Papers by Kenning Arlitsch
A primary impact metric for institutional repositories (IR) is the number of file downloads, whic... more A primary impact metric for institutional repositories (IR) is the number of file downloads, which are commonly measured through third-party Web analytics software. Google Analytics, a free service used by most academic libraries, relies on HTML page tagging to log visitor activity on Google's servers. However, Web aggregators such as Google Scholar link directly to high value content (usually PDF files), bypassing the HTML page and failing to register these direct access events. This article presents evidence of a study of four institutions demonstrating that the majority of IR activity is not counted by page tagging Web analytics software, and proposes a practical solution for significantly improving the reporting relevancy and accuracy of IR performance metrics using Google Analytics.
A new toolkit that helps libraries establish baseline measurements and continuous monitoring of t... more A new toolkit that helps libraries establish baseline measurements and continuous monitoring of the search engine optimization performance of their digital repositories is one of the products of research funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The " Getting Found " Cookbook includes everything necessary for implementing a Google Analytics dashboard that continuously monitors SEO performance metrics relevant to digital repositories. While the Cookbook has been created for use with Google Analytics, the principles and practices described can be applied to any page tagging analytics software.
Researcher services have proliferated in recent years and numerous free or fee-based sites now pr... more Researcher services have proliferated in recent years and numerous free or fee-based sites now promise increased visibility and impact for authors or contributors of publications and other research products. Not all services have the same goals, however, and it can be difficult to know with which services researchers should engage. In this article we establish three categories (author/researcher identification, academic/professional networking, and reference/citation management) and examine nineteen services that fit into those categories.
The ability to tolerate ambiguity is an important attribute of successful leaders. In this articl... more The ability to tolerate ambiguity is an important attribute of successful leaders. In this article the metaphor of off-road motorcycling is used to introduce the concept of ambiguity and the virtues of becoming tolerant and comfortable with the uncertainty that has become a hallmark of information age organizations. Tolerance of Ambiguity is a known leadership concept that also extends to employees. Many employees want to be involved earlier in the planning and decision making process of the organization, but may be uncomfortable with the ambiguity characteristic of early stage planning.
Resource Sharing & Information Networks, 2005
Over the past six years, the University of Utah libraries have developed an extensive internation... more Over the past six years, the University of Utah libraries have developed an extensive international presence through digital resource sharing. Services include instruction, electronic document delivery, shared catalogs, and full-text databases. This paper will describe the process of establishing, extending, and improving these services through international cooperation and collaboration. The benefit to the smaller library with limited funding is dramatic
Keil, D.E., and Arlitsch, K. 2012. Scientists and Librarians Create an Environmental Toxicology Repository. Science and the Internet. Editors Alexander Tokar, Michael Beurskens, Susanne Keuneke, Merja Mahrt, Isabella Peters, Cornelius Puschmann, Timo van Treeck, Katrin Wellerp. Dusseldorf Univers... This paper proposes the development of an environmental toxicology data repository for the Wasatc... more This paper proposes the development of an environmental toxicology data repository for the Wasatch Front, the major metropolitan area in the state of Utah. This repository, developed by scientists and librarians, will address gaps in national-level repositories that cannot take into account unique local issues caused by geography, industry, military installations, and population. The repository will enable local clinicians and academic researchers to collect data, describe it using a standard metadata schema, preserve it for the future, and make it accessible through common search engines.
Journal of Library Administration, 2014
This JLA column posits that academic libraries and their services are dominated by information te... more This JLA column posits that academic libraries and their services are dominated by information technologies, and that the success of librarians and professional staff is contingent on their ability to thrive in this technology-rich environment. The column will appear in odd-numbered issues of the journal, and will delve into all aspects of library-related information technologies and knowledge management used to connect users to information resources, including data preparation, discovery, delivery and preservation. Prospective authors are invited to submit articles for this column to the editor at Abstract Google is the single largest driver of traffic to library websites and digital repositories, and librarians would do well to listen when the search giant reveals information about its practices or makes recommendations. Recently, Google announced that it would begin to favor websites that use the secure hypertext transfer protocol (HTTPS) in its search results rankings. HTTPS encrypts data transmission and one of Google's stated reasons for this change is to help make the Web safer and minimize data theft. Similar announcements by Google have sometimes been ignored by librarians, to the peril of the visibility and use of library products and services on the Web.
Over the past six years, the University of Utah libraries have developed an extensive internation... more Over the past six years, the University of Utah libraries have developed an extensive international presence through digital resource sharing. Services include instruction, electronic document delivery, shared catalogs, and full-text databases. This paper will describe the process of establishing, extending, and improving these services through international cooperation and collaboration. The benefit to the smaller library with limited funding is dramatic
Research Strategies, 1998
Many llbrarles are workmg to add or redeszgn facdltles m order to accomodate handy-on mstructlon ... more Many llbrarles are workmg to add or redeszgn facdltles m order to accomodate handy-on mstructlon They paper describer the tonstructlon of two handson computer labs for library mstructlon at the Uruverslty of Utah'7 Marrcott Library It dlscussesflaws m existing trammg labs, and how thosejawr were taken into conylderatlon when butldmg the neh labs Costs acyoclated with the project are covered, ar well as specljicatlons offurmture, computers, and proJectlon equipment ott Library, Unwersq of Utah, Salt Luke Cih, UT 84112, USA E-mad karlrtsc@ lrbrary utnh edu RESEARCH STRATEGIES, Volume 16, Number 3, pages 199-210 CopyrIght 0 1999 by Elsevler Science Inc All rights of reproduction m any form reserved ISSN 0734-3310 200 RESEARCH STRATEGIES Vol 16/No 3/1998
Journal of Documentation, 1995
ABSTRACT
D-Lib Magazine, 2002
ABSTRACT
Keynote address from the 2010 CONTENTdm Midwest Users Group Meeting Kenning Arlitsch, Assoc. Dire... more Keynote address from the 2010 CONTENTdm Midwest Users Group Meeting Kenning Arlitsch, Assoc. Director for IT Services at the University of Utah's Marriott Library, who oversees many large CONTENTdm collections, will discuss results of a survey designed to discern the perceptions and preferences of future library leaders related to organizational cultures in these times of precipitous change. Many of those surveyed perceive a gap between their current and preferred organizational cultures. Kenning will address these perceptions and how they impact collections and digital projects.
Three library leaders who oversee digital library programs operating on the CONTENTdm platform ta... more Three library leaders who oversee digital library programs operating on the CONTENTdm platform talk about what it takes to build and sustain a digital library program. Panelists will draw upon their experiences of increasing staffing and infrastructure to create capacity, developing ways to lower costs, and experimenting with new funding models to supplement diminishing budgets.
This report discusses the development of an extension vocabulary for describing theses and disser... more This report discusses the development of an extension vocabulary for describing theses and dissertations, using Schema.org as a foundation. Instance data from the Montana State University ScholarWorks institutional repository was used to help drive and test the creation of the extension vocabulary. Once the vocabulary was developed, we used it to convert the entire ScholarWorks data sample into RDF. We then serialized a set of three RDF descriptions as RDFa and posted them online to gather statistics from Google Webmaster Tools. The study successfully demonstrated how a data model consisting of primarily Schema.org terms and supplemented with a list of granular/domain specific terms can be used to describe theses and dissertations in detail
A strong SEO strategy can dramatically increase visitation and maximize the digital library inves... more A strong SEO strategy can dramatically increase visitation and maximize the digital library investment. But since library and archive SEO efforts are often an afterthought, they can be unproductive. SEO managed by a few technically knowledgeable people deep in the organization are usually ineffective and difficult to sustain, precisely because they are not driven by a strategic plan. Arlitsch and OBrien advocate that SEO only works when approached holistically and driven strategically. Drawing on their expertise in digital libraries and corporate marketing, they show how to mount a successful SEO strategy, including Recommended dashboards for increasing participation by sharing data Avoiding the four most common crawler errors that lead to low rankings How to effectively utilize the Google Keyword Tool The use of domain settings to generate unit-specific reports for special collections, institutional repositories and university presses Arlitsch and OBrien go beyond an explanation of...
J.G. Bankier will be speaking on Digital Commons, a hosted platform by The Berkeley Electronic Pr... more J.G. Bankier will be speaking on Digital Commons, a hosted platform by The Berkeley Electronic Press. Kenning Arlitsch will be speaking on CONTENTdm, a platform by OCLC. Jessica Colati will be speaking about Fedora. Sue Kunda will be speaking about dSpace.
http://prezi.com/1048/view/ Summarizes the initial findings of survey research conducted with 175... more http://prezi.com/1048/view/ Summarizes the initial findings of survey research conducted with 175 future library leaders. Respondents were asked whether they are satisfied with their organizational culture and management, whether organizational culture limits thier effectiveness, and whether respondents are consideringleaving libraries due to culture and management concerns. Presented by John Butler and Krisellen Maloney at the CNI (Coalition for Networked Information) Spring 2009 Task Force Meeting in Minneapolis, MN. presentation;
College & Research Libraries, 2010
Research libraries will continue to be affected by rapid and transformative changes in informatio... more Research libraries will continue to be affected by rapid and transformative changes in information technology and the networked environment for the foreseeable future. The pace and direction of these changes will profoundly challenge libraries and their staffs to respond effectively. This paper presents the results of a survey that was designed to discern the perceptions and preferences of future library leaders related to organizational cultures in these times of precipitous change. The study finds that future leaders of academic libraries perceive a significant gap between their current and preferred organizational cultures and that current organizational cultures limit their effectiveness.
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Papers by Kenning Arlitsch