Getting It System Toolkit

New home for GIST blog & documentaiton

2010-07-27T11:37:00.000-07:00

As GIST continues to grow, we've decided that our blog and documentation should become more integrated so that we can better distribute updates and receive feedback. As such, we've relocated to a new WordPress site. Please update your bookmarks to:

http://gettingitsystemtoolkit.wordpress.com/

We will no longer continue to update our Blogger account so please visit us at WordPress for the latest news and documentation.

GIST and updates on Gift & De-Selection Processing

2010-02-07T12:25:00.000-08:00

I am constantly amazed at Mark Sullivan's programming talents, and the phenomenal work of the others on the GIST Team; Tim Bowersox and Kate Pitcher.

Here goes a recap of some of the ongoing GIST development...

Some major rewritten services on the way...

Mark tweaked the Worldcat API to add a state level look up or libraries can customized group 3 as with GIST 1 - so libraries can decide if holdings in a state should be considered during evaluations of purchase, gift, or de-selection. Pretty cool Mark - libraries will love this.
Mark is working on adding Hathi Trust holdings, that means libraries and users, would know if an item is available full-text from the over 5.3 Million items at the Hathi Trust: http://www.hathitrust.org/ That way, we can make life easier for users who may only need a quick look at some texts, or for staff evaluating gifts or de-selecting materials.

Where are we on automating gift and de-selection processing?
Glad you asked...

The Gift Manager has the automated donor letter (customizable form, of course) that populates all the donations from a user. Screen shot:

It can also now open a window into OCLC Connexion with an automatic item lookup to immediately catalog the item and make life easier for technical services staff. Screen shots:

We are working out the details of the review process at the moment, because some libraries do like sending an email or the work for consideration by the subject expert - we just want to make all that a one button or print action and free up everyone's time.

We always are interested in hearing from libraries about the design and functionality of GIST, so if you have ideas and willing to share them, let us know.

So, the other cool feature is the addition of the BatchWeeder, while the Gift Manager design will parallel the design for the item by item de-selection tool we are calling The Gardener, we think libraries will appreciate a batch evaluation for deselection - because there is way too much individual searches and spreadsheets manually processed by thousands of libraries.

With the BatchWeeder you upload a bunch of ISBN or OCLC#, and quickly get back various data sets about holdings, price, conspectus, full-text availability from various sources. Screen shots:

So, we are happy exploring a new streamlined way to evaluate and process just-in-time & user-initiated acquisitions, gifts, and de-selection. The work continues with interesting dimensions, especially as we look towards adding various evaluation data; awards, notable lists, etc. into the mix.

Your thoughts and suggestions can certainly help us as we continue towards releasing GIST 2 this August 3-4, 2010, in Oswego for the IDS Project Annual Conference - you are all invited; the conference will include programs to deal with GIST 1, 2, and the future; GIST 3.

Best wishes,

Cyril

GIST in Library Journal, & @ Charleston, & more...

2010-01-06T11:33:00.000-08:00

January update...

GIST was presented at the Charleston Conference in November (Presentation available at: http://idsproject.org/presentations/GIST_2009_Charleston.pptx ) and a very thoughtful write up followed in the Library Journal soon after: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6706798.html?nid=3285

All is going well with the GIST Project; Mark's great programming of the Gift Manager is enabling all sorts of streamlining of gift management processing, including; donor letters, machine readable collection building profile that works with a modifiable conspectus, various searching and linking capabilities and more.

Screenshot of the Gift Manager Interface under development

Next step is attaching OCLC symbol to the process and then some alpha testing at a few libraries. Then it is time to tackle the 800 lb gorilla - the budget management system - making that with some new concepts and services is exciting.

Kate and Tim are making great strides with developing statistical reports and tools, also gathering data to share about results since our implementation since August.

More on all this at ALA Midwinter - for the ILL Discussion Group (ALA RUSA STARS) meeting Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 at the Seaport Hotel, Amphitheater 10:30am. If you aren't attending - not a problem, we post everything on the website, and have an article forthcoming in Collection Management.

For libraries using GIST, let us know how you are adapting it and feedback.

Best wishes for the new year.

Cyril

GIST workflow demo video

2009-10-27T06:38:00.000-07:00

Check out a workflow demo video for GIST to see how it's used at SUNY Geneseo. In this example, you can follow the ILLiad process for purchasing requested items.

GIST ver. 1.0.1 - it's getting better all the time

2009-08-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

GIST Version 1.0.1 has been loaded onto the Toolkit Wiki ( http://toolkit.idsproject.org/doku.php?id=wiki:gist ). Bug fix for an Amazon API element.

There is a full install for libraries that have not begun the installation and an update version. For the update version, just unzip the file into your ILLiad web directory and overwrite the files there.

Andy, thanks again for finding the bug. Mark

GIST Listserv GIST-L

2009-08-21T12:42:00.001-07:00

Everyone,

Have questions, get updates, or want to be a part of the discussion of where GIST is headed - we have an email listserv for you...

Please sign up for the GIST-L listserv so that you will get notification of any updates. http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/gist-l .

Thanks & best wishes,

Try GIST - it's definitely out of the box

2009-08-19T12:57:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

It's time to share GIST, all is working for ILLiad 8 (and ILLiad 7.4 albeit without the customized client layouts).

The documentation and download are available at: http://toolkit.idsproject.org/doku.php?id=wiki:gist

We encourage you to voluntarily register, so you can hear about any updates, etc.

We want to recognize the support of so many who have helped make GIST:

The GIST Project is partially funded by the Rochester Regional Library Council through the Regional Bibliographic Databases and Interlibrary Resource Sharing Program.

The staff at SUNY Geneseo Milne Library who have helped think through the process, various iterations, test, and provide feedback.

Staff at St. John Fisher Library who have helped beta test GIST.

Terry Reese (Oregon State University) and Kyle Banerjee (Orbis Cascade Alliance) for their programming help with WorldCat API

Atlas Systems for making ILLiad so darn flexible

Sherry Buchanan & Mike Flakus from Portland State University for making the Amazon Price Grabber

and so many more - thank you.

The GIST Team; Tim, Mark, Kate, and Cyril wish you a very fun time playing with GIST, but we want to hear your feedback and comments on our blog - thank you!

GIST Release August 19, 2009

2009-08-18T15:56:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Well, as a result of a significant change of the Amazon API (old Amazon API service ended as of 4pm yesterday), our team had to delay the release some 36 hours. So, thanks to Mark Sullivan's hard work re-writing code, the new configuration file should be wrapped up and all ready for release tomorrow. That is quite a turnaround time given the change to Amazon's API, it now requires a digital certificate, etc.

So, 24 hours from now, you too can enjoy, adapt, or customize like crazy some pretty cool GIST features. Thank you Mark for all your hard work reconfiguring GIST.

For GIST documentation, see: http://toolkit.idsproject.org/doku.php?id=wiki:gist

Best wishes,

Feedback Needed: Desired Features for next Version of GIST

2009-08-17T09:07:00.000-07:00

As the first version of GIST is being released, we are beginning to plan for the next version, due out in August of 2010. What are the most desirable features of the next version? Here is a preliminary list of features we hope to work on in GIST 2.0:

ordering module (user sees allocation balances at point-of-request, etc.)
purchasing enhancements
statistical reports
cataloging features (ability to download MARC record, attach OCLC symbol, etc.)
gift management module for quick collection evaluation and donor acknowledgment
more vendor APIs
web interface for approvals and approval statuses

What else would you like to see in GIST 2.0? Give us your feedback!

Feedback Needed: Troubleshooting GIST

2009-08-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

Troubleshooting GIST
What is working for you? What ISN'T working for you in GIST? Give us feedback about any problems you are encountering while using GIST.
Also, what works well?
Keep posting your comments and suggestions for improvements.

Feedback Needed: Workflow

2009-08-17T09:01:00.001-07:00

The GIST Acquisitions workflow is really about three different activities:

Processing Purchase Requests
Review Required
Cancelling Requests

Are there others we are missing? What ideas do you have?

We are looking for feedback on all aspects of the workflow and are especially eager for comments on the referring of requests to Review. What suggestions do you have for this workflow detail? Because we are hoping to have a web interface for approvals in GIST version 2.0, we need your feedback!

Feedback Needed: Index Data

2009-08-17T08:28:00.000-07:00

In this widget, the user sees if full-text or audio versions of the item are available in Open Content Alliance (OCA), Internet Archive or other online resource.
The ILL staff will be able to see if the full-text is available in the ILLiad request by the INARC symbol.

Feedback? Any suggestions for improving the interface or content?

Feedback Needed: WorldCat API

2009-08-17T08:15:00.002-07:00

With the WorldCat API, the user sees if the item is owned locally, gets a link to the local library catalog to see availability and can also get an estimated turnaround time for delivery from another library.
The ILL and Acquisitions staff get to see if the item is held locally and the number of holdings in two configurable groups, whether they are consortial or at the state or regional level.

Feedback is requested -- how would you like to see this information displayed? What other pieces of information are missing?

Feedback Needed: Google Books API

2009-08-17T08:15:00.001-07:00

What feedback can you give the GIST team about the Google Books API?
The user sees the Table of Contents, an indication that there is No Full-Text, Partial Text and Full-Text views available. The ILL staff will see that Full-Text is available in Google Books with the GOOGL symbol in ILLiad.

What do you like or dislike about this API? Any other suggestions?

Feedback Needed: Purchasing Options

2009-08-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

We need your feedback on the Purchasing Options component of GIST. In this widget, the user sees the price to purchase from the Amazon API with both the new and the lowest price indicated (the "Lowest Vendor" here indicating the third-party sellers on Amazon) and a link to Amazon directly if they choose to purchase the book themselves.
The ILL and Acquisitions staff see the New & Lowest Vendor price (Amazon) in the ILLiad requests.
The user also sees purchase price for Better World Books and other vendors through a Better World Books API and Google API.
We are interested to hear feedback about this component -- which vendors would you like to see included in this widget? Any other suggestions for purchasing options?

Feedback Needed: Amazon API

2009-08-17T08:13:00.000-07:00

Now that GIST is being released, we are looking for feedback from the community. The Amazon API enhances the user's request evaluation with reviews, ranking, a cover image, and a link to the full information on Amazon's website.
What else is needed? Is better placement needed of the information on the GIST interface? What suggestions do you have? What other Amazon information would be helpful to the user?

GIST version 1 Release Aug. 18, 2009

2009-08-13T16:22:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Just want to let everyone know that we plan to release GIST version 1 on August 18, 2009. This allows us a few days to review the changes that will be made to the Amazon API license terms, one of many APIs used by GIST - see image of GIST Interface with descriptions below for details.

Important notes...

We are very pleased by the testing so far - we think you will really like adapting GIST tools to your specifications, local practices, etc. By the way, the scripts are written in .net and easily loaded and adapted to your web pages - why .net? So it works for hosted ILLiad sites, and don't worry it is really easy to work with the configuration.

GIST is designed for ILLiad 8.0 (although it will work with ILLiad 7.4, being unable to customize the client view makes processing a bit of a translation of field names) ILLiad 8.0 is expected to be available September aka Fall.

GIST Documentation is already going up on the Workflow Toolkit: http://toolkit.idsproject.org/doku.php?id=wiki:gist

GIST is a great opportunity for ILL to demo the cool and useful features of the ILLiad system to Acquisitions staff and a wonderful opportunity for discussions of possible collaborations.
We want to hear your feedback, the recent presentation of GIST version 1 is available at: http://idsproject.org/presentations/Getting_It_System_Toolkit_IDS_2009.ppt and this blog will have lots of entries specific to the components, workflow, etc. in hopes that you will let us know what you think, what features you hope GIST version 2 will have, etc.
On that note, I better get busy... By the way, images below include a description of the interface, and a template for the workflow we are using at SUNY Geneseo - that said, as you may already appreciate about ILLiad, it's flexible for other processes and features.

Best wishes.

GIST Interface with descriptions:

GIST Workflow Map:

Latest Interface for comments

2009-07-14T19:10:00.000-07:00

Just finishing up the functionality, optimizing the scripts, and now for field testing and user reviews. Cool features - all the data services are flexible, libraries can turn them on or off, customize the display and ILLiad field values as desired, and when one of the data services is unavailable, it doesn't fill up the screen.

Features:

Worldcat API (Thanks Terry and Kyle) - this helps users get an estimated available time based on resource sharing partnerships, but also helps acquisitions staff determine how widely held a title is - duplication is a purchasing criteria.

Amazon - this helps users see the cost, and they can purchase a copy if they want. This also gives users ranking and review data that may help them decide, buy, borrow, or reconsider.

Open content alliance, Gutenberg and more full-text options - thanks to Index Data's great data service.

Then there is a bunch of new ILLiad custom queues, email templates, routing rules, email routings to provide a new set of robust acquisitions automations. Whew, glad version 1 is almost done and ready to be released. Darn, version 2 will be a lot more work. As always, we want to hear your comments, feedback, and suggestions about GIST. Thanks.

GIST Interface #3

2009-06-02T12:46:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,

GIST Interface is sure coming together nicely, thanks to all the programming that Mark Sullivan has put into the data services, and Tim Bowersox's ILLiad interface version. Any comments or suggestions are very welcome.

Next steps...

User feedback, Kate Pitcher and I are putting together a survey for that part.

Workflow using ILLiad ver. 8 customizations - it will be interesting to see how configurable we can make the fields, routing rules, emails, and interface using Atlas's great new ILLiad version.

The current interface has several added components; prices, Google Books, Gutenberg, and more.

Again - we appreciate hearing your comments and suggestions.

Cyril

What data services do we need to help our decisions?

2009-05-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

Imagine that when users place book suggestions or ILL requests, several data service feeds automatically fill the request, (alternative: or are hidden data to reduce the noisy distraction), and all this supplementary data can be used for automatic pricing, routing, or just streamlined decision making...

So what data services make sense?

Here is your chance to let us know what data services you would like to see us try and add to the GIST Interface.

So far, it looks like Amazon, Google and Worldcat are relatively easy and have a data for a variety of purposes, but what are you interested in having in the request interface? Book Mooch, Baker & Taylor, etc.

Let us know what you recommend and why - we appreciate your feedback.

GIST Interface #2

Interface Test #1 - What do you think?

2009-05-15T05:55:00.000-07:00

Tim Bowersox, Mark Sullivan and Kate Pitcher have been busy tweeking the GIST interface - in preparation for Faculty feedback and surveys.

The functionality we love so far is the enhanced user feedback drop downs - so far, in tests with regular ILL requests, the question about essential to research has proven that users are willing to tag their ILL requests with essential and unessential.

The Amazon functionality is now much more extensive, Mark Sullivan re-wrote the Amazon Price Grabber now called Amazon Reviewer, because not only does it capture two price variables - new and lowest, he also added the ranking, reviews, click through to purchase, and error messaging. Wonderful work Mark! This works with ILLiad's OpenURL requests, but are also adding that functionality to the blank ILLiad request form.

What do you think of the Interface?

Why are we asking...

Like the Workflow Toolkit, we think other libraries may want to use components or ideas from GIST, so we plan to make all the documentation, files, etc. available to other libraries August 5th, 2009 during the IDS Conference.

Stay tuned next week...

GIST Interface may just have the Google Books API nestled into the interface.

We appreciate your interest, comments, and suggestions.

GIST - Getting It System Toolkit

2009-05-12T13:50:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

We want to introduce the concept GIST and the GIST Team.

Project GIST, the Getting It System Toolkit, will provide a new model and useful tools to integrate and optimize acquisition and interlibrary loan services and to promote regional collection diversity. The IDS Project GIST development team will develop and share these customizable and flexible tools for libraries, as they have done with the Workflow Toolkit which have been nationally recognized and widely adopted by library consortia and resource sharing system vendors.

GIST TEAM
Tim Bowersox, GIST web interface & ILLiad workflow designer
Kate Pitcher, GIST acquisition & collection development designer
Cyril Oberlander, project consultant
Ed Rivenburgh, IDS Project director
Mark Sullivan, project manager & Geneseo programmer