MnSCU/PALS Technical Services Report: Spring 2006 User Groups

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Technical Services Report
Spring 2006 User Groups

System News

Ongoing system maintenance, security patches, and upgrades.
Working with UNIX system monitoring software to automate a process to alert on-call staff of system problems that are being monitored.
Hardware, operating system, and support application software for LibProxy was installed. (December, February, March)
Attended LaSSSI (Large Scale Shared Systems Initiative) meetings with Ex Libris in San Antonio. Ex Libris demonstrated new product ideas and solicited input from the group. (January)
Hardware and software for FuseTalk was installed to replace WebBoard. (February)
Troubleshooting technical problems that are reported about FuseTalk.
Attended and participated in the First Annual Regional Ex Libris Users' Meeting. (March)
Hosted LaSSSI meeting in Mankato on April 10, 2006.

PALS

Ongoing software fixes to reported system problems.
Loading Prompt CAT files from OCLC on PALS for MSB twice a week.
Completed second and final data extract for the Epsilon/Zeta group (21 libraries).
Completed first, second and final data extract for the last group of 23 libraries (Eta).
TRN data was removed in March.
A number of global changes were performed as requested by the libraries.
Installed a new subschema on the mainframe for ILL in February.
Pioneerland contract and support ended.
Pioneerland data was removed in April.
The last BIB database update was completed on April 10, 2006.
The final data extract for the Eta group was completed on April 13, 2006.

Aleph

Ongoing installation of service packs on Lute for version 15.5. ILL service packs are being installed on both Lute and Harp.
Service packs are current and in sync between Lute and Harp.
Attending scheduled ILL conference calls with Ex Libris.
Attending the Indexing Task Force web meetings.
Attending the Validation Task Force web meetings.
Attending the Authority Task Force web meetings.
Performing weekly updates to the Authority database on Harp
Reviewing version 16 and version 17 documentation.
Completed testing item booking and media management, and it was accepted by MnLINK. It will be available in version 17.
Preparing for version 17 upgrade. Region 555 on Lute will be the starting region for the upgrade process.
Testing EDI claims processing with EBSCO and problems are being reported to Ex Libris.
NetLibrary Set 4 records were loaded on Harp in December and January for the libraries that purchased the set.
NetLibrary Public Library 2004 records were loaded on Harp in March for the libraries that purchased the set.
Tested the new Marcive loader and problems have been reported to Ex Libris.
Developed a manual workaround to load the Marcive records until a fix is received from Ex Libris. Loaded SCS, SBJ, and GAC Marcive records on Harp using the new Marcive loader.
Configured and loaded some Marcive records on Lute for BSU to look at before they are loaded on Harp. Still need to test and load Marcive records for SSU and WSU.
Enabled EDI book ordering with Blackwell's Book Services for MSU.
Testing EDI book ordering with Midwest Library Services.
Tested ARC and attended internal ARC team meetings. The ten ARC ADMs were requested to test and provide feedback about its usefulness.
Installed, configured, and set up Aleph ILL and the database on Harp.
Completed interoperability testing between Aleph ILL and PALS ILL using the ISO protocol.
Aleph ILL implementation in production is in process. The first group of libraries began using it in February on Harp. All libraries are scheduled to be using Aleph ILL by the end of May.
Submitting SIs for ILL problems to Ex Libris.
Completed the final data conversion and indexing for the Epsilon/Zeta group (21 libraries, 14 ADMs) in December.
The Epsilon/Zeta group switched to production in January and began using Aleph. There are 42 ADMs using Aleph in production.
Completed first and second data conversion and indexing for the Eta group (23 libraries/21 ADMs). This was a milestone in that this was the first time that there was an instance of Aleph with the entire consortia of 63 ADMs in the 525 region on Lute.
William Shackleton has accepted a position in the technical staff. He will be working with ARC and other Aleph reporting needs.
The final conversion and indexing for the last group of libraries is in progress. Switch to production is scheduled to begin the week of April 24th. There will be 63 ADMs using Aleph in production.
By mid-May 2006, the migration process will be complete. Full resources can be designated to upgrading to version 17 or version 18, and the fun continues....