EBSCO A-to-Z at Georgia Southern University --Why and How

1. EBSCO A-to-Z at Georgia Southern University--Why and How Iris B. Durden Serials Librarian Georgia Southern University GUGM May 20, 2004

2. Georgia Southern University • 15,700 students in Fall 2003 • 600+ faculty • 7 colleges, including new College of Information Technology • 5 schools, including School of Public Health (first in University System) • Many distance learning programs and locations, including Savannah

3. Zach S. Henderson Library • Over ½ million volumes in general collections • Regional selective federal government documents depository with over ½ million volumes • State government documents depository • 16 faculty, 37 staff, numerous student assistants • Open 24 hours/day fall and spring semesters • 300+ public computers

4. Expansion/renovation project • Will feature automated retrieval system—first in the region • Two phases, each taking 18-24 months to complete • Major impact on library services in phase 2

5. Budget challenges • Flat budget for a number of years • Budget reductions • Increased demand for electronic resources • Rising costs of periodical subscriptions and electronic resources • cancelled 500 print subscriptions (1/4 of collection) in FY04

6. Why an E-journal list product • Wanted to maximize access to e-journal resources because of cancellation of print subscriptions, construction project, remote users, addition of new academic programs • In-house web page used for several years • “Clunky” to maintain • Not comprehensive—no aggregator titles

7. E-journal locator “want list” • Minimal in-house labor required for set-up and maintenance • list creation • customization • User-friendly interface • Relatively low cost • Proxy compatible • MARC record load capability • Linking capabilities (to and from catalog, etc.)

8. Choosing EBSCO A-to-Z • EBSCO handles print subscriptions • Subscribe to EBSCO’s EJS Enhanced • Price seemed reasonable • Set-up and maintenance seemed easy

9. How we are implementing • Interim step until link resolver purchased, so… • Simple • Quick • Relatively little customization

10. Building the list • Secure web page for administrator • 3 steps to set up • Title list management (building, updating the list) • List customization (branding) —many options • Link and proxy management

11. Building the list • From administrator web page • Click on “manage your title list”

12. On the Title Wizard page • Click “yes”

13. Vendor Selection page • Click on vendors that provide packages (100+ vendors)

15. GALILEO full-text

16. Package Selection page • Check by packages “owned”

18. Titles in package • Click on “details” at left of title for specific information about the title

19. Individual Title Selection page • Check any individual titles owned

20. Congratulations page • Total number of titles added to list • Options to continue set-up

21. Branding management • Set up custom logo, header, footer, text, messages

22. Custom links • To Library catalog and ILL form

23. List Display Options • Choose fields, field behavior, tabs, alpha menu level, default page size

24. Proxy settings

25. The List • Header information

26. The List • Tabs--Titles

27. The List • Tab—Subjects

28. The List • Tab—Search • Same as “advanced search” on Title tab

29. The List • Title information • Holdings in each database • ISSN, Publisher, Subject (any,all,none) • Custom links on right

30. Access to the list • From Library’s home page • Click on “Journal, magazine, & newspaper databases”

31. Access to the list • Click on “Electronic journals”

32. Access to the list • From Library catalog • Link in bib record to A-to-Z listing for title

34. More information • About EBSCO A-to-Z, go to http://www.ebsco.com/atoz/default.asp • About Georgia Southern’s implementation, contact: Iris Durden, Serials Librarian idurden@georgiasouthern.edu 912-681-5114