On 9/30/06, K.G. Schneider <kgs_at_bluehighways.com> wrote:
> Oh, oh--the I-word...
LOL. You're right of course. But I clicked with the interface from the
first use. Just me, maybe.
> FRBR would clean up the versions problem, sort of anyway (let's wave our
> FRBR wand and just make it happen!), but it wouldn't clean up the apparent
> authority control problem. The latter is definitely not OCLC's problem,
> right? But then, whose problem is it? Are we agreed this is a problem
> requiring resolution? We are casting a bright light on our massive worldwide
> unified holdings... and once again the worms are crawling out. (It would be
> nice to be able to have a per-item feedback box so at the very least someone
> could ask, "Isn't record X just record Y?")
I certainly like the idea of FRBR and WorldCat is at least
baby-stepping the the right direction. I think FRBR offers a way...
perhaps THE way to go forward with NGCs. If the idea is to simplify
the results to something understandable and generic but simultaneously
offer a way to drill down (faceted searching seems like a good way) to
the specific, FRBR seems to be the real deal. But I have no
suggestions on how to make it happen.
The OTHER catalog of this type is RedLightGreen. It is similar in
approach to WorldCat in lumping editions together (which I guess is
not quite FRBR, but approaching it) and then allowing the user to
focus in. For some reason though, despite the nifty citation output
doohickey, I never warmed to it (and not for want of trying).
> Incidentally, after opting not to enter a zip code for the first couple of
> browses, I'm trying to figure out how to do so now. I'm sure it's just
> me-the system is intuitive, and I'm broken...
The zipcode entry is one thing that is NOT intuitive. The only way to
enter a postal code is to display a record (any record) with the
"Libraries" (i.e., holdings) tab selected and then the "Enter location
information" box is right below the tabs. E.G.,
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/289704?tab=holdings
One of my biggest gripes about WorldCat.org's search interface has to
do with this aspect. In particular, I would like to be able to embed
the zipcode directly into the search form in order to predetermine the
"epicenter" of my search results on my library. But, nope. You have to
do the search. Select a record. Enter the zipcode. How lame is this? I
can't imagine why nobody at OCLC hasn't addressed this. It should be
noted, though, that until the browser cookie is cleared, WorldCat does
remember the last zipcode entered.
--
Tom
Received on Tue Oct 03 2006 - 09:08:11 EDT