CUFTS

CUFTS and GODOT – Open Source Serials Management and Link Resolver

Enabling users to discover and access e-resources, and managing expanding e-resource collections cost-effectively, are key challenges facing libraries around the world.

To address these issues, EIFL-FOSS and EIFL-Licensing organized an online session on CUFTS/GODOT, an open source serials management system, as part of the EIFL-FOSS Themed Weeks Programme. A second webinar also took place in November 2012 delivered in Russian - you can see details of that session here. 

Webinar 1 (in English)

The first session was presented by Kevin Stranack, a Canadian librarian who has worked extensively in providing support services for the reSearcher suite of library tools from Simon Fraser University, and the Public Knowledge Project, which is responsible for the widely deployed Open Journal System (OJS) among other applications to support knowledge sharing. 

Kevin was supported by Art Rhyno, Systems Librarian at the University of Windsor, Canada.

Participants also heard about the activities of EIFL FOSS Coordinator for Russia Andrew Sokolov in implementing CUFTS in the Scientific Library of St. Petersburg State University.

View the news article about the session in English (which includes links to the session recording and wiki)

Webinar 2 (in Russian)

Andrew Sokolov, from the Scientific Library of St. Petersburg State University, delivered a webinar in November 2012 focussing on CUFTS and GODOT and the work that has taken place at St. Petersburg State University Gorky Library on it. This session was delivered entirely in Russian. View the news article about the session in Russian (including links to the session recording and wiki)

What is CUFTS/GODOT?

CUFTS/GODOT is an open source serials management system that has been widely adopted by academic institutions to help them manage collections effectively and to facilitate access to e-journals.

It offers a free and regularly updated knowledge base containing information about 575 full-text collections, plus an integrated A-Z journal database. It also offers electronic resource management tools, direct to article OpenURL link resolving, and free MARC records for each title.

CUFTS is part of the reSearcher suite of tools which also includes GODOT and dbWiz. It will operate on Linux, Solaris and BSD.

What are the key benefits?

• No service or software fees.
• Comprehensive and well maintained knowledgebase and A-Z title lists enable libraries to provide a searchable and up to date serials database on their website.
• Easy to customise:
  • Librarians can select collections from the knowledge base that they have access to.
  • Additional resources can be included.
  • Resources can be classified by subject.
• Increases discoverability:
  • Users can search and browse journals by title, ISSN, subject, or publisher/association with ease.
  • Provides direct-to-article OpenURL link resolving.
  • MARC records for each title are available free of charge and can be added to the library catalogue.
  • Includes open access journals from DOAJ as well subscription titles.
• Makes it easier for libraries to manage electronic resource collections:
  • Electronic Resource Management (ERM) tools enable libraries to centralize details about electronic collections, including licensing terms, renewal dates, contacts, and more.
  • Libraries can compare titles within up to four resources to find out how many journals are included in more than one service. This information can be very helpful when negotiating with aggregators.
  • CUFTS also features a renewal notification system and an A-Z list of a library’s electronic resources.

Case studies of implementation

A case study of CUFTS implementation written by Andrew Sokolov (Scientific Library of St. Petersburg State University, Russia).

An executive overview of this case study is also available here. 

Further information

View the CUFTS screencast tutorials (designed by Kevin Stranack) on the reSearcher website.

View Andrew Sokolov's screencast of his library's implementation of CUFTS ERM.

View Andrew Sokolov's screencast to the EIFL GA 2011 Andrey Sokolov's screencast to the EIFL GA 2011 describing his library's experiences with CUFTS and GODOT.

Files / Images: 

eifl_case_study_cufts_russia.doc

eifl_cufts.swf

eifl_ga.swf

eifl-fosscasestudy2011cuftsrussia.doc