Blurring services and resources: Boston College’s implementation of MetaLib and SFX

doi:10.1108/00907320210435491

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Reference Services Review

ISSN: 0090-7324

Online from: 1973

Subject Area: Library and Information Studies

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Blurring services and resources: Boston College’s implementation of MetaLib and SFX

Document Information:
Title:	Blurring services and resources: Boston College’s implementation of MetaLib and SFX
Author(s):	Bob Gerrity, (Bob Gerrity is the Head of Systems in the Boston College Libraries, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA.), Theresa Lyman, (Theresa Lyman is the Digital Resources Reference Librarian at the O’Neill Library, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA.), Ed Tallent, (Ed Tallent is the Head of Reference and Instructional Services at the O’Neill Library, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA.)
Citation:	Bob Gerrity, Theresa Lyman, Ed Tallent, (2002) "Blurring services and resources: Boston College’s implementation of MetaLib and SFX", Reference Services Review, Vol. 30 Iss: 3, pp.229 - 241
Keywords:	Academic libraries, Information resources management, Innovation, Library services, Systems design, Technology
Article type:	Case study
DOI:	10.1108/00907320210435491 (Permanent URL)
Publisher:	MCB UP Ltd
Abstract:	Over the past year, the Boston College libraries have been engaged in making available to our users two new resources, MetaLib and SFX. MetaLib is portal/gateway software that allows for simultaneous searching of several databases, as well as some options to customize the interface. SFX technology provides context-sensitive reference linking from citations to extended services. In this article we review the pedagogical, technical, and service reasons for making these resources available. We discuss how we believe these technologies respond to current student use of the library, and how we approached the installation process. We also review the challenges of the installation (both technical and service) and future possibilities.