Although open access (OA) services and policies have been implemented by many institutions, there has been little discussion, and integration of OA into collection policy development. This paper reports on an environmental scan and strategic planning exercise that will inform institutional collection policy development activities at the University of Toronto, a premiere academic institution in North America. The paper outlines multi-method original research with varied stakeholder groups. The state of collection development policies related to many types of OA materials, issues and activities including but not limited to digitization projects, journal publishing, institutional repositories, metadata, consortia projects, memberships and author funds is examined. A variety of approaches and concerns are identified that cross research methodologies and stakeholder groups. The analysis scrutinizes what types of materials and activities are addressed by existing policies in North America. The paper’s overall purpose is to assist both management and collection development practitioners in better understanding trends and possible strategies for integrating OA materials into collections. Results represent a rich resource for academic libraries looking to mainstream open access into collection development, and beyond.

Our purpose is to present the rationale and results of a pilot study applying a meta-theoretically derived approach to focus group or semi-structured group interviewing as a means of obtaining deep data efficiently and dialogically. The project was designed to meet needs of both the senior author (a methodologist) and junior author (a librarian). The exemplar was undergraduate information seeking and use for meeting class assignments. Particular focus was on understanding when and why students decided between quick internet-only versus thorough searches involving multiple sources. The focus group approach was informed by Dervin's Sense-Making Methodology (SMM). Emphasis for this presentation is methodological -- to describe the approach and to illustrate the potentials for group interviewing. Empirical results provided here are for illustration only. The pertinent literature review emphasizes methodological sources. The authors are collecting more data from a range of different academic informants and expect to develop empirically anchored reports in the near future.

This paper describes three important pillars of publishing programs emerging at university libraries: providing a robust publishing platform, engaging the academic community in discussions about scholarly communication, and building a suite of production level services. The experiences of the Public Knowledge Project, the Simon Fraser University Library, and the University of Toronto Library’s journal hosting service are examined as case studies. Detailed information is provided about the development of the Public Knowledge Project, its goals and history, and the tools it offers. Campus activities at Simon Fraser University have been coordinated to support the use of PKP tools, and to raise awareness on campus about the changing landscape of scholarly publishing. The University of Toronto’s journal hosting service is profiled as another example. The role of university libraries in bringing together scholars, publishing tools and new models of scholarly publishing is considered.

This workshop will provide attendees with the knowledge needed to manage a DSpace repository. It will cover essential administration and maintenance tasks but will not focus on the more technical details of installing and customizing the software. We will focus on DSpace version 1.4.2 but we will also introduce some of the changes and new features offered in version 1.5. Target audience: site administrators, collection managers, service planners

PurposeThis paper aims to describe a project to increase access and longevity of electronic government documents.Design/methodology/approachThe Ontario Legislative Library has partnered with the Ontario Council of University Libraries to extend the longevity and accessibility of electronic government documents using DSpace.FindingsDigital repository software, such as DSpace, can be used to extend access to, and longevity of, special collections.Research limitations/implicationsThe case study may be specific to local practices and the institutions involved.Practical implicationsThe consortial approach builds on existing practices to build a cost effective and sustainable service.Originality/valueMany projects in electronic government document preservation and access require large investments. This project leverages existing practices and resources.

This paper introduces the CFI-funded project Synergies: The Canadian Information Network for Research in the Social Sciences and Humanities, and two of its regional components. This four-year project is a national distributed platform with a wide range of tools to support the creation, distribution, access and archiving of digital objects such as journal articles. It will enable the distribution and use of social sciences and humanities research, as well as to create a resource and platform for pure and applied research. In short, Synergies will be a research tool and a dissemination tool that will greatly enhance the potential and impact of Social Sciences and Humanities scholarship. The Synergies infrastructure is built on two publishing platforms: Erudit and the Public Knowledge Project (PKP). This paper will present the PKP project within the broader context of scholarly communications. Synergies is also built on regional nodes, with both overlapping and unique services. The Ontario region will be presented as a case study, with particular emphasis on project integration with Scholars Portal, a digital library.

Purpose - To report on the University of Toronto's implementation of an institutional repository.Design/methodology/approach - Describe decision making process. A range of qualitative research methods were used to solicit early adopter and library concerns. Findings were then used to guide implementation.Findings - Provides the rational behind decisions made. Argues that modified qualitative research methods may be useful to new library projects.Research limitations/implications - The report is specific to an institution.Practical implications - Prioritizing actions, focusing on faculty and leveraging resources, notably student assistants is key.Originality/value - This paper provides practical information and a model which may be useful for others implementing repository services or other emerging technologies.

Every year universities enroll students who are not only computer reliant and technically savvy but also increasingly expect digital resources and services 24/7. At the same time finding high quality and course appropriate information amongst the vast array and diversity of tools presents a practical challenge for students and a pedagogical one for librarians. In response the Gerstein Science Information Centre of the University of Toronto is in the process of creating a "Desktop Library" aimed at first year biology students. The guide is being developed in conjunction with a specific course, BIO 150, but ongoing use through a progression of undergraduate courses is envisioned. Faculty, undergraduate and graduate students are included in the development process via focus groups, usability testing and other methods of soliciting feedback. A gradual rollout is planned. This online tool will consist of two interrelated components.