As a jumpstart to our discussion of Web 2.0 questions, Terry and I brainstormed a few web 2.0 questions for vendors. Please add your thoughts by commenting on this post.
Excerpted from email to the Web 2.0 group:
You can see an example of what is possible by visiting the Ann Arbor District Library. Follow this link to create an account. You do not need a library card number to create an account. Once you’ve created your account, you’ll be able to add tags to items, create reviews, and make comments. Another library I’ve heard good things about but haven’t had time to explore yet is Nashville Public, Topeka Shawnee libraries. If you know of other libraries making use of 2.0 please share them with all of us.
ILS Investigation Web 2.0
General -Account Management features similar to Library Elf
- Calendar view for due dates, overdue items, when holds will expire. The calendar view should link directly to the item in the catalog.
- Ability to manage /view multiple cards-for instance a mother of four small children-see her children’s records
RSS Feeds
SmartPhone compatible
- Holds notification via text messaging
- Catalog should be searchable in a mobile version.
Catalog Features
- Patrons should easily to be able to judge the popularity of an item in the catalog. The available copies and holds should appear in the catalog record before a patron places a hold.
- Want the list price available in the catalog record.
- We want catalog records in natural language.
Lists-We want Amazon style features.
- Can customers maintain themed lists of items read?
- Can these lists be shared ala Amazon-listmania?
- Will these lists be available in a “my lists” area of t heir account?
- Other?
Tags -We want Delicious features.
- Can customers add tags to books in the catalog?
- Will these be tags be available in a “my tags” area of their account?
- Can tags be viewed as either a cloud or list?
- Can customers bundle tags? ie:dissimilar tags under a common heading for instance the tags dishwasher garbage disposal pergo-might all be found under Home Repair
- Can customers geotag.
- Other?
Reviews-Give us IMDB mashed up with Metacritic.
External reviews
- External reviews should be grouped together.
- External reviews should be weighted using an algorithm that gives a greater weight based on the authority of the source. Or if this isn’t possible all reviews should be given numerical value or star rating system that can then be combined into an average.
Patron reviews–check out chili fresh reviews! Also visit Ann Arbor District Library (see note above) you can add reviews two ways 1) similar to chilifresh and 2) create your own old time catalog card with review.
- Can customers create reviews using a 5 star or similar rating that includes text?
- Will the system be able to average those stars to provide an overall score?
- Will other users be able to access reviews written by other customers?
- Can they add comments to those reviews?
- Can they add a useful/not useful vote to these customer reviews?
- Other?
Widgets
- What widgets if any are available to be added to the OPAC? Meebo Me to connect with the reference desk?
- Other?
Filed under: Account Management, Web 2.0 | Tagged: book lists, customer reviews, ILS Vendor Questions, library 2.0, library elf, Meebo me, RSS feeds, Tagging, text messaging
Mary Campbell said:
http://www.davidleeking.com/2007/11/30/fun-with-our-meebo-widget-and-the-library-catalog/
Topeka Shawnee PL added a Meebo widget to unsuccessful keyword searches in their library catalog so that when a customer searches by keyword and doesn’t find anything he or she can contact them via IM to ask for help – it really works, I tried it at the web site. A good example of using web 2.0 to enhance our opac if we get one that is flexible enough.
This is exactly the kind of thing we want to be able to provide for patrons. I read David’s post and I believe he mentioned that there ILS was III.
By the way, did you find the David Lee King link in our delicious feed? —it’s there!