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CDL Database Transitions

August 9, 2001 Author: CDLCategories:

a. Change in Transition Steering Committee Roster

Now that its initial recommendations have passed to the negotiation stage, the Abstracting and Indexing Database Transition Steering Committee will focus on implementation issues.  At the same time, we welcome Margaret Phillips, Electronic Resources Librarian (UCB), who replaces Patty Iannuzzi as our Berkeley representative.  We thank Patty for her hard work on the committee’s behalf.  All other original members will continue to serve on the committee.

Soon, more information will be available via Libstaff and for the public on specific database transitions.  Those announced below follow from TSC’s recommendations and/or result from changes in the current vendor’s access which resulted in an earlier transition.

Users will see notices of these changes posted on opening screens or when attempting to initiate a search using the old interface, and can read more details at the What’s New pages.

b. Change in vendor for GeoRef

GeoRef via Z39.50 is now officially retired.  GeoRef is no longer available via telnet (the USE GEOREF command) or via the web interface for CDL-hosted databases.

GeoRef from CSA, which includes GeoRef in Process (GRIP), is now available via the CDL Directory [http://www.cdlib.org/collections/] by selecting “GeoRef (Cambridge Scientific Abstracts)” from the “Other Databases” pull-down menu, or on the CDL-hosted Databases welcome screen [http://www.dbs.cdlib.org] by selecting GeoRef [via Cambridge Scientific Abstracts] from the “More Databases” pull-down menu.  Information has been sent to Users Council representatives on how to provide direct access to the database.

c. Changes in Access to ArticleFirst (JRNL) and ContentsFirst (JRNLT)

OCLC is making a significant change in the way it handles its Z39.50 databases.  As a result, the FirstSearch databases available from CDL via Z39.50 will be available only in OCLC’s web interface (native mode) by the end of 2001 (see previous CDLINFO article June 28, Vol 4 No. 11 <http://www.cdlib.org/news/cdlinfo/cdlinfo062801.html#1>.

Access to ArticleFirst (JRNL) and ContentsFirst (JRNLT) via the CDL-hosted databases telnet interface will end on August 15, 2001.  The remaining OCLC databases available through the CDL-hosted databases interface, WorldCat in the web and in telnet and PapersFirst/ProceedingsFirst in telnet, will cease in December 2001.

Access to all of the OCLC databases via native mode is available now via the CDL Directory [http://www.cdlib.org/collections/] from the “Other Databases” pull-down menu or on the CDL-hosted Databases welcome screen [http://www.dbs.cdlib.org] from the “More Databases” pull-down menu.

d. Changes in RILM Abstracts of Music Literature Access

Telnet and web access to OCLC’s version of RILM will end on August 15, 2001.  Starting August 15, users can access RILM via NISC’s web interface by selecting “RILM Abstracts [via NISC]” from the “More databases” pull-down menu on the CDL-hosted Databases welcome screen [http://www.dbs.cdlib.org], or by selecting “RILM Abstracts (NISC)” from the “Other Databases” pull-down menu of the CDL Collections and Services web page [http://www.cdlib.org/collections/].

e. SFX is Coming to the CDL

The CDL has acquired the SFX software from ExLibris as part of the Aleph purchase.  SFX is a context-sensitive linking technology, i.e., it provides users with links from a particular search result to various associated services.  It will replace the current CDL linking technology. Initially, the CDL’s SFX server will offer three services: links to e-content, links to holdings, and links to Request.  As with the current CDL linking system, links to e-content will be at the most specific level possible.

The OpenURL protocol, upon which SFX is based, is an exciting new technology being widely adopted by the library and vendor community.  It has the potential to contribute greatly to the integration of services for the user.

SFX will be phased in during the fall of 2001. We plan to begin testing the CDL’s SFX server this month with Gale, ProQuest, and CSA (Cambridge Scientific Abstracts).  The Transition Steering Committee and the Melvyl-T Services Team will advise on implementation issues.