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Meeting Minutes SMLC MeLCat Task Force Minutes Jul 27, 2006 SMLC MeLCat Task Force Minutes May 23, 2006 May 3, 2006 Woodlands Library Cooperative
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MeLCat Task Force Members Tim Wiggins, (Chair) Cass District Library Wendy Woltjer, Kalamazoo Public Library Paula Stakley, St. Joseph Public Library Lawrence Kapture, Portage District Library Susan Parr, Willard Public Library Kathy Ruddick, Kalamazoo Public Library Kristina Knezic, Berrien Springs Community Library Nancy Studebaker, Niles District Library Dennis Kreps, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Dina Reilly, Lincoln Township |
| MeLCat Readiness - click here to open a spreadsheet inventory of member readiness for MeLCat. Please contact susan@swmlc.info to help us complete our information. |
MeLCat Procedures MeLCat Procedures non-automated
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MelCat FAQ
This page is designed to help SMLC members understand issues regarding migration to and participation in MeLCat. This is meant to be a growing resource. Please e-mail your questions to gail@swmlc.info, and we will add answers to the list.
What are staff Workstation Requirements?
Which libraries are already in MelCat?
Does MeLCat replace local library automation systems?
How can my library participate?
What is the cost of going into MeLCat?
What are the Implementation steps for going into MelCat?
Once I apply and get my go live date, how long does it take?
What are some factors that will affect how my library is scheduled to participate?
Once I apply and get my go live date, how long does it take?
What are some factors that will affect how my library is scheduled to participate?
What are the Technical Requirements?
What can my library expect after we have been approved for implementation?
What are the policies governing the shared catalog?
What are the policies governing resource sharing?
What are the procedures for the operation of ILL?
What are some factors that will affect how my library is scheduled to participate?
The MeLCat Statewide Catalog is a centralized union catalog with up-to-date holdings from all participating libraries.
MeLCat includes:
Which libraries are already in MelCat?
http://elibrary.mel.org/screens/participating.html
Does MeLCat replace local library automation systems?
MeLCat does not replace local integrated library systems (ILSs).
How can my library participate?
Groups of libraries are being added three times a year. If all Michigan's libraries participate, MeLCat could grow to more than 12 million unique titles with more than 48 million items, including books, CDs, videos, DVDs and other library materials.
What is the cost of going into MeLCat?
The Library of Michigan has a contract with Innovative Interfaces which includes a statewide license for all Michigan libraries and residents to use the MeL Gateway with broadcast searching. It includes an initial license for up to 550 Michigan libraries to use the MeLCat software, with an additional license fee for each library after that up to 2,000 libraries.
These are the local library costs to participate in MeLCat:
7. (Un-automated libraries) Barcode labels for library materials and for patron ID cards.
What are the Implementation steps for going into MelCat
Any Michigan library may participate in MeLCat. Participation is voluntary. Please submit an application form and tell us when you'll be ready to be part of our statewide resource sharing system! There are 3 implementation cycles per year.
To apply to be in MeLCat:
Once I apply and get my go live date, how long does it take?
MeLCat implementation takes approximately three months. What does that entail? Please see Steps to implement MeLCat.
What are some factors that will affect how my library is scheduled to participate?
These factors will be considered by MeLCat staff when scheduling libraries for MeLCat implementation. Information will be collected on the MeLCat Participation: Pre-Implementation Scheduling Questionnaires. Libraries and shared systems will receive these questionnaires after they submit their applications.
What are the Technical Requirements?
If you have a local online catalog and circulation system from a vendor other than Innovative Interfaces, your system will need to have these capabilities:
For NCIP DCB Profile 3, go to: http://www.niso.org/standards/resources/NCIP-DCB-3.pdf
MeLCat does not require that your local system have Z39.50 capability.
If your bibliographic records need to be upgraded, your holdings records need to better reflect what is actually on your shelves, or your patron records are out-of-date or need email addresses, now is the time for you to get them updated and ready for MeLCat.
Local systems from Innovative Interfaces need to be running the INN-Reach interface on Millennium Silver software.
Libraries that have no local catalog or circulation systems will need to have staff workstations with a connection to the Internet to access the MeLCat servers to add their holdings with a Web browser and create patron records with client software.
Access to MeLCat servers needs to be possible through any local firewall software. Information about which ports to open for communication with the MeLCat servers is provided during the MeLCat orientation sessions.
For dedicated connections, the minimum bandwidth recommended is 56 KBPS.
Staff workstations must have dedicated or static IP addresses, i.e., they must not change each time you access the Internet. Because the MeLCat servers are behind a firewall, access to them is controlled by password and limited to known IP addresses for staff workstations. A range of IP's will also work.
To check the IP addresses on your staff workstations, go to:www.whatismyip.com . The IP addresses should be the same every day.
Participating libraries will use Secure Shell (SSH) security protocol on their staff workstations to transmit patron and bibliographic records from their local servers to the MeLCat server. For a tutorial about SSH, go to: How to use SSH? SSH version 2 is required for MeLCat.
Here are links to three free SSH client software packages for Windows staff workstations. MeLCat staff are providing support for ssh.com.
For Macintosh workstations, here are two free SSH packages:
To ensure secure transmission of patron information between local Innovative servers and the MeLCat server, libraries with Innovative local systems will use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) security protocol for data encryption. Innovative's software is compatible with all SSL certificates. Encryption strength of 40-bit is acceptable. Libraries should use a "trusted" certificate authority. Internal certificates do not meet the security requirements. For information about SSL, Innovative libraries can go to CSDirect to read the SSL FAQ.
For minimum specifications for library staff workstations capable of using the MeLCat Java client software, go to: MeLCat Library Staff Workstation Requirements
Workstations for patrons to use MeLCat must have current Web browser software capable of handling Java script.
What can my library expect after we have been approved for implementation?
After your library has been approved for participation and scheduled for addition to MeLCat, you will then go through these steps to implement MeLCat for your patrons and staff:
Attend a session to learn how to complete the catalog and resource sharing
profile forms that detail how your holdings will be loaded into MeLCat, which of
your patrons can make MeLCat requests, and which of your staff are authorized to
work in MeLCat. A checklist of tasks to be done during the three month
implementation is provided.
Step 2: Load your holdings into MeLCat
If your library has approved machine-readable bibliographic records, they will
be loaded into MeLCat and a method to frequently update them will be set up.
Good quality MARC records are strongly preferred. If your library has no
bibliographic records, you will be able to use a Web browser to attach your
holdings to records already in MeLCat.
Step 3: Link to your patron records
A link to your library’s patron records, or to a copy of those records, will be
set up in order to authorize your patrons to make requests for items in MeLCat.
If your library cannot provide a copy of your patron records or has no patron
database, you will be able to create records for your patrons in MeLCat.
Your staff will receive training and test the system with some partner libraries
to make sure it is working as you expected and to develop your local workflow.
Your library will then be ready to publicize this new service and make it
available to your patrons.
What are the policies governing the shared catalog?
Detailed MelCat catalog Policies are found online at http://www.mlcnet.org/cms/sitem.cfm/library_tools/melcat/melcat_catalog_policies/ including:
What are the policies governing Resource Sharing?
Detailed ILL /Resource Sharing policies are found online at http://www.mlcnet.org/cms/sitem.cfm/library_tools/melcat/melcat_resource_sharing_policies/ including:
What are the Procedures for the operation of ILL?
Detailed MelCat procedures can be found online at http://www.mlcnet.org/cms/sitem.cfm/library_tools/melcat/melcat_procedures/ including:
What are some factors that will affect how my library is scheduled to participate?
These factors will be considered by MeLCat staff when scheduling libraries for MeLCat implementation. Information will be collected on the MeLCat Participation: Pre-Implementation Scheduling Questionnaires. Libraries and shared systems will receive these questionnaires after they submit their applications.