Library OPAC Research Articles

Utilizing CORC to Develop and Maintain Access to Biomedical Web Sites

SUMMARY The need for robust access to scholarly Internet-based information is great. Existing search engines cannot filter the gems from the sand, nor do their algorithms provide adequate precision for retrieval.1 OCLC's Cooperative Online Resource Catalog (CORC) attempts to bring an OPAC-likc standardization to the non-standard world that is the Internet. Since the beginning of the CORC research project in January 1999, emphasis has necessarily been placed on technical development, such as the mapping between MARC and Dublin Core, the export function, and the META tag builder. However, the appeal and value for CORC participation among libraries lies ultimately with what it can mean for library users. The library can use CORC to select sites that offer quality content. The library patron is served by being able to go effortlessly to the exact resource needed and can avoid sifting through search engine results that often consist of pages of irrelevant links. Standard CORC features, such as authority control for name access, assist with resource location. Features on the horizon include URL maintenance for greater accuracy of records and enhanced design options to assist with aesthetically pleasing displays of search results. CORC records can be utilized in many ways to assist library patrons' resource discoveries. Possibilities include MARC record exporting from CORC to a library's OPAC, creating pathfinders that can be downloaded to a library's Web site or held remotely on the CORC server, and the ability to use CORC as a publicly accessible database. The Ehrman Medical Library, New York University School of Medicine, has developed its vision for best utilizing CORC in terms of patron needs, staff involvement, and emerging trends in Web development.

Best place of care for older people after acute and during subacute illness: a systematic review.

To assess the evaluative research literature on the costs, quality and effectiveness of different locations of care for older patients. A systematic review of evaluative research from 1988 using CRD4 guidelines. Twenty-five databases were searched, using processes developed specially for this review. Library OPACS, the Internet and research registers were also searched for relevant material. The final stage of the review was confined to randomised and pseudorandomised trials. Studies were selected for review by pairs of researchers working independently who then met to reach a decision. Analysis was predominantly descriptive; simple pooled odds ratios were used to explore some outcomes. Eighty-four papers from 45 trials were included. Firm conclusions were difficult to draw, except in relation to some outcomes for stroke units, early discharge schemes and geriatric assessment units. Few trials in this area have adequately addressed issues of patients' quality of life and costs to health services, social care providers, patients and their families. Despite considerable recent development of different forms of care for older patients, evidence about effectiveness and costs is weak. However, evidence is also weak for longer-standing care models. A substantial service evaluation agenda emerges from this review. This study also raises questions about the usefulness of systematic review techniques in the area of service delivery and organisation.

Indexing Form and Genre Terms in a Large Academic Library OPAC: The Harvard Experience

Catalogers at Harvard University have been adding form and genre data to MARC records in HOLLIS, the University's online library catalog, since 1994. The addition of this data in bibliographic records allows library users to more easily access some materials described in the catalog. This paper describes how form and genre data is indexed in the catalog and analyzes the value of adding, indexing, and using this bibliographic data.

Bibliometric information retrieval system (BIRS): A web search interface utilizing bibliometric research results

The aim of this article is to test whether the results obtained from a specific bibliographic research can be applied to a real search environment and enhance the level of utility of an information retrieval session for all levels of end users. In this respect, a Web-based Bibliometric Information Retrieval System (BIRS) has been designed and created, with facilities to assist the end users to get better understanding of their search domain, formulate and expand their search queries, and visualize the bibliographic research results. There are three specific features in the system design of the BIRS: the information visualization feature of the BIRS (cocitation maps) to guide the end users to identify the important research groups and capture the detailed information about the intellectual structure of the search domain; the multilevel browsing feature to allow the end users to go to different levels of interesting topics; and the common user interface feature to enable the end users to search all kinds of databases regardless of different searching systems, different working platforms, different database producer and supplier, such as different Web search engines, different library OPACs, or different on-line databases. A preliminary user evaluation study of BIRS revealed that users generally found it easy to form and expand their queries, and that BIRS helped them acquire useful background information about the search domain. They also pointed out aspects of information visualization, multilevel browsing, and common user interface as novel characteristics exhibited by BIRS.

Offering Assistance at the OPACs

Summary As technology races forward, public library OPACs have established a barrier to access. Computer literacy is required of the patron to access the collection through the OPAC. This barrier may be addressed with more active service. Rather than the librarian at the reference desk waiting to be asked, go to the patron. But will the patron accept? This study looks at who did accept and how often. Patrons heading towards the OPAC were greeted by an individual and offered assistance. Conducted at the Guilderland Public Library, a suburb of Albany, NY, in the fall of 1996, this study compares the responses of these patrons grouped by sex and approximate age. In 20 hours over five consecutive days, 189 patrons were recorded. Additionally the study touches upon other factors such as sex, race, dress, and more effective wording for the approach and offer.

The eLib Collection Description Scheme

The eLib ‘clump’ projects are utilising the Z39.50 bibliographic retrieval protocol to build gateways to library OPACs in the UK, creating virtual union catalogues of university, national and public libraries. In order to facilitate large scale resource discovery, some of the projects are creating databases containing metadata for their libraries' collections. The creation and development of a standard scheme for cataloguing collections, as opposed to cataloguing individual items, is described here.

Library Use Pattern of Malaysian Agricultural Scientists

The library is considered an integral component of any efficient research system. It plays a vital role in the improvement of scientific and technological research and the acceleration of the innovation process. An understanding of the information needs as well as the ways scientists use their libraries is crucial for efficiently meeting their information needs. This paper explores the methods used by Malaysian agricultural scientists to get information from their libraries, the factors influencing library visits and the occasions for extensive library use. It was found that most scientists visit libraries personally when they need to search the library OPAC, scan periodicals, or use other sources for identifying new information on their topics. However, they send junior scientists or paraprofessionals to get photocopies of articles, to check out books or to get information from sources already known to them. It was also found that scientists used their library extensively while preparing research proposals and writing reports.

Metadata Conversion and the Library OPAC

Summary This paper examines the metadata movement on the Internet and anticipates the need to establish a metadata repository for library collections. The library OPAC not only functions as a gateway for local and external metadata repositories, but also is equipped to extract, map, convert, and display all metadata. One of the benefits is that the newly integrated metadata can be accessed using the full functionality of the OPAC. Metadata

Library OPACS on the Web: finding and describing directories

Several articles in the journal Campus‐Wide Information Systems have been devoted to describing the different directories which link to library catalogs on the Internet and the World Wide Web. Some of the directories reviewed in this ongoing series on OPACs were Hytelnet and Libgopher for telnet based catalogs as well as WebCats, Libweb, LC Z39.50 Gateway and the WWW Library Directory‐Framed Edition for the web‐based OPACs. Gives current descriptions of some of the major directories; namely, LibWeb and WWW Library Directory which list and link to library homepages as well as Hytelnet and WebCats which are devoted to listing and linking to the library OPACs. In addition, summarizes the techniques used in finding new directories.

Cataloging Internet Resources

Summary Getting ready to catalog Internet resources in a library's OPAC can be overwhelming. This article addresses the kinds of questions that must be answered in any project to catalog electronic resources (ERs). The article describes the process followed at one academic institution to develop appropriate procedures and put them into practice. It provides some strategies and cautions that should be useful to any cataloging unit preparing to undertake an ER cataloging venture. The process requires a lot of work, but is full of opportunities to build or cement relationships across functional work areas. It is possible to begin with limited experience cataloging electronic titles and build functional local expertise.

Regional Web pages for OPACs: the New York State Electronic Doorway Library Network and British Library OPAC 97

Briefly describes two regional Web sites which offer links to OPACs ‐ the New York State Electronic Doorway Library Network and British Library OPAC 97.

Electronic Instruction at Carlson Library

In this age of increasing electronic instruction in academic libraries, the University of Toledo's Carlson Library, like many other academic libraries, is trying to come of age. The library's instruction program has traditionally used a paper-based instructional format. However, with the introduction of the library's OPAC, CD-ROMs, the Internet, and OhioLINK in recent years, we are faced with a number of challenges which this paper will discuss. The main challenge is that we are trying to teach electronic resources without a mediated classroom in the library. We need to bridge the gap between the paper-based instruction program and electronic resources because our current teaching methods do not always allow for patron interaction with the technology. Increasingly, instruction is having to take place at the Information Desk, where there are time constraints and library users are unclear about the kinds of information they want or which electronic resources they need. Adapting to these new and growing resources and developing the skills needed to teach them are among the important challenges librarians at Carlson Library face.

Up-Ending Cutter's Pyramid

Subject access in library OPACs might be improved for some users by simply taking advantage of all of the hierarchical relationships which are indicated on existing LCSH entries. It is recommended that cross-references pointing to broader terms be displayed, in addition to those for narrower and related subjects to which users have traditionally been directed. The author traces the old practice back to Charles Cutter, and reports on deliberations of ALCTS Subect Analysis Committee nearly 120 years later. Also discussed are certain practical concerns related to implementing the change, including the accuracy of hierarchical relationships in the LCSH system, and the possibly techniques for using the MARC format to generate the cross-references.

"Parallel Universes" or Meaningful Relationships

Over the past year, innumerable discussions on the relationship between traditional library OPACs and the newly burgeoning World WideWeb have occured in many libraries and in virtually every library related discussion list. Rumors and speculation abound, some insisting that SGML will replace USMARC "soon," others maintaining that OPACs that haven't migrated to the Web will go the way of the dinosaurs.

UNR's Journal/Newspaper Title Index

Library patrons and Public Services staff at the University of Nevada, Reno were having trouble distinguishing serial titles from title added entries in the Library OPAC's title index. The record for the New York Times, for instance, was the 31st entry in a browsing list generated by searching for that title. The Serials Department was asked to simplify the search process for serial titles. It was decided to create a new index. Simplicity in design and use was the guiding principle for the project. This article outlines the background, development and outcome of this project.

Library OPAC vendors and the Web: Innopac, Ameritech, DRA

Describes the development of New York University’s Web site from a designer’s viewpoint. Outlines issues facing Internet information providers.

ONE — OPAC Network in Europe: taking a further step towards a Europe‐wide information network

OPAC Network in Europe — ONE — is a project which aims to provide users with better ways to access library OPACs and national catalogues and which will stimulate and facilitate interworking between libraries in Europe. The project is based on the use of the SR/Z39.50 standards which enable users to search widely different computer systems across networks and offer end‐users the promise of greater ease of use through a solution to the proliferation of different user interfaces to library catalogues.

The Scholar's Workstation Project

The product of the Scholar's Workstation Project is a single Web site that provides, through a consistent interface, a complete operating environment for the common tasks (information retrieval, communication and personal productivity) of the academic researcher. As well as providing links to a large number of local, national and international information sources (library OPACs, Internet search tools, gateway services, directories, software archives, etc), the site may be configured so that users may launch their own personal desktop applications (word processing, email, etc) or even access local CD‐ROM networks.

Adding a Nonlibrary Campus Collection to the Library Database

Adding holdings for a collection housed and maintained maintained by a nonlibrary department within a university to the library's OPAC was both similar to and different from traditional problems such a retrospective conversion. The nonlibrary department became a partner in the process, reqauiring negotiation to ensure that all parties involved were satisfied as to the financial and operational aspects of the project, along with expectations as to the end product. Converting non-MARC records into MARC offered some challenges. This kind of project had its own set of unique characteristsics, some of which eventually impact public services.

In‐house (Locally Generated) Subject Indexes Mounted on Academic Library OPACs

The results of a further survey of academic library OPAC subject indexing practices are presented. These results are discussed in relation to a high reported demand for subject searching facilities, and strategies presently adopted by various libraries examined. The further possibilities of local OPAC subject indexing are discussed.