Colorado Virtual Library & Open SiteSearch

Brenda Bailey-HainerDirector, Networking and Resource Sharing

Colorado State LibraryJanuary 2002

Colorado Virtual Library & Open SiteSearch

• Vision• Components

– Virtual Union Catalog– Best Websites– CVL for Kids– Heritage

• Demonstration• Staffing & Equipment• Challenges

Vision• Provide equitable access to information

for all Colorado residents, no matter where they live

• Provide convenient, single search access to all types of materials:– all library catalogs– selected web resources– collections of digitized materials– resources to support K12 education

Colorado Virtual Library

• Virtual Union Catalog• Best Websites • CVL for Kids• Heritage - Colorado Digitization

Project

Virtual Union Catalog• Open SiteSearch WebZ software• Search multiple library catalogs

simultaneously via Z39.50• 33 server connections• 275+ library catalogs

– regional or consortial union catalogs– individual library catalogs– single database per server– multiple databases per server

• 12 different ILS systems

Z39.50 Connections

• CARL• DRA - Classic• DRA - Taos• Dynix• Endeavor Voyager• epixtech Horizon• Ex Libris

• Follett• Innovative Interfaces• Sirsi• TLC• Winnebago

Spectrum• 3 locally created

databases (Database Builder)

Best Websites Database

• Database of web resources for Coloradans

• Use abbreviated Dublin Core• Created using proprietary WebTool

software for data entry• Converted to Open SiteSearch Database

Builder Z39.50 searchable database

Colorado Virtual Library for Kids

• Database of web resources suitable for kids

• 6300+ sites included• Separate search interfaces for kids and

teachers• KidsClick! used as seed database

– Enhanced for Colorado resources

Colorado Virtual Library for Kids

• Use abbreviated Dublin Core• Support additional data elements

– e.g. Grade Level, Colorado Educational Content Standard, Subject Area

• Local proprietary WebTool software used for data entry

• Loaded into Open SiteSearch Database Builder

Colorado Digitization Project - Heritage Database

• Includes libraries, museums, historical societies, and archives

• Varying information systems and databases

• Few are Z39.50 compliant

• Union catalog of metadata – metadata stored centrally– images stored at owning institution

Colorado Digitization Project - Heritage Database

• Union catalog records from 3 sources– Input using Dublin Core template– Converted using MARC to Dublin Core

crosswalk– Converted to Dublin Core using comma

delimited files

• Dublin Core records loaded into Open SiteSearch Database Builder

SiteSearch WebZ (CVL Interface)

CVL for Kids(Local DB)

Best Websites(Local DB)

Heritage(Local DB)Library

Catalog

LibraryCatalog

LibraryCatalog

LibraryCatalog

Z39.50 Z39.50

Public Access

SWIFT

SMTPe-mail

OCLC ISO ILL

Z39.50

System Architecture for HERITAGEColorado Digitization Project

Using Heritage Building Heritage

3

ftp Uses cold fusion to build data entry system

Online inputDublin Core format,

Web enabled

1 ftp

Powered by ftp batch update SQL dbOCLC Site Search Part of OCLC Dublin Core

Software Site Search software records

2ftp

Z39.50

1. Developed MARC to Dublin Core crosswalk

2. Developed crosswalk for Access db

3. Developed crosswalk from Museum or HistoricalSocieties system to Dublin Core

Z39.50 ClientPoint to Heritage& retrieve records

Colorado Virtual Librarysearch of collections

Web enabled searchby end user

Web enableduser search

HeritageGateway toColorado

DigitizationProject

Pre coordinatedsearch -Heritage -Z39.50 to DPL Denver Public

Library Photo Dig. db on CARL

SGMLLoader

Argus system

Museum dbto Dublin Coreconverter

CDPDatabase MARC

toDublinCoreconverter

MARCrecord

Access toDublin Coreconverter

LocalAccess db

SQL toSGMLconverter

Colorado Virtual Library

• Demonstration

Staffing• Director• 1 full-time admin assistant• 1 full-time Unix/NT administrator• 1 full-time interface designer• 1 part-time programmer• 1 full-time support & collections

librarian• 1 full-time technology consultant

Virtual Union Catalog Challenges

• ILS Systems - constantly moving target• Varying Z39.50 implementations

– vendor implementation– local implementation– local indexing practices

• Varying cataloging practices• Varying levels of technology knowledge at

libraries

Colorado Virtual Library Challenges

• Data inconsistencies– web resource records without authors– digitized material records without titles

• Legacy data does not meet standards• Local system Z39.50 server

inconsistencies– e.g. one vendor - title keyword only

Future Plans - CVL

• Additional types of databases:– Historical newspapers (article level)– Abstract and index files– Thesaurus of Colorado terms linked to

databases– Digital government– Geographic Information System (GIS)

interface

• Colorado Virtual Library– http://www.aclin.org

• Brenda Bailey-Hainer– Colorado State Library– bailey_b@cde.state.co.us