[CODE4LIB] Easy Borrow or another way to automate search/request across multiple catalogs?
I'm new to Code4Lib, so just want to say hi first of all :) I've searched the archives but didn't find an answer. I am wondering if anyone has experience with Easy Borrow http://library.brown.edu/its/software/easyborrow/, or can anyone suggest other potential solutions to automate searching and requesting across multiple catalogs? I'm sure many other libraries have similar issues: our patrons have so many disparate catalogs to search/request it is confusing and cumbersome. I'm not a programmer, and we don't have one on staff at this time. So, I am trying to find an existing solution for which we might be able to outsource customization and then turn to internal (campus) support for help with maintenance. Many thanks in advance for any suggestions! Darylyne ** Darylyne Provost Assistant Director for Systems, Web, Emerging Technologies Colby College 207.859.5117 dprov...@colby.edu
Re: [CODE4LIB] Easy Borrow or another way to automate search/request across multiple catalogs?
The answer depends on your objective. The quick answer to your question is that union catalogs are easier to maintain and generally work better than federated searches. Can you say a bit more about what catalogs need to be searched and what needs to happen? For example, do the catalogs in question belong to a consortium and is the mechanism used to get patrons books from libraries other than their home libraries more circ or ILL based? What kinds of systems are involved and how have you been dealing with the need you're hoping to meet so far? Thanks, kyle On Mon, Dec 15, 2014 at 11:02 AM, Darylyne Provost dprov...@colby.edu wrote: I'm new to Code4Lib, so just want to say hi first of all :) I've searched the archives but didn't find an answer. I am wondering if anyone has experience with Easy Borrow http://library.brown.edu/its/software/easyborrow/, or can anyone suggest other potential solutions to automate searching and requesting across multiple catalogs? I'm sure many other libraries have similar issues: our patrons have so many disparate catalogs to search/request it is confusing and cumbersome. I'm not a programmer, and we don't have one on staff at this time. So, I am trying to find an existing solution for which we might be able to outsource customization and then turn to internal (campus) support for help with maintenance. Many thanks in advance for any suggestions! Darylyne ** Darylyne Provost Assistant Director for Systems, Web, Emerging Technologies Colby College 207.859.5117 dprov...@colby.edu
Re: [CODE4LIB] Easy Borrow or another way to automate search/request across multiple catalogs?
Hi Kyle, Thanks so much for your reply. Our patrons currently must choose from our combined ILS CBBCat (III's Sierra), which we share with two other colleges; three consortial systems, NExpress, MaineInfoNet, and as of tomorrow, ConnectNY (all III's INNreach); and then, if they have searched all of those systems and not been able to locate/request their item, interlibrary loan (WorldCat/Illiad). I'm probably not articulating it well, but I am trying to find a solution similar to what I understand Easy Borrow to be - a program that automates searching across those disparate systems, presenting a request option to the patron at the point which the item is found. I hope this clarifies it a bit. I know that this is a point of frustration for patrons, so am hoping to find a solution to streamline the process. I'm sure it is much more complex that I even imagine :) Thanks, Darylyne ** Darylyne Provost Assistant Director for Systems, Web, Emerging Technologies Colby College 207.859.5117 dprov...@colby.edu On Mon, Dec 15, 2014 at 2:26 PM, Kyle Banerjee kyle.baner...@gmail.com wrote: The answer depends on your objective. The quick answer to your question is that union catalogs are easier to maintain and generally work better than federated searches. Can you say a bit more about what catalogs need to be searched and what needs to happen? For example, do the catalogs in question belong to a consortium and is the mechanism used to get patrons books from libraries other than their home libraries more circ or ILL based? What kinds of systems are involved and how have you been dealing with the need you're hoping to meet so far? Thanks, kyle On Mon, Dec 15, 2014 at 11:02 AM, Darylyne Provost dprov...@colby.edu wrote: I'm new to Code4Lib, so just want to say hi first of all :) I've searched the archives but didn't find an answer. I am wondering if anyone has experience with Easy Borrow http://library.brown.edu/its/software/easyborrow/, or can anyone suggest other potential solutions to automate searching and requesting across multiple catalogs? I'm sure many other libraries have similar issues: our patrons have so many disparate catalogs to search/request it is confusing and cumbersome. I'm not a programmer, and we don't have one on staff at this time. So, I am trying to find an existing solution for which we might be able to outsource customization and then turn to internal (campus) support for help with maintenance. Many thanks in advance for any suggestions! Darylyne ** Darylyne Provost Assistant Director for Systems, Web, Emerging Technologies Colby College 207.859.5117 dprov...@colby.edu
Re: [CODE4LIB] Easy Borrow or another way to automate search/request across multiple catalogs?
Hi Darylyne, This easyBorrow system was developed at Brown to mask the complexities of our consortial and shared resource arrangements and to forestall users going directly to the slowest and most expensive service. It has been very successful locally and there has been some interest in it especially from other members of one of the consortia we belong to (BorrowDirect). There's contact information on the page you cite if you want more information. Jean On Mon, Dec 15, 2014 at 2:02 PM, Darylyne Provost dprov...@colby.edu wrote: I'm new to Code4Lib, so just want to say hi first of all :) I've searched the archives but didn't find an answer. I am wondering if anyone has experience with Easy Borrow http://library.brown.edu/its/software/easyborrow/, or can anyone suggest other potential solutions to automate searching and requesting across multiple catalogs? I'm sure many other libraries have similar issues: our patrons have so many disparate catalogs to search/request it is confusing and cumbersome. I'm not a programmer, and we don't have one on staff at this time. So, I am trying to find an existing solution for which we might be able to outsource customization and then turn to internal (campus) support for help with maintenance. Many thanks in advance for any suggestions! Darylyne ** Darylyne Provost Assistant Director for Systems, Web, Emerging Technologies Colby College 207.859.5117 dprov...@colby.edu -- Jean Rainwater Head, Integrated Technology Services Brown University Library 10 Prospect Street / Box A Providence, Rhode Island 02912 401.863.9031 jean_rainwa...@brown.edu
Re: [CODE4LIB] Easy Borrow or another way to automate search/request across multiple catalogs?
On Mon, Dec 15, 2014 at 11:49 AM, Darylyne Provost dprov...@colby.edu wrote: Thanks so much for your reply. Our patrons currently must choose from our combined ILS CBBCat (III's Sierra), which we share with two other colleges; three consortial systems, NExpress, MaineInfoNet, and as of tomorrow, ConnectNY (all III's INNreach); and then, if they have searched all of those systems and not been able to locate/request their item, interlibrary loan (WorldCat/Illiad). You have a number of options, one of which is super low tech and easy to implement. That option is to create javascript buttons that say replicate this search in The javascript then scrapes the address bar to figure out what kind of search they did and sends it with the correct syntax to the other catalogs. Super lightweight, very easy to maintain and update, and people get to search from their home system. The second option is z39.50 -- assuming that the III libraries purchased the z39.50 server product and the Koha system has a 39.50 server configured. This has the advantage over the javascript method of searching all the systems at the same time, but you have to interpret what comes back and present it. Note that materials that appear available via z39.50 may only be available to local patrons because there's no way to distinguish borrowing privileges remotely. If z39.50 is not an option, any federated search will be based on screen scraping which I would not recommend. The third major option are data dumps into a union catalog that people can search. This will search nicely, but you have to develop a search interface and getting real time availability is going to be problematic. As far as requesting goes, how do patrons request stuff that's not at their home system? Do they have accounts in the other systems (i.e. can they log in like regular patrons) or is there a special request screen that initiates an ILL process? kyle
Re: [CODE4LIB] Easy Borrow or another way to automate search/request across multiple catalogs?
On Dec 15, 2014, at 2:02 PM, Darylyne Provost dprov...@colby.edumailto:dprov...@colby.edu wrote: I'm sure many other libraries have similar issues: our patrons have so many disparate catalogs to search/request it is confusing and cumbersome. I'm not a programmer, and we don't have one on staff at this time. So, I am trying to find an existing solution for which we might be able to outsource customization and then turn to internal (campus) support for help with maintenance. Take a look at “MasterKey” from IndexData, it will do what you want (Borrow Direct is built by them) http://www.indexdata.com/masterkey —Brian
