6.10 Potential impact on existing Library systems
It should be noted that no decision has yet been made to roll out TELSTAR functionality across the Open University. This section only describes the potential impact, although any implementation project would need to consider these issues.
6.10.1 MyOpenLibrary
MyOpenLibrary functionality would be entirely replaced by new functionality introduced by TELSTAR. Course specific resources delivered via MyOpenLibrary would instead be delivered via ‘resource pages’ on the course website.
The ability to add ‘personal links’ in MyOpenLibrary would instead be delivered via MyReferences, where students can add links and other references as necessary.
Potential Impact: if a decision is made to roll out TELSTAR functionality across the institution, all courses using MyOpenLibrary could be migrated to using TELSTAR functionality in its place.
N.B. The MyLibrary software is also used to provide resources to Business School Alumni via a service called ‘MyPAL’. If the use of MyLibrary software is to be phased out completely, an alternative approach to supplying this service would be required.
6.10.2 ROUTES
ROUTES functionality would generally be replaced by new functionality introduced by TELSTAR. However, current ROUTES functionality does not map exactly to new TELSTAR functionality.
As noted in Section 6.2.6, ROUTES provided four main functions. These are listed here, with a description of the extent to which TELSTAR replaces these functions:
| ROUTES function | TELSTAR equivalent |
| Provide a catalogue of (freely available) websites used in Open University courses | Under the TELSTAR model there is no central catalogue of websites or resources used in Open University courses. |
| Indicate which websites are used in specific courses | Because TELSTAR uses course websites as the mechanism to associate resources with courses, there only way to check which websites are being used in specific courses would be to look at the course website.
However, if the course team has elected to collect all resources for a course in a shared RefWorks account, this account would provide an immediate overview of all the resources used on that course. |
| Provide ‘persistent’ links to websites which can be used in Open University course materials | The TELSTAR model dispenses with the use of ‘persistent’ links, so this function is no longer required. Instead TELSTAR enables the library to redirect users to the appropriate URL when they click on a link in the course website. |
| Provide a ‘link checking’ service to identify URLs that are temporarily or permanently broken | The TELSTAR model generally supports ‘just in time’ link checking instead of the ‘just in case’ model supported by ROUTES.
A ‘just in time’ model is more efficient in that it only deals with actual problems rather than potential problems. In July 2010, TELSTAR will introduce a variety of reports that can be run on shared RefWorks accounts, including link checking, to enable a more proactive approach to link checking if required. |
Potential Impact: if a decision is made to roll out TELSTAR functionality across the institution, ROUTES could be phased out as part of that roll out.
N.B. ROUTES is being used by the Arab OU. If ROUTES is to be phased out completely an alternative approach to supplying this service to the Arab OU would be required.
6.2.3 RSS Tool
The RSS Tool enables groups of resources to be aggregated and delivered into course websites via RSS or OPML.
In general this functionality is replaced by TELSTAR. Resources can be aggregated into shared RefWorks accounts, and be delivered into course websites via RSS or direct import. There are some aspects of the RSS Tool functionality that are not supported by TELSTAR, perhaps most notably the ability to reorder the items in the RSS Tool to enable the display of items in a specific order within the course website.
Potential Impact: if a decision is made to roll out TELSTAR functionality across the institution, the RSS Tool could be phased out as part of that roll out.
6.2.4 SFX
Under the TELSTAR model, all links from course websites are directed via the SFX OpenURL resolver. This increases the reliance on this system, making it a more critical system.
Although this has no immediate impact, the increased dependence should be considered when looking at aspects of resilience and disaster planning.
If the Open University should decide to move to alternative link resolver it will need to ensure that alternative products can support the necessary functionality to support the linking mechanisms TELSTAR has introduced.
It is recommended that the Open University takes an active role in the SFX user community to ensure that the product continues to meet their requirements, and wherever possible innovations introduced by the Open University become part of the supported product.
6.2.5 EZProxy
As noted, there is an ongoing need to support EZProxy. This is not affected by TELSTAR functionality. It may be that the introduction of Federated Access Management will decrease or eliminate the use of EZProxy at the Open University, but this is not affected in any way by TELSTAR functionality beyond those issues noted above.
6.2.6 Other Systems
There is no anticipated impact of TELSTAR on other library systems.
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