RES: [WEB4LIB] Database Listings for Libraries - Best Systems or Products?

[Michelangelo M M Viana]

Dear Ed,

Here at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS, brazil) we manage and list databases using Metalib system (http://www.exlibrisgroup.com/category/MetaLibOverview), embedded in our "Metalib Plus" interface (http://www.exlibrisgroup.com/category/MetaLibPlus), both from Ex Libris company. SFX is used as article linker and to build Journals and e-Books A-Z lists (http://www.exlibrisgroup.com/category/SFXOverview).

The user interface is available at: http://primo-service.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?&vid=55PUCRS
- Change the interface language to English then click on "Research Resources" link to see the implementation.
This screen was customized by me (HTML, images, JS, Jquey) and now is in portuguese only, but one in english will be also available soon.

Besides manage/list databases, Metalib also allow users to perform "federated search" (metasearch) for the databases that can be "searchable" through Metalib (those that have connectors: XML APIs, Z39.50, Screen Scraping APIs).
Both functions (list databases + metasearch) work combined in the same user interface and all management is made on a "Administrative" interface to add/remove bases, configure connectors, assign subjects to each database, create quicksearch sets, determine authorized IPs (global, branch, database), and so on, all managed only by librarians.

Metalib automatically can handle different views, one for each branch:
- each branch can see only the resources which they have (can have) access. It is based on "user groups" configuration, eg:
BRANCH A  200.000.000.000 200.255.255.255
BRANCH A  202.000.000.000 205.255.255.255
BRANCH B  206.000.000.000 208.255.255.255

Then, for each database the librarians set:
Database 1: BRANCH A, BRANCH B
Database 2: BRANCH A
Database 3: BRANCH B

And it also shows resources based on user's IP:
- users inside branches IPs can see and (meta)search all databases (free + subscribed);
- users outside branches IPs can see only free access databases.

FYI, we have 279 databases registered (including Elsevier, IEEE, Gale, JSTOR, Thomson, ProQuest, Ebsco, ebrary...), but as "Guest" you can see only the 79 (free ones).

SFX, Metalib and Metalib Plus are also adopted by CAPES consortium, in the national "Periodicals Portal", to serve more than 300 institutions in the country:
www.periodicos.capes.gov.br<http://www.periodicos.capes.gov.br>  (made with Joomla)
www.periodicos.capes.gov.br/mobile<http://www.periodicos.capes.gov.br/mobile> (made with Web Kit + the Metalib XML server).
Regards,

Michelangelo

Michelangelo Mazzardo Marques Viana | Support and Development
Coordinator of Libraries Systems. Librarian CRB-10/1306
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul - PUCRS
Ir.  Jose Otao Central Library | Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
+55(51) 3320.3544 ext. 4371 | mviana at pucrs.br | http://www.pucrs.br/biblioteca


De: Web technologies in libraries [mailto:WEB4LIB at LISTSERV.ND.EDU] Em nome de Edward McKennon
Enviada em: sexta-feira, 18 de janeiro de 2013 13:43
Para: WEB4LIB at LISTSERV.ND.EDU
Assunto: [WEB4LIB] Database Listings for Libraries - Best Systems or Products?

Are any libraries using a database listing system that is particularly satisfying?  I'd be interesting in hearing from those of you who really like your system or have particularly useful features integrated into your system.

----- Background ----

We are looking to redesign access to library databases to support student access across a 10 college district.  We are considering both commercial products and homegrown development as options.

Ultimately, we like our resource to be (a) maintainable by librarians and (b) have a very flexible public interface that would allow for a variety of (1) library defined standard listings (by subject, by title, by resource type, mobile optimized, etc.) and (2) user definable views (printer friendly, detailed description, subject limited, etc.)

Furthermore, since we have 10 colleges providing varied and overlapping access to resources, our final product must be able to integrate with district-wide authentication systems that will enable students to see all of the resources to which they have access no matter which college they are attending or even if they are attending multiple colleges.


Even if your system cannot do all of the above, I'd be interested in hearing more about it if you find its features particularly valuable with respect to maintenance, public interface, or anything else.

Thanks much!

Ed
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