Dear Next Generation Catalog dreamers,
I've found it interesting when I could find a few moments to
read about the developments reported on this list, and I appreciate the
sharing. I work at UF which is one of the university libraries where the
Florida Center for Library Automation is currently working to implement
Endeca, and I find the keyword searching there very exciting.
However, many library patrons and I won't really be happy if
keyword is great but browse is ignored. True browse (or begins with, or
alphabetical) search results can be displayed to users much better than
is generally done in OPAC's today. (You know, alphabetical, like the
phone book you've used since you learned to read.) Actually, the
outdated catalog previously used at my library had done this better.
Browse subject search results show only the specific heading string and
the number of records that used that heading. In order to effectively
"browse" through these by examining the titles and choosing which ones
are interesting, one is usually forced to open each heading separately,
then go back to the simple headings list to open other similar ones. How
awkward and frustrating! It would be helpful after choosing one of these
headers and opening it if upon returning to the results list each of the
titles were displayed indented below the corresponding specific
headings. This enables much smoother and more efficient navigation for
selecting useful items than hiding them in little pockets under the
heading strings.
Is anyone aware of projects that are directing efforts to
deliver both better keyword and better true browse results display
options, or is that too hard to do in the 21st century? Thanks,
Jimmie
Jimmie Lundgren, Head
Science & Social Science Cataloging Unit
Cataloging and Metadata Dept.
George A. Smathers Libraries
University of Florida
Gaineville, FL 32611
jimlund_at_ufl.edu
Received on Mon Jul 30 2007 - 12:36:43 EDT