Cover Story

Let's Make a Deal!

Features

SUNY Access to Databases

Managed Services

Chancellor Ryan Resigns

Chancellor's Column

New Collections

Managing Linking

SUNYConnect Updates

How to Contact Us

Linkable Links

Patching ALEPH
The project to apply various "service packs" to the shared ALEPH systems is on schedule. Primarily geared to fix software bugs, this represents an involved process in the context of systems as large as the SUNYConnect LMS. The patches have been applied to test areas ("dev") for all sites. Processes for testing and moving that work to production areas (including the union catalog) are ongoing. Scheduled completion is May 23, 2007.

Database Offers
Some of the current database/electronic resource offers include --
Blackwell electronic journals
Early English Books Online (Proquest)
EconLIT with Full Text (EBSCO)
Research Now (Berkeley Electronic Press journals)
PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES (EBSCO)

OLIS strives to list out current offers / database trials at http://www.sunyconnect.suny.edu/dbtrials.htm. Please contact John Schumacher to indicate your library's interest in an offer or for additional information.

Borrowing Task Force.
The group has provided a report to S.A.C. "As the Task Force deliberated over the course of a year, it became increasingly clear that the issues of resource sharing that we were addressing were laying the foundations for greater opportunities for SUNY libraries to provide enhanced services to their patrons. A fully functional and timely resource sharing system will extend the spirit of the SUNY Open Access policy to 21st century digital world; provide the foundation for coordinated collection development, shared collection management, purchase on
demand and the inevitable recognition of the SUNY library collection as a University-wide asset." Additional highlights include:

• performance targets (72 hours for physical materials; 48 hours for electronic);
• recommended loan period of 28 days (with one renewal);
• recommended use of the ILLiad software;
• financial support for libraries that are not currently using ILLiad;
  

"The current Task Force should be extended for a period of one year to oversee the beginnings of SUNY-wide borrowing. The Task Force will complete its charge ... by March 31, 2008."

Shared Services Task Force
This group has been evaluating and providing recommendations on a number of ALEPH-related topics. Please look at the task force's report to the SUNY Council of Library Directors for additional information.

The group has

• provided input on the managed services pilot program;
• with OLIS, been looking at varying ALEPH support models for managed sites versus other libraries on the
  SUNYConnect shared systems;
• recommended planning and testing for an upgrade to ALEPH v.18 in 2007 with the actual upgrades beginning in 2008;
• recommended tabling consideration of any migration to a different ALEPH system architecture (this was based on an analysis showing inadequate benefits for such a change considering how large a project it would be).