Jennifer A. Thomas

Future‐proofing: the academic library's role in e‐research support

Purpose – The aim of this case study is to describe a project created to enhance e‐research support activities within an Australian university. Within the university sector, e‐research support activities are becoming more sophisticated due to increased research activity and funding both nationally and internationally.Design/methodology/approach – The paper case studies a project undertaken within an academic library to increase its capacity to offer e‐research support to the research community. The universitys research community and research support staff are key players in this project.Findings – The outcomes of the project have been successfully achieved. However, the project work should continue and ideally become core business in order to keep pace with developments in e‐research. The continual skills development of the universitys researchers and research support staff in e‐research is imperative in the university becoming a competitive research institution.Research limitations/implications – Altho...

Preparing resource discovery for digitized music: an analysis of an australian application

This paper examines procedures for the creation and delivery of digital music that are being undertaken by contributors to the National Library of Australias federated music gateway MusicAustralia. The case study discusses access to and preservation of digital material as key drivers of the digitization movement, and compares projects being undertaken worldwide. Also analyzed are the underlying digitization principles and standards, and metadata schemas for the description and exchange of digital objects which facilitate record exchange and improve audience reach. The paper provides an overview of some individual contributing institutions, however particular focus is placed on the State Library of Queenslands (SLQ) approach to preparing its unique Queensland music collection for digital resource discovery in MusicAustralia. A detailed analysis of SLQs strategy is presented, including its risk management approach to copyright implications,and consideration of infrastructure issues affecting the creation, preservation and online delivery of its digital music objects. Whilst SLQs current digital music collection is relatively small, it has become core business of SLQs Arts and Humanities branch, and the collection will expand with the continued incorporation of music material unique to Queensland into the collection. SLQ has developed a sound foundation for digitization based on widely endorsed principles and standards which should allow this to effectively occur.