Adding value to Web‐OPACs
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470010325646 |
| Date | 01 April 2000 |
| Pages | 109-113 |
| Published date | 01 April 2000 |
| Author | Bernd Harmsen |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Adding value to
Web-OPACs
Bernd Harmsen
1. Introduction
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the leading
organisation of applied research in Germany
operating 47 research institutes with more
than 9,000 employees, about half of whom
are scientists or engineers. The internal
service team ``FhG-Online'' offers library
support, trainings, and also produces an
online database covering all publications by
Fraunhofer scientists.
Typical Fraunhofer libraries would have
holdings of between 10-30,000 books, and
150 journal subscriptions. Most institutes cite
articles in their catalogues, at least those
originating from their own institutes. Thirty-
four institute libraries have used TINlib as an
integrated library software package since 1989
or the early 1990s. With the advent of the
World Wide Web, TINlib became more and
more criticised for its outdated ASCII
interface, the OPAC users ± i.e. the scientists
± demanding a graphical user interface,
preferably Web-based.
In 1996/97 we had begun screening the
market and evaluating integrated library
software systems. A working group discussed
and defined the criteria, distinguishing knock-
out (KO) criteria and further important or
``nice-to-have'' features. The provision of a
Web-OPAC obviously was a ``must'', i.e. a
KO criterion. Twelve software solutions were
compared based on presentations and
questionnaires and six products were installed
for in-depth evaluation phases.
We found that most library software
products are meant for public libraries rather
than special libraries. All had their strengths
in cataloguing and circulating ordinary books
but were weak in regard to citing ``grey''
literature, journal articles, or conference
papers. More flexibility was asked for to make
the system ± above all the catalogue module ±
adaptable to the requirements of our special
libraries.
So, in the end, our evaluation amounted to
choosing a software package ± Cuadra STAR
± which originally was not a library package at
all when first launched in 1982. STAR is a
The author
Bernd Harmsen is based at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft e.V.,
Stuttgart, Germany
Keywords
Internet, Special libraries, Science, Computer software,
Virtual reality, Value added
Abstract
Web-OPACs not only offer simplified access to library
holdings for end-users but also enable librarians to add
value to their catalogue data. One feature which has
become almost a standard for new library software is
including links to full-text or multimedia documents
corresponding to a particular citation. Other features
which have not yet become common but will soon do so
include: links to publishers, links to corporate sources,
and links to journal titles. The latter usually provide tables
of contents, and sometimes also offer direct access to full-
text documents for subscribers. Online database providers
have acknowledged these new possibilities, librarians
soon will. So when migrating library software to new
products or new releases, such issues should be observed.
Electronic access
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is
available at
http://www.emerald-library.com
Libraries and the Web
The author is head of a support team which trains
and supports the library staff of 47 scientific
institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the
biggest German research organisation specialising
in applied research. Recently it has organised the
Webward migration of more than 30 library
systems.
109
The Electronic Library
Volume 18 .Number 2 .2000 .pp. 109±113
#MCB University Press .ISSN 0264-0473
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