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Maintaining a Multi-Lingual System. Susanna Aakko Nina Penttinen HelMet Library. Language Options. Staff User Interface Languages FIN Finnish and ENG English WebPAC User Interface Languages FIN Finnish, SWE Swedish and ENG English Millennium in Finnish: Circulation, Serials
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Maintaining a Multi-Lingual System Susanna Aakko Nina Penttinen HelMet Library
Language Options • Staff User Interface Languages • FIN Finnish and ENG English • WebPAC User Interface Languages • FIN Finnish, SWE Swedish and ENG English • Millennium in Finnish: Circulation, Serials • Millennium in English: Cataloguing, Admin • NB: Login language • WebPAC Pro in Finnish, Swedish and English
To translate… • What is the goal? • Customer service in libraries • Finnish terminology • Most used functions are translated • Web services for customers • Better service • Finnish legislation • All functions are translated
Or not to translate? • Lots of work • English terminology is needed • CSDirect, User Guide and Reference • Opening calls in Help Desk • Functionality is not used in HelMet Libraries
Where do the translations come from? • Translation Station • System parameters • Circulation parameters, Circulation notice texts • Advanced system access and administration • OPAC options • WWWOptions, WWW HTML Screens, buttons, webpub.def, messages.conf (more customization) • Javascripting • Co-operation is important
Parameter problems and solutions • Use only one language • List of items is arranged alphabetically by English branch name • Email notices are sent by HelMet-kirjasto • Use two languages • Hold Pickup Locations: Itäkeskus/Östra Centrum
Using Translation Station • New web interface • New translation strings can be installed only every two weeks • Same translation can be used in several places – it’s vital to test thoroughly • Similar strings – sometimes difficult to know which one to translate
Translation process • New releases available or new functionality implemented • Testing new functions on training database • Missing diacritics? • Webpac language switches to English? • Missing Finnish strings translated • Missing Swedish strings sent to Eva Lachonius • Writing Finnish instructions for customers • Translating instructions to English and Swedish
Translation problems and solutions • New releases • Changing hot keys • Changing lower/uppercase letters • Word for word translations or customised translations • Update list = Cancel holds or change hold pickup location • Structural differences • Prepositions vs. conjugations • Sorted by relevance – Valitse järjestys: relevanssi • Singular vs. plural • Vocabulary • Noun/verb (print) • Only one Finnish translation (hold/request)
In future • Translating and implementing Research Pro • Whether to offer all services in three languages (RSS news feeds) • Services for Russian speaking patrons • Cyrillic alphabet in HelMet (translitteration) • Never-ending process…