The SDI module allows library staff to inform users
directly when new items of interest are added to the
catalogue. This will facilitate a current awareness
service for your library.
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Library staff can set individual interest
profiles for each user.
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Reports based on users’ interests
can be printed.
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Profiles can be viewed and modified by
users using OPAC, if permitted by library staff.
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Users can search the OPAC using their
SDI profile, if permitted by the library staff.
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Interest categories for profiles include:
Authors, Subjects, Departments (groups of subjects),
Series, Topics and Periodical titles (only if registered
for Periodicals module).
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Notifications can be sent directly to
users via e-mail or printed; and can be restricted
by date.
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Ad-hoc e-mail messages can be sent to
groups of users, based on their SDI profiles’
interest categories.
Example 1:
John is an IT support officer and an avid computer
user. He is always asking the library staff if there
are any new computer books or magazines. The library
staff set up an SDI profile for John with the following
details: Subject – Computers; Periodical –
PC Magazine; Periodical – Australian Personal
Computer.
Once a week, the SDI catalogue Update option is run
by library staff. John receives an e-mail message
listing all new resources that match his areas of
interest. The next time John uses the OPAC, he checks
his SDI profile and adds Subject – Internet and
Periodical – Your Computer. This ensures that
the next time the SDI catalogue Update option is run,
he will receive notification of any new issues of
Your Computer and new resources with the subject of
Internet.
Example 2:
Jenny is a member of a debating club and likes to
keep up to date with current affairs, and also likes
to read popular fiction stories. However, Jenny does
not have an e-mail account. The library staff set
up an SDI profile for Jenny with the following details:
Author – King, Stephen; Author - Rice, Ann; Author
- Smith, Wilbur; Periodical – Time Magazine,
Periodical – Bulletin. Once a week, the library
staff run the SDI catalogue Update option and print
all notifications for users that don’t have e-mail
accounts. The next time Jenny is in the library, she
collects her personalized notification report.
Jenny asks the library staff to add the following
to her SDI profile: Author – Cornwall, Patricia;
Author – Grisham, John. The next time the SDI
catalogue Update is run, any new items added to the
collection from these authors are be included on her
notification report.
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Individualized profiles ensure that users
only receive information on items that relate to
their areas of interest.
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Build and maintain successful relationships
between library staff and users through regular
notifications.
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