VALE and OCLC SiteSearch: Bridges to Global Learning

摘要

The VALE (Virtual Academic Library Environment) project created a consortium that fosters the development of inter-institutional information connectivity and collaborative library application projects among its members. VALE's objective is to help institutions meet the demands of students and faculty for access to scholarly materials. Through cooperation and leveraged purchasing and through the use of collaboration and cutting-edge technology, VALE seeks to provide a seamless network of access to shared electronic academic information resources throughout the state of New Jersey. With the OCLC SiteSearch~R suite VALE has developed various levels of service for delivering information resources to VALE members. OCLC SiteSearch provides a comprehensive solution for managing distributed VALE information resources in a World Wide Web environment. It integrates electronic resources under one Web interface, provides flexible access to resources and allows VALE to build unique databases. Using a Web-based browser, VALE users have faster, easier access to information whether from the VALE servers or through institutional OPACs, as well remote databases available on the Web. VALE utilizes the entire suite of OCLC SiteSearch components, which include OCLC SiteSearch WebZ~(TM) and OCLC SiteSearch Database Builder software for accessing and building databases.