Next Generation OPACs Kat Hagedorn Scott Martin Jake Glenn July 12, 2007

What is it? What do you think? In one “definition” * –Not a catalog –Not multiple databases –Utilizes 2.0 services –Built using “things” that are open –Built with the user in mind…always Mostly, Eric Lease Morgan’s talk

Outline Kat: faceted browsing Scott: social tagging Jake: open data

Faceted browse What is it? AKA faceted classification AKA hierarchical faceted categories “…allows the assignment of multiple classifications to an object, enabling the classifications to be ordered in multiple ways, rather than in a single, pre-determined, taxonomic order.” * Wikipedia

Studies say… Facets help users because –“…simultaneously shows previews of where to go next, and how to return to previous states in the exploration…” –“…reduces mental work by promoting recognition over recall and suggesting logical but perhaps unexpected alternatives at every turn…” “Clustering vs. Faceted Categories for Information Exploration” Marti A. Hearst

Catalogs using facets Easier to see than say… NCSU Libraries (sorta) started it all Also have worked to integrate catalog with quick search on library gateway entations/sierra.pdfhttp://diglib.org/forums/spring2007/pres entations/sierra.pdf

Catalogs using facets McMaster Library Catalogue

Catalogs using facets Plymouth State University (not using Endeca, actually built using open source tool WordPress)

Questions? Discussion?

Social tagging What is it? –Labelling items using un- or semi- controlled vocabulary –Ability to view and search other people’s tags as well as your own Example: Flickr (

Tagging in a library: AADL Items tagged by AADL patrons At present, clearly not representative of AADL holdings

Tagging tools: LibraryThing Flickr for your book collection: enter and tag titles from your personal bookshelf, and search other users’ collections Over 15 million titles cataloged Integration tools for library OPACs available (example:

Tagging tools: PennTags Similar to del.icio.us (tagging Web bookmarks; but limited to UPenn communityhttp://del.icio.us Allows tagging of library catalog items, some journal articles in addition to Web links

Questions? Discussion?

Open Data

“The OPAC Has Left The Building!” - Christopher Harris (Infomancy)

What Is An OPAC, Anyway? Online - because electronic catalogs had previously been offline with terminal access only. Public Access - as opposed to private mainframes with usage accounting to track every second of access time. Catalog - a set of MARC records (machine- encoded document surrogates).

The Network Reconfigures The Library Systems Environment

Mashupability “The coolest thing to do with your data will be thought of by someone else.” - Jo Walsh & Rufus Pollock (Open Knowledge Foundation) XTech 2007

Who’s Doing This? NCSU: CatalogWS AADL: PatREST Others?

CatalogWS

PatREST

Demo Time

Could We Do It Here? Yes!

Questions? Discussion?

Don’t forget! Please fill out the session feedback form – nopacshttps://lessons.ummu.umich.edu/2k/mlib20/nextge nopacs –Available from the Lib2.0 Events page This presentation is also on the site Do your 13 things! – Use the Project Blog to post ideas –

OPAC Feedback The Aleph OPAC group wants your feedback! What features would you like to see in a next-generation Mirlyn catalog? Send your thoughts to: