The 2013 International Group of Ex Libris Users (IGeLU) Conference
How we FindIt@Bham using
Primo
Breakout session: 11.51
Stephen Bull (Library Services) & Edward Craft (IT Services)
University of Birmingham
Monday 9th September 2013
Outline

Context

Why a discovery solution

Implementation of Primo

Customisation of Primo

Customisation of Primo from a technical perspective

Impact
The University of Birmingham

Founded 1900

Member of prestigious
Russell Group

Approx. 28,000 FTE
students from over
150 countries

Approx. 6,000 FTE
staff
University of Birmingham (2013a)
Context

The University is investing in the library and its
systems:
+
+
+
+
University of Birmingham (2013b)
iStock photo
Library
Content
Programme

iStock photo
Resource
Discovery
Service
Kristykay22 (2005)
Reading List
Solution
Library
Management
System
New Main
Library
Combined, these investments will allow Library
Services to better support the University’s research,
teaching & learning agenda
Our Relationship with Ex Libris
Why a Discovery Solution?
Gerlos (2008)
Number 10 (2012)
Resource Discovery at Birmingham
Primo Implementation in a Nutshell
2012
May
Kick off / Primo Systems Analysis session
Installation, Customisation and Benchmarking
Primo made live (restricted access)
Focus Groups and associated actions
Service goes live
Staff training / Documentation produced
Promotion / Service monitoring
Project closure
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Project Team
Role
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) on Project
Implementation Manager
0.1
Digital Library Specialists
0.7 & 0.2
IT Services
Library Services
Project Manager
0.5
Metadata Rep
0.2
Serials / eResources Reps
2 x 0.2
Library Customer Support Rep
2 x 0.2
Subject Librarian Reps
2 x 0.2
The Look and Feel of Primo
The final design
Naming Primo



Staff competition
40 suggestions
Winner: FindIt@Bham
The final design
Focus Groups


Sought opinion from
staff, students and
Library Services staff
Series of focus groups
– 3 in July
– 2 in August


Nina Matthews photography (2010)

Recruitment via various
channels
Semi-structured format
Library Services staff
testing July and August
Benefits

Opinions from:
– end-users
– Staff not involved with
the project



Telling (2006)
Discussion
Confidence in the
system
Insight into how users
search for information
Customising Primo from a
technical perspective
Why? and What?

Customisation process started before we had Primo
hands-on.
– LS Staff considered other sites - not just Primo ones!



Ongoing feedback and focus groups
Conclusion - General look and feel popular
A number of “smaller” changes:
– heavily branded home page.
– removing tabs.
– explanatory text for scopes.
Why? and What?

Customisation process started before we had Primo
hands-on.
– LS Staff considered other sites - not just Primo ones!



Ongoing feedback and focus groups
Conclusion - General look and feel popular
A number of “smaller” changes:
–
–
–
–
–
–
heavily branded home page.
removing tabs.
explanatory text for scopes.
tinting default icons to make them more distinguishable.
offering instruction if desired results are not found.
prompt for guest users to log in for better results.
Why? and What?

Customisation process started before we had Primo
hands-on.
– LS Staff considered other sites - not just Primo ones!



Ongoing feedback and focus groups
Conclusion - General look and feel popular
A number of “smaller” changes:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
heavily branded home page.
removing tabs.
explanatory text for scopes.
tinting default icons to make them more distinguishable.
offering instruction if desired results are not found.
prompt for guest users to log in for better results.
redesigned Find Databases light box.
removing Facebook links.
persistent URL links and QR codes.
Why? and What?

Customisation process started before we had Primo
hands-on.
– LS Staff considered other sites - not just Primo ones!



Ongoing feedback and focus groups
Conclusion - General look and feel popular
A number of “smaller” changes:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
heavily branded home page.
removing tabs.
explanatory text for scopes.
tinting default icons to make them more distinguishable.
offering instruction if desired results are not found.
prompt for guest users to log in for better results.
redesigned Find Databases light box.
removing Facebook links.
persistent URL links and QR codes.
integration with Verde and Aleph.
localised Help files.
kiosk and OPAC modes.
additional Data Sources.
etc. etc. etc.
Level One : “Simple” HTML / CSS.

‘Static’ changes.

Safe from SP updates, a lot can be achieved

Firefox/Inspect Element makes it easier!
Level Two : JavaScript


For advanced users
Reliant on ExLibris HTML design
– eg. Login prompter
Level Two : JavaScript

Primo is made up of tiles which can contain
JavaScript.
– Header/Footer on every page

eg. Google Analytics
– Featured.html, news.html and service.html are only on Home
Page

JavaScript in these only affects Home page.
document.getElementById("exlidSearchRibbon").style.position = 'relative';
document.getElementById("exlidSearchRibbon").style.left = '5%';
document.getElementById("exlidSearchRibbon").style.top = '128px';
document.getElementById("exlidSearchTile").style.height = '0px';
Level Two : JavaScript
document.getElementById("exlidSearchRibbon").style.position = 'relative';
document.getElementById("exlidSearchRibbon").style.left = '5%';
document.getElementById("exlidSearchRibbon").style.top = '128px';
document.getElementById("exlidSearchTile").style.height = '0px';
#exlidHomeContainer div.EXLHomeBlockContainer1 { background-image: url(../images/UoBpoynting.jpg);}
Level Two : JavaScript

Ideasbrief.html
– Appears after each page of results.
– Can be used for static text or, with JavaScript, dynamic.
Level Three : Changing ExLibris’
code.


Don’t!!!
(But we still did)
Level Three : Changing ExLibris’
code.


Don’t!!!
(But we still did)
– eg. Find Databases
Level Three : Changing ExLibris’
code.

Not supported.

Back up before AND AFTER!!
Error.jsp
Error.jsp.20130218ejc
Error.jsp.20130401ejc
Error.jsp.20130614mpm
Error.jsp.current

Needs to be reapplied after every SP.
Ongoing Process...




2012 = Primo
2013 = Verde/Aleph
201? = ALMA?
20?? = ??
Impact
Impact
160,000
Number of visits per month
140,000
120,000
100,000
80,000
eLibrary
60,000
FindIt
40,000
20,000
0
Month
“Excellent
online library
resources”*
“The availability of online and printed
resources was particularly
commendable, and the research
facilities provided by the university
library search facility and access to vast
number of journals is excellent.” *
“As a PT student I am
mainly working from
home and self-directed,
but the online library
facilities are superb.”**
** Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES), 2013
** Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) , 2013
“Access to
online library is
fantastic”*
Questions?
Balin (2006)
Photo Credits







Balin, J.V. (2006) Unknown_blue. Available from:
http://openclipart.org/detail/973/unknown_blue-by-jean_victor_balin [Accessed 28 June 2012]
Gerlos (2008) Binoculars Portrait. Available from:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12033805@N00/3119891607 [Accessed: 12 August 2013].
Kristykay22 (2005) 1988 Reading List, Part 1. Available from:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99651925@N00/63408870/. [Accessed: 12 August 2013].
Nina Matthews Photography (2010) I so need to FOCUS a bit more on the simple things in
life ~ EXPLORED. Available from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21560098@N06/4848880460.
[Accessed 30 August 2013].
Telling, J. (2006) Thumbs up. Available from:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124473769@N01/292642699 [Accessed 28 June 2012]
University of Birmingham (2013a) My.Bham. http://my.bham.ac.uk [Accessed 08 September
2013]
University of Birmingham (2013b) Library.
http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/community/building/library.aspx [Accessed 5 September 2012].
Images from Open Clip Art Library (http://openclipart.org), iStock Photo (http://www.istockphoto.com)
or via Creative Commons from Flickr (http://www.flickr.com) and
Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org).