Academic & Public Libraries: Usage Statistics,
Customization & Management of Your DISCUS
Resources
Julie Pepera: Gale Customer Training Consultant
Martin Borg: Large Account Technical Specialist
Amy Duernberger: Program Director DISCUS
Ruth Thompson: DISCUS Training Coordinator
Today our Learning Objectives are:
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Overview of InfoTrac Configuration (IT Config) Program
Discuss new Gale Admin Tool
Customizing the PowerSearch Platform Databases
Learn about Usage Reports and how to Create them
Learn about Access Options and SFX and Services and
OPAC
 Talk about Database Direct URLs & Foreign Language User
Interface Direct URLs
 PowerSearch Platform Enhancements
 Creating RSS Feeds and Using Named User Accounts
Ask questions throughout!!
ITConfig
IT Config Customizes the PowerSearch and
InfoTrac Interface to reflect each Library’s
specific needs.
 Choose default search settings depending on your patron’s
needs.
 Set and modify access privileges for the databases.
 Generate Usage Reports and Statistics.
 Link to your library’s OPAC and SFX Services.
 Build eBook Subcollections based on different subjects.
Customization Options at the Institution Level in
PowerSearch Interface
Customize the link to
return the patron to the
library home page.
Customize the name of
the Library and links that
appear when the patron
hovers over it.
Change the RSS Feeds for
all Users to Subjects or
Journals you want to
highlight.
Change the default
setting to limit to
documents with
full text.
ITConfig: Steps
1. Obtain your Institution ID from Gale Tech Support.
2. Use the following link:
http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itconfig/discus
3. Enter your Username and Password obtained from
Gale Tech Support.
Example:
Institution ID: DISCUS
URL: http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itconfig/discus
Cognos Usage Statistics System
1. Go to URL :
http://usagereports.galegroup.com/cognos8/
2. Enter your User ID (discus\locationID) and
Password.
3. Choose your Report Option Type.
4. Click on
5. Choose language, format and delivery.
6. Click on “Run.”
7. Select the date ranges for the report.
8. Click on “Finish.”
New Gale Admin Tool “Bliss”
1 Integrated User Interface – GaleAdmin will combine two systems (IT
Config and RLIS) and provide a single user interface for Gale staff
managing customer subscriptions and authentication information. The
customer facing application will provide greater flexibility for
institutional administrator librarians who manage Gale subscription
preference settings.
2. Connectivity with Business System – a significant cost-saving component
of GaleAdmin is the BIS Databridge. Automating the data transfer from
the Contact Management systems to the product provisioning module in
GaleAdmin will allow us to redirect the expense of two (2) FTE support
staff.
3. Bulk load/export – GaleAdmin will allow for the import and export of
large datasets containing Consortium and large account preferences. By
including bulk upload capabilities in GaleAdmin.
4. IP Management - IP address management will be extended to customers.
Direct Link Gale URLs
Creating Direct URLs will take patrons Straight Into the
Basic Search Page of the individual databases,
saving the Patrons time and confusion. Also, you
can put Direct Links to specific databases on
subject area library pages thus directing patrons to
the best resource for their needs.
 Go to http://support.gale.com
 Click on “Direct Database URLs
 Enter your Location ID
 Highlight the link you are interested in.
 Paste that link into the HTML of you library
website.
Direct Link Example
KidsInfo Bits:
http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/chascol?db
=ITKE
Widgets
Widgets boost usage by placing a search box on your
website. Patrons type their searches in the box and
then the Widget takes them to the Search Results Set
eliminating several complicated steps.
Widgets have increased database usage at some
libraries by 20-fold!
How to Create a Widget
1. Go to http://support.gale.com
2. Click on “Widgets.”
3. Choose the product you want to create a
Widget for.
4. Enter your Location ID and click “Go.”
5. Scroll down and click on “Create.”
6. Right click on the Widget created and select
“View Source” (If using Internet Explorer.)
7. Copy and paste the HTML code into the
HTML code of your library website.
Individual Named User Account Features
 Save Marked Items Over Multiple Sessions
 Save Searches over Multiple Sessions
 Tailor the Basic Search page to obtain articles
on your interests
 RSS Feeds by Journal Title
 RSS Feed by Subject Search
Bookmarks
A Bookmark is a stable link that will take you
back to the page you created the link on. The
link in the Address bar is NOT stable and you
cannot use this to direct others. The
Bookmark link is under the Star. Any page
there is a star in PowerSearch, you can link to
that spot in the eResources.
4 Best Places to Create a Bookmark
 The Article Level – to share one article.
 The Publication Page – to browse all of the
back issues of one journal.
 The Search Results Level – to do advance
searching and point students/patrons to a
search results set specifically for them.
 The Marked Items Page – to create an online
course pack of several articles.
Need help?
Gale Customer Support
http://www.gale.com
http://www.galeschools.com
http://support.gale.com
1-800-877-4253
Julie Pepera: julie.pepera@cengage.com
Electronic Search Assistance Gale.ContentQA@cengage.com
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Offers search and content help for any Gale product
Available Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm EST
Technical Support
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InfoTrac Config URL, username, and password
Help for usage statistics, database configuration, remote access, etc
Available 24/7