The Solution
The Library took the opportunity to introduce technology to help improve student interaction. With the feedback of the students in mind, two iPad kiosks were introduced to the library, which have been used as the interface for the Oliver OPAC. This became an instant hit with the students and has been seen as an effective tool to engage the students, allowing Ginette to promote the library as a modern and relevant location for students to visit. This option was also more cost-effective than investing in new computers.
The library also chose to implement the use of the Maps Function, which comes as part of the Oliver system. This has empowered students to use and browse the library on their own. Ginette, adds: “It does help to locate roughly where resources are in a very large room”.
“The change to Oliver V5 has meant that the functionality has improved dramatically. The circulation desk now works on all browsers, check-in time for serials has improved, the OPAC interface looks better, and it is easier to demonstrate the use of the OPAC. This has made it much more intuitive for student use”.
The Results
Cheltenham College have seen an increase in the popularity of their library, accompanied by an increase in usage of the OPAC. The transformation of the building and the way the system is being used is fantastic and a great example to other mibraries that may be hesitant in testing new technologies.
“The students really like using the iPads and will happily ‘have a go’ when formerly we needed to demonstrate the OPAC to them. They like the Maps Function and seem happier to search independently. Students have responded very positively and those who rarely came in before, now visit us to work, every day”.
Ginette has found the Oliver system to be of real benefit to the library by engaging the students and helping them to find what they are looking for. To finish, Ginette was asked what she liked best about the Oliver system from a user perspective: "The thing I like best about Oliver is that it can be used on so many different levels. A beginner can just use the basic parts of the system, but as you get more confident you can add further functions, until you are able to customise the system for your own use and your library and school".
