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The "Collections (Current)" and "BIBs and HOLs (Current)" reporting topics have been refreshed with data that is current as of June 1, 2021. All reports run in the Reporting Environment will now include the refreshed data set.
The next data refresh will take place in early July.
Visit the Data Warehouse web page and read the Data Warehouse Reporting Environment User Guide to learn more about the Data Warehouse and running your own reports.
Acquisitions Attributes Added
The "Collections (Current)" reporting topic now features a number of additional acquisitions-related attributes, focused around order information. This adds 30 new attributes to the reporting topic. Details about specific attributes can be found in the Collections (Current) Data Dictionary.
Adding new attributes to your ad hoc view
New attributes will automatically be available when you first create an ad hoc view. If you would like to add available acquisitions information to an existing ad hoc view, you will need to use the "Choose Visible Fields" feature within ad hoc view editor.
- Open your ad hoc view
- Click the three vertical dots next to "Domain: Collections (Current)"
- Click "Choose Visible Fields"
- Select the "Item Acquisitions Info" set or specific attributes
- Click the arrow to move them from the "Available Fields" column into the "Visible Fields" column
- Click "OK"
USMAI would like to hear your feedback on the Librarian's Guide to Homelessness Core Training Course and the Homeless Training Institute's Monthly Premium Webinars.
Each survey should take, at most, 1-2 minutes: You can take one or both of the surveys. Please submit your responses by Sept. 1, 2021.
Survey 1 | Librarian's Guide to Homelessness Course
Survey 2 | Monthly Premium Webinars
Thank you for your time. These surveys will help us guide future decisions.
CLD Committed to Maintaining ILS Migration Project's Momentum
Colleagues,
We are writing to provide a status update on the ILS Migration Project.
As David Dahl and Chuck Thomas step away from leading the project, the Council of Library Directors (CLD) has approved plans to fill the roles of Project Executive and Project Manager as rapidly as possible.
Our goals remain focused: to minimize the impact of staffing changes, to continue work on the current "Procurement Sub-Phase" of the project, and to stay within the established project timeline.
CLD recognizes that many of you and your co-workers have already dedicated extraordinary effort on various consortial and institutional groups to help with the monumental workload of moving together to a new ILS.
We are committed to maintaining this project’s momentum.
We will share more information in coming weeks as positions are filled and project milestones are achieved.
Until then, please know that the ILS Migration Project will be treated by the CLD and the consortium as a highest-priority effort, and we will continue to direct needed resources toward all aspects of the project.
Patrick Dawson (Current Chair, Council of Library Directors)
Bea Hardy (Incoming FY22 Chair, Council of Library Directors)
Stew of the Month: April 2021
The following is excerpted from the most recent edition of DigiStew:
The CLAS team responded to 49 Aleph Rx submissions and 9 e-resource requests from across the consortium’s libraries in April.
COVID-19 Support
CLAS continues to be available to respond to your support requests. Please use our regular support channels if you need any assistance.
EAST
CLAS’ work on loading EAST commitments has been completed. Commitments have been registered in both Aleph and WorldCat. More information about the participation of many USMAI libraries in EAST is available in the USMAI Member Portal.
New Ticketing System
Work on the new USMAI Support Service Desk continued in April with the planned configuration, nearing completion. In parallel, complex work to migrate the USMAI Member Portal (which integrates with the Service Desk) into the Libraries’ Kubernetes infrastructure is underway.
CLAS team members continue to learn the Jira Service Management system in preparation for a planned go-live in late June / early July.
Next, we’ll be doing some user testing of the new ticketing system. We’ll be in touch with some of the “power users” of our current ticketing systems and look forward to getting their input!
ILS Migration Project
In April, the migration project entered the Procurement sub-phase that will see USMAI through the evaluation and selection of the consortium’s next ILS. CLAS team members participated in meetings of the Core Project Team as the consortium transitions from “planning” to “doing”.
The "Collections (Current)" and "BIBs and HOLs (Current)" reporting topics have been refreshed with data that is current as of May 1, 2021. All reports run in the Reporting Environment will now include the refreshed data set.
The next data refresh will take place in early June.
Visit the Data Warehouse web page and read the Data Warehouse Reporting Environment User Guide to learn more about the Data Warehouse and running your own reports.
Thursday, May 6th from 2:00 - 3:00; Pre-registration Required
Through the Maryland State Library (MSL), staff at USMAI member libraries are able to attend live monthly Homeless Training Institute Premium Webinars free of charge. The link to pre-register for the the next webinar, "Police: How to Reduce Police Calls and Keep Everyone Safe in Your Organization," is available on the new Homeless Training Institute Premium Webinars page in the Member Portal. (You will need to log in or create an account to view.)
A recording of the webinar will be added to MSL's Maryland Libraries Training Academy hosted by Niche Academy a few days after the event. The Maryland Libraries Training Academy also provides free access to the "Librarian's Guide to Homelessness" core training course and the course "Dismantling Institutional Racism in Your Library."
Information about courses and webinars available to USMAI members through MSL are now gathered under the Maryland State Library page in the Professional Development section of the Member Portal.
The MSL page also links to the agency's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Web Guide for Maryland Libraries, which includes resources for collection development; programming and instruction; leadership and management; staff training; and building an EDI foundation.
A Message from USMAI's Executive Director to All Staff in USMAI Member Libraries
Colleagues,
After notifying the Council of Library Directors (CLD) earlier this week, I wish to announce the following two important personnel changes for USMAI.
First, after an internal search process, the UMCP Libraries has selected David Dahl as its Interim Associate Dean for Digital Services and Technologies. His appointment to this interim position begins May 8th and will continue for up to a year (and potentially renewable) until the UMCP Libraries Associate Dean position is filled with a permanent hire. Please join me in congratulating David -- this is a valuable professional opportunity that I feel will benefit both David and the consortium.
Over the next several weeks, I will be working closely with David, the UMCP Libraries administration, the CLD, and other USMAI teams and groups to make sure the transition proceeds as smoothly as possible. Planning and discussions with all of these stakeholders will focus on maintaining uninterrupted core operations and initiatives such as CLAS Team services and the ILS Migration Project. More details will be shared as this transition progresses.
Secondly, I wish to let you know that I have accepted a position as Dean of the Library at Western Carolina University. My last day working for USMAI will be June 4th. As you might guess, I accepted the new job with a high degree of excitement but also some remorse that I will be leaving behind such an excellent group of colleagues. The past 8 years have been a fantastic professional and personal experience for me, and I have enjoyed working with so many of you and your libraries. I believe that we have accomplished much to advance USMAI, but of course there is much more to be done! None of our accomplishments would have been possible without your support and commitment to collaboration, sharing, and a vision to benefit all member libraries regardless of differences.
Over the next few weeks, I will work with the CLD on a transition plan, including identifying an Interim Executive Director until the position can be filled with a permanent hire. We will be sure to provide updates to all staff as we make relevant decisions.
If you have any questions about either of these changes, as always, please feel free to contact me directly.
Sincerely,
Chuck Thomas
USMAI Executive Director