[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Public libraries and digital content management

[Hardy, Elaine]

I thick Tracy's point is that public libraries tend not to have bib
records for their electronic journals in their ILSs so you have to search
in the separate database to find out if they have access to a specific
title rather than staying with the ILS, finding a title with an active
link to that database. Which, at least in Georgia, is true.

 

There are a variety of reasons for that lack, principally that public
libraries tend not to catalog their print magazines either. Public library
catalogers often are not trained to catalog serials and, for print
formats, only keep a year or so. Since electronic databases for journals
and magazines often include hundreds of titles, it is rare for cataloging
staff to have time to add the records and indicate holdings. 

 

While we would love to have each title in our ILSs, it just isn't always
practical given the small staffs in most tech services departments.

 

Elaine

  _____  


J. Elaine Hardy
PINES Bibliographic Projects & Metadata Manager
Georgia Public Library Service
1800 Century Place, Ste 150
Atlanta, Ga. 30345-4304

404.235-7128
404.235-7201, fax
ehardy at georgialibraries.org
www.georgialibraries.org
www.georgialibraries.org/pines




From: open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org
[mailto:open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org] On Behalf Of
Tara Robertson
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2012 10:16 AM
To: Evergreen Discussion Group
Subject: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Re: Public libraries and digital content
management

 

Hi,

 

I think you might be confusing two different things: making electronic
resources findable in the catalogue and the difference between an ILS and
an ERMS.

 

You can load MARC records that represent an electronic database, an ebook
title, a physical object, or whatever. Cataloguers can catalogue most
things. I think there are even MARC records that represent a set of bobble
head dolls. The ILS doesn't matter, you can load a MARC record for
Academic Search Premier into Polaris or into Evergreen.

 

An ILS and ERMS are different types of systems, designed to do different
things. 

*	ILS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_library_system
(mostly tracks the physical collection)
*	ERMS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Resource_Management_System (mostly
for electronic or online collections). An example of an open source ERMS
is CUFTS: http://researcher.sfu.ca/cufts

 

I've heard some folks say that the proprietary ILS market has shifted and
for many vendors the ILS is mostly cheap giveway where the vendor is
charging heftier fees is with the ERMS and discovery layer that might
integrate really well with the ILS,

 

ERMS are pretty common for academic libraries (who need to track where you
can get the full text of an article) and seem much less common in public
libraries.

 

It might be better to reply to the list so we can build on each other's
responses and so that this information is archived for the next person who
has a similar question.

 

Hope this helps,

Tara

 

On Mon, Oct 1, 2012 at 6:37 AM, McPeck, Tracy L. <TMcPeck at pwcgov.org>
wrote:

Hello- 

 

I am conducting a case study between a proprietary ILS (Polaris) and an
open source ILS (Evergreen) regarding electronic resource management in
the public library. I'd like to know if any Evergreen public libraries use
Evergreen (including add-ons) to manage database subscriptions and
findability for patrons.  I plan to compare the two systems and their
roles in managing electronic resources.  I am finding that public
libraries will often make their eBooks and eAudiobooks findable in the
ILS, but patrons must access the electronic databases separately to
discover the library's electronic journal holdings. I am hoping to find
examples of public libraries that use their ILS and associated add-ons to
make electronic journals holdings searchable in the catalog. Please email
me at tmcpeck at pwcgov.org or tlmcpeck at yahoo.com if you can help. 

 

Thanks in advance-

Tracy McPeck

Library Services Technician III, Youth Services

Central Community Library

8601 Mathis Avenue

Manassas, VA 20110

Prince William County Public Library System
<http://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/library/Pages/default.aspx> 

 

 

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