RE: OPAC Review

["Heard, Jeffrey" <Jeffrey.Heard@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I was looking for either a list to make sure that we check or a list to watch
out for.  Sinclair has reexamined the OPAC for a long time and basically went
with the defaults.  It needs to be brought up-to-date and made more
user-friendly and easier to search.

-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Striman [mailto:bstriman@xxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2003 10:49 AM
To: innopac@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: OPAC Review


Jeffrey--

Having no one responding to your query might mean that innopac list
members aren't sure what you are after.

I've never heard or read about a published OPAC review list. Do you mean
a "list" that would be a standardized approved list of criteria that the
library community has agreed upon, that constitutes basic elements to
make a decent OPAC for users.

Would such a list would be subjective?   Most all Innovative libraries
would have the basic OPAC features.  The finer, more subtle features
that libraries "turn on" or "turn off" would be interesting to note.

It might make a great article if you need to publish.

One thing that I try to keep in the back of my mind regarding OPACs is:
Are there "dead ends" in the screens which brings the searcher to a
halt, or information that's NOT there, forcing the OPAC user to stop,
make a printout and go ask a reference librarian what to do next?  

For example, when the check-in  boxes indicate "TO BIND" ..... that only
tells the OPAC user that the issues probably aren't on the shelf.... it
doesn't tell them what to do next.  As you become more aware of this,
you may notice there are many similar dead ends in our OPACs.  In my
opinion, we still haven't gone away from the card catalog mentality
enough yet. We make these presumptions about how much information is
good enough for our OPAC users, then we sort of  "stop" and just look at
other fancy features we can add to our OPACs, rather than enhancing the
OPAC with more refined tools that guide users toward HOW they can get
what they need.  In the the "TO BIND" example, we could ask vendors to
supply URL links to the online version of the volume/issue they want:
and that that link is right inside the check-in card boxes.  Somehow.
Of course, this would cost $$$$    but my example is more for the
concept, rather than actually implementing it.  


----------------------------------------
Brian Striman
Professor of Law Library
Head of Technical Services & Catalog Librarian 
Schmid Law Library   U. of Nebraska College of Law
402-472-8286       --------               fax  472-8260


-----Original Message-----
From: innopac-admin@xxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:innopac-admin@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Heard, Jeffrey
Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2003 07:30 PM
To: innopac@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: OPAC Review


I sent this message previously but received no response, so I'll send it
again--
 
We are doing a review of our OPAC.  Is there a list of things to
concentrate on or a list of things to watch out for.
 
Thanks for the assistance.

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