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Shared Collections ... Local Connections

Technical Services at CDLC: CaDiLaC

This guide includes the services, tools, and resources CDLC offers.

About CaDiLaC

CaDiLaC Online 2.0 uses Index Data’s MasterKey™ information delivery platform to search the holdings of CDLC member libraries and library systems.

Some important points when using CaDiLaC Online 2.0:

  • When viewing search results, click on the icon for your item to see holding library catalogs.
  • When clicking into a member library catalog, there are times when you will need to repeat your search.  (This is due to Z39.50 limitations.)
  • CDLC’s Partial Union Catalog (PUC) results do not include circulation information.
  • Please continue to use your current ILL protocols for all interlibrary loans.

Comments or questions about CaDiLaC Online 2.0? Contact Kari Kakeh at CDLC.

History of CaDiLaC

CaDiLaC Online 2.0: A brief timeline of CaDiLaC – the union catalog of the Capital District Library Council

The “Old” Technology

  • CaDiLaC started as a union catalog on CD-ROM in 1990
  • CDLC’s Union List of Serials added in 1991
  • By 1994, dial-in-access to CaDiLaC was available
  • CD-ROM and dial-in-access availability continued through 8 versions until 1998

CaDiLaC Goes Online

  • CDLC investigated how to offer CaDiLaC online in the late 1990s
  • URSA software was purchased from SirsiDynix
  • Z39.50 protocols were used to maintain virtual connections to participating library catalogs
  • Use of this product continued until 2009

A Replacement is Needed

  • Functionality of the software decreased and expense increased
  • CDLC’s Regional Automation Committee appointed a subcommittee - the Think Tank - to investigate options for new software
  • Finding replacement software wasn’t as easy as expected
  • A variety of products were explored: some couldn’t do what was needed, some were too expensive
  • Should we write our own software?
  • CDLC was contacted by Index Data (a Danish company with U.S. offices in Connecticut, that specializes in search and retrieval software for libraries) with a proposal to work with them directly on a hosted solution using a product called MasterKey
  • After investigating, we determined that we found a product that did what we wanted at a price we could afford
  • CDLC’s contract with SirsiDynix for URSA software ended December 31, 2009
  • CaDiLaC was turned off while we worked with Index Data to get the new product running

CaDiLaC Online 2.0

  • On March 15, 2010, CDLC unveiled the new CaDiLaC Online 2.0!!
  • CaDiLaC Online 2.0 uses MasterKey software, hosted at Index Data (the same software that a lot of ILS vendors use behind the scenes for searching)
  • MasterKey is based on Pazpar 2 - a web-based Z39.50 search
  • CaDiLaC Online 2.0 searches a lot of targets in parallel and provides merging, relevance ranking, record sorting and faceted results
  • CDLC’s IT consultant worked to set up profiles for 25 CDLC member library catalogs
  • MasterKey allows these 25 catalogs to be searched simultaneously using the Z39.50 search
  • The 25 catalogs that are searched include more than 425 academic, public, school, hospital and special libraries, plus the NYS library
  • CaDiLaC Online 2.0 is really fast – it starts returning results right away!
  • CaDiLaC Online 2.0 offers faceted searching which we did not have with the old software and you can search by keyword, title, author, or subject

CaDiLaC Participants

CDLC's Partial Union Catalog (PUC), Public and School Library Systems include multiple libraries. Use the links for a full list of their participating libraries.

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