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Director's Report August 2006

August 31, 2006

To: Consortium of MnPALS Libraries

From: Linda Richter

Re: Update from PALS

Fall is in the air. Cool mornings and students back on campus and a surge in the number of meetings make it feel like fall at the PALS office. For those that have been away for the summer – welcome back to a new academic year.

Aleph Accepted

On July 14, 2006, in a letter to the President of Ex Libris USA, Joyce Hommel, MnLINK Director, on behalf of the MnLINK executive committee, agreed to “accept the full Aleph product as complete”. It was agreed that the remaining outstanding issues would be resolved through Ex Libris support services.

Upgrading to Aleph Version 17

The conversion from version 15 to version 17 of Aleph is progressing steadily. The first test of the data conversion scripts has been completed and preliminary analysis indicates that the conversion was successful. We have loaded a new copy of the authorities file and have indexed it. The next step is indexing of the data in version 17.

With this first data conversion, we are also testing a process called indexing the delta. This is a process where the system continues to be used while the data is converted and indexed. Later, when all of the files and tables are ready in the new version, the system is taken down and the data reloaded and the indexing updated. If this test is successful, this process will reduce the amount of system downtime that will be required when we do the production load of version 17 in late December/early January.

We have completed some of the table upgrade work and are continuing to review log files to determine where additional changes are needed. We are analyzing web pages to determine the best method to move the various pages into the new version. We have already determined that forms will not migrate automatically. Libraries should plan to redo the form customizations they have done when the new version becomes available.

As mentioned previously, our top priority is a successful upgrade to version 17, carrying forward the data and functionality currently available in version 15.5. After we are assured that we have accomplished this, we will focus attention on the implementation of new features, such as Booking. It is possible that Booking will not be ready to be implemented at the time that version 17 goes into production.

Version 17 Training

A version 17 region has been created on harp, the production server, to be used for training and getting to know the new version. This will allow us to provide continued access to a static region for these purposes, while continuing our conversion work on lute, the test server.

The first version 17 training sessions are in progress. A tutorial, which introduces staff to the new client software, is the first step that staff need to complete before attending training sessions. There are several sessions on installing and setting up the client that are being offered in August. The first week of September, we will start with basic navigation sessions for each subsystem. All training sessions for version 17 will be offered via the web.

Aleph Version 18

We have learned that version 18 requires a newer version of the Solaris operating system and a newer Oracle version. Although it is desirable to move to version 18 as quickly as possible, we have determined that it will not be possible to do so by the beginning of spring semester. We have been preparing for necessary system upgrades and studying version 18 documentation so that we will be ready to begin the version 18 upgrade process as soon as version 17 is in production and running satisfactorily. We expect the upgrade to version 18 to be a much easier process than the move from 15.5 to 17.

PALS Server Shutdown Date

The last day for access to the PALS server will be October 31, 2006. Any work you would like to do on PALS, including running reports, looking at data, and closing out ILL transactions, must be completed by this date. This is also the last date that the Depcon server will be available to provide access to reports.

WebPALS access was turned off earlier this month – just after its 10^th birthday!

Staffing Update

We are in the process of filling the open technical staff position, and hope to have a new person on staff soon.

Fall Meetings

The next meetings of the User Council and Executive Committee will be September 7 at Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park Campus. Agendas have been posted on the PALS web site at www.pals.msus.edu/pals/ug_main.html .

The fall meetings of the Consortium of MnPALS Libraries User Groups will be held on October 23 and 24 at Minnesota State Universities, Mankato. The call for agendas is out and the draft agenda is available at www.pals.msus.edu/pals/minutes/main0610.html .

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.