Verde Product Update
Nettie Lagace
Product Director, Ex Libris
Recent service packs have added some new features:
-Define and store additional local fields about eProducts in the Admin tab. The local fields are then searchable in KBManager. This feature is not yet available for Organizations or Libraries.
-More ability to customize drop-down menus that don't lead to actions - can choose what the items should say; now also have the option to choose a blank.
-Transfer Local Data tool - as new stuff is acquired that isn't in the KB, can make local records. As the new stuff is globally added to the KB, use the tool to transfer local data in the local record over to the global record - preserves local data, takes advantage of global records, and cuts down on manual work.
-More filters for reporting; now includes coverage.
-Customize and save options for consortial sources.
-Addition of local info notes and email function to Access tab, so can specify the stage of work or notify the next person in the chain.
Coming in July:
-COUNTER reporting! Supports JR1 reports for graphs, online reports, totals, tracking missing data, viewing data patterns over time, exporting tables and graphs to Word, Excel, PDF, PowerPoint. Will be accessible through the Verde interface once the July service pack is installed.
Data gets in to Verde through a manual upload process similar to attaching files to email. The system attempts to adapt to each vendor's peculiar format for the JR1 report, so don't need to manually manipulate vendor reports in Excel. (I think the EResources Group (ACAG) should spend some time this summer uploading all the JR1 reports we collected during our 2008/09 work, so the information is in one place when we need it.)
I asked about SUSHI support for this feature. The developers are working on it, but in the context of URM version 1 (more below). Once they get the functionality, they will retrofit Verde with it if possible. They also want to include support for more COUNTER reports; customers can send in their requests for support for specific COUNTER reports.
URM:
The company's development focus is on the URM. Version 1 will include workflows for both electronic and print e-resources. Current Verde customers will get the ERM part of URM 1 at no extra licensing cost. URM 1 will be the next version upgrade for Verde (would be version 3). Target date for URM 1 is 2010. Verde version 2 will continue to be supported through quarterly service packs and monthly KB updates. With SFX 4, there will be a data harvesting capability to get information from SFX into Verde (the opposite direction of the way it's currently designed). This target date is also 2010, but SFX version 3 will continue to be supported.
ERM in URM - some points from Nettie:
-ERM "tasks" are not confined to one part of the library, although many of them are acquisitions-oriented. The goal of URM is to give libraries the ability to manage a product of any format through its full life-cycle with a single back-office interface.
-URM will continue Ex Libris's support for the DLF ERMI initiatives and focus on open platforms.
Comments