Study visit summary

Lack of funding, staffing and space was a common theme as was a lack of time (along with funds) to complete tasks such as digitisation or updating catalogues and databases. The specific knowledge of the librarians as repositories of specialised knowledge including how to access information and resources (sometimes kept on disparate and very different systems within an organisation) was also evident at each library. In this way the librarians all had extensive understandings of their own collections and of their clients and users needs and habits.'

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The visits highlighted the importance of being aware of and servicing the clients/users needs. These needs were also reflected in the different classification systems that were used (or created) in each library with many having inhouse systems or modifying DDC or LCC to allow greater depth to suit the collection

Changing technology and user habits were also a common theme particularly in terms of users wanting
and expecting quick and easy access to collections and information online – often this being more than
catalogue access but access to content as well. The need for digital asset management systems
was raised at several of the sites. There were very few, if any, systems in place that allowed all types of
collections at the one institution to be kept on one system – with some places having as many as 4 or more different databases in operation with no interoperability. Overall it was an interesting few days with each of the libraries offering different insights into library practice and the role of both libraries and librarians as a product of the organisation in which they resided.