MNLINK – CRPLSA

MNLINK Discovery Layer

All new this week — the MNLINK discovery interface.

This easy to navigate new search tool provides library users access to library collections around the state, as well as the Electronic Library for Minnesota, Ebooks Minnesota, Minnesota Reflections and much more. In celebration of this new service, Minitex created a fun and informative video introducing MNLINK to library users.

Libraries may add a link or embed the video on local websites so patrons can learn more about the new MNLINK. Enjoy!

Coming Soon – New MNLINK Interface

MNLINK is getting a face-lift this fall!

Sporting a new logo, the greatly improved user interface will feature responsive functionality, allowing users access on the go and from any device. While a bigger launch announcement will come at a later date when the interface goes live, some pre-launch items have been created for library staff.

The MNLINK Marketing Committee has prepared information for distribution to patrons and staff which you can download, print, and cut as needed. The announcement to patrons conveys the message about the change to the user interface that is coming soon. The committee has also created a FAQs document to assist your staff in responding to user queries. We expect to update the FAQs as we hear more from you about the information users are seeking.

Please access the links below for these materials:

MNLINK quarter sheet

MNLINK FAQ

Share the FAQs with staff so they’re prepared and share the quarter sheets with the public so they know what’s coming. The MNLINK Marketing Committee is currently working on new brochures and bookmarks that will be made available prior to the implementation of the new system. Training webinars will be provided to alert staff of the functionality that the new interface brings.

MNLINK Marketing Committee Members

Nick Banitt (Minitex)
Carrie Braaten (Anoka County Library – MELSA)
Marjorie DeJong (PLS)
Sarah Hawkins (ECRL)
Zach Miller (Minitex)
Becky Ringwelski (Minitex)
Reagen Thalacker (SELCO)

OCLC Reclamation Webinar

Staff from libraries interested in the reclamation offer for the MnLINK Gateway transition to OCLC WorldCat Discovery are strongly encouraged to attend a 60-minute OCLC webinar to learn more about the project. The webinar will take place on Thursday, October 29 at 1:00 PM and will be recorded for later viewing. This webinar will cover the same material as the OCLC Reclamation webinar that took place on October 6. All locations currently represented on the MnLINK Gateway are eligible for the reclamation. For more information about the project, please review articles previously published on Minitex News or contact Becky Ringwelski.

No registration is required.

MnLINK OCLC Reclamation Webinar
1:00 PM CDT, Thursday, October 29, 2015
Follow this link to join the meeting
Join by phone: 1-877-668-4490 (toll free) or 1-408-792-6300
Phone access code: 716 748 480

MnLINK Gateway RFP Committee Chooses OCLC

The MnLINK Gateway RFP (Request for Procurement) Committee successfully concluded its process by signing a contract with OCLC for their discovery and interlibrary loan solutions on July 2, 2015. The patron interface, OCLC’s WorldCat Discovery, is being customized to meet the needs of libraries and users in the Minitex region. For the next few years, the interlibrary loan function will continue to use the VDX ILL software currently used on the MnLINK Gateway, and will be replaced by WorldShare Interlibrary Loan when OCLC completes the customizations required to meet Minitex needs.

OCLC’s discovery system will be a major improvement for users searching for books, digital images, electronic content, and ebooks using the MnLINK Gateway. Minitex hopes to implement this interface in January 2016. All libraries on the MnLINK Gateway must have their holdings catalogued on OCLC in order to be included in search results. Holdings for all locations need to be up to date in order for WorldCat Discovery to be an effective tool to search library collections. A one-time batch loading reclamation is included in the contract at no extra charge for libraries with either OCLC Cataloging or CatExpress subscriptions. The reclamation must be completed by June 2018, and Minitex encourages libraries to do this as soon as possible. The contract also includes a mechanism to enable the four non-OCLC cataloging libraries currently on the Gateway to be represented in the catalog.

Minitex thanks the committee members who dedicated their time, energy and expertise to this project. We also want to acknowledge the many institutions that generously supported their participation on this committee.

MnLINK RFP Committee Members

Nick Banitt – Minitex
Ken Behringer – Dakota County Library
Mary Lou Dresbach – Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Ruth Dukelow – CLIC
Sonja Eilertson – PALS
Raquel Franklin – Minitex
Cheryl Hill – SELCO
Ann Hutton – SELCO
Karen Kilbride – Hennepin County Library
Emily Kissane – Minnesota State Library Services
Nicole Murphy – Lake Agassiz Regional Library
Dixie Ohlander – Augsburg College
Becky Ringwelski – Minitex
Greg Sauve – Rochester Public Library
Jill Smith – Anoka County Library
Darla Sorenson – Traverse des Sioux Library System
Paul Swanson – Minitex

More information will be forthcoming. In the meantime, please email Becky Ringwelski or call 612-624-0375 if you have questions.

MnLINK Gateway Product Demos

Three vendors have been invited to demonstrate their solutions in response to the MnLINK Gateway RFP that was issued in October 2014. Each vendor will be spending one day with the MnLINK Gateway RFP Committee. Minitex has set aside two hours each day for a public demonstration of the products being considered. The sessions will all be held online via webinar from 8:30-10:30 AM.

The schedule of companies and dates for the public demos are:

Wednesday, February 25, 2015 – Relais International
Thursday, February 26, 2015 – OCLC
Friday, February 27, 2015 – Innovative

The product demonstrations will also be available for later viewing for those of you who aren’t able to attend the live session(s). Information on accessing the demonstrations will be provided in the coming weeks.

LARL, SELCO and TdSLC currently have staff members serving on the RFP Committee. For more information contact the Mintex office.

MnLINK RFP Committee Created

Minitex has formed an RFP group for the MnLINK Gateway. This committee will prepare, solicit and review RFPs to replace the current Fretwell-Downing VDX interlibrary loan software, as well as investigate a discovery layer for the MnLINK Gateway. The individuals on this working group represent different types of libraries, varying areas of expertise and metro/outstate locations.

MnLINK RFP Committee Members

Nick Banitt – Minitex
Ken Behringer – Dakota County Library
Ruth Dukelow – CLIC
Sonja Eilertson – PALS
Raquel Franklin – Minitex
Cheryl Hill – SELCO
Ann Hutton – SELCO
Karen Kilbride – Hennepin County Library
Beth Lunn – Pioneerland Library System (PLS)
Nicole Murphy – Lake Agassiz Regional Library (LARL)
Dixie Ohlander – Augsburg College
Becky Ringwelski – Minitex
Greg Sauve – Rochester Public Library
Jill Smith – Anoka County Library
Darla Sorenson – Traverse des Sioux Library Cooperative (TdSLC)
Paul Swanson – Minitex

Becky Ringwelski, Minitex Associate Director, will chair the committee and Valerie Horton, Minitex Executive Director will participate as an ex officio member. The recommendation of the committee will go to Valerie Horton who will make the final decision on the system to replace the current ZPortal/VDX software. A member of the University of Minnesota Purchasing Department will work closely with the committee during this process.