Office of Library and Information Services

1
Office of Library and Information Services

• Overview and Issues
• as of August 2008

2
OLIS Funding

• The University-wide appropriation for Library
  Automation
• The University-wide appropriation for Educational
  Technology/Provost Funds
• Campus fees with annual increases
• LMS, Delivery, Other
• Database E-Resources

3
OLIS Mission

• Our mission is to provide leadership, advocacy,
  and support for the University's system of
  libraries and to facilitate the broadest level of
  access to its collections and information
  resources equally to all students, faculty, and
  staff.

4
OLIS Services - SUNYConnect

• Project management for implementation and
  operation of shared systems (Ex Libris Aleph500,
  Syndetics, Dspace Repository)
• University-wide contracting/purchase of
  electronic resources and software applications.
• Support for SUNY Borrowing - ILLiad
• Policy and planning

5
OLIS Staffing

• Currently 9 FTE
• 1 Assistant Provost and Director of SUNY Learning
  Network
• 1 Librarian to coordinate electronic resource
  procurement
• 4 Librarians and 2 Support staff providing system
  support and training for Aleph500.
• 1 Administrative Support staff person

6
Additional Staffing Support

• ½ Librarian FTE at SUNY Oswego provides Aleph
  systems support.
• 1-2 FTE at ITEC provide technical system
  administration and Oracle DBA support (FTE
  various with activities and need).

7
OLIS Governance

• OLIS works closely with the SUNY Council of
  Library Directors (SCLD) and the SUNY Librarians
  Association (SUNYLA)
• SUNYConnect initiative formal governance is from
  the SUNYConnect Advisory Council (SAC)

8
OLIS Governance

• SAC is composed of Library Directors (by sector),
  a SUNYLA rep, an AVP, a Business Officer, a CIO
  rep, and Provosts staff.
• The office establishes additional teams based on
  needs. Current teams have been addressing
• SUNY-wide Borrowing
• Digital Library Proposal/SUNYConnect Electronic
  Resources
• Shared Search Discovery Tools
• Aleph Support in Shared Server Environment

9
OLIS Technology

• The library management system - Aleph500 is a
  client server application, with Oracle as its
  database technology.
• We are running Aleph on AIX hardware.
• ITEC manages three servers that support 56
  campuses and the server housing the SUNYConnect
  Union Catalog.
• Campuses access these servers over a TCP/IP
  network (Internet or SUNYNet).

10
OLIS Technology

• Aleph supports campus implementations and a Union
  Catalog with patron empowerment features that
  require a good delivery service.
• Nylink has contracted with LAND to provide a
  delivery service that has been made available to
  all Nylink members.

11
OLIS Technology

• ITEC provides additional server support for
• Dspace Repository
• Sandbox interface to Aleph
• Footprints Web-based problem reporting software
• Other administrative software tools used by OLIS

12
OLIS Technology

• Electronic resources are generally accessed from
  vendor servers located on the Internet.
• All services are dependent on campus networks
  and network connectivity.
• As of 2007/2008, 57 campuses have implemented
  Serials Solutions 360Link OpenURL Link Resolver
  to allow linking among vendor electronic
  resources.

13
OLIS Issues - Authority Levels

• OLIS does not have authority over any library or
  SUNY library functions.
• Since we provide services for a fee we have to be
  responsive to campus needs and requirements as
  informed by our governance processes.

14
OLIS Issues - Service Deliverables

• Aleph500 has been implemented by 60 campuses.
  The application has been found to be extremely
  complex.
• The complexity has resulted in increased central
  management of the shared servers.
• A Managed Services Project has been underway with
  8 campuses where OLIS staff assume system
  librarian responsibilities for the campus.
• The level of Aleph support that can be provided
  to campuses in Managed Services and those outside
  of Managed Services is under review.

15
OLIS Issues - Service Deliverables

• The diversity of SUNY makes it difficult to find
  electronic resources suited for all campuses.
• Increased services will require additional campus
  contributions.

16
ALIS Support - Service Deliverables

• ITEC and the Center for Professional Development
  are essential to delivery of service.
• ITEC has System/Oracle knowledge we lack
• CPD has infrastructure and relationships we lack
• We need to look at different training delivery
  mechanisms for Aleph. Another opportunity is to
  consider ways to integrate library resources in
  course management systems
• TLT-SLN has knowledge we lack

17
OLIS Issues - Funding

• Funding for Aleph500 support and operation has
  not been an issue.
• Campuses are being asked to contribute more for
  electronic resources.
• We are partnering with Nylink and private higher
  ed libraries (NYSHEI) to stretch our dollars
  further.
• Expectations may be greater than funding.

18
OLIS Issues - Technology

• The Aleph500 systems is more complex than our
  legacy systems, e.g. clients, Oracle, RAID, etc.
• Trouble shooting in a networked environment is
  difficult, yet we run production applications in
  this environment.
• Integration of electronic resources in with
  systems designed for physical materials is a
  challenge.

19
OLIS Issues Sr. Administrators Visions

• Focus on SUNY-wide perspective down grades campus
  issues, requirements and accomplishments.
• Desires significant outcomes with little new
  investment.
• Desires a shift from a campus centric library
  system to a unified library system.