OpheliA LEPH us without even saying goodbye! – Implementation Update #11, Sept. 18, 2005

OpheliA LEPH us without even saying goodbye! – Implementation Update #11, Sept. 18, 2005

Hi Everybody,

I was in Canadian Tire yesterday doing my part to prepare for the coming storm by buying windshield washer fluid and the lady in front of me in the line had a cart with three Coleman lanterns AND a portable toilet. Now that’s prepared!

Well now that Ophelia has decided we weren’t worth the effort and I’ve put away the candles and the windshield washer fluid, its time for another update.

There’s a lot to cover so let’s get right to it.

Data Load Two
Testing Two
Web OPAC Customization
Notices/Reports
STP

Data Load Two

Our data was extracted and delivered to ExL on the weekend of August 26. They will be finished with the conversion and load by early this week. As mentioned in the last update (you read that one right? – if not its here – Go ahead. I’ll wait while you read it), we have (hopefully) fixed the great majority of the reported errors. This load was really our last chance for major changes to the maps and specifications for the conversion. The next load will be our last and will occur mere days before Switch to Production (STP). We don’t want to be trying anything too radical in that load that might have ramifications we hadn’t thought of and don’t have time to fix. If you’re interested in the maps and specs (and who wouldn’t be), you can find them here: /#documents

Testing Two

You may remember that the first testing phase was mainly to check for data integrity (if you don’t remember, read this, but I’m not waiting for you to finish this time). The comparison of patrons to patrons, bib. records to bib. records etc. in Advance and ALEPH was done primarily by NSOC and the DMT. The results of their testing can be found in the error reports here: /wp-content/uploads/2011/03/load1.html. This round of testing will focus on functionality. We have finished the first stab at the majority of the tables and setup that are required for ALEPH to work the way we want it to. Now its time to see how well our guesses, I mean informed decisions were.

Once ExL has finished with the conversion later this week, the DMT will take about a week to verify that errors reported in round one have been fixed (and that our “fixes” didn’t create new errors). At that point functionality testing can begin and we will be opening that up to all of you. You will all finally be able to start to explore the ALEPH system! You will need to download and install a specific client for your institution and you will log in using the username and password that were distributed earlier. This roll-out will be coordinated with your library IT functional contact and will be the subject of a separate notice in a week or so. Stay tuned.

In order to explore the new system you will need to know how to use it, of course. The Training Coordination team and the module trainers (/) are well along in the process of designing and scheduling the training. They will be communicating the specifics to you directly in the next week or so, but in the interim here are the general points:

  • Training in Acquisitions, Cataloguing, Circulation, Reserves and Serials will take place from Oct. 12 – Nov. 25.
  • The duration of each session has yet to be finalized, but in general will be a day or two for each
  • There will 15 people per session and it will take place at a lab on the 3rd floor of the Killam Library
  • A week of training is also being organized in the Antigonish/Sydney area for mid November
  • Course outlines, dates of sessions and a registration form will be delivered to you very soon.
  • Web OPAC Customization

    The Customization team has nearly finished the first draft of the major pages of the web catalogue. Just between you and me I’m no big fan of Novanet green, but I have to say that what I’ve seen looks very good. I can’t give you an exact date when the draft OPAC will be released to all of you for your comments, but we would really like to have a beta version up and available for staff and our users by early November.

    Notices and Reports

    Work on the notices required for Circulation (overdues, invoices, holds etc) and Acquisitions (invoices, claims etc) has just begun. ALEPH has a full set of notices, but all need to be modified to suit us. We would like to have the majority of them workable by mid October so that we can use them during training.

    ALEPH also comes with a long list of reports. As part of the RFP process each module submitted a list of core reports (Question: How can a report be core when we don’t have it now? Just asking — Circulation!). ExL indicated which of these core reports ALEPH could provide. The remaining reports will have to be created by Novanet (Dylan). NSOC prioritized the ones not covered by ALEPH so Dylan could begin working on them, and the functional groups have been tasked with ensuring that the ones in ALEPH actually do meet our needs. Both lists can be found here: /.

    STP

    We remain on track for a Switch to Production on January 9, 2006. It never ceases to amaze me that such a large project can remain on schedule. As I reported at the recent NSOC meeting, the main reason for this is the over 50 members of Novanet who are working on the various working groups and committees. So if you are one of those 50 please take yourself out to a movie and dinner and pick up the cheque. If you aren’t one your chance will come – helping with the testing in the coming weeks.