MetaLib 4 User Guide. 2 MetaLib 4 Access MetaLib at: –//metalib.sdln.net/V MetaLib may be used at...

MetaLib 4

User Guide

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MetaLib 4• Access MetaLib at:

– http://metalib.sdln.net/V

• MetaLib may be used at two different levels – guest users and logged on users. Guest users have limited access to the databases as well as minimal personalization privileges. Services not available to guest users either do not appear as options on the screen, or appear with a locked icon . At any time during a session if the user logs on, all current work is retained and can then be saved.

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This is the MetaLib homepage as viewed by a guest user.

Note the term “guest” in the upper right, as well as the

padlocks for various quicksets.

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Logging onTo log on, click the logon icon on the top right corner of

the screen. A logon screen is displayed, where the user

barcode, password and library are entered.

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Logging onOnce logged on, the username will appear at the top right

corner. Note that the padlocks have also disappeared from

the quicksets. Additionally, after logging on, the user is

entitled to personalized services (such as saving records).

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MetaLib Five Primary Tabs

• QuickSearch: provides a complete searching workflow for novice users

• Find Database: provides tools to locate databases of interest and several options for use

• Find e-Journal: provides tools to locate e-journals. including A to Z lists

• MetaSearch: provides full research workflow with maximum flexibility and user control

• My Space: provides personal services and environment settings to authenticated users

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QUICKSEARCH• The QuickSearch component is designed to help novice

users conduct searches in library databases. It is comprised of QuickSets, which are lists of databases preconfigured by SDLN, tailored for specific user groups.

• The screen is divided into two parts: the search form, which includes both simple and advanced options, and the QuickSets.

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• Users can see which databases are included in the Quickset by clicking on the name of the Quickset. – Information about a particular database is displayed when

clicking the information (“i”) icon to the left of the database name.

– Note that a database name always serves as a link to the Web site of that database. This feature is consistent whenever a database name appears on the screen.

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Searching using QuickSearch• Select an “unlocked” quickset, and enter a query, using

the Simple search option.

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Searching using QuickSearch• The progress of the search is then shown on the screen,

along with the number of the results found and retrieved from each database. MetaLib retrieves the first records from each database: the default size of the initial set is 30.

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Searching using QuickSearch• Click “View retrieved”, and the first hits are the displayed

on the screen in one, merged list, sorted by rank.

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Managing QuickSearch results• Sorting is available by relevance ranking (default);

author; title; year; and database.• The results screen offers three views:

– Table View (default), including author, title, year, and database information

– Brief View, including citation information in addition to the above– Full View, including the full record details.

• In the Table View or Brief View, note the action buttons: Add to basket and SFX .

• In the Full View, note the highlighted query words and the actions buttons: SFX , add to basket , save and send .

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Managing QuickSearch results• Note that duplicate records are detected.• Records may be added to the user’s basket by clicking

the add to basket icon . The default basket is the eShelf folder in the My Space tab (discussed later). If a user is logged on, the eShelf is emptied when the user deletes the items. If a user is not logged on (guest) the eShelf is emptied when the browser is closed.

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Extending the retrieved result set

• MetaLib retrieves the first 30 records from each database. If you wish to extend this initial set, click “retrieve more” on the tool bar.

• The system fetches another bulk of records, resorts the extended sets, and displays them on the screen.– Note that new records are indicated with bold text, similar to the

Outlook Inbox paradigm.

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Clusters & FacetsNew to MetaLib 4.0 is the clustering and facet feature. This

feature provides the user with new options for viewing the

merged search results and navigating within the search

results and navigating within the set.

The topic clusters are presented in a hierarchical display

that indicates the number of search result records included

in each topic, and provides hyperlinks to navigate to topic

cluster result sets.

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Clusters & FacetsMetaLib’s faceting functionality extracts specified fields of

information from the search results records, and then

organizes the records into informational facets for display.

The facets created in MetaLib 4.0x are Dates, Authors,

Journal Titles, Databases, and Subjects.

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Transition to MetaSearch• Additional functionality is available -- such as refining

query, viewing results by database, or managing previous searches -- by clicking MetaSearch. MetaSearching is discussed later in this presentation.

– Note that the context is saved though the interface changes to the MetaSearch interface, enabling you the required functionality.

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Find Database• The Find Database tab can be used to locate databases

of interest– Databases can be used individually, on the spot by either

following the linked database title and searching via the native interface, or by searching via the MetaLib interface

– Databases can be added to the user’s personal database clipboard and used for metasearching.

• Personal database lists can be created by copying the databases from the clipboard to lists, as appropriate, using the My Databases option in the My Space tab.

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Find a database by titleTo find a particular database, click on a letter to retrieve a browse

list of databases, or enter search criteria.

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Find a database by titleA list of all databases matching the search criteria are displayed

on the screen.

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Find a database by title• Click the name of the database to go to the native

interface.• Click the information button to obtain information

regarding the database.• This information is controlled by the library.

• Click the magnifying glass to search the database using MetaLib search.

• Click the plus icon to add the database to the user’s database clipboard.

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Find Database using LocateThe Locate function allows the user to search for

databases by specifying values for title, vendor, or any

word. Category and file type options also exist.

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Find Database using CategoriesMetaLib enables the library to define a two-level hierarchy

of categories (category and subcategory). Databases can

be found by selecting a category and subcategory.

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Find e-JournalSelecting this feature takes the user to the SFX A-Z list for

all SDLN libraries. Searches can be performed for all

E-journals within the statewide databases.

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MetaSearch• The MetaSearch component enables the user to have

full control over the search process: – define a list of databases, and further select databases within

that list before launching a search– extended functions to manage the result list– return to previous searches– save searches for future sessions.

• The MetaSearch screen, aimed at advanced users, includes three parts:– options to locate databases (left)– search box (top)– list of databases (bottom).

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MetaSearch Page

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My Space• This component enables a user to define certain aspects

of MetaLib. It includes the following options:– eShelf, where users store the records they found interesting– My Databases, where users can create personal database lists– My e-Journals, where users save e-journals of choice– History, including saved queries and automatic searches

(Alerts)– Preferences, including the user preferences regarding

language, default views, and more.

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eShelfThe eShelf enables user to store records they have found

and place them in folders. The default folder is the basket,

which is a persistent folder for authenticated users. Users

may decide to create folders and copy records from the

basket to these folders, as appropriate.

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• All record options are available within the eShelf, including the various record views, services (save and send), and SFX.

• In addition, users can select one or more records (or all at once, but clicking the checkbox at the top of the list) and perform group actions by clicking the Selected link.

• Advanced users can switch to the dual pane mode by clicking the Advanced option. – They can create new folders; rename folders; save folders under

different names; and empty folders. – Note that the entire basket can be saved (on the right) under

another name (Save as) thus creating a new folder. Otherwise you can select records in the basket and copy them to the folder open on the left.

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My DatabasesThe databases selected using the Find Database tab are

kept on the database clipboard that is seen on the right

side of the screen. Users can create new database lists,

copy databases to them, and assign names to them.

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HistoryHistory includes queries that were explicitly saved during

previous searches. Queries can be reactivated by:– clicking the query– see the databases that were searched– define the query as an Alert– or remove the query from the list.

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PreferencesThe user can set search preferences which will be saved

from session to session. Preferences that can be defined

include:– Default views for database lists, e-journal lists, and result lists– Number of results per page

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PreferencesAny preferences the user sets while they are working, such

as changing the results view from table to brief view are

retained only during the current session. Unless

preferences are changed in the My Space tab, they will

not carry over between sessions.

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Questions?

• Patrick Weber– pweber@sdln.net

• Linda Allbee– lindaallbee@sdln.net