Building Cohesive Library Services
This agenda focuses on improving library web services through cohesive design and integrated technological solutions. It covers the challenges faced in managing diverse content systems at SUNY Cortland and offers potential solutions such as federated search, OpenURL, and APIs. Emphasizing consistent aesthetic elements and navigation, from color schemes to branding, the session highlights lessons learned about vendor collaboration, user authentication, and effective content integration across disparate systems for an improved user experience.
Building Cohesive Library Services
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Presentation Transcript
Building Cohesive Library Services Karen A. Coombs Amanda Hollister
Agenda • Who we are • Challenges • Potential technological solutions • Aesthetically creating a consistent look • Integrating Content from Disparate Systems • Lessons Learned
Who We Are • Shared web responsibilities at SUNY Cortland • Originally one person in charge of web site • Too many duties for one person so duties split • Web-based systems • Library web site
Challenges • Disparate systems • ILLiad, Docutek, SFX, OPAC • Different vendors • Atlas, Sirsi,ExLibris, Serial Solutions • Distributed servers • Diverse content • Different ways for users to authenticate
Potential Technological Solutions • XML • Federated Search • OpenURL • OLDB/ODBC connections • APIs • XML Servers
Aesthetically creating a Consistent Look • Consistent navigation elements • CSS • Server Side Includes • Branding • Include both print and web documents
Consistent Design Elements • Color Scheme • Fonts • Logo
Adding Site Design Elements to External Systems • ILLiad • WebOPAC • Before • After • Docutek • Library Databases • SFX
Integrating Content from Disparate Systems • Periodical Holdings • Export Local holdings to include in list • Connect to OPAC API to link to holdings page • This how the ILS target in our OpenURL resolver should work! • Unified My Account page • Items check out from ILS • ILL items from ILLiad • Citation Linker from SFX
Incorporating the OPAC • Adding a catalog search box to library homepage • Users get taken to search results within the catalog • Search boxes on pages for specific collections • Incorporating OPAC data on library page • New Books Lists • Pull data from catalog • Format and display on library web site • Create RSS feed
Lessons Learned • How closed is the system you are purchasing? • Will the vendor let you have access to database behind the scenes? • Is there an API you can use to access data? • Can you get an export of your data at any time? • Think ahead about how you are going to connect data from one system to another • Try to use the same user id throughout
