[Web4lib] How to label the OPAC (was: Role of the OPAC)

[K.G. Schneider]

> Is there any audience, no matter how experienced, for whom "find books"
> *doesn't* work?
>  /rich

John K. said "find books" is good for that target, which makes sense ("the
types of material mentioned in the label"). But many libraries have a single
name and point of entry for their catalogs, which (like the old Sears
Wishbook of days of yore) may often be a gateway for more than books, or for
actions broader than searching. If you call it Find Books, and it's your
only label, that's what they will expect. 

The broader issue is getting your users to grok that you provide X tools and
services, particularly when people don't expect libraries to provide these
tools and services. I'm on a panel talking to non-librarians later this
month, and from their discussion I see that they all see libraries as not
much more than book-containers and even at that in a limited and primitive
role. A venture capitalist asked me whether there was a need for library
buildings in the future. (Interesting and disturbing that nobody asked me if
there will be a need for librarians, consider I manage a team of librarians
sans building. I continue to be bothered that we have an American *Library*
Association instead of an American Librarians Association.) I'm putting
together a presentation showing people congregating in reading rooms,
library programs, computers, etc. (As I said in a blog post... librarians
are venture socialists.)

As already discussed on this list, part of the problem has to do with how
our library planet tends to revolve around the OPAC sun, instead of around
our users and services. It's sad how Bernie's early PACS-L post is so true.

Karen G. Schneider
kgs at bluehighways.com