It is very sad that we are still talking about what we should be able to
offer, and |Peter is right, of course the public library should be the
window on the world. In fact Laser were writing and developing stuff like
this a decade ago, and in fact now this is possible, just look at OCLC's
V3., but the public is still not given access to resource sharing as a front
line activity, and we are still talking about it as if it is something in
the future.It must be a good 30 years at least since OPACs were introduced?
Slow slow no quick quick
By the way a user's letter of complaint has developed into a fascinating
stream of emails, best for a while..
f
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marshall, Peter" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 12:47 PM
Subject: Re: FW: Is this the end for OPACs?
> I fear that some of today's contributions (though not all) on this subject
have taken a very limited view of OPACs.
> Will any self-respecting OPAC of the future not give access to
www.whichbook.net and (in London)
> www.londonlibraries.org.uk/will/ - and for that matter http://blpc.bl.uk/,
www.m25lib.ac.uk/ or http://copac.ac.uk/copac/?
> Will catalogue entries not contain hyperlinks to authors' websites, or
film-of-the-book websites like www.bloomsburymagazine.com/harrypotter and
http://harrypotter.warnerbros.co.uk/home.html?
> Will information resources available over the web, like
http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/efts/Woodhouse/ to quote a particularly well
digitised example, not be "catalogued" alongside their hard-copy
equivalents, and why should you not be able to get these resources simply to
appear on the screen when you click in the right place, as opposed to having
to go to another "People's Network" terminal somewhere else in the library
to look at them?
>
> I quite accept that there is a need for some terminals at all libraries
which give access only to a very simple record of what items the Library
Authority holds to enable quick enquiries to be made, but it would be a
great mistake not to offer proper fully-functional web-enabled OPACs as
well, which gives you the opportunity to explore fully what you can get
through your local library, either on-line or via ILL.
>
> After all, isn't broadening people's horizons about what they can get from
any public library what we are all about? About 20 years ago we moved from
card/sheaf catalogues which just told you what was in stock at your local
branch, to on-line versions which tell you what is in stock of the entire
library authority or consortium. Is not telling you what is available in the
UK or on planet earth the next step?
>
> Peter Marshall
> Project Development Librarian
> Bexley Council
> Tel: 020 8309 4135 (Direct Line)
> email: [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
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