For most of us, the millennium arrived last January 1st. However, Millennium
also happens to be the name of a major software upgrade to Josiah, scheduled
to be installed at the end of this year and implemented in phases over
the following nine months. The vendor for JosiahÍs software, Innovative
Interfaces Inc., has focused its development efforts for the past two
years on rewriting Josiah to take advantage of newer technologies, such
as Java-based client/server access. The "back end" modules of Josiah
used by Library staff to order, catalog, circulate, and check-in library
materials have also been rewritten to incorporate enhanced functionality,
utilizing a Java-based graphical user interface. While the back end
changes will not be initially evident to users, they will ultimately
enable staff to process materials more efficiently.
As part of its Millennium purchase, Brown will also be acquiring a number
of major user enhancements. These improvements are add-ons to the existing
system and will be phased in over the next three to nine months. Among
them are the following, listed in the expected order of implementation:
Indexing and display of tables of contents of books in Josiah.
This service will allow for the inclusion of full tables of contents
to Josiah records for newly received books. In addition, the entire
Josiah database will be scanned retrospectively and approximately 100,000
records will be upgraded to include detailed contents. Approximately
15,000 records will be enhanced with the data annually after the first
year. The tables of contents will be searchable by author and by title.
This finer level of indexing will greatly enhance users' ability to
find specific, topical chapters and essays in books and festschrifts,
which are currently searchable only under their collective titles in
Josiah.
Integration with the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Users will be
able to search the Encyclopaedia Britannica automatically for information
relevant to a Josiah author or subject without rekeying the search request.
Electronic Course Reserves. The course reserves module will
be enhanced to offer digitized materials for course reserves, particularly
those materials for which there are no copyright restrictions, e.g.,
course syllabi, exams, etc. Reserve materials will thus become more
readily accessible from outside of the Library.
Email Circulation notices. Users will have the option to sign up to
receive circulation notices via email.
Keyword indexing. The two existing Josiah keyword indexes
will be replaced by a single one capable of searching all fields in
the bibliographic record. The new index will support searches using
Boolean operators and limiting to particular fields in the records.
The core of the new index will be the Alta Vista search engine.
Scoping. This feature will enable users to limit by
type of material or by location prior to conducting a search.
East Asian vernacular support. The Millennium Innovative
Interfaces product will support the input and display of bibliographic
records in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean vernacular fonts. This feature
will better support the teaching and research needs of Brown faculty
and students in the East Asian Studies program, as well as the needs
of the growing community of users of Library materials in East Asian
languages throughout the Brown University campus.
--Howard Pasternack, Library Systems Officer
