recently, we announced another collaboration with Oxford University Press, this time on the design of the newly launched Oxford Bibliographies Online. Chris Reidy of the Boston Globe ran a news update that appeared online, and in the Globe’s digital newsletter.

Take a look!

A salesman’s perspective on what makes a great trade show booth
by Sean Sweeney

I have been selling professional services for almost 18 years, and in that time I have attended many trade shows. In the last few years I have been selling PubFactory, iFactory’s electronic publishing platform solution; and my trade show attendance has increased exponentially. Regardless of where I go, the type of show or the time of the year, I see the same mistakes being committed in both the set-up and manning of trade show booths.  So, to help our current clients, friends and associates, I have assembled a list of do’s and don’ts for your booth…

1)

DO…
Have a warm and inviting booth where people can see and sample your product easily—and without crowding one another. If you have digital products, have multiple computers to run the software so that it can be interacted with and sampled by your visitors.

DON’T…
Have your collateral set up in the back of your booth with your round table and chairs in front, thus forcing your prospective customers to climb over you, your table, and your bag in order to see what you have to offer. Nothing turns people off more than their inability to see, touch and interact with your product.
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Here at iFactory, it would be fair to say the majority of us have a small (read: large) love affair with the game of soccer. Needless to say, this week and the next three bring many sleepless nights as we anxiously and supportively watch our teams battle it out in South Africa. To keep things interesting, we started a pool—a little friendly competition is always enjoyable—namely when your office gets covered in red and white (and Switzerland is not your team of choice).

While the interest in soccer at iFactory is somewhat expected—we have folks here that have been playing all their lives—it goes without saying that the World Cup has become increasingly popular on television and computer screens across America. Why the sudden surge in interest?

Major marketing dollars.

Back in 2009, ESPN teased us with ads and essentially promised incomparable coverage of the 2010 World Cup through the “biggest marketing campaign ever.” Deliver they did, since the numbers say it all—“Saturday’s US-England game was the most widely-watched opening round World Cup  broadcast ever,” according to Time.com. But while ESPN is playing a huge role in sparking interest in the Cup, the sports network’s marketing efforts are not the single reason for America’s newfound love. The fans, existing and new, have always been there, but now there are new means to connect with them.

Social media.

Online buzz for the World Cup surpassed the metrics of any other major sporting event. A broader outreach through familiar online communities is another means to connect with existing fans, and engage new ones.

But marketing efforts and networking aside—America loves sports.

In a time of so much uncertainty, when all we often hear of are worldly disasters and economic strife, we take solace in entertainment and friendly competition…even when your office is plastered in the colors of an opposing team.

What about you—have you always watched the World Cup? Is there a World Cup-related website or application you’ve found to be particularly interesting and cool?

I’m a unique marketing professional. Since graduating from a renowned liberal arts college a few (okay, eleven) years ago, I’ve either been designing websites, maintaining them, or working alongside the amazing people that make them tick. I prefer to figure out a technical issue before [sheepishly] calling the experts—you can often find me showing the lay of the land to my less technically-savvy friends—I get excited when I hear of a new keyboard shortcut—I own a smartphone—a Mac—a PC. So why, then, is it so difficult for me to let go of my pen and paper?

It’s not like I come from a generation of quill pens and ink wells—I’m a tried and true Gen Xer who can’t live without my computer/s or my BlackBerry. Yet, when it comes to note-taking and scheduling, give me a Mead and a Bic Fine Point, please.

Perhaps it’s a control issue. Knowing that I’m not going to mysteriously lose my notes due to the blue screen of death (BSOD) or the flashing question mark is indeed settling. Sure, my dog could tear the paper to shreds or I could mistakenly spill coffee all over it, but I’d still be able to salvage my precious scrawls.

I’m not asking for acceptance—not at all. I proudly walk into the conference room laden with laptops and plop my notebook (the spiral-bound kind) on the table. My friends now expect that when asked my weekend plans, I’ll fish my DailyPlanner out of my bag and leave the BlackBerry alongside my house keys.

I suppose I just wonder how many folks out there function similarly to me.

Here’s your chance to come clean. When did you toss your spiral-bound in the trash–or are you still tucking it under your pillow at night?

It’s not often that we take a moment to pat ourselves on the back, or similarly, post press releases to our blog. We are so thrilled about our latest launch of Oxford Dictionaries Online, however, we wanted to share the news with you—our loyal blog readers. If you haven’t already spotted the release across the networks, we have included a few bits and pieces— and a link to the entire release—below.

Oxford Dictionaries Online is Oxford’s innovative modern English dictionary and language reference service. Featuring smart-linked, fully searchable content from Oxford’s largest modern English dictionaries and thesauruses, ODO provides comprehensive coverage of British, US, and World English with more than 350,000 definitions and 600,000 synonyms and antonyms.

PubFactory’s customizable features include a ‘My Oxford Dictionary’ feature for creating your own profile and saving entries and searches, an innovative alpha word wheel for browsing, and a user-friendly advanced search.

“We are delighted to have worked with iFactory in developing Oxford Dictionaries Online,” said Judy Pearsall, Head of Dictionaries, Oxford University Press. “This was a large custom-built project with complex data needs, and iFactory excelled in building an enticing and intuitive interface with underlying data sophistication and robust technology. Overall we’re pleased that it’s been such a good match of design, data skills, and rich content.”

The selection of PubFactory for Oxford Dictionaries Online continues a long-standing relationship between iFactory and OUP.

Read the full release

Visit Oxford Dictionaries Online

Everyone has a reason for doing what they do. Some people know their passion at the age of 5, and follow it for the rest of their lives. Some people stumble into employment that fits them like the final piece to a puzzle.

My love affair with project management was something of an evolution, and it was a fit that I have grown into. It’s definitely not a job that a 5 year old envisions, but somehow it fits with many of the things I have valued since I was not much older than that.

I am a self-proclaimed jock. I’ve played team sports since I was 5, refereed since I was 11 and coached since I was 12. I believe in all of the lessons we learn about from our coaches, teammates, or classic sports films. I not only believe in these lessons, I’ve carried them with me throughout my career.

First—and most obviously—I believe in teamwork. I believe that 99% of the time, a good team can solve problems better than the individual. Teams generate not only more ideas but also many different ones. There are creative thinkers, logical thinkers, analytical thinkers and dreamers. And most groups have at least one devil’s advocate to uncover possible problems with proposed solutions. No single person can possibly break down a problem from all angles—but a team can. Project management is all about working within the constructs of a team—and I love that. You can’t be a good project manager unless you are a good team player. You can’t be a great project manager unless you are also a great team leader.

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Code reviews (or code inspections) have been shown anecdotally and through research to be one of the best ways of discovering defects, getting developers on the same page, ensuring a consistent code style, and more. There are many ways to do it from pair programming to getting everyone in the room and putting code up on the projector. While it can be difficult to justify the time expense at first, code reviews quickly pay off.  More than once I’ve seen defects caught that could have caused tens of hours (and much more) in bug fixing later be caught at the outset. It’s also a great way for developers to keep each other sharp and improve their knowledge and skills.

But this post really isn’t about why you should do code reviews but rather a tip on how. If you Google around for Eclipse code review plugins you will find the typical mix of open source and commercial. However, given that code reviews can be done so many different ways I was unable to find one that resonated with me; they all assume an explicit process (usually somewhat formal) that is not the one I’m looking for. Also, with our variation in project and team sizes, some flexibility in the process is needed.

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Ten tips—from a project manager—to get the most out of your vendor and your web project.

Before embarking on a digital communications project with a vendor, be sure you develop a plan. Knowing what terrain lies ahead, and the best route to get there, will allow you to stay on time…and on budget.

Get your vendor involved early. Too often decisions on features, functionality, and budget are decided upon without the valuable advice an experienced developer can bring to the table. Use your vendor to shape the RFP.

Be clear on your priorities and commit to them. Outline your goals before the project begins, and don’t lose sight of all that you want to achieve. This can be your project’s biggest motivator. Ideas evolve, changes are implemented, and new concepts can blanket your original project goals. Establish clear priorities and try not to lose sight of them.

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