Systems Annual Report 1999-2000
Overview
- Perry Bratcher - Automation Librarian (4/89- )
- Geraldine Williams - Special Projects Librarian (1/97- )
- Todd Walton - Network Coordinator (7/94- )
The 99/00 year has been another busy one for the Automation Division. The primary responsibilities of the division are maintenance of the automated library system (NKUIRE) and troubleshooting (Academic Support Services/Administrative Computing liaison) for other hardware, software and networking issues. The division also reviews the hardware and software needs of all library departments. Through working as part of the Technology Team (which includes Automation Division personnel, the Library Director, and the Electronic Reference Services Librarian), the division recommends the necessary purchases for maintaining the information needs of library staff and library customers. The team balances these needs with budget and staffing constraints. The division also acts as an NKUIRE problem troubleshooter for the Chase Law Library. The division contacts various agencies outside the university, primarily VTLS/Endeavor representatives, Hewlett-Packard (HP) representatives and other computer vendors. The Automation Librarian is responsible for managing the division, and HP Unix/Oracle products, and acting as the Voyager Implementation Project Manager. The Systems Librarian is primarily responsible for VTLS troubleshooting and Voyager software applications. The Systems Engineer is primarily responsible for networking and PC troubleshooting. The division also employs one student worker to assist with the above tasks. During the fiscal year, 606 requests were resolved via the libauto e-mail account. This is an increase of 58 over the previous year. These included 24 printer requests (down from 48), 341 PC hardware/software requests (up from 205), 142 NKUIRE requests (down from 253), and 101 miscellaneous requests (up from 47).
Activities in the division can be subdivided into five broad categories: HP maintenance, NKUIRE maintenance, networking/PC/CD-ROM LAN maintenance, KCVL/Endeavor activities, and miscellaneous. These categories will be addressed in detail below.
HP Maintenance
The Automation Librarian received a summer fellowship/grant in the summer of 1999 in order to concentrate on the Unix operations of the library system. This time was spent in reviewing documentation and notes taken from Hewlett-Packard training classes. This helped the Automation Librarian get a firmer understanding of the Unix operations and better maintain the system. A class was also taken in the fall relating to PC maintenance. An upgrade to the HP system was planned for the Christmas break of 1999 but when started it was discovered that an software CD-ROM was not included in the upgrade package. Due to Y2K concerns with higher priority companies, Hewlett-Packard could not send this software during the Christmas break. This software was eventually sent in February of 2000. At that time it was determined that the upgrade would not be necessary due to the implementation of the Voyager software in the summer. More details on the upgrade can be found in the section on NKUIRE maintenance. Two pieces of equipment on the HP system required service calls during the year. In December, the system printer was down three days for repair, and in May the system tape drive had to be replaced. The system has run fairly smoothly throughout the year, but requires more maintenance time than the old HP3000 system.
NKUIRE Maintenance
The number of NKUIRE requests fell by nearly half this year. This is primarily due to stoppage of upgrades of the software and a shift in concentration to the Voyager system due for implementation in the summer of 2000. Most of the NKUIRE requests were for routine maintenance. A lot of work was spent in the summer and fall of 1999 on the implementation of the web version of NKUIRE (Web Gateway). This version was offered up until mid-fall semester. At that time it was determined that a bug in the software rendered the web version a substandard product for patron usage. The bug was to be fixed by the system upgrade in December, but due to reasons given above this was not implemented. The web version was never made operational again. These decisions caused a lot of "switching" back and forth with the configurations of the OPACs (from EasyPAC to Web Gateway and back again). A VTLS representative came to campus in the summer for the annual site visit and worked with the Systems Librarian on various issues.
A shift began in the spring semester to concentrate on migration from the VTLS to the Endeavor automated library system. Several staff were included in the eleven days of training offered by Endeavor. The Systems Librarian attended all of the training sessions and the Automation Librarian attended six days of this training. Both the Automation Librarian and Systems Librarian spent a considerable amount of time planning and carrying out migration tasks. A Voyager Implementation Team was established in the spring whose responsibility would be to evaluate and make recommendations on the test/production loads. Final acceptance of the Voyager system was initially set for June 26, but this was delayed primarily due to two changes in Voyager Project Managers. At year's end, the system still had not been accepted.
Networking / PC/CD-ROM LAN Maintenance
The number of PC problem requests rose substantially this year primarily due to the switch from EasyPAC to the WebGateway product and back to EasyPAC again. PC configurations had to be switched back and forth which accounted for about one fourth of the requests. The bulk of work in this area includes troubleshooting aging PCs, reconfiguring replaced PCs and setting up new PCs. Thirty-one new PCs were purchased with KCVL funds and set up during the summer. At the end of the year, time was also spent in securing PC operations due to Y2K concerns. The library did not realize any problems related to Y2K. There was a problem in the fall with a student "hacking" the library PCs and causing problems, but the Systems Engineer resolved this problem. The System Engineer also took care of problems related to the "new" PCs obtained by the library. The LAN was upgraded twice during the year. The Technology Team and primarily the Systems Engineer spent a lot of time preparing PC replacements and upgrade plans. Due to the "fluid" nature of computer technology, plans had to be continually revised. The team also sought input from the Executive Committee. Once plans were in place for new equipment, a lot of time was spent also in preparing orders.
KCVL Activities
This year, NKU moved from being a spectator to an active participant in the Endeavor Voyager software project. The Automation Librarian spends one day per month traveling to Frankfort (or UK, or UofL) for statewide KCVL Technology Subcommittee meetings. These meetings include the project managers from each of the state university libraries. Decisions are made and ideas shared regarding the Voyager software operations in a consortial environment. The Automation Librarian also represented NKU on the KCVL Steering Committee that includes the library directors of the state university libraries. This group also met (usually) monthly. Voyager training took place in the spring (mentioned above) and the Automation Librarian and Systems Librarian also took advantage of other KCVL training sessions took place throughout the year. The Automation Librarian also kept track of the KCVL/VTLS funds so that the monies were expended according to plan. More coordination will need to take place in the future as the library fully implements the Endeavor software in the summer of 2000.
Miscellaneous
After several years of efforts, the implementation of the reclassification of level 20 Network Coordinator position to a level 24 Systems Engineer II was achieved. This reclassification more closely aligns the library position with other similar positions on campus. A software training survey was distributed to library staff in the fall to determine future training needs. The Automation Librarian and Systems Librarian met with the newly hired Chief Information Officer in the fall to voice library technology concerns. Three library listservs were setup to streamline library staff email operations. The Systems Engineer investigated and implemented the card reader installations for the microform readers in the periodicals area. He also worked with the bindery software installation and troubleshooting. The Automation Librarian served on the Library Director Search Committee, chair of the library Reappointment Promotion and Tenure Committee, library United Way representative, KLA Mentors and Protegees Committee member, and elected as academic library representative to the GCLC Executive Board. The Systems Librarian served as representative, voting member and financial officer for Academic Libraries in Greater Cincinnati to the Ohio Kentucky Cooperating Libraries, Treasurer and Board member of the North American Serials Interest Group, member of the GCLC New Technologies Committee, and library representative to the Faculty Senate Budget Committee. The Systems Engineer was nominated for the Regents Distinguished Service Award.
updated: Wednesday, 24-Aug-2005 11:49:49 EDT