Minutes

 

01.09.2008

MSL 107 11 AM-12 PM

 

Present: Jessica Wittman, Jason Fleming, Jimmie Lundgren, Colleen Seale, Rich Bennett, Matthew Daley, Sarah Gonzalez, Marina Salcedo, Marilyn Ochoa, Betsy Simpson.

 

Colleen gave recap on OPAC Visioning Summit. She indicated of those at this meeting that she, Jason, Betsy and Marina had all attended.  Michelle Foss was also in attendance.  Colleen mentioned that that the first thing the participants were asked to do was to say something different about what they wanted out of an OPAC (ice breaker).  Rich revealed that Metasearch and next gen OPAC (MANGO) is the name used internally for the Endeca web app.  Betsy talked about a number of issues that were raised including the single sign on idea, which received total consensus by those at the Summit.  Other priorities were social networking features, dynamic updating.  Jason mentioned that daily updates would begin in a few months.

 

The idea of the single OPAC was discussed.  It is an issue tied in with unmediated borrowing. The SUS Tech Service Planning Committee has been reviewing this for some time.  This does not mean that a union catalog would be used across the states but that only Endeca would be used; ALEPH web OPAC will no longer be updated and development will be focused on the Endeca interface.  This is different from the single bib issue.

 

Other issues discussed includes open source options for greater flexibility (since Endeca has an 8 million record limit before additional fees are due).  However, the consensus was that Endeca would be the OPAC while some investigate this. Also, "Best bets" were discussed.  Jon Blackburn FSU recommended that selectors could control relevancy ranking. Integration of journal articles into the catalog was considered.  Addition of the catalog to information portals was discussed, including my.ufl.

and CMS.  Betsy indicated that the SUS OPAC Subcommittee may be reconfigured, and Marina described the sandbox idea (e.g. google labs).  Round table reports are due today.  The report from the Chair of the SUS OPAC committee will be available for a comment period in a few weeks.

 

Marilyn asked what the communications group should be considering as next steps.  The following problems were raised:

• Staff needs to inform us of what the necessary enhancements are to the Endeca interface since many people still turn to ALEPH for some tasks (e.g. known item searching). 
• We need to determine if staff uses ALEPH is because certain features are better executed in ALEPH than Endeca or if it is due to users not understanding or knowing how to complete a task in Endeca

 

Rich recommends conversation about why staff uses ALEPH.  This converstation needs to be feature focused.

 

Jimmie asked about phrase searching in Endeca.  It was recommended that UF requests either a box to check for phrase or a "phrase search" option in the drop down.  Jason reiterated that Josh can provide statistics on use of Endeca.

 

Jason introduced the TS/PS/CM idea for a monthly Endeca Topics Meeting.  We could use this discussion on Single OPAC and needed features as the first topic. Jason recommended that in the notice to staff, we encourage staff to mark their searching activities leading up to the session so that they can give real examples of why they use ALEPH over Endeca if they do.  Other possible hooks for attendance to this discussion would be having Endeca and ALEPH available on a moniter side by side for review.

 

Marilyn indicated that Jason and she have been talking about a web form for staff to submit topics for discussion at this monthly meeting.  This would be archived at a location where all Endeca Communications staff could get to it.  Certain logistics need to be worked out, but it was decided meetings would be held in Library East, 1A.  To be decided is who would compile topics from the form and then present this to the Communications group to prioritize submitted issues for the meeting.  Colleen also recommended that at end of each Topic Meeting that we allow a few minutes for all to discuss topic options for the next meeting. 

 

Rich asked Marilyn if she thought this could be broadened to be a "User interface meeting" instead run by the Resource Navigation Committee.  Marilyn said she needed to talk to Carrie and Shelley about this first, but did not believe that these meetings would be denied. 

 

Marilyn began the conversation about Communications meeting times.  Consensus is that meetings would continue to be on Wednesdays prior to the SUS OPAC Subcommittee Conference call but would be pushed up to 1230 PM.

 

Marilyn asked for folks to take a look at the report form Jason mocked up that will replace the Provide Comments and Report a Problem forms linked from the Endeca search interface.  Combining these into one form and programming department email for specific issues (such as Cataloging, Reference, Circulation, etc.) would eliminate the need for an individual to coordinate/assign the Provide Comments messages that get sent to the webmaster.  With this one form (go to http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/acqlic/TechSupport/jason/formhtm.htm), the appropriate department would be automatically sent the message and a separate archival copy would go to a mailbox set up for Endeca comments.  Marilyn asked that a the group look at this form and provide input about the language and problem dropdown by the next meeting.

 

Marilyn indicated that the next Communications meeting would be held on February 13, 2008.

 

Marilyn, Sarah and Jason updated the group on the usability test.  The protocol has been approved and testing will begin in the next few weeks.

 

Rich asked to be put on the next agenda to talk about the population of the space under the basic search box in Endeca.

 

Betsy gave a brief topical preview of an issue she would like the group to consider:  how to broadcast the full text search of UFDC or other digital collections into Endeca.