Overviews of the Library of Texas & ZLOT Project Dr. William E. Moen Principal Investigator

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation2 Presentation Overview Characterize the Library of Texas Describe the ZLOT project Virtual libraries and services Focal ZLOT services Quick tour

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation3 The Library of Texas (LOT) A program of The Texas State Library and Archives Commission The Telecommunication Infrastructure Fund Board A statewide initiative building on –The evolving telecommunications infrastructure –Computing and networking technologies –The treasures and resources of Texas libraries Overarching goal –Provide services that extend the reach and range of Texans to information The Library of Texas website at: –

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation4 Characterizing the LOT A virtual library 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

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation5 Initial components of LOT Online databases –60 databases –Full-text, reference materials, journals Electronic archive of government information –Preserve electronic publications from state agencies Comprehensive training –Training for use of online databases and other resources Statewide virtual catalog – The ZLOT Project

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation6 The LOT builds on …. TexShare programs services –Interlibrary loan –Courier service –Online resources –TexTreasures –Card program –Education Texas libraries’ resources

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation7 ZLOT project The Z Implementation Component of the Library of Texas Planning and implementation of 3 components: 1.Virtual catalog 2.Integrating search and retrieval interface 3.Document delivery service framework Demonstration of 1& 2 by August 2002 The ZLOT Project website: –

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation8 ZLOT approach Build consensus on functional requirements Develop an overall architecture for LOT Formalize the requirements in technical specifications Demonstrate feasibility in proof of concept implementations You are here today to help us with the first step!

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation9 ZLOT methodology Conduct a technology inventory and readiness assessment of libraries Build consensus on LOT requirements –Identifying functional requirements for LOT –Reviewing appropriate standards and technologies –Designing an overall LOT architecture –Documenting specifications for virtual catalog and integrating search and retrieval interface –Develop a document delivery service framework Coordinate proof of concept implementations Plan and conduct evaluation

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation10 LOT Architecture Services-based Identifies components and their interaction in the support of virtual library services The virtual catalog and integrating interface are tools to build services The document delivery service framework addresses users’ need to obtain/access resource We need to identify the services and requirements

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation11 Some VL services Resource discovery services Document delivery services Reference services Instruction services Patron account services

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation12 Virtual library architecture Services User Groups defined by needs of respond to needs of Resources Technology Services offer & use resources Resources are collected, organized, managed using technology

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation13 Focal services for ZLOT, 1 Resource discovery services –Extends the reach and range of a user across Organizational, collections, and format boundaries –A variety of tools and approaches for Discovering the existence of appropriate resources Identifying and selecting useful resources Search and retrieval services are core –Single repository searching –Broadcast searching across similar repositories –Integrative searching across diverse resources

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation14 Virtual catalog Dynamic selection of one or more catalogs Search using a common search interface provided by Z39.50 Customized user interfaces for various audiences Common searches prescribed by the Z Texas Profile and U.S. National Profiles

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation15 Z39.50-based virtual catalog Catalog 4 Catalog N Catalog 1 Catalog 2 Catalog 3 Z Server Z Client Z39.50 Client User Interface Resulting Virtual Catalog Single user search as multiple queries to multiple catalogs User perceives single search to single logical resource

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation16 Z Texas Profile searches Prescribes a common set of searches to be supported by Z39.50 enabled catalogs Level 0 –Basic keyword searches (author, title, subject, & any keyword) – recall oriented Level 1 –More precision-oriented author, title, subject searches (e.g., exact match, phrase) –More recall-oriented searches (right truncation) –Date of publication search –Standard identifier search –ISBN, ISSN, Language, Format of Material searches

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation17 Integrating search/retrieval Dynamic selection of two or more resources –Library catalogs –Online databases (e.g., A & I databases, TRAIL) Search using a common search interface provided by Z39.50 and other technologies Customized user interfaces for various audiences

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation18 Model of integrating search Virtual Museum Collection E-Journal Printed Book Database Digital Library Image Networked & Analog Information Resources Structured Representations Metadata Information Retrieval Systems IR System

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation19 Focal services for ZLOT, 2 Document delivery services –Getting the information to the user –Mediated and/or non-mediated services –Potential mechanisms Interlibrary loan Statewide virtual circulation approach (Ohio MORE) Courier Direct delivery to desktop for digital resources –Potential concerns?

February 2002ZLOT Focus Group Presentation20 Generating requirements… For the resource discovery services For the document delivery services Quick tour of –Colorado Virtual Library –Virtual Illinois Catalog –Kentucky Virtual Library Return to Focus Group Agenda