Library of congress call/control numbers
I should be more specific about my congress classification constructions. First, I'm using the latest unstable version of KOHA, from koha-1.2.3RC5.tar.gz. Second, the fix wasn't as simple as I thought. By default, the version of KOHA I'm using doesn't appear to store LC Call numbers, just LC card catalog numbers. That's what I made appear; I thought it was correct because I had entered an LC Call No. instead of the proper LCCN for my first book. To make do what little more I wanted, I added two fields to biblioitems, one each for the a and b fields of the MARC 050 element. I then edited a couple of the search results templates to show those numbers, also editing the MARC import entry form to let me change those numbers. A couple of the C4 Perl modules needeed changing as well. As you can see from this link, http://lcweb.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/ecbdclas.html, my solution is incomplete. First, it appears the LC is not the only source for LC-format call numbers, second there can be multiple (a) records for a particular item and only one of them is held in the database. But I'm happily putting LC Call labels on some of my books now. Thanks! On a side note, my local library has switched twice to increasingly inferior OPACs. The first one was very usable to my UNIX-trained mind - text based w/dumb terminals, special keys on the keyboard for search, prev, next, very fast and clean and accessable via modem. Then they switched to a client/server GUI that opens with a picture of a library - almost no text - so that it wasn't immediately clear where to click to search for a book. Now they have an ugly web based system that runs on a precious few 60Hz screens in the library. My alma mater's system, cat.stetson.edu, is slightly better but it's dog slow. I feel like my libraries are locking down their collection by making it unpleasant to find things! Is it typical for libraries to switch to increasingly inferior systems? Ignoring koha, are there any truly excellent OPAC systems out there? - Daniel Holth
On 24 Jul 2002, Daniel Holth wrote: [tech stuff elided]
On a side note, my local library has switched twice to increasingly inferior OPACs. The first one was very usable to my UNIX-trained mind - text based w/dumb terminals, special keys on the keyboard for search, prev, next, very fast and clean and accessable via modem. Then they switched to a client/server GUI that opens with a picture of a library - almost no text - so that it wasn't immediately clear where to click to search for a book. Now they have an ugly web based system that runs on a precious few 60Hz screens in the library.
This is tied to a market driven perception that web/GUI is 'the only way', and that Command Line Interfaces are bad. In fact, most power users of applications like library systems (e.g., order entry) find that the GUI gets in the way. A solid terminal oriented interface (perhaps with some short cuts) serves there needs far better.
My alma mater's system, cat.stetson.edu, is slightly better but it's dog slow. I feel like my libraries are locking down their collection by making it unpleasant to find things!
This seems to be the feeling that many librarians have about using GUI tools, at least in my informal discussions.
Is it typical for libraries to switch to increasingly inferior systems? Ignoring koha, are there any truly excellent OPAC systems out there?
I think that most of the new generation of tools are sadly lacking compared to the older ones (from an OPAC perspective). They look prettier, but cost a lot more too. This is really an area where Koha can make up some ground. By focusing on solid, fast interfaces, providing a CLI for librarians, and then starting to innovate in terms of search tools (maybe 'Other patrons interested in this titles also checked out foo.', or 'Sort subject search results by Patron reviews?' to toss out a couple of ideas) Koha can provide a top flight library system that libraries will want to use for reasons beyond the financial. -pate
- Daniel Holth
_______________________________________________ Koha mailing list Koha@lists.katipo.co.nz http://lists.katipo.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/koha
participants (2)
-
Daniel Holth -
Pat Eyler