Since we’ve just started with this project, I’m assuming there will be multiple posts on the topic. Well, that and the fact that I’m just a wee bit excited to be part of the group working on this. UCO will be the first library in Oklahoma to implement these ExLibris products (as far as we know — please let me know if otherwise), and it’s the first time I’ve gotten to be in on a largish technology implementation. It’s not like libraries get new ILSs every day, so I figure this is as close as I’ll get to something of that magnitude, at least for the foreseeable future.
Essentially, MetaLib is a federated search engine for electronic resources — a layer on top of SFX, which is our link resolver and A-Z list — while Primo takes the information from MetaLib and adds our catalog into the mix. I’m still fuzzy on specifics, and honestly will probably remain so until I have the opportunity to get in a play with these things from both the admin and the user ends.
But before we can get to that point I’ve got to contact all our e-resource vendors with the new IP address (since ExLibris is hosting MetaLib for us). Luckily, I had it poined out to me today that I can start with the vendors for the 50 test cases, which makes my immediate schedule somewhat less frightening as there’s some vendor overlap in the test resources (EBSCO, Proquest, CSA).
In addition to this, I’m going through a spreadsheet of MetaLib’s knowledge base, matching up our resources. One of our IT folks started the project, but everyone seems to like to use different names and/or naming conventions, so it has to be checked by hand. On the plus side, I’m going to have the names of our e-resources much more firmly implanted in my brain by the time it’s done.
Speaking of which, break’s over.
April 2, 2009 at 10:03 pm
You should be able to go into the EBSCO admin module and add the IP address yourself – same with OCLC. I can easily talk you through both of them on the phone if you want.
April 3, 2009 at 11:18 am
I can get into a lot of admin modules and add an IP addy — it’s no big deal. But some vendors apparently have “issues” with federated search access, and using the MetaLib-supplied form letters (customized to each vendor) means we don’t get bit later when we discover that, for example, we don’t have the right password or something.
Actually, a side-benefit of sending all these emails is that I’m able to update contact info, some of which had fallen out of date.
April 3, 2009 at 10:03 pm
If it says John Purdy is still their contact – then they are doing pretty good for vendors.
(if you haven’t heard that name yet you will)
April 4, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Heh. Yeah. But it’s mostly that they still have Beverly listed.
April 6, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Sounds like fun Kirsten. The library here at UWM uses MetaLib. It is great for starting research on unfamiliar topics.
Word of warning though…some e-resource providers may have clauses in their license agreements about adding federated searches and want more money to allow them to function, along with some other quirks. One of our students mentioned this a few weeks ago, as her library was also implementing MetaLib.
If you do have any license issues, please post. I know Dr. Lipinski and I would be interested.
April 6, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Hi, Y!
Thanks for the warning about the licensing. I’ve already come across a case where they simply don’t allow federated search access, but so far nothing about a change in the license. Will keep an eye out, and let you know about it.