Current Projects:
Projects for 2009:
Digital Asset Management
This project will identify an appropriate solution for the management of digital assets other than research outputs (which are currently managed in DSpace through the IRR project).
Interlibrary loan
LCoNZ evaluated the Voyager interlibrary loan module but found that it did not meet our requirements. Other options for managing interlibrary loan followed with a decision taken to implement VDX. It is anticipated that the implementation will take place in 2009.
Beyond Voyager 7
ExLibris have advised that Voyager will continue to be maintained for the next two to three years. LCoNZ needs to plan for a time beyond Voyager and in 2009 contracted John Truesdale to provide an environmental scan of trends in library management systems and associated applications, looking at systems in the context of library and ICT developments, building on international reviews and research and providing a New Zealand perspective. This scan will inform our decisions as we plan for a future beyond Voyager 7.
Discovery Layer Evaluation
This project will provide LCoNZ users with a single search and discovery tool to access the information resources provided by each member institution. John Truesdale’s scan has been used to inform our thinking. A requirements document has been prepared and a number of applications have been identified for consideration prior to a formal evaluation of the applications that meet our requirements.
Mobile Technologies
A further project to investigate the use of mobile technology to provide library users with wireless access to Voyager, to provide for dynamic searches through library records and the ability for users to access their account details.
Evaluation of LCoNZ costs
LCoNZ undertook to check that the value of being a member of the LCoNZ consortium for the four shareholding universities met their cost expectations.
Hexad Consulting Group Ltd was asked to compare the costs and benefits of the universities being part of LCoNZ with operating separate in-house services for their library systems.
Hexad concluded that the four universities have benefited financially and operationally from being part of the LCoNZ consortium principally because of:
- Their access to Ex Libris licences at consortia prices,
- The quality and level of service provided through the Datacom contracts, and
- The impetus generated from working together in the various enhancement projects
The LCoNZ management has been influential in ensuring these benefits are realised.
Web Voyage Interface including Maori Translation
LCoNZ investigated the options available in implementing a bilingual interface in conjunction with a planned upgrade of the Web Voyage Interface. All options were considered, which ranged from doing nothing, to making the entire catalogue transaction available in both languages. The project team created a prototype to test the options and recommended the Maori language interface include:
- Splash screen
- Menu/navigation options
- Screen prompts where possible
- List headings where possible
- Context sensitive help screens
Taumauri Trust have been contracted to provide the translations. An upgrade to Voyager 7.0.4 has mean that implementation has been delayed since additional translations are required. It is envisaged that the bilingual interface will be implemented in September 2009.
Virtual Reference
The Virtual Reference project investigated the viability of a collaborative virtual reference service to provide library patrons the opportunity to interact and ask questions of library staff electronically in real time, using communications media which is familiar to the user group.
The project:
- Identified the need and benefits of a virtual reference service to specific groups
- Identified appropriate software after evaluation of options
- Evaluated costs and benefits
And recommended that the LCoNZ libraries implement a Virtual Reference service using instant messaging software. The service will be established locally, initially, using a custom package designed by an implementation team.
The implementation team has prepared for distribution to the libraries.
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