We took the book2net Spirit for a free on-site demonstration to the main library at the University of Plymouth. The main reason for this demonstration was to allow the library and students the opportunity to trial some of their books and documents and speak to our team on the way in which the Spirit is replacing traditional capture methods such as photocopying.
We left the Spirit with them for a week to be evaluated by the students and staff. Satisfied with the feedback and demonstration they were confident that the Spirit would be beneficial to their service so the first book2net Spirit was installed in April 2011.
We interviewed the University’s Learning Environment & Information Services Manager Julia Paget-Woods, on their reasons for choosing the Spirit and how it has enhanced their service.
Tell us a bit about the University of Plymouth?
Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2012. the University of Plymouth is one of the top modern universities in the UK. With 15 subject areas ranked excellent. we have a strong track record of excellence, enterprise and innovation across teaching and research. More than 80% of our research was judged of international standing in the Research.
Assessment Exercise of 2008, ranking Plymouth in the top 50 research universities in the UK.
Our focus on work-based learning, placements and internships and our long-term engagement with employers ensures a high rate of graduate employment. As the enterprise university, the University of Plymouth delivers outstanding economic, social and cultural return for business, the professions, the public sector and its wider community.
Tell us a bit about the Library’s history?
The original library building opened in 1976 bringing together several departmental libraries into a single central facility at the then Plymouth Polytechnic. With the expansion to Polytechnic South West in the late 1980s three further campus libraries were opened across Devon but by 2008 these campuses had been relocated to Plymouth requiring an extension to the library to be opened in 2004. The building was renamed as the Charles Seale-Hayne Library in September 2010 to reflect the University’s association with the Seale-Hayne family.
Over the years the Library has housed a variety of services and facilities including careers information & support and media production but currently provides IT open access areas, a Media Workshop & Edit Suite. numeracy & literacy support and a cafe, as well as traditional library services. Silent, quiet, group and casual working areas are available with a flexible learning space introduced in 2009.
What is the nature of the service you provide?
There are two main types of service we provide – standalone scanners attached to PCs in both staff and public areas and scanning via multi-functional devices for staff use. Our intentions are that the Spirit will complement these not replace them.
Who are the main people you scan for?
Staff scan articles from journals kept in the library store on behalf of students and staff of the University. Staff also scan articles for students studying at our Partner colleges throughout the South West, for part-time & placement students and for students with disabilities.
How did you come across the Spirit?
Information sent out by the British Library via an email distribution group.
What are the features you liked about the spirit?
- A3 scanning
- Easy to use
- Easy to install (Just a power point)
- Book friendly (ie. does not damage spines)
How does the Spirit fit into your Green environment?
Plymouth was named the UK’s top university for environmental performance in the 2010 annual People & Planet Green League table, and our conference facilities recently won a 2010 gold award for green tourism.
Sustainability is one of our key ambitions. We are committed to reducing our paper consumption significantly over the next 2 years.
How have the students reacted to the Spirit when it was on demonstration?
The reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Quotes from the comments board included:
- No printing, ease of turning pages, convenient and free!
- Amazing
- Robust and foolproof software
- User would have been unable to make copies of his particular item using any other device
- Simple, straightforward, great
- Effective, easy
- Don’t give it back; get more!
- Seriously helpful
- Fantastic, green and free
- Saved my life (?)!
How will the Spirit change the service you provide?
It will give the students an alternative to our existing scanners and they will not need to wait for a PC with a scanner to become available, which in turn will reduce pressure on those PCs. which can then be used for other tasks. It will also allow visitors to scan material as they do not have access to the PCs with scanners.
Comments are closed.