Purpose -This paper aims to report on a successful implementation of a current awareness service designed to inform teaching faculty and liaison librarians as to the status of library materials they have ordered. Design/methodology/approach -The paper looks at the methods employed by the authors, which simplify maintenance of lists of new titles by providing a single, consistent access point to new resources. The dynamic pages are compiled by using the OPAC as a platform: connecting with a Z39.50 protocol, passing keywords and phrases along via the URL query string, parsing the data with PHP, and rendering the data on the web with a combination of PHP and JavaScript. Findings -The OPAC-as-platform method of rendering the departmental acquisitions pages has solved every problem that had existed up to this point. With very minor changes to cataloguing workflow, the technical services department now has a low-maintenance system in place for notifying teaching faculty and liaison librarians of new arrivals. Originality/value -The project demonstrates cooperation between public services, systems, IT, and technical services to enhance library services to users. It also demonstrates the value of and potential for cataloguing as a means to deliver innovative services.
Use of dynamic links from subject-based finding aids to records for electronic resources in the OPAC is suggested as one method for by-passing the OPAC search interface, thus making the library's electronic resources more accessible. This method simplifies maintenance of links to electronic resources and aids instruction by providing a single, consistent access point to them. Results of a usage study from before and after this project was completed show a consistent, often dramatic increase in use of the library's electronic resources.
Scholars have long noted the significance of Allegheny College's original library to American cultural and educational history. This article describes how the books in the original library have been housed and maintained by the college, and traces the evolution of the catalogue of the original library, from book format in 1823, through card format, and finally to online. The catalogue and its retrospective conversion was completed almost entirely in-house. It presented many challenges to the library staff due to the special nature of the collection.
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