Hi,

We re-vended our A-Z list from Serials Solutions to EBSCO A-to-Z this
past summer/fall.  We're still in the process of tweaking some things,
particularly the public display.  You can check out our site at:
http://atoz.ebsco.com/Titles.asp?id=9552&sid=107533426&lang=en

One of the main advantages A-to-Z has over Serials Solutions is the
ability to add all your electronic resources, not just e-journals or
e-books.  A-to-Z  is a "live" site meaning any changes made are
immediate thus you don't have to wait overnight for updates.  If you
have custom titles you want to add that are not in the knowledge base,
you can easily add them.  One of the "custom" things I've done is
collate all of our OhioLINK databases under one listing.  This is
accessible via the index tab.  See:
http://atoz.ebsco.com/providerindex.asp?id=9552&sid=107533426&lang=en&TabID=1#O.
Then click on the "view titles" tab.  This loads a list of all the
OhioLINK databases.  I'm still in the process of adding notes and icons
for this "custom" listing thus it's incomplete.  The OhioLINK databases
are also searchable via the titles tab.  As an example, you can search
from the titles tab for a database, say "Chicano Database."  This will
pull up the regular database link and the OhioLINK databases link.  The
database also appears on its own on the index tab.  If desired, I can
opt for this not to display on the index tab.

A-to-Z also allows one to link more than one note to a resource.  We
have almost 70 notes set up, which can be assigned to any resource.
These include access locations, material type, access unavailable, full
text, access limits,  access advisories, account/password/registration
required,  software required, OLinks, and informational notes.  You can
also add enumeration if you so desire.  For example, on the titles tab
do a search on "The Serials librarian" and "AACN advanced critical care."

One of the best things about A-to-Z is the ability to add what I can
"notices."  Over the holiday weekend, OhioLINK was moving their servers
which meant most of their resources would be down.  I added a notice
which appears under the tab bar to alert users that the OhioLINK
resources would be unaccessible.  This feature comes in handing when a
large group of titles or major databases are down or will be down for
scheduled maintenance.  For individual titles, we can add a note that
access is temporarily unavailable.

We are a member of OhioLINK so we use their openURL resolver, OLinks,
instead of LinkSource.  We receive EBSCO's MARC load once a month.
"Managed" titles have full MARC records, while "custom" titles have
brief MARC records.

In my opinion, re-vending our A-Z list  was well worth the effort.

Deberah

--
Deberah England
Electronic Resources Librarian
Wright State University Libraries
3640 Col. Glenn Hwy.
Dayton, OH 45435-0001
Phone: (937) 775-2224
Fax:  (937) 775-2481
Email:  deberah.england@wright.edu

"The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us."
Marigold IceUnity's 2005/06 motto from original text by Audre Lorde (1934-1992) http://marigold.fi

> Subject: Re: EBSCO A-Z
> From: Terry Ross <TDRoss@MATCMADISON.EDU>
> Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2008 12:26:45 -0600
>
>
> Hi Beth,
>
> I am interested and would like to see a compile. Thank you.
>
> I'm also interested in how Ebsco A-Z compares with Serials Solutions
> LinkSource, or SS 360Link... or any other solutions people have used in
> order to enable Google Scholar.
>
> Thanks!
> Terry
>
> __________________
> Terry Ross
> Madison Area Technical College
> Truax Campus
> 3550 Anderson Street
> Madison, Wisconsin
> office: (608) 246-6635
> fax: (608) 246-6644
>
> Librarian
> http://matcmadison.edu/library
> MESA, MATC Environmental Sustainability Alliance
> http://matcmadison.edu/green
>
>>>> Beth Vernaci <BVernaci@AFSCME.ORG> 11/14/2008 9:28 AM >>>
>>>>
> Is anyone using EBSCO A-Z? Do you like it? Do you think it is worth the
> cost? Is there anything you wish it would do that it doesn't? Is anyone
> also using Inmagic Genie? How well do these two products integrate?
>
> Please reply off list. If anyone else is interested I can compile the
> answers and repost.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Beth Vernaci
> Library Assistant
> AFSCME Information Center
> American Federation of State, County,
> and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO
>