Re: Designating e-journal links as "recommended" (Sarah Brett) Lori Fenton 14 Nov 2008 15:27 UTC
Thanks for bringing up this topic, Lucy. Our library has used Serials Solutions for several years, but I'm brand new to e-resources. Our new dean has indicated to me that users are confused by the multiple links. He's requesting that I find a way to "direct" users to a single source for each title. Prioritizing platforms and/or indicating preferred databases might be a compromise. I'd appreciate hearing more ideas about how this could be accomplished. BTW, isn't one purpose of using a product such as Serials Solutions to reveal all a library's resources and offer users more options? Is there a happy medium somewhere? Thanks, Lori Lori R. Fenton Electronic Resources Washburn University Mabee Library 1700 SW College Avenue Topeka KS 66621 Ph. 785-670-1984 Carmel Yurochko wrote: > There used to be a way to do this in SFX; I think there still is. We have > not had the time to do so. Previously, our IT Director, via the SFX server, > was able to make all of our ProQuest databases displays first on the "menu". > We defaulted to an alphabetical list and are making plans to display "more > reliable" links first. > > Thanks, > Carmel > > -----Original Message----- > From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum > [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Bob Persing > Sent: Friday, November 14, 2008 8:09 AM > To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU > Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Designating e-journal links as "recommended" (Sarah > Brett) > > From: Sarah Brett <brettsj@jmu.edu> > To: SERIALST > Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Designating e-journal links as "recommended" > Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:02:57 -0500 > > I agree that prioritizing the platforms list would be the most obvious > way to direct a patron toward the most useful link. However, we use > Serials Solutions, and when I asked them about this several months ago, > I was told that the resources could not be prioritized. We are still > trying to find an effective way to deal with this, so I would also be > happy to hear how other libraries who use Serials Solutions (or other > products that cannot customize a list) handle the display. > Sarah Brett > > Chad Hutchens wrote: > >> I think the best way to handle this is simply to make sure that the most >> reliable resource links are listed first as most users will simply >> click on >> the first link they see. >> >> In many link resolver systems, you can prioritize platforms and >> display them >> in a set order if that particular journal title is available on more than >> one platform. >> >> > > > Sarah Brett <brettsj@jmu.edu> > Serials Manager > Carrier Library > James Madison University