Janet Hill said:
"That is, we are using 'catalog' to indicate an interface that provides
intellectual access to the world's resources, not just our own."
Sure, WE know that...but how many users see it that way?
Bernie Sloan
Sora Associates
Bloomington, IN
--- On Mon, 2/16/09, Janet Hill <Janet.Hill_at_COLORADO.EDU> wrote:
> From: Janet Hill <Janet.Hill_at_COLORADO.EDU>
> Subject: Re: [NGC4LIB] Does cataloging have value?
> To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
> Date: Monday, February 16, 2009, 11:24 AM
> Many of us use the term "library catalog" to
> indicate the mechanism (which
> is owned/sponsored/used/made available by the library)
> through which users
> may search for information that is EITHER owned/leased OR
> made accessible
> by/through the library.
>
> That is, we are using "catalog" to indicate an
> interface that provides
> intellectual access to the world's resources, not just
> our own.
>
> Janet Swan Hill, Professor
> Associate Director for Technical Services
> University of Colorado Libraries, CB184
> Boulder, CO 80309
> janet.hill_at_colorado.edu
> *****
> Tradition is the handing-on of Fire, and not the worship of
> Ashes.
> - Gustav Mahler
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Next generation catalogs for libraries
> [mailto:NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of B.G. Sloan
> Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 2:16 PM
> To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
> Subject: Re: [NGC4LIB] Does cataloging have value?
>
>
> Library catalogs have an obvious limitation that
> doesn't seem to be
> discussed very often.
>
> By and large, library catalogs are limited to searching for
> physical
> resources held by the user's library. This makes sense
> because online
> catalogs evolved from card catalogs, which were used to
> describe local
> holdings.
>
> I know that there are exceptions to this. Many libraries
> participate in
> resource sharing consortia, and many libraries make an
> effort to include
> records for e-resources in their catalogs. But, generally,
> most default
> catalog searches are looking for physical items held by the
> library.
>
> Why would a knowledgeable user want to use the local
> library catalog when
> there is a vast array of resources accessible by other
> means? (Note: that's
> not a rhetorical question).
>
> Bernie Sloan
> Sora Associates
> Bloomington, IN
Received on Tue Feb 17 2009 - 15:47:02 EST