The Jean and Alexander Heard library has entered into a partnership agreement with Ex Libris to develop a next generation search, discovery, and delivery platform for libraries, called Primo. Several projects are underway including the development of two “pipes” for the Primo publishing platform for search and display, authentication, and the mapping for the “Delivery” phase of development. Implementation of the hardware and software has begun.

The beta testing of version 1.0 is to occur during March – May. Testing involves several teams—those created in the preceding phases, one to develop and conduct end user assessment of the proposed service, and one to test the functionality for users based on comparisons with existing ‘finding’ services (ACORN, bibliographic databases). The Test It Team will carry out this last testing.

The Test It project team will develop the plan for and conduct the testing that will allow us to compare Primo results with our current services. The goal is to make sure Primo fulfills the requirements to be able to supplement or substitute for current services, including ACORN, and native database access for TV News and remote databases.

The work can be divided into several areas:

• Review searching in the Primo development system to gain an understanding of how it functions.
• Review major decisions made to date by the mapping teams in order to understand how we have implemented the software through our selected mappings.
• Develop a list of searching scenarios and a comprehensive list of searching features to test for comparing the results of ACORN, TV News, and the remote databases in Primo and in their native form.
• Conduct searches, record results, and analyze differences.
• Prepare a summary report based on specific findings. **Elements for consideration may be comparisons of actual results, ease of finding relevant information, perceived usefulness of added functionality.

End of February: Begin work End of April 2007: Report due to DLSC

The library has determined that there is a need for a new search, discovery and delivery platform that can assist our users in finding and using the vast and growing varieties of digital, electronic, and print resources provided through the library. We need to understand the impact this will have on users and their ability to find the information we provide. This project will be one phase of testing the functionality of the product as it is to be delivered. We need to document what works well, in addition to what doesn’t in order to make recommendations about further improving the software.

By May 4, the team will deliver to the DLSC a summary and detailed report on searching functionality of Primo vis-à-vis ACORN, TV News, and selected remote databases. The report should contain recommendations of further development possibilities. Prior to the final report, the team will provide an activities report to the DLSC on a bi-weekly basis. The team may request consultation with the DLSC at any time during the project and, in turn, may be requested to attend DLSC meetings for consultation on other aspects of the Primo project. The team will also update the Research Services Committee at its monthly meetings and will solicit input as needed between meetings.

The team will consult, as needed, with the other Primo teams and library committees, especially the Research Services Committee.

Other projects related to the Primo development partnership, including “Data Extraction,” “Normalization,” and “Authentication and authorization,” and others to be created.

We do not anticipate additional funding needs for this project.

The team will deliver the requested reports by early May. A statement of self-evaluation should be included in this report.

Active participation in project teams is critical to the success of the library’s strategic plan. All project team leaders will be asked to complete an assessment form for project team members at the completion of the project. This will be given to the project team members’ supervisor for use in annual performance evaluation. The form will rate several facets of team member participation in the project.