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Increasing Awareness of ERIC in Your Online Catalog: A Case Study Auburn University Libraries. Joan Chapa. Auburn University Libraries Profile. Member Association of Research Libraries
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Increasing Awareness of ERIC in Your Online Catalog: A Case Study Auburn University Libraries Joan Chapa
Auburn University Libraries Profile • Member Association of Research Libraries • Collection of over 3 million volumes, 2.6 million govdocs, 2.5 million microforms, 148,000 maps, 277 electronic databases, and 10 million archival and manuscript items. • Automated system Voyagerhttp://www.lib.auburn.edu/ • Started using MARCIVE ERIC MARC Record Service (EMRS) February 2009.
Why Auburn Selected EMRS • Many indexes for ERIC documents, but most patrons still had never heard of ERIC. • ERIC microfiche had low usage and took up space. • Although considered an education database, ERIC contains substantial publications for other disciplines such as linguistics. • In addition to the education and reference librarians, ILL supported the decision since they occasionally found needed documents in the fiche and online.
Preliminary Considerations • Would Auburn’s patrons actually use the ERIC documents when found? • Loading over 430,000 records could unacceptably skew search results. • Lack of LC subject headings a concern, but catalog already had some non-LC headings • Moved ERIC fiche to back hallway to monitor usage, idea of eventually discarding
Feedback: Cons • Concern over large sets of results generated, but now they feel they can isolate this collection with the implementation of a catalog overlay product (VuFind). Can limit search to collections, or exclude certain collections. • Some believe too many false hits produced • Lack of authority control • Note: MARCIVE will be exploring options for LCNA matching.
Feedback: Pros • Enthusiasm over many types of documents now available in the catalog • ERIC thesaurus descriptors often more current or specific than LCSH • Comments • “Love them. The chief way people might identify and use them.” • “I have seen patrons find them useful.” • “If we are training people to find information in the catalog, we should have records for everything we have even if it is a citation record.”
Auburn’s Usage Statistics • Fiche • Prior to loading records, fiche received little use. In 2008, only 9 titles used. • After loading retrospective and ongoing MARC records, use increased ten-fold. • Online records • Click-throughs on records also tracked. • Between October 2009 and May 2010, ERIC links received 1,535 clicks, or 6% of all clicks in the catalog.
Conclusion • Loading ERIC MARC records into Auburn’s public catalog has increased awareness and usage of ERIC documents • Good number of links are clicked on, and fiche use has substantially increased • Library staff appreciate increased access through Voyager catalog • Overall a positive experience for the Libraries Questions about this experience? Contact Liza Weisbrod at weisbel@auburn.edu
Let MARCIVE help you provide better access to ERIC resources Contact MARCIVE for •detailed information •pricing www.marcive.com info@marcive.com 1-800-531-7678