An Introduction to Next An Introduction to Next Generation Library InterfacesGeneration Library Interfaces

Northern Suburban Library SystemBuffalo Grove, ILMarch 18, 2008

Marshall BreedingMarshall BreedingDirector for Innovative Technologies and ResearchDirector for Innovative Technologies and ResearchVanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt University

http://staffweb.library.vanderbilt.edu/breedinghttp://staffweb.library.vanderbilt.edu/breedinghttp://www.librarytechnology.org/http://www.librarytechnology.org/

AbstractAbstract

Marshall Breeding, Director of Innovative Marshall Breeding, Director of Innovative Technologies and Research at Jean & Alexander Technologies and Research at Jean & Alexander Heard Library, Vanderbilt University, and author Heard Library, Vanderbilt University, and author of a 40-page report on “Next Generation Library of a 40-page report on “Next Generation Library Catalogs” (Library Technology Reports, Catalogs” (Library Technology Reports, July/August 2007) will present an overview of this July/August 2007) will present an overview of this emerging genre of products that aim to provide emerging genre of products that aim to provide libraries with better tools for delivering content libraries with better tools for delivering content and services to their users. Also included in Mr. and services to their users. Also included in Mr. Breeding’s informative “tour” will be the general Breeding’s informative “tour” will be the general features and capabilities of Next-Gen catalogs features and capabilities of Next-Gen catalogs and some of the options currently available to and some of the options currently available to libraries.libraries.    

Crowded Landscape of Crowded Landscape of Information Providers on the Information Providers on the WebWeb• Lots of non-library Web destinations Lots of non-library Web destinations

deliver content to library patrons deliver content to library patrons – Google ScholarGoogle Scholar– AmazonAmazon– WikipediaWikipedia– Ask.comAsk.com

• Do Library Web sites and catalogs meet Do Library Web sites and catalogs meet the information needs of our users?the information needs of our users?

• Do they attract their interest?Do they attract their interest?

Troubling statisticTroubling statistic

Where do you typically begin Where do you typically begin your search for information on your search for information on a particular topic?a particular topic?

College Students Response:College Students Response:• 89%89% Search engines (Google 62%)Search engines (Google 62%)• 2%2% Library Web Site (total respondents -> Library Web Site (total respondents ->

1%)1%)• 2%2% Online DatabaseOnline Database• 1% 1% E-mailE-mail• 1% 1% Online NewsOnline News• 1% 1% Online bookstoresOnline bookstores• 0% 0% Instant Messaging / Online ChatInstant Messaging / Online Chat

OCLC. Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources (2005) p. 1-17.

The best Library OPAC?The best Library OPAC?

Demand for compelling library Demand for compelling library interfacesinterfaces

• Urgent need for libraries to offer Urgent need for libraries to offer interfaces their users will like to useinterfaces their users will like to use

• Move out of the 1990’sMove out of the 1990’s

• Powerful search capabilities in tune Powerful search capabilities in tune with how the Web works todaywith how the Web works today

• User expectations set by other Web User expectations set by other Web destinationdestination

• Eg: iLink / iBistro introduced in 2000Eg: iLink / iBistro introduced in 2000

Inadequacy of ILS OPACs Inadequacy of ILS OPACs

• Online Catalog modules provided with an ILS Online Catalog modules provided with an ILS subject to broad criticism as failing to meet subject to broad criticism as failing to meet expectations of growing segments of library expectations of growing segments of library patrons.patrons.

• Not great at delivering electronic contentNot great at delivering electronic content

• Complex text-based interfacesComplex text-based interfaces

• Relatively weak keyword search enginesRelatively weak keyword search engines

• Lack of good relevancy sortingLack of good relevancy sorting

• Narrow scope of contentNarrow scope of content

Typical Library Web site Typical Library Web site componentscomponents• Books: Library OPAC (ILS module)Books: Library OPAC (ILS module)

• Articles: Aggregated content products, e-journal Articles: Aggregated content products, e-journal collectionscollections

• OpenURL linking servicesOpenURL linking services

• E-journal finding aids (Often managed by link E-journal finding aids (Often managed by link resolver)resolver)

• Local digital collectionsLocal digital collections– ETDs, photos, rich media collectionsETDs, photos, rich media collections

• Metasearch enginesMetasearch engines

• All searched separatelyAll searched separately

Change underwayChange underway

• Widespread dissatisfaction with most of Widespread dissatisfaction with most of the current OPACs. Many efforts toward the current OPACs. Many efforts toward next-generation catalogs and interfaces.next-generation catalogs and interfaces.

• Movement among libraries to break out of Movement among libraries to break out of the current mold of library catalogs and the current mold of library catalogs and offer new interfaces better suited to the offer new interfaces better suited to the expectations of library users. expectations of library users.

• Decoupling of the front-end interface from Decoupling of the front-end interface from the back-end library automation system.the back-end library automation system.

Working toward a new Working toward a new generation of library interfacesgeneration of library interfaces

• Redefinition of the “library catalog”Redefinition of the “library catalog”

• Traditional notions of the library Traditional notions of the library catalog are being questionedcatalog are being questioned

• Better information delivery toolsBetter information delivery tools

• More powerful search capabilitiesMore powerful search capabilities

• More elegant presentationMore elegant presentation

Redefinition of library Redefinition of library catalogscatalogs• More comprehensive information discovery More comprehensive information discovery

environmentsenvironments• It’s no longer enough to provide a catalog limited It’s no longer enough to provide a catalog limited

to print resourcesto print resources• Digital resources cannot be an afterthoughtDigital resources cannot be an afterthought• Forcing users to use different interfaces Forcing users to use different interfaces

depending on type of content becoming less depending on type of content becoming less tenabletenable

• Libraries working toward consolidated search Libraries working toward consolidated search environments that give equal footing to digital environments that give equal footing to digital and print resourcesand print resources

Comprehensive Search Comprehensive Search ServiceService

• More like OAIMore like OAI– Open Archives InitiativeOpen Archives Initiative– Consolidated search services based on Consolidated search services based on

metadata and data gathered in advancemetadata and data gathered in advance

• Problems of scale diminishedProblems of scale diminished

• Problems of cooperation persistProblems of cooperation persist

• Eg: Royal Library of Denmark Eg: Royal Library of Denmark

Web 2.0 FlavoringsWeb 2.0 Flavorings

• A more social and collaborative A more social and collaborative approachapproach

• Web Tools and technology that foster Web Tools and technology that foster collaborationcollaboration

• Blogs, wiki, blogs, tagging, social Blogs, wiki, blogs, tagging, social bookmarking, user rating, user bookmarking, user rating, user reviewsreviews

Web 2.0 supporting Web 2.0 supporting technologiestechnologies

• Web servicesWeb services

• XML APIsXML APIs

• AJAX (asynchronous JavaScript and AJAX (asynchronous JavaScript and XML)XML)

The holy grail of New Gen The holy grail of New Gen Library InterfacesLibrary Interfaces

• A single point of entry into all the A single point of entry into all the content and services offered by the content and services offered by the librarylibrary

• Print + ElectronicPrint + Electronic

• Local + RemoteLocal + Remote

• Locally created ContentLocally created Content

Interface expectationsInterface expectations

• Millennial generation library users are well Millennial generation library users are well acclimated to the Webacclimated to the Web

• Used to relevancy rankingUsed to relevancy ranking– The “good stuff” should be listed firstThe “good stuff” should be listed first– Users tend not to delve deep into a result listUsers tend not to delve deep into a result list– Good relevancy requires a sophisticated approach, Good relevancy requires a sophisticated approach,

including objective matching criteria supplemented by including objective matching criteria supplemented by popularity and relatedness factors.popularity and relatedness factors.

• ““Did you mean?” and other features to avoid “No Did you mean?” and other features to avoid “No results found”results found”

• More like thisMore like this

Interface expectations Interface expectations (cont…)(cont…)• Very rapid response. Users have a low tolerance for Very rapid response. Users have a low tolerance for

slow systemsslow systems• Rich visual information: book jacket images, rating Rich visual information: book jacket images, rating

scores, etc.scores, etc.• Let users drill down through the result set Let users drill down through the result set

incrementally narrowing the fieldincrementally narrowing the field• Faceted BrowsingFaceted Browsing

– Drill-down vs up-front Boolean or “Advanced Search”Drill-down vs up-front Boolean or “Advanced Search”– gives the users clues about the number of hits in each sub gives the users clues about the number of hits in each sub

topictopic– Ability to explore collections without Ability to explore collections without a prioria priori knowledge knowledge

• Navigational Bread crumbs Navigational Bread crumbs

Appropriate organizational Appropriate organizational structuresstructures

• LCSH vs FAST (Faceted Application of LCSH vs FAST (Faceted Application of Subject Terminology)Subject Terminology)

• Full MARC vs Dublin Core or MODSFull MARC vs Dublin Core or MODS

• Discipline-specific thesauri or Discipline-specific thesauri or ontologiesontologies

• ““tags”tags”

Deep searchDeep search

• Increasing opportunities to search the full Increasing opportunities to search the full contentscontents– Google Library Print, Google Publisher, Open Google Library Print, Google Publisher, Open

Content Alliance, Microsoft Live Book Search, etc.Content Alliance, Microsoft Live Book Search, etc.– High-quality metadata will improve search High-quality metadata will improve search

precisionprecision• Commercial search providers already offer Commercial search providers already offer

“search inside the book”“search inside the book”• No comprehensive full text search for books No comprehensive full text search for books

quite yetquite yet• Not currently available through library search Not currently available through library search

environmentsenvironments

Beyond DiscoveryBeyond Discovery

• Fulfillment orientedFulfillment oriented

• Search -> select -> viewSearch -> select -> view

• Delivery/Fulfillment much harder Delivery/Fulfillment much harder than discoverythan discovery

• Back-end complexity should be as Back-end complexity should be as seamless as possible to the userseamless as possible to the user

Library-specific FeaturesLibrary-specific Features

• Appropriate relevance factorsAppropriate relevance factors– Objective keyword ranking + Library Objective keyword ranking + Library

weightingsweightings– Circulation frequency, OCLC holdings, Circulation frequency, OCLC holdings,

scholarly contentscholarly content

• Results grouping (FRBR)Results grouping (FRBR)

• Collection focused (vs sales-driven)Collection focused (vs sales-driven)

Enterprise IntegrationEnterprise Integration

• Ability to deliver content and Ability to deliver content and services through non-library services through non-library applicationsapplications

• Campus portal solutionsCampus portal solutions

• CoursewareCourseware

• Social networking environmentsSocial networking environments

• Search portals / Feed aggregators Search portals / Feed aggregators

Smart and SophisticatedSmart and Sophisticated

• Much more difficult than old gen Much more difficult than old gen OPACSOPACS

• Not a dumbed-down approachNot a dumbed-down approach

• Wed library specific requirements Wed library specific requirements and expectations with e-commerce and expectations with e-commerce technologiestechnologies

Architecture and StandardsArchitecture and Standards

• Need to have an standard approach Need to have an standard approach for connecting new generation for connecting new generation interfaces with ILS and other interfaces with ILS and other repositoriesrepositories

• Proprietary and Proprietary and ad hocad hoc methods methods currently prevailcurrently prevail

• Digital Library FederationDigital Library Federation– ILS-Discovery Interface Group ILS-Discovery Interface Group

New-Gen Library New-Gen Library InterfacesInterfaces

Current Commercial and Open Current Commercial and Open Source ProductsSource Products

Common characteristicsCommon characteristics

• Decoupled interfaceDecoupled interface

• Mass export of catalog dataMass export of catalog data

• Alternative search engineAlternative search engine

• Alternative interfaceAlternative interface

• Hooks back into the ILS for holdings Hooks back into the ILS for holdings and patron servicesand patron services

Endeca Guided NavigationEndeca Guided Navigation

• North Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State Universityhttp://www.lib.ncsu.edu/catalog/http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/catalog/

• McMaster UniversityMcMaster Universityhttp://libcat.mcmaster.ca/http://libcat.mcmaster.ca/

• Phoenix Public LibraryPhoenix Public Libraryhttp://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/http://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/

• Florida Center for Library AutomationFlorida Center for Library Automationhttp://catalog.fcla.edu/ux.jsphttp://catalog.fcla.edu/ux.jsp

AquaBrowser LibraryAquaBrowser Library

• Queens Borough Public LibraryQueens Borough Public Library– http://aqua.queenslibrary.org/http://aqua.queenslibrary.org/

• Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma State University– http://boss.library.okstate.edu/http://boss.library.okstate.edu/

• University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago– http://lens.lib.uchicago.edu/http://lens.lib.uchicago.edu/

Ex Libris PrimoEx Libris Primo

• Discovery and Delivery platform for Discovery and Delivery platform for academic librariesacademic libraries

• Vanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt Universityhttp://alphasearch.library.vanderbilt.eduhttp://alphasearch.library.vanderbilt.edu

• University of Minnesota University of Minnesota http://prime2.oit.umn.edu:1701/primo_librhttp://prime2.oit.umn.edu:1701/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=TWINCITIary/libweb/action/search.do?vid=TWINCITIESES

• University of IowaUniversity of Iowahttp://smartsearch.uiowa.edu/http://smartsearch.uiowa.edu/

Encore from Innovative Encore from Innovative InterfacesInterfaces• Designed for academic, public and special Designed for academic, public and special

librarieslibraries• Nashville Public LibraryNashville Public Library

http://nplencore.library.nashville.org/iii/encore/aphttp://nplencore.library.nashville.org/iii/encore/appp

• Scottsdale Public LibraryScottsdale Public Libraryhttp://encore.scottsdaleaz.gov/iii/encore/apphttp://encore.scottsdaleaz.gov/iii/encore/app

• Yale University Lillian Goldman Law Yale University Lillian Goldman Law LibraryLibraryhttp://encore.law.yale.edu/iii/encore/apphttp://encore.law.yale.edu/iii/encore/app

OCLC Worldcat LocalOCLC Worldcat Local

• OCLC Worldcat customized for local OCLC Worldcat customized for local library cataloglibrary catalog– Relies on hooks into ILS for local servicesRelies on hooks into ILS for local services– Tied to library holdings set in WorldCatTied to library holdings set in WorldCat

• University of Washington LibrariesUniversity of Washington Librarieshttp://uwashington.worldcat.org/http://uwashington.worldcat.org/

• University of California Melvyl CatalogUniversity of California Melvyl Catalog

SirsiDynixSirsiDynix

• No faceted search product currently No faceted search product currently available:available:– Enterprise Portal SolutionEnterprise Portal Solution– Rooms / SchoolRoomsRooms / SchoolRooms– iLink / iBistro (legacy)iLink / iBistro (legacy)

• Product based on FAST announced in Product based on FAST announced in March 2006 – withdrawnMarch 2006 – withdrawn

• Product based on Brainware Globalbrain Product based on Brainware Globalbrain announced in Nov 2007announced in Nov 2007– Prototype Expected by April 2008Prototype Expected by April 2008

The Library CorporationThe Library Corporation

• IndigoIndigo

• Library Positioning SoftwareLibrary Positioning Software

VUFind – Villanova VUFind – Villanova UniversityUniversity

Based on Apache Solr search Based on Apache Solr search toolkittoolkit

http://www.vufind.org/http://www.vufind.org/

Library-developed solutionsLibrary-developed solutions

• eXtensible CatalogeXtensible Catalog

• University of Rochester – River University of Rochester – River Campus LibrariesCampus Libraries

• Financial support from the Andrew Financial support from the Andrew W. Mellon FoundationW. Mellon Foundation

• http://www.extensiblecatalog.info/http://www.extensiblecatalog.info/

For more informationFor more information

Next Generation Next Generation Library Catalogs by Library Catalogs by Marshall BreedingMarshall Breeding

Library Technology Library Technology Reports June/July Reports June/July 20072007

ALA TechSourceALA TechSource

Questions and DiscussionQuestions and Discussion