Extending Access To Information Resource Discovery Service William E. Moen, Ph.D. Kathleen R. Murray, Ph.D. School of Library and Information Sciences Texas Center for Digital Knowledge University of North Texas Presentation to University of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, 2003

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, The problem

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, A solution

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Finding / exposing Finding: Users can find only what’s been exposed Exposing: How content is exposed determines how and if user can find it Goal: Allow easy discovery of and access to many information resources Strategy: Implement a single search interface to support resource discovery Tactic: Use standards and develop agreements for exposing and finding leading to interoperable systems and data

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Resource discovery Discovering, identifying, and selecting useful resources Extends the reach and range of user access: Organizational, collections, and format boundaries Search and retrieval are core –Single database searching –Broadcast searching across similar databases –Broadcast searching across different databases

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Resource discovery

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Exposing / finding #1

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Exposing / finding #2

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Exposing / finding #3

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Exposing / finding #4

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Library of Texas A Virtual Library Reaching Across Boundaries to Extend Access to A Range of Information Resources Collection Boundaries Organizational Boundaries Format Boundaries

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, ZLOT project Z Implementation Component of the Library of Texas (ZLOT) Develop standards-based approach for the virtual library Project Focus Identify requirements for resource discovery across library catalogs and online databases Demonstrate feasibility and utility of resource discovery tools Phase 1 – 2002: Design and specifications Phase 2 – 2003: Initial implementation

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Virtual library facets Collections of resources – local and distributed Collaborative services and activities –Services for users –Services for librarians Tools that assist users in networked information resource discovery and access A management structure that allocates resources, determines policies, agrees on standards, etc.

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Characterizing the VL An environment for provision of –Services –Resources Not a digital library –Not all resources available are in digital/electronic form An evolving product that responds to –Users’ needs –Available resources –Current and emerging technologies

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Service-centric virtual library User Groups Resources Technology Management SERVICES

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Services Layer Standard Information Interchange Among Services FinancialAuthorization Resource Sharing Patron Account Library Information Education Resource Discovery ReferencePersonalization

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Functional requirements for LOT Resource Discovery Service Key Players –Advisory Group –Focus Groups Requirements –Search and Retrieval Interface –Search Interface –Retrieval Interface –Virtual Catalog –TexShare Databases Resource Discovery Service Virtual Catalog Search & Retrieval Interface TexShare Data bases

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Resource Discovery: Functional View 1.TexShare Databases 2.Electronic Archive of Government Information 3.Statewide Virtual Catalog Content or Resource Collections Middleware LOT Search & Retrieval Interface 1.Broadcast Searching a.Similar Resources b.Dissimilar Resources 2.Common Retrieval Display 1.Translates Searches 2.Formats Retrievals 3.Interacts with Multiple IR Systems Information Retrieval Systems

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Resource Discovery: Operational View Content OAI Repository Standards-based Search & Retrieval Protocols Proprietary or Non-standard Search & Retrieval Protocols Content Gateway Common Interface

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Ease of searching: –Common interface for simple and advanced searching –Training needs are reduced Local library is present –Customizable interface to include local library Tools to help users –Select resources based on location, type, etc. –Indications of availability and “how to get” Utilization of valuable resources –Increased use of TexShare databases –Easier access to Texas libraries’ resources Benefits of LOT Resource Discovery Service

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Z39.50 and resource discovery Information Retrieval (Z39.50): Application Service Definition and Protocol Specification Allows –Searching of databases on one or more systems –Retrieval of records from those system –Without user having detailed knowledge of each system Provides –Search and retrieval of bibliographic and non- bibliographic resources –Technical foundation for information access and resource sharing

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Z39.50 model of information retrieval

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, How is Z39.50 being used? To provide a common way to interact with databases –Serving up bibliographic records from online catalogs –Serving up records from commercial databases –Using a single interface to search databases Information environments –Libraries –Commercial database providers –Government information locators (e.g., TRAIL) Applications –Bibliographic citation software (e.g., Procite, EndNote) –Portals –Virtual libraries Colorado, Illinois, Texas

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30,

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30,

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30,

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Z39.50 client use in Texas libraries Source: ZLOT Technology Inventory and Assessment Survey, 2002

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Z39.50 servers in Texas N=24

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Z39.50 and virtual catalogs

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Exposing / finding #2

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, OCLC’s WorldCat or virtual catalog Motivation –Focus group questions –Understanding of alternatives for resource disc. Activities –Determine public library holdings data academic library holdings data Texas holdings represented in OCLC’s WorldCat –Analyze and compare

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Academic library holdings Academic library holdings: 33,458,040 (164 libraries) Holdings represented in WorldCat: 27,377,445 (81.8%)

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Public library holdings Public library holdings: 27,466,347 (552 libraries) Holdings represented in WorldCat: 7,030,485 (25.6%)

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, Are there alternatives to Z39.50? It depends… what application/service do you want? And there are tradeoffs… what costs are incurred? Possible alternatives –Have users search individual databases through native interfaces – web interfaces make this a bit easier –Build large repositories of metadata (e.g., OAI) –Use customized translators and scripts (e.g. WebFeat) –Wait for new protocols and technologies (e.g., XML standards such as XML Query, XPath, etc.)

MoenUniversity of Texas at Arlington Library Staff, May 30, LOT RDS opportunities for UTA Participate as search target for RDS –Pilot Uplift Program –Express interest at: Participate as pilot for RDS application –Provide your users custom single search interface to: Texas library catalogs TexShare databases Locally licensed databases Others