[Web4lib] RE: library automation vendors

[Richard Wiggins]

I am all in favor of APIs (and XML) as ways to give larger libraries the 
freedom to build what they wish. But I am not sure I buy the notion that all 
you need to do is give libraries the APIs, let a thousand flowers boom, and 
<poof> you've achieved usability.
 Usability is HARD. I think the better answer is to demand that the vendors 
provide good out-of-the-box usability for end users, AND that they provide 
the APIs (and XML) for integration and/or local improvements.
 /rich
 On 7/18/05, Jesse Ephraim <JEphraim at ci.southlake.tx.us> wrote: 
> 
> "Vendors simply cannot create that for us. The only way libraries can
> offer our users the seamless experience they expect, is through APIs.
> APIs allow us to build a single system with a common interface focused
> on user goals, which merely pulls results and resources from the
> underlying systems and databases of the library."