Connecting Systems to Enhance the Discoverability of Hidden
Collections
Cheryl Gowing Dir., Information Mgmt & Systems
Hong Ma Former Information Systems Librarian Head of Systems, Loyola University Chicago
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University of Miami Libraries○ Main (Richter),
Architecture, Business, Marine, & Music Libraries; Off-Site Storage• Separate Law & Medical
Libraries
○ 3+ million volumes○ 110 digital collections
w/1,064,732 objects○ 140 staff [35 Librarians]
Special Collections at UM
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Challenge: Manage & Expose Special Collections
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Old Manual Request Forms
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Solutions
o Aeon
o Archon
o CONTENTdm
o Summon
o Special Collections Request Management Software
o EAD Finding Aid Repository
o OCLC’s Digital Collection Management Software
o Serial Solutions Web-scale Discovery Service
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Connections between Discovery and Management
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CONTENTdm
Library Catalog
Content has been ingested into Summon unified index
CONTENTdm
Library Catalog
Digital Exhibition
More Connections
Special Collections Request Mgmt
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AEON: special collections request software○ Developed by Atlas Systems, Inc which also developed ILLiad.
○ It offers a web based interface for researchers to request rare books, manuscripts and archives online as well as desktop client for staff to manage these requests.
○ Aeon implementation and integration with other tools makes patrons’ lives easier and makes the management of daily procedures and compilation of usage statistics more streamlined.
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User Track Requests
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Staff View for All Requests
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Reproduction Request
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Request Moves to Awaiting Order Processing Queue
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Generating the Billing Invoice and Email
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In Photoduplication: Deliver Item
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Researcher View/Download Items from Aeon Account
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Connection with OPAC
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The request form is Auto-populated
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Aeon Customization Manager OpenURL Mapping: Backend Configurations
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Enhancement: Catalog Search Addon
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Enhancement: Catalog Search Addon
Catalog Search Result is Ready for Import
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More information imported to the Request
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Archon for Archival Finding Aids○ Open source
platform developed by U of Illinois
○ Migrating to ArchivesSpace – merging Archivist Toolkit and Archon
Archon slides by Kyle Rimkus, with thanks to Beatrice Skokan, Chris Prom, and Scott Schwartz
Aeon “Request” Button was Available on Archon Archon
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Auto-populated Finding Aids Request Form
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Hacked “Research Cart”
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Researchers Review/Submit Requested Items in the Cart
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Requests are Submitted Automatically
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Researcher can edit each request
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Aeon Request Options on the CONTENTdm Site
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Auto-populated Digital Collection Request Form
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Omeka Digital Exhibits Request
○ Omeka – open source CMS, typically used to present digital exhibits
○ Aeon integration allows for requests of physical items and/or reproductions of the digital images
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Omeka Requests
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Summon: Web-scale Discovery Tool○ Developed by ProQuest: One search to a single unified index.○ Summon content scope:
• Library Catalog Records• Digital Collections• Finding Aids• Full-text articles & E-books• Newspaper articles, dissertations, institutional repositories, image
collections, etc.
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Summon at UM
○ We implemented Summon in 2010○ Incorporate library catalog records, digital collections from
CONTENTdm and in the process to ingest Finding Aids records.○ Faculty and Students no longer need to determine where to start their
search.○ Now user can go to unified single search interface to discovery
special collection items and make request in the context of needs.
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Impact○ UM Special Collections department keep track of collection
usages and analyze/identify Most Used collections
UM Special Collections Dept. received NHRC grant ($153,809) for reprocessing Pan American World Airways Collection.
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thanks to Athena Jackson , Special Collections Librarian who provided the information
Applied technologies
○ OpenURL○ Z39.50 ○ PHP and JavaScript○ Lua: A lightweight embeddable scripting
language. (Used by Atlas for catalog add-on)
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request['ItemTitle'] = $('#metadata_title').text().trim(); request['ItemDate'] = $('#metadata_date').text().trim(); request['Notes'] = $('#metadata_note').text().trim(); request['ItemVolume'] = $('#metadata_contai').text().trim();
}
var baseUrl = 'http://aeon.library.miami.edu/aeon/aeon.dll';
function createRequest(requestType) { var request = {};
if (view && view === 'singleitem') {
Sample Code: Create Request
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function sendToAeon(request) { var url = baseUrl; if (request['RequestType'] === 'Loan') { if (loanUseDefaultForms) { url = url + '?Action=10&Form=21' } else { url = url + '?Action=10&Form=20&Value=' + loanGenericRequestForm; } } else { if (copyUseDefaultForms) { url = url + '?Action=10&Form=23'; } else { url = url + '?Action=10&Form=20&Value=' + copyGenericRequestForm; } }
Sample Code: Send Request to Aeon
Extended Use of Aeon ○ Keep track of special collection items for Cataloging process.
• Aeon client allows you to build relationships between user accounts.
• Researcher account - proxy account ---- “Cataloger” / “Cataloging department account”
• Customized queue can be set up for Cataloging department○ Keep track of special collection items for digitization and
preservation process. ○ Set up ILL queue for all requests coming from ILL requests.○ Set up Off-campus Storage queue for requests from SC units○ Adding more sites into use of Aeon.
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