Here is an update about key changes to our online services and systems that are happening soon. It is meant to summarize some of the key changes and how they fit together.
1. Proquest databases and content are moving to a new platform.
Proquest has built a new platform for all its databases and content. Over the next two weeks, you begin to see the new Proquest interface as we update our Proquest links. By August 5, all Proquest resources will be available through the new interface. If you have included direct links to Proquest resources in your web pages, your old links will continue to work over the next few months; they will be automatically redirected to the new URLs. Please update them, and contact Marc Lalonde if you have questions. Marc is in consultation with librarians throughout this system as he manages this migration process.
2. Scholars Portal Search discontinued
Proquest is also discontinuing the CSA Illumina platform, and as you may know, CSA Illumina powers Scholars Portal Search. Scholars Portal article databases that are available through Proquest will be migrated to the new Proquest interface, and other Scholars Portal article databases to which we are subscribed will be available through their providers' interface. Please note that this change does not affect any of the many other Scholars Portal services including Scholars Portal Books, Journals, ODESI, and Research Management
3. Summon Search introduced
Coinciding with the discontinuation of Scholars Portal Search, we are introducing Summon Search from Serials Solutions as a replacement. Therefore, as of August 5, the Article Search box (on the library homepage, Blackboard Library Resources pages, and elsewhere) will be powered by Summon. You will see the Summon search interface continue to be refined throughout August, and we invite your feedback about the new interface, using the feedback links on Summon web pages. Summon introduces some great new fulltext search features and pulls millions of journal articles and much more into a single, powerful search interface. -- please look for updates. Staff training for this product will begin in the Fall. In the meantime, a group of staff have been experimenting with Summon. Their findings are noted on the LibGuide found here: http://guides.library.utoronto.ca/aecontent.php?pid=219660&sid=1824343. Debbie Green has been coordinating a librarian team in gathering these findings.
4. Serials Solutions ERM replacing SFX/Verde ERM
In early Fall 2011, our new Serials Solutions Electronic Resource Management system will go into service, allowing us to manage our burgeoning e-resource collections more quickly and easily. The new system includes 360 Link, which will replace SFX as the Open URL resolver software powering Article Finder. This migration culminates the work of a large team of staff from across the system.
5. New look for library homepage
As of September, the library homepage will look familiar but streamlined, and will include a new feature. In addition to our current homepage search options -- catalogue, articles, e-journals -- you will have the option of searching across all resources at once (catalogue, articles, e-journals, and library web site). You will also continue to have, as now, the options of searching just the catalogue, e-journals, or article databases from the homepage. We'll send out a preview of the homepage's new look in the week of August 2-5.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with us.
Caitlin Tillman and Sian Meikle
on behalf of the Serials Solutions and Summons implementation teams
July 25, 2011