[Web4lib] Getting catalog software vendors to make more
useable software choices
Bess Reynolds
Bess.Reynolds at cwt.com
Fri Jul 15 14:53:42 EDT 2005
The director of my library took an unusual approach to selecting a new
integrated library system by the sound of this discussion. She said that
she trusted my judgment about the back-end of the system, but she only
cares about the patron's experience: how it looks and how it searches.
I have to jump in with a plug for our new library vendor, SydneyPlus. They
are primarily used in special libraries, so I can't point you to many web
OPACS available outside of firewalls that are running the latest version. I
do not think it is used by many public and academic libraries.
Out of the dozen plus vendors I worked with, SydneyPlus took actual HTML
pages that I mocked up for our "look" (to match the library's Web pages)
and gave us a demo based on a sample of our data with our look.
We are in the conversion process and I am working closely with the Web OPAC
implementation specialist. We have gone over our options with a fine tooth
comb. In addition to that, SydneyPlus has a module called kmBuilder that
puts us in the driver's seat, that is, we can make many refinements after
we sign off on the original modifications. I can edit any number of tables
and create non-MARC information in auxiliary tables such as borrowers
information, which we design.
I have full control over MARC mapping, which fields and combinations of
fields can be searched, search choices whether Boolean, left-justified,
right-justified, greater-than etc.
And *at any time* I can change the field selection for the Web OPAC search.
If we decide no one has ever searched for an ISBN, the patron never sees
it.
They also have a quick and easy way to change some superficial aspects of
the Web OPAC such as color, font, headings etc. Also by using security, I
can let the staff users have a different view than the patrons.
Of course we won't be live for a couple of months so I may have more to say
on the overall system once we start doing the hard work like setting up
serials. At least until them we are happy with our decision.
Bess Reynolds
Technical Services Librarian
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
Bess.Reynolds at cwt.com
"Karen Coyle"
<kcoyle at kcoyle.net> To: "Jenne Heise" <jahb at Lehigh.EDU>
cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
Office: Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Getting catalog software vendors to make more useable software
Sent by: choices
web4lib-bounces at webj
unction.org
07/15/2005 12:33 PM
When the U of Calif was doing its RFP for a vendor system we looked at
the RFPs that some other large libraries (including LC) had done. These
documents were 50-100 pages in length and went into incredible detail
about the workings of the modules for acquisitions, serials check-in,
etc. They said shockingly little about the requirements for the user
interface. When I talked to the vendors, they confirmed that libraries
buy integrated library systems based on the library management
functions, not the user interface. It is the library administration that
buys the ILS, and their priority is running the library, not providing
user service. In fact, this isn't unreasonable -- the library has to
function well in toto so that there is something that you can provide
user service to. But this means that the user interface gets short
shrift in the purchasing decision, and therefore there is no incentive
for vendors to spend their time and money improving that part of their
system.
It is for this reason that I feel that we should separate library
management and user interface functions of our catalogs -- let the ILS
integrate library management, and have the user interface be a
collective effort by some smart, user-friendly, open source folks. All
we would need from the ILS vendors is a decent API into the database
(well, and good database design, but I'm assuming here that the problem
is the public view, not the backend database). Note that in today's
environment there is no reason why the user interface has to be run off
the exact same database as the management systems -- it is possible to
keep them in sync in other ways.
As I've said before, it is time to dis-integrate the ILS, for the sake
of our users.
kc
Jenne Heise wrote:
> For years, my library has been struggling with some basic usability
> flaws in our online catalog interface for the web, things that can't
> apparently be done with the software as it stands and are apparently
> low priority for the vendor.
>
> What are librarians doing to pressure catalog softwarevendors to
> address usability issues?
>
> Are there any libraries/library systems that have used authority
> control to provide suggestions of alternative terms for searching? Are
> there ways to make the 'more like this' feature in catalogs work well?
> What works? What doesn't work?
>
> -- Jenne Heise
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
> Web4lib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
>
>
--
-----------------------------------
Karen Coyle / Digital Library Consultant
kcoyle at kcoyle.net http://www.kcoyle.net
ph.: 510-540-7596
fx.: 510-848-3913
mo.: 510-435-8234
------------------------------------
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