About

I’m an IT Projects Manager, based in the Open University Library and Learning Resources Centre where I have worked on and off since 1997. I manage Library related technology research and development projects. I am currently looking after two projects: Personalisation of the Library website (one of the OL2.0 enhancement projects); and the implementation of VOICE, the OU CRM system, within the Library (in conjunction with the Student Services VOICE Team).

I jointly manage the OU Library’s Research Seminars Programme. The seminars explore a number of specific subjects relevant to information, teaching and learning professionals, to encourage the sharing of knowledge on a range of topics: e-learning, learner support, open access, interoperability, digital libraries, metadata, information literacy, new technologies etc. Open University staff and members of the Milton Keynes Learning City Libraries Network are welcome to attend. If you would like to offer yourself as a speaker then please contact library-promotions@open.ac.uk.

Interests

My interests include the use of ICT and (so-called) web 2.0 technology in libraries and education. I am http://del.icio.us/library2.0, please add me to your network and send me your library2.0 related links. If you are into Second Life then look me up, my avatar is Teresa Arliss.

Previous experience

OU Library projects that I have managed include:

• PROWE (Personal Repositories Online Wiki Environment), a research project funded under the JISC Digital Repositories Programme (03/05). PROWE looked at the use of wiki and blog technology to support part-time distance education tutors (lecturers) CPD needs.
• Document Management (development and implementation of document management policies and procedures and the Livelink (OpenText) Document Management System).
• Enquiry Management (development and implementation of an enquiry management system based upon RemedyAR System).

During 2005 I was a Role Analyst on the OU’s HERA Project Team based within Human Resources.

I was a member of the JISC - funded HeadLine Project based in the British Library of Political and Economic Science at the London School of Economics. I joined the team in January 2000 as Project Officer and contributed to the development and evaluation of the HeadLine PIE (Personal Information Environment). I was responsible for the management of the final phase of the project; the Operational Roll-Out work package. Whilst at the LSE I also managed a DNER funded project to evaluate MetaLib/SFX, the hybrid library system produced by Ex-Libris.

From October 1997 until December 1999, I worked as a Subject Information Specialist (Assistant Librarian) within the Open University Library. I helped to meet the information needs of the Open University Business School through the development of electronic resources and services. I co-authored information search guides, including the OU’s MBA Information Search Guide for which I developed the first HTML (web) version. I was the Membership Secretary of the British Business Schools Librarians Group from May 1999 - June 2000.

My tour of UK universities, began in 1995. So far I have either worked, or studied (or sometimes both!) at: The University of Sunderland, Liverpool Hope University, The University of Sheffield, The Open University (Milton Keynes), and the London School of Economics.

Publications and presentations

Gambles, A. (March 2001) “The HeadLine Personal Information Environment - Evaluation Phase One.” D-Lib Magazine. 7(3).

Gambles, A. (December 2000) “The development and launch of the HeadLine Personal Information Environment.” Information Technology and Libraries. 19 (4) pp 199-205.

Gambles, A. (April 2000) “Put yourself in the PIE - The HeadLine Personal Information Environment.” D-Lib Magazine. 6(4).

Hunter-Brown, Caryl J. & Anne Faulkner (2000) “Information Search Guide,” Open University Worldwide. ISBN 0749298081

Qualifications

I have an MA in Librarianship (University of Sheffield, 1997) and a BSc (Hons.) in Environmental Studies (University of Sunderland, 1995). I have also passed two Open University courses: B654 “The Effective Manager” - a Certificate Level Management course (2001); and M865 “Project Management” - a Post Graduate Level course (2005).

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