Agenda & Minutes for 12/6/19

Nancy Babb (UBuffalo)
Nancy Babb (UBuffalo)
Last updated 
Meeting 12/6/2019
Participants: Michelle, Nancy, Amanda, Shannon, Jennifer, Noah

Draft Best Practices Doc - Michelle created the initial document for everyone to use. We reviewed the different areas of the document. Everyone is encouraged to share this document and edit as appropriate, either individually or per request to Michelle.

Discussion of outstanding issues:
  • General feedback and problems: are there barriers to Going Live?
    • The test group is encountering some challenges, but hopefully we're discovering and trouble-shooting issues so that there won't be as many problems for the rest of SUNY at Go-Live. 
    • In many ways, the CDI seems at least as good as the PCI.
    • There were/are problems with the PCI, and we may just be seeing variations on these problems in the CDI.  (Ex: HVCC still has false held titles)
  • Problems with CDI updates 
    • Jill has reported held content showing as "not available" in brief results that then updates to "available" after opening record (like lag in PCI updates). Michelle has reported to Ex Libris with examples.
    • Amanda reports the opposite problem for Broome; materials they don't hold show as "available" in brief results then update to "not available" after opening record.
    • Broome is also finding that the changes they make in Alma to the CDI being reflected in Primo VE. The current live Primo is reflecting changes fine, but the CDI is not picking up any changes: no new collections, no new activations, no changes to activations/search/display - nothing! Amanda will document and report to Ex Libris Basecamp with specific examples.
  • Activation of PCI collections in Alma/CDI:
    Some things that were not activated in the PCI seem to have been activated in the CDI, including Open Access and Foreign Language collections, which individual test institutions explicitly turned off in PCI previously.
  • Missing CDI data - UBuffalo is missing a lot of CDI data (tabs, fields, etc.) in their collections. Ex Libris initially indicated that CDI data should be updated in Alma by 12/13 (end of week), but elsewhere indicates end-of-January as anticipated date for all CDI collection update.
  • Mysteries to be addressed further with Ex Libris:
    • CDI searching is only for extended search (huh, what?)
    • Impact of database activation vs. full-text collection activation.
    • Are new Open Access collections automatically being activated in CDI for all users, and will they be, even if an institution has not activated them in Alma?
      • Michelle will pose this question to Ex Libris.
      • If they are being automatically activated, we can submit a proposal to the Idea Exchange that institutions be given choice/control over OA activations in CDI.
    • How to ID the source of single merged records?
      • Show Record ID bookmarklet;
      • Source field in record;
      • Link Resolver links;
      • Display CTO bookmarklet.
  • Communication with campuses - question for Shannon: what should we be doing, and when, especially given our concerns about problems we're seeing with Alma updates not having effect in CDI/Primo?
    • We need to set a target date for Go-Live ASAP and communicate to campuses, so they can be prepared.
    • We definitely don't want to Go-Live in middle of semester.
    • We also need to be aware that library staff at some campuses are 10-month employees, so the summer will not be reasonable for them to Go-Live.
    • January 5 seems like most feasible target date for Go-Live - but there are many concerns. If the problems Broome is documenting with Alma changes not being reflected in CDI is persistent and can't be fixed, then can we really recommend Go-Live in January?
    • Michelle notes that campuses may not need to do much; the change will simply happen, and everyone will just need to be aware of new CDI fields and how to work in CDI rather than PCI. But transition may be smooth - if we can identify, troubleshoot and correct some problems now.
    • Michelle and Amanda will work together to spot-check more campuses to see how wide-spread, persistent, and severe the problems Broome identifies are.

Go live date and planning
  • Dates for training will depend on Go-Live dates. It seems wise to do some training immediately before Go-Live and then follow up with some post-training a few days after as well. An FAQ will also be helpful.
  • Tentative Go-Live date: Sunday, January 5 - contingent on resolution of update problems documented by Broome