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About the Library

 

Chambers Library Initiatives

Digital Initiatives Working Group

The mission of the Digital Initiatives Working Group (DIWG) is to create, enhance, preserve, and administer the library’s digital collections in the interest of furthering the library’s mission to connect the Central community to dynamic resources and services that support transformative learning.

Learn More about DIWG

Inclusive Metadata Initiative

Chambers Library is committed to accurately and respectfully describing materials relating to underrepresented communities. We are actively taking steps to using more inclusive language and ameliorate problematic practices that directly affect the Central community's access to library resources.

Users encountering offensive or outdated terminology found on the library’s website, Central Search, SHAREOK, or elsewhere in the collection may submit a report to our metadata team.

Learn More about Inclusive Metadata Report Offensive/Outdated Terminology

Open Discovery Initiative

As part of the National Information Standards Organization (NISO), The Open Discovery Initiative (ODI) aims at defining standards and/or best practices for the new generation of library discovery services that are based on indexed search. These discovery services are primarily based upon indexes derived from journals, ebooks and other electronic information of a scholarly nature. The content comes from a range of information providers and products--commercial, open access, institutional, etc.

The Recommended Practice was created by members of the ODI Working Group, which completed its work in June 2014 with the publication of NISO RP-19-2014.  NISO formed the Open Discovery Initiative Standing Committee following the approval of the ODI Recommended Practice. The ODI Standing Committee is charged with the following tasks:

  • Promotion and education of ODI Recommended Practice for all stakeholders
  • Support for content providers and discovery service providers during adoption and completion of conformance checklists
  • Provide a forum for ongoing discussion related to all aspects of discovery platforms for all stakeholders
  • Consider next steps for items deemed out scope from the original ODI Work Group Recommended Practice
  • Identify emerging needs in the open discovery space and determine appropriate courses of action
  • Make recommendations to the D2D topic committee on further work items required to fulfill the goals of the Open Discovery Initiative

To learn more about ODI conformance, visit the Open Discovery Initiative workroom and download NISO RP-19-2020.

UCO Library Conformance Checklist

Download PDF version

Libraries are encouraged to take specific measures to assert their conformance with NISO RP-19-2020, the recommended practices of NISO's Open Discovery Initiative. These measures are voluntarily made by each organization, in an effort to increase transparency and communications around pre-indexed or “web-scale” library discovery services. The ODI Conformance Checklist below was created to enable standardized methods for libraries to assert their ODI conformance to content providers, discovery services, and other industry stakeholders.

In column 1: A “Y” (for Yes) indicates compliance with the recommended practice. A “P” (for Partial) indicates partial compliance for which explanatory comments are entered. An “N” (for No) indicates noncompliance with the recommended practice for which explanatory comments are entered.

Y/P/N

Recommendation

Reference

Comment

Y

Library designates individuals to be responsible for configuring Discovery Service, link resolver, proxy, and other discovery-related tools for subscribed content from Content Providers. Designated point persons should work or coordinate with each other.

3.4.1.1 (1)

 

Y

Library enables linking, ranking, and authentication options available in the Discovery Service Tool for subscribed content from Content Providers, and seeks clarification if needed.

3.4.1.1 (2)

 

Y

Library documents configuration decisions and the reasons behind these decisions.

3.4.1.1 (3)

 

Y

Library regularly evaluates and updates its configurations of Discovery Service configurations.

3.4.1.1 (4)

 

Y

Library plans for system upgrades and seeks assistance from vendors if needed.

3.4.1.2 (1)

 

Y

Library plans and documents for discovery tool changes and seeks assistance from vendors if needed.

3.4.1.2 (2)

 

Y

Library selects the correct database collections available in the Discovery Service tool for subscribed content from Content Provider and seeks clarification from the Discovery Service Provider and Content Provider when needed.

3.4.1.3

 

Y

Library works with the Discovery Service Provider to learn exactly what, if any, adjustments can be made to result ranking, boosting, and weighting, and seeks clarification if needed.

3.4.1.4

We review ranking when implementing new services and stay current with service provider updates/enhancements. We investigate adjustments as needed at request of library staff.

Y

Library selects the correct holdings packages available in link resolver for the subscribed content from Content Providers and seeks clarification from the link resolver provider and Content Provider when needed.

3.4.1.5 (1)

 

Y

Library regularly evaluates and updates its configurations of library link resolver configurations.

3.4.1.5 (2)

 

Y

Library configures the proxy server for discovery service, link resolver and ODI links, and seeks clarification if needed.

3.4.1.6

 

P

Library works with vendors to create detailed agreements on what support the provider offers during and after implementation.

3.4.2.1

We will work to do this when able to customize contracts. Currently, most vendors do not offer customized contracts.

P

Library regularly checks and evaluates ODI Conformance Statements from Content Providers and Discovery Service Providers and publisher-provided configuration guides for libraries.

3.4.2.2 (1)

We will do so when they are made available by providers.

Y

Library advocates increasing ODI conformance for Content Providers and Discovery Service Providers.

3.4.2.2 (2)

 

Y

Library uses the vendor-provided tools to report missing, incomplete, or incorrect database collections, first to the Discovery Service Provider, and next to the Content Provider.

3.4.2.3

We report problems to the Discovery Service Provider and to the Content Provider depending on which is facilitating access. Occasionally the same problem will be reported to both providers.

Y

Library develops and executes a staff training program for one or more staff members on managing the Discovery Service, link resolver, proxy, and other discovery-related tools.

3.4.3.1 (1)

 

Y

Library provides regular training sessions to patrons and staff on how to use Discovery Service tool.

3.4.3.1 (2)

 

Y

Library staff read official documentation, announcements, and updates, and make relevant adjustments in configurations.

3.4.3.1 (3)

 

Y

Library staff join the online communities (listservs and forums) for the Discovery Service Providers, engage in dialogue, offer ideas and suggestions, and share innovative approaches created or implemented.

3.4.3.1 (4)

 

Y

Library staff on licensing, electronic resources, systems and front service regularly meet to discuss configuring Discovery Service, link resolver, proxy server, and other discovery-related tools for subscribed content.

3.4.3.2