HomeAbout PALSProducts/ServicesMnPALS Support CenterMnPALS ConsortiumNewsCalendar
MnPALS ConsortiumMembersVision StatementMission StatementGovernance and PoliciesDeans/Directors/CoordinatorsExecutive CommitteeUser GroupsUser CouncilTask ForcesFundingCalendarQuick Links
Printer Friendly Version

Technical Services Report: Fall 2008 User Groups

System News

  • Set up server for the Evergreen (Equinox open source ILS) demo.
  • Re-indexed the keywords on Lute in April to test indexing changes recommended by the Indexing Task Force. This needs to be implemented on production. We will be discussing the best time to schedule this work.
  • Implemented version 18/Integrated LL, upgraded to ORACLE 10G and Solaris 10 on production on May 31st
  • Installed and implemented a new backup tape library and system and a new rack (July).
  • Implemented MnPALS Plus (the Discovery Tool) in production on August 15th: http://plus.mnpals.net/
  • Installed the July Aleph version 18 service pack on the production server on August 10th.
  • Refreshed the ORACLE database on the development server (dev18) from the October 4th production database (aleph) backup.
  • Installed the October Aleph version 18 service pack on the development server on October 8th.
  • Ordered, set up, and installed two new servers for sundry products.
  • Hired two students for technical work.
  • Mike Barnett retired on June 30, 2008.
  • Ongoing system maintenance, security patches, and upgrades.

Aleph

Task Forces, Presentations, Committees, Training:

  • Attended Indexing Task Force meetings.
  • Attended ELUNA in Long Beach, CA.
  • Completed Aleph systems training.
  • Attended Version 19 technical seminar in Long Beach, CA.
  • Attended Authorities Task Force meeting.

Enhancements, Fixes, Miscellaneous:

  • Performed global changes to approximately 400,000 NetLibrary bib records to delete subfield 3 “Bibliographic record display” in 856 fields per request from the Reference Users Group in April.
  • Completed deleting over 400,000 expired patron records (p-cir-77) from the database. The process finished over Labor Day weekend. Patron records with no activity since July 1, 2007 were deleted.
  • Performed global changes and deletes for libraries as requested.
  • Tested Marcive loader fixes. The matching routine works, but there is still a problem with item record creation and has been reported to Ex Libris.
  • Created a new process (p-mnpals-09) to update privileges in z305 records (patron local information).
  • Planning to test Aleph version 18 Authority processing enhancements on the development server. This requires full re-indexing of the Bib and Authority databases.
  • Continuing to work on PALS Support Center tickets.

Record Loads:

  • Performing weekly updates to the Authority database on production.
  • Loading PromptCat records for Minnesota School of Business (MSB).
  • Loaded the Marcive records for subscriber libraries through October 2008.
  • Loaded several sets of NetLibrary records for libraries that purchased the sets.
  • Loaded special OCLC sets of records for libraries as requested.
  • Created a test file of local holdings records from Inver Hills College (IHC) for WorldCat Local and sent to OCLC. Waiting to hear from OCLC about the test load.
  • Created SQL queries to produce a tab delimited file of local holdings records from Inver Hills College (IHC) for Link Manager and sent to OCLC. There is an outstanding issue with seasonal issues and dates that we are waiting to hear from OCLC about how they are going to handle this.

Reports:

  • Created mnpals-xx reports as requested by the Reports Group.
  • An Excel spreadsheet listing all of the reports that are available in Aleph can be found by clicking on the MnPALS Support Center button from the PALS home page and selecting the “Documentation” and “list of Aleph Services and Reports” links at: http://www.mnpals.org/

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI):

  • Set up and implemented the vendor record loader (file-96) in production for St. Cloud State University (SCS) and Metro State University (MTR).
  • Set up and implemented EDI book ordering with Midwest Library Services in production for Gustavus Adolphus College (GAC).
  • Working on EDI book ordering with Blackwell Book Services for Gustavus Adolphus College (GAC).

Version 19:

  • Created and prepped a zone (polka) on the development server for the version 19 installation.
  • Ex Libris installed version 19 on the development server (October).
  • Will be planning a version 19 test upgrade on the development server.

Open Source

  • Created virtual servers and installed two open source ILS (Evergreen and Koha), and an open source open URL link resolver (CUFTS/GODOT). CUFTS is the database and GODOT is the open URL link resolver.
  • Attended Discovery Tool Task Force meetings.
  • Attended Evergreen demo at PALS in April.
  • Three innovation teams were formed: Open URL Link Resolver, Open ILS, and Discovery Tool.
  • Attending Open Source team meetings.

Other

  • Attended annual MINITEX ILL conference.
  • Attended ALA conferences in Anaheim, CA.
  • Attending PALS Strategic Planning team meetings.
  • Installed EZProxy; working on migrating libraries from LibProxy to EZProxy and adding new libraries.
  • Updated the PALS work plan.
  • OCLC’s open URL link resolver, Link Manager, has been purchased by 12 libraries. It has been installed and implemented at 11 libraries. The last library in the first round of implementation is in process.
  • OCLC’s WorldCat Local has been purchased by four libraries. Implementation is in process.
Copyright © 2007-2008 PALS