Consortium of MnPALS Libraries Annual Meeting 2006

• 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.
• Installed new processors on Harp. There are 12 processors and 48 GB of RAM. (May)
• Removed Social Security numbers from PALS and Aleph patron data. (June)
• Wrote a script that rotates Apache logs and uses Webalizer to analyze and create web statistics that can be viewed from a browser. (July)
• Developed and tested scripts for automating and enhancing the NetBackup process. (August)
• Technical and hardware support for the MnLINK Gateway ended. The contract was awarded to Fretwell-Downing, and MINITEX picked up all of the hardware. (October, November)
• Hardware, operating system, and support application software for LibProxy was installed. (December, February, March)
• Attended LaSSSI (Large Scale Shared Systems Initiative) meeting 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)
• Attended and participated in the First Annual Regional Ex Libris Users' Meeting. (March)
• Hosted LaSSSI meeting in Mankato on April 10, 2006.
  
  

• Ongoing software fixes to reported system problems.
• ODIN, NDSU, TdS, and PLS contracts and support ended.
• Completely reloaded the MULS database in August.
• Added two branches for Rasmussen College in August.
• Worked with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities technical support and changed the registration file delivery process in August.
• Removed Serials and Acquisitions data for TRN and the Delta library group in September.
• Removed TdS and DHS data in September.
• Removed all libraries that have migrated to Aleph from the drop down list on WebPALS in September.
• Loading Prompt CAT files from OCLC on PALS for MSB twice a week.
• Removed TRN data in September and March.
• Completed a number of global changes as requested by libraries.
• Completed three data extracts for the Epsilon/Zeta group of 21 libraries and two data extracts for the Eta group of 23 libraries.
• Installed a new subschema on the mainframe for ILL in February.
• NetLibrary Public Library 2004 records were loaded on PALS in March.
• Removed Pioneerland data in April.
• The last BIB database update was done on April 10, 2006.
• The final data extract for the last group of libraries (Eta) begins on April 11, 2006 and is expected to be completed by April 13, 2006.
  
  

• Created SQL queries for libraries that are using Acquisitions so the p-acq-25 statistical report can be run from their services menu.
• Performing weekly updates to the Authority database on Harp.
• Installed service packs on Harp for the Aleph Reporting Center (ARC) software.
• Ex Libris installed the ARC software, configured, and completed data extracts on Harp in June for the following ten ARC ADMs: GAC50, LRL50, MHS50, MSL50, MSU50, SBJ50, SCC50, SCS50, UCR50, and WSU50.
• Tested ARC and attended internal ARC team meetings. The ten ARC ADMs were asked to test and provide feedback about its usefulness.
• Changed the PLIF loader to allow longer passwords and no longer load Social Security numbers in June.
• Enhanced PLIF loader to assign special status to graduate students.
• Enhanced PLIF loader to populate ILL fields and define ILL configuration parameters.
• Changed the PLIF loader to no longer load birthdates in patron records.
• Created and moved a report for new titles to production in July.
• Completed item booking and media management testing, and it was accepted by MnLINK. It will be available in version 17.
• 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.
• Completed testing of the Aleph ILL software. Reporting problems to Ex Libris.
• Completed interoperability testing between Aleph ILL and PALS ILL using the ISO protocol.
• Installed, configured, and set up Aleph ILL and the database on Harp.
• Aleph ILL implementation is in process. The first group of libraries began using it in February on Harp. By the end of May, all libraries will be using Aleph ILL.
• NetLibrary Set 4 records were loaded on Harp for the libraries that purchased the set in December and January.
• NetLibrary Public Library 2004 records were loaded on Harp for the libraries that purchased the set in March.
• Reviewing version 16 and version 17 documentation.
• Tested version 17 and reported problems to Ex Libris.
• Preparing system for version 17 upgrade. Region 555 on Lute will be the starting region for the upgrade process.
• Testing new Marcive loader and reporting problems to Ex Libris.
• Loading Marcive records for SCS, SBJ, and GAC on Harp with new Marcive loader. Problems that have been reported are being manually fixed until a permanent solution is received from Ex Libris.
• Testing the new Marcive loader with BSU's Marcive records on Lute. Configuration and testing for WSU and SSU Marcive records still needs to be done.
• Testing EDI claims processing with EBSCO. Problems were reported to Ex Libris.
• Modified, tested, and put into production a FTP procedure for sending EDI book orders and claims to vendors to accommodate our system set up and vendor requirements in August.
• Enabled EDI book ordering with Baker and Taylor in September for the following three ADMs: MSU, MWL, and SCC.
• Modified the edi-11 process to retain a print copy of EDI book orders that are sent to the vendor since the order acknowledgment is not functional yet.
• Enabled EDI book ordering with Blackwell's Book Services for MSU in March.
• Testing EDI book ordering with Midwest Library Services.
• Testing EDI order acknowledgments with Baker and Taylor.
• Reformatted the output data from the p_cash_10 process for input to the business office interface. Work remains to be completed.
• Submitted a SI to Ex Libris about the p-cir-25 process running too long and creating corrupted indexes whenever patron activity is done before it finishes. A resolution needs to be received before the last group of libraries goes into production. A fix was tested, and it should be implemented in time.
• Submitted a SI to Ex Libris for p_manage_18_p process that is used to load NetLibrary records. It fails to load records longer than 2,000 characters. A workaround is being used until the problem is fixed.
• A FTP site and Aleph service have been set up for MSU to upload an input file to test the Aleph inventory function.
• Implemented Aleph table changes as recommended by the Validation Task force on Harp.
• Implemented Aleph table changes as recommended by the Authorities Task force on Harp.
• Completed the second data conversion and indexing for the Epsilon/Zeta group (21 libraries, 14 ADMs) and the first data conversion and indexing for the Eta group (23 libraries, 21 ADMs) on Lute in the 525 region in November. This was a milestone in that this was the first instance of Aleph with the entire consortia of 63 ADMs.
• Completed the final data conversion and indexing for Epsilon/Zeta group in December.
• The Epsilon/Zeta libraries switched to production in January. There are 42 ADMs using Aleph in production.
• Completed the second data conversion and indexing for the Eta group on Lute in March.
• The keyword index changes that were recommended by the Indexing Task Force were included with the second data indexing for the Eta group on Lute.
• Currently processing the final conversion and indexing for the last group of libraries (Eta).
• The Eta group and final switch to production is scheduled the week of April 24. There will be 63 ADMs using Aleph in production.
• William Shackleton has accepted a position as a member of the technical staff. He will be working with ARC and other Aleph reporting needs.
• By mid-May, the migration process will be complete. Full resources can be designated to upgrading to version 17 or version 18, and the fun begins again…
  
  

• Moved data from local drives on Cittern to the SAN to improve performance and add data redundancy.
• Added TdS to the MnLINK Gateway.
• Technical support staff, Larry Spiess, left PALS in August.
• MnLINK Gateway contract for support ended in October.