Re: Whose elephant is it, anyway? (the OLE project)

I think it's perfectly appropriate to design back room functions for
the people who are going to use them. Whether those modules support
the user interfaces depends on how well the interfaces between modules
are defined. In conjunction with the design specs, there has to be an
interface specification (probably several) defining the external
interface that each module presents to the outside world. Then you
could...theoretically...some day...select the acquisitions module from
one package, the cataloging module from a second package, the serials
module from another package, and the OPAC from yet another package,
and plug them all together into your own custom ILS.

Sharon M. Foster, 91.7% Librarian
Speaker-to-Computers
http://www.vsa-software.com/mlsportfolio/






On Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 8:49 PM, B.G. Sloan <bgsloan2_at_yahoo.com> wrote:
> Jonathan Rochkind mentions the OLE project (http://oleproject.org).
>
> I'm encouraged by OLE's stated goal:
>
> "The goal is to produce a design document to inform open source library system development efforts, to guide future library system implementations, and to influence current Integrated Library System vendor products."
>
> But I get a little nervous when I read that specifying a design for a public user interface is not within the scope of the project.
>
> The "project scope" web page says: "The OLE framework supports user and administrative interfaces of various types." Section 4 of this web page lists "Basic ILS Functions". They are all "back room" functions.
>
> I think it's maybe a little dangerous to design "back room" functions in isolation, assuming they will support some unspecified "user interfaces of various types".
>
> I think it's really great the OLE folks want to improve "back room" systems design, and the open architecture may well will be a boon to those designing user interfaces. But I once again worry that it's a case of library systems being designed BY librarians FOR librarians.
>
> Shouldn't the library community take at least some responsibility for designing systems to help library users?
>
> Bernie Sloan
> Sora Associates
> Bloomington, IN
>
> --- On Mon, 3/9/09, Jonathan Rochkind <rochkind_at_JHU.EDU> wrote:
>
>> From: Jonathan Rochkind <rochkind_at_JHU.EDU>
>> Subject: Re: [NGC4LIB] Whose elephant is it, anyway? : was : Three years of NGC4LIB - reflections? -- LONG
>> To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
>> Date: Monday, March 9, 2009, 10:54 AM
>> Diane I. Hillmann wrote:
>> > It'd be great if we could articulate better what
>> the backroom will need
>> > in the "new" library, because until we do
>> that, it's hard to figure out
>> > how the transition can happen.
>> >
>>
>> Which of course is the goal of the OLE project, which is
>> why it's good that the OLE project is doing what
>> they're doing. It's not an easy task, I'm glad
>> someone is tackling it.
>>
>> Jonathan
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