-----Original Message-----
From: Next generation catalogs for libraries [mailto:NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of Tim Spalding
Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2010 1:48 AM
To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
Subject: [NGC4LIB] Next next generation catalogs
Tim asked
...
So, ladies and gentleman, get out your crystal balls and tell me what is the "next" next gen?
...
This has been happening already to some extent, but I think the "next" thing in catalogs and cataloging will be a de-coupling of the catalog's inventory and discovery functions.
As long as local collections and local licensed access restrictions exist, we'll need local catalogs focused on inventory control to manage tangible collections and licensed materials. But instead of a single native discovery interface to that inventory control system, we'll have multiple approaches to discovery (universal discovery tools like Google, Bing, etc.) and specific discovery tools that may work well for a slice of the whole (national tools, subject domain tools, type of material, etc.)
For instance, when I search http://finden.nationallizenzen.de/ for "Wealth of Nations," I find a record with a URL that links to the Gale product, MOME's digital version of one copy of one edition/printing (London : Printed for W. Strahan, and T. Cadell, 1776.) And that service link recognizes me as entering MOME as a qualified (i.e. paying) customer because I'm affiliated with Yale. The index I'm searching is set up to benefit German researchers.
In short, then the next next generation catalog is invisible and ubiquitous network of metadata about information objects, users, and permissions.
Matthew Beacom
Received on Mon Mar 29 2010 - 10:07:59 EDT