Re: A-Z Lists vs. the OPAC Martha Coleman 11 Feb 2005 20:21 UTC
Hi Tony, We are a small university (6,000 head count and 4,640 FTE) and we use Serials Solutions as our main identifier of full text (paper, microform and online). In order for our local holdings to show up in the A-Z List I had to send a file and they show up just fine. The "UA Fort Smith Print Holdings" link goes directly to our online catalog, does an ISSN search and displays the holdings. We also have a few titles that are online only or online comes with paper and the link to the full text is out of our catalog (856 field). I am a one-person operation here and would not have the time to download marc records for all of our online databases as this would have to be done at lease on a quarterly basis to keep up with the changes. Serials Solutions A-Z List is wonderful and I only wish that we could afford to link directly to the article. We currently have the Journal Linker product that links to the journal and then you have to drill down to the year, then issue, then article. Certainly easier than going to the shelves :o) You can set up a link in most of the databases directly to the A-Z List and it appears in every citation where full text is not supplied by the vendor. We also added a link to Interlibrary Loan as the next logical step...no full text? click on the A-Z List...0 hits in the A-Z List? click on ILL. Here is a link to our library home page. The "Does the library have this journal?" link in the left menu bar is the Serials Solution A-Z List. I hope this is what you were asking. I know it sounds like I work for Serials Solutions but I am just impressed with their product. If I can help just let me know. I remember what it was like "being new to serials." Martha Tony Goodwyn wrote: >Hello, serialists! > >Recently, the idea was raised about taking an A-Z List >from a link resolver and using it almost completely in >lieu of the library OPAC to search for journal >information. > >I'm wondering a few things about this, and, being >pretty new to serials, I'd really like some opinions >about it. I'm intrigued by the idea, but I'm not sure >I have the perspective to see what some potential >problems might be. Does anyone on this list have >experience in dealing with this subject? Any advice, >issues, or considerations I should know about? > >Any input would be appreciated. > >Best, >Tony > >Tony Wren Goodwyn >Serials/Electronic Access Librarian >St. Olaf College >1520 St. Olaf Ave. >Northfield, MN 55057 > > > > >__________________________________ >Do you Yahoo!? >Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. >http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail > ----------------------------------- Martha Coleman Reference/Serials Librarian University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Boreham Library 5210 Grand Avenue PO Box 3649 Fort Smith, AR 72913 479-788-7208 FAX 479-788-7209