310 likes | 389 Views
Users have choices The reality of competition. Lloyd Sokvitne Senior Manager (Digital Strategies) State Library of Tasmania lloyd.sokvitne@education.tas.gov.au. Information discovery in libraries. Your ILMS. Inhospitable Distant Uninviting. Information discovery on the web. Inviting
E N D
Users have choicesThe reality of competition Lloyd Sokvitne Senior Manager (Digital Strategies) State Library of Tasmania lloyd.sokvitne@education.tas.gov.au
Information discovery in libraries Your ILMS Inhospitable Distant Uninviting
Information discovery on the web Inviting Friendly Easy
Today’s Presentation • User choices • Redesigning the OPAC • Real life experience • Conclusions
User choices • traditional offline services • libraries and bookshops • new online services • library OPACs • library resources (extra) – image collections, etc • web search engines • web services: bookshops, maps, directories, mashups
But the OPAC is so much better • High quality data • Neutrality – no commercial bias • Professionalism regarding information retrieval
Why are the competitors winning? • they reflect user behaviour • satisficing • they provide pertinent information • book covers, reviews, ratings, etc • they treat the user as important • personalise the process • allow interaction
The cold reality • Near enough is in fact good enough • The experience is as important as the result • its not about glitz • Its about about real user behaviours • hide complexity • Can we justify what it costs to catalogue an item??
ILMS Circulation OPAC Cataloguing Acquisitions Redesigning the OPAC • Developed as a tool to access the ILMS • ILMS products • enhancements slow • The game has changed • Move the data OUT!
Client Service Applications Data Storage A 3-tier architecture Uncoupling the data from the applications that create it The data should be usable by any application
Moving outside the ILMS • easier web friendly deliverables • applications adaptable/flexible • client-orientated outcomes • discovery services • interactive web2.0 developments • We are seeing a growing need to be able to interact with the ILS in various ways, so that some functionality can be placed in another interface – Lorcan Dempsey, 20 Jan 20, 2006
Case Study: State Library of Tasmania • Extracting data from the ILMS • Using an external search engine to index • Using that software to deliver the interface • Linking back to the ILMS when necessary
Software issues • None
Design issues • How should it work? • no precedents • starting with the user and their behaviour • looking at the competition • facets, the open display of content • ranking – critical • providing supplementary information • There will be lots of trial and error • ongoing review and development CRITICAL
Data issues • Lots • Do we have the right data? • How can we use it • correct it, modify it (at source, post-export) • Will it make sense? • Where do we get the data we don’t have • other places – the web • other places – other modules, e.g. circulation data • create it – who, where, cost?
- Ask now - Recent additions - etc ?
- Ask now - Recent additions - etc
Next steps – moving to a gateway • the software can access more than holdings • what about other library resources • developing a gateway • importing data from our other datastores • how should it work? • developing OPAC2.0 • importing data from outside the library
Summary 1:Lets treat our users as real people • they accept (only want) good enough • they will use the best service for their need • we need to be proactive, not wait for ILMS systems to solve our problems
Summary 2:Data is just a commodity • it has no intrinsic value unless it contributes to our outcomes • we need to create the right data • lets create the right facet data • why spend money producing unnecessary data • we need to share the right data • evaluative, value-added data is important • from libraries rather than commercial sources
Summary 3:The OPAC is not dead • an online catalogue can be interesting, easy to use, and effective • it will be librarians who move it forward • but we must take risks, make mistakes, accept evolution!
The new OPAC2.0 Easy Relevant Busy and used A connected library
Thank you Lloyd Sokvitne Senior Manager (Digital Strategies) State Library of Tasmania lloyd.sokvitne@education.tas.gov.au