Penn State Intercom......August 23, 2001
University unveils enhanced
LIAS for library users
By Heather Herzog
Information Technology
and Catherine
Grigor
University
Libraries
Faculty, students and other library users at 21 University Libraries locations across the commonwealth will encounter an enhanced and expanded Library Information Access System (LIAS) and online catalog (The CAT) this fall.
One-hour introductory seminars on the use and new features have been developed to help library users get the most out the new system.
For a schedule of opportunities, go to http://www.libraries.psu.edu/crsweb/instruction/ip/CAT.htm. For a quick guide to using The CAT, go to http://www.libraries.psu.edu/crsweb/instruction/ip/CAT_guide.htm.
According to Nancy L. Eaton, dean of University Libraries, those accustomed to using the Web version of LIAS and The CAT with its intuitive graphic interface will transition to the new system with ease.
"Researchers who have continued to use the original, early 1980s, character-based, Telnet version of The CAT, however, will see tremendous differences," she said.
The new LIAS
replaces the Libraries' older, less integrated automated systems -- some
of which have a 30-year history of local development efforts -- with a
single, client/server system that supports all standard library operations,
including acquisitions, cataloging, authorities, serials control, fund
accounting and circulation. The new system further connects behind-the-scenes
library operations and procedures. Its interoperability provides a platform
for greater control over collections, increased efficiency of operations
and a host of enhanced services. Equally important, it will enable Library
Computing Services (LCS), the division of the Office of Computer and Information
Systems that provides computing support to University Libraries, "to move
from primarily developing and maintaining the online access system to
being able to focus on digital library initiatives such as incorporating
multimedia into Web-based collections and deve loping
a digital archive of multimedia objects for use in University research
and instruction," according to Eric G. Ferrin, LCS senior director.
The University Libraries and LCS began examining options to update the University's library system in fall 1999. Commercial library management systems were of particular interest, with their demonstration of outstanding success in handling enormous amounts of digital information accessible through the Internet and their ability to do predictable, routine, in-house processes, such as cataloging and circulation. By capitalizing on the power, versatility and appeal of the Internet, these companies offer solutions that are changing the way the world conducts research and shares knowledge, Ferrin said.
"Besides offering enhanced search functions and behind-the-scenes ordering and processing capabilities, they are freeing libraries from laborious maintenance of databases and programming as well as from the cost of supporting homegrown systems," he explained.
Many academic and research libraries have converted to commercial systems as a way to manage digital technologies and the wealth of information resources available today. In February 2000, after carefully examining the University's resource management needs, the Libraries and LCS agreed to contract with SIRSI Corp. to use its Unicorn Library Management System to enhance and update LIAS.
Months of planning and training sessions for more than 400 staff members at all University Libraries locations statewide prepared the Libraries and LCS for the massive transfer of more than 2.1 million bibliographic records, nearly 4 million item records, more than 120,000 patron records and more than 160,000 charges, holds and fees to SIRSI Unicorn and Workflows® software. To accomplish this, 11 teams of faculty, staff and computer professionals from the Libraries and LCS worked to define data conversion specifications, indexing profiles, Web screens, authentication, authorization and workflow for library functions and user interactions.
"Uprooting the established system and replacing it with an unfamiliar one was difficult and time-consuming, especially because we had to fully understand what the new system could and could not do," according to Jack H. Sulzer, associate dean of Campus College Libraries and co-leader of the Policy Development Team. Tun N. Chin, director of Library Computing Services (LCS) and co-leader of the policy team, added that the new system was launched strategically after spring semester in three phases in order for potential bugs to be discovered and eliminated through the summer.
"The less-busy summer session served as a 'shake down' time to complete all of the necessary profiles and linkages, fix unanticipated problems, make any adjustments based on user feedback and generally stabilize the new system," he said.
In addition to enhanced features, The CAT continues to organize and index information about the Libraries collection in a searchable format. It has information about materials the University owns, such as books and journals at all Penn State locations, contractual access to Internet sites and other electronic resources. Increasingly many entries in The CAT offer hyperlinks to the full text of journals and Web sites as well as a variety of links to individual catalog records and up-to the-minute circulation information.
Aided by the interoperability of behind-the-scenes systems, the LIAS reports module works in the background to supply on-demand or scheduled reports. When fully implemented, these reports will gather information about catalog and collection usage to assist ongoing planning and collection development, according to Bonnie MacEwan, assistant dean for Collections.
In the future, Libraries and LCS staff predict that the University will increasingly focus on expanding digital access to Libraries collections and services. Projects such as the development of virtual exhibits from materials in the Libraries collections are being made available for detailed study, anywhere and anytime. In addition, a recent initiative known as the Visual Image User Study (VIUS, pronounced views) is expected to help the Libraries lay the groundwork for future digital projects.
Heather Herzog can be reached at heh4@psu.edu and Catherine Grigor can be reached at cqg3@psu.edu.