Author: Eric Lease Morgan

This is an introduction and list of assumptions outlining an idea for a “next generation” library catalog. In two sentences, this catalog is not really an catalog at all but more like a tool designed to make it easier for students to learn, teachers to instruct, and scholars to do research. It provides its intended audience with a more effective means for finding and using data and information. The full text of this document formatted as a single HTML page is available at: http://dewey.library.nd.edu/morgan/ngc/ Introduction In library parlance, an OPAC is an “online public access catalog”. The operative word in this phrase is “catalog”. Traditionally speaking, the OPAC is thought of as an index to the things owned or licensed by a library. It is an electronic version of the venerable card catalog. As such it contains “cards” pointing to books, not the books themselves. It contains “cards” pointing to…

This is an outline of computer technologies for implementing a “next generation” library catalog. In two sentences, this catalog is not really an catalog at all but more like a tool designed to make it easier for students to learn, teachers to instruct, and scholars to do research. It provides its intended audience with a more effective means for finding and using data and information. The full text of this document formatted as a single HTML page is available at: http://dewey.library.nd.edu/morgan/ngc/ Technological design Model for a “next generation” library catalog Technically speaking, this “next generation” library catalog is the combination of a relational database with a full-text index. Access to this database/index combination is provided through open standards such as Z39.50, SRW/U, OpenURL, and OAI-PMH. Database The database is designed to contain XML files enhanced with facet/term combinations. When at all possible these XML files (based on any DTD or…

This is a set of steps for implementing a “next generation” library catalog. In two sentences, this catalog is not really an catalog at all but more like a tool designed to make it easier for students to learn, teachers to instruct, and scholars to do research. It provides its intended audience with a more effective means for finding and using data and information. The full text of this document formatted as a single HTML page is available at: http://dewey.library.nd.edu/morgan/ngc/ Implementation: A Seven-step process This section proposes a step-by-step approach for creating a “next generation” library catalog, but the process can be summarized in the following way: Allocate resources Answer questions regarding information architecture Conduct surveys, focus group interviews, and usability studies Create/maintain the “next generation” library catalog On a daily basis go to Step #4 On a quarterly basis go to Step #3 On an annual basis go to…

This is the conclusion to a text outlining an idea for a “next generation” library catalog. In two sentences, this catalog is not really an catalog at all but more like a tool designed to make it easier for students to learn, teachers to instruct, and scholars to do research. It provides its intended audience with a more effective means for finding and using data and information. The full text of this document formatted as a single HTML page is available at: http://dewey.library.nd.edu/morgan/ngc/ Conclusion This is a very exciting time in Library Land. Never before has there been so much accessible content. Never before has there been so much computing power available at such low costs. Never before has there been such an overwhelming need from people for data and information. As long as the library profession does not limit itself to thinking about books, then what more could a…