Next-Gen Library Catalogs

Abstract

This work was published in cooperation with the Library Information and Technology Association, a division of the American Library Association. Marshall Breeding is a well-known author in library automation. He is the director for innovative technologies and research at the Jean and Alexander Heard Library at Vanderbilt University. He publishes the Library Technology Guides website , the “Systems Librarian” column in Computers in Libraries, and the “Annual Automation Marketplace” series in Library Journal, among many other articles, book chapters, and books. With his background, Breeding writes with authority on the transformation of the traditional online catalog into a discovery interface. The chapters are logically organized to lead the reader through the process of selecting and implementing a discovery interface, as evidenced by the chapter titles: “Introduction: Next-Gen Library Catalog Basics,” “Planning,” “Implementation, “Marketing,” “Best Practices,” and “Measures of Success.” At 125 pages, the book provides a very useful guide and project outline of discovery interfaces for systems and technology librarians. Library administrators and staff who need an overview on the next generation library catalog will also benefit from Breeding's clear descriptions of this complex subject. The information in this book is applicable to any type of library, whether it is a public, academic, or special library. The crux of the book is its chapters on planning and implementation. When planning, Breeding reminds readers that the discovery interface is a visual tool to guide library users to the information they need. As such, discovery interfaces combine disparate collections into a searchable front end that displays results according to relevancy. He is careful to point out that discovery tools are not aimed at library staff but are used to break down the barriers that users encounter as they try to navigate a library's various resources and website. Chapter highlights include the features of a discovery interface, a review of the major discovery products, change management for staff and library users, and the selection process. The implementation chapter covers such topics as the integration of discovery and the integrated library system (ILS), the importance of accurate metadata, and data transfer between the ILS and discovery. Breeding also discusses trends and ways to keep current with the changing technology in discovery interfaces. Once the discovery tool is implemented, the chapters on marketing the new interface, best practices, and impact measurement naturally conclude the entire process. Web 2.0 tools such as a wiki, Facebook page, and Twitter are used to update the book's content in this quickly changing environment.