A new type of OPAC for public libraries
We are hoping to obtain funding from the Laser Foundation
for further development of BOPAC .The research will have as
its objective an improvement of the OPACs available to the
users of public libraries. Our proposal will use and expand
the work we have already done on BOPAC.
For those of you who have not used BOPAC. Here is a very
brief description of what it is and what it will do.
BOPAC is not in itself an OPAC but it adds value to
existing OPACs. It does this by using the Z39.50 protocol
to download retrievals resulting from a search on other
OPACs. Z 39.50 is a standard, independent of any
particular library software, that allows us to query
catalogues and get all the matching records as a retrieval.
At the present stage of development the retrieval has been
set at a thousand. We find that for most user requirements
four hundred is enough. Once the retrieval has been
downloaded the BOPAC software takes over and provides a
wide range of displays and very fast movement between the
displays which range from a full labelled one to a MARC
format. Even very large retrievals can be scrolled through
quickly and in the MARC format display this can be
assisted by using the FIND facility to highlight a
particular word or tag.
At present BOPAC covers 26 libraries in the UK and Ireland
and four in North America. These are all academic or
special libraries. The situation up to six months ago was
that we were unable to locate any UK public libraries with
Z39.50 connections. It may have changed now but even if it
has not we do not see it as a problem because we can
provide the necessary technical help to set up a Z39.50
connection.
The most common use of the Z39.50 is to organise library
catalogues into groups or clumps of Z39.50 servers and
there are many applications that do this. However, it is
also possible to use it to access a single library.
Initially our priority object would be to give six public
library systems a BOPAC connection and to provide each
with the opportunity to work with the value adding function
of BOPAC on their own OPACs. If the Laser Foundation
approved our proposal the first step would be for a
research assistant to visit the Project public libraries in
turn. The object would be first to discuss the Z39.50
situation and then to assess the library's priorities for
the improvements in OPAC display that their users would
favour. Finally we would want to note the cataloguing
standards and practice of the library.
With this information the Project could then proceed to
implement the necessary changes to the BOPAC software that
would produce a Public Libraries BOPAC which would meet as
far as possible the user requirements of each of the
participating public libraries. Until discussions have
taken place we are not certain what your priorities are
but these are some of the things that we think might be of
importance
1. OPAC search screens are much more complex than they need
be and we would hope to simplify them and explore the
possibility of touch screens 2. Speedy movement between one
display and another 3. Scrolling down the whole retrieval.
The norm at present seems to be screen by screen 4.
Explore the cataloguing changes that will enable systems to
produce the required displays 5. Eventually we would set up
a network or clump of public library OPACs However, much
will depend on the initial fact finding visit to the
participating libraries by the research assistant
We are anxious to get reactions from public librarians and
would welcome visits from public librarians in the
neighbourhood of Bradford for discussion and demonstrations
of our work. If you want further information or to comment
contact either myself or Mick Ridley
([log in to unmask]). If you want to use BOPAC you
can access it at-:
http://www.bopac2.comp.brad.ac.uk/~bopac2/egwcgi.cgi/egwirtcl/mtargets.egw/1+0
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Fred Ayres
[log in to unmask]
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