Activities

"Changing Worlds": WIS Library in the Digital Age English | Hebrew

2010 |2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000

 

2009

The Libraries are responsible for acquiring, collecting, processing, distributing, and storing all printed material (books, journals, patents, articles, etc.) needed by the Institute faculty and staff, as well as for purchasing, licensing, implementing, maintaining, managing and ensuring online access to digital resources such as e- journals/series, e-books, databases, etc. The Library staff provides users with up-to-date techniques for locating and using library material and for searching the Library's online catalog, supports the Institute's personnel with sophisticated use of online resources, and performs intermediated scientific literature searches upon request.
The Libraries are comprised of books and bound volumes of periodicals, of current periodical and book series subscriptions in hardcopy or in combined printed and electronic form, many electronic databases, and access to aggregated electronic collections. We maintain a constantly growing collection of thousands of electronic journals/series and e-books. A considerable portion of the electronic resources collection is a result of MALMAD consortium agreements.
The Institute's Archives document the history of the Weizmann Institute and its scientific, educational, and cultural contributions to the world of scientific endeavor, from its beginning to the present day.
The Libraries' home page is: http://www.weizmann.ac.il/library

Innovations during the past year include:

1. The transfer of the Wix Library collections
   This year we completed the lengthy process of transferring the Wix Library hardcopy journal collections to the Faculty Libraries and to the new Central Library. This entailed logistical planning and reorganization in all Libraries. All decisions were taken in accordance with scientists' advice--asking them to check hardcopy titles lists, or by inviting them to check the Library's print collections.
   The lengthy, professional weeding process of the Wix Library's book collections also continued during this year, and over 4,000 additional books have been weeded from the collection. Many books were transferred to the various Faculty Libraries. This process continues.
   The Library's catalogs have been regularly updated with all the relevant changes.
2. New Central Library location
   The Weizmann Central Library (formerly known as the Wix Library) headquarters and collections, including the special collections, has moved to the renovated Leon and Gina Fromer Building.
   The librarians' team, which handled the transfer of the Wix Library collections, was nominated as a candidate for the 2009 Outstanding Team.
   Please view the interview "Excellence in our Library," mp4 / wmv
3. Proquest project
   Approximately 1300 PhD dissertations were retrieved from our collection, organized and shipped to Proquest, to be scanned and included in their online dissertations database. This will enhance the exposure of the Weizmann Institute's dissertations harvest to the scientific world.
4. New computers for public use in Faculty Libraries
   The Library has acquired an array of new computers for public use in the Faculty Libraries, targeted at providing advanced updated information and library services to all Weizmann users. This acquisition was made possible by designated generous funding on the part of the Institute's management.
5. Computerized books circulation
   As of the summer of 2009, the Institutes' Libraries Book Loan system has been computerized, using the circulation module of the Library management system-ALEPH.
   Although there is no change in the circulation procedure executed by the reader, the user's details are connected to the loaned book details in the online Library Catalog. As a result, the Library Catalog reflects the availability status of each book, namely, "on shelf" or "on loan".
   This new feature allows Library users to place a request for a loaned book directly from the Catalog's website, or to independently renew the books they have already borrowed.
6. "Changing Worlds": WIS Library in the Digital Age
   A review describing the Library's challenges and activities in the digitally transforming world of scientific information was prepared, and has been added to the Library's website. The full review is available in English and in Hebrew.
   A shorter version called "Meida Achshav" (Information now) was published in Hebrew in the December issue of the Institute's internal publication – "Shelanu."
7. Athens: off-campus access to Library electronic resources
   This year the Library strove to improve Athens, the service which allows Library users to access the Library's subscribed or purchased online resources from off-campus locations. Efforts were focused on solving different implementation difficulties and expanding the service to include almost all available online Library resources.
8. The Library's website
   The Library's website has undergone a massive update since it was launched last year. Additional material is constantly being added, including the Site Index.
9. Library Users Forum
   During the summer, the Library Users Forum was launched. The Forum provides a virtual platform for library and scientific information sharing, where one can ask questions, post comments, and share one's knowledge with the WIS community.
10. New Web2 techniques adopted
    The Library has also adopted Web2.0 techniques, and can now offer the Weizmann population updating services via Twitter and RSS channels on its website.
11. Arranging free trials for new databases
    In the last quarter of this year we have arranged free trials electronic access to the following information databases and products, some with hands-on tutorials:
    BMJ's Best Practice Medical Database
    SpringerImages
    Scopus database
    BrainNavigator
12. Annual Library's information literacy workshop for new students
    During November the Library organized its annual information literacy workshop for new students, with the cooperation of the Feinberg Graduate School. The workshop focused mainly on the orientation of the Library's resources and services, and introduced students to effective usage of online information databases, tools for on-campus and off-campus information retrieval, and personal references' management systems. Special attention was given to digital information copyright laws.
13. Online tutorials
    Online tutorials for using library resources and services have been prepared and uploaded to the Library's website. Some tutorials are based on the presentation created for the information literacy workshop for students.
14. The WIS Archives
1. Move of Archives to temporary new premises: The Institute's Archives has moved this year to a temporary location at the Weiz building (no.64), and has reorganized the Archives material on its new premises.
2. Archives share in Institute's 60 anniversary: Archival and historical documents and photos from the WIS Archives' preserved holdings were presented on a special web site dedicated to the Institute's 60th anniversary.
3. Scanning of essential Archives material: The WIS Archives has continued the scanning process of historical material into a digital format for the purpose of preservation and backup of essential material.

 

2008

The Libraries are responsible for acquiring, collecting, processing, distributing, and storing all printed material (books, journals, patents, articles, etc.) needed by the Institute faculty and staff, as well as for purchasing, licensing, implementing, maintaining, managing and ensuring online access to digital resources such as e- journals/series, e-books, databases, etc. The Library staff provides users with up-to-date techniques for locating and using library material and for searching the Library's online catalog, supports the Institute's personnel with sophisticated use of online electronic resources, and performs intermediated scientific literature searches upon request.
The Libraries are comprised of books and bound volumes of periodicals, of current periodical and book series subscriptions in printed form or in combined printed and electronic form, many electronic databases, and access to aggregated electronic collections. We maintain a constantly growing collection of thousands of electronic journals/series and e-books. A considerable portion of the electronic resources collection is a result of MALMAD consortium agreements.
The Institute's Archives, housed in the Wix Library building,document the history of the Weizmann Institute and its scientific, educational, and cultural contributions to the world of scientific endeavor, from its beginnings to the present day.

Innovations during the past year include:

1. We have further enriched the Library's electronic resources collections by purchasing more packages of journal and series archival collections with perpetual access rights, a significant number of e-book collections, electronic reference works, electronic scientific protocols (Springer protocols, CSH protocols), digital lectures (Henry Stewart Talks) and several new subscriptions to electronic book series in fields we did not have before.
2. The above mentioned additions to our electronic collection entailed tedious uploading and updating on the part of our staff of our Library catalog and search tools. This process is still ongoing. Library users are constantly notified of new additions via the News page on our website, the Institute's Bulletin Board, and announcements sent to relevant users by the special Institute mailing system to specified groups.
3. This year the Library has launched OneSearch - a new meta search tool for articles, journals and books. This federated search tool enables a single search across multiple information resources. With one click one can run a search simultaneously on different services and tools such as scientific databases, library catalogs, Internet websites and search engines etc. The user can either search resources already selected by the Library or choose his own resources to search, using the advanced search option.
4. The following search tools have been enhanced and improved to enable managing electronic resources as well as facilitating their use. Both tools enable combined simultaneous searches for journals and e-books:
1. The e-journals management system (TDNet) was expanded to include access to electronic as well as print journals and series, in all subject fields available to Weizmann. It is now called "Journal/series manager" (EJM).
2. The Electronic books management system was enhanced and the display and functionality were improved. This tool was renamed "e-book manager" (EBM).
5. The Library, with the help of the Computing Center, has launched Athens, a new service which allows the user to access the Library's subscribed or purchased online resources from out-of-campus locations anywhere around the world, using one's Weizmann username and password. The Weizmann Institute Library is the first university Library in Israel applying this new service, although it is still incomplete. We are working with all involved parties to expand and improve it.
6. Toward the end of this year, after laborious effort and planning of contents, graphics and design, the Library, with the cooperation of the Internet Services Unit, has finally launched its new, up-to-date, modern and professional website (http://www.weizmann.ac.il/library). The new website is still in its beta version. Its aim is to facilitate the navigation between all the different library services and information resources available to Weizmann faculty, students and staff. The Library has asked for feedback in order to enable further improvements.
7. Training lectures to Institute staff and students, introducing and explaining various Library tools (such as services, new databases’ features and platforms, as well as how to use them) were conducted or hosted by the Library staff.
8. This year the Library completed the procedure for enabling entrance - after hours, weekends and holidays - to all Faculty Libraries, using employee cards of Weizmann faculty and students.
9. Since it has already been decided that Library acquisitions (purchasing of journals and series as well as monographs) will be carried out via the ALEPH Library managing system, the Library staff had to adjust all its templates and work procedures. The necessary changes were implemented and appropriate reports were created by the staff to ensure smooth activity in the module.
10. During the past year the majority of the Wix Library staff has been engaged in careful planning of the transfer of the Wix Library collections to the different relevant locations on campus: e.g. Faculty Libraries, the new main Library location, or to a recycling center. Lists were sent to the relevant Faculty Libraries and checked repeatedly in order to allow for the removal of material with electronic archives and absorption of material without electronic archives from the Wix Library. The titles on the shelves were very carefully checked against the lists in order to avoid possible irreversible decisions. Lists of hardcopy journal/series titles and holdings have been, and are still being, sent to the scientists for rechecking before recycling.
11. A long, professional weeding process of the book collections in the Wix Library was carried on during the year, in consultation with Faculty Librarians and Faculty staff. Around 4,000 books have already been weeded, and the process continues. Special collections will be relocated in the new main Library building in due course.
12. Planning has begun for the renovation of the new main Library Offices in the Fromer building.
13. The Institute's Archives has reorganized the material on its premises, after many of its documents were transferred to an external archival storage.

The Libraries' home page is: http://www.weizmann.ac.il/library

 

2007

The Libraries are responsible for acquiring, collecting, processing, distributing, and storing all printed material (books, journals, patents, articles, etc.) needed by the Institute faculty and staff, as well as for purchasing, licensing, implementing, maintaining, and ensuring online access to digital resources such as electronic journals/series, databases, etc. The Library staff provides users with up-to-date techniques for locating and using library material for searching the Library's online catalog, supports the Institute's personnel with sophisticated use of online electronic resources as well as performs intermediated scientific literature searches upon request. 

The Libraries are comprised of approximately 245,000 books and bound volumes of periodicals, 261 current periodical subscriptions in printed form or in combined printed and electronic form, several electronic databases, and access to aggregators of electronic collections. We also maintain a constantly growing collection of several thousands electronic journals. A considerable portion of the electronic journals' and databases' collection is a result of MALMAD* consortium agreements.
The Institute's Archives, housed in the Wix Library building, document the history of the Weizmann Institute and its scientific, educational, and cultural contributions to the world of scientific endeavor, from its beginnings to the present day.

Innovations during the past year include the following achievements:

1. The library Backfiles collection is "going digital". This year the Institute's management allocated a special budget for a one-time purchase of electronic archival collections of scientific journals, with perpetual access rights. To achieve this end we were involved in fruitful negotiations with several publishers or vendors, occasionally in conjunction with the Israeli university libraries' consortium (MALMAD). ROI considerations have been part of our purchase decisions. As a result, several electronic journal archives have already been purchased.
2. The electronic journal titles of the purchased archival collections, as well as their coverage years, have been incorporated into our Electronic Journals Management System (TDnet).
   The Library's staff is still busy with the ongoing process of updating the data and coverage years also in OPAC (our Library Catalog).
3. During the year, we enhanced the Electronic Journals Management System (TDNet) by:
   1. Inserting a JCR image to allow immediate connection to the specific journal's Impact Factor.
   2. Adding to the system's main page the Self Archiving Policy link and additional links for searching electronic journals (our Library Catalog, as well as the ULE -Israel Union List of Electronic journals).
4. Several electronic book packages containing several thousands of books were also purchased this year. A new Electronic Book Management System was developed similar to the Electronic Journals Management System, enabling simple and user-friendly searches for e-books according to titles (in addition to just searching the Publishers' homepages). We have added the e-books search option link to:
   1. The Electronic Journals Management System's main page, as a separate option, and as a combination with the journals' search. The e-books' titles are accompanied by a book image icon to differentiate them from those of journals.
   2. To our E-books' webpage, with a direct link to the Electronic Books Management System.
5. The e-books publishers have also provided us with MARC format records in order to enable us to upload the electronic book files to our OPAC. This allows searching according to all parameters (not just by title) i.e., author, title, keyword, publisher, etc. The staff is doing its utmost to improve the catalog data display of the uploaded records. We are carefully checking the uploaded records that are being gradually incorporated into the system, as this innovative process requires many complex tests.
6. The library Internal Services module was expanded to include the new service for purchase of book/series and journals from departments' budgets and projects. Suitable forms were prepared with the assistance of the Data Processing Unit. Since June, the forms continue to arrive at the Library for further processing.
   
7. We have been notified that the Library Headquarters offices and the thousands of bound archive journal volumes currently located at the Wix Central Library building, will be relocated.
   In September 2007, the major portion of the main hall's collection was transferred to a temporary inaccessible storage on campus, while a small part was transferred to the Faculty Libraries. All Library staff (including temporary staff and using overtime hours) participated in the planning, checking, measuring, marking, and supervising the collections' physical transfer.
   The computerized systems were then updated to reflect the new location of the transferred journal and book titles. The staff is currently doing its utmost to provide the required material from external resources.
8. The Libraries staff, with the help of temporary staff, has been engaged in ongoing projects concerning the remaining Wix Library collections, which include checking each of the journal titles and book collections, according to professional criteria, as to their future fate.
9. A selected team has been engaged in constructing a new Libraries web site, while emphasizing a new modern concept, contents and graphics. The Institute's Internet Services Unit is constructing the web's graphic design. The new site is under construction.
10. A new tool for managing and processing references, REFWORKS (in addition to EndNote), has been purchased, and added to our website, to help scientists and students organize their bibliographies.
11. Aleph 500 version 18, the new library managing system version has been installed by Ex-Libris and the Computer Center's UNIX group on a newly purchased server. We are still involved in the process of converting the files from the previous version.
12. The Institute's Archives has transferred thousands of document archival boxes of several Institute departments to an external archival storage. This project entailed meticulous preparatory work, setting criteria for weeding and transfer, preparing inventory lists, writing procedures, and reorganization at the Institute's Archives' premises.

Libraries' home page

 

2006

The Libraries are responsible for acquiring, collecting, processing, distributing, and storing all printed material (books, journals, patents, articles, etc.) needed by the Institute faculty and staff, as well as for purchasing, licensing, implementing, maintaining, and ensuring online access to digital resources such as electronic journals/series, databases, etc. The Library staff provides users with up-to-date techniques for locating and using library material, as well as for searching the Library's online catalog and online resources.
The Information Retrieval Unit is responsible for decisions concerning access to online content, and the choice of preferred interfaces. The Unit supports the Institute's personnel with sophisticated use of electronic resources, and performs intermediated scientific literature searches upon request.
The Libraries are comprised of approximately 250,000 books and bound volumes of periodicals, some 486 current periodical subscriptions in printed form or in combined printed and electronic form, several electronic databases, and access to aggregators of electronic collections. We also maintain a constantly growing collection of several thousand electronic journals. A considerable portion of the electronic journals' and databases' collection is a result of MALMAD* consortium agreements.
The Institute's Archives, housed in the Wix Library building, document the history of the Weizmann Institute and its scientific, educational, and cultural contributions to the world of scientific endeavor, from its beginnings to the present day.
Innovations during the past year include the following achievements:
1. This year again, as in the previous years, we have cancelled additional journal subscriptions in print form. In order to increase the online access possibilities of additional scientific journals, we have switched to more than 200 electronic-only subscriptions, assuring perpetual access rights to their archival material. Thus we have reduced expenses.
2. We have added to the Libraries' web site (under Electronic journals - Publishers/providers) a table of all our e-journal publishers, allowing us perpetual access rights to purchased collections archives.
3. As of January 17, 2006 we have had online access to the IEEE/IEE electronic library (IEL). This collection includes journals/magazines/conferences beginning in 1988, selected titles from 1950 and current IEEE standards.
4. This year we have been able to enrich our book collection by only a minimal number of new books, due to further budget cuts. As a result, some departments have decided to spend money from their own funds on book purchases for their own scientists. This situation affects service to the entire library users community, as department-owned books do not circulate to non-departmental users.
5. By the beginning of April we completed the merger of the Chemistry Faculty Library, formerly housed in the Perlman Building above the Schmidt Lecture Hall, with the Life Sciences Library, to form the Life Sciences and Chemistry Library, located in the Goldschleger Library Building.
Most of the Chemistry Faculty Library collection was transferred to the Goldschleger Library, while the rest was either moved to the Wix Library or weeded out. The Life Sciences Library collections were checked as well, and some bound volume collections were also transferred to the Wix Library. A book-weeding process was conducted there as well.
The Library Catalog was updated to reflect these new holdings and locations. Most Library staff members were engaged in this project, completing the merger successfully, and achieving all of its targets on time.
6. During the spring we upgraded our ALEPH 500 library management system to the Version 16. We converted all data from Version 14 to 16, and adjusted access and index points accordingly. This Web OPAC of ALEPH 500 Version 16 is an interface for accessing an online catalog via the HTTP Internet standard. This version supports an unlimited number of browse and search indexes and has many features to help users customize profile, sessions and results.
7. For the past year we have been engaged in further testing of the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device using UHF frequency) project after the migration to ALEPH 500 Version 16. At this point most of the Life Sciences and Chemistry Library's books are tagged with special RFID tags. This application will automatically record (in the circulation module of the ALEPH catalog) all book loans and returns by users exiting/entering the Library. In cooperation with our Data Processing Unit, we have optimized a method to automatically load all user information from LDAP to the Library Catalog. We are now preparing a test of the automatic circulation system with the new M.Sc. students, using the RFID technology.
8. The Information Unit has added to the TDNet's TOUR resolver the capability of automatic document delivery. A Document Delivery Request Form pops up automatically when no electronic full text version available to Weizmann users was found. The user is then forwarded to the Library's OPAC for a print version option, and needs only to fill in a budget number. An e-mailed request is automatically sent to the Libraries' Inter-Library Loan section. A PDF version of the article is sent to the requestors' e-mail address if he or she has chosen this option.
9. In collaboration with the Internet Services Unit, we have built the infrastructure and developed a procedure for setting up and updating a database of the Weizmann Institute Dissertations' Repository. Several dissertations have already been included. The repository is ready to receive dissertations and is now waiting for the Feinberg Graduate School to instruct its doctoral students to upload their dissertations, sign the copyright transfer form, and fill in the metadata.
10. We have added to the WIS publication database a searchable field for research grants information, beginning in 2005. The research grants information is updated every four weeks.
11. The Weizmann Institute Archives invested much effort this past year in optimizing its software in order to meet the Archives' special needs. This year it has been decided to outsource the scanning operation of the documentary material. A procedure has been set up for an appropriate scanning routine.

Libraries' home page

2005

The Libraries are responsible for acquiring, collecting, processing, distributing and storing all printed material (books, journals, patents, articles, etc.) needed by the Institute faculty and staff, as well as for purchasing, licensing, implementing, maintaining and ensuring online access to digital resources such as electronic journals, databases, etc. The Library staff provides users with optimal techniques for finding and using library material, as well as for searching the library's computerized catalog and online resources. The Information Unit is responsible for decisions concerning the access to online content and the choice of preferred interfaces. The Unit supports the Institute's personnel with sophisticated use of electronic resources and also performs intermediated scientific literature searches upon request.
The Libraries comprise over 250,000 books and bound volumes of periodicals, some 530 current periodical subscriptions in printed form, several electronic and aggregated databases, and a constantly growing collection of several thousand electronic journals. A considerable portion of the electronic journals and databases collection is a result of the MALMAD* consortium agreements.
The Institute's Archives, housed in the Wix Library building, document the history of the Weizmann Institute and its scientific, educational, and cultural contributions to the world of scientific endeavor, from its beginnings to the present day.
Innovations during the past year include the following achievements:
1. The merger of the Chemistry and the Life Sciences Libraries collections was decided upon this year. The accomplishment of a project of this magnitude required recruitment of all relevant Library personnel.
The Library staff, consulting Library Committee members and members of the scientific staff checked all collections in both libraries. Plans were made for weeding out unneeded and duplicate library material, canceling some subscriptions, and transferring books, reference material and bound journal volumes from both libraries to be merged, to the Wix Central Library. Plans, including time schedules, were made for all upcoming stages.
The process of weeding out books and other material is now reaching its final stage. The final transfer of collections to both the Life Sciences Library and the Wix Library is planned for 2006.
2. In order to increase the online access possibilities of additional scientific journals we have switched to more electronic-only subscriptions, thereby reducing our print journal collection by one third (occasionally against the will of some scientific staff members), and also reducing costs. We have carefully checked more electronic-only subscription model options (which cost less than print), assuring perpetual access rights to archival material.
As of the middle of this year we have ceased all new book orders and journal binding as another cost-cutting measure.
During the summer we conducted a usage survey of all our journal subscriptions, excluding the electronic subscriptions we order via the MALMAD Consortium. As a result, we have decided to prepare for another massive cancellation of print journals in order to comply with the already-known 2005/6 drastic budget cuts.
3. The Library Committee has approved the purchase of several book series, in electronic-only format, along with their archives.
4. During November and early December we tested the RFID technology (Radio Frequency Identification Device using UHF frequency) developed for our purposes by a high-tech company. By using special magnetic tags, this application automatically records (in the circulation module of the ALEPH catalog) all book loans and returns by users exiting/entering the library. This part of the pilot project was deemed successful. It is to be further tested for gradual implementation when Aleph 500 Version 16 is fully installed.
5. During the spring and summer our librarians were involved in analyzing and characterizing Library acquisition procedures for the new purchasing and financial system, scheduled to be implemented next year by the Institute.
6. All members of the Library staff have been involved in carrying out different projects intended for the improvement and optimization of data, and its clear, accurate and immediate display in the ALEPH catalog.
7. The Libraries' website has been continually updated and now also includes links to many archives, e.g. publishers' journal archives, and book series' archives purchased to increase access potential to electronic information resources for staff and students. Links to Self Archiving policy and Open Access journals were also added to the site.
8. The Information Unit succeeded in embedding the TOUR resolver (in addition to all subscribed data bases) in the Google Scholar search engine. Weizmann Institute staff and students can now locate the appropriate (subscribed or otherwise accessible) copy of the full text of articles found by the search (displayed as "Weizmann e-text").
9. During the past year the Information Unit has also incorporated a remarkable number of additional titles into the TDNet e-journal managing system, which are not direct Weizmann Institute subscriptions, but are available for us through aggregators such as PROQUEST.
10. A database management software system has been acquired by the Weizmann Institute for the joint use of the Weizmann Institute Archives, the Photographic Laboratories and Chaim Weizmann Archives, the aim being the unification of some of the collections, especially photographs. Using the same software will enable joint use of the integrated database. During this year we have mainly dedicated our efforts to the integration of the software, and to checking the quality of the converted data from our previous Archives' database.
This data is constantly being updated. The scanning process of the Weizmann Institute Archives, including that of extremely delicate paper documents, has begun this year and is being carried out by the Photo Lab on a regular basis.
The home page of The Libraries is www.weizmann.ac.il/WIS-library/home.htm
Statistics 2005

Libraries' home page

2004

The Libraries are responsible for acquiring, collecting, processing, distributing and storing all printed material (books, journals, patents, articles, etc.) needed by the Institute faculty and staff, as well as for purchasing, licensing, implementing, maintaining and ensuring online access to digital sources such as electronic journals, databases, etc. The Library staff provides users with optimal techniques for finding and using library material, as well as for searching the library's catalog and computerized resources. The Information Unit carries out intermediated scientific literature searches upon request, and supports the Institute's scientific staff and students with sophisticated use of electronic resources.
The Libraries comprise over 260,000 books and bound volumes of periodicals, some 743 current periodical subscriptions in printed form, several electronic and aggregated databases, and a constantly growing collection of several thousand electronic journals. A considerable portion of the electronic journals and databases collection is a result of the MALMAD* consortium agreements.
The Institute's Archives, housed in the Wix Library building, document the history of the Weizmann Institute and its scientific, educational, and cultural contributions to the world of scientific endeavor, from its beginnings to the present day.Innovations during the past year include the following achievements:
* Since converting to the fully integrated library system ALEPH 500 in March 2003, the Library staff has been checking and correcting the converted data, and has succeeded in stabilization of the system. We have assimilated the new ALEPH Library Catalog screens prepared by Cinabu in order to achieve a unified format with all the Universities that already use ALEPH 500 in Israel.
* Following the Institute's intention to adopt the concept of the virtual electronic library, we are canceling (on a continuing basis) a large number of print journals, while acquiring most of their counterpart electronic versions. We have conducted a thorough analysis of the usage statistics of several publishers' electronic journals packages. In order to reach a responsible cancellation policy we have also considered the impact factor of each of the low-rated titles. This has enabled us to achieve a reduction in costs.
* During the past year we have adopted the TOUR open URL resolver, which helps to complete a database search by pointing the searcher to our licensed full text copy of the requested article. When there is no licensed or free full text copy, the resolver points to the Library Catalog for related material. This tool is already embedded in most of our licensed databases.
* We have recently acquired and are in the process of implementing the E-CONTENT federated searcher and analyzer, which is able to simultaneously conduct a one step integrated search in a collection of databases (both licensed and free web-pages), analyze the results and organize them in separate folders . It assigns titles to these folders according to the subjects found in the search results.
* The Library's Information Unit has also completed the construction of the Weizmann Institute publications database (at the request of the Academic Affairs Office, and with the cooperation of the Internet Services Unit) which was started last year. The Database contains full bibliographic details of all publications authored by Weizmann Institute scientists and students in scientific journals from the year 2000 onwards. (Approximately 70% of the articles' DOI are included.) The database is updated every four weeks and is searchable by Author, Words in Title, Co-operating Institutions, Journal Title and Publication Year.
* Wireless communication has been installed in four of our library buildings: the Wix Central Library, Life Sciences, Chemistry and Physics Faculty Libraries. This allows the scientists and students to use their own laptops inside the libraries for seamlessly accessing the Internet and Intranet sources.
* We have upgraded our Inter Library Loan service to include electronic article delivery in PDF format from our Institute's print journal collections. Upon receiving a request order for a photocopy of an article from our print journal collections, we scan the article to PDF format and send it via e-mail to the person who ordered it.
* Being aware of the importance of library services to all our users, especially new students, we have invested much effort to launch the new and expanded web pages at the beginning of this academic year. Presently these pages are as follows: Search, the electronic Request forms, Library Services, and Life Sciences Library.
The home page of the Libraries is: http://www.weizmann.ac.il/WIS-library/home.htm
Statistics 2004

Libraries' home page

2003

The Libraries are responsible for acquiring, collecting, processing, distributing and storing all printed material (books, journals, patents, articles, etc.) needed by the Institute faculty and staff,as well as for purchasing, licensing, implementing, maintaining and ensuring online access to digital sources such as electronic journals, databases, etc. The Library staff provides users with optimal techniques for finding and using library material as well as for searching the library's computerized resources and catalogs. The Information Unit carries out intermediated scientific literature searches upon request, and supports the Institute's scientific staff and students with sophisticated use of electronic resources.
The Libraries comprise over 250,000 books and bound volumes of periodicals, some 1137 current periodical subscriptions in printed form, several electronic and aggregated databases, and a constantly growing collection of several thousand electronic journals. A considerable portion of the electronic journals and databases collection is a result of the MALMAD* consortium agreements.
The Institute's Archives, housed in the Wix Library building, document the history of the Weizmann Institute and its scientific, educational, and cultural contributions to the world of scientific endeavor, from its beginnings to the present day.
Innovations during the past year include the following achievements:
* The Library successfully converted to the fully integrated library system ALEPH 500, in March 2003. This system has been designated as the core of the next generation digital library. The Weizmann Institute Library was the first to convert to Aleph 500 in Israel, leading the way for all other university and college libraries. The Library staff has since been engaged in assimilating the new system into the various existing library management modules. The librarians have been learning to use the system's new features, while at the same time checking and correcting the converted data. Hands-on sessions are offered to scientists and students on how to successfully conduct sophisticated searches in the electronic catalogs.
* The various scientific publishers' willingness to change charging models of purchased journals, thereby allowing some cost savings, enabled us to move to electronic-only models of journal subscriptions. Thus we have been able to cancel several hundred print journal subscriptions, maintaining only their online version. In addition, we can now enjoy the benefit of hundreds of other non-subscribed electronic journals within the publishers' online journals packages. In this manner, we were able to meet part of the budget cut imposed upon us.
* We are still investing a significant amount of time in the maintenance of the TDNet electronic journal management system. We have also been enhancing it with new features in order to improve our service to the scientists.
* A User Satisfaction Survey of library services has been conducted, and we are in the process of analyzing the results in order to improve our Library services.
* The Library's Information Unit, in cooperation with the Internet Services Unit and the Feinberg Graduate School, has constructed an electronic database to house Institute M.Sc. theses and Ph.D. dissertations. This system is now ready to receive its first entries.
* At the request of the Academic Affairs Office, and again with the cooperation of the Internet Services Unit, the Library's Information Unit has constructed two separate databases of the Weizmann Institute scientific staff's publications. One of the databases has links to the full texts of the publications by DOI recognition.
The Wix Central Library renovations, which began in March 2002, were completed in July 2003, allowing more storage space for books and bound journal volumes, as well as enlarging and modernizing the staff's offices. On September 1st 2003, the Library sustained significant smoke and soot damage as a result of a fire that started in the basement's machine room. The newly renovated building had to undergo extensive repairs, and the collections underwent significant restoration procedures.
*MALMAD, the Israel Center for Digital Information Services, serves as a joint framework for the acquisition, licensing, and operation of information services to all Israeli universities.
The home page of the Libraries is: http://www.weizmann.ac.il/WIS-library/home.htm
Statistics 2003

Libraries' home page

2002

The Libraries are responsible for acquiring, collecting, processing, distributing and storing all printed material (books, journals, patents articles etc.) needed by the Institute faculty and staff as well as licensing, implementing and ensuring online access to digital sources such as electronic journals, databases etc.
The Libraries comprise some 250,000 books and bound volumes of periodicals, some 1270 current periodical subscriptions in printed form, several electronic and aggregated databases and a constantly growing collection of several thousand electronic journals. Part of the electronic journals and databases collection is a result of the MALMAD* consortium agreements.
MALMAD, the Israel Center for digital Information Services, serves as a joint framework for the acquisition, licensing and operation of information services to all Israeli universities
The Institute's Archives, housed in the Wix Library building, document the history of the Weizmann Institute and its scientific, educational, and cultural contributions to the world of scientific endeavor from its beginnings to the present day.
* The Library is now converting to the new ALEPH 500 library management system, which complies with the latest technological trends. Toward this end, the ALEPH 300 system has been converted to the MARC format (a cataloging standard used worldwide), and the working environment is being adjusted with respect to hardware and software. Together with staff members from Tel Aviv and Haifa Universities, our staff has been training intensively to work with ALEPH 500, and will be among the forerunners of this conversion in Israel. Several trial conversions of the catalog to ALEPH 500 have been conducted, and the staff is constantly checking and correcting the converted files. Our final transition to ALEPH 500 is scheduled for 2003.
* A combination of advanced technology, intensive user-education and support by the Library staff, as well as publishers' willingness to change charging models, has enabled us to cancel numerous journals in their printed version.
* We have acquired TDNet - a new journal management system - after a thorough survey of similar existing systems. TDNet fulfills all basic requirements of seamless online access to full-text electronic journals. In addition, it provides a table of contents and abstracts (both searchable) of all subscribed electronic journals. This system enables automated update of the coverage years of the electronic journal collection, and provides usage statistics. From the Library's standpoint, it represents a successful outsourcing of electronic journal management, as well as an efficient tool for sophisticated users.
* The Information Unit, in cooperation with the Internet Services Unit, has prepared a continuously updated bibliography database of all articles authored by Weizmann Institute scientists. The"Online Database of Scientific Publications by Weizmann Institute Personnel", starting from the year 2000, is hosted in http://www.weizmann.ac.il/acadsec/, and is linked to our homepage.
* The Wix Central Library has been undergoing renovations to allow for enlarged and modernized offices, as well as additional storage space for books and journals.
* The Library has been very involved in the establishment of the new library of the Davidson Institute of Scientific Education, by providing all of the technical and professional services.
Statistics 2002

Libraries' home page

2001

The ordering of articles and external book loans was significantly improved in January 2001, when a new system, utilizing the internal campus Intranet, was introduced. One of the main objectives of this change was to enable direct debiting of the orderer's budget. Accessed from Internal Services, or from "Request Forms" on the Libraries' homepage, the new system allows orders to be sent more quickly and efficiently. The request forms were changed to HTML in July, thus making the operation even faster.
In the area of electronic journals, the library is successfully coping with a tremendous growth in the number of electronic journals being made available by the publishers and continues to arrange access to as many titles as possible, obviously within budgetary constraints. The task is not a simple one, as there is no standard configuration for identification and registration for the online titles of different publishers. This requires the Library staff to be conversant with the many different and often convoluted legal and technical procedures involved in arranging access to these journals for the benefit of the Weizmann Institute scientists and students.
As the result of a library survey performed this summer, it has been found that neither the existing technology nor our readership are ready as yet for cancellation of the printed version of the journals.
Inventories of all six Faculty Libraries have now been completed and barcodes have been attached to all titles. Two of the outcomes of this four-year project are:
* that we now know that "loss" of titles is relatively negligible
* that the contents of the libraries' shelves have been reorganized and the library catalogs are updated
Continuing our policy of moving away from locally networked databases to web-based ones, we have cancelled the REACCS database and are in the process of a trial of evaluating the web version of the Crossfire-Beilstein database, essential to our chemists, with a view to purchasing it later on.
Statistics 2001

Libraries' home page

2000

As of October 1, 2000, after more than twenty years under the aegis of the Office of the Academic Secretary, the Libraries have been transferred to the Division of Information Systems.
We have completed the project, commenced in 1999, of recording "electronic holdings" data in ALEPH. From now on, this work will be done on an ad hoc basis. We also decided that links should be made in ALEPH for journals which do not have a print version, but to which we have full text access via consortium agreements. For the first time we have purchased electronic-only series, after having decided to forgo the ordering of a printed version as well
This year we have also continued our "electronic journals" project, adding links to hundreds of new electronic journals, whether as a result of private agreements or via the consortium (Malmad). The project for linkage between "Electronic Journals" and the Aleph catalog is nearing completion.
We continued our policy of eliminating the old CD-Rom based network by replacing our Chemical Abstracts on CD subscription by the SciFinder program. SciFinder is a web-like interface which enables the Institute's chemists to easily search a much more frequently updated and better responding database.
ICSD, another Web based database for inorganic chemists, was added to our remote access collection, as well as a new improved INSPEC interface.
Emerging information technologies, and the increasing importance of the library's role in the dissemination and retrieval of information, require the library staff to invest increased professional resources in ensuring the provision of the most update information services. Therefore, it was decided that the ordering of reprints of the Institute scientists' articles would henceforth be carried out directly, by the scientists themselves, thus relieving the demands made on the library staff.

Libraries' home page