Printable Version of this PageHome PageRecent ChangesSearchSign In

Introduction to FCLA

This outline is of FCLA services is based on the 4/08 Introduction for new CSUL Deans and Directors.

Background

  • ISF Report. Information Systems of Florida report about FCLA.
  • FCLA in Perspective [Handout of Draft]
  • Organizational overview
    • Organizational Chart
    • 21 professional librarians, 30 computer science professionals, 5 office staff, 3 part-time clerical positions and the Director
    • 966 years experience, 443 at FCLA
  • Budget
  • History & Politics
    • FCLA created in 1984 with 9 staff. Mission: expand NOTIS to all SUS
    • Community Colleges on FCLA
    • STO proposed merger
    • Outsource suggestion
    • Cooperative Ventures Steering Committee

Applications selection processes

  • Aleph - RFP process, with 45 member evaluation team
  • SFX/Metalib - FCLA recommended, based on evaluation of options, only viable products on the market at that time
  • Digitool - FCLA recommended, based on evaluation of options
  • Verde - selected by individual libraries
  • Endeca - CSUL recommended based on input from public services librarians

Technical Operations overview

  • Servers,OS, DB and storage. Diagram, page 26 of the ISF report.
  • Systems security
  • RAS: Reliability, Availability and Serviceability
  • Hardware: redundancy, 24x7 vendor support
  • Big Brother/Nagios (monitoring)
  • Status of FCLA Services
  • On call: cascading, escalating automatic alerts
  • COOP - Continuity of Operations Plan

Library Management services

  • Who we are and what we do
  • Help Desk, Support and Training
  • Statistics on Help Desk usage
  • Mango/Endeca
    • Next gen user interface, new searching capabilities
    • Union Catalog
    • Individual SUL Catalogs
    • How data gets into Endeca
    • Live interaction with Aleph for item availability and patron services
    • Working with CSUL subcommittee on:
      • Center for Research Library records
      • More frequent updates
      • Browse indexes (like Aleph browse)
      • OPAC enhancements (Google doc)
  • Aleph
    • 11 separate databases under one software installation, shared authorities
    • Acquisitions, Authorities, Cataloging, Circulation, OPAC, Patron Identity Management, Record loading, Serials Control
    • Working with the vendor ExLibris
      • Problem reports, Service Packs, Enhancements
    • FCLA-developed clients: Genload, LabelPrnA and ERCA
    • Version 19 Upgrade
    • Working with CSUL committees on:
      • Reindexing for V.18
      • New V. 18 Authority Control functionality
      • Advanced Booking
      • Interfaces with campuses (patrons, cash export, acq. invoice payment)
        • Patron data security: removal/protection of SSN
      • Staff processing efficiency: acq. invoice loads, reports
      • Self-check
      • Shared Storage Options
      • Investigating Aleph ILL
  • SFX
    • Interactions with other systems: Endeca, Aleph, Google Scholar, Live Academic
    • Management tool acts as bridge between where you are and what you have access to
    • A-Z list for e-journals
    • Working with libraries on:
      • Implementing new features with each SUL as needed
      • Making more services available through the SFX menu
      • Mining use statistics
      • API to Google Books
  • MetaLib
    • Metasearch across multiple article databases
    • A-Z list for databases, patron empowerment, x-server
    • Customized user interface via MetaLib (with facets) or via library websites
    • Working on with libraries on:
      • Interaction with other applications/portals/websites
      • Metalib X-server
  • Verde [FCLA is no longer implementing Verde]
  • Tool to manage FCLA e-resources: licenses, renewals, packages and databases
    • Licensing
    • Coordinate statewide licensing done by FCLA (saved the SULs over $4 million in FY2006-2007. (Source: /ISF FY 2008-2009 Funding Plan/.)
    • New E-Resource Licensing Specialist Position established in 2007 to expand FCLA licensing activities to shared-e-journal packages.
    • Usage statistics for FCLA funded databases collected and made available to SULs via the FCLA website.
    • Work closely with Collection Planning Committee/Electronic Resource Subcommittee
    • Database List
    • Citation Server contains licensed material that is loaded at FCLA including Compendex, INSPEC and several university-created databases.
  • Reporting

Digital Library services

Wrap-up

  • Questions
  • Futures: via CSUL and committee planning
    • Direct patron requests (Unmediated borrowing)
    • Single bib
    • Authentication (PDS, LDAP, Shib, etc.)
    • User centered design of interfaces, including user customization
    • Bringing Library services to the users via cell phones, course management systems, portals, etc.
    • Open source software: ILS, Discovery tools, Digital Library Management, Web presence, Report writing tools, etc.
    • Report writing power to SUL staff
    • Improving tools for SUL staff use - e.g. Genload, authority reports
    • Redesign FCLA web presence, using Drupal
  • FCLA 5-year plan draft
  • Work load and responsibility division between FCLA and SULs
  • Next steps
  • Advocacy


Aleph_prod_OPAC.doc

Last modified 18 February 2009 at 12:59 pm by Priscilla Caplan