Creating Synergy between your Website and Catalog Internet Librarian 2006 Glenn Peterson, Hennepin (MN) County Library
OPAC developments: 2006 “ILS Customer Bill-of-Rights” (blyberg.net) Greasemonkey scripts (userscripts.org – “library”) NCSU/Endeca catalog Catalog search everywhere!
Synergy How can your website and catalog work together to add value to the user’s experience save the time of the user (Ranganathan’s Fourth Law)
Two approaches Bring library’s content into the catalog interface Integrate the catalog as one of many web-based resources
Opportunities Links to titles Links to catalog searches Make your links “smarter” Single login
Link to titles Link to titles in the catalog from: Booklists
Link to titles Link to titles in the catalog from: Booklists Newsletters
Link to titles Link to titles in the catalog from: Booklists Newsletters New Book Alerts
Link to titles Link to titles in the catalog from: Booklists Newsletters New Book Alerts Events listings
Links to catalog searches Pre-selected searches from: subject guides
Links to catalog searches Pre-selected searches from: subject guides pathfinders
Links to catalog searches Pre-selected searches from: subject guides pathfinders reader’s advisory
Links to catalog searches Pre-selected searches from: subject guides pathfinders reader’s advisory new book arrivals
Make your links “smarter” Keeping your patrons logged in as they move around your site, including into and out of the catalog.
link2ipac.cfm?index=BIB&term=
Scripting example Sets profile based on user’s IP address Logs in user Passes session credentials Redirects user to catalog
Single login
Going both ways Goal: move seamlessly between library catalog and website Solution: pass catalog session credential as URL variable (or use cookies) Use database to track user’s activity
.../FindABook.cfm?iPacSession=1131J509W997N.15550
Takeaways! Look for opportunities to link from your website into the catalog Explore ways to keep patrons logged in across your site(s) Consider “mobilizing” your catalog via RSS/ , Google gadgets, MySpace
Harvesting booklists from catalog Automated RSS/ notification for new titles by your favorite authors Extra credit !!
Contact Information Glenn Peterson Web Administrator