Project Number Five — 1992

SFU/CAR/ELN Project

Project Number Five — 1992

The project’s objectives

• test the feasibility of a locally-mounted reference database, with end-user searching;
• match citations to local holdings;
• provide a document delivery service.

A team of SFU/CAR/ELN librarians from systems, public services, ILL, reference, and admin, planned and implemented the project. Wilson’s Social Science Index was chosen since it had broad appeal for under-graduate programs, and almost all titles listed in the Index were held at either SFU or Cariboo.

BRS/Search is the software used. It is a powerful tool offering a complete database management system. Journal holdings of SFU and Cariboo were matched to the Index, then students at both institutions began using the system March ’92. Articles are copied at the lending library and sent either priority post or faxed. Citation lists can be printed with locations and students can retrieve needed articles directly from journal stacks at their home library.

The SFU/CAR/ELN project increases our collective capacity to deliver improved services, provides students direct experience with online database searching, maximizes institutional resources, and makes use of technology in innovative ways to reduce the barriers of time and space. Planned enhancements (Sept. ’92):

• have Cariboo gain access to the Internet and transmit articles’ text using ariel software and scanner, thereby reducing delivery time;
• link the SFU and Cariboo online catalogues to the aviso system of interlibrary loan management;
• add the Wilson Humanities Index;
• add other institutions and their holdings to the database and service.

Key Contacts

    Ted Dobb, University Librarian
    Simon Fraser University
    Burnaby, BC   V5A 1S6
    tdobb@sfu.ca

    Paul Baldwin, Associate University Librarian
    Simon Fraser University
    Burnaby, BC  V5A 1S6
    pbaldwin@sfu.ca
    (wrote the original project proposal)

    Lynn Copeland, Head, Systems
    Simon Fraser University Library
    Burnaby, BC  V5A 1S6
    copeland@sfu.ca
    (Project Manager)

    Bob MacDonald, Manager
    ELectronic Library Network
    Open Learning Agency
    Burnaby, BC
    bobm@ola.bc.ca

    Nancy Levesque, Director
    University College of the Cariboo Library
    Kamloops, BC   V2C 5N3
    levesque@cariboo.bc.ca
    phone:  604-828-5305

I presented a paper on the project to the British Columbia Library Association Conference, June 1992, and could send a print copy to provide more information on the project’s context, scope and process. Thank you for your consideration of our project. The Coalition’s initiative to promote resource sharing is worthwhile and needed.

Nancy Levesque
University College of the Cariboo