Description: This paper accompanies a poster presentation discussing repurposing existing digital resources and smoothing interdisciplinary communication. Given the proliferation of scholarly digital contents, it has become increasingly difficult for researchers to find relevant contents on their own, not to mention related, disciplines. The situation is even worse in interdisciplinary fields such as environmental sciences. Many academic libraries provide services to support the creation, organization, management, use, and reuse of digital contents. This poster describes the University of North Texas (UNT) Libraries' initiative to provide digital infrastructure and stewardship in order to ensure long-term access to the resources collected. The preliminary results from usage and related statistics analysis suggest significant research and educational impact of the Environmental Policy Collection. Based on the UNT Libraries' experience in integrating heterogeneous digital resources from diverse sources and providing seamless access, this paper describes guidelines for future digital collection development, and make recommendations for further study of collection development strategies.

Description: This paper discusses studying distance students. University of North Texas (UNT) Libraries began studying the library needs of distance learners in 2009 using a variety of approaches to explore and confirm these needs as well as obtain input into how to meet them. Approaches used to date include analysis of both quantitative and qualitative responses by online students to the LibQUAL+ surveys over time, focus groups, observations and interviews. The Libraries administered the LibQUAL+ survey and conducted focus groups. The Librarians then worked with two graduate level qualitative analysis classes, one on campus and one online, to do further study that included additional focus groups, observations, and interviews. The effectiveness, strengths and problems encountered with each method, as well as with the technology used in executing them, are covered. Triangulation of the results of the various methods to confirm findings is discussed as are the actions that are being taken to address the findings.

Description: This paper discusses digital object replication. The University of North Texas (UNT) Libraries has implemented a simple transport neutral digital object replication strategy in its production digital repository infrastructure. This strategy is built with the same ideals as other Curation Micro-Services, in respect to lightweight, software independent specifications coupled to provide a set of services for digital repositories, this approach to replication has allowed the UNT Libraries the flexibility of multiple storage infrastructures and the reassurance that objects are being fully validated as they are replicated throughout the repository. Building on standard Web technologies and methodologies like the Atom Publishing Protocol and REST, coupled with digital library technologies such as Checkm and BagIt, a transport neutral replication strategy allows institutions to meet the increasing demands on their services while keeping the overall costs low by allowing the use of a variety of storage platforms.

Description: This paper discusses the The University of North Texas Libraries' (UNTL) metadata guidelines. The UNTL Metadata Initiative progressed on many fronts in 2005 and 2006, including testing and implementation of the UNTL metadata system, on which The Portal to Texas History system is based. As the metadata work group gains practical experience in describing objects with the recommended elements, the UNTL metadata system continues to evolve. This (verson-2) guideline is a product of a series of revision activities. It should be noted that in order to comply with changing internal and external standards and needs, the UNTL metadata creation guideline will remain under continuous review.