[WEB4LIB] Re: Use of DDC in web displays

[Lewis, Erik]

Then it might be time for a new concept.  How about virtual shelving?  When
you currently do a shelflist browse on an opac you see what books are on the
shelf next to the book you are interested in.  The same thing you encounter
when you do a search and then go to the physical location on the shelf and
then start browsing the actual physical copies.  Why not just allow the
virtual shelving to take place in the OPAC?  It would present the
information in the interface and still allow for intelligent browsing.  With
the ability to shift back and forth between the actual shelflist and the
colon shelflist wouldn't that enhance the patrons chance of finding relevant
items?  

Who is to say when the magic formula for ebooks is created that we will even
need shelving for those collections?  When we are all installing the big
duplicating device that burn the material onto disposable biodegradeable
media will Dewey or LCC have any advantage?  If its in electronic format
such as whats in the opac or whats on the web then that information can be
rearranged on demand.

  


-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Lester [mailto:dan at riverofdata.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2001 1:05 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Re: Use of DDC in web displays


Sure, there are better models, and Colon is one of them, mainly
because it provides the multiple access points that the others don't.
However, if anyone thinks that any real library with more than about a
thousand books would ever consider changing, they're dreaming.

Yes, we should continue to work on classification systems and use them
where appropriate, but the idea of reclassifying physical books is
just not reasonable.

Happy New Year,

dan


Tuesday, January 02, 2001, 10:04:24 AM, you wrote:

LE> Obviously we need better ones that are better than what we are using.
The
LE> problem is in looking to Dewey and LCC as models.  How about someone
LE> fleshing out the Colon Classification System that Ranganathon suggested?
I
LE> have always heard a few libraries in India use it so why not give that a
LE> try.  Lets base are model on something innovative not the tired system
that
LE> needs to be replaced.  

LE> Backwards compatability is something that comes at a cost.  As an
example
LE> look at MARC.  We conform to a standard that was really keen for those
LE> highspeed printers envisioned for the 60's that could use this wonderful
LE> code to produce records.  Great but we end up using printer code for the
LE> basis of a  database!  Lets at least get modern and use postscript.
  



-- 
Dan Lester, Data Wrangler  dan at RiverOfData.com
3577 East Pecan, Boise, Idaho  83716-7115 USA
www.riverofdata.com  www.postcard.org  www.gailndan.com