Library innovations save students' time

UQ students need no longer wonder whether a computer will be free at the library – they can simply check a monitor or head online in advance.

With the use of real-time technology, UQ Library users can now see the total number and location of computers in each branch and find out which ones are free at that moment.

University Librarian and Director of Learning Services Keith Webster said the initiative was a time saver for the thousands of students who use the library’s learning spaces, technology and online resources each day.

“We wanted to make it easier for students to find what they needed quickly and since they often want to find a computer they can use, we came up with a way to allow them to check computer availability anywhere they have internet access: from home, in the library, or on their mobile phone as they arrive on campus,” Mr Webster said.

The system includes plasma screens located across the library network, and was developed by staff based on work originally undertaken by the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering.

The innovation is already proving popular with students who need to locate an available computer quickly.

“Students are busy and the more we can do to provide convenience, the better their experience is likely to be,” Mr Webster said.

The library has launched a new Innovation Lab to work on projects that will facilitate this and to provide opportunities for collaboration with research groups from all over the University.

“The aim of the Innovation Lab is to give library staff time and space away from their usual jobs to work on great ideas and make them a reality,” Executive Manager Andrew Bennett said.

“The computer availability software is just one example of a number of Library innovations intended to benefit students. Right now we have teams working on the development of content suitable for podcasting and on the deployment of web content management systems.”

Other developments include the Library’s online room booking system, and the integration of Web 2.0 features such as tagging and user-generated content including reviews and ratings into the Library catalogue.

More information can be found at www.library.uq.edu.au.

Media: Tanya Ziebel (07 3365 6315, t.ziebell@library.uq.edu.au) or Cameron Pegg at UQ Communications (07 3365 2049, c.pegg@uq.edu.au)