Kurt De Belder Chief, Division of Electronic Services University Library Universiteit van Amsterdam

1. The possibilities of cross searching and linking services. Kurt De Belder Chief, Division of Electronic Services University Library Universiteit van Amsterdam

2. Overview presentation • Introduction • UvA project Integration heterogeneous information systems and services. • Hyperlinks and OpenURL • Changes in Search - Locate - Obtain process • Searching in multiple databases • Reaction of our customers • Impact on our organisation & statistics • Next steps 5th E-ICOLC conference

3. ‘Current’ situation • Large number of distributed electronic databases and journals, brought together by series of web pages (UvA: > 300 databases; > 13.000 e-journals). • Large variety of interfaces, search engines, data formats, database systems, indices, thesauri and services. • User unfriendly, support and training intensive, partial and overlapping services. 5th E-ICOLC conference

4. Desired situation • Integration of heterogeneous databases and services. • The system helps. • Use of international standards such as OpenURL, Z39.50, ZING (SRU/SRW), ... • Possibility to create personal digital library (My Library), subject portals, and overarching services: alerting services, SDI, saving searches ... 5th E-ICOLC conference

5. UvA: Project integration heterogeneous systems • 2001: Universiteit van Amsterdam: compares variety of systems and starts RFI/RFP process with three selected vendors. • Information is shared with all UKB libraries in the Netherlands (= University libraries, Royal Library, Library of Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences). • December 2001: Ex Libris (MetaLib & SFX) is selected. • March 2002: UKB consortium agreement signed. • September 2002: UvA takes SFX in production. • January 2003: UvA takes MetaLib in production. • May 2003: UvA usability study 5th E-ICOLC conference

6. Introduction: UKB libraries and MetaLib/SFX • Universiteit van Amsterdam • Royal Library • Technische Universiteit Delft • Rijksuniversiteit Groningen • Universiteit Leiden • Universiteit Maastricht • Universiteit Utrecht • Universiteit Wageningen • Vrije Universiteit 5th E-ICOLC conference

7. Hyperlinks: technologies & terminology • OpenURL: framework for open linking that allows for link creation via components such as link-servers which are external and independent from the source of the link (the citation). In this way linking can be contextual and relevant to a particular information environment. An international open standard. • SFX: commercial application (linking server) of Ex Libris based on the OpenURL. • UvA-linker: SFX implementation of the Universiteit van Amsterdam. 5th E-ICOLC conference

8. Vendors already offer linking services! DB vendors offer proprietary linking: • SilverLinker (SilverPlatter) • OpenLinks (Ovid) • SmartLinks (EBSCO) • LinkOut (NCBI) • CrossLinks (Proquest) 5th E-ICOLC conference

9. Vendors already offer linking services! Problems: • Localisation: ‘appropriate copy’ problem. • Customer confronted with # linking systems ~ DB resulting in # quality and services. • Library administers # linking systems. • Often no “extended services”. • Certain vendors require uploads of e.g. holdings information. • Cannot deliver services for specific customers. 5th E-ICOLC conference

10. OpenURL & local linking server Advantages: • Localisation: ‘appropriate copy’ can be delivered. • One standardised linking system. • One point of administration for a variety of services for possibly all data sources. • Delivery of extended services. • Services for specific customers. • NISO standardisation process started. • Compatible with other standards (DOI, CrossRef). 5th E-ICOLC conference

11. OpenURL & local linking server Advantages: • Subscription to Knowledge Base (Ex Libris) • Linking mechanism can be used by other systems! • Electronic learning environment • Electronic publishing program • Digital Academic Repository 5th E-ICOLC conference

12. 5th E-ICOLC conference

13. 1 SFX Menu 2 SFX Source 3 4 5 SFX Target 6 5th E-ICOLC conference

14. How does it work? What does a OpenURL look like? Target Source Full text Linking server A&I Catalogue Full text ... Link Catalogue Link A&I Link OpenURL Citation DB Link Search engine OpenURL hook Link 5th E-ICOLC conference

15. OpenURL http://pinakes.ic.uva.nl:9003/sfx_local?sid=SilverPlatter:MLAB& genre=article&atitle=For%20an%20Aesthetics%20of%20the%20Inconsequential&title=Eighteenth-Century-Studies&isbn=&issn=0013-2586&date=2002&volume=35&issue=3&spage=510&pid=%3CAN%3E2002870205%3C/AN%3E%3CAU%3EHarari%2c-Josue%3C/AU%3E • Base URL • Origin description OpenURL • Object-metadata-zone 5th E-ICOLC conference

16. Traditional process to obtain information Search MLA Bibliography Localise (Union) Catalogue Obtain JSTOR 5th E-ICOLC conference

17. Characteristics of this process • Requires a lot of knowledge from the customer about the process, the content, the information universe, … • Different steps in the process are separated. • Manual input needs to be repeated often: log in, formulate query, typing. • Information is not passed on from one system to another. • Systems don’t know the specific UvA information environment or that of the customer. COMPLEX NOT EFFICIENT DIFFICULT 5th E-ICOLC conference

18. Process change with OpenURL linking server • ‘Seamless’ linking of data and services. • Navigation in search - locate - obtain process. • Repetition of customer input is minimised. • Systems exchange information with each other. • System knows the information environment of the institution and the customer. 5th E-ICOLC conference

19. Process change with OpenURL linking server MLA bibliography Search Citation database JSTOR Via UvA- linker ILL Obtain Locate 5th E-ICOLC conference

20. UvA-linker services: • Direct link to electronic article, abstract and TOC. • Automated searches in UvA catalogue, Dutch Union Catalogue, WWW search engines. • Citation searches: who cited article/book/author? • Searches book reviews/Amazon.com. • Searches dissertations. • Impact factor of journal. • Electronic reference desk [(a)synchronous]. • FAQ. • Problem report function. 5th E-ICOLC conference

21. Issues * • Customers enthusiastic about UvA-linker. • For some customer the services offered in UvA-linker are overwhelming. • Use is intensive (catalogue lookup en FT link). • Some (first time) customer do not understand where the links will bring them and are cautious about leaving the library environment. * In part based on UvA Usability Study (2003) 5th E-ICOLC conference

22. Issues * • System is not flawless. Do users recognise mistakes and can they make corrections? • Technology will impact collection development decisions: • complete journal collections allow for a great linking experience • acquisition of data that conforms to technical requirements * In part based on UvA Usability Study (2003) 5th E-ICOLC conference

23. Search process in multiple databases • Databases are distributed. • Heterogeneous data formats, database systems, interfaces, indices, thesauri, services.  • Iterative search process. • Fragmentation and multiplication of services. 5th E-ICOLC conference

24. Search process in multiple databases SDI(1) Search Academic Search Search UvA Catalogue Circ. ILL Search Dutch Union Cat. Search SDI(2) PAIS International 5th E-ICOLC conference

25. Search process in multiple databases • Databases are distributed. • Heterogeneous data formats, database systems, interfaces, indices, thesauri, services. • Integration layer based on international standards.  • Integrated search process. • Services have action radius across the complete information environment. 5th E-ICOLC conference

26. Process change in integrated search environment UvA Catalogue Academic Search SDI Dutch Union Cat. Circ ILL Search PAIS International 5th E-ICOLC conference

27. Issues * • Customers appreciate the possibilities of searching multiple databases. • Enthusiastic about the personalised services (My Library). • But also experience the system as complex. * In part based on UvA Usability Study (2003) 5th E-ICOLC conference

28. Issues * • Too many possibilities. • Don’t understand why all databases can’t be searched in an integrated fashion. (50/250) • Many personalised features depend on integration. • Both interfaces are offered (native and integrated), but this causes confusion with some customers. • Thesauri aren’t integrated yet. • Language problem. * In part based on UvA Usability Study (2003) 5th E-ICOLC conference

29. Impact on the organisation SFX target administration (e-journals, TOC, abstracts) • Placed within acquisitions and journals department. • 2 days a month. • Administration of SilverLinker (SP) has ended. • No more maintenance of a list of e-journals via web pages has ended. • Still being discussed: shall we discontinue cataloguing e-journals in our catalogue? Or shall we generate cataloguing records from the SFX records? • 2 very effective days! 5th E-ICOLC conference

30. Impact on the organisation SFX target administration (other targets) • On average 1 hour per target. • Responsibility of subject specialists (content) and application managers (technology). Customer support • Introduction of UvA-linker happened without significant customer support. Introduction of DL portal was/is considerably more intensive. • Expectation: support at reference desk of search - locate - obtain process will become considerably less intensive. 5th E-ICOLC conference

31. Impact on the organisation Usage • The portal is not the only entry to digital library. • Usage of electronic journals has increased considerably. • (Simultaneous) usage of database will increase (expectation). 5th E-ICOLC conference

32. Impact on the organisation 5th E-ICOLC conference

33. Impact on the organisation 5th E-ICOLC conference

34. Impact on the organisation 5th E-ICOLC conference

35. Impact on the organisation 5th E-ICOLC conference

36. Impact on the organisation Z39.50 • Labour intensive to reach high quality. • Important that database vendors notify library about changes in the field or record structure of the database. • Responsibility of subject specialists (content) and application managers (technology). 5th E-ICOLC conference

37. Impact on the organisation 5th E-ICOLC conference

38. Impact on the organisation Subject specialists • Subject specialists responsible for content side of UvA-linker & integrated searching (Z39.50). Why? • Content specialists also with regard to digital library. • Specialists with regard to information needs of customers. • They are the ones who can do quality control. 5th E-ICOLC conference

39. Impact on the organisation Tasks • Generate ideas for new UvA-linker services. • Judge whether the service generates correct results. • Deliver correct OpenURL mask so that correct parsing can take place. Example: notice that the structure of the year, volume and issue field in PsycInfo has changed over the years. • Refine services. Example: notice that searching for a book review in amazon.com is pointless if book predates 1990. 5th E-ICOLC conference

40. Impact on the organisation Tasks • Differentiate UvA-linker services according to subject and type of customer. Example: propose to include commercial document delivery as a service/target for faculty members. • Naming of services so that these are comprehensible. Example: how do you call the link to the “impact factor” of journals? • When the field and record structure of a database changes, indicate on a content level how the Z39.50 transformation can take place. 5th E-ICOLC conference

41. Impact on the organisation Will this succeed? • We don’t yet know. • We will pay a lot of attention to training (at conceptual and detail level). • Subject specialists will need to get to know the databases in their subject area also from these perspectives. • Subject librarians will need to get more involved in the development of the digital library. 5th E-ICOLC conference

42. Next steps • Make changes to design and functionality of Digital Library and UvA-linker. • New usability study in 2004 (informed by actual use: statistics) • Integrate UvA-linker in BlackBoard • Make it possible to search Digital Library directly from Blackboard. • Couple specific courses in Blackboard to specific DL portals, and make searching from BB possible. • Investigation into DL use through PDA’s. 5th E-ICOLC conference

43. Thank you for your attention! Questions? k.f.k.debelder@uva.nl 5th E-ICOLC conference

44. Links University Library: www.uba.uva.nl Digital Library: digital.uba.uva.nl Digital Production Centre: www.uba.uva.nl/digital_production_centre/ 5th E-ICOLC conference