Horizon Enhancements

[May 24, 2002]
Several people have inquired about the progress of the DALNET Horizon enhancements. Our last written update was prepared in April 2001. Since that time some items have progressed while others will be delayed until after Release 8.0, due 4th quarter 2003.

1. Patron Database

   The DALNET Board approved epixtech's proposed solution using NCIP (NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol). epixtech indicates that most of the Circulation rewrite will occur in Release 8.0, due 4th quarter 2003.

2. Remote Patron Authentication (RPA)

   All DALNET members participating in MiLE are using RPA. A few sites also use it for commercial databases. The DALNET staff have customized RPA for MiLE and resolved some of the problems with the product as released. The part of the product that will provide DALNET-wide authentication and support reciprocal borrowing still needs to be developed by epixtech. Some reciprocal borrowing functionality will be delivered with iSelect and iRequest that will replace URSA (and RSS) for MiLE.

3. Shared Authority File

   DALNET states that there are three components that are integrally linked: 1) the Resource Authority file/Union Catalog enhancement, 2) problems with the original data- load, e.g. duplicate authority records in the databases, and 3) the need for an authority loader that complies with national standards. epixtech currently plans to deliver the additional functionality after Horizon release 8.0, due 4th quarter 2003.

4. Children's OPAC

   DALNET recently saw a version of the Children's PAC functionality in iPAC 2.0.1 at Bill Easton's product demo on May 17. Once the Children's PAC is available for testing, the Task Force will review the product and advise us on how well it meets DALNET's specifications.

5. Ad-hoc Reports Security

   The Finance Committee has approved payment on this enhancement as delivered by epixtech.

6. Integrated Booking Module

   DALNET forwarded to epixtech a list of additional functional requirements. epixtech last indicated that they plan to deliver these requests in Horizon release 8.0, due 4th quarter 2003.

7. Interlibrary Loan Document Delivery

   The MiLE project using URSA is now in production at several DALNET sites plus OWLS-TLN and SLC Libraries. This product is working as expected. epixtech plans to incorporate access to DOCLink, but is waiting for the National Library of Medicine to complete the necessary work on their end before they can proceed. Additional functionality is forthcoming as part of iSelect and iRequest that will replace URSA.

The DALNET staff will continue to monitor the progress on the DALNET Horizon enhancements. We will advise the Project Managers and the Board Executive Committee as the functionality becomes available.

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