1. LSTA meeting and public hearing scheduled
2. Wisconsin's virtual reference presence grows
3. The WISCAT Union and Virtual Catalogs: Getting better, working smarter
4. School Library Month celebrates 25th anniversary
5. Website of the Week -- DefenseLINK
6. Calendar
=================================================
1. LSTA MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED
Wisconsin's LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) Advisory Committee will meet in Madison on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 20-21, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 4402 East Washington Avenue, Madison, to discuss grant categories for LSTA projects to take place in 2011.
As a part of the meeting, there will be a public hearing beginning at 1 p.m. on April 20 for interested persons to make suggestions on the LSTA program for 2011. Final guidelines for the 2011 LSTA program will be developed in May 2010. If you are unable to attend the public hearing, written comments may be submitted by letter, fax, or e-mail to Terrie Howe, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841; fax number (608) 266-9207; email address teresa.howe@dpi.wi.gov. Testimony must arrive by 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 19, for inclusion in the hearing.
2. WISCONSIN'S VIRTUAL REFERENCE PRESENCE GROWS
Wisconsin patrons logging into the AskAway virtual reference service have a better chance of connecting with a Wisconsin librarian than ever before. Wisconsin librarians are now available on the AskAway chat service from at least 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Saturday. A recent revision of the schedule offered the chance to add librarians to the very popular 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. lunchtime shift, and to increase staffing on Friday afternoons. Staffing for the service is provided by librarians from public and academic libraries around the state. The addition of new staff at the Reference and Loan Library made it possible for the library to increase its commitment to staffing the AskAway service. The library now provides a total of 21 hours of chat staffing each week. The AskAway consortium hopes to add Spanish-literate librarians to the chat service so we can offer Spanish language chat service to the residents of Wisconsin.
3. THE WISCAT UNION AND VIRTUAL CATALOGS: GETTING BETTER, WORKING SMARTER
Over the last several months WISCAT staff members have taken a very close look at WISCAT, with an eye toward improving the WISCAT Resource Sharing project. During 2010, the WISCAT team will implement these ideas.
The first change is quickly approaching.
As you may know, WISCAT is currently a hybrid catalog of bibliographic records and holdings from both the Union Catalog and remotely searched library catalogs (also called Z-targets or Z39.50 records). The Z-target catalogs sometimes conflict with the less up-to-date holdings for those libraries in the Union Catalog. We are seeking to avoid this duplication and potential conflict.
Until now, libraries with a WISCAT license could search records from the WISCAT Union Catalog, Z39.50 target library catalogs, and BadgerLink resources. Libraries without a license could only search records from the Union Catalog.
On April 17, 2010, the WISCAT team will begin to rely more on the virtual (searchable via the Z39.50 standard) catalog component of WISCAT. This shift also will make available all the catalogs to patrons and staff of libraries that do not have WISCAT licenses. In one easy search, all Wisconsin residents will now be able to see a far more complete picture of books, videos, and music within Wisconsin libraries.
What else is changing?
Being removed from the WISCAT Union Catalog are the holdings of approximately 400 libraries whose records can be accessed via Z39.50. The holdings of 764 libraries will remain. The number of holdings in the Union Catalog will be reduced from our current 36.8 million to approximately 12 million. Finally, any records with no holdings will be removed unless they contain a URL linking to an online resource.
The WISCAT Union Catalog is a catalog combining the materials of many Wisconsin libraries-academic, public, special libraries, K12 schools, medical, etc. This central catalog allows humans and software to identify holdings for interlibrary loans, re-use cataloging records, and identify specific titles for collection development.
What is a Z-target? ...and, when did WISCAT become a hybrid environment?
Z39.50 is a software protocol that allows online searching of library catalogs and other databases. Any library catalog that can be searched using the Z39.50 protocol is referred to as a Z-target or Z catalog. In 2002, we began to search academic and public library online catalogs through Z39.50 connections.
Why is this approach better? Why the change to rely on the Z-targets now?
The goal is to improve the system's efficiency and eliminate any confusing redundancy for users. The WISCAT software can see whether an item is currently available and on the shelf in a Z-target library. The software will then send interlibrary loan requests only to those locations that can supply the item. Relying on this capability reduces the number of requests sent to locations that cannot supply items, avoiding unnecessary library staff intervention and delays in processing requests. Further, up to this point, finding holdings listed in both the Union Catalog and in a Z-target was confusing for users. What is the difference? Why is this in two different catalogs? Which record should I use? After this change, duplication of holdings will be reduced or eliminated.
My library catalog isn't searchable through a Z39.50 connection. May I still participate in interlibrary loan?
Yes, a Union Catalog is being kept for libraries like yours. If your catalog cannot be accessed as a Z-target, your holdings will remain in the WISCAT Union Catalog. Any Wisconsin library can maintain accurate holdings by sending WISCAT staff MARC files to add, batch replacement of holdings, or through online interactive updating. If your library has a WISCAT license, then your library has access to the interlibrary loan functionality and, also, to download MARC records for use in your local catalog. Contact WISCAT staff to inquire about a license.
My catalog has Z-target capability; may I make that available?
Yes, WISCAT staff will be happy to add your catalog. If you have an online catalog that WISCAT is not currently accessing via Z39.50 and you would like it to be included, check with your vendor to see if your catalog has Z-target capability. Sometimes a vendor charges extra for the Z-target module. If you do have that Z-target capability and are not yet set up in WISCAT, please contact WISCAT staff and they will send you a short questionnaire to gather the information we need to set up the connection. Also, you should consider whether your server arrangement can handle the amount of traffic WISCAT generates.
Once your library catalog is established as a Z-target, any additions, deletions, or changes you make in your local catalog are immediately reflected in AGent. With the right information, a profile can be created for your library so incoming requests for materials that are checked out, missing, or otherwise unavailable for ILL will skip your library and move on to the next lender.
Where can I get more information?
These ideas were recently discussed in a series of webinars, including the recent WISCAT User Group webinar. You can find the slides from the WISCAT User Group Webinar at http://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/rll/pdf/usergroup_2010.pdf. If you want to view the archived recording of the March 23rd User Group Webinar, contact the WISCAT team for details.
How can I help spread the word?
Your help in spreading the word about the changes would be greatly appreciated. Please share the slides, webinar recording, or text from this note with other members of your staff and patrons of your library.
Who do I contact with questions?
If you have questions contact: David Sleasman (David.Sleasman@dpi.wi.gov), Vickie Long (Vickie.Long@dpi.wi.gov) or Beth Palmquist (Beth.Palmquist@dpi.wi.gov)
For a more complete history of the WISCAT project, see http://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/rll/pdf/decades.pdf
4. SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY
April 2010 is the 25th anniversary of School Library Month. Laurie Halse Anderson, award-winning author, is the official spokesperson for the AASL School Library Month 2010 celebration. She explains that "school libraries are the foundation of our culture, not luxuries."
The AASL website: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslissues/slm/schoollibrary.cfm includes links to promotional materials and a month of activities to use as part of this celebration, public service announcements that can be shared in your local communities, and lists of school library media social communities. Please use this opportunity as a time to celebrate your local school library and recognize the important role they play in making sure all students become successful 21st century learners.
5. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
DefenseLINK -- http://www.defenselink.mil/ -- DefenseLINK is the official web site for the Department of Defense and the starting point for finding U.S. military information online. (Website reference courtesy of refdesk.com)
6. CALENDAR
April 1-30, 2010 - School Library Month
April 11-17, 2010 - National Library Week
April 20-21, 2010 - Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Advisory Committee meeting, Madison
April 20-23, 2010 - Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians (WAAL) conference, Milwaukee
April 28-30, 2010 - Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) annual conference, Sheboygan
April 29-30, 2010 - School Library Staffing Summit, Rothschild
May 10-11, 2010 - WiscNet conference, Madison
May 17, 2010 - Delivery Services Advisory Committee (DSAC) meeting, Madison
June 24-29, 2010 - American Library Association conference, Washington, D.C.
==================================================
To access previous issues of Channel Weekly, or to subscribe or unsubscribe,
go to: http://channel.dpi.wi.gov/chn_chweekly
==================================================
Roslyn M. Wise
Editor, Channel Weekly
Department of Public Instruction
Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning
PO Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841
Phone: (608) 266-6439
FAX: (609) 267-9207
2. Wisconsin's virtual reference presence grows
3. The WISCAT Union and Virtual Catalogs: Getting better, working smarter
4. School Library Month celebrates 25th anniversary
5. Website of the Week -- DefenseLINK
6. Calendar
=================================================
1. LSTA MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED
Wisconsin's LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) Advisory Committee will meet in Madison on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 20-21, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 4402 East Washington Avenue, Madison, to discuss grant categories for LSTA projects to take place in 2011.
As a part of the meeting, there will be a public hearing beginning at 1 p.m. on April 20 for interested persons to make suggestions on the LSTA program for 2011. Final guidelines for the 2011 LSTA program will be developed in May 2010. If you are unable to attend the public hearing, written comments may be submitted by letter, fax, or e-mail to Terrie Howe, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841; fax number (608) 266-9207; email address teresa.howe@dpi.wi.gov. Testimony must arrive by 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 19, for inclusion in the hearing.
2. WISCONSIN'S VIRTUAL REFERENCE PRESENCE GROWS
Wisconsin patrons logging into the AskAway virtual reference service have a better chance of connecting with a Wisconsin librarian than ever before. Wisconsin librarians are now available on the AskAway chat service from at least 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Saturday. A recent revision of the schedule offered the chance to add librarians to the very popular 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. lunchtime shift, and to increase staffing on Friday afternoons. Staffing for the service is provided by librarians from public and academic libraries around the state. The addition of new staff at the Reference and Loan Library made it possible for the library to increase its commitment to staffing the AskAway service. The library now provides a total of 21 hours of chat staffing each week. The AskAway consortium hopes to add Spanish-literate librarians to the chat service so we can offer Spanish language chat service to the residents of Wisconsin.
3. THE WISCAT UNION AND VIRTUAL CATALOGS: GETTING BETTER, WORKING SMARTER
Over the last several months WISCAT staff members have taken a very close look at WISCAT, with an eye toward improving the WISCAT Resource Sharing project. During 2010, the WISCAT team will implement these ideas.
The first change is quickly approaching.
As you may know, WISCAT is currently a hybrid catalog of bibliographic records and holdings from both the Union Catalog and remotely searched library catalogs (also called Z-targets or Z39.50 records). The Z-target catalogs sometimes conflict with the less up-to-date holdings for those libraries in the Union Catalog. We are seeking to avoid this duplication and potential conflict.
Until now, libraries with a WISCAT license could search records from the WISCAT Union Catalog, Z39.50 target library catalogs, and BadgerLink resources. Libraries without a license could only search records from the Union Catalog.
On April 17, 2010, the WISCAT team will begin to rely more on the virtual (searchable via the Z39.50 standard) catalog component of WISCAT. This shift also will make available all the catalogs to patrons and staff of libraries that do not have WISCAT licenses. In one easy search, all Wisconsin residents will now be able to see a far more complete picture of books, videos, and music within Wisconsin libraries.
What else is changing?
Being removed from the WISCAT Union Catalog are the holdings of approximately 400 libraries whose records can be accessed via Z39.50. The holdings of 764 libraries will remain. The number of holdings in the Union Catalog will be reduced from our current 36.8 million to approximately 12 million. Finally, any records with no holdings will be removed unless they contain a URL linking to an online resource.
- Batch files will no longer be loaded into the Union Catalog for any libraries that can be accessed via Z39.50.
- The Z39.50 catalogs will now be available to libraries that do not have WISCAT licenses. So anyone following the WISCAT link from the BadgerLink page will find a smaller Union Catalog and an array of catalogs from around Wisconsin to search.
- The Z-target search results will be used more when creating ILL requests or downloading records for cataloging.
- Union Catalog-specific searching tools like scoping and the use of qualifiers are functions not generally supported by remotely searched Z catalogs.
- Libraries with currently configured Z-targets no longer need to submit files to be included in the Union Catalog.
- Following the link from the BadgerLink page to WISCAT, you will see a new splash page alerting folks to this change.
The WISCAT Union Catalog is a catalog combining the materials of many Wisconsin libraries-academic, public, special libraries, K12 schools, medical, etc. This central catalog allows humans and software to identify holdings for interlibrary loans, re-use cataloging records, and identify specific titles for collection development.
What is a Z-target? ...and, when did WISCAT become a hybrid environment?
Z39.50 is a software protocol that allows online searching of library catalogs and other databases. Any library catalog that can be searched using the Z39.50 protocol is referred to as a Z-target or Z catalog. In 2002, we began to search academic and public library online catalogs through Z39.50 connections.
Why is this approach better? Why the change to rely on the Z-targets now?
The goal is to improve the system's efficiency and eliminate any confusing redundancy for users. The WISCAT software can see whether an item is currently available and on the shelf in a Z-target library. The software will then send interlibrary loan requests only to those locations that can supply the item. Relying on this capability reduces the number of requests sent to locations that cannot supply items, avoiding unnecessary library staff intervention and delays in processing requests. Further, up to this point, finding holdings listed in both the Union Catalog and in a Z-target was confusing for users. What is the difference? Why is this in two different catalogs? Which record should I use? After this change, duplication of holdings will be reduced or eliminated.
My library catalog isn't searchable through a Z39.50 connection. May I still participate in interlibrary loan?
Yes, a Union Catalog is being kept for libraries like yours. If your catalog cannot be accessed as a Z-target, your holdings will remain in the WISCAT Union Catalog. Any Wisconsin library can maintain accurate holdings by sending WISCAT staff MARC files to add, batch replacement of holdings, or through online interactive updating. If your library has a WISCAT license, then your library has access to the interlibrary loan functionality and, also, to download MARC records for use in your local catalog. Contact WISCAT staff to inquire about a license.
My catalog has Z-target capability; may I make that available?
Yes, WISCAT staff will be happy to add your catalog. If you have an online catalog that WISCAT is not currently accessing via Z39.50 and you would like it to be included, check with your vendor to see if your catalog has Z-target capability. Sometimes a vendor charges extra for the Z-target module. If you do have that Z-target capability and are not yet set up in WISCAT, please contact WISCAT staff and they will send you a short questionnaire to gather the information we need to set up the connection. Also, you should consider whether your server arrangement can handle the amount of traffic WISCAT generates.
Once your library catalog is established as a Z-target, any additions, deletions, or changes you make in your local catalog are immediately reflected in AGent. With the right information, a profile can be created for your library so incoming requests for materials that are checked out, missing, or otherwise unavailable for ILL will skip your library and move on to the next lender.
Where can I get more information?
These ideas were recently discussed in a series of webinars, including the recent WISCAT User Group webinar. You can find the slides from the WISCAT User Group Webinar at http://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/rll/pdf/usergroup_2010.pdf. If you want to view the archived recording of the March 23rd User Group Webinar, contact the WISCAT team for details.
How can I help spread the word?
Your help in spreading the word about the changes would be greatly appreciated. Please share the slides, webinar recording, or text from this note with other members of your staff and patrons of your library.
Who do I contact with questions?
If you have questions contact: David Sleasman (David.Sleasman@dpi.wi.gov), Vickie Long (Vickie.Long@dpi.wi.gov) or Beth Palmquist (Beth.Palmquist@dpi.wi.gov)
For a more complete history of the WISCAT project, see http://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/rll/pdf/decades.pdf
4. SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY
April 2010 is the 25th anniversary of School Library Month. Laurie Halse Anderson, award-winning author, is the official spokesperson for the AASL School Library Month 2010 celebration. She explains that "school libraries are the foundation of our culture, not luxuries."
The AASL website: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslissues/slm/schoollibrary.cfm includes links to promotional materials and a month of activities to use as part of this celebration, public service announcements that can be shared in your local communities, and lists of school library media social communities. Please use this opportunity as a time to celebrate your local school library and recognize the important role they play in making sure all students become successful 21st century learners.
5. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
DefenseLINK -- http://www.defenselink.mil/ -- DefenseLINK is the official web site for the Department of Defense and the starting point for finding U.S. military information online. (Website reference courtesy of refdesk.com)
6. CALENDAR
April 1-30, 2010 - School Library Month
April 11-17, 2010 - National Library Week
April 20-21, 2010 - Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Advisory Committee meeting, Madison
April 20-23, 2010 - Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians (WAAL) conference, Milwaukee
April 28-30, 2010 - Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) annual conference, Sheboygan
April 29-30, 2010 - School Library Staffing Summit, Rothschild
May 10-11, 2010 - WiscNet conference, Madison
May 17, 2010 - Delivery Services Advisory Committee (DSAC) meeting, Madison
June 24-29, 2010 - American Library Association conference, Washington, D.C.
==================================================
To access previous issues of Channel Weekly, or to subscribe or unsubscribe,
go to: http://channel.dpi.wi.gov/chn_chweekly
==================================================
Roslyn M. Wise
Editor, Channel Weekly
Department of Public Instruction
Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning
PO Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841
Phone: (608) 266-6439
FAX: (609) 267-9207
For questions about this information, contact Roslyn Wise (608) 266-6439