In This Issue:

Free Trial of bX Recommender Service
Collections
—CARLI Collections Enhancement Awards–Funded Projects
—CARLI Book Digitization Initiative–FY2010 Accepted Proposals
—"Our I-Share Monograph Collection: A Call for Collaboration" Conference Held
—Update: CARLI Last Copy Pilot Project & You
—Save the Date! Fall Collections Forum
E-Resources
—Additional EBSCO Databases Available to CARLI Members
—CARLI eBooks Survey Summary and eBooks Symposium Materials Available
I-Share
—Change in VuFind Login Logic
—Libraries Needed to Conduct Usability Testing—Volunteer by July 31
—Electronic Resources Cataloging Volunteers Needed—Volunteer by July 31
—FY 2009 Statistics Reports Package Now Available
—Save the Date! Macro Express Workshops
Preservation
—Save the Date: Preservation Fall Forum
—Preservation Tip: Care and Handling of Library Materials
Mark Your Calendars for the CARLI Annual Meeting
Do You Have a Suggestion for a Program or Continuing Education Opportunity?
Upcoming CARLI Events and Meetings
Contact Us

Free Trial of bX Recommender Service

Libraries that use CARLI’s hosted implementation of the Ex Libris SFX link resolver have access to a free trial of the new Ex Libris bX Recommender Service through August 20, 2009. The bX Recommender Service provides researchers using SFX with suggestions for additional articles they may be interested in, based on data Ex Libris has gathered from SFX search logs from libraries and research institutions around the world. CARLI has turned on the free bX trial for all libraries using CARLI's SFX implementation; you will see the recommendations, where available, for the duration of the trial.

For more information about bX, see Ex Libris' website. You may also wish to view a pre-recorded webinar on bX. To do so, follow the instructions for downloading the webinar and viewing application (compatible with Windows computers only.)

Free trial access will end on August 20. Libraries may opt to continue bX access without interruption from August 21 through March 31, 2010 at a discounted price. To indicate your library's interest in continuing bX access following the trial, please complete the non-binding survey by Monday August 17, 2009. If you indicate that you are interested in continuing access to bX after August 20, pricing information and a participation commitment form will then be emailed to the person who completes the survey. If you indicate that you are not interested in continuing bX after August 20, the person completing the survey will receive an email from CARLI confirming that we have received your response.

Collections

CARLI Collections Enhancement Awards–Funded Projects

CARLI is pleased to announce the Access and Analysis Awards proposals and Collaborative Digitization /Collection Partnership proposals that were funded for the FY2010 CARLI Collections Enhancement Awards Program. The projects are:

Access and Analysis Awards - Awards to Enhance Bibliographic Access to Current Collections OR Analyze Current Collection Strengths & Weaknesses:

Access & Analysis Pilot Project: Managing Hidden Print Collections, principal investigator Jennifer Thom, The Newberry Library
Enhancing Bibliographic Records for Curriculum Materials Collections with Searchable Awards Notes, principal investigator Priscilla J. Matthews, Illinois State University
Increasing Accessibly of Mississippi Valley Materials, principal investigator Sarah Horowitz, Augustana College
An Innovative Approach to Collection Transfers Using Existing Metadata: Improving Access to Collections of the State Scientific Survey Libraries in I-Share and OCLC, principal investigators Susan Braxton and Qiang Jin, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Picture Chicago, principal investigator Betsy Kruger, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Collaborative Digitization / Collection Partnerships

Explorations into Teaching & Learning: Peace, Conflict and Social Justice, principal investigator Stephanie Davis-Kahl, Illinois Wesleyan University
War and Peace: As Depicted in the Arts and Humanities, principal investigator Christine S. Kubiak, Illinois State University

The full proposals are available on the CARLI website.

CARLI Book Digitization Initiative–FY2010 Accepted Proposals

CARLI is pleased to announce that all the proposals received for the FY2010 CARLI Book Digitization Initiative have been accepted for the project. The Collections Working Group was excited on the diverse subjects submitted within the theme of "Illinois Culture and Heritage." The topics range from student publications and institutional yearbooks–which provide a great snapshot of higher education from different time periods; books and pamphlets on prominent Illinoisans including Elijah Lovejoy and Marshall Field; to items that were published prior to the Great Chicago Fire. To see all the proposals that were submitted for this program, please go to the CARLI website.

The Collections Working Group is working on documentation for CARLI members to submit proposals for the CARLI Book Digitization Initiative on a rolling basis rather than just once a year. Information about this will be announced through the CARLI newsletter and the Collections and Content Group listserv.

"Our I-Share Monograph Collection: A Call for Collaboration" Conference Held

In June, a conference was held in Champaign to present the research findings from Tina E. Chrzastowski and Lynn Wiley's project to analyze data from CARLI's shared online catalog, I-Share. The project and meeting were funded with a FY2009 CARLI Collections Enhancement Access and Analysis Award.

Their research studied five years (2003-2007) of I-Share domestic purchasing, lending and borrowing data, and included an analysis of monograph publishers, LC subject and title overlap. The study, which analyzed close to 5 million records from five years of purchases, was conducted to determine how our collections are being used collectively and what changes could be recommended to maximize our shared buying power. A more complete description of the daylong conference and some of their findings can be found on the CARLI blog.

Update: CARLI Last Copy Pilot Project & You

The Last Copy Pilot Project launched in May 2008. We’ve received over 270 submissions of items as a last copy and many have already found a home within the state. If you are currently weeding your collection, you may want to look at the criteria for this project–your items may qualify.

Would your institution be interested helping out your fellow CARLI members? If your institution is interested in being the last copy home of the VHS tape format, please send a note to support@carli.illinois.edu.

Save the Date! Fall Collections Forum

The CARLI Collections Forum will be held on October 2, 2009 at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. The agenda includes the CARLI Book Digitization Initiative, an update on the CARLI-funded Access and Analysis Award "I-Share Monograph Collection Assessment: What are we buying and how is it used?" as well as information on GobiTween, the view within YBP's Gobi product that allows you to see what is being purchased by other CARLI members.

E-Resources

Additional EBSCO Databases Available to CARLI Members

As announced in March, CARLI is continuing our contractual relationship with EBSCO Publishing to provide full-text journals for the benefit of students and faculty at all CARLI member institutions.

As of July 1, 2009, in addition to EBSCO Publishing's Academic Search Premier and Business Source Elite, all CARLI Basic, Associate, and Governing member libraries have fully subsidized access to the following EBSCO databases:

Consumer Health Complete
ERIC
Health Source: Consumer Edition
Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition
MAS Ultra: School Edition
MasterFILE Premier
Military & Government Collection
Newspaper Source
Primary Search
Professional Development Collection
Regional Business News

For additional information, please feel free to contact CARLI at support@carli.illinois.edu.

CARLI eBooks Survey Summary and eBooks Symposium Materials Available

The E-Resources Working Group has released the Executive Summary of the CARLI E-Books Survey. The report is available on the CARLI web site. The survey was conducted this Spring in order to better understand members' opinions and experiences; identify what content and features they think are important; indicate how they are managing e-books in their collections; and how they are planning e-books over the next few years. The survey responses will guide CARLI's future e-book efforts.

The E-Resources Working Group and the Collections Working Group also sponsored an eBooks Symposium in March. The daylong program provided an overview of the industry from both a publisher's point of view and from the users' perspective and included a panel discussion on marketing and creatively using e-books. Technical services and collection development issues were also covered. The day ended with a vendor panel. Materials from the day’s presentations are available at on the CARLI web site.

I-Share

Change in VuFind Login Logic

A small change was recently introduced to VuFind to assist users with the log-in process. To use the VuFind OPAC interface for the I-Share catalog to mark a "favorite" record, add a descriptive tag or comment, or place a request, the user must log in with a VuFind username and password. With the change that was introduced, if the user's attempt to log in to VuFind fails, and if the username the user supplied looks like it might be a Voyager borrower ID (the barcode number that's required to log in to WebVoyage), a special message will display to try to clarify what is required:

"Did you attempt to log in with your Library Borrower ID (barcode number)?"

"VuFind expects your VuFind username and password instead. First time logging in to VuFind? Set up a new account. Your VuFind account can then be linked to your library borrower account."

If you have any questions or concerns, please send them to support@carli.illinois.edu.

Libraries Needed to Conduct Usability Testing—Volunteer by July 31

The I-Share Users' Group (IUG) is seeking libraries to serve on the Usability Testing Volunteer Group (UTVG). The UTVG will be a standing group of I-Share libraries. Participating libraries will work with their own patrons to test various usability issues that are related to CARLI systems. The I-Share OPAC Team or the CARLI staff will propose testing.

There is no specific commitment period for participating members. Libraries will stay on the volunteer list until CARLI staff is notified of their desire to be removed. There is no minimum number of usability tests that a library must perform each year. Specific usability tests will be determined by the I-Share OPAC Team or CARLI staff and distributed to the group for possible testing.

The charge of the UTVG with a complete description of responsibilities and processes is available on the UTVG web page.

To volunteer your library to serve on the Usability Testing Volunteer Group please complete the online volunteer form and choose "Usability Testing Volunteer Group" as the group you would like to serve on. Volunteers will be accepted through July 31, 2009.

If you have further questions please contact support@carli.illinois.edu.

Electronic Resources Cataloging Volunteers Needed—Volunteer by July 31

The I-Share Users' Group (IUG) is seeking volunteers from I-Share libraries with expertise in cataloging electronic resources, familiarity with the issues related to the display of electronic resources in the OPAC, or a broad general knowledge of the organization and presentation of various types of electronic resources, to serve on the new Cataloging Electronic Resources/Electronic Resources Display in the OPAC Task Force (2009).

The original Cataloging Electronic Resources/Electronic Resources Display in the OPAC Task Force produced a Final Report dated February 11, 2004. The environment and issues surrounding the organization, access, and display of electronic resources has changed markedly over the past five years, including the development of link resolvers and third party knowledge bases. A reconstituted task force analyzing and providing updates to our current documentation and best practices is now necessary.

The charge of the CatER 2009 task force will include a review of the initial Task Force Report (2004) and the current electronic resource environment with regard to Voyager in its current version, future discovery layers and a next generation ILS, as well as other emerging trends in the electronic resource environment. The group will document needed changes to the Report, provide additional recommendations as appropriate, and identify current best practices and additional issues related to the cataloging of, access to, and display of electronic resources in I-Share's consortial environment.

For the complete task force charge, history, and proposed timeline, please visit the task force page.

To volunteer for the Cataloging Electronic Resources/Electronic Resources Display in the OPAC Task Force (2009), please complete the online volunteer form and choose "I-Share Cataloging Electronic Resources/Electronic Resources Display in the OPAC Task Force (2009)" as the group you would like to serve on. Volunteers will be accepted through July 31, 2009.

Contact the CARLI office at support@carli.illinois.edu with any questions.

FY 2009 Statistics Reports Package Now Available

The FY 2009 annual statistical reports package has been run for the I-Share libraries. You can download the stats package from your respective xxxftp directories. The date range for circulation statistics is 7/1/08-6/30/09 [inclusive]. The collection statistics [snapshots] are current as of the date on top of each report.

As a result of the work of the Statistics Task Force 3 new statistics have been added to the statistics package for FY09:

Collection Stat 10: Items Lost Missing or Withdrawn
Circulation Stat 6: Circulation by Patron Group and Item Type.
Circulation Stat 7: Charges by Circ Happening Location, Item Type and Item Location

The Statistics Task Force also made significant revisions to the documentation that describes the I-Share Annual Stats Package. Included in the new documentation are strategic line-by-line suggestions about which data from the I-Share Statistics package to use for filing out the forms when providing statistics to external agencies.

The I-Share consortial statistics for FY2009 are being compiled and will be available soon on the CARLI web site. An announcement will be sent to I-Share email list when they are available. The consortial statistics will include:

Collection Stat 8: Database Record Count
Collection Stat 9: Unique Titles Report
UB Stat 1 - Outgoing ILL
UB Stat 2 - Incoming ILL

Details and descriptions of each report can be found in the "Annual Voyager Statistics Package" document.

Save the Date! Macro Express Workshops

CARLI is pleased to offer two continuing education workshops, entitled "Using Macro Express Software in I-Share Libraries." The core Macro Express content will be the same for both sessions, but one session will focus on using macros in conjunction with the Voyager cataloging client, while the other will focus on macros for the circulation client. Participants may attend one but not both sessions.

Each session will be a one-day, hands-on workshop, and both will be held at the CARLI Office in Champaign:

Thursday, September 10: Macro Express: Cataloging Functions Workshop

Tuesday, September 15: Macro Express: Circulation Functions Workshop
Topics covered will include:

Introduction to Macro Express software
Importing macros from the Shared Macro page
Macro Express and Voyager client preference settings
Setting the macro's activation key
Input and output files
Timing issues
Voyager client commands
Adapting an existing macro for another task

Intended audience: For each as applicable, cataloging or circulation staff with data maintenance responsibilities at I-Share libraries, who have very minimal or no previous experience using Macro Express software.

NOTE: This is a basic introduction to using Macro Express software in conjunction with Voyager databases. Primary focus will be on downloading and using macros posted to the I-Share Shared Macro web page. Because these will be hands-on workshops, the number of registrants per session will be limited.

More information and registration will be available soon. If you have any questions about these workshops, please contact the CARLI Office at support@carli.illinois.edu.

Preservation

Save the Date! Forum on AudioVisual Preservation

Do you have photographs or films within your collection? Do you want to know more on how to identify the format of your audiovisual materials? Do you want to know how to care and preserve them for future generations of users?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, please consider attending the CARLI Forum on AudioVisual Preservation. The forum will be held on October 13, 2009 at Columbia College, Chicago. Featured speakers include Henrietta Zielinski and Thomas Hodge from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Jimi Jones and Jennifer Hain-Teper from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Registration and full program information will be available in early fall.

Topics will include the basics of preserving motion-picture film, sound, and photographs, A/V preservation on a small budget, and funding opportunities for A/V preservation.

Preservation Tip: Care and Handling of Library Materials

Library patrons and library workers who love their books don’t always know the correct way to physically handle them with tender loving care. With a little extra effort, we can do a lot to promote proper handling habits among both our staff and users. Training all staff in correct handling procedures will go a long way to help preserve library materials. For those doing the most handling, the re-shelving team, proper shelving techniques require a bit more than "putting the books back on the shelf;" therefore, hands-on training is a must.

Books on a shelf need room to breathe, and they need proper support.
Oversize books should never be "hung" from their hinges to rest on the fore-edge, but be shelved spine-down instead.
Always use a book cart to move materials; dropping books when hand carrying could damage the book as well as a foot or toe!

Teach staff to be more damage-aware as circulating books are returned and have procedures in place for circulation staff to notify those responsible to attend to any damage.

Instruct circulation workers to check for wet or soiled items.
Flip through a returned book to look for underlining or dog-eared pages.
AV items should be examined to assure proper placement in containers before returned to the shelf.

Staff training can be relatively easy and consistent, but motivating patrons to be preservation-minded may take a bit more creativity. The easiest way is to communicate!

Consider offering book bags or recycling plastic grocery bags for items checked out on rainy days.
A display of patron-damaged items could be a fun way to educate users on the harm they can cause to materials without even realizing it, and a chance to put those withdrawn water-damaged, chewed-up, highlighter- lined, and peanut butter-smudged items to good use.
Bookmarks that explain dog-eared pages or cracked-spines help to encourage the correct way to save one's place in their "good read."
Check out AV materials with paper slips that remind users of proper care techniques.
Signage in the stacks can offer gentle reminders to patrons on how to safely remove a book from the shelf.
The photocopier is another area where book spines are in danger and where an opportunity to provide handling advice awaits.
Screensavers on public computers could be used to highlight handling "dos" and "don’ts."
Online tutorials on proper care can be adapted for both staff and patrons.

Perhaps the best practice for care and handling is the example we set as library staff. Careful handling of materials by all library staff will not only help preserve them, but will encourage users to handle them correctly as well.

Mark Your Calendars for the CARLI Annual Meeting

The CARLI Annual Meeting will be held on Friday, October 30th at the I Hotel and Conference Center, Champaign. The theme of the meeting will be "Finding Opportunities in a Time of Economic Crisis." We will hold breakfast meetings of the Governing Directors and the CARLI Committee Chairs beginning at 8:30 a.m., before the Annual Meeting.

Do You Have a Suggestion for a Program or Continuing Education Opportunity?

Submit your proposal to the Program Planning Committee.

Upcoming CARLI Events and Meetings

Forums and Workshops

September 10 Macro Express Cataloging Functions Workshop, CARLI Office
September 15 Macro Express Circulation Functions Workshop, CARLI Office

October 2          Collections Fall Forum, Illinois Institute of Technology
October 13        AudioVisual Preservation Forum, Columbia College Chicago
October 30        CARLI Annual Membership Meeting, I Hotel, Champaign

Meetings

July 27        I-Share Instruction Team, CARLI Office

August 7        I-Share Acquisition & Serials Team, CARLI Office
August 11          Collections Working Group, Illini Center, Chicago
August 21    I-Share Users' Group, CARLI Office
August 31          Preservation Working Group, CARLI Office

September 8      I-Share OPAC Team
September 16    CARLI Executive Committee
September 18    I-Share Users' Group, CARLI Office
September 25    CARLI Board of Directors, CARLI Office

October 13   I-Share OPAC Team
October 16       I-Share Users' Group
October 30         Committee and Working Group Chairs, I Hotel, Champaign
October 30       Governing Directors, I Hotel, Champaign

For meeting times and locations or for additional information about upcoming CARLI forums, trainings, and meetings consult the CARLI calendar.

Contact Us

All questions and comments about the e-newsletter should be directed to support@carli.illinois.edu. Subscribe to the CARLI Announce email list to receive the latest news.