Implementing VuFind as an alternative to Voyager's WebVoyage interface. One library's experience
| Published date | 06 March 2009 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830910942946 |
| Pages | 82-92 |
| Date | 06 March 2009 |
| Author | Birong Ho,Keith Kelley,Scott Garrison |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
THEME ARTICLE
Implementing VuFind as an
alternative to Voyager’s
WebVoyage interface
One library’s experience
Birong Ho, Keith Kelley and Scott Garrison
Western Michigan University Libraries, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of what is involved in implementing
the VuFind discovery tool.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper documents Western Michigan University’s
experience with VuFind thus far, in several stages: planning; pre-alpha testing; alpha testing; and
beta testing.
Findings – The implementation process took longer than the authors originally expected. Users’
input was not consistent and demanded software customization. WMU began with a relatively loose
project management approach, but later reinforced the project with a specific scope statement and
prioritized items within the scope to arrive at a beta-testable version of VuFind.
Practical implications – The benefits of using open source software include low barrier and cost to
entry, highly customizable code, and unlimited instances (libraries may run as many copies of as many
components as needed, on as many pieces of hardware as they have, for as many purposes as they
wish). One significant cost is in human resources required to install, configure and customize open
source software.
Originality/value – The paper provides a unique account of one library’s experience providing an
alternative catalog interface using open source software. It also uniquely reports on VuFind hardware
and software architectures and some initial testing results and evaluation.
Keywords User interfaces,Online cataloguing
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Since 2006, WMU Libraries has had the strategic goal of implementing a new catalog
search interface to make it easier for users to find catalog items. WMU’s 2007
LibQUAL þsurvey showed that “easy to use access tools” and “making information
easily accessible for independent use” were two data points with the largest perceived
“less than desired” results. Ex Libris’ WebVoyage interface to the Voyager ILS has
been a major source of complaints from public service librarians and users. It has failed
to keep pace with the state of web development, including Web 2.0 trends toward user
tagging, comments, and reviews, as well as “more like this” related item exposure and
“did you mean” spellchecking and suggestion. As of version 6.5.3, it also had
significant usability deficiencies such as not handling initial articles in keyword
searching; a pure title search for “the old man and the sea” yields no results (a “title
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
LHT
27,1
82
Received 14 October 2008
Revised 18 November 2008
Accepted 27 November 2008
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 27 No. 1, 2009
pp. 82-92
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378830910942946
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