PALS Home

PALS Support and Training Report May 2006

Aleph Implementation

• Migration of Eta libraries completed and all have switched to production.
• Concentrated effort working with libraries that have just switched to production to resolve any immediate questions or problems encountered.
• Focus on getting to the backlog of eDesk requests that have accumulated while concentrating on the migration of the Eta libraries.
• Detail planning is underway for the migration to Aleph version 17.
• An advisory group has been formed to investigate reports and how Aleph can provide them. The composition of this group is PALS staff and representatives from libraries (Dave Woulu-SBJ, Kathleen Ashe & Sandy Hoffbeck-SSU, Adam Marsnik-NDC, Rosie Mock-MSU, Anna Hulsberg-GAC, Jean Kramer-TRM and Linda Swanson-TRC).

Aleph Training

• Courser Reserve training was offered on May 10th.
• A series of web meeting refresher sessions on each of the Aleph modules is in progress.
• XSL workshops will be offered in June, July, and September.
• Announcements regarding training/workshop opportunities are currently sent to the Aleph migration discussion list.

Aleph ILL

• Training for Group 6 is under way and will be completed by the end of May.
• Problems continue to be discovered, resolved and reported to Ex Libris if necessary.
• Over all the migration to ILL is going fairly well.

PALS eDesk

• We continue to enhance the knowledge base by adding "Answers" as we identify topics that will be useful to more that just an individual library.
• The knowledge base can be search by the number of the "Answer" as well as all of the other options available in the drop down "Search by" box.
• Include examples in eDesk requests whenever possible. Ex. Record numbers or screen shots are always appreciated.

Task Forces Authorities Task Force

• Will meet over the summer, but on a limited basis.
• Web board address for Authorities Task Force http://boards.pals.msus.edu/fusetalk/forum/index.cfm?forumid=17

Indexing Task Force

• May 22nd next meeting.
• Web board address for Indexing Task Force http://boards.pals.msus.edu/fusetalk/forum/index.cfm?forumid=15

Validation Work Group

• Suspended meeting for the summer
• Web board address for Validation Work Group http://boards.pals.msus.edu/fusetalk/forum/index.cfm?forumid=19

MnPALS Access Task Force

• Suspended meeting until version 17 is accessible to them, efforts will be concentrated there.
• Perry will resolve the outstanding issues that had been previously identified by this group and approved.
• Web board address for MATF http://boards.pals.msus.edu/fusetalk/forum/index.cfm?forumid=16

Consortium of MnPALS Libraries Spring User Group Meeting

• Evaluation form completed and presented to User Council.
• Minutes from each User Group subsystem meeting has been posted to the PALS homepage and is attached to each meeting agenda www.pals.msus.edu/pals/minutes/main0604.html.

MnLINK Gateway Update
The PALS office continues to provide user support to the Consortium of MnPALS Libraries in their use of the Fretwell-Downing ZPORTAL (searching) software. As the last three groups of libraries are trained on Aleph ILL, we will be changing their setup in ZPORTAL to transfer requests from ZPORTAL into Aleph ILL.

We continue to work with Fretwell-Downing on the following:

• Changing the mapping from the ELM databases in ZPORTAL, so that the year is in a separate field to aid in tracking copyright compliance.
• Adding a link from "My Requests" in ZPORTAL to direct the user into the user interface of the ILL module in PALS or Aleph, so they can check the status of their requests there.

The PALS office continues to represent the Consortium of MnPALS Libraries on the MnLINK Gateway Operations Committee, which meets quarterly. The last meeting was held May 4. Topics discussed included:

• Forming a marketing group to create a marketing plan for the MnLINK Gateway
• Adding new server sites
• Holding a "Technology Summit" to commence the work of the MnLINK Technology Advisory Committee
• Report of the MINITEX/MnLINK ILL Committee and their work on an "Overdue, Lost Books, Damaged Materials" policy

Pending upgrade to v.3.0 of the Fretwell-Downing software. A demonstration was given Learning Management RightNow
Activity for the RightNow implementations continues to increase. This past month we presented at the MnSCU IT Conference, discussed pre-implementation with Normandale Community College, and began implementation of the Century College interfaces. Negotiations are currently taking place between RightNow and the Office of Chancellor to implement an enterprise-wide contract. Kyle will be attending meetings this month to discuss this issue in more detail. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is expected to purchase an interface this month.

FuseTalk Forums
Testing and implementation of the FuseTalk chat and mailing list components are currently underway. Kyle is also working on some advanced layout and branding options for forum owners who are interested in a unique look and feel.

Upcoming Scheduled Training Sessions

• ILL Training, May 17-18, Metropolitan State University
• ILL Training, May 23-24, Metropolitan State University
• XSL Report Configuration Workshop - Tentatively scheduled for June 21, in the Metro Region
• Course Reserve web meeting Training, August 16
• XSL Report Configuration Workshop, Sept. 13 at the PALS office
• XSL Report Configuration Workshop, Sept. 28 in the Metro Region

Meeting/Training/Workshop Attendance

• DARS RNT Implementation - March 20-22, Kyle
• ILL Training - March 21-22, Sonja
• ILL Training - March 27, Sonja
• RNT Implementation for ACC - March 30, Kyle
• RNT Implementation for CEN - March 31, Kyle
• Eta Circulation Training - March 28-29, Susan & Perry
• iSEEK RNT Implementation - April 3-4, Kyle
• Eta Circulation Training - April 4-5, Susan & Cathy
• Aleph ILL Training - April 5 -7, Sonja
• Host LaSSSI meeting - April 10, Support Staff
• Eta Circulation Training - April 11-12, Susan & Dan
• MnPALS Annual Meeting - April 10, Becky, Cathy & Dee
• Eta library Acquisitions web meeting - April 18, Dee
• MnSCU ITS Conference - April 19-21, Kyle & Frank
• MnLINK MINITEX ILL Subcommittee - April 20, Susan
• MnPALS User Group Meeting - April 21-22, Support Staff
• ILL Training - April 25-27, Sonja & Susan
• Century College RNT Implementation - May 1-2, Kyle & Frank
• XSL Training (in-house) - May 2, Support Staff
• Cataloging Refresher - May 3 & 4, Mary Ann
• User Council & Executive Committee - May 4, Becky & Dee
• Acquisitions Refresher - May 8, Dee
• Serials Refresher - May 9, Dee
• ILL Training - May 11-12, Sonja & Dan (5/11)

Questions?
Please send any questions regarding the Support & Training Report to http://pals.custhelp.com/