[Web4lib] RE: vendors and usability

[David Walker]

>> having a library automation vendor
>> design an open-ended system so that 
>> the local library can then overlay
>> its own interface

[snip]

>> But is there a sufficiently large
>> universe of libraries to sustain a 
>> market for the vendor investment to 
>> develop such a system?

I would like to point out that this is not some pie-in-the-sky /
if-only-vendors-did-X-Y-Z kind of thing I'm suggesting here.

Vendors are already doing this right now!

Four of our six local systems here have XML-based APIs.  I've just spent
the last six months working with one of our vendors to improve their
API.  Far from worrying about loosing their "look and feel" (whatever
that is), they were *very* excited with what I could do with their API.

A system of our own design that can overlay these underlying systems and
databases is possible right now.  Like, right now.  We'll be
soft-launching ours this Fall, with a much more complete roll-out set
for next Summer.

--Dave

=================
David Walker
Web Development Librarian
Library
Cal State San Marcos
760-750-4379
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