The New Generation of Library Interfaces Meeting the needs of today’s library users Computers in Libraries Arlington, VA April 8, 2008 Marshall Breeding Director for Innovative Technologies and Research Vanderbilt University

Abstract Following a period of widespread dissatisfaction with library OPACs, a number of projects and products have emerged to provide library interfaces more capable of satisfying the needs of web-savvy library users. New models of what constitutes a library catalog are forming, and products are now beginning to embody aspects of this new vision. Breeding provides an overview of the library catalogs and interfaces now available or in development, including both commercial and open source alternatives. Following a period of widespread dissatisfaction with library OPACs, a number of projects and products have emerged to provide library interfaces more capable of satisfying the needs of web-savvy library users. New models of what constitutes a library catalog are forming, and products are now beginning to embody aspects of this new vision. Breeding provides an overview of the library catalogs and interfaces now available or in development, including both commercial and open source alternatives.

Troubling statistic Where do you typically begin your search for information on a particular topic? College Students Response: 89%Search engines (Google 62%) 89%Search engines (Google 62%) 2%Library Web Site (total respondents -> 1%) 2%Library Web Site (total respondents -> 1%) 2%Online Database 2%Online Database 1% 1% 1% Online News 1% Online News 1% Online bookstores 1% Online bookstores 0% Instant Messaging / Online Chat 0% Instant Messaging / Online Chat OCLC. Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources (2005) p

Usage + / - from 2005 to 2007 “The unfortunate exception is the use of library Web sites; usage has dropped from 2005 to 2007.” Source: Sharing, Privacy and Trust in our Networked World. OCLC % +14% +5% +30% -10%

Crowded Landscape of Information Providers on the Web Lots of non-library Web destinations deliver content to library patrons Lots of non-library Web destinations deliver content to library patrons –Google Scholar –Amazon.com –Wikipedia –Ask.com Do Library Web sites and catalogs meet the information needs of our users? Do Library Web sites and catalogs meet the information needs of our users? Do they attract their interest? Do they attract their interest?

The Competition

The best Library OPAC?

Better?

Demand for compelling library interfaces Urgent need for libraries to offer interfaces their users will like to use Urgent need for libraries to offer interfaces their users will like to use Move into the current millennium Move into the current millennium Powerful search capabilities in tune with how the Web works today Powerful search capabilities in tune with how the Web works today Meet user expectations set by other Web destination Meet user expectations set by other Web destination

Inadequacy of ILS OPACs Online Catalog modules provided with an ILS subject to broad criticism as failing to meet expectations of growing segments of library patrons. Online Catalog modules provided with an ILS subject to broad criticism as failing to meet expectations of growing segments of library patrons. Not great at delivering electronic content Not great at delivering electronic content Complex text-based interfaces Complex text-based interfaces Relatively weak keyword search engines Relatively weak keyword search engines Lack of good relevancy sorting Lack of good relevancy sorting Narrow scope of content Narrow scope of content

Disjointed approach to information and service delivery Books: Library OPAC (ILS module) Books: Library OPAC (ILS module) Articles: Aggregated content products, e-journal collections Articles: Aggregated content products, e-journal collections OpenURL linking services OpenURL linking services E-journal finding aids (Often managed by link resolver) E-journal finding aids (Often managed by link resolver) Local digital collections Local digital collections –ETDs, photos, rich media collections Metasearch engines Metasearch engines All searched separately All searched separately

Change underway Widespread dissatisfaction with most of the current OPACs. Many efforts toward next-generation catalogs and interfaces. Widespread dissatisfaction with most of the current OPACs. Many efforts toward next-generation catalogs and interfaces. Movement among libraries to break out of the current mold of library catalogs and offer new interfaces better suited to the expectations of library users. Movement among libraries to break out of the current mold of library catalogs and offer new interfaces better suited to the expectations of library users. Decoupling of the front-end interface from the back-end library automation system. Decoupling of the front-end interface from the back-end library automation system. Eventual redesign of the ILS to be better suited for current library collections of digital and print content Eventual redesign of the ILS to be better suited for current library collections of digital and print content

Next-Generation Interfaces: Scope and Concepts

Working toward a new generation of library interfaces Redefinition of the “library catalog” Redefinition of the “library catalog” Traditional notions of the library catalog questioned Traditional notions of the library catalog questioned Better information delivery tools Better information delivery tools More powerful search capabilities More powerful search capabilities More elegant presentation More elegant presentation

Redefining the “catalog” More comprehensive information discovery environments More comprehensive information discovery environments It’s no longer enough to provide a catalog limited to print resources It’s no longer enough to provide a catalog limited to print resources Digital resources cannot be an afterthought Digital resources cannot be an afterthought Systems designed for e-content only are also problematic Systems designed for e-content only are also problematic Forcing users to use different interfaces depending on type of content becoming less tenable Forcing users to use different interfaces depending on type of content becoming less tenable Libraries working toward consolidated user environments that give equal footing to digital and print resources Libraries working toward consolidated user environments that give equal footing to digital and print resources

Comprehensive Search Service Not Federated Search but more like OAI Not Federated Search but more like OAI –Open Archives Initiative –Consolidated search services based on metadata and data gathered in advance Problems of scale diminished Problems of scale diminished Problems of cooperation persist Problems of cooperation persist

Web 2.0 Flavorings Strategic infrastructure + Web 2.0 Strategic infrastructure + Web 2.0 A more social and collaborative approach A more social and collaborative approach Web Tools and technology that foster collaboration Web Tools and technology that foster collaboration Integrated blogs, wiki, tagging, social bookmarking, user rating, user reviews Integrated blogs, wiki, tagging, social bookmarking, user rating, user reviews Avoid Web 2.0 information silos Avoid Web 2.0 information silos

Web 2.0 supporting technologies Web services Web services XML APIs XML APIs AJAX (asynchronous JavaScript and XML) AJAX (asynchronous JavaScript and XML) Widgets Widgets

The Ideal Scope for Next Gen Library Interfaces Unified user experience Unified user experience A single point of entry into all the content and services offered by the library A single point of entry into all the content and services offered by the library Print + Electronic Print + Electronic Local + Remote Local + Remote Locally created Content Locally created Content User contributed content? User contributed content?

Next Generation Interfaces: Functions and Features

Interface Features / User Experience Simple point of entry Simple point of entry –Optional advanced search Relevancy ranked results Relevancy ranked results Facets for narrowing and navigation Facets for narrowing and navigation Query enhancement – spell check, etc Query enhancement – spell check, etc Suggested related results Suggested related results Navigational bread crumbs Navigational bread crumbs Enriched visual and textual content Enriched visual and textual content Single Sign-on Single Sign-on

Relevancy Ranking Based on advanced search engines specifically designed for relevancy Based on advanced search engines specifically designed for relevancy –Endeca, Lucene, etc Web users expect relevancy ordered results Web users expect relevancy ordered results –The “good stuff” should be listed first –Users tend not to delve deep into a result list –Good relevancy requires a sophisticated approach, including objective matching criteria supplemented by popularity and relatedness factors.

New Paradigm for search and navigation Let users drill down through the result set incrementally narrowing the field Let users drill down through the result set incrementally narrowing the field Faceted Browsing Faceted Browsing –Drill-down vs up-front Boolean or “Advanced Search” –gives the users clues about the number of hits in each sub topic –Ability to explore collections without a priori knowledge Visual search tools Visual search tools Navigational Bread crumbs Navigational Bread crumbs –Select / deselect facets

Query / Result Enhancement “Did you mean?” and other features to avoid “No results found” “Did you mean?” and other features to avoid “No results found” Validated Spell check Validated Spell check Automatic inclusion of authorized and related terms Automatic inclusion of authorized and related terms More like this – recommendation service More like this – recommendation service Make the query and the response to it better than the query provided Make the query and the response to it better than the query provided

Appropriate organizational structures LCSH vs FAST (Faceted Application of Subject Terminology) LCSH vs FAST (Faceted Application of Subject Terminology) Full MARC vs Dublin Core or MODS Full MARC vs Dublin Core or MODS Discipline-specific thesauri or ontologies Discipline-specific thesauri or ontologies “tags” “tags”

Enriched content Rich visual information: book jacket images, rating scores, etc. Rich visual information: book jacket images, rating scores, etc. Syndetic Solutions ICE ($$$$) Syndetic Solutions ICE ($$$$) Amazon Web Service (AWS) Amazon Web Service (AWS) –Recent changes in term of use seem to preclude use by libraries Google Book Search API Google Book Search API –Released March 13, 2008 –Liberal terms of use No open content approach (yet) No open content approach (yet)

Personalization / Single Sign-on Customized content options based on personal preference and profile of user Customized content options based on personal preference and profile of user Persistent sign-on Persistent sign-on –Seamless navigation in and out of appropriate sub- systems ILL / ILS patron requests, federated search, proxy services ILL / ILS patron requests, federated search, proxy services –Credentials follow as user navigates among Web site components –ILS / Interlibrary Loan / proxy services / shopping cart / etc Ability to select and save content; initiate requests; customize preferences, etc. Ability to select and save content; initiate requests; customize preferences, etc.

Deep search Entering post-metadata search era Entering post-metadata search era Increasing opportunities to search the full contents Increasing opportunities to search the full contents –Google Library Print, Google Publisher, Open Content Alliance, Microsoft Live Book Search, etc. –High-quality metadata will improve search precision Commercial search providers already offer “search inside the book” Commercial search providers already offer “search inside the book” No comprehensive full text search for books quite yet No comprehensive full text search for books quite yet Not currently available through library search environments Not currently available through library search environments Deep search highly improved by high-quality metadata Deep search highly improved by high-quality metadata See: Systems Librarian, May 2008 “Beyond the current generation of next-generation interfaces: deeper search”

Beyond Discovery Fulfillment oriented Fulfillment oriented Search -> select -> view Search -> select -> view Delivery/Fulfillment much harder than discovery Delivery/Fulfillment much harder than discovery Back-end complexity should be as seamless as possible to the user Back-end complexity should be as seamless as possible to the user Offer services for digital and print content Offer services for digital and print content

Library-specific Features Appropriate relevance factors Appropriate relevance factors –Objective keyword ranking + Library weightings –Circulation frequency, OCLC holdings, scholarly content Results grouping (FRBR) Results grouping (FRBR) Collection focused (vs sales-driven) Collection focused (vs sales-driven)

Enterprise Integration Ability to deliver content and services through non-library applications Ability to deliver content and services through non-library applications Campus portal solutions Campus portal solutions Courseware Courseware Social networking environments Social networking environments Search portals / Feed aggregators Search portals / Feed aggregators

Interoperability Decoupled interface implies data synchronization Decoupled interface implies data synchronization Mass export of catalog data Mass export of catalog data Hooks back into the ILS for holdings and patron services Hooks back into the ILS for holdings and patron services –Real-time availability

Architecture and Standards Need to have an standard approach for connecting new generation interfaces with ILS and other repositories Need to have an standard approach for connecting new generation interfaces with ILS and other repositories Proprietary and ad hoc methods currently prevail Proprietary and ad hoc methods currently prevail Digital Library Federation Digital Library Federation –ILS-Discovery Interface Group Time to start thinking about a new generation of ILS better suited for current library collections and missions. Time to start thinking about a new generation of ILS better suited for current library collections and missions.

Smart and Sophisticated Much more difficult than old gen OPACS Much more difficult than old gen OPACS Not a dumbed-down approach Not a dumbed-down approach Wed library specific requirements and expectations with e-commerce technologies Wed library specific requirements and expectations with e-commerce technologies

Deployment and Transition How will libraries Join the next generation?

Great Benefit, Great cost? A whole new level of expense to the library to achieve needed automation results A whole new level of expense to the library to achieve needed automation results Patron interface was previously expected to be part of ILS Patron interface was previously expected to be part of ILS Cost of ILS OPAC module very modest relative to new discovery products Cost of ILS OPAC module very modest relative to new discovery products Can the library community bear the cost? Can the library community bear the cost? Can the library community afford not to move forward? Can the library community afford not to move forward?

Can we afford a slow Transition? Deployment of older OPACs widespread Deployment of older OPACs widespread We’re very early in the adoption cycle We’re very early in the adoption cycle Libraries tend to cycle to new technologies at a slow pace Libraries tend to cycle to new technologies at a slow pace Time on the Web moves quickly! Time on the Web moves quickly! Urgency to move quickly Urgency to move quickly –“One year in NYC is like 7 years in LA” –One year on the Web is like 7 years in Library Time

ILS Deployments Unicorn1704 Horizon1612 Millennium1289 Voyager1183 Aleph Library.Solution700

Next Gen Interface Deployments Innovative Interfaces: Encore Ex Libris: Primo Medialab solutions: AquaBrowser Endeca20045 VTLS Visualizer Source: Automation System Marketplace, Library Journal April 1, 2008

Open Source opportunity? Commercial traditionally licensed solutions currently far ahead of open source alternatives Commercial traditionally licensed solutions currently far ahead of open source alternatives Time-to-market a critical factor Time-to-market a critical factor Challenge to catch up Challenge to catch up

New-Gen Library Interfaces Current Commercial and Open Source Products

Endeca Guided Navigation North Carolina State University North Carolina State Universityhttp:// McMaster University McMaster Universityhttp://libcat.mcmaster.ca/ Phoenix Public Library Phoenix Public Libraryhttp:// Florida Center for Library Automation Florida Center for Library Automationhttp://catalog.fcla.edu/ux.jsp

AquaBrowser Library Queens Borough Public Library Queens Borough Public Library – Oklahoma State University Oklahoma State University – University of Chicago University of Chicago –

Ex Libris Primo Discovery and Delivery platform for academic libraries Discovery and Delivery platform for academic libraries Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt Universityhttp://alphasearch.library.vanderbilt.edu University of Minnesota University of Minnesota bweb/action/search.do?vid=TWINCITIES bweb/action/search.do?vid=TWINCITIES University of Iowa University of Iowa

Encore from Innovative Interfaces Designed for academic, public and special libraries Designed for academic, public and special libraries Nashville Public Library Nashville Public Library Scottsdale Public Library Scottsdale Public Library Yale University Lillian Goldman Law Library Yale University Lillian Goldman Law Library

OCLC Worldcat Local OCLC WorldCat customized for local library catalog OCLC WorldCat customized for local library catalog –Relies on hooks into ILS for local services –Tied to library holdings set in WorldCat University of Washington Libraries University of Washington Libraries University of California Melvyl Catalog University of California Melvyl Catalog

The Library Corporation First ILS company involved in promoting new interface technologies First ILS company involved in promoting new interface technologies Initially based its strategy on AquaBrowser and Endeca Initially based its strategy on AquaBrowser and Endeca Indigo – announced at ALA Midwinter Jan 2008 Indigo – announced at ALA Midwinter Jan 2008 “Library Positioning Software” “Library Positioning Software” Based on Lucene / SOLR Based on Lucene / SOLR

SirsiDynix No faceted search product currently available: No faceted search product currently available: –Enterprise Portal Solution –Rooms / SchoolRooms –iLink / iBistro (legacy) Product based on FAST announced in March 2006 – withdrawn Product based on FAST announced in March 2006 – withdrawn Product based on Brainware Globalbrain announced in Nov 2007 Product based on Brainware Globalbrain announced in Nov 2007 –Prototype Expected by April 2008

LibraryThing for Libraries Not a full next-gen interface Not a full next-gen interface Provides a way to add tagging to existing interfaces Provides a way to add tagging to existing interfaces Deal with social tagging critical mass problem Deal with social tagging critical mass problem

Scriblio Formerly WPopac Formerly WPopac Built with WordPress Built with WordPress Plymouth State University Plymouth State University Searches library Web site + catalog Searches library Web site + catalog

VUFind – Villanova University Based on Apache Solr search toolkit

eXtensible Catalog University of Rochester – River Campus Libraries University of Rochester – River Campus Libraries Financial support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Financial support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

ILS products w/ next-gen catalog features Products where the OPAC offered as an integrated module includes relevancy, facets, enriched content, etc Products where the OPAC offered as an integrated module includes relevancy, facets, enriched content, etc Same scope as traditional ILS Same scope as traditional ILS –Polaris –Koha –Evergreen

Polaris

Evergreen

Koha

For more information Next Generation Library Catalogs by Marshall Breeding Library Technology Reports June/July 2007 ALA TechSource

Questions and Discussion