[WEB4LIB] Do We Still Need Online Catalog Vendors?

[Mack Lundy]

This is an interesting idea and I can see the MARC format being replaced
by something less rigid and more web oriented.  The web interface is
becoming a standard for public display.  That said, there are functions
other than searching that are performed by library management systems. 
I wonder how Circulation, Acquisitions, and Serials control would fit
into this dynamic web site model.

Mack

Donald Barclay wrote:
> 
> I was looking at the Zope homepage (yyy.zope.org), and it got me to
> wondering: With the growing emphasis on dynamic websites--and the growing
> number of open-source tools that allow you to create dynamic websites--is
> the library world approaching the point where libraries are going to start
> saying goodbye to online catalog vendors (SIRSI, Innopac, VTLS, et al.) and
> start developing web-based, home-grown catalogs?
> 
> While I understand it takes a lot of work to create a home-grown catalog, it
> strikes me that a home-grown catalog could allow libraries to fully
> integrate their catalogs into their web presence. For example, if a user
> comes to a library homepage and does a site search on "bubonic plague," the
> results would include on only the library's links to www.bubo.com, but also
> a list of bubonic-plague related items (book, journals, videos, archival
> materials, etc.) held by the library. To me, this is clearly preferable to
> having separate "Search This Site" and "Search The Online Catalog" options.
> Other advantages of owning your own catalog range from complete control over
> user and cataloging interfaces to the potential cost savings that could
> result from no longer having to pay a vendor.
> 
> I'm not necessarily advocating that everyone run out and build their own
> online catalog, but I am curious as to what steps, if any,  libraries have
> taken in this direction or, at least, in the direction of making the union
> of website and catalog transparent to the end  user.
> 
> Donald A. Barclay
> Houston Academy of Medicine-       always the beautiful answer
> Texas Medical Center Library           who asks the more beautiful question
> donaldb at library.tmc.edu                                   -- e. e. cummings

-- 
Mack Lundy (malund at mail.wm.edu)
Library Systems Manager
Swem Library
College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8794
Voice:  757.221.3114     Fax:  757.221.2635