Michigan eLibrary (MeL) Growing Pains and Gains

21st Annual Computers in Libraries

March 23, 2006

Sheryl MaseDirector of Statewide Services

Library of MichiganDepartment of History, Arts and

Libraries

Presenter:

A Little MeL History… Began with…

a collection of Internet resources selected by librarians – in the days of WAIS and Lynx

and “AccessMichigan”– a project to provide a core set of commercial licensed databases to Michigan's libraries

LSTA subgrants – pilot projects MiLE & InMICH…

laid groundwork for the current MeLCat resource sharing system

MeL VisionAll Michigan residents will have access to the information they need, when they need it, and in the format they desire.

MeL FundingPrimarily via federal LSTA funds

administered by the Library of Michigan

The Players…

Library of Michigan Michigan Library Consortium Michigan Department of Information

Technology (DIT) Coops, REMCs, academic groups,

associations, etc. – of all types of libraries throughout Michigan

MeL Internet Collection of librarian-selected

resources arranged by subject with special emphasis on Michigan

One of the first Internet “subject collections” - worldwide usage

Converted to a database in 2003 25,000 HTML pages selected by subject specialists

MeL Databases $3.6 million worth of commercial

databases for all types of libraries and their users

40 databases, 15k e-books, 53 practice tests, over 45,000 indexed magazines and newspapers, 9,000 of which are full text, producing millions of articles

Access at local library/school or via the web with a Michigan driver’s license or state ID card

MeLCat (Michigan eLibrary Catalog) Vision: a web-based statewide multi-

type library catalog and resource-sharing system in which all libraries, regardless of their local ILS, can participate

Web access to statewide catalog of library holdings

Users access the catalog 24 x 7 and make self-initiated requests for books from any provider to be delivered locally

Two ways to go… Pilot projects informed the decision It started with 22 libraries in January

’05 and is projected to expand to 550 libraries over the next five years. MeLCat has… More than 6 million unique titles Over 14 million holdings All types of libraries

MeLCat Libraries Public 58 Academic 16 School 4 Special 1 TOTAL …………… 79

Adding 26 libraries this winter – will soon have 105 total participating

Local Systems and MeLCat Local systems working with MeLCat

Innovative Millennium Dynix Classic and Horizon Sirsi Unicorn Sagebrush Athena and Spectrum Follett CircPlus and Destiny TLC Library.Solution Auto-Graphics Verso

Systems being added Endeavor Voyager and Sagebrush

InfoCentre

MeLCat compared to other state systems… Other states have statewide

systems for a single type of library (academic, public, school, etc.)

Other states have multitype systems using the same automation vendor for their ILS

MeLCat is multitype and does not necessitate a common ILS

DCB server

“Data drop”

III local system

Workstation at non-Innovative

local library

Current MeLCat Environment

Non-InnovativeLocal server

MeLCat

CentralPatron

DCB server

“Data drop”

III local system

Workstation at non-Innovative

local library

The MeLCat Environment with NCIP

Non-Innovative Local server

MeLCat

CentralPatron

Policies, procedures, etc. Model of statewide participation,

task forces created for purpose, then dissolved

Catalog policies committee Resource sharing committee Blog for enhancement requests,

user conference once a year

MeL Delivery Statewide delivery system in place via

a contract with ProMed - links to existing systems within library cooperatives, REMCs, etc.

Connects all types of libraries and delivers materials to Michigan’s library users Goal: 24 to 48 hour turnaround

Currently 346 libraries in program MeLCat libraries are required to

participate

MeL Digital Vision to provide online access to

digitized resources available across the state via a common interface

The “Making of Modern Michigan” is currently available as a MeL resource

The Michigan Statewide Digitization Task Force has formulated a grant program to progress statewide digitization efforts

MeL Search Gateway Gateway includes a federated search

engine, “MetaFind,” which allows a search to be conducted across the various resources simultaneously

Focus groups used Usability testing soon Gains and losses with federated

search

MeL Federated Searching… Search first, authenticate

second Use the “Search for” box on

the gateway page for a quick search

Use MeL Advanced Search for customized searching

What’s on the horizon?

MyMel Open URL Non-returnables on MeLCat Something better than federated

searching?

MeL Information Website:

http://michigan.gov/mel

Marketing

Partners Need to stop talking to ourselves Bumper stickers if you can’t afford

billboards

QUESTIONS???

Please ask!

Library of Michigan Department of History, Arts & Libraries

http://mel.org