MLA IB In Academic Libraries Discussion Group Minutes
Annual Conference, June 23, 2012
Anaheim, CA
Bibliography News: Barbara Chen
- Additions and enhancements:
- Additional classification structures for subject authors: now allows for up to 5 subject author classifications, so no longer have to choose one classification over another
- New template for pedagogy/profession
- 2012 Enhancements (coming in October)
- Addition of Choice reviews
- Addition of references (now adding Wiley-Blackwell, more coming in future)
- Two new record types: Scholarly editions and Translations
- “Website active” indicator: will allow limiting search to active websites only, for example
- Starting a new MLA internship program: the first intern begins right after ALA Annual
- MLA is up and running with Summon (Summon updates later in meeting)
- MLA News: MLA journals now supporting Open Access
Questions for Barbara
- Will MLAIB add URLs for online journals? Barbara: what happens when the URLs change, articles, move, publisher changes?
- Is there a way to note that a journal is open access and online only? Barbara: There should already be a link to the main journal page
Folks should send issues and examples related to journals, links, etc. to Barbara – she gets things done!
Vendor Updates
Ebsco, Craig Brandt:
- Reported issues of subject headings not displaying has been fixed!
- Changes to facets:
- Addition of record counts
- “Language” is a new facet
- All results are now incorporated (?)
- New “Show more” view to select multiple facets
- Mobile:
- Will automatically recognize mobile devices
- Button to toggle between full and mobile views (for tablets and such)
Gale, Mary Onorato
In the process of unifying LRC and MLA home pages
New features/updates:
- Relevance algorithm
- Search assist & graphic search
Currently working with user for input
Beta released around mid-summer
Feedback encouraged - contact
Platform-wide update will address issues of linking out w/ SFX
Proquest, Sarah Brechner -- filling in for John Pegum
- MLAIB on new platform: March 2012
- June 2012 update:
- drop-down menu improvements
- Looks up lists now show current labels
- Can combine facets
- Language name changing from abbreviated to full
- Still to do:
- Data clean up: Country of Publication in publication directory
- Name mapping for authors
- New features:
- Set day of week for alerts
- DB selection is improved: more prominent and can change with one click
- Can set default search DB, bundle favorite search DBs
- Migration tips at www.proquest.com/go/migrationtips
- Will add Cambridge Companions to Literature Online, will be mapped to MLAIB
- Contact John with questions/comments:
John Pegum, Product Manager, Literature, john.pegum@proquest.co.uk
Summon, John Law
- The role of MLA & discovery:
- “MLA will enhance discovery for the researcher”
- Provides an “information literacy” moment: Summon will recommend subject DBs like MLA and search results will link directly to MLA record
- DB recommender: uses trigger words in Phase 1, Phase 2 will use “result set analysis” -- the percentage of results relative to the whole
- Will optimize use of MLA via discovery in Summon
- Increased usage of MLA among traditional and non-traditional users
- Enhanced visibility and perceived need by providing usage credit for MLA stats
Note taker: D. Childress