Just to clarify what I said a little bit, I'm thinking that the core design principles of library catalogs are based on managing "silos" of physical materials. As Brian Kennison said: "Format/location doesn't matter any more. If we can, we need to break down silos of information." Are library catalogs the right tool for the job?
I first asked this general question 18 years ago on the old PACS-L list...long enough ago that I had a BITNET address for my e-mail. The subject line was: "The Post-OPAC Era", and I ended the posting by asking: "should we be trying to retool the OPAC to play a broader role that might perhaps be better filled by developing gateway technologies (WAIS, Internet gopher, etc)?" Granted, my examples of "developing gateway technologies" are now ancient history, but you get my drift. :-)
Bernie Sloan
--- On Tue, 8/31/10, Brian Kennison <KennisonB_at_WCSU.EDU> wrote:
> From: Brian Kennison <KennisonB_at_WCSU.EDU>
> Subject: Re: [NGC4LIB] discovery systems need to do more
> To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
> Date: Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 1:50 PM
> On 8/31/10 1:13 PM, "B.G. Sloan"
> <bgsloan2_at_YAHOO.COM>
> wrote:
>
> I know there are exceptions to what I just said, but I'm
> thinking that the core design principles of library catalogs
> are based on the need to manage physical collections?
>
> The problem is ( and has been ) that "physical" objects
> provide only a fraction of information that your patron is
> in need of and is willing to use and as a proportion of
> available information is getting smaller all the time.
> Format/location doesn't matter any more. If we can, we
> need to break down silos of information. That doesn't mean
> you couldn't have a catalog that provided added value to
> physical objects but it's got to be discoverable in the
> user's normal work flow (not that I know what that is but
> Google comes to mind ).
>
> The other thing I think Eric was trying to get at is "open"
> content. If libraries can provide both access to these types
> of materials AND value-added services on top of this access
> we would be providing significant service to our patrons.
>
> While there are a lot of good people working on tools and
> services I don't think any body has all the tools they need.
> I think a contributing problem is that lack of majority of
> the profession to recognize the urgency of this matter and
> lack of support for this vision both in their commitment of
> resource and time.
>
> Mean while Eric, I guess we just keep plugging away.
>
> --
> Brian Kennison
> Western Connecticut State University
>
Received on Tue Aug 31 2010 - 14:20:23 EDT