Select readings for a PALNI discussion about
"The Future of the OPAC"

-- February 2007 PALNI Board Meeting --

Link here to related discussion questions
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REQUIRED READINGS: (Yes, these will be on the test!):

1)
Morgan, E. L. (July 7, 2006). "Next generation" library catalog. http://dewey.library.nd.edu/morgan/ngc/#id3232112257
 

A sketch of the "NGC" (Next Generation Catalog) by one of the leading "think and doers" who now resides in our own state!

2)

Dempsey, L. (2006). The library catalogue in the new discovery environment: Some thoughts. [Electronic version]. Ariadne, (48) http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue48/dempsey/

These are reflections about the big picture together with key questions by a strategically positioned, provocative thinker and researcher whose ideas will quite likely contribute in a significant way to the shaping the future OPAC.

 

3)
Antelman, K., Lynema, E., & & Pace, A. K. (2006). Toward a twenty-first century library catalog. [Electronic version]. Information Technology & Libraries, 25(3), 128-139.  http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=22544647&site=ehost-live  (You may need to plug in the prefix from your "proxy server" – or simply retrieve it through a search in Professional Development Collection from INSPIRE.)

Focus in this article on the criteria it identifies that are required of the future OPAC together with related functionality and implications, rather than a review of Endeca's specific product.

4)

Kieft, R. (2006). Browsing library collections: From the shelf to the online catalog. [Electronic version]. EDUCAUSE Review, 41(3), 12-13.
http://www.educause.edu/apps/er/erm06/erm0636.asp OR http://www.educause.edu/LibraryDetailPage/666?ID=ERM0636 (pdf)

Explores ideas and issues surrounding enriching the OPAC.  The specific challenge for Kieft is how to find resources in new ways when you can’t browse the shelves.

SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS: (the stuff, as on a syllabus, you won't likely get to but makes the bibliographer feel good):

5)
Calhoun, K. (2006). The changing nature of the catalog and its integration with other discovery tools. http://www.loc.gov/catdir/calhoun-report-final.pdf

Perhaps more than you want or have time to read but at least see the brief executive summary.

6) Lewis, D. W.  (2007). A Model for Academic Libraries 2005 to 2025. Paper presented at ”Visions of Change,” California State University at Sacramento, January 26, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/665.

This is a late addition but a fine, thoughtful and readable piece by one of our Indiana colleagues (Dean of the University Library, IUPUI). While not focused specially on the OPAC, it addresses various issues and implications surrounding it.  Here is David's abstract to the paper:
 
The paper presents a model for academic libraries for the next 20 years. The parts of the model are: 1.) Complete the migration from print to electronic collections; 2.) Retire legacy print collections; 3.) Redevelop the library space; 4.) Reposition library and information tools, resources, and expertise, and 5.) Migrate the focus of collections from purchasing materials to curating content. The interactions of the parts of the model and organizational issues.

7)  Breeding, Marshall.  The Millennial Generation Joins the Library Community.  Paper presented at "Managing Electronic Collections: Strategies from Content to User" Denver, Colorado, Sept 28, 2006.  http://www.niso.org/presentations/MEC06-01-Breeding.pdf

This is a PowerPoint that provides background on "millennial" users -- their characteristics and expectations.  Breeding goes on to identify attributes that should be part of the next generation catalog (and other library discovery tools) with an eye toward collection development and resource access.

8)
Schneider, K. G. (10/03/2006). Toward the next gen catalog. Message posted to http://www.techsource.ala.org/blog/2006/10/toward-the-next-gen-catalog.html

A survey of sorts that mentions several leading voices in the conversation about the future OPAC and cites some "experiments."

9)  (For those who  need something more for that new media player you got for Christmas!)

Library 2.0 Gang. (March 2, 2006). The library 2.0 gang consider the future of the OPAC from http://talk.talis.com/archives/twt20060410-L2Gang-OPACFutures.mp3   [Will require an .mp3-capable media player – PC or a portable to which you can port the .mp3.]
 

This is a discussion by seven participants who are steeped in future OPAC interests.

EXTRA CREDIT THAT YOU’LL REALLY EARN:  For those who want to explore the future of cataloging
   in relationship to the OPAC, etc.:

10)
Byrd, J., Charbonneau, G., Charbonneau, M., & others. A white paper on the future of cataloging at Indiana University. January 15, 2006. Indiana University Libraries.  http://www.iub.edu/~libtserv/pub/Future_of_Cataloging_White_Paper.pdf

I think this is worth reading – especially for those of us who aren't even "closet" catalogers.  It makes a good case for one of our distinctive, professional contributions -- and responsibilities.

11)
Marcum, D. B. (2005). The future of cataloging: Address to the Ebsco Leadership Seminar, Boston, Massachusetts, January 16, 2005 from http://www.loc.gov/library/reports/CatalogingSpeech.pdf

I appreciated her example: "Let us suppose that you are a librarian at a small college near the middle of the continental United States." More may be better, but how do we get to the "right stuff"?  Do the "rules" of cataloging need to change, are they changing, and who changes them?
 

 

12)  Coyle, Karen. Hillman, Diane (2007). Resource Description and Access (RDA): Cataloging Rules for the 20th Century.  D-Lib Magazine, 13(1/2). [Electronic version.]

http://www.dlib.org/dlib/january07/coyle/01coyle.html

The "the times they are a-changin'" and the cataloging "rule-makers" better get on board.  This very recent piece is a call to rethinking and rewriting the rules now if libraries are to remain competitive and regain some ground lost to  "(...wealthier) purveyors of digital information delivery services."  It also provides a good historical framework from which the authors develop their challenge.