CONTENTS
- Descriptive Information about the CDL -- Now on the Web
- Creation of the CDL's Joint Steering Committee on Shared Collections
- Patron Initiated Requesting
- The Statewide Serials Database
- Thanks to CDL Campus-Based Personnel
- New Resources Available from the Melvyl Web System
- CDL Milestones
- Contacts for Questions or Problems
- Information about the CDLINFO-L Listserv
1. Descriptive Information about the CDL -- Now on the Web
As mentioned in earlier issues of CDLINFO, the CDL is constructing a web site that describes the CDL and its plans. This site, now available at http://www.cdlib.org/, provides new descriptive information, such as "Frequently Asked Questions About the CDL," breaking and archived news about the CDL (including copies of CDLINFO), and descriptions of collections and services that will be part of the CDL, and consolidates what had been disparate historical sources of CDL information. The site will be transformed when the CDL officially opens in early 1999 with full-featured directory and search tools for CDL collections and services. Those features and the overall look and feel of the site are being developed, with plans for extensive campus collaboration, testing, and feedback.In the meantime, http://www.cdlib.org/ is the location to check for information about the California Digital Library. Please visit and let us know what you think. Individuals and other web sites do not need to change current practices or URLs to link to the Melvyl Catalog, the Periodicals database, or the abstracting and indexing databases. The content of the LPAI web site is effectively frozen; documents there provide the historical context of the Library Planning and Action Initiative process, one of whose outcomes has been the CDL. An announcement in the next CDLINFO will alert readers to a new web source for information about UC systemwide library planning.
2. Creation of the CDL's Joint Steering Committee on Shared Collections
The CDL is pleased to announce the membership of the CDL's Joint Steering Committee on Shared Collections. The Steering Committee will include Clinton Howard (UC Davis), Barbara Kornstein (UC Berkeley), Alan Ritch (UC Santa Cruz), and Cynthia Shelton (UCLA), each serving two- or three-year terms. The concept of a Joint Steering Committee evolved from discussions with the Systemwide Operations and Planning Group (SOPAG) and the Collection Development Committee (CDC) about the CDL's need for a nimble consultative structure through which it can obtain expeditious advice on shared collections issues, identify priorities for shared digital collections, and ensure that the CDL is a collaborative effort of the nine campuses.CDL Associate Director Beverlee French will convene the Joint Steering Committee, whose charge includes, in part, to inform and consult with SOPAG and CDC; to identify appropriate mechanisms for development of systemwide digital collection frameworks and priorities in the various domains (humanities, social sciences, etc.) to serve UC academic programs; and to recommend additional procedures or structures for faculty involvement in building the systemwide digital library.
3. Patron Initiated Requesting
As recommended by the University Librarians and the Library Planning and Action Initiative Task Force, the University of California Libraries are implementing Patron Initiated Requesting (PIR) to facilitate rapid access to physical materials on all campuses and in the regional storage facilities (NRLF and SRLF). PIR is a major component of the concept of a shared UC library collection. PIR will enhance convenience for the user and save library staff time, on a per transaction basis, that is currently devoted to manual verification and transmission of requests. It will be implemented as a single request button on the MELVYL Web display screens. How the request is processed will be determined by the system (depending on the type of material being requested -- the PIR service itself will focus on returnable items, while requests for other materials will be intercepted and routed as usual) and will be transparent to the user.In its eventual form, the PIR service will automatically check availability of materials at campus libraries and eligibility of users from circulation systems, be capable of automatically spreading the load of requests across the campuses, follow ISO standards for Interlibrary requests, and automate status reports, tracking, overdue items, and billing. In the pilot phase, currently scheduled to begin in December 1998, the service will focus on authorizing users via the central patron database of the Melvyl Request service, formatting to ISO standards and sending requests to the "OCLC Direct to Profile" ILL system, thereby ensuring accurate citations with no need for rekeying.
Implementation of PIR may require changes in internal UC interlibrary workflows, and because of enhanced convenience and faster delivery, may increase the number of interlibrary requests received. Implementation of PIR is a collaborative effort of all nine campuses and the CDL. Analysis, specification, and programming will include the participation of personnel from San Diego, Davis, Berkeley, and the CDL. The CDL is also providing oversight and initial funding for technology development. SOPAG and the University Librarians are involved in reviewing and recommending policies for PIR testing and implementation. Testing will be designed to involve all nine campuses, with close monitoring and feedback by their Interlibrary Services units.
Watch CDLINFO and the new CDL web site at
Users can now search or display citations by region (Northern California,
Greater Bay Area, Central Valley, Greater Los Angeles, and San Diego/Inland
Empire) or library type (Academic, Public, Special, Special Law, and
Special Medical) in both the telnet and web versions of the Melvyl system.
In the telnet version, type EXPLAIN AT MELVYL for more information. In the
web version, the regions and library types appear as options under the
"Location" option on search pages for the Periodicals and abstracting and
indexing databases. They also appear, as applicable, in citation displays.
Margaret Phillips, UC Berkeley, just concluded her tenure with CDL System
Services, where she worked on the user interface for the Melvyl web system,
communicating with the Design Team, writing specifications, and reviewing
changes. In addition, she prepared a report on statistics for turn-aways
from OCLC ports and worked on several other tasks, such as following up on
problem reports, querying the User Services Group about various matters,
and communicating with other groups. Her reference and instruction
experience brought a valued level of understanding to these tasks and a
commitment to making services work for users.
Ann Jensen, also from UC Berkeley, helped investigate the feasibility of a
technical reports service that could be modeled on the nationwide computer
science project NCSTRL. That analysis is ongoing, but Ann gave the project
an excellent launch.
Thank you, Margaret and Ann!
UC faculty, students, and staff can now access the abstracts, full text,
and images of over 30 journals and magazines published by the American
Chemical Society, via the Melvyl web system (click on Resources, then on
Electronic Journals). The resource, licensed by the California Digital
Library, is one of the most comprehensive online chemistry journal
collections. Dates of coverage extend from 1997 to the present. Full text
and images are available in HTML or PDF format. Articles are generally
available before the print edition. UC users can also view an article as
it moves through the production process (via a feature called "Articles
ASAP"). In the future, users will be able to view the full text of many
journal articles via citation links in the Melvyl abstracting and indexing
databases (implementation is planned for Fall 1998). The URL for this
resource is http://pubs.acs.org/.
RLG's FRANCIS Database (based on an evaluation by Peter Briscoe, UC Riverside)
RLG's FRANCIS database is now available as a Eureka option on the Melvyl
system via telnet. FRANCIS contains over 862,000 citations from over 3,000
journals covering a wide range of multilingual, multidisciplinary
information in the humanities, sciences, and economics. International in
scope, it is strong in religion, the history of art, and literature, with
particular emphasis on current trends in European and world literature.
FRANCIS covers items from 1984-present and is updated monthly. Most items
have abstracts. Citations, abstracts, and subject headings are generally in
French, with about 33% in English. It is produced by the Institut de
l'Information Scientifique et Technique du Centre National de la Recherche
Scientifique (INIST-CNRS).
The database's breadth of subject coverage and international scope
complement databases with a more narrow focus, making it an invaluable
resource for research libraries. RLG is making the entire database
available online in the U.S. for the first time. There is no print version
of this resource, although a CD-ROM version does exist.
Since it may be some time before FRANCIS is available via the web version
of the Melvyl system, campus training staff may want to emphasize native
Eureka training for this resource, either via USE EUREKA or in a direct
connection to Eureka on the web.
Anthropological Literature (@RLG) and CHICANO (@RLG) Databases
The Anthropological Literature and Chicano databases, previously available
to UC users through the telnet version of the Melvyl system, are now
available via the web interface. The Anthropological Literature database
contains citations to articles and essays in the fields of anthropology and
archaeology, as well as art history, ethnohistory, geography, genetics,
folklore, geology, history, linguistics, music, and religion. The database
is small and contains citations indexed from 1984 to the present in English
and other European languages. It is produced by Tozzer Library, Harvard
University and is updated quarterly.
The Chicano database contains records for all types of materials in the
areas of Mexican-American topics and, since 1992, materials on other Latino
cultures -- e.g., Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, and Central American
immigrants. Subject coverage includes art, language, sociology, public
policy, economics, history, literature, politics, and law. Produced by the
Chicano Studies Library, UC Berkeley, the database covers materials from
1967 forward and is updated quarterly.
For information about whether your UC campus has access to a particular
electronic journal or Internet resource, contact your local collection
development officer.
We hope that subscribers from the UC libraries will pass on selected
information from the listserv to faculty, staff, and students on their
campuses, as appropriate. As a next step in developing a communications
program to reach UC faculty, staff, and students, as well as others outside
of UC who may be interested in our activities, we have launched a web site
with descriptive information about the CDL (
Eligible subscribers: UC library employees
To subscribe: Please send the following line to listserv@listserv.ucop.edu
Frequency of publication: Biweekly, generally on the 1st and 15th of each
month, or as new information warrants.
Communicating with the listserv: While the CDL Listserv does not accept
submissions, subscribers are encouraged to send suggestions, thoughts, and
comments on material in the listserv or on related issues to the CDL at
cdl@ucop.edu.
4. The Statewide Serials Database
The Statewide Serials Database, the outcome of the California State Serials
Project (CSSP), establishes a union database of serials for California
libraries. It has been loaded into the Melvyl system and is now the
Periodicals database. It includes:
5. Thanks to CDL Campus-Based Personnel
As a co-library, the CDL, by definition, depends on collaboration with all
of the campuses to create shared systems and services. An essential
collaborative element is the regular contributions of personnel from across
the UC system to provide crucial expertise for CDL projects. Currently,
there are several from various campuses working directly with the CDL. We
wish to acknowledge and thank two librarians who have recently completed
part-time assignments.
6. New Resources Available from the Melvyl Web System
ACS Journals
7. CDL Milestones
CDL Milestones are now posted on the new CDL informational web site
8. Contacts for Questions or Problems
If you have problems accessing or using the Melvyl system or have
questions, including questions about the status of electronic journal
collections and Internet resources, you can contact CDL staff in one of the
following ways:
9. Information about the CDLINFO-L Listserv
The CDLINFO-L listserv is designed for UC library employees as a first step
in CDL efforts to build an active communications program to inform the UC
community about progress in creation of the CDL, policy issues under
discussion, and newly available electronic resources.
SUBSCRIBE CDLINFO-L /your name/