Friday
Sep072007
My next library catalog needs
Friday, September 7, 2007 at 06:57AM 
The Follett folks are always after me to upgrade our good old CircPlus/CircCat system to their (ominous-sounding) Destiny. I just can't get too excited about it. I think I will wait for at least some of these features in our next major upgrade:
- Federated searching of periodical databases, e-book collections, subject databases, encyclopedias, pre-selected web sources. (Think everything that Google doesn't cover.)
- Concordance searching Google Book Search or Amazon Search Inside the book) Search by phrase any book in the LOCAL collection.
- User defined tags (del.icio.us). For students and staff, of course. Think of the collection development possibiliites!)
- User reviews (Amazon). Think of the cred.
- Readers' Advisory service. (Amazon, Netflix) Students who checked out this book, also checked out... Based on your past reading history, we think you'll like...
- Ready-made citations (NoodleTools)
- User collection development (LibraryThing.) How I wish I had a list of all the books I've read in my lifetime!
- User networking tools (Ning, wikispaces) Collaboration on projects made simple.
- Seamless interface with student information system and data mining program. Allow searching and sorting by NCLB "student groups" to track circulation. Will SIF do this now???
- Patron privacy protection. Automatic deletion of patron and title links, but preserving the ability to look at trends and track student reading habits. Contradiction?
- Patron access to circ status. I want to log in to find out what stuff I have out.
- Free and remotely hosted. (Ad sponsored.) Not my favorite idea, but seems to be the web model.
OK, I have not done my homework here. I am sure there are newer circ/cat systems that do some (many?) of these things.
But my point is that our students are accustomed to having these tools and features on web sites they already use. If library resources are to remain relevant to them, shouldn't we offer these things as well?
I'd welcome your ideas of what your next circ/cat system should include. Or tell me where the features I'm dreaming about already exist in a commercial product for schools.
Reader Comments (10)
Lucky you -- we were forced to upgrade from Circ/Cat for Mac since Follett/whoever left it stuck in OS 9 dinosaur mode. We would happily have stuck with it longer otherwise. Sigh.
Doug -- Do you know about LibraryThing for Libraries? if your catalog is on the web, you might consider trying it out. It does a lot of what you're looking for. http://librarything.com
DITTO! I have the same dreams and have expressed some of them on my blog. I've received some comments there that you might take a look at.
LIBRARY CATALOGS - LET'S DREAM BIG!
Visionary Vendors - Know Of Any?
Chris Harris has developed a great solution for his libraries. It is pretty much what we are looking for. But right now our committee is looking for the total package - cataloging AND circulation. I am not sure that Fish4info provides circulation. Also, we really need to rely on an outside vendor to provide the service for us.
So far, we have not been totally wowed with the products we have seen. The system we liked the best so far is The Library Company. To see the catalog - go to The Southfield Public School Libraries. I have not heard their price yet. I understand it is expensive. The aquabrowser search is the most Library 2.0 aspect - but it is an add-on cost.
We also liked OPALS. Click to see some live sites.
Jacquie,
What can I say - great minds think alike! Thanks for sharing this with other readers. I know Chris has done some innovative things too. Too bad this can't come from the vendors. Where are they?
Doug
Thanks, Jane. I will check it out. I was thinking it was only for individuals. Appreciate the heads up.
Doug
Doug,
We just switched to Destiny. I agree with your points, but want to mention that they do allow students to see what they have out, access it remotely, and it displays book jackets/descriptions like Amazon, and has Federated searching. Not that it would have been my "first" choice either....long story there!
However, I agree with most of your points. The catalog vendors haven't kept up with what's going on with Amazon, Shelfari, and other similar sites.
Tagging for one thing--wouldn't that be better than "library of congress subject headings" for our high school students? And student written reviews..how powerful would that be.
What I want to know is why we librarians don't pressure vendors for more?
Hi Carolyn,
This is somewhat like Barnes & Noble showing us how a 21st Century physical library might look - comfy chairs, coffee and ambiance.
And yes, librarians need to be more demanding - especially those of us in schools considering the tastes of our Net Gen patrons!
Thanks for writing,
Doug
Federated searching via Follett (or any other OPAC) is not as great as we thought. You just don't search an OPAC the way you search databases. With databases using several keywords works really well, but it's very difficult to get consistently good results from most OPACs that way.
Follett does provide "my info" which allows you to check on your own checkouts, and to place a hold on a book. And I have started entering links (856 field) to student written book reviews fron Teen Ink. They are great!
In fairness to Follett, I must say that whenever I ask if something can be done, it can be with the next version!
Boy, you want it all, don't you! We'll all need to keep our eyes out for this solution.
A little late, but here's what we're looking for at the International School Bangkok, Thailand:
http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2007/12/22/a-library-catalog-wishlist/
:)