OPAC 2.0:Making the Catalog Dynamic

Meghan GatesLSC 742

February 16, 2009

Old OPAC v. New OPAC

• Static v. Dynamic

• “One-to-one” representation v. Expansive

• Librarian Oriented v. Patron Oriented

• Controlled v. “Open Access”

What is Web 2.0?

• A “Next-Gen” movement in internet technology

• Not a change in actual technology but a new way of thinking– Fosters Creativity– Information Sharing– Collaboration

Why Use Web 2.0?

• Barnes and Noble Model (Library as Business)

• Personalization

• More access points

• Helping our patrons in the best way possible

Web 2.0 and OPACs

• Making OPACs more user friendly• Meeting the needs of “Next-Gen” library users– User Centered– Multimedia Experience– Socially Rich– Communally Innovative

Tools of 2.0

• IM / ICQ / gChat• Streaming Media (Flash, Videos, etc.)• Blogs and Wikis• Social Networks (Facebook, MySpace, etc.)• Tagging• RSS Feeds• Faceted Searching

OPAC 2.0 in Action

• Library Thing for Libraries– Patron Tags– Recommended / Similar– Reviews and Ratings

Danbury, CT Library Catalog

OPAC 2.0 in Action

• North Carolina State University (Endeca)– User Friendly Interface– Faceted Browsing– Ranking

Cons of OPAC 2.0

• Little to no oversight• Still has kinks• More work for librarians• Communication (Getting the word out)• User 1.0• Entrenchment of the establishment

Pros of OPAC 2.0

• Personalization• Comfort Level• Creating a sense of community• Helping our patrons (in numerous ways)• It is the new frontier

The Opinion Page

• Multiple methods of searching• Multiple modes of connection to our patrons• Putting the library in the path of the user • Making the library relevant again (More than

“that place with all the books”)• Constant Beta phase

Sources• Breeding, Marshall., “The Birth of a New Generation of

Library Interfaces”• Casey, Michael E and Laura C. Savastinuk, “Library 2.0:

Service for the Next-Generation Library”• Chalon, Patrice X., “OPAC 2.0: Opportunities,

Development and Analysis.”• Maness, Jack M., “Library 2.0 Theory: Web 2.0 and Its

Implications for Libraries”• Liu, Shu, “Engaging Users: The Future of Academic

Library Websites”• Sierra, Tito et al. “Beyond OPC 2.0: Library Catalog as

Versatile Discovery Platform”