Re: who is the primary user?

I would suggest that we need to be asking the broader question of who are
the primary users of our library - and then start to ask ourselves what
their primary information needs are. I'm not convinced that the catalog (as
it exists) can be or even should be a useful tool for our users. I tend to
equate our library catalog with the concept of a shelflist. It is a great
tool for finding print resources within our library (which is not the
primary activity of users). Library staff could not get along without it.
Library staff are really the primary audience for the catalog as it exists
today.

-Jennifer Macaulay
Head of Library Systems
MacPhaidin Library
Stonehill College
Easton, MA  02357


-----Original Message-----
From: Next generation catalogs for libraries
[mailto:NGC4LIB_at_listserv.nd.edu] On Behalf Of Eric Lease Morgan
Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2006 8:58 AM
To: NGC4LIB_at_listserv.nd.edu
Subject: Re: who is the primary user?

On Jun 7, 2006, at 8:37 AM, Ross Singer wrote:

> I think this strongly depends on which part of the interface you're
> talking about.  The 'web client' on the front end of the catalog's
> audience is, indeed, probably intended for somebody other than
> librarians.  The circ module, however, is probably a different story.
> Or the acquisitions module.

When I say the "catalog", I am not referring to the acquisitions
module nor the circulation module. The catalog is not equated with
the integrated library system. The "catalog" is a part, an aspect of
the integrated library system.

Who are the users of the "catalog"?

--
Eric Lease Morgan
University Libraries of Notre Dame

I'm hiring a Senior Programmer Analyst.
See http://dewey.library.nd.edu/morgan/programmer/.