[WEB4LIB] Naming of Library [computer] appliances (OPAC or not)

[Glen Davies]

How about BOB. It's nice and short, and a palindrome so the 
borrowers will soon get to know it backwards!


On Wed, 29 Mar 2000 22:57:05 -0800 (PST)
 "Sutherland, Paul" <Paul.Sutherland at ccc.govt.nz> wrote:
> Greetings 
> 
> We have a small group of colleagues who are trying to
> decide to change the
> name of our OPACs (for no logical reason)
> 
> We are a DRA library.
> 
> This coincides with our migration from a command line (VT
> terminal) version
> and a basic web interface to our databases (catalogue,
> Newspaper index,
> Community database etc) to the newer Web2 interface from
> DRA. (which is not
> yet available to the outside world)
> 
> We are also introducing Thin Clients as the machinery for
> our Web interface.
> 
> My colleagues seem to think that because the interface is
> new (and the Thin
> Client devices are different) we must rename the devices
> used to access the
> library databases - which of course are still the same
> old MARC things!
> 
> My belief that the word OPAC which is what we named our
> OPAC's when we
> launched them in July 1989 has become a meaningful term
> for our customers
> and is also a word beyond just being an acronym. (i.e. if
> it ain't broke why
> fix it) 
> 
> What I am wanting from you is to know what do you call
> your OPACs (the
> device that accesses your library databases)
> 
> & when did the word OPAC enter the English (or
> American;-) language.
> 
> Has anyone struggled with this issue in the past and what
> were your
> outcomes.
> 
> 
> Thanks for your help (in advance...)
> 
> /paul
> 
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>  Paul Sutherland
> mailto:Paul.Sutherland at ccc.govt.nz
>  Information Technology Librarian
>  Canterbury Public Library
>  Aotearoa/New Zealand
> http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Library/
> 
>  My opinions only            Less is more, but not
> enough. Sol Le Wit