On Aug 14, 2007, at 11:12 PM, William Denton wrote:
> Will the next generation catalogue be called a catalogue? What do you
> call your conception of what should replace your OPAC?...
This questions reared its head on the a couple of other lists a few
days ago. It was also on my mind when I created the name of this
mailing list. In many ways I regret using the word "catalog" because
it has so many connotations. At the same time, I could not think of a
better/different term. We had to start somewhere.
To my mind a library catalog is a very specialized index -- a list to
the things a library owns or licenses. Search or browse the list.
Return pointers to found items (call numbers, URL's, etc.). Allow
users to get the items through the pointers. Done. It is my hope that
the "catalog" provide additional services against the items in the
list besides pointers to where the items can be found. I hope we can
enhance the experience to include things like compare & contrast
found items, annotate, review, tag, facilitate discussion against,
send it to me, order, download, summarize, share with my colleagues,
renew, trace citation, trace idea, create citation, find similar,
find opposite, monitor, etc. Some of these things are becoming
realities. Others, like compare & contrast, are analytic tools
supplementing the knowledge creation process.
In this vein, I see the "catalog" moving towards a more comprehensive
research tool -- a thing that makes it easier for library patrons to
get their work done. What is that thing called? I don't know, but
over time I believe something will emerge.
--
Eric Lease Morgan
University Libraries of Notre Dame
Received on Wed Aug 15 2007 - 12:02:42 EDT