R2 Consulting LLC 1 Is Print Reference Dead? ALA- Annual Program Washington DC June 25 th, 2007 … Reference Books Bulletin

R2 Consulting LLC Ruth Fischer Partner, R2 Consulting LLC Workflow Analysis for Academic Libraries Workflow Analysis for Academic Libraries Market Analysis and Product Development Market Analysis and Product Development for Publishers and Vendors for Publishers and Vendors

R2 Consulting LLC Our Experience Libraries Libraries East Carolina UniversityEast Carolina University Wesleyan UniversityWesleyan University University of VermontUniversity of Vermont University of ColoradoUniversity of Colorado University of Missouri/KCUniversity of Missouri/KC University of UtahUniversity of Utah University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan University of Nebraska/OmahaUniversity of Nebraska/Omaha MIT LibrariesMIT Libraries Minnesota State/MankatoMinnesota State/Mankato Arizona State University LibrariesArizona State University Libraries Carleton/St. Olaf CollegesCarleton/St. Olaf Colleges Vassar College LibrariesVassar College Libraries Macalester CollegeMacalester College University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota Vendors Vendors ABC-CLIOABC-CLIO Blackwell ’ sBlackwell ’ s Casalini LibriCasalini Libri CAVAL Collaborative SolutionsCAVAL Collaborative Solutions Common Ground PublishingCommon Ground Publishing Eastern BookEastern Book Ebook LibraryEbook Library Follett Library ResourcesFollett Library Resources HARRASSOWITZHARRASSOWITZ Innovative InterfacesInnovative Interfaces Integrated Book TechnologyIntegrated Book Technology OCLCOCLC RR BowkerRR Bowker Sage ReferenceSage Reference University of California PressUniversity of California Press XreferXrefer YBP Library ServicesYBP Library Services

R2 Consulting LLC 4 Primary TS Workflow Resource Identification Selection / De-selection Ordering and Order Maintenance Receiving and Payment Providing Access –Cataloging –Holdings Maintenance –Physical Prep –Loan Services

R2 Consulting LLC eResources Workflow Resource IdentificationResource Identification Trials / Decision TrackingTrials / Decision Tracking SelectionSelection License Evaluation / NegotiationLicense Evaluation / Negotiation Ordering and Order MaintenanceOrdering and Order Maintenance Payment / Pre-paymentPayment / Pre-payment Activation / RegistrationActivation / Registration CatalogingCataloging Holdings MaintenanceHoldings Maintenance Resource DiscoveryResource Discovery Access ManagementAccess Management Usage TrackingUsage Tracking Renewals / CancellationsRenewals / Cancellations

R2 Consulting LLC 6 R2 Workflow Principles Know your costs Incorporate “systems thinking” Simplify and standardize requirements Create a mainstream Automate the mainstream Take full advantage of existing resources Outsource sometimes Establish quantifiable goals Measure performance Control quality via sampling Make strategic choices

R2 Consulting LLC 7 Changing Users NetGen Students Conditioned by: Amazon, Google, NetFlix Undergraduates: course-centered research Strong preference for electronic Strong preference for full-text, multimedia Interactivity, visual cues, tutorials Abhorrence of documentation Naivete about resource quality 2% of undergraduates begin their searches from library Web site

R2 Consulting LLC 8 Changing Users Retiring facultyRetiring faculty Peer-to-Peer file sharing, communicationPeer-to-Peer file sharing, communication FaceBook; iTunesFaceBook; iTunes Gaming trial & error approachGaming trial & error approach Zero tolerance for delayZero tolerance for delay Group learning; collaborationGroup learning; collaboration CPACPA University of Rochester “work practices” studyUniversity of Rochester “work practices” study –Dorms, frats, gyms, student union, dining halls, buses, computer center, library

R2 Consulting LLC 9 Lots of Electronic Reference Oxford Reference OnlineOxford Reference Online Gale Virtual LibraryGale Virtual Library NetLibrary eReference CenterNetLibrary eReference Center XreferXrefer Sage Electronic ReferenceSage Electronic Reference ABC ClioABC Clio BBS Electronic ReferenceBBS Electronic Reference

R2 Consulting LLC 10 Workflow Implications

R2 Consulting LLC 11 Actual R2 Recommendation Consolidate purchasing.

R2 Consulting LLC 12 Actual R2 Recommendation Identify and segregate reference material at point of selection.

R2 Consulting LLC 13 Actual R2 Recommendation Simplify marking of print reference.

R2 Consulting LLC 14 Actual R2 Recommendation Eliminate reference sub-locations.

R2 Consulting LLC 15 Actual R2 Recommendation Shelve subject-specific reference works in stacks and allow them to circulate.

R2 Consulting LLC 16 Actual R2 Recommendation Reduce the size of the print reference collection.

R2 Consulting LLC 17 Actual R2 Recommendation Eliminate the print reference collection; move to e-Only Reference.

R2 Consulting LLC 18 Actual R2 Recommendations Shift emphasis to e. Expand support for e. Starve print to feed e.

R2 Consulting LLC 19 Because Patrons prefer e.

R2 Consulting LLC 20