Skip to main content
ExLibris
  • Subscribe by RSS
    • Back
    Aleph
    Ex Libris Knowledge Center

    Configuration options for adding a study abroad program

    1. Last updated
    2. Save as PDF
    • Article Type: General
    • Product: Aleph
    • Product Version: 20

    Description:
    We've been asked to provide support for library collections at our study abroad programs. We already have 2 locations abroad where we are cataloging bib records and providing search. We are now looking at a location where they would use the systems for actual functionality, such as circulation. (We're not sure at this point exactly what functionality they will need. They are small enough that they might not, for example, use Aleph acquisitions.) These locations are not administratively part of our main library, and set their own policies independently.

    We're having some preliminary discussions about how to configure this in Aleph. We're fairly certain that we would *not* want to create a separate bib library, and would simply catalog their books in ndu01, using shared bib records for duplicate titles, and logical basis to provide separate searches.

    One issue we’re considering is whether to set up the study abroad programs as sub-libraries within our existing ADM (abc50), or whether it would be better to set up a separate ADM library (e.g., abc51) for them? The types of issues that we would need to deal with in either scenario are
    • Managing staff permissions
    • Separate data for reporting purposes
    • Separating batch jobs
    • Setting separate policies

    I would appreciate any general input you would have on this. Also, here are a few specific questions:
    • How well does it work to have separate ADM libraries with a shared Bib library?
    • Is it a problem to have two ADMs sharing one bib library, which the other ADMs each have a separate bib library?
    • If we set this up one way, how hard is it to change?
    o If we start with a shared ADM, can we move a group of sub-libraries to a separate ADM in the future?
    o If we start with a separate ADMs, can we combine them in the future?
    o Which of these scenarios would be more feasible?

    Resolution:
    Based on my experience with a very similar case with another institution (see KB 16384-23377), I find that there is one overriding concern: if you have just one ABC50 ADM library, there is only one tab100 with only one TIMEZONE-ADJ value.

    The only way to make the times at these remote locations be correct is for them to be in their own xxx50 ADM library.

    • Article last edited: 10/8/2013