Next-Generation Melvyl Pilot

Introducing Next-Generation Melvyl Pilot

Beginning late May, 2008, you will be able to search ANTPAC, Melvyl, and a global catalog of over 80 million bibliographic records with a single search. Explore the pilot version of this new tool from the search box on the UCI Libraries’ homepage at: http://www.lib.uci.edu and send in your comments.

Similar to the way that researchers use Google for broad, inclusive searches, the "Next-Generation Melvyl Pilot" allows scholars to cast a wide net and find out what books are owned at UCI, what books are owned by other UC campuses or at the regional storage facilities, and what relevant works are available for interlibrary loan from other research universities – all from the convenience of one search box. Search and results displays in the global database give preference to UCI holdings, and then to UC-wide holdings.

As large as this catalog is it will not have quite everything that the current Melvyl contains, such as non-UC libraries and campus affiliated libraries. However, it does contain some additional holdings, including 30 million articles on general topics, education, government information, medicine, and health.

The "Next-Generation Melvyl Pilot" preserves much of the functionality of the current Melvyl, but also adds many exciting new features. You can still check on the circulation status and location of items, make interlibrary loan requests, and build lists of items. With the test database, you can also:

• Search in multiple languages,
• Automatically move references into EndNote and RefWorks,
• See book jacket covers,
• Read reviews from Amazon.com and add a review,
• Links to UC books digitized by Google
• And much more…

Each UC campus is piloting its own version of this new discovery tool through the end of 2008. User testing for the system-wide pilot will occur at both UCI and UC Berkeley during the Spring and Fall of 2008.

ANTPAC and the current Melvyl will be maintained and fully functional throughout the pilot project.

This is an opportunity for you to help us shape a discovery tool that really fits your needs. We value your input and look forward to your participation in this exciting initiative.

For more information, contact Carol Ann Hughes, Associate University Librarian for Public Services (hughes@uci.edu or x49753) with any questions. Or view the Frequently Asked Questions and the presentation (pdf).