*Apologies in advance for multiple postings.*

ALCTS e-Forum: Discovery Layers vs. the Traditional Catalog

December 9-10, 2015

Moderated by Erika Johnson and Kristin E. Martin

Please join us for an e-forum discussion. It’s free and open to everyone!

Registration information is at the end of the message.

Each day, discussion begins and ends at:

Pacific: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Mountain: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Central: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Eastern: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

While some libraries have made the switch to next-generation library systems that only have a discovery layer, others are running both a discovery layer and a traditional catalog, yet others may not use a discovery layer at all. This discussion will investigate the decisions libraries have made when implementing a discovery layer, which tools libraries are using to provide access to different types of resources, and whether duplication between the catalog and discovery layer is still necessary for some resources. We will cover the follow questions, always with particular attention to the impacts are on technical services staff:

How have discovery layers changed the way libraries provide access to resources?
What kinds of materials are located in the catalog, in the discovery layer, or in both?
How have discovery layers changed library technical services and its workflows?
What areas need improvement with respect to workflows and access?
How do consortia intersect with individual library discovery tools?

Moderators

Erika Johnson, Head of Acquisitions and Collection Management (University of San Francisco). Previous positions held include Electronic Resources Librarian at Boston College, Acquisitions & Serials Librarian at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, and Program Officer for the American Library Association.

Kristin E. Martin, Electronic Resources Management (ERM) Librarian (University of Chicago). Previous experience includes ERM (University of Illinois at Chicago) and cataloging (University of Illinois at Chicago, University of NC at Chapel Hill, the State Library of NC, and the Cleveland Museum of Art). She is the lead Subject Matter Expert for the E-Acquisitions Team developing ERM functionality for the Kuali Open Library Environment (OLE). Is Member-at-Large for ALCTS CaMMS and served as past E-Forum Coordinator (2009-2014).

What Is an e-Forum?

An ALCTS e-forum provides an opportunity for librarians to discuss matters of interest, led by a moderator, through the e-forum discussion list. The e-forum discussion list works like an email listserv: register your email address with the list, and then you will receive messages and communicate with other participants through an email discussion. Most e-forums last two to three days. Registration is necessary to participate, but it's free.

For information about upcoming e-forums, please visit http://www.ala.org/alcts/confevents/upcoming/e-forum

How to Register

You must register your email address to subscribe to or access an electronic discussion list on ALA's Mailing List Service. Once you have registered for one e-forum, you do not need to register again, unless you choose to leave the list. Find instructions for subscribing and unsubscribing online. (http://www.ala.org/alcts/confevents/upcoming/e-forum/sympa)

If you have any problems, please contact alcts-eforum-request@ala.org.

*Posted on behalf of the ALCTS Continuing Education Committee.*