Re: [IUG] Anyone using the B&T Online store in their WebPAC?

["Welch, Andrew" <AWelch at auroragov dot org>]

We use B&Ts MyLibraryBookstore in our WebPAC. You can set it up in your
BIBIMAGE and/or WebBridge just like other external resources; however,
it only accepts ISBN and UPC values, so it's contextual only for the bib
display. There is currently no capability to pass a title, author or
keyword search in the URL string, which is really too bad.

Personally, I've found B&Ts catalog to be lacking, particularly when it
comes to audiobooks. For example, many of our audiobooks come from
Recorded Books; B&T seems to prefer any other audiobook publisher, so we
get scant jacket coverage for those.

Their "Browse" button is a little misleading. When B&T doesn't have the
item in their inventory, the Browse button takes users to the
MyLibraryBookstore home page, with little idea how they got there (i.e.,
not even an "item not found" message). I wasn't thrilled with the idea
of sending our patrons off of our site and making them re-do their
search a separate interface, only to find that the item isn't in their
database at all. As a result, we chose to replace the "Browse" button
with a transparent gif (users can still click on the jacket to go to
MLB, but at least we're not intimating that the button will "do"
something for them). We also chose to replace "Buy Now" with "Shop &
Buy," since the Buy button is presented even when the item is out of
stock.

Our experience so far is that not too many patrons are purchasing
through MyLibraryBookstore. They have their work cut out for them if
they want to be considered a viable alternative to Amazon. While they
let the library set the discounts (within a range, of course), they
don't offer other useful features like a Wish List that allows patrons
to buy items to add to the library's collection.

Andrew Welch
Sr. Library Systems Technician
Aurora Public Library
Aurora, CO 80012
http://auroralibrary.org/
 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: innopac-bounces at innopacusers dot org [mailto:innopac-
> bounces at innopacusers dot org] On Behalf Of Fifarek, Aimee
> Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 10:34 AM
> To: IUG INNOPAC List
> Subject: [IUG] Anyone using the B&T Online store in their WebPAC?
> 
> Hello everyone!
>     I just wanted to find out if anyone out there is using B&Ts online
> store.  I've been told that you can't fully integrate it into the
WebPAC
> - you can place the buy now button in your briefcit.html and
> bib_display.html, but that it isn't contextual so the customer would
> have to redo their search in the B&T interface.  I wanted to know from
> someone with experience if that is accurate and, if so, how your
> customers like the option.
>     -- Aimee
> 
> Aimee Fifarek
> Technologies & Content Manager
> Scottsdale Public Library
> 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
> Scottsdale, AZ 85251
> 480-312-7060
> 480-312-7993
> afifarek at scottsdaleaz dot gov
> 
> 
> 
> --- StripMime Report -- processed MIME parts ---
> multipart/alternative
>   text/plain (text body -- kept)
>   text/html
> ---
> --
> This message was distributed through the Innovative Users Group
INNOPAC
> list
> Public replies:  INNOPAC at innopacusers dot org
> Update your subscription options:
> http://innopacusers.org/mailman/listinfo/innopac