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MetaLib @ BC. Integration of Systems and Resources MetaLib at Boston College Theresa Lyman Digital Resources Reference Librarian Boston College Libraries NELA Annual Conference - October 2003. MetaLib @ BC. Boston College. User Population 9,000 undergrad 4,700 graduate 820 faculty
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MetaLib @ BC Integration of Systems and Resources MetaLib at Boston College Theresa Lyman Digital Resources Reference Librarian Boston College Libraries NELA Annual Conference - October 2003
MetaLib @ BC Boston College • User Population • 9,000 undergrad • 4,700 graduate • 820 faculty • BC Library Facts • 8 libraries/centers • Staff: 200 FTEs • Electronic resources acquisitions budget – $1.3 million (23%)
MetaLib @ BC Where to Find Library Resources • Library Catalog (ALEPH) • Includes aggregator e-journals (Serial Solutions MARC records) • Web pages • Online Databases (A-Z & by Subject) • Electronic Journals List (Serials Solutions) • Research Guides • Course Pages • more...
MetaLib @ BC Why we need a portal? • Growth of e-resources • Huge cost and large # of resources to manage – 300 databases and more than 18,000 e-journals • Access/Management challenges • Too many places to look for information • User wants relevant resources • Provide instruction to the user
MetaLib @ BC Why We Chose MetaLib • Existing positive relationship with Ex Libris • Saw opportunity to influence development & willing to experiment • Mission - Libraries as technology leader on campus • Creation of Digital Resources position in Reference
MetaLib @ BC What is MetaLib • Gateway / Search Engine • Allows cross-searching of multiple databases • Based on protocols (Z39.50, XML, HTTP) • Customizable by user, to a certain degree • Includes SFX – reference linking b/t databases • Includes e-journal lists from SFX
MetaLib @ BC What is SFX • Reference linking system based on OpenURL • Uses metadata from search results to offer user connections to appropriate services • Most frequently links to Full Text • BC’s SFX is called • Works with many subscription databases and within MetaLib
MetaLib @ BC Implementation Timeline July 2001 – MetaLib/SFX installed Nov 2001 – SFX live Jan 2002 – MetaLib v1 live Aug 2003 – renamed SFX “Find It” Aug 2003 – MetaLib v2 live
BC ALEPH catalogs Bowker CSA EBSCO Gale InfoTrac Grove Library Catalogs Ingenta ISI OCLC Ovid ProQuest RLG SilverPlatter Wilson more…… MetaLib @ BC What we put into MetaLib300+ databases, web sites, library catalogs 100 cross-searchable in MetaLib, including:
MetaLib @ BC Integrate systems & resources • Cross searching (vendor and local databases) • Databases & e-journals in 1 place • Reference linking with SFX • Customization - alerts, e-Shelf, history • Incorporate services (citation management, ILL, Ref 24/7, etc) • Use MetaLib to generate web pages • Deep linking from outside MetaLib
MetaLib @ BC How students do research • Want to jump right into searching • Don’t want to have to locate resources • Love Google – simple, allows advanced searching for those who want it • Don’t distinguish between e-journals & databases • Look for articles in the Library Catalog
MetaLib @ BC Benefits of MetaLib • Great for quick searches, saves time • Discovery tool (exposes students to resources they might never use) • Customization, save searches, alerts .. • SFX easy way to point students to full-text and holdings • Use management interfaces to manage e-resources
MetaLib @ BC Challenges of MetaLib • Instruction • When to use and when not to • How to use – locate resources before searching • Not all resources are searchable • Don’t want or realize customization features • Searching • Search and display options limited • Lack of relevancy ranking • Lack of standards used by vendors • Advanced users want more customization • SFX - expectation full-text is always available
MetaLib @ BC MetaLib Statistics • Statistics available with v. 2 (Aug 2003) • Quick Search – most popular by far • Known item & keywords (titles, authors) • “New York Times and Skywest” • “course reserves” • Locating resources is confusing • “matrix AND Type=Newspaper” • “television impact on people AND Type=Article Database”
MetaLib @ BC Future Developments • Continue integration of resources • Add Citation Linker & SFX to BC Catalog • Add resources to MetaLib (including free) • More use of MetaLib deep-linking (research guides and WebCT) • Outside of BC • NISO MetaSearch Initiative – development of standards • Work with Ex Libris on interface enhancements: quick searching by subject, single-sign on, etc.
MetaLib @ BC Comments • More resources OpenURL aware and allow some kind of metasearching • Librarians should be aware of these technologies when talking with vendors • Users want the convenience of linked collections and Google-like searching • Users want services within context (make ILL requests from the catalog or database) • MetaLib @ BC is a work in progress
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