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The Shared Search & Discovery Services Committee (SSDSC) made its report available to the SUNYConnect Advisory Council (S.A.C.) on April 10, 2008. The recommendations of the committee are:

1) Utilize the commercial software systems listed here in the relative short-term (three years) while other recommendations are being put into place;

2) Make the 360Search federated search software available to all SUNYConnect participants;

3) Provide AquaBrowser Library as an enhanced interface for SUNYConnect libraries and the SUNY union catalog;

4) Re-establish a SUNYConnect-wide subscription to the WorldCat database;

5) Continued and renewed emphasis on the need for instruction related to the full utilization of library resources;

6) Begin to create the infrastructure, policies, procedures and resources needed to promote and establish open software development specifically to enhance the search and discovery of library resources;

7) Continued and renewed emphasis on the development and maintenance of enhanced and authorized library data that complies with SUNY, national or international standards;

8) Add to the resources available to SUNY's Office of Library and Information Services to allow for the implementation and support of SSDSC's other recommendations.

Please refer to the report for additional details regarding these recommendations.

Consideration of the report by SAC was on June 5, 2008. What follows are responses (from draft SAC meeting minutes) on the committee's recommendations:

2) "360Search represents a valuable tool for all libraries; 25% of SUNY libraries already use 360Search. A motion was made [by] Rick Winant, seconded by Dave Ritchie to move forward to investigate the feasibility of system-wide license of 360Search on an opt in basis using the pricing supplied to the SSDSC by the vendor. Motion passed".

3) "AquaBrowser is a valuable tool, but the cost is prohibitive to SUNY at this time. SAC declines to support participation on a SUNY-wide basis".

4) "the [SAC] asks the OLIS to investigate costs and potential savings by adding WorldCat to the core services".

5) "The SAC endorses the recommendation regarding instruction".

6) "SAC feels additional discussion is needed before endorsement of 'begin to create the infrastructure, policies, procedures and resources needed to promote and establish open source software development…' Additional discussion to occur at the next SAC meeting".

7) "The SAC endorses the recommendation regarding authorized library data in compliance with SUNY, national or international standards".

8) "While the final recommendation regarding resources within the OLIS is outside the purview of SAC, the SAC affirms the OLIS approach to creative management of resources within the office and hopes that will continue".

"The SUNYConnect Advisory Committee recognizes the hard work of the SSDSC and thanks all members for their contributions."

Additional information related to WorldCat costs has been sent to SAC.

As noted, implementation of 360Search is a campus decision. The OLIS is working on a cost model and a timeline to present to SAC. If all SUNY libraries choose to participate, then costs will be considerably less than standard per-campus pricing.

Just like 360Link, 360Search is offered via the software as service model. Software and infrastructure hosted by Serials Solutions. Implementation and support done via the web. Members of the SUNY community will be invited to webinars and presentations to learn more about 360Search.

Thanks to members of the committee for their service to SUNY and for their efforts trying to read the tea leaves of a dynamic, exciting and challenging library future.