1. MetaLib at Boston College SMUG - July 31, 2002 Theresa Lyman Digital Resources Reference Librarian Boston College Libraries

2. Implementation u New position to manage databases including MetaLib & SFX 2 working groups (public services, systems, branch libraries) Cataloging resources Configuring resources Customization Testing, user feedback MetaLib @ BC

3. Implementation Timeline MetaLib @ BC Additional SFX Sources and Targets. New versions of both installed Run updates from Ex Libris and troubleshoot problems Incorporated into library instruction. Since Jan 2002 MetaLib live (250 resources, 90 configured to be searched).Jan 2002 Metalib: -Cataloged resources in the KnowledgeBase -Configured searchable resources -Tested search & display configurations, customized HTML, changed name to MetaQuest, developed Help documentation and FAQs, tested SFX links -Campus-wide testing. Held focus groups with faculty, staff and students. Aug – Dec 2001 SFX live in 10 databases with 20 targetsNov 2001 SFX: -Contacted Vendors, set-up test accounts -Tested linking, customized SFX menu, developed FAQs -Library-wide testing Aug – Oct 2001 SFX and MetaLib installed Ex Libris training (4 days) July 2001

4. BC Resources in MetaLib Web-based subscription databases, some free sites and selected library catalogs. Configured resources include: u BC ALEPH catalogs u CSA u EBSCO u Gale InfoTrac u Library Catalogs u OCLC u Ovid u ProQuest u PubMed u RLG u SilverPlatter MetaLib @ BC

5. Hardware, etc. u Server: Sun e450 4x480MHz processors 4MB RAM 4x36GB UltraSCSI disks u Database Oracle 8.1.7 for MetaLib MySQL for SFX MetaLib @ BC

6. MetaLib Demo u Interface changes u Customization options u Searching u SFX linking MetaLib Management Interface MetaQuest at BC MetaLib @ BC

7. Reactions u Users Quick searches, saves time Don’t realize how to customize Want multiple “My Resources” lists Search and display options - limited u Staff Hesitancy because of limited search options Great tool for discovery Management interface needs development MetaLib @ BC

8. Future Developments u BC Connect to additional local databases Add non-database resources (research guides) Incorporate other services (virtual reference) u Better integration - MetaLib & SFX (Ex Libris) e-journals coming with v. 2 would like seamless full-text from SFX to MetaLib MetaLib @ BC

9. Tips u Before training, decide who will do the work u Do SFX 1st, wait then do MetaLib u Roll out SFX in stages u Decide how you want to categorize resources in MetaLib before you start cataloging u Need support for configuring, customizing, running updates, etc. MetaLib @ BC

10. Issues u Awaiting statistics package u Limit on number of resources per category u Do we need a “test” instance of MetaLib? u Don’t want to diminish the value of “link to” resources MetaLib @ BC

11. MetaLib @ Boston College http://metaquest.bc.edu SFX FAQs http://www.bc.edu/libraries/resources/ databases/s-sfxfaq MetaLib @ BC