ASIN Portal Project

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ASIN Portal Project
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ASIN Portal Project - Motivation

• Studies show that students value two things when
  researching assignments
• Whether the source is relevant to their topic
• Whether the source is easy to obtain (i.e.
  online!)
• Library research tools are normally based on
• The format of the source (i.e., article/book)
• The academic discipline of the source

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ASIN Portal Project - Partners

• Initiative of the Atlantic Scholarly Information
  Network (ASIN), a coalition of Atlantic Canadian
  universities.
• Acadia University
• Mount Allison University
• Memorial University of Newfoundland
• St. Francis Xavier University
• University of New Brunswick
• University of Prince Edward Island
• Nova Scotia Agriculture College
• Dalhousie University
• Saint Marys University
• Mount Saint Vincent University

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ASIN Portal Project Goals

• To consolidate the support and delivery of
  scholarly resources in context for ASIN users.
• To leverage the support costs, content,
  technology and technical knowledge.
• To increase the visibility and accessibility of
  licensed, local and open access resources.
• To provide users with a superior library
  experience.

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Components of the ASIN Portal

• EZproxy authentication
• Who our users are (status/branch)
• Sirsi SingleSearch
• Federated searching
• Sirsi Resolver
• ?
• Relais ILL
• Interlibrary loan system
• RefWorks
• Citation software
• Sirsi Enterprise Portal Solution (aka Rooms)
• Portal

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Implementation Plan

• Spring 2006 BETA launch SingleSearch, Resolver
  and RELAIS components
• Summer 2006 begin creating content and standards
  for Portal Subject Rooms
• Fall 2006 first wave of Portal Rooms launched

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What is SingleSearch?

• New search resource made up of 3 components
• SingleSearch federated search module. Provides a
  single interface for searching several databases
  at once
• Resolver links citations found in SingleSearch
  to what the Library owns (ejournal list)
• RELAIS populated document delivery (Interlibrary
  Loan) form with one click access to order items
  not owned by Memorial

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Why use SingleSearch?

• Discovery tool allows you to explore the
  contents of many databases with one search
• Improved searching for obscure/multidisciplinary
  topics
• Easy links to what the library owns through
  Resolver and document delivery through RELAIS

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Limitations of SingleSearch

• Not designed for known item searching i.e.,
  youre looking to discover whether we own a
  specific book/journal
• Not designed to replace the functionality of
  native interfaces i.e., complex searches,
  subject searching
• Subject to lowest common denominator searching

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Show and Tell!

• http//www.library.mun.ca/

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The MUN Libraries Research Portal

• Final piece which integrates Single Search,
  Resolver, and existing library resources in a
  single delivery framework
• Will improve and simplify access to academic
  research resources.
• Ultimately intended to replace loose collection
  of research interfaces with one single integrated
  point of access.
• Staged launch of subject Rooms beginning in
  Fall 2006.

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Portals Bringing it All Together

• Integrate diverse technologies, interfaces, and
  research media.
• Provide a new means of organizing and accessing
  research materials.
• Interface can be customized to the needs of each
  specific user.

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Decrease in Guided Access to Content

• Patrons are more frequently accessing resources
  remotely.
• Librarians have less opportunity to provide
  in-person guidance about finding and using
  resources.
• Need to develop interfaces that build in the
  guidance that we might otherwise provide at the
  reference desk.

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Portals Bringing it All Together

• Provide a consistent framework in which to offer
  all library services and resources.
• Single point of access for
• Finding web resources
• Searching the library catalogue
• Searching the digital archive
• Searching electronic indexes
• Accessing ejournal articles
• Accessing library services (e.g. Document
  Delivery)
• Contacting a librarian for research help.

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Improving Context

• Resource proliferation makes it difficult for
  non-expert users to identify relevant
  authoritative materials.
• Academic libraries tend to organize their
  resources by format, or according to the internal
  unit responsible for maintaining a resource.

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Subject as Primary Point of Access

• Users do not find the current system of
  organization intuitive or simple.
• Users begin with an information need which is
  usually a subject related topic.
• The research portal groups together all resources
  relevant to a particular topic regardless or
  format or provenance.

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Interface Customization

• Every subject area can have a completely
  customized layout and look and feel.
• Intend to let content providers decorate their
  own suite of Rooms.

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Embedded Charts and Graphs
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Automatically Updated News Feeds (RSS)
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Links to Relevant Books in Catalogue
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Embedded User Surveys Quick Polls
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Authentication Single Login

• Single sign in to authenticate against off-campus
  login, single search, catalogue, document
  delivery, on-line reference.
• populate resolver, request forms
• deliver personalized information to user

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Authentication Single Login

• Ideally integrated with campus single sign-on
  rich data source.
• student/employee status
• contact information
• current courses
• major area(s) of study

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Authentication Single Login

• Potential for data sharing integration with
  my.mun.ca
• Combine research administrative information

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Customization Based on User Profile

• Content can be pushed out to end-users based on
  their personal profile relationship to the
  institution.
• Check-outs/request status/fines
• Post to web document delivery
• Faculty/graduate student/distance user
• Major area(s) of study
• Current courses

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Portal Content Management System

• Graphical administration interface aimed at a
  non-technical audience
• Easy to integrate multimedia resources, search
  interfaces, interactive resources, RSS feeds
• Easy to add and edit metadata

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Easy to change page layout and look feel.
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Each Room is composed of discrete objects called
content modules.
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Content modules easy to create and edit.
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CMS simplifies configuration of search targets.
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Metadata can be added at the Room or object level.
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Portals Resource Integration

• Pathfinder model provides subject access.
• Single Search to all resources relevant to a
  selected topic.
• OpenURL linking to full text resources.
• Integrated w/ other library and campus services.

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Portals Resource Integration

• Rooms Builder interface designed for
  non-technical audience.
• Single-sign in carries user profile information
  throughout session.
• Automatically authenticates permitted resources.
• Allows for personalization of services offered.

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• Its about more than just content.
• Its about context.
• - OCLC Environmental Scan, 2003