The New Generation of Library Interfaces - Marshall Breeding

I follow Marshall’s writing so I’m interested in what’s on his radar. Also, want to get a tip of two about what to ask Polaris.

Him and Me

• OCLC study showing that users do not turn to libraries for info needs. Only 2% of students start with library and only 1% in libraries. Uh huh, that’s not going to change. So we need to get OURSELVES in the search engines…. sigh.
• Users use amazon to find a book and then try the catalog. DUH, most librarians do the same thing. I know I do.
• We need better interfaces, better search capability that work how the web works, MEET user expectations… less underwhelming tools
• OPACs need to be put out of public use. Ahem to that
• ILS tools are crummy at delivering electric content. Why should there be a distinction between an OPAC and a Digital Library (Sorry, Jill)
• library catalog and OPAC are NOT descriptive.
• Not only know what we have, but deliver it to them.
• Redefinition: More comprehensive, NOT limited to print, access to digital content can’t be an afterthought, systems should be inclusive not exclusive.
• NOT federated search. if it’s built correctly, Google will search all the content. Just like other industry’s rely on.
• All of OCLC can go on an ipod - we are no longer battling a problem of scale.
• Web 2.0 now is an afterthought. NH just had a vendor fair for ILSs. 45 minutes for each. Word is that NONE offered an interface as good as Scriblio. Why? Not because Scriblio is brilliant, but because Scriblio is user focused and obeying Web2.0 conventions is a development priority.
• Ideal= unified user experience, single point of entry, print AND electronic, local and remote, locally created content, user contributed content. I would add PORTABLE.
• Features/Functions: single point of entry ONE search box, facets for narrowing HELP the searcher, don’t alienate them with ‘No Results, you dummy’, query enhancement ie. spelling correction…
• Sometimes I think we spend altogether too much time thinking and not enough time doing - by the time we’ve thought it out, the conclusions are obsolete… Break through? That’s maybe we’re always behind.
• We have great content, it needs to be available on the wider web.
• Make the response better than the query provided.
• FAST = Faceted Application of Subject Terminology
• Personalized user experience
• Back-end complexity should be as seamless as possible to the user. Let’s not insult our own educations and frustrate our users by assuming they can do what we do. ILS’s were made for US, we need something totally separate and built for them.
• We’re PART of a larger world and we have to be able to integrate.
• Decoupled interface HELLO SCRIBLIO - sometimes frustrating, I feel like Casey and I have been saying this for years. I believe I even said it to Marshall…
• Great cost… Doesn’t have to be, think about it.
• Open Source - Koha and Evergreen… hey, SCRIBLIO! YAY.
• POLARIS is one of the most forward thinking. Yay, GMILCS

Good presentation for an introduction, but I certainly feel like it’s been said. More people need to implement Scriblio in order for it to get higher on the radar.