| USMAI Consortium of Libraries |
| University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions |
Present: C. Rabinowitz (SMCM); K. Heil (UMCES, recording), A. Bahr (SU), S. LaBash (UB), Y. Lev (TU), J. Phillips (ITD), C. Ruschoff (UM/ITD), L. Wilt (UMBC), C. Lowry (UMCP), D. Gillespie (FSU), M.J. Tooey (HS/HSL), T. Shield (UMES),B. Day (ITD), J. Bush (ITD), P. Bluh, (UMLaw), J. Fischer (SU)
The meeting was called to order by Celia Rabinowitz at 10:00 a.m.
Minutes of the May CLD meeting were approved.
Large research libraries group participants: many are in the process of going to version 17 Many others would like to jump from 16 to 18 and not have to create an environment for testing v.17. Jerry Specht has been charged with putting together specs. Version 18 has been delayed [the five colleges group in Massachusetts is coming up in August and is considered first new release]. Our original plan was to switch in January 2007. It seems wise to wait until next summer. Ex Libris had announced that they would do a new version each year. At this point Ex Libris has indicated they are finding that libraries do not want to do this yearly so they are looking at schedule for releasing new versions about every 18 months.
One of the major features in 18 will be the Ex Libris implementation of PPH which they call PDQ. Other big "risk" enhancements are expected as well since most from 17 were pushed to version 18. Version 18 requires downtime due to Oracle and other upgrades. If we remain on our original plan for implementation in January, 2007, other priorities and projects will have to be delayed. Implementation in summer, 2007, would allow time to plan for and work on other projects.
There was a friendly amendment to identify June 2007, as the target date for the new version implementation. The motion passed unanimously.
There was additional discussion about future changes (e.g., to a multi-ADM environment). LASSI is a group of 11 very large consortial sites. It is trying to get all to one model that Ex Libris has chosen. Sites think they can leverage for needed necessary changes that current sites feel needed.
Carmit Marcus of Ex Libris staff visited ITD in early June to discuss the single vs. multiple ADM models. USMAI will not make a decision until after the version 18 upgrade.
B. Day - California Digital Library Consortium and Yale are working on Verde implementations. Day proposed moving ahead with pilot program in July through the fall which would bring up the consortial instance and two other libraries (UMBC and UM Law). Work continues on drafting best practices. Day will report back to CLD on October on progress and on the status of planning to move to the next phase of implementation. If phase I results in the need for programmer time, it will be put on hold until issues can be resolved so that ITD programmer time is not spent on the Verde implementation.
Day also reported on a new version of Metalib due in December that provided ADA compliance, that the SFX Knowledge Base should be updated more frequently in the future with fewer software upgrades, and some other changes.
C. Ruschoff - A projected FY07 budget worksheet was distributed and discussed. Once FY06 is over staff can begin work on reporting out actual expenditures.
J. Bush - ELUNA is the new group formed from the collaboration of NAAUG and SMUG. This year the technical seminar was held just after the conference. Twelve members from USMAI attended ELUNA including 7 from ITD. There were two presentations by USMAI staff, one on Shibboleth and the other on the consortial implementation of SFX in the catalog. There were no discussions about version 17 so all information gathered on it was informal. Ex Libris was already promoting versions 19 and 20. Jean attended session about security issues which was very informative. Bush reported that the technical seminars were more limited than the normal, and noted that future sessions may be held in Chicago at a separate time.
Bush also noted some of the features in versions 17 and 18 of Aleph. Included version 17 are loan list renew, ability to log OPAC activity, media booking, integration with Verde, ability to define payment methods, new patron record note fields, a circulation logger, ability to use sound, tiered vendor records, proxies for staff, and more.
Version 18 includes partial waive, automatic waives for some transactions, new item history detail., new circulation reports, a GUI reserves module, ability for users to update sublibrary open hours, ability to handle 13-digit ISBNs, dynamic recall, SDI using RSS, a GUI ILL module, Google indexing of catalog, new batch services, automatic renewal of some items (by IPS), see hold queue position function, better CJK cataloging.
Day reported that new versions of Metalb will allow faceted browsing (at additional cost for functionality). This may be a percentage increase for us.
Ruschoff reported that Ex Libris management is focusing on keeping the total cost of ownership down by simplifying system components and number of choices. The enhancement process will also change and focus on one major change or development in each cycle.
Merged IGELU & ELUNA product committees first meeting is scheduled for July 18.
Rabinowitz reported on the June 9 Executive Council Meeting.
ILLiad at SMCM almost ready to go live. Some useful documentation has been produced from this pilot effort that can be used to help the next campuses implement.
Librarians from several institutions met with EBSCO representatives at UM Law to discuss possible solutions for the problem of changing title numbers and our EDI functionality. Ebsco has devised a proposed solution which will be tested.
There was a suggestion that the customized bulletin of serials changes be pushed to users desktops if possible.
EBSCO contract: Discussion of the ability to ride the contract of either CP or UML. To obtain a copy of their current contract contact Sharon Quinn at UML or Bruce Brewer at UMCP
The August CLD meeting has been cancelled.
Dr. Mary Wanza (Coppin) had been appointed Administrator of Athletics as well as Library Director.
HS/HSL is switching from their own proxy server to ITD-supported EZProxy.
M.J. Tooey reported on a new set of digital images of their Saint Apollonia (the patron saint of dentistry) collection. Maryland. Health Go local launched last week. There will be four launches by region and Tooey will be looking for local connections and support.
St. Mary's has a contract with Noresco for becoming a "green" campus. Library changes include all new lighting, plumbing, and HVAC.
UMCP Libraries received a $700k grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for the upgrade to the Hornbake Library as a special collections site. They have also submitted a grant request to IMLS for pilot project on organizational development.
11:55 adjourned.
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