Re: Odd article about library technology

From: Tim McGeary <tmm8_at_nyob>
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:45:30 -0400
To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
It is disappointing that this article did not clear indicate what 
problem this technology solves.

Unfortunately, this is yet another separate system a library has to 
insert to attempt to effectively manage all of their collections.  This 
is not saying that Aeon isn't or won't be a good product, but will this 
help libraries get up to the enterprise level like the goal of the OLE 
Project?  Or is this another ERM-like system that maintains the status 
quo of separation in collection management and resource discovery?

Tim

Tim McGeary
Team Leader, Library Technology
Lehigh University
610-758-4998
tim.mcgeary_at_lehigh.edu
Google Talk: timmcgeary
Yahoo IM: timmcgeary

B.G. Sloan wrote:
>  
> OK...now I see what I was missing when I initially read the article. Thanks!!
>  
> I wish the author of the article had explained it a little better.
>  
> Bernie Sloan
> 
> --- On Tue, 8/11/09, Leslie Johnston <lesliej_at_LOC.GOV> wrote:
> 
> 
> From: Leslie Johnston <lesliej_at_LOC.GOV>
> Subject: Re: [NGC4LIB] Odd article about library technology
> To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
> Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 10:59 AM
> 
> 
> This isn't a skewed faculty perspective, it's the reality for users of
> rare materials and archives.  Patrons do not have access to the closed
> storage where these collections are kept, and must request that items be
> pulled by staff members.  Also, a number of institutions may have EAD
> finding aids and no catalog, so therefore no request module.  And even
> in an ILS, there are collection-level records but very rarely
> container-level or item-level records, so what can a patron request —
> everything and nothing more granular?  A very large percentage of these
> libraries still use paper systems or unconnected email requests, so this
> IS an improvement.
> 
> Leslie
> 
> ----------
> Leslie Johnston
> Digital Media Project Coordinator
> Office of Strategic Initiatives
> Library of Congress
> 202-707-2801
> lesliej_at_loc.gov
> 
>>>> Alejandro Garza Gonzalez <alejandro.garza_at_ITESM.MX> 8/11/2009 10:33
> AM >>>
> Hey, it's on the Internet, it *must* be true =)
> 
> I'm guessing this was something that is "new"-- from that one library's
> perspective.
> 
> *Sighs* This mirrors what some faculty think of some libraries
> (emphasis on _some_).
> 
> _alejandro
> 
> B.G. Sloan said the following on 11/08/2009 09:01 a.m.:
>>   
>> Sort of an odd article in the Chronicle of Higher Education's "Wired
> Campus" blog...sounds like it could have been written 30 years ago.
> Maybe I'm missing something?
>>   
>> The article discusses a "new system" which librarians are supposedly
> calling "the first of its kind". With this "new" system patrons can
> "request items directly from online catalogs". Librarians "can also
> better monitor statistics thanks to histories that track patrons and
> items and generate analyses."
>>   
>> Here's a sample paragraph:
>>   
>> "Before, Mr. Miller said, users who wanted to request an item from
> any of the university’s collections had to first register with a paper
> form and then request each item -- even those in the same collection --
> with additional paper forms. For his library, the system has saved time
> by streamlining that process in a database, which allows librarians to
> process requests faster and eliminates the need for paper records, which
> take up 'enormous time and space.'"
>>   
>> Full text of article at:
>>   
>> http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Online-Request-Software/7635/ 
>>   
>> Bernie Sloan
>>
>>
>>        
>>
>>
>>    
> 
Received on Wed Aug 12 2009 - 12:45:37 EDT