The Shifted Librarian blog today http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/07/23/bibliocommons-goes-live.html refers to Beth Jefferson's Bibliocommons project(see http://www.bibliocommons.com/ ). A new OPAC has just been produced which may just be the greatest OPAC ever yet created- at the Oakville public library in Canada (unlikely but true.) http://www.opl.on.ca/
In the Shifted Librarian's review she gives a good list of things we would like to see in every OPAC: She says:
"Don’t even get me started on the fact that the interface includes terms like “connect,” “network,” and “trusted sources.” So much good stuff here, though - ratings, tags, lists, users, comments, recommendations, faceted browsing, contextual help, natural language (not jargon), user-based age ratings, “share with a friend” links, similar titles, a shelf browser with cover images, and the ability to get rewards for adding content to the catalog."
I myself was particularly impressed with the faceted browsing: you can sort your results by language, date, or, interestingly, by tag. The tags use everyday language which presumably is not authorised and there is no sign of the old Library of Congress Subject Headings, which is interesting. I am fond of LCSH myself but I realise that they are hugely underused and misunderstood.
I loved the way you can click on a tab to open your personal information, and the video tutorial guide. This is the way public library catalogues should be! A classic example of what they call "the front end" of the catalogue being separated from "the back end" and the search and results being integrated into exciting web pages.
Jenny (which seems to be The Shifted Librarian's name,) sites the Library Journal http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6579748.html as her source.
In the Shifted Librarian's review she gives a good list of things we would like to see in every OPAC: She says:
"Don’t even get me started on the fact that the interface includes terms like “connect,” “network,” and “trusted sources.” So much good stuff here, though - ratings, tags, lists, users, comments, recommendations, faceted browsing, contextual help, natural language (not jargon), user-based age ratings, “share with a friend” links, similar titles, a shelf browser with cover images, and the ability to get rewards for adding content to the catalog."
I myself was particularly impressed with the faceted browsing: you can sort your results by language, date, or, interestingly, by tag. The tags use everyday language which presumably is not authorised and there is no sign of the old Library of Congress Subject Headings, which is interesting. I am fond of LCSH myself but I realise that they are hugely underused and misunderstood.
I loved the way you can click on a tab to open your personal information, and the video tutorial guide. This is the way public library catalogues should be! A classic example of what they call "the front end" of the catalogue being separated from "the back end" and the search and results being integrated into exciting web pages.
Jenny (which seems to be The Shifted Librarian's name,) sites the Library Journal http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6579748.html as her source.
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