Digital Library Coordinator National Public Health Coordination Office Worcester, Massachusetts
Background: The Public Health Digital Library was created to provide library services to state public health departments. Members integrated the library’s A-to-Z list into their department’s intranet site and used PubMed as a search tool. When PubMed sunset its LinkOut Service in 2019, the PHDL began evaluating Link Resolver tools. This began the evaluation and adoption of other technologies that moved the library from a locally distributed A-to-Z list to an integrated library system that can be accessed remotely. The process leveraged skills of library staff and provided the opportunity to adapt technologies that improved the user experience.
Description: The original structure of the library gave members control of the look and feel of the digital library, responsibility for updating the A-to-Z list and providing support to end users. Access to the library was controlled by IP addresses and limited use to each member’s office/network. With the adaption of a Link Resolver, the Digital Library also automated its ILL system, moved to a centralized web site with a centrally controlled list of library holdings and dynamic features such as help pages, subject guides, alerts, and a citation finder. Based on this foundation, the library was able to pivot and implement a Single Sign On solution when members began working from home at the beginning of COVID. The library also extended support services to end users and extended its membership to county and municipal public health departments.
Conclusion: The implementation of new tools shifted responsibility for maintaining the library’s content and first level support services from a locally hosted A-to-Z list to a centralized site with expanded services. Adaption of the new tools improved the quality and consistency of the digital library’s content, expanded access to its resources, and improved the delivery of ILL Services. These outcomes were measured using usage statistics, comparing the number of ILL requests from year to year and tracking people who signed up for remote access . While the digital library has been able to improve and expand its services during this transformation, complete adoption of the centralized page and related services, has been an ongoing process that has taken longer than anticipated.
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