2017 Charleston Library Conference

These sessions focus on innovative or entrepreneurial thinking in libraries – new ways to solve problems, new technology or existing tech utilized in new ways, etc. It will feature five 10-minute presentations back-to-back, with a moderator for introductions, Q&A, atimekeepinging.

1) Mining Citation Data Using the Web of Science API: a Data Gold Rush (Phil White)

Citation analysis is a time-honored method of assessing the fitness of a library collection by comparing faculty citations to local holdings data. Popular techniques from the field of data science stand ready to push citation studies into the realm of “Big Data.” A mix of simple Python program code and common data wrangling techniques can boost the speed of collecting citation data from weeks or months to minutes –transforming a time-consuming process into a speedy and efficient collection assessment.

The overarching objective of the session is to advance new methods in citation analysis. The session will introduce the convenience of using the Web of Science API to extract large amounts of citation data very quickly. Attendees will learn the basics of APIs and how to use a simple Python script to interact with the Web of Science API. Phil White will describe his recent efforts leveraging Python programming and OpenRefine to rapidly collect and analyze five years of citation data from faculty in his liaison areas at the University of Colorado Boulder. The process led to one of the largest local-user citation studies ever conducted and identified notable gaps in the library’s serial collection. Phil will also lead a discussion of how these and other data science methods could open up new doors for collection assessment. Participants will leave the session confident of their own ability to conduct similar studies using the simple methods covered in the presentation.

2) CASA - Campus Authenticated Subscriber Access (Michiel Klein Swormink)

CASA is a protocol that HighWire and Google have worked out to use Google as an authentication server, enabling users to have authenticated access off campus without the need to login. The protocol is not proprietary to HighWire but HighWire are testing it and then Google will release the protocol when it is stable for other platforms to adopt. CASA is complementary to RA21, as CASA catches users before they are asked to sign in to RA21

3) Data Analytics for Acquisitions: Just the Facts, Please (Jeffrey Sowder)

This session explores approaches to deriving data from library systems from the perspective of the novice, non-statistician. The first steps to take involve looking at your data collection practices, identifying gaps in what you are counting, and going 'behind the curtain' to see what your library system has to tell you about your acquisitions operations. The audience will be invited to comment on methods presented and share their own approaches to meeting the demands the data-driven workplace. Examples will use the data analytics feature of ExLibris ALMA, but the approaches shown are relevant to any library's acquisitions operations.

4) Tools and Tech to Protect Your Library from Breaches of Electronic Resource Terms of Use: Case Study at Kansas State University (Christina Geuther)

Kansas State University Libraries implemented new protocols for internally handling a variety of breach of electronic resource license scenarios as well as a new protocol for preventative steps when managing the proxy server access. We now are able to detect and respond to threats before the vendor processes an investigation request. This development was a combined effort of collection development and information technology personnel. Tools that will be discussed include the collection development personnel’s use of library unified resource management system, Ex Libris Alma, information technology’s administration of EZ Proxy, and the current front end experience of our patrons using our electronic resources.