I predict that 2011 will be an exciting year for staff as well as clients. This prediction is largely based on some of the goals we have outlined for the year that will certainly impact our user community.
We have several key projects underway which includes a redesign of our Library Web site. The current Web site has been in existence for about five years. The site, while functional, has a dated look and feel. Before we can start to envision what the new site will look like, we will be performing a variety of tasks and encouraging our user community to be vocal — to let us know what works and what could be improved. Usability testing methods such as observation interviews, paper prototyping, focus groups, as well as online surveys will provide fresh insights on how users are leveraging and interacting with the Library Web interface.
This goal is both simple and complex – deliver an intuitive library information portal which will enhance and support the work activities of our constituents!
We will be launching a new service this month called – LibGuides. The link to this resource will be located in the left hand navigation bar on the Library Web site. LibGuides are multimedia web-based portals that connect the user to subject-specific guides presented in an innovative and user-friendly format. These guides are compiled, developed, and maintained by staff. Many of the LibGuides’ links are to full text documents, and often to RSS feeds, videos, and audio presentations. All our LibGuides will focus on customized topics relevant to the research and medical activities of Memorial Sloan-Kettering. What’s great is that we will be able to share our guides with other developers and search and explore over 134,000 guides designed by over 27,000 librarians at over 1,800 libraries worldwide (stats as of 01/20/2011). Now that’s a community of active and like-minded professionals!
We also have plans to formally launch this year our Systematic Reviews Service. While the reference staff does conduct mediated literature searches, a systematic review requires a more complex and time-consuming approach. They often involve searching not only PubMed but other databases to ensure a comprehensive review of the literature. Stay tuned as detailed information about this service will soon be made available in a future Director’s Reflection post!
These are just three priorities we have this year in addition to the day-to-day management of the Library and our commitment to deliver excellent customer service. It’s a New Year, we have definitely embraced our New Goals and the Right Team is in place to make it happen!
Donna Gibson, Director of Library Services