Re: [IUG] Subject categorisation of databases using ERM

["Walker, David" <dwalker at calstate dot edu>]

I have to say that, from a usability point of view, it is *very* important that you don't simply list the databases alphabetically within each subject.

Librarians won't mind that, so you won't hear any complaints from them.  

But students are not intimately familiar with each database, like librarians, and simply will not try out a dozen different databases in a subject list.  They usually just try the first database they see.  

So if they are in Psychology, for example, and PsycInfo is down at the bottom of the list (because P is toward the end of the alphabet), that's a problem.  It needs to be first in the list.

I'm not sure if you can put databases in a priority order in the catalog -- I've not seen any live examples of that -- but, if not, that seems like a serious design flaw.

--Dave

==================
David Walker
Library Web Services Manager
California State University
http://xerxes.calstate.edu
________________________________________
From: innopac-bounces at innovativeusers dot org [innopac-bounces at innovativeusers dot org] On Behalf Of Meredith R Callahan [Meredith dot Callahan at colorado dot edu]
Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 10:00 AM
To: IUG INNOPAC List
Subject: Re: [IUG] Subject categorisation of databases using ERM

We are using ERM for our database listings:

http://libraries.colorado.edu/screens/findarticles.html#SUBJECT

Meredith Callahan
Research & Instruction Department
University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries

On Apr 7, 2010, at 10:30 AM, Lai-Ying Hsiung <lhsiung at ucsc dot edu> wrote:

> Hi, Alma:
>
> Wonderful site! Are you using III ERMS or is it in house?  Does Collection or Technical Services folks maintain it?
> Lai-Ying
>
> Alma Garcia wrote:
>> This is what we did:
>> http://library.mills.edu/search/y
>>
>> It made the reference department happy.
>>
>> Alma
>>
>> *****************************************************************
>> Alma García                     Library Systems Administrator
>> Mills College Library           510-430-2021
>> 5000 MacArthur Blvd.            510-430-3155 fax
>> Oakland, CA  94613
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: innopac-bounces at innovativeusers dot org [mailto:innopac-bounces at innovativeusers dot org] On Behalf Of Suzanne Sheppard
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2010 3:57 PM
>> To: innopac at innovativeusers dot org
>> Subject: [IUG] Subject categorisation of databases using ERM
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Is anyone using ERM for subject categorisation of databases?
>>
>> We're looking to replicate something like http://app.griffith.edu.au/erd/info.php
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Suzy
>>
>> Suzanne Sheppard | Web Developer (Library Management System)
>> Information Services (Scholarly Information and Research) | Griffith University (Nathan Campus)
>> ph +61 7 3735 5264 | s dot sheppard at griffith dot edu dot au
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Lai-Ying Hsiung
> Head of Technical Services
> McHenry Library
> University of California, Santa Cruz
> 1156 High St
> Santa Cruz, CA 95064
>
> lhsiung at ucsc dot edu
> 831-459-5166
> Fax: 831-459-2473
>
>
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