I think we're talking about the catalog, not the collection. Of course
every library will continue to have its own collection--those holdings
that are physically in the building, or virtually present to be
downloaded. I'm not sure I see why each library would have to
customize its record for "The Da Vinci Code," for example.
Library patrons in Connecticut have to learn at least two quirky
search interfaces if they want to find something on their own. There
is their local library catalog, and there's the statewide catalog.
That's fine for us--we like to suffer, or maybe we think it's job
security--but why put patrons through that? They don't care if the
book they want comes from the next town or the other side of the
state. (For that matter, they don't care if it comes from the other
side of the country, except that they have to wait longer.)
Sharon M. Foster, 91.7% Librarian
Speaker-to-Computers
http://www.vsa-software.com/mlsportfolio/
On Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 12:28 PM, Eric Lease Morgan <emorgan_at_nd.edu> wrote:
> 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 - 12:48:28 EST