A Decision Making Paradigm for Software Development in Libraries

Framing a technology question as a simple choice between developing an in- house application system and off-the- shelf proprietary system, or simply put, as a choice between build and buy, runs the risk of ignoring myriad options available in between the two extremes. In this era of cloud computing and run anything-as- a-service model, the very notion of developing an in-house application would raise a few eyebrows among C- level executives. How then can academic libraries, under mounting pressure to demonstrate their value (Oakleaf, 2010), justify investments in software development in particular? What follows in these sections is a brief discussion on the importance of investing in software development in libraries, three mini-case studies demonstrating the wide possibilities of integrating software development in library operations and a non- prescriptive model to assess which projects may be worth pursuing from the software development standpoint.

UX Work in Libraries

The application of UX expertise is beneficial in all the areas and aspects of library services and products. All what a librarian needs is an understanding of those principles and some tools with which to practice them. The goal of this chapter, therefore, is to provide a guide for librarians, whether they are specifically in charge of UX work at their library or aspire to integrate UX into their work on other library services and products. This chapter provides some theoretical background on the traditional goal of library user satisfaction and introduces UX as an approach that benefits libraries and their users. It gives an overview of popular UX methodologies and describes real-life UX in libraries through the stories from three librarians in their respective institutions: the New York Public Library, New York University, and University of California, Riverside.

Drips Gallery

This paper explores the possibilities of using digital technologies in an archival setting. The hypothesis examined and investigated was: street art can be preserved and archived through archival websites and mobile applications. In order to explore this problem a community driven digital archive, Drips Gallery, was created. Drips Gallery is a new archive consisting of graffiti photograph collections and is available through a website and mobile app. The database, website, and mobile app was created, coded, and programmed specifically for the archival and community needs of Drips Gallery. Drips Gallery allows the community to drive the archive and changes the role of the archivist from record keeper to facilitator. By creating an archival mobile app and website, new and immediate ways of capturing and preserving culture as it is being created and consumed is now possible.

If You Build It, They Will Come

Like many academic libraries throughout the United States, the James C. Kirkpatrick Library at the University of Central Missouri has increasingly documented its impact on the university and its students. A library statistics dashboard tool was developed internally to assist with increased assessment activities. The Information Technology Librarian and the Library Assessment Team collaborated to create the dashboard tool. This case study discusses the impetus for developing the tool and provides a detailed explanation of the creation and testing of the dashboard. The chapter also describes the outcomes of using the dashboard tool in the library's assessment activities, along with recommendations for how other libraries may develop similar tools and skills within their organizations.

Intrapreneurship and Enterprise 2.0 as Grounds for Developing In-House Digital Tools for Handling METS/ALTO Files at the University Library Belgrade

The chapter is based on experience of authors who work at different positions at University Library “Svetozar Markovic” in Belgrade, Serbia. This library has been aiming at creation of efficient, creative work environment in the last decade and one of the main pay-offs has been the development of a unique set of digital tools for handling METS/ALTO files. The chapter will present both managerial background and ICT related details that encompass this complex process. It will also aim at providing examples of good practice in implementation of Enterprise 2.0 and fostering of intrapreneurship that may be employed in other library environments with notes on specifics of the University Library Belgrade and its relations to more general managerial issues and challenges that may be useful for other librarians.

Mobile Applications for Libraries

This chapter will detail the use of mobile applications in libraries. It will begin by briefly exploring the history of mobile application development, its inception, and progress to its relevance and use within libraries as a means of improving access and resource delivery for patrons. The prevalence of mobile devices, both inside and outside of the library, has affected the way individuals locate and use information. Libraries play an essential role in delivering resources to enhance the way users retrieve information, and therefore it is important to facilitate learning and scholarship through meaningful experiences in a variety of areas and mediums. A mobile application, not just a mobile-friendly website, can appeal to an increasingly digital population of library users in an environment that is both familiar and modern.

Developing Unique Study Room Reservation Systems

Room reservation systems are important in an increasingly collaborative library environment. This chapter explores two case studies of libraries experimenting with room-bound, electronic reservation kiosks. Teachers College, Columbia University built a native app to run on room-coded iPads, while Stony Brook University developed custom code to run Steelcase's RoomWizard system in a university environment. This chapter will discuss the particularities and challenges of both systems while addressing the solutions from other libraries discussed in the literature. Room reservation systems are a challenge for libraries of all types and many diverse solutions, from using vendor solutions to creating tools from scratch, have emerged in recent years. This chapter will explore two stories on that spectrum with attention to the potential applications and solutions emerging in this area.

MyLibrary at Brooklyn College

The Office of Academic Information Technologies (AIT) at Brooklyn College is based in the college library and has a history of successful innovation in developing in-house digital tools for the use of students, faculty and the library staff. In tight budgetary times developing software solutions in-house has not only improved services at lower cost than commercial products but also tailored them to the library's needs. There is some discussion of earning income from selling one of the tools to other libraries, however commercialization is not a prime motivator in the creation of the software. This chapter explores one aspect of the work done by AIT, the development of a set of digital tools called MyLibrary Suite.

Processes for User-Centered Design and Development

The authors discuss user-centered design and agile project management using the development of the Omeka Curator Dashboard as a case study. The University of California, Santa Cruz University Library developed a suite of 15 plugins for the Omeka open source content management system. This chapter describes the library's use of agile principles and methods for the management of this project, detailing the creation of user stories and acceptance criteria. This chapter also outlines the usability testing conducted by the library in the form of online surveys and moderated field tests. The authors conclude that user-focused, inclusive, and iterative development are key components to the success of the software development process.

Pulling Content out the Back Door

The University of Nevada, Reno Libraries is building a project and assessment-based organization that utilizes applications to increase the discovery of digital collections, enhances the online user experience, supports a growing Digital Humanities measure on campus, and encourages faculty and students to create projects using digital curation and various existing tools. A GeoHumanities Digital Project Specialist and Digital Humanities Historian were added to the library organization to create interactive exhibits. ESRI software was employed to create place-based storytelling using digital content held by CONTENTdm, CatDV, and other library platforms. By reimagining how we use such tools at our disposal, we can create new ways of interacting with information to create innovative ways for our patrons to re-engage with our materials.