Barton Advisory Group
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Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 12:33:06 -0400
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From: Charlene Follett <cfollett@MIT.EDU>
Subject: Barton Advisory Group, Minutes 9/20/01
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Barton Advisory Group
September 20, 2001
M.Finigan, C.Follett (minutes,) S.Hartman, E.Kajosalo, C. Moulen, B. Siers
Guest: J.Mullins
Outstanding Aleph Issues
J.Mullins reported on Steering Committee’s feedback to S.Shreeve’s
final Aleph implementation report; most outstanding issues have been resolved;
remaining issues in BAS/SAS should be resolved shortly. The MARC Database Manager
position has been approved as a permanent member of BAG; the remaining positions,
with exception of Chair, will rotate membership.
Mullins emailed M.Kaplan regarding the outstanding invoice problem of odd numbers not totaling correctly. Siers reported that the OCLC loader is very close to acceptance on the 10 remaining issues. Mullins reported that the OCLC loader should be installed on our production database along with Patch 3, after testing of Patch 3 (week of 9/24.) As soon as we notify ExLibris we accept, support will tranfer from the Israel office to the Chicago office. Re-indexing the database remains an issue; we are waiting for confirmation from EXL that this can be done over Columbus Day weekend. (Veterans Day or Thanksgiving weekends are our backup dates.)
Due to server space constraints, OCLC records (approx. 7,500) can’t be loaded until test database is dropped. The backup server is on order; due mid/late October, depending on IS. Once new server is in place, test database will be reinstalled.
Kajosalo reported that Public Services will need notification of downtime and agreed that Columbus Day is better for reindexing than a further delay. Kajosalo also reported that T.Gabridge is reporting bugs on the Frameless OPAC to Israel; once Day 1 implementation is accepted and we shift to Chicago for support, the Frameless OPAC work will probably still go through the Israel office.
Patch 3
Moulen recommended that, in addition to testing the fixes for Circ, Acq and
WebOPAC, all normal functions should be tested; so we should begin testing ASAP.
Moulen warned that Test Database does not have Patch 2, so we may see some strange
things. All problems should be reported first to Moulen , and then to the Aleph
List, if necessary.
Functional Updates
OPAC
Kajosalo reported that “Your Account” is not functioning due to security
problems on which EXL is working. Steering Committee has approved that "Your
Account" will be implemented only for the frameless version of web OPAC
, because The Customization Team and G. McClellan need to put most of their
efforts into the Frameless version ["Coming 2002" sign is posted on
Barton]. Gabridge has reported found bugs on frameless version to EXL. Angela
Locknar replaced Peter Munstedt on the OPAC Group. Kajosalo is also working
on the OPAC enhancement list
CIRC
Finigan reported that the shortage of student employees at some circ desks has
kept some staff from dealing with some issues. Two major issues remain: 1) Patron
Loader - Moulen is talking with the Registrar’s System staff. The current
file is incomplete, which has meant circ staff have had to manually register
a large number of patrons. 2) Notices (courtesy, recall and overdue) are not
printing automatically. Luda reported problem fixed; Finigan needs to check.
Circ staff are working on procedures and policies.
PROCESSING
Hartman reported that the Processing Committee is working on a training model
and with H.Hylton on storage, but macros are needed to make the later process
less painful. The Holdings Group is working on the slash vs. dash issue; Public
Service feedback needed before making a final decision on whether to continue
local practice or accept National cataloging standards. Hartman will discuss
further with Holdings Group; Kajosalo will bring to the Reference Committee.
MONOACQ
Follett reported that until duplicate checking is installed with OCLC loader,
student staff will continue to manually check for duplicates for approval shipments.
All approval records are loaded for June through August; September records will
load shortly. The font problem on purchase orders has been resolved so that
orders are now legible and can be mailed out to vendors; the landscape printing
problem with our Purchase Order Summary has been resolved. GOBI ordering and
non-rush receiving will resume as soon as OCLC loader is accepted and we are
given the go-ahead from BAS.
CATALOGING
Siers reported that serious progress has been made on testing the OCLC loader;
we are close to being ready to going live. An OCLC- to-Unicode conversion problem
remains causing diacritics not to load. Siers is waiting for response from EXL
on the SerCat issue of 2 summary holdings loading to the same location. The
Indexing Group will meet next week to discuss any unresolved indexing issues.
SYSTEMS
Moulen is working with Hartman and S.Mitchell to identify a Processing staff
to work with Moulen and W.Powers on D.Duke’s list outstanding issues for
the Gui OPAC. If no one is identified, Kajosalo suggested asking for a volunteer
from Public Services. Moulen may need to consult with T.Gabridge on editing
tables. Kajosalo requested that OPAC group be consulted on any decisions that
would also affect the Public OPAC.
Moulen has been working with Siers on loaders. All loaders (OCLC, YBP, Invoice, etc.) have steps to run from the server (by Moulen, Siers or other Systems staff, as trained.) She would like to eventually see this run from the Web. Patron loaders are still a problem.
Moulen has been working with G.McClellan on disk space issues; the test database really needs to go to help with these issues. Moulen has been working with D.Johnson on staff permissions problems, particularly with holdings and branch permissions. All processing staff should have the same permissions.
Moulen reported that MacroExpress and Snag-It are here; LTE’s will install shortly. More copies will be ordered if needed. J.Jenkins, J.Dion and N.Matta will offer “train the trainer” sessions on MacroExpress. Cheat sheets should be sufficient for Snag-It; Moulen will discuss with LTC's.
Meeting Schedule
Future meetings will be held every other week instead of 1st and 3rd Thursdays.
Moulen will reschedule the Oct.18 meeting.
NEXT MEETING: October 4, 2001