System Development and Upgrade Projects
The project list below includes strategic projects prioritized by the University Library Council as well as several OIS and HUL projects of general interest to the library community. Projects shaded at the top of the list have been completed in the last 1-2 months. The rest of the list is ordered by the year in which the project was approved and the relative priority of the project within that year.
This list is updated quarterly. The information on this report is intentionally brief and intended to provide highlights only. For more detailed information or status of any project please contact the project liaison listed below.
Printable PDF version of projects table
| Project name | Project sponsor/ priority |
For more info contact: |
Description | Project start date |
Target completion date | Level of confidence/ completion |
Oversight/ Steering Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OCLC reclamation | 2006 ULC; #01 | Robin Wendler | OCLC holdings refreshed with Aleph data Libraries now using new automated process for updating holdings; Last small libraries and digital masters to be sent in October 2009 |
Initial start date Mar-06; On hold during OCLC/RLIN merger; Resumed JUL-07 |
Oct-09 | M | Aleph Standing |
| Google digitization project | 2006 ULC (added after vote) | Tracey Robinson | Project to scan public domain works from throughout the Harvard libraries - final scanning complete. Final downloading underway; project expected to wrap up by end of 2009 | Feb-06 | Dec-09 | M | OIS, ULC |
| Archivist's Toolkit | 2007 ULC #04 | Robin Wendler | Implement Archivist's Toolkit as pilot project; working group will assess and report back to ULC by Dec 2009 | Jan-09 | Dec-09 | H | Manuscripts/ Archives Steering |
| Captions for IDS digital images | 2007 ULC #07 | Randy Stern | Add image citations for images delivered by IDS and PDS; Phase 1: supply default captions for curator-selected collections - completed Summer 2009 Phase 2: supply default or custom captions for curator-selected objects - will be incorporated into DRS 2.2 |
Sep-08 | Phase 1 complete: July 2009 Phase 2 target: Spring 2011 |
M | Visual Materials Standing Committee |
| Security compliance 2008-2009 | 2008 OIS #03 | Dianne Stronach | Enhancements required to insure compliance with Harvard Enterprise Information Security Policy (HEISP). Including: encryption for any forms/emails that contain HUID, anonymize all log files, implement new Aleph security (v 19), and assemble security documentation Project was extended to include compliance with University 2009 Mandates. | Sep-08 | Dec-09 | H | OIS |
| Streamline URN creation for e-books | 2008 ULC #00 | Laura Morse | Design training/tool to allow library staff to create names for e-books -- replace the current manual forms process. Training planned for Oct 2009 | Oct-08 | Oct-09 | M | OIS |
| DRS 2.1 upgrade | 2008 ULC #01 | Andrea Goethals | Object security and integrity - includes support for PDF and opaque objects. Phase 1: Basic support for opaque objects and PDF Phase 2: Object modeling |
Jun-08 | Phase 1: July'09 DONE Phase 2: May'10 |
M | OIS |
| E-mail archiving project (EASI) | 2008 ULC #04 | Wendy Gogel | Project to develop pilot infrastructure for archiving email. Work with 3 library partners: Countway, Schlesinger and Archives | Jan-09 | Feb-11 | H | CCCC |
| ARTstor collaboration | 2008 ULC #07 | Robin Wendler | Collaborate with ARTstor on the development of a shared system for managing visual collections; Year 1 of three year plan will focus on specifications, development, and integration of Fine Arts teaching slides | Feb-09 | Phase 1:July 2010 Phase 2:July 2011 Phase 3:July 2012 |
M | Visual Materials Standing Committee |
| Usage stats for licensed e-resources | FY10-ULC-#01 | Laura Morse | Investigation, analysis, and recommendations for how to meet library needs for usage data for e-resources | Sep-09 | Dec-09 | H | DACSC, CCCC |
| HOLLIS discovery expand scope and features | FY10-ULC-#02 | Laura Morse | Phase 1: New UI, syndetics Phase 2: finding aids, index HUL webspace Future: DASH, VIA, free Google books, Harvard's full text MetaLib integration, My Discoveries, FRBR/record clustering |
Jun-09 | May-10 | H | DMCC/PSCC |
| Reference tracking system | FY10-ULC-#03 | Wendy Gogel | Implement recommended solution from PSCC working group - library-wide system to support virtual reference | May-09 | tbd | PSCC | |
| Verde phase 2 | FY10-ULC-#04 | Laura Morse | Expand use of Verde to interested libraries beyond OIS; develop policies, best practices, etc. | Sep-09 | tbd | DMCC | |
| Embeddable discovery web tools | FY10-ULC-#05 | Randy Stern | Create an application that allows libraries to embed a customzied metasearch box on library websites | Sep-09 | tbd | PSCC | |
| Computing efficiencies for cost reductions | FY10-OIS-#1 | Dianne Stronach | Work with the UIS/SOC to define cost reductions for FY2010. Initial focus is on efficiencies, but service level compromises may be needed | Mar-09 | Dec-09 | H | OIS, SOC |
| Technical Services Efficiencies and Automation | FY10-OIS-#3 | Laura Morse | Projects include EDI, batch loads for ebook metadata, shelf-ready acquisitions, WorldCat selection (for HCL) | Jun-09 | ongoing | ||
| MetaLib 4.13 upgrade | FY10-OIS-#6 | Dianne Stronach | 1) Hardware upgrade using IBM rather than SUN 2) Operating System change using Linux 3) separation of database to back-end to comply with security 4) Installation of metalib 4.3 5) Testing 6) Change control 7) Failvoer and Recovery doc and testing | Oct-09 | Jan-10 | OIS | |
| Digital projects for individual libraries and collections | FY10--CCCC | Wendy Gogel | Involves analysis, advice and assistance for the use of the digital library infrastructure, including new depositors and projects for TED, VC and WAX, etc. | Jul-09 | ongoing | ||
| PDS enhancements | FY10--CCCC | Randy Stern | For FY10, the DCSWG has prioritized the Page Delivery System for usability enhancements, including browsable page thumbnails, page level navigation, and page bookmarking. | Oct-09 | tbd | Digital Collection Systems Working Group | |
| HGL enhancements for FY10 | FY10--HGL | Randy Stern | Phase 1: Remaining U/I enhancements, Phase 2: Update ArcMap search tool, Phase 3: KML export format for Google Maps |
Jul-09 | Jun-10 | H | HGLSC |
| Requests for on-order materials in HOLLIS | FY10--HCL | Laura Morse | Configure HOLLIS/HOLLIS Classic to allow requests for materials with On Order status. Define workflows for processing materials arrived with active hold request | Sep-09 | Nov-09 | M | TSSC |
| DASH - release 1.1 | FY10--OSC | Randy Stern | DASH release 1.1 is a bugfix release following on the heels of the first public release of DASH in September 09 | Sep-09 | Nov-09 | H | Office for Scholarly Communication |
| DRS 2.2 | FY10-OIS-#4 | Andrea Goethals | Object management and monitoring - includes many Web Admin enhancements, better support for Audio formats, rights metadata | Oct-09 | TBD | OIS | |
| New formats for DRS | FY10-OIS-#5 | Andrea Goethals | Part of an ongoing initiative to support new formats and genres in the DRS; audio and drawing formats; start investigating video | Oct-09 | Summer 2010 | OIS + external experts | |
| Google - OCLC metadata loading | FY10-OIS-#7 | Robin Wendler | Implement data flow to 1) record print holdings of scanned vols, 2) generate records for Google digital copies of Harvard scanned vols and 3) Harvard holding of digital copy | Sep-09 | Phase 1-2: Jan 2010; Phase 3: TBD | M | OIS |
| Aleph 20 upgrade | FY10-OIS-#8 | Dianne Stronach | Preparation of the upgrade environment is underway and we will install the 3 major service packs so the system will be ready for Team testing in the Spring for a Summer implementation. | Feb-10 | Aug-10 | H | OIS |
| Portal redesign | FY10-ULC-06 | Wendy Gogel | Review and modify the Harvard libraries website to incorporate the new HOLLIS | tbd | tbd | PSCC | |
| Web services for bibliographic data | FY10-ULC-07 | Randy Stern | Develop a unified standards-based set of Web Services for library web applications to query HOLLIS data; Specify wrok needed to develop API's for VIA, OASIS and other central systems metadata | tbd | tbd | DMCC | |
| Aeon for special collections | FY10-ULC-08 | Laura Morse | Work with HCL to integrate Aeon special collections tracking system with Aleph/HOLLIS and OASIS? | tbd | tbd | HCL |