Digital transformation initiatives of the De La Salle University Libraries: The pandemic and beyond

• Main Authors: Cruz, Luis Ezra, Balbas, Yugosto Alejo
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2022
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_clis/2022/Schedule/5
• Institution: De La Salle University

Purpose/objectives As the demand to provide robust digital library services becomes even more vital in today's technology-driven society, digital transformation initiatives are seen as critical undertakings to ensure library users' needs are met promptly. The De La Salle University (DLSU) Libraries, true to its vision as a leading academic library that is a knowledge hub for scholarly engagement as well as having innovation as one of its core values, continues to explore novel ideas and solutions in response to ever-changing information landscape accelerated by changes brought about by the pandemic. DLSU Libraries sought to address these issues by adopting relevant technology deployments to support online users' needs during and beyond the pandemic. The DLSU Libraries team planned several project deployments before the pandemic started, including a new library services platform, an advanced discovery service, and an institutional repository. The pandemic halted onsite operations, but the Animo Projects Team sustained project deployments through online videoconferencing. Full project deployments of these platforms were accomplished during the pandemic with the support of active collaboration with stakeholders. The study's primary purpose is to present the timeline, functions, and features of various digital transformation initiatives that the DLSU Libraries have undertaken during the pandemic and how the collaboration among stakeholders led to successful project deployments. It presents the deployment of the following platforms: Ex Libris Alma, the Library Services Platform AnimoSearch/Primo VE, the discovery service portal Animo Repository by Digital Commons/BePress, the Institutional Repository Leganto, the course resource/reading list management portal Library Mobile App, the native mobile application Further, using the Microsoft Educational Transformation Framework for Libraries and Museums, the study also examines the current critical areas and elements of all digital transformation initiatives vis-à-vis Microsoft's framework pillars, namely Advanced Discovery, Dynamic Operations, Enhanced Visitor Experience, and Intelligent Environments. The framework provides an assessment tool of the current and target state of its digital transformation initiatives to understand which level of maturity the institution is at in its present digital transformation timeline. The study sets forth the following research questions: What are the implemented digital transformation initiatives of the DLSU Libraries during the pandemic? What is the current state of digital transformation initiatives of the DLSU Libraries in relation to the Microsoft Educational Transformation Framework for Libraries and Museums? What is the target state of digital transformation initiatives of the DLSU Libraries, based on the Microsoft Educational Transformation Framework for Libraries and Museums? What are the recommended future digital transformation initiatives of the DLSU Libraries in the next five years? Design, methodology, approach The study utilized the descriptive research methodology to accomplish the objectives of the study. The timeline, relevant functions, and features of all the digital transformation initiatives during the pandemic were presented and discussed in detail. Further, the Education Transformation Assessment Tool of the Microsoft Educational Transformation Framework for Libraries and Museums was used to assess the digital transformation initiatives of the DLSU Libraries. The researchers accomplished the assessment tool as representatives of the Animo Project Core Team, which handled the digital transformation project deployments discussed in this study. Discussion and Findings The discussion presented various project deployment milestones and timelines of the digital transformation activities carried out by the Animo Projects Core Team. After that, the results of the assessment showed differing results between the current and target state based on the four pillars of the adopted framework. Areas under Advanced Discovery (Discoverability and Collections and Library Management) and Intelligent Environments (Safety and Security and Cloud Infrastructure) showed a narrower gap between the current and target state, indicating a more advanced and mature development. Meanwhile, results in areas under Enhanced Visitor Experience (Exhibition Development and Connected Experience) and Dynamic Operations (Fundraising, Ticketing, and Constituent Management) display a wider gap between the current and target state, indicating that further development still needs to be done. The study then presented various technological solutions to undertake in relevant areas to narrow the gap. Likewise, based on the assessment results, the researchers recommended additional potential digital transformation initiatives that the institution could adopt to drive innovation further and provide timely solutions to prevailing user needs. Practical implications The research aims to provide a roadmap for other libraries that want to engage and deploy their own digital transformation initiatives in their respective institutions. The experiences presented in the study can serve as valuable inputs as they implement their library technology projects independently. Likewise, the DLSU Libraries would also gain valuable insights from the results of the Microsoft Educational Transformation Framework for Libraries and Museums assessment tool, which they can use to recalibrate their library technological plan. Originality of the paper As the pandemic halted face-to-face interactions and library visits, libraries needed to find ways to still deliver their services effectively in an online environment. The paper provides a timeline of an academic library's digital transformation initiatives during the pandemic. It shows how the library team executed these projects successfully with effective and efficient library service provision as their goal.