[Web4lib] Re: Role of the OPAC

[JOHN MARQUETTE]

David Walker wrote:
> I think the essential mistake we make with the OPAC, or library
catalog,
> is to treat it as a single system.  This is problematic on two levels:
>
> (1) Our users don't know what a "library catalog" is.
> 
> How do I find books in a library?  Through the library catalog, of 
> course.  But you can only say "of course" because you already know
that.
> The freshman walking thru the doors of our library this fall don't
have
> that knowledge. (It's amazing to me that the word "books" doesn't
appear
> on many library home pages.  If it's not easy to find books in a 
> library, you know you're in trouble!)

I hear the word "stuff" as often as I hear the word "books" at my
reference desk.  That tells me something about the intended search
strategy of our patrons who are doing research.

Two kinds of "stuff", in order preferred:

a)	Intangible, searchable, can be printed/cut-and-pasted, and cited
b)	Tangible, locatable in space and time, can be copied and cited

Doesn't hold true for recreational readers, of course - they head to
familiar locations such as "New Books" or request help with holds for
unavailable items.