On 2/13/09 12:07 PM, "Kyle Banerjee" <kyle.banerjee_at_GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> On the nextgen catalog issue, any model built around every library
> maintaining their own catalog is fundamentally broken. It is insane
> for thousands of libraries to download the same data onto machines
> scattered throughout that are barely more than toys, maintain parallel
> staff to perform the same duties and aforementioned machines and data,
> run these operations as silos and then work on all problems in
> parallel fashion.
I do not necessarily agree; I do think it is important for every library
have its own "catalog" because for every institution the library services is
different.
Libraries are always a member of some larger organization. Academic
libraries are a part of a college or university. Public libraries are a
member of a municipality. School libraries are a part of a... school.
Each of these organization have some sort of identity or purpose. They are
comprised of people who have some sort of common goal or identity. Learning.
Teaching. Scholarship. Citizenship. Business enterprise. Etc.
A library is a resource enabling these people to accomplish their ends.
Because each institution is different, each library should be different.
Each libraries collection will be different and have different focuses. Each
library's holdings and services are expected to be tailored the needs of the
library's users.
The big, centralized library will not be able to tailor its holdings and
services to its local users. Too much of this stuff when that stuff is
desired. Too much stuff out of context. Display this because you are in this
class or have that rank. Display that stuff because you are a manager versus
a salesperson versus an engineer. Provide a way to provide targeted services
because I know you have such and such characteristics. Google is not going
to be able to do this unless you tell Google all about yourself. The same
thing goes for OCLC.
--
Eric Lease Morgan
University of Notre Dame
Received on Fri Feb 13 2009 - 12:34:17 EST