Since the start of the semester, library users have been able to access the University’s new online catalog, Voyager. Voyager replaced Unicorn as the catalog system for the Connecticut College, Trinity College, and Wesleyan University (CTW) library consortium. The new site has introduced several new tools, useful features, as well as some confusion.
The Voyager system includes a “My Account” option with which library patrons can save selections in a “Bookbag,” see a list of their charged and overdue items, view their “search history”, and see the status of their requested items.
In “My Account,” students can also use the “saved searches” tool to have the system perform particular searches on a regular basis. Students using this feature will receive an email whenever Voyager finds a new item fitting the terms of their search.
Some students found the new system difficult to use and expressed concerns regarding the differences between Voyager and Unicorn.
“Before you could see a list of DVDs and movies, but now you have to search for specific ones,” said Mike Figura, ’06. “It’s annoying – it’s not a well-designed system.”
Students expressed other concerns about the new search format.
“It’s not as easy to use as the old one,” said Sabelo Sibanyon ’04. “The old one just gave an exact match for a book, but this one gives you things that are only remotely related to what you’re looking for.”
Not all patrons felt the change was for the worse.
“I haven’t noticed particular differences… but now it’s easier to renew books from Trinity,” said Megan Lamb ’04.
Science Librarian Steve Bischof explained that the search for a new library catalog, which began during the summer of 2002, was a response to the problems the Unicorn system presented to users in the CTW consortium.
“The biggest reason for the change in systems was that our consortium partners were having problems connecting to the catalog due to network traffic,” he said.
Wesleyan houses the computer that runs the CTW database, and during periods of high network use here, users at Connecticut College and at Trinity sometimes had difficulty accessing the catalog.
Because of this and other problems, the CTW libraries launched a six-month-long search that culminated in the selection of Voyager. Voyager was chosen based on the recommendation of a committee consisting of two librarians from each CTW library and the librarian in charge of the entire CTW system.
“There are only three or four [catalog] systems out there for larger academic [institutions],” Bischof said. “[Voyager] is the most popular academic library catalog.”
Other schools that use Voyager include the University of Connecticut, Yale, Princeton, the University of Illinois, UCLA, and Cornell.
The CTW libraries signed a contract with Endeavor Information Systems, the company that manufactures Voyager, in early 2003. The previous system, Unicorn, was a product of the Sirsi Corporation.
Voyager, Bischof explained, represents an update in technology.
“The old system had one big database, but this one has three separate databases, one for each college,” Bischof said. “The databases communicate with one another for searching and borrowing.”
This three-database system sidesteps many problems that CTW library users faced with the Unicorn system. But it also requires users to conduct separate searches in each library catalog, which was not the case with Unicorn.
“I don’t like how you have to change the specifications to search in all of CTW,” said Lily Haskell, ’04. “But, I think overall it’s better.”
Amy Couture-Rizzo ’05 participated in a tutorial on the new system for a research-intensive class.
“I tried to use it on my own and I didn’t know what I was doing at all, but once someone explained it to me, it was really easy,” Couture-Rizzo said.
According to the most recent issue of “Check It Out,” the publication of the Wesleyan libraries, the library staff will offer “enhanced orientation opportunities during the spring for students and faculty,” to help familiarize library users with the new system. As of now, no information sessions have been scheduled.
“They didn’t give us enough warning [about the change],” said Brittany Allen ’04. “I wish there had been some sort of email facilitating my transition.”
Allen also added that the unfamiliar system had “caused several unwarranted ILL [interlibrary loan] requests.” Still, overall she said she was pleased with the new system.
“I think it works better than the old one,” she said.
According to Bischof, there have been a few “unexpected problems” with the new system. For example, using Voyager, a student at Wesleyan cannot request the recall of a book checked out at Trinity or Connecticut College.
Users also can no longer request journal articles through the online catalog. To find articles that the Wesleyan libraries do not have, students should now request them through Inter-Library Loan.
“Don’t worry about CTW [for journal articles] – if the article is at one of the other colleges, we’ll get it for you,” Bischof said.
According to Bischof most of the current problems with the system should be worked out in the next few months. Voyager is “fairly straightforward” despite some “subtle changes,” he said.
“If students are confused, they should just ask a librarian. They would be more than willing to help.”
The library is sponsoring a competition to rename the Voyager catalog – “Voyager” is the generic product name given by the Endeavor Corporation. Entries are limited to three per person and should be submitted by 5 p.m. on Feb. 10 to Alan J. Nathanson at anathanson@wesleyan.edu or ext. 3869. The winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to Broad Street Books.
Leave a Reply