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 Josiahâs 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
http://www.brown.edu/Facilities/University_Library
