Dear Tim (et al):
I still think the biggest problem is findability.
Like it has been mentioned, a singular interface is really important. I've
been manipulating tools to fit into a seamless interface, and then bringing
the "hidden" useful tools out and putting them right where people can see
them. It's a matter of us integrating our own tools in a way that's useful
for patrons. Making everything user-friendly, making information (or access
to information) make sense. (I mean, honestly, patrons don't care about the
name of the database, they just want the content, right?)
What I also don't see much of is follow-up on the "next generation
catalog". Do people really use word/tag clouds (most people don't
understand what it is)? Is Aquabrowser's flashy Flash thing used, and how
is it used? Do patrons narrow or broaden their searches?
I think this kind of usability testing is really essential (has anyone done
it yet, I really would like to see a usability report on Web 2.0 tool in the
library). But, just postulating, I think we also need to shrink the
interface down and make useful phone apps and widgets that has a one search
box interface (with plenty of options), that can really churn out relevant
results.
And there is the issue of poor support in cataloging electronic resources in
a user-friendly manner. We are going digital; it's faster, copies are, in
theory, "easier" to access (they really need to be easier to access, it's
comically painful to get e-content). But how does the Web catalog display
these electronic records? IMHO, not very well (is it just me, or does it
just feel clunky?).
There's so much more work to be done. Awareness and information literacy
can usurp any well-made Web catalog interface, so branding/marketing and
education plays an important role. It needs to be a complete package, and I
don't see too much of that.
Sorry, whole bunch of different thoughts there, but I still think there's a
LOT of room to improve. :-)
--
In peace,
Amy M. Drayer
Web and Systems Librarian
amostrom_at_gmail.com
http://www.puzumaki.com
On Sat, Mar 27, 2010 at 6:48 AM, Tim Spalding <tim_at_librarything.com> wrote:
>
> So, ladies and gentleman, get out your crystal balls and tell me what
> is the "next" next gen?
>
> * What good ideas have yet to become mainstream?
> * What idea trends—mobile? ebooks?—should cause us to rethink things?
> * Is it time to decide that the next catalog is no catalog at all?
> * Is it Google? A kiosk? A cell phone? A WorldCat metastasis? Dying
> because the library is dying?
>
> What do you think?
>
Received on Mon Mar 29 2010 - 04:07:51 EDT