Help page for the new catalog

Our doughty IT and tech services folk are still configuring the full WorldCat Local catalog.

But it's important to have some help documentation on hand. If nothing else it's prep for training workshops!

So a couple of us are looking at existing help guides and working on things for our own library. Our working group includes the DE librarian (aka tutorial maker extraordinaire), a director of marketing and outreach (sounds exalted but she's nice and very approachable), and the systems librarian (our catalog guy).  We've got access to a librarian who has been working reference at High Point University Libraries.  Would be nice to pull her into the working group, too.

Here are the WorldCat Local help pages that I liked best from other institutions:

• Tips, Tools, and Tutorials, Pepperdine University Libraries - so brief, so pithy. LOVE! IT!
• About WorldCat Local, University of Arizona Libraries - very descriptive, more detail, but still very readable.
• WorldCat Local Features, OCLC - this is a sales pitch written to librarians, but I like the mix of text and screenshots.

Speaking of training...we've got our  first year instruction coordinator planning some workshops. Yay!! I think that she's the most prolific presenter in our library (one year she taught 173 library instruction workshops).  I think we're going to start with sandbox sessions for library personnel before the rollout, then move out to other groups on campus.

Benchmarking for DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice)

I recently received a request to report on library support for a potential new Doctor of Nursing Practice program with nurse anesthesia and adult/gerontology nurse practitioner tracks. 

Apparently there are a number of NC schools seeking to offer a DNP program (see News & Record story).  That makes sense, given the AACN position on moving the terminal degree for advance nursing practice from master's level up to a doctorate.

Of course, we're interested in comparing our library stuff to the stuff at libraries already supporting this kind of program.  I started with the established DNP programs suggested by the faculty member - Duke University, University of Maryland, etc.

Now, I know that our library resources are great.  And value for dollars spent on databases, journals, etc.? A-MAZING.  (One of our administrators is currently organizing a cost/use analysis requested by UNC General Administration for our library PLUS other libraries in one of our consortia.  b/c he kicks a** at that stuff).

But I'm getting a serious case of library envy when comparing our collection and human resources to schools that charge upwards of $43,000/year.

Since I have some time, I'd rather start at the other end - benchmark nursing resources at libraries similar to ours.  Get that kick-a** feeling back before checking out the heavy hitters.

Library closed, campus computing + phones DOWN on Sat 6/23

On Saturday 6/23/12, ITS is shutting down ALL computing services

From 5 am "until the  evening."   Phones will be down, too.

Creative Commons licensed photo by chrisfreeland2002 (2008)

This is in order to "upgrade campus network switches."

This means

• Blackboard, AD/GCN computer access, wireless computing network, virtual computing lab, or etc.
• no online library resources available that day

The library will be closed Sat June 23d

Jackson Library will be open again for usual Sunday hours 1 - 10 pm on the next day. 

Official email from ITS:

All campus services hosted in the UNCG Data Center, including the major services below, will be unavailable on Saturday, June 23, 6 AM to 12 Noon, due to a network center upgrade.

Impacted services: = DON'T EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO USE THESE ON SAT 6/23

• UNCG-provided telephone services
• Blackboard
• Banner/Genie
• UNCG websites (e.g., www.uncg.edu and web.uncg.edu)
• Virtual.uncg.edu virtual desktop service
• Campus wireless network
• Internet web browsing (from on campus)
• UNCG account authentication - THIS BULLET OR THE PREVIOUS ONE ARE REQUIRED FOR ACCESSING LIBRARY SUBSCRIPTIONS
• Access to General Computing Network services including network file space and network printing
• Ability to run network software managed by UNCG license servers

Notes:

• You will still be able to log in and access iSpartan Email (powered by Google) during this planned downtime. 
• The Superlab and Jackson Library will be closed on June 23rd. 
• Non-ITS server administrators should verify that any system(s) hosted in the Data Center are tested after the upgrade is complete. 

If you have questions or need more information, please contact 6-TECH at (336) 256-TECH (8324) or 6tech@uncg.edu.

New library catalog coming soon!

We're getting a new catalog this upcoming academic year.  It will be in the cloud. So not at all like this:

Creative Commons licensed photo from dfulmer (2010)

Moving towards the cloud...
You might already be familiar with the new catalog. Right now, when you click on our catalog, you see something called "UNC Library Express"

This is a version of OCLC's WorldCat Local, called quick start. We're currently transitioning to the more robust version. The new version should be ready this July (2012). You'll still be able to use our old catalog for awhile. I've been told it'll be still be available at least through fall 2012 and likely into spring 2013.

But starting this summer, the WorldCat search will be much more prominent on our library pages than the old catalog search.

Here's what a WorldCat Local search looks like:

I'm sure the roll out will come with official messages since a new catalog is a big deal in libraryland.


Public-facing improvements with WorldCat Local

• Search books, e-books, and videos in our library AND in other OCLC libraries.  Greensboro, TALA (academic libraries in the Triad), other libraries in the UNC system, and the world  - already active!
• Links into e-books and online articles - coming soon!
• Easier InterLibrary Loan - "Request item" links fill in the request for you - already active!
• Share - post records to Facebook and other social media sites - already active!
• Lists - create your own book lists to share (or not) - already active!

To name just a few. 

There are some cool new features. But every catalog is different. I'm one of the old-school types who will miss call number searching.  So I'm glad that a) OCLC is constantly developing WorldCat and b) we'll have our old catalog for awhile.


Big changes on the back end...
WorldCat Local is an online search hosted by OCLC. It relies on catalog records stored by libraries locally on their own servers.

WorldShare Management uses the same search interface as WorldCat Local, but it really goes into the cloud.  Libraries no longer store catalog records on their own servers (or do lots of other behind the scenes ILS work locally).  It's web-based. This is the goal we're aiming for by the end of academic year 2012-2013.

Want more info?

• WorldCat Local Features
• Support for WorldCat Local
• Discovery through WorldCat Local: An in-depth demonstration - webinar recording, requires a name and email to view

FYI, these are librarian and library staff resources.

Disclaimer
Info is based on notes from an OCLC site visit, multiple webinars and in-person meetings, a fair amount of online searching, and of course the expertise of our systems librarian and many others who work hard providing the resources that I rely upon as a public services librarian.

This post reflects my own PoV only.

Dates mentioned here are based on the info currently available to me and they are subject to change.