Content area
Full Text
Abstract
This article outlines the implementation of Metal-ib and SFX at Loughborough University. It includes details of the timescale, work and staff involved, how the services work, usage and the reactions of readers.
Keywords
Libraries, Universities, Library management, Information systems
Introduction
In January 2001 Loughborough University Library purchased a new library management system, Aleph from Ex Libris[l]. At the same time the Library purchased Aleph's sister products, SFX and MetaLib.
What are MetaLib and SFX?
MetaLib and SFX are two separate products that complement each other by managing access to databases and journals. MetaLib[2] is a tool that enables a library to provide a single access point (portal/gateway) to Web databases, with simultaneous multiple database searching functionality for those databases that allow Z39.50 searching. Thus the Library can provide subject lists of the 170 databases to which it subscribes via MetaLib and readers can often search more than one database at a time. (For a more detailed summary of the different types of commercial portals available see Cox and Yeates (2002).)
SFX[3] complements MetaLib by linking directly to the full text of e-journals or to the catalogue record of print journals to which the Library subscribes, either from MetaLib or other databases that utilise OpenURL functionality. To get started a library has to request that OpenURL-aware publishers activate SFX on their databases. When activated a text link or SFX icon appears next to each bibliographic record on the database. Readers can click on this link and data from the bibliographic record are sent to the SFX server to check whether the Library subscribes to that item. If the Library does have a subscription to the item, then an SFX menu will provide hotlinks to the full text and/or library catalogue record. To date the Library subscribes to over 3,500 e-journals and approximately 2,000 print journals.
Implementation of MetaLib
Unlike the University of East Anglia (Lewis, 2002), the Pilkington Library took a large team approach to the implementation of MetaLib. The MetaLib Group's membership included representatives from the Systems Team, Support Services Team (who arrange subscriptions to the databases) and all nine academic librarians. The academic librarians are the main liaison point with the academic departments, staff the enquiry desks and deliver...