MetaLib @ BC

Integration of Systems and Resources

MetaLib at Boston College

Theresa LymanDigital Resources Reference Librarian

Boston College Libraries

NELA Annual Conference - October 2003

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 installedNov 2001 – SFX liveJan 2002 – MetaLib v1 liveAug 2003 – renamed SFX “Find It”Aug 2003 – MetaLib v2 live

MetaLib @ BC

What we put into MetaLib 300+ databases, web sites, library catalogs 100 cross-searchable in MetaLib, including: BC ALEPH catalogs Bowker CSA EBSCO Gale InfoTrac Grove Library Catalogs Ingenta

ISI OCLC Ovid ProQuest RLG SilverPlatter Wilson more……

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

MetaLib @ BC

Thank You

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MetaLib @ BC