Monday, June 26, 2006, 8:12:15 AM, you wrote:
AMJ> The character-mode interface offered users a choice of "words" or
AMJ> "names" - that's it. Enter words, get bibs and holdings. Enter names,
AMJ> get a list of names. Pick a name, get a list of bibs and holdings.
AMJ> Rather than have a flexible user interface, CARL stripped away detail to
AMJ> the point where you didn't need complexity or flexibility. Whey they
AMJ> appeared to want was a catalog anybody could use without explanation.
Absolutely right. We were a relatively early CARL user (1985) at the
MARMOT Project, which was a union catalog/circ system for over 20
small libraries in Western Colorado. The users LOVED the interface,
but lots of librarians didn't.
I still fight that battle today. Not with CARL, but with my
colleagues using Voyager. So far our default search is exact left
anchored title. Why? Because some "powers that be" say that is the
most useful and most used. Yes, it is by the acquisitions and
cataloging folks who either have a catalog in hand, or a book in hand.
But for the vast majority of users it is awful. A student types in
"idaho history" and gets NO HITS. Well, duuuuhhhhh....we do have a
FEW books on Idaho history.
What should it default to? Keyword anywhere, same as Google and other
tools the students are used to using. All of the other options are
still there for librarians, advanced users, etc. One day a few of us
may win this battle.
dan
--
Dan Lester, Data Wrangler dan_at_RiverOfData.com 208-283-7711
3577 East Pecan, Boise, Idaho 83716-7115 USA
www.riverofdata.com The Road Goes On Forever....
Received on Wed Jun 28 2006 - 16:59:54 EDT