[PSR-News] FW: [DOCLINE-L] DOCLINE ISO Support

[Kwan, Julie]

TO:  DOCLINE Libraries

The message below, posted this morning on DOCLINE-L, announces NLM's
decision to discontinue supporting the ISO/ILL protocol, along with
their rationale for doing so. I would be happy to talk with anyone about
this issue.

Julie

Julie Kwan
Library Network Coordinator
NN/LM Pacific Southwest Region
310-825-5342
800-338-7657
jkkwan at library.ucla.edu
http://nnlm.gov/psr

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for registered DOCLINE users.
[mailto:DOCLINE-L at LIST.NIH.GOV] On Behalf Of NLM DOCLINE
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 3:39 AM
To: DOCLINE-L at LIST.NIH.GOV
Subject: [DOCLINE-L] DOCLINE ISO Support

Effective immediately, NLM will no longer provide support for the ISO
ILL protocol with DOCLINE.  NLM will not be testing with potential new
ISO ILL libraries, nor providing troubleshooting for failed ISO ILL
requests of existing ISO ILL libraries. 

This decision was made in consultation with DOCLINE coordinators at the
National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) Regional Medical
Libraries after a cost benefit analysis of the current ISO ILL
situation.  NLM invested considerable time and effort into integrating
an ISO ILL gateway into DOCLINE over a seven year period of design,
development and testing of the protocol between ISO ILL libraries, ILL
vendors, and NLM's DOCLINE system.  But since the ISO ILL functionality
was first introduced in November 2005, only three libraries have taken
advantage of it using just two of the four vendor ILL systems certified
for use with DOCLINE.  We are aware that the inability to use Loansome
Doc and ISO ILL together has been an obstacle for a few interested
libraries.  Unfortunately, the ISO ILL protocol was not developed to
handle patron initiated requesting, thus preventing sending Loansome Doc
requests via ISO ILL. 

The primary reason for this decision is the amount of support required
for every interested library and every vendor system.  Because the ISO
ILL protocol is not implemented in the same way by every vendor and the
technical implementation differs at every institution, NLM must test
separately with each library, even those using the same vendor system.
It is far more time-consuming than anticipated, and it is inefficient
for NLM to continue to do one-on-one testing with every interested
library.  Because of this, it would not be feasible to scale up the ISO
ILL activity even if there was greater interest.  NLM does, however,
recognize the need for interoperability among ILL management systems,
and we will continue to investigate alternative methods for interacting
with DOCLINE.

NLM is preparing to embark on a new Long Range Plan 2006-2016. (
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/plan/index.html).  We have many new exciting
initiatives in the works, such as the development of a program for
preservation of electronic information, that will provide benefits to
all of our users.  We need to align our resources in accordance with
this plan.

NLM has already notified the current three libraries using the ISO ILL
protocol with DOCLINE about this decision.  They have been informed that
they may continue to use the ISO ILL protocol with DOCLINE for the near
future.  However, NLM will be unable to provide support if any problems
arise with ISO ILL service either due to bugs or software changes made
by their local ILL software vendor or by DOCLINE.  We strongly suggest
that the current DOCLINE ISO ILL users prepare a transition plan in the
event of communication failures with ISO ILL and DOCLINE.  By April
30th, 2007, all ISO ILL DOCLINE participants should transition back to
DOCLINE.  Beginning in the summer 2007, NLM will start to phase out ISO
ILL components from DOCLINE as we work on new enhancements to the
Requests and Serial Holdings modules.

Martha Fishel
Chief, Public Services Division

Mary Hollerich
Head, Collection Access Section, PSD

**** DOCLINE-L NOTICE ****

You are receiving this message as a subscribed member of DOCLINE-L, a
discussion
list available from the National Library of Medicine.

To unsubscribe. send email to listserv at list.nih.gov with "SIGNOFF
DOCLINE-L"
in the body of the message.

For LISTSERV commands and Frequently Asked Questions,
see http://www.nlm.nih.gov/listserv/resources_assistance.html

**************************
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/ms-tnef
Size: 4620 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/private/psr-news/attachments/20070126/fb33a551/attachment.bin