DiscoverLibrary and the New DiscoverLibrary and the New Generation of Library Generation of Library

InterfacesInterfaces

Vanderbilt University LibrariesGLB Classroom

February 25, 2008

::A Context for PrimoA Context for Primo• Marshall BreedingMarshall Breeding• Director for Innovative Technologies and ResearchDirector for Innovative Technologies and Research• Vanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt University• http://staffweb.library.vanderbilt.edu/breedinghttp://staffweb.library.vanderbilt.edu/breeding• http://www.librarytechnology.orghttp://www.librarytechnology.org

AbstractAbstractOne of the major trends in library automation over the last One of the major trends in library automation over the last few years involves the development of a new generation few years involves the development of a new generation of interfaces to provide access to library collections and of interfaces to provide access to library collections and services through a more contemporary Web environment. services through a more contemporary Web environment.  Primo stands as one of several competing products in this  Primo stands as one of several competing products in this area.   These products share a number of broad area.   These products share a number of broad characteristics and features, aiming to be more in tune characteristics and features, aiming to be more in tune with the way that library patrons approach the Web today. with the way that library patrons approach the Web today.  Marshall Breeding will give an overview of the new  Marshall Breeding will give an overview of the new generation library interface arena, providing some points generation library interface arena, providing some points of perspective and comparison as we proceed with the of perspective and comparison as we proceed with the deployment of Primo on our libraries.  Marshall has given deployment of Primo on our libraries.  Marshall has given versions of this presentation to a number of library versions of this presentation to a number of library audiences, nationally and internationally.audiences, nationally and internationally.    

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 statisticWhere 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 with Powerful search capabilities in tune with

how the Web works todayhow 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 University

http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/catalog/http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/catalog/• McMaster UniversityMcMaster University

http://libcat.mcmaster.ca/http://libcat.mcmaster.ca/• Phoenix Public LibraryPhoenix Public Library

http://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/http://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/• Florida Center for Library AutomationFlorida Center for Library Automation

http://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 University

http://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

VUFind – Villanova VUFind – Villanova UniversityUniversityBased on Apache Solr search Based on Apache Solr search

toolkittoolkithttp://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 informationNext 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