Digital Library Portal: Cross Searching and Linking Services - Possibilities & Implications
Kurt De Belder Chief, Division of Electronic Services University Library Universiteit van Amsterdam
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
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‘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.
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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 ... IFLA preconference Munich, July 30th 2003
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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. December 2002: UvA takes MetaLib in production. May 2003: UvA usability study IFLA preconference Munich, July 30th 2003
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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
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Hyperlinks: technologies & terminology
OpenURL: framework for open linking that allows for link creation via components such as linkservers 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. IFLA preconference Munich, July 30th 2003
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Vendors already offer linking services!
DB vendors offer proprietary linking:
SilverLinker (SilverPlatter) OpenLinks (Ovid) SmartLinks (EBSCO) LinkOut (NCBI) CrossLinks (Proquest)
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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.
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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). IFLA preconference Munich, July 30th 2003
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OpenURL & local linking server
Advantages: Subscription to Knowledge Base (Ex Libris) Linking mechanism can be used by other systems! • Electronic learning environment • Digital Academic Repository • Electronic publishing program
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1
SFX Menu SFX Source
2 3 4 5
SFX Target 6
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How does it work?
What does a OpenURL look like? Target
Source Linking server A&I Catalogue Full text ...
Full text
Link
Catalogue
Link OpenURL
Link Link
OpenURL hook
Link
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A&I Citation DB Search engine
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OpenURL http://pinakes.ic.uva.nl:9003/sfx_local?sid=SilverPlatter:MLAB& genre=article&atitle=For%20an%20Aesthetics%20of%20the%20Inconsequential&t itle=Eighteenth-Century-Studies&isbn=&issn=00132586&date=2002&volume=35&issue=3&spage=510&pid=%3CAN%3E200287020 5%3C/AN%3E%3CAU%3EHarari%2c-Josue%3C/AU%3E
Base URL OpenURL
Origin description Object-metadata-zone
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Traditional process to obtain information
Search
MLA Bibliography
Localise
(Union) Catalogue
Obtain
JSTOR
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Characteristics of this process
Requires a lot of knowledge from the customer about theEprocess, the content, the information X L P … M universe, O T C
N E I C I Different steps in the processTare EFFseparated. NO
Manual input needs to be repeated often: log in, formulate query, typing.
T Information is not passed on from one system to L U FI C F another. I D Systems don’t know the specific UvA information environment or that of the customer. IFLA preconference Munich, July 30th 2003
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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.
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Process change with OpenURL linking server
MLA bibliography
Search
Citation database
JSTOR Via UvAlinker
ILL
Obtain
Locate
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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. IFLA preconference Munich, July 30th 2003
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Issues *
Customers enthusiastic about UvA-linker. For some customer the services offered in UvAlinker 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) IFLA preconference Munich, July 30th 2003
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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) IFLA preconference Munich, July 30th 2003
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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.
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Search process in multiple databases
Search
Academic Search
Search
UvA Catalogue
Search
Dutch Union Cat.
Search
PAIS International
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SDI (1)
Circ.
ILL
SDI (2)
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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. IFLA preconference Munich, July 30th 2003
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Process change in integrated search environment
UvA Catalogue Academic Search
SDI
Dutch Union Cat.
Circ
ILL
Search PAIS International IFLA preconference Munich, July 30th 2003
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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) IFLA preconference Munich, July 30th 2003
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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) IFLA preconference Munich, July 30th 2003
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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! IFLA preconference Munich, July 30th 2003
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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. IFLA preconference Munich, July 30th 2003
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Impact on the organisation Usage The portal is the only entry to digital library. Usage of electronic journals has increased considerably. (Simultaneous) usage of database will increase (expectation).
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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).
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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.
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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. IFLA preconference Munich, July 30th 2003
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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. IFLA preconference Munich, July 30th 2003
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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.
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Thank you for your attention! Questions?
[email protected]
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Links University Library: www.uba.uva.nl Digital Library: digital.uba.uva.nl Digital Production Centre: www.uba.uva.nl/digital_production_centre/
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