From: "Hamaker, Charles" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 05:38:30 +0000

We are moving to OCLC's WMS system, which makes extensive use of KBART
files. We have been using for about two years Ebsco's EDS.

We are finding that the majority of our e-providers do not use KBART
format and we have to go through various contortions to get those
files into a form that the WMS system can use.

Could I make a plea for both the more widespread availability of KBART
files (transforming Mrc files to KBART is not fun!)  and the setting
up of regular feeds from publishers with the various discovery
services  of e content of their metadata?

A number of  providers of e-content are also holding back or not
cooperating much in p;providing  the discovery services metadata that
could  be utilized  in those systems, thus Amira's emails.

As a result these search systems often use very scant metadata as
Amira Aaron has rightly pointed out, or in what I consider the worst
of situations, the old Z39.50 engines  provide services to Discovery
users. Surely publishers want their data exposed with more fidelity
and relevancy to the search, than Z engines provide. It makes it look
like you don't have content you really do when Z interfaces are the
main engines of discovery.

P.S. We have been quite impressed with both the WMS discovery system
and EDS. They do a great job with the content they can index directly.
And every time we've looked at Summons, have been impressed as well. I
admit i'm not as familiar with other of the Discovery services.  But
all these services which serve libraries rely on various levels of
metadata and regular feeds at that, to provide their services. I hope
more e-content providers will continue to come on board so these
systems can become ever more robust.

I realize this can be a sensitive subject, no provider wants to lobby
publicly or admit to limitations in their systems, so it takes
librarians speaking up. to focus on the issue of sufficient provision
of metadata or full text where appropriate supplying the discovery
services.

Chuck Hamaker