NOTE: This was sent to the WebLUIS Task Force on November 1st for review and was modified somewhat based on feedback. Other thoughts/ideas/questions from WEBLUIS-L members are very welcome. -- Rich

While awaiting final approval and funding of a new system to replace NOTIS (including WebLUIS), discussions at the FCLA Joint Liaisons Meeting (October 25-27) indicated a desire to continue with "moderate" development efforts relating to existing Library Management System (LMS) projects, while not undertaking major new LMS initiatives requiring extensive programmer time. A discussion list of "What Won't Be Done If Current LMS Development Is Frozen" included a brief WebLUIS section. While there was agreement with the general strategy of limiting development of WebLUIS, I thought a fuller list should be created of what development was still needed in WebLUIS before "freezing". Following is a list that outlines what I think needs to be done (or should still be considered because of previous discussion/approval, etc.)

I have included a by those things that I thought we might think were most important, but I would appreciate other thoughts on priorities. -- Rich

1. Fix problems identified in WLV3 - Miscellaneous minor problems have already been reported to the WLV3 team that are either actively being worked on or are on a "fix" list. Others may be identified as we migrate to WLV3 for the library catalogs and course reserve indexes. For example, search re-direct problems with certain fields may be identified.

2. Restore Features Lost from Old WebLUIS (OWL) When Moving to WLV3
   
   
   1. Library catalog 856 links from BIB record on hook-to-holdings view

   2. Ability to MARK a range of records (e.g. 1-10, 15-17) instead of one-at-a-time. Might be a command to mark all records on a screen.

   3. The ability to mark the related catalog and citation records in the "At Your Library?" view has been lost in WLV3. See G.1 below for description of an enhancement to MARK the combined citation and catalog information.

   4. Indicate to the user the e-mail address records have been sent to and the number of records sent. (Also include the e-mail address when sending the IAC full text which has recently become possible.)

   5. "Clickable" call number for serials and multi-volume records to re-direct a search. NOTE: Serials and multi-volume records in WLV3 library catalogs display the "Long View" and "Detailed Holdings" information together - and eliminate the previous long view that included the clickable call number. The CALL NUMBER on the "Detailed Holdings" view has never been "clickable".

3. Known Problems Not Yet Addressed (WebLUIS and LUIS)
   1. Fix several OPAC display problems for items with course reserve statements (reported but I don't think being actively worked on)

   2. Make JUMP work right in all situations (it hasn't been working well in Old WebLUIS either). NOTE: Fortunately, it does seem to work well with keyword search results (the predominant form of searching).

4. WLV3 Enhancements Currently in Development
   1. LINKS enhancements for library catalogs and Database Locator - include "clickable" LINKS and associated LINKS info on Results List; improve LINKS displays on Results List and in record.

   2. Continue evaluating the potential for displaying copy holdings info (call number/location...) at the Results List level so that brief view can be eliminated in library catalogs. Prevent display of this info in the Database Locator Results List (and possibly course reserve indexes).

   3. Multi-Database Searching - select library catalogs and databases for concurrent searching "on the fly" and/or pre-define appropriate groupings. NOTE: It was decided at the Joint Meeting to continue moderate development only if it won't take a lot of time.

5. General Display Improvements to the WebLUIS Interface -- HTML changes that don't require "programming" resources should be allowed to continue as ideas for improving "presentation" are identified. In addition to HTML changes in search, results, and special features screens, this would include the WebLUIS Home Page, A-Z lists, etc. Customized header/footer area requests from institutions should also be allowed.

6. Earlier WLTF Decisions Not Implemented (or not "fully" implemented) - Still needed/desired?
   Related to Search History
   1. "Last Search" automatically displayed in next BASIC, ADVANCED, or COMMAND form chosen. For example, the user could do a BASIC search and then choose to enhance the search using the ADVANCED screen without having to re-type what was originally entered on the BASIC search form.

   2. Provide "Clear Search History" button on the Search History screen.

      Related to Marking and "Sending" Records

   3. Include MARK check-boxes on the Results List using previously-developed alternate Java applet (or some other more efficient approach). Desire for these check-boxes to not appear on Results List of course reserve indexes or the Database Locator.

   4. Provide the ability to type a brief message to be included with marked records sent by e-mail.

   5. Indicate # of records MARKed at any given time - somewhat important since system limit is 100 marked records at a time (and an ABEND occurs when exceeded). NOTE: This number only displays in OWL (Old WebLUIS) when marking by typing a MARK command (i.e. not when using a check-box.)

   6. Display (i.e. preview) MARKed records before e-mail/print/save without losing them.

   7. Require active step to clear marked records. Let them remain available for sending to e-mail as well as printing, etc.

   8. Enhance format options for e-mailing and downloading records for Endnote, Procite...

7. Possible New Enhancements
   1. Add ability to MARK the "At Your Library? view (i.e. "Hook-to-Holdings" view) with both citation database and library catalog info (possibly including detailed holdings too). NOTE: Old WebLUIS at least allowed for marking the catalog record and the citation record so they would appear adjacent when sent (although doing this required typing the command at the "Hook-to-Holdings" level). This capability was lost in WLV3.

   2. Develop changes to make the WebLUIS interface a more effective vehicle for delivery of electronic resources.
      1. Enhance copy holdings statement to include a more appropriate message for CALL NUMBER area and substitute something for "Check Shelf" (or other messages designed for traditional materials) in the STATUS area .

      2. Include direct link to the PDF from Elsevier Results List and record. Other related improvements to Elsevier interface. (NOTE: Only if Elsevier continues on WebLUIS or if anything else uses the same interface).

   3. Other?

1. Display of diacritics and non-roman alphabets (i.e., Unicode/CJK) support) - Won't be done
2. Multi-database searching - Listed in B.3 above. - Continue moderate development only if it won't take lots of FCLA staff time
3. Reduction in level of enhancement development, i.e., arrive at a status-quo and hold - Ideas above reflect mostly known problems or previously discussed ideas with minimal new "enhancement" ideas. Some earlier decisions should be reviewed to determine what is necessary, etc.
4. MHI browse with cross references and search redirect - Won't be done - Correction from Michele (11/16/99) -- "Almost done" so will continue.
5. No additional database-related functionality such as:
• Hook-to-electronic holdings - Won't be done - Correction from Michele (11/16/99) -- (N.B. - I take this to mean that if there is something needed in this area that fits easily in the wlv3 development, we should do it but not do things that are major development projects)
• Thesaurus displays with clickable entries and ability to create complex boolean searches - Won't be done (although the possibility of simply having a simple link to a thesaurus - e.g. PsycINFO - without full integration into the WebLUIS Search System might be pursued)

NOVEMBER 16, 1999 CORRESPONDENCE WITH MICHELE
Rich,
  I took my information from what Patty and Meg wrote on the board.  I quote
from Meg's notes on the items that impact WebLUIS:

   Multiple database searching - lower priority - but nice if easy (N.B. this
was the compomise
        when I mentioned that some of the DL projects require it)
   Hook to electronic holdings - SPEC  (N.B. - I take this to mean that if there
is something
        needed in this area that fits easily in the wlv3 development, we should
do it but not
        do things that are major development projects)
   WebLUIS list from Rich but slow down new development

On the don't do list, Meg had:
    Display series in call # order
    SUS-wide circ
    Overlay URL in ERC
    Elsevier development if we go to ScienceDirect
    Thesaurus display

The item not on Meg's list that I kept was MHI Browse with Cross-references and
Search Redirect.  This was in keeping with our policy of going forward with
something that is close to being done and Gerald had said that it was 'almost
done'.

Sorry I didn't respond to your posting at the time.  Just the exigicies (sp?) of
trying to get out of town.

  - Michele

Rich Bennett wrote:

> Michele, the WebLUIS section in the DRAFT FCLA WorkPlan 2000 document you've
> sent out is somewhat inconsistent with what I included in
> http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/webluis/wl99dev.html (scroll to the bottom). In
> particular I showed us not doing b and d on your list. Did I get it wrong? I
> sent my URL out to the WLTF and then WEBLUIS-L. There was at least one
> comment from attendees at the Joint Meeting (Kathy Hoeth) that the list
> looked accurate.
>
> Rich
>
> WHAT YOU'VE INCLUDED
> 6.  WebLUIS
>     a. Complete WLTF's list of features/functions then hold/slow
>        down on new functionality
>     b. MHI browse with cross references and search redirect
>     c. Multi-database searching for DL
>     d. Hook-to-electronic holdings - needs WLTF spec before any
>        further decisions