Kevin Gilbertson - Web Services LibrarianJean-Paul Bessou - Systems LibrarianZ. Smith Reynolds LibraryWake Forest University

Growing Your OwnNext-Gen Catalog:

VuFind @ ZSR

flickr.com/photos/samcatchesides/3365180679/

Our Approach

Agenda

VuFind.org

Villanova.eduProject manager

Demian KatzFaceted searchSupports multiple

metadata formatsSOLR, PHP, Java

http://vufind.org/

VuFind@ZSR

Custom skinLocalized facetsPre-processing of

MARC recordsVoyager integrationCustom user

services http://

vufind.zsr.wfu.edu

1.Why did we want a new catalog?1.Why did we want a new catalog?

Many reasonsSeparation from ILS

Adoption of open sourceFlexibility

Faceted searchIntegrated digital resources

More extensible interfaceNew services

Appeal to sophisticated patronsSatisfy basic patron needs

Taxonomy of services and featuresUse cases Example Impact

Simple but customizable faceted search

Easy but persistent limiting of locations, resource types and subject matter

Allows patrons and libraries to create ‘custom views’ of data

Shift in resource investment

Investment in personnel and community

Open systems allow libraries to internalize and sustain expertise

Support for multiple resource types and services

MARC, Dublin Core, EAD

Allows library to customize and host a variety of local data

Recognize needs, encourage change

“I have used Endeca and I know what it is capable of. This system is NOT Endeca”

--Visiting faculty member

“I never understood what all of those links on the page were, I just ignored them”

-- Faculty member on faceted browsing

“You mean that we can use this link to show books that are located just in the Education Library!?”

-- Staff member on persistent facets

Beta, Replace, Compromise

Killer features, problems

• Quick open-ended search• Interactive, extensible ‘Web 2.0’ functionality• Cross-device support• Locally customizable

• Complex searches, browsing failure• Customizations block upgradability• Local IT resources required

2.Successes, compromises, next steps

2.Successes, compromises, next steps

Success: Improved experience

Solution: Ability to use facets after search, light weight services, content integration

Next steps: Improve quality of facets through pre-processing of records

“The new catalog lets me find new books and videos easily’

“The new catalog lets me find new books and videos easily’

Compromise: Advanced searching

Solution: Re-introduction of classic catalog for specific services

Next steps: Depends on new release of VuFind. Focus on slowly minimizing need for other system

“I want to browse by call numbers or be able to search specific indexes”

“I want to browse by call numbers or be able to search specific indexes”

Next Steps: Digital collections

Solution: Add resources from multiple locations (catalog, DAMS, OAI) into VuFind

Next steps: Employ multi-record driver and OAI harvesting features in VuFind 1.1, load HathiTrust records directly in VuFind

“How do we get our special collections indexed? What about

public domain e-books?”

“How do we get our special collections indexed? What about

public domain e-books?”

SustainabilityLocalize expertise: Preserve local IT expertiseFocus on best practicesContribute back to community

Limited customization: Skinning, indexing, service linkingDevelop with focus on integration

with core system

Automate and distribute:Automate loading, deleting, updatingDevelop expertise in IT staff, catalogers and public serviceEmploy IT service life cycle approach

Want to try it out?

ZSR maintains a current AMI (Amazon Machine Image) for testing, teaching

Register, launch, and load a free Amazon micro-server for new EC2 users

http://blog.zsr.wfu.edu/tech/tag/vufind/