Discovery Tool Implementation and Selection

May 15-16, 2012
Hosted by Nara Newcomer and Bill Walsh
Please join us for an e-forum discussion. It’s free and open to everyone!
Registration information is at the end of the message.
Each day, sessions begin and end at:
Pacific: 7am – 3pm
Mountain: 8am – 4pm
Central: 9am – 5 pm
Eastern: 10am – 6pm
Description
The discovery interface market is exploding, with current products including EBSCO Discovery Service, Serials Solutions Summon, Ex Libris Primo Central, OCLC WorldCat Local, Blacklight, VuFind, Aquabrowser, and more.  These tools (both vendor-supplied and open-source) promise faceted browsing as well as ability to integrate multiple content silos; some come with vendor-provided cloud indexes to articles, e-books, and other electronic content.  The newest development is a cloud-based back end designed to replace the ILS, including OCLC’s WorldShare, Serials Solutions Intota, and Ex Libris Alma.  In today’s world, tools differ not just in the quality of features provided, but in overarching functionality provided and in scope of coverage.  The e-forum will address factors to consider when selecting a tool, strategies for evaluating tools, and keys to successful implementation.
Nara Newcomer is Assistant Music Librarian at East Carolina University, where her duties include cataloging, public services work, and maintaining the music library’s web pages.  Nara has worked closely with discovery selection and implementation at ECU, including Serials Solutions Summon, WorldCat Local, and SirsiDynix Symphony e-library OPAC.  She is leading the creation of the Music Library Association’s “Music Discovery Requirements” document, which explores and provides recommendations for meeting the unique demands music materials pose for discovery.
Bill Walsh is Head of Technical Services at Georgia State University Library, which implemented EBSCO Discovery Service last summer after evaluating other options.  He is co-chair of the library’s discover group.
*What is an e-forum?*
An ALCTS e-forum provides an opportunity for librarians to discuss matters of interest, led by a moderator, through the e-forum discussion list. The e-forum discussion list works like an email listserv: register your email address with the list, and then you will receive messages and communicate with other participants through an email discussion. Most e-forums last two to three days. Registration is necessary to participate, but it's free. See a list of upcoming e-forums at: http://bit.ly/upcomingeforum.
*To register:*
Instructions for registration are available at: http://bit.ly/eforuminfo. Once you have registered for one e-forum, you do not need to register again, unless you choose to leave the email list. Participation is free and open to anyone.