Enhancing Online Library Catalogs for Today’s Users Heather Payne Savino ILS 506 July 13, 2007

Introduction In the digital age, users are increasingly relying on online public access catalogs (OPACs) as their primary means of browsing library collections, locating and selecting materials. In the digital age, users are increasingly relying on online public access catalogs (OPACs) as their primary means of browsing library collections, locating and selecting materials. Internet sites such as Google and Amazon.com have influenced users’ expectations. Internet sites such as Google and Amazon.com have influenced users’ expectations. Although the growth of automated catalogs has resulted in many improvements over card catalogs, many OPACs retain the traditional format of the card catalog. Although the growth of automated catalogs has resulted in many improvements over card catalogs, many OPACs retain the traditional format of the card catalog. OPACs must be improved to meet today’s users’ needs and expectations. OPACs must be improved to meet today’s users’ needs and expectations.

Ease of Use Needs Users prefer ease of use over quality Users prefer ease of use over quality Library catalogs are perceived as difficult to use Library catalogs are perceived as difficult to useSolutions Easy-to-use interfaces Easy-to-use interfaces One-stop searching One-stop searching Simple instructions Simple instructions Context-sensitive, interactive help Context-sensitive, interactive help

Relevancy Ranking Needs Users expect the most relevant hits to come to the top Users expect the most relevant hits to come to the top Dealing with information overload: most users will not go beyond the first page of results Dealing with information overload: most users will not go beyond the first page of resultsSolutions Ranking by relative position of terms, the number of occurrences of terms, proximity of multiple search terms to each other etc. Ranking by relative position of terms, the number of occurrences of terms, proximity of multiple search terms to each other etc. Assigning more weight to terms found in subject headings, classification captions, tables of contents and summaries Assigning more weight to terms found in subject headings, classification captions, tables of contents and summaries

Enriching Content Needs Users need enriched content to help find and evaluate materials Users need enriched content to help find and evaluate materials Additional content improves access and circulation Additional content improves access and circulationSolutions Must include summaries, tables of contents, cover art, reviews and excerpts Must include summaries, tables of contents, cover art, reviews and excerpts Provision of full-text materials through catalog Provision of full-text materials through catalog

Remote Browsing Needs Ability to browse library collections through the OPAC Ability to browse library collections through the OPACSolutions Inserting hyperlinks which will create new searches for related materials based on criteria such as author, subject heading or series title Inserting hyperlinks which will create new searches for related materials based on criteria such as author, subject heading or series title Allowing users to click on call numbers to see books with similar classifications Allowing users to click on call numbers to see books with similar classifications

Providing an Information Gateway Need Ability to access both library resources and external resources Ability to access both library resources and external resourcesSolutions Including internet results along with OPAC results Including internet results along with OPAC results Cataloging internet resources Cataloging internet resources Creating union catalogs with other libraries Creating union catalogs with other libraries

Improved Cataloging Need Outmoded cataloging practices impede patrons’ ability to use and understand library catalog records Outmoded cataloging practices impede patrons’ ability to use and understand library catalog recordsSolutions Make all access points equal Make all access points equal Remove library jargon from catalogs Remove library jargon from catalogs Make works in collections and anthologies accessible Make works in collections and anthologies accessible Banish inversion of name and subject headings Banish inversion of name and subject headings Use multiple classification numbers and tagging to increase access Use multiple classification numbers and tagging to increase access

Improved Search Capabilities Need Improved search capabilities to help improve access Improved search capabilities to help improve accessSolutions Advanced search features like the ability to save and reuse search criteria and results, combine queries etc. Advanced search features like the ability to save and reuse search criteria and results, combine queries etc. Qualification cataloging (searching on qualifications such as the particular discipline or format) Qualification cataloging (searching on qualifications such as the particular discipline or format) Faceted navigation/clustering (separating results into categories that users can click on to narrow their search) Faceted navigation/clustering (separating results into categories that users can click on to narrow their search)

Library 2.0 and Personalization Need Incorporation of Library 2.0 concepts: interactive, multi- media, personalized services Incorporation of Library 2.0 concepts: interactive, multi- media, personalized servicesSolutions User accounts that keep track of users’ favorite authors and subjects, enabling librarians to make recommendations and notify users when the library acquires new materials that match their interests User accounts that keep track of users’ favorite authors and subjects, enabling librarians to make recommendations and notify users when the library acquires new materials that match their interests Allowing users to add comments and reviews to bibliographic records Allowing users to add comments and reviews to bibliographic records Allowing users to tag items in the catalog Allowing users to tag items in the catalog

Conclusion With so many users happy to turn to internet search engines for their information needs, library catalogs will have to offer more to attract patrons. With so many users happy to turn to internet search engines for their information needs, library catalogs will have to offer more to attract patrons. This means incorporating better content, improving cataloging, access and search capabilities, creating easy- to-use interfaces, helping users find what they need through relevancy ranking, allowing remote browsing, and allowing users to personalize the OPAC to their needs. This means incorporating better content, improving cataloging, access and search capabilities, creating easy- to-use interfaces, helping users find what they need through relevancy ranking, allowing remote browsing, and allowing users to personalize the OPAC to their needs. The OPAC of the future must be a portal to the world of information, helping users find the information they need wherever it can be found. The OPAC of the future must be a portal to the world of information, helping users find the information they need wherever it can be found.

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