Prevent duplication of database level records (e-collections) coming from the NZ, where multiple instances of a title are essentially the same content or may duplicate locally acquired content.
Decision summary
Escalate to OT Coordinating at ERES subteam level is problematic:
Our previous request for feedback by campus included group input (ERES, ACQ & DISC and non-SILS) randomly selected rather than broad systematic inquiry;
Feedback was contradictory and specific to the local system understanding, together with varying stages of data cleaning relevant to that campus, as well as the familiarity with local and CDL collections under examination;
ERES is unable to project manage the necessary consensus building due to the diversity of units and departments involved (technical services, discovery, public services, instructional services, user experience assessment, etc.). Some groups are represented within SILS and some are non-represented.
OT has the ability to examine this problem more broadly, including holistic computer system functionality (Alma, Primo, CDI, database search), alternative search tools such as LibGuides A-Z List, product purchase models (Tier 1, 2 and 3) and display interconnectivity between IZ and NZ, and more.
OT can determine the project priority, weighing tension between the SILS principles' desire for a great user experience vs reality of human resource level needed to make this deliverable possible.
Owning group
Originating group: ERES+ [mpolchow@ucdavis.edu]
Approver
Consulted
Informed
Decision-making process
Decision consideration arose from request by SCP via CDL ERES Rep requesting guidance for activating an e-collection record when NZ has a series of e-collections for one vendor that all lead to one URL/one platform. Although CDL hoped for immediate feedback, ultimately the discussion surfaced broader factors and lack of consensus on approach for a solution.
Priority
Escalate to OT for advice
Target decision date
Date decided
[4/13/23]
Recommendation
The E-Resources Operations Sub-team initially recommended that in principle users should be provided with collection-level records for multi-part e-collections for discovery in UC Library Search. Collection-level records for Tier 1 and 2 resources should be managed by CDL in the Network Zone, so that individual campuses do not need to manage their own copies of the records. Although CDL hoped to provide a more in-depth needs analysis, ERES acknowledges that there is wide variation in the nature of our e-collections, so it is not possible to have a single recommendation for how to treat the collections and that experience with local use cases show that goals for outcome can vary by product and requestor. Cataloging decisions for migrated collections might need case-by-case examination to determine patterns, in consultation with relevant stakeholders (DISC, CKGs, reference, instructional design, user experience). Collectively, all relevant stakeholders need to identify user experience goals and generate a decision process for future collections, potentially manage as a stage of the acquisitions process for product specific decisions, or other model. Given this request came shortly after the formation of SILS, some period of time was provided CDL in order to become more familiar with the Alma/Primo record structure. However, in review of the delay, ERES recognizes that CDL output is only one factor in the outcome of this work and ultimately ERES has too narrow of a perspective to understand public services, reference and instruction needs. ERES recommends escalation to OT for a broader examination.