Re: Laundry list for NGC (long post)

And I'm adding it to futurelib.pbwiki.com  (password: dewey76 -- all
welcome to add and edit) - kc

Gail Richardson wrote:
>
> Thank you for your awesome list. I think it is safe to say that this
> is what we all want - as users, and *for* our users. And it should all
> be possible, shouldn't it? Whether we will ever find all of this, or
> even most of it, through a vendor product, I don't know. I don't
> suspect so. So how can we do this for ourselves, do it right, and be
> consistent? I hate that each library does whatever slightly
> differently. I think it would be great if I could just go to one giant
> libary site, search and discover, then finally link to my local
> library where I can place a hold and pick it up.  I'm circulating this
> list to our staff - and putting it under the organizational Christmas
> Tree. Cheers - Gail
>
> Gail Richardson - Ext. 5062
> E-Services Coordinator
> Oakville Public Library
> 120 Navy Street
> (corner of Lakeshore Road and Navy Street)
> Oakville, Ontario L6J 2Z4
> Telephone: 905-815-2042
> Fax: 905-815-2024
>
>
>
> *Amy Ostrom <amostrom <at> GMAIL.COM>*
> Sent by: Next generation catalogs for libraries <NGC4LIB <at> listserv.nd.edu>
>
> 12/12/2006 11:00 AM
> Please respond to
> Next generation catalogs for libraries <NGC4LIB <at> listserv.nd.edu>
>
>
>
> To
>       NGC4LIB <at> listserv.nd.edu
> cc
>
> Subject
>       [NGC4LIB] Laundry list for NGC (long post)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Dear NGC4Libbers:
>
> I have not been able to keep up with all the posts, but it seems no
> one will just create a substantial list - too much theory and
> questioning/doubt behind everything.  I don't know about anyone else,
> but I am myself an end user, and I have a LOT of things I would love
> to see.  I don't care if it is done in collaboration with Amazon, or
> Worldcat, or any organization, but this is what I want.  I hope this
> proves beneficial.  (Apologies in advance for a long post.)
>
> *I want it all in one place with option to see more or less (if it's
> on a booklist let me know, if it has reviews let me see them, put it
> all in the same place; if the library has it in audio and book format,
> put it in the same record!, seriously, if one type isn't in, I'll take
> another format - I don't want to click on 15 records just to find
> something; I also want to be able to hide some stuff if it is too
> cluttered)
>
> *I want descriptions, dangit!  And why does no software exist for
> integrating series information in the catalog??  I want to know what
> the next book is!  (nothing like clicking on something you think you
> know what it is, and then it really isn't.  I HATE that for something
> I might be interested in, I have to go to Amazon first to find anything)
>
> *I want to see related/similar materials (I want a smarter version of
> _http://www.literature-map.com/_, either to graphically display the
> closeness of the book/author, or to at least list what others think
> are close)
>
> *I want to make wishlists and my own booklists (heck, if I read an
> awesome series, I want to let others see these books if they share
> similar tastes; also I may not have time to read right now, but
> doesn't mean I want to forget a book I found that might be worth
> reading later)
>
> *I want pictures!  (I am visual, I'll know it's the right book if I
> can see it first; I want to see a sample of of the content as well,
> but would settle for a description)
>
> *I want suggested searches and ways to narrow or broaden the search I
> made (if I can't remember the name or misspell it, I want it to act
> like Amazon and pull up suggested spellings or related searches, also
> broken down by category)
>
> *I want the search to pull up the RIGHT materials (rank by popularity
> would work better than what item was last cataloged; Amazon is very
> good with its algorithm, it's not that hard to replicate - we can
> record how many times a record was viewed and how many times it was
> checked out, we know its publication date, we know its format, why
> can't we organize the search better?)
>
> *I want an RSS feed for new items based on a search query (heck yeah I
> want to know what just came in without going to the catalog every day
> so I can get my hold on it ASAP, but I don't want to know EVERY item
> that is purchased, only what I am looking for; great for current
> awareness as well)
>
> *I want to see the newly available items, especially in DVDs, CDs, and
> games (not just an RSS feed out, but actually on the site!)
>
> *I want to know how long the wait list is, in days and or queue
> location (if it's too long, I'll just go buy the item)
>
> *I want permalinks, so I can link to a book from my blog to the
> catalog instead of to amazon or remember easily how to get back to it
> without running the search again (I am all about promoting the
> library, but Amazon is better than the library could ever be with
> marketing and promoting, let's take their example!)
>
> *It would be awesome to create my custom display, so I see what I want
> in the color I like (okay, it's a stretch, but it's all about
> customizing and personalizing these days)
>
> *I want a map to show me the general shelf I might find my item (so
> many times an item was pulled out of the general collection and I pull
> my hair out in frustration)
>
> *I want a library where I only have to sign in once, ONCE! (in my
> library catalog, every time I place a hold I have to enter my
> information; I log on, and I get signed out after maybe ten minutes of
> idleness - I'm probably surfing Amazon to find the RIGHT book...)
>
> *I want to be able to turn on alerts for things like service outages,
> due dates, and overdues with quick access to renew, let alone modify
> my account profile and add password hints... (people are very forgetful)
>
>
> So, from these wants, here is a basic (non-comprehensive) list of
> features we need to build a better catalog:
>
> 1.  XML format
> 2.  More (and better) content
> 3.  More pictures
> 4.  Smarter search engine
> 5.  RSS on the fly
> 6.  Commenting!!  Commenting!!
> 7.  User accounts
> 8.  Single sign-in
> 9.  User created lists/content
> 10. Permalinks
> 11. FRBR 2.0
> 12. Highly customizable interface
> 13. Highly user-friendly account settings/options
> 14. Smart spell-check aka related spelling/search terms
> 15. Organizable search results
>
> So for those who aren't very technical and are kind of freaking out
> about the grocery list, the basic configurations should still be in
> tact with ability to enable the customization tools.  I am tired of
> code that is falling apart, personally, and I would love to have a
> "skin" collection similar to MySpace, where you can pick or share your
> theme (with small customizations for name, etc), so the smaller
> libraries can also have a pretty catalog.  Or even being able to share
> the customized configuration files without loss of security?  Seems
> like the world, but aren't we paying a fortune for these systems?
>
> --
>
> In peace,
>
> Amy M Ostrom
> Web Interface Designer_
> __amostrom <at> gmail.com_ <mailto:amostrom <at> gmail.com>

--
-----------------------------------
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
------------------------------------