Serials - Vo1.12, no.2, July 1999 Joint et a1 Furthering e-journal access: more perspectivesfram Scotland Nicholas Joint, Tony Kidd, William Nixon, Michael Roberts This article considers changes over Introduction the last two years in the electronic Both Glasgow University and Strathclyde University Libraries journal service provided by introduced electronic journal service Web pages in the academic Glasgow and Strathclyde session 19961997.' The aim was to promote e-journals as a user- University Libraries, following an friendly networked medium within a local electronic library service earlier article in Serials. We from which the inexperienced user could expect guidance and discuss differences between support. How have these two services fared in the intervening browsing for e-journals on the period? Web, and searching for them on the OPAC, and examine the ways A single access route: Web or OPAC? that each library has tried to combine these digerent access Initially, both libraries maintained a Web server route and an modes. Following a discussion of OPAC route to an e-journal Web page. This is not an untypical way possible co-operation between the to provide access. Writing of e-journal promotion at Loughborough two libraries, we briefiy explore University Library, Hazel Woodward describes: the move towards the 'one-stop "a series of Web pages.. .providing an A-Z listing of all e- shop' and the potential journals. We are also working on providing access to e-journals contribution of aggregators. from the Library's Web OPAC." (p 233) In both Glasgow and Strathclyde there was an expectation that this commitment to maintaining two parallel sets of information and access points into a single electronic service would be rationalised at some point in the future. Nicholas Joint is Subject Librarian Thus, a single OPAC path appeared to be the favoured option, at Strathclyde University Library with the Web server records being removed entirely. Alternatively, ([email protected],uk) the library Web pages could have been used as the main access Tony Kidd is Head of Serials at route to electronic journal services while the OPAC concentrated on Glasgow University Library ([email protected]) listing hardcopy holdings. But in this scenario a hyperlink both William Nixon is Assistant Head ways between OPAC and Web pages is needed to bring together of IT Services at Glasgow information about a journal's availability in both formats; or the University Library introduction of 239.50 broadcast searching would be essential to ([email protected]); enable the user to search OPAC and Web server simultaneously, Michael Roberts is Head of Serials at Strathclyde University Library creating a composite result from two sources, OPAC and Web ([email protected]). pages. Furthering e-journal access: more perspectivesfrom Scotland Joint et a1 Serials - Vo1.12, no.2, July 1999 One list good, two lists bad SuperJournalProject findings On the face of it, the latter option seemed clumsy A recent article about the eLib SuperJournal and less attractive - if the OPAC was the establ- project discussed its preliminary usage results, ished way of tracing print journal information, it and analyses these issues of searchability and should remain the single significant way of loc- browsability: ating journal information, whether the journal be "Despite provision of a number of types of in electronic format or not. And the OPAC-based search engines in the SuperJournal approach has the bonus of a unified rather than a Application, the actual usage of any of these split approach. A user friendly information system engines is low. In contrast there are should not confront the user with the confusing high levels of browsing by all users." (pp choice of two different listings - why look in two 120-121) places when you could more easily look in one? Of course, this discussion of search engines for Interestingly, however, both libraries have e-journals is not the same facility as an OPAC maintained a dual access policy to a greater or search, and the browsing described is from article lesser extent. This is in spite of the extra workload to article rather than through Web pages listing e- involved in maintaining such a belt and braces journals by title and by subject (the style of Web approach. How can this be justified? pages offered at both Glasgow and Strathclyde). The author makes the additional qualification, "It Web or OPAC: patterns of use really needs long term repeat usage for a confident The crucial reason for maintaining two access assessment of actual behaviour" (p 120). paths to our e-journal records at both libraries was Nevertheless, such research is sufficient to the actual pattern of use displayed by readers in make the practitioner librarian, keen on accessing electronic journals. For example, at maximising use levels of a still new type of Strathclyde the number of accesses to e-journal service, reluctant to abandon the browsable Web services via Web pages or OPAC has always been e-journal title and subject listing for a search-only counted by a statistics package. And according to OPAC route. If the SuperJournalproject shows these statistics, the most heavily used access route evidence of user reluctance to search for e-journals was the Web e-journal record, not the OPAC in a Web-based environment, how much less record, by a number of three Web record accesses effective is e-journal promotion when records for each OPAC access. Clearly, our Web listings of describing them are hidden in a large university e-journal titles are offering something that the library OPAC, among a much greater number of OPAC routes do not. records describing dissimilar, hard copy At Glasgow, there are no statistics available for resources? Recent research has argued, effective accesses of individual OPAC pages, but accesses e-journal promotion from academic libraries is to the Web e-journal pages have been running at essential to the medium achieving its full up to 20,000 per month - that covers all Glasgow potential.*Indeed, the preference for browsing e-journal pages, and does not mean of course that may be a reflection of the relative novelty, even 20,000 articles are being viewed or downloaded after a number of years, of e-journals. each month. Nevertheless, it is very hard to believe that direct interrogation of the OPAC is Glasgow University Library's MERLIN anything like as popular. Queries from users at workstation Glasgow also confirm that the most common starting point for those who wish to use e-journals Glasgow University Library was fortunate in is the Web, rather than OPAC. having adopted a Web-based approach to the The most obvious difference between a set of presentation of its portfolio of information services e-journal Web pages and e-journal OPAC records which was in harmony with the need to balance is that the Web pages are browsable, while an the benefits of Web browsability and OPAC OPAC, by definition, is for searching. Is a searchability in e-journal record provision. A browsable set of e-journal Web pages therefore the useful discussion of the search and browse tactics more user friendly route? discussed in this article is put forward by Bates 5. Serials - Vo1.12, no.2, July 1999 Joint et a1 Furthering e-journal access: more perspectivesfrom Scotland Glasgow University Library Up Sitemap Search Contact Us Help ) MERLIN What's New About the Libravy Catalogue Reroutces Subiect Tree 1 FVelcome to the lCIERLIN Workstation C;lasgow Uiusersity Lilrai~'~Gateway to hdormation Info: Student E-mail Addresses and the Library Search the Catalowe [Help] Jump to L~brarystock from books and journals to m' !%quently Used Resources databases There is also a separate Manuscripts Catalowe Libraw S Net Resowces C6;J View vow omreco~d [In4 I Lmks to Databases. Libraries, E-Journals. - Self-semce, renewals, check for overdues & Newspapers and the Internet current holds Note: Barcodes should start 20114 i Shalt Loan Conection [Info] resources by subject Course matenal by course name or lecturer gj Catdo~?!ie lTehet) Tntonalc and T~auunzComses - The class~ctext ~nterfacefor the catalogue Ohetutorials for study slulls, computer sources and the Internet I @ Welcome to the Library @ Frequently Asked Quesbons @ About MEFZDT Figure 1 Glasgow University Library opening MERLIN screen The MERLIN (http://merlin.lib.gla.ac.uk/) information is kept in one place in a single approach (see Figure 1) aims to provide a bibliographic record. Glasgow changed to this seamless gateway to traditional library system in the summer of 1998, having previously information resources (monographs and serials) had separate pseudo-catalogue records for Web and their direct electronic equivalents (e-journals e-journals, because the catalogue, in its telnet, pre- and electronic books), whilst embedding this Web, days, could not support the use of the 856 Webpac search facility within a larger browsable MARC tag for direct linking to electronic Web environment which lists both electronic resources. Secondly, the sense of a single, resources unique to the Internet (Internet seamless information system is generated by the gateways and search engines, useful Web sites, common graphic design used on every Web page and other networked non-book, non-journal in MERLIN, be it a browsable Web page or services), and recognisably equivalent electronic searchable Webpac record (Figures 2 and 3). versions of books and journals. The MERLIN The header and footer design common to each Webpac is searchable, while the MERLIN Web page of MERLIN is, thus, not simply the useful pages are browsable. navigation and orientation device found in many Obviously, there is a duplication of access higher education and commercial Web sites. Its routes for e-journals in this approach, but any specific information retrieval function is to create sense of confusion or unnecessary overlap is the feeling of a seamless, single information avoided in two ways.