ILS 506-S70 Information
Analysis and Organization
Eino Sierpe, Ph.D.
Assignment 3 Comparative
Analysis of OPACs
April 22, 2009
In order to compare Online Public Access Catalogs (OPACs) of two
relatively large libraries, I searched for Connecticut’s largest populated
cities’ public libraries’ collections. As of the 2000 census, Hartford and New
Haven have roughly the same population of 122,000 while Bridgeport and
Waterbury report 139,000 and 105,000 respectively (“ePodunk.com”, 2007). Hartford Public Library’s (HPL)
OPAC has a collection of approximately 500,000 items including the Hartford Collection which comprises works by Hartford authors, works
published in Hartford, and works about Hartford. (“Hartford Public Library”,
2008). New Haven Free Public Library (NHFPL) has a collection of 440,000 items
(“Online Highways”, 2008) while Bridgeport Public Library’s (BPL) collection
consists of 352,695 items including books on local history, manuscript
material, photographs, genealogy information, and special collections on P.T.
Barnum (“Bridgeport Public Library”, 2008). Waterbury’s Silas Bronson Library houses
a collection of 240,000 items (“Silas Bronson Library”, 2009).
In conjunction with Libdex.com, a worldwide directory
of library web-based OPACs, I checked to which catalog service these large
metropolitan libraries subscribe. Both Hartford and New Haven Free Public
Library subscribe to Innovative Interfaces, Inc.; Bridgeport Public subscribes
to epixtech, Inc. (NOTIS, Dynix, Horizon); and Silas Bronson Library subscribes
to CARL (“Libdex.com”, 2008). Other OPACs I considered to evaluate based on
past usage were Denver Public Library (CARL) serving 592,000 population with
2,382,672 items in their collection (“Denver Public Library”, 2009) and San
Francisco Public Library (Innovative Interfaces) with 2.5 million holdings as
of June 30,2008 supporting 776,000 population (“San Francisco Public Library”, 2008). However, I chose
to analyze Connecticut libraries, as they are a good representation of the
catalog providers most used by public libraries across the country. Since
Hartford and New Haven use the same provider for roughly the same population, I
selected New Haven Free Public Library (NHFPL) along with Bridgeport Public
Library (BPL) as their OPACs were easy to navigate and their respective
collections were large enough to test different search options.
Bridgeport Public Library’s Horizon-powered OPAC’s
Basic Search option offers drop-down search limiting options by Alphabetical or
by Keyword for Title, Author, Topic, Subject or Video/DVD searches. Advanced
Search has seventeen drop-down field options including those listed above plus
Spanish Titles, Magazine, Series, Non-musical or Musical, Awards, ISBN/ISSN,
Dewey Call Number, Government Call Number, and Best Seller Browse. Searches can
be further limited to Location and Media Type as well as sorted by None,
Author, Media, Publication Date, Title, and Best Seller Rank. Horizon also
offers a Power Search option that uses Boolean indicators by any combination of
the Advanced Search options to help pinpoint the information sought. There is a
History link in the upper right corner that is a great tool for a searcher to
recall previous searches to avoid duplicating search efforts. Also, BPL has
links to the Spanish catalog as well as additional tabs for users to quickly
access iCONN, Reader’s Advisory/Book Lists, and the ADA catalog for those who
may find the OPAC’s current font size difficult to read. The Reading Lists are
categorized into Public School Reading lists and Award Winners, quick and easy
on-line tools for parents and students, and Bestsellers and Playaways for the
adult recreational reader. Reader’s Advisory highlights popular African
American authors alphabetically with hyperlinks to a Brief Record hitlist of
BPL’s collection. This feature was the only feature of its kind in my research
and uniquely reflects the demographics of the area served.
New Haven Free Public Library’s Innovative
Interfaces-powered OPAC’s Homepage presentation is a bit dated as the library
uses images of an old, wooden card catalog drawer system with the search
options in the card catalog label. There are links on the bottom of the page
and in the left navigation bar to the Spanish Catalog or the Text Only Catalog.
Patrons select a catalog drawer to conduct either a Keyword, Title, Author,
Subject, Author and Title or Other Criteria search. The patron can eliminate
the images by selecting Text Only on the left navigation bar or on the bottom
of the page. This feature also provides simple Boolean search directions. After
selecting the card catalog image search term from the OPAC’s main page, another
page appears with a field for Words/Terms to search. Only the Keyword “drawer”
offers several drop down fields to limit the search by Location, Material Type,
Language, Audience, and By Year. Material Type can be Any, Book/Pamphlet,
Computer file, Essays, Maps, Music Manuscripts, Recording, Score, Talking books
on Tape/CD or Videos/DVDs while Language can be qualified by Any, English,
French, Italian, German, Chinese or Spanish. The page provides more detailed directions
on how to use Boolean operators so a patron is able to locate the desired
material. The other “drawers” are Basic Search options except Other Criteria
which has three unique categories: Call Number, ISBN or OCLC Number. Below the
card catalog image on the Main Catalog Page is a Basic Search feature called
Quick Search with a drop down menu for a search by Keyword, Title, Author,
Subject or Call Number with a blank field in which to type the search item.
Unfortunately, NHFPL’s OPAC does not offer advanced search links to iCONN or
any other Union catalog.
Bridgeport Public Library offers Author Alphabetical
and Basic and Advanced Author Keyword search options by Last Name, First Name.
Depending on how closely the search terms are to the Library of Congress
Authority Record, a Basic Author Alphabetical Search will retrieve a hitlist
beginning with the searched name in addition to “See: also” references to the
correct Authority Record within the collection. Upon selecting the LC Authority
Record, the user is directed to the author’s Brief Record hitlist with each
record including the cover of the book, Title, Author, Request status, Format,
Location, Call Number, and Availability with an option to request items or to
add to personal list. In the upper right-hand corner of this page, the user can
sort the hitlist by None, Author, Title, Media, Publication Date, or Best
Seller rank and limit by Branch. The title’s hyperlink opens the individual
Full Record of Title, Author, Publisher, Location, Call Number, and
Availability with the left navigation bar containing links to Reviews, Subject
Headings, and the MARC Display.
New Haven Free Public Library’s Quick Search
for Author, or from the OPAC Main Page Author “drawer”, yields an Author
Catalog Browse with the search terms as the first hit and the “See also”
references to the LC Authority record including Call Numbers on those works
that are highlighted in the hitlist. Lastly, there is a hit in red
font-hyperlink with a number indicating the author’s additional works in the
collection.
Bridgeport Public Library’s Basic Title Alphabetical
Search retrieves the searched term as first entry in the hitlist. After
selecting the title’s hyperlink, the OPAC retrieves the Full Record as
described above with the Title/Author hyperlink bringing the user back to the
Catalog Title Browse hitlist. Alternatively, a Basic Title Keyword Search for
the item will result with a hitlist of all items with the searched keywords in
the title thereby making it the most circuitous search method, which could pose
a problem locating the correct material in a long hitlist. However patrons can
sort the hitlist by the Advanced Search options described above and can use the
Page Navigation tools to reduce the amount of scrolling to locate the correct
item. When conducting a Power Search, combining the Title and the Author name,
the item’s Full Record, if there is only one volume in the collection, or a
Brief Record hitlist of all volumes matching the Specific Power Search is
immediately retrieved.
NHFPL Title Quick Search for an item automatically
eliminates the article, if there is one in the title, upon retrieval and
locates as many items in the collection from the searched term. The OPAC
functions similarly to BPL’s except NHFPL uses the Library of Congress Name
Authority Record in the Author field on the Full Record while BPL uses a simple
Title/Author link. Interestingly, NHFPL has an abbreviated MARC Record, which
does not contain the LC Call Number, while BPL’s Marc Record is very detailed. In
both OPACs, the Power Search feature is the most direct search method to locate
the desired material. Again, there is a hit in red font-hyperlink with a number
indicating the author’s additional titles in the collection.
BPL patrons can only perform a Series Title Search in
Advanced or Power Search mode. As in a Basic Author Alphabetical Search, the
exactness of the search terms to the LC Authority Record for the series title
will determine the usefulness of the hitlist. Beginning with the searched
keywords, there are “See: also” references to the standardized LC Series
Titles. The hitlist will include the number of titles in the collection linked
to the Series Title so the user can elect the result that most likely will
retrieve the complete series volume. As well, the Power Search feature
combining Author and Series Title is the most direct method and results in a
Brief Record listing of the series volumes.
On the other hand, NHFPL patrons can use the Title
Quick Search or the Author & Title “drawer” to conduct a Series Title
Search and retrieve the same results as BPL’s OPAC even without a true Advanced
or Power Search feature.
Bridgeport Public Library’s Basic Topic Keyword and a
Basic Subject Keyword Search for Author results in a Brief Record hitlist of
BPL’s entire collection for the searched author. Alternatively, a Basic Subject
Alphabetical search of an Author results in a Catalog Browse Display of those
materials in BPL’s collection on the author with the first hit LC’s Personal
Name Authority Record or LC Subject Headings in alphabetical order with the number
of titles linked to the record. Using the Advanced or Power Search features to
search for LC Subject Headings, a patron retrieves a hitlist of LC Subject
Headings with the number of titles linked to the topic with an alphabetical
listing of “See also:” references to additional Subject Headings.
The same results were achieved in NHFPL’s OPAC however
the Catalog Browse Display of LC Subject Headings varied based on the library’s
collection and again, there is a hit in red font-hyperlink with a number indicating
additional entries in the collection.
To search by a Dewey Call, a Government Document Call
or an ISBN/ISSN Number in BPL’s OPAC is only possible in Advanced or Power
Search mode. BPL uses “FIC” plus the author’s last name and the date to
separate material if there are many items of the same title in the fiction
collection. Non-fiction books have a Dewey Call number. However after selecting
several DC Numbers, I was not able to retrieve a record even when I copied and
pasted the DCN into the field, but I was able to retrieve works by ISBN.
Conversely, NHFPL’s OPAC’s Quick Search and Other Criteria “drawer” features
worked for both fiction and non-fiction materials and presented the respective
hitlists in alphabetical title order although some items must be retrieved at
the Reference Desk. There was no problem retrieving any record by ISBN.
Bridgeport and New Haven Public Libraries’ OPACs serve
large metropolitan areas with search functions and layouts that meet users’
needs. Both OPACs’ search logic was very similar. Only NHFPL has limitations in
its OPAC’s presentation, search options, and navigation tools, typical of 1G
OPACs. By contrast, BPL’s OPAC was more satisfying to navigate.
BPL’s OPAC link is in large font and easy to locate on
the top of the library’s Home Page. Once in the OPAC, I like that BPL created a
separate tab to access the ADA Catalog versus other OPACs that feature a plus
or minus sign to adjust font size. I also prefer that Horizon limits the
hitlist to ten records per page. This makes it easier for users to see records
on one screen and, with the page navigation on the top and bottom of the list,
the user can select on which page of results to locate the desired item instead
of scrolling through a long list of items. The Power Search, History link, and
ADA tools make research very enjoyable. However when searching by Call Number,
I found it very frustrating that I was unable to successfully locate records.
Although not all patrons may search by Call Number, BPL should either
investigate why this section of their OPAC is not functioning properly or
consider including this feature in the future. As fiction records shared the
same Call Number, FIC + Last Name, individual records were not linked or
alphabetized properly by the cataloger so as to retrieve all fiction works
during a search. It also appeared that Bridgeport had many items that were in
closed stacks as opposed to New Haven where Call Number Searches worked and the
items were available to the public.
On the contrary, New Haven Free Public Library’s
catalog link is much harder to locate in the left navigation bar on the Home
Page. The bar’s background is black and the font is purple and small. Users can
only find the link by scrolling over the navigation bar to highlight the term.
NHFPL’s OPAC’s font is large enough and the Text Only option does satisfy the
need for larger font, however if NHFPL elects to update their OPAC, they may
want to consider including an ADA tab and an Union library catalog link as well
as changing the colors in the navigation bars to black font on light green
background to maintain the consistent look of the library’s Webpage. Although
NHFPL’s OPAC’s main page is dated and some “drawers” are redundant to the Quick
Search function, it is functional and user-friendly. For instance, if the title
is known, the patron clicks on the “Title drawer” and then enters the search
term. I did like that NHFPL OPAC automatically eliminated the articles from
titles. Many times users forget which article a title begins with, if at all,
and the Title Search feature does the “thinking” for the user. By placing the
Call Number in the Catalog Browse hitlist, NHFPL enables patrons to access
material according to the preferred web-design “two clicks” programming.
However, there is no true Advanced Search function, History link or
keystroke-memory function in the search fields, for automatic recall of
previous search terms, in order to facilitate research. NHFPL may want to
consider adding these features as libraries serving the same demographics have
it in their OPACs. Also, NHFPL may want to consider adding a Sort option or
Navigation Tools for Title Search lists so NHFPL users do not have to scroll
the whole list to locate the desired item especially as many users are looking
for ease of use and are retrieving results from a variety of screen-sizes. In
addition, NHFPL may want to consider limiting hitlists to a predetermined
number of records per page
Bridgeport Public and New Haven Free Public Libraries
may elect to incorporate these suggestions or may determine other features,
based on surveys or benchmarking, that will better enable their patrons to
conduct quick and logical searches to easily retrieve valid information. Once a
consensus is reached, the library could approach their current OPAC providers
to assist with implementing the changes. Whatever enhancements the two
libraries choose to implement will only strengthen their current catalogs and take
them towards the goal of creating an up-to-date, accessible, and easy-to-use
OPAC in the future.
References
Bridgeport Public Library. 2008. 2009-2010 Proposed
Budget. Retrieved April 1, 2009 from http://ci.bridgeport.ct.us/__documents/2009-2010%20Proposed%20Budget/LIBRARY.pdf.
Denver
Public Library (2009) Library facts & figures, DPL by the Numbers, March
23,2009. Retrieved April 10, 2009 from http://www.denverlibrary.org/about/press/facts.html.
Epodnk.com
Bridgeport. (2007) Population Overview. Retrieved
April 1, 2009 from http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=9107.
Waterbury. (2007) Population Overview. Retrieved from
April 1, 2009 from http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=9300.
Hartford (2007). Population Overview. Retrieved April
1, 209 from http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/popInfo.php?locIndex=9171.
New Haven (2007) Population Overview. Retrieved April
1, 2009 from http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=9218.
Hartford
Public Library. About the Library, History. Retrieved April 20, 2009 from http://www.hplct.org/about.shtm.
Libdex
Libraries.
Hartford
Public Library Retrieved April 12, 2009 from http://www.libdex.com/country/usa/connecticut/hartford/library_22115.html.
New
Haven Free Public Library Retrieved April 12, 2009 from http://www.libdex.com/country/usa/connecticut/new_haven/library_19416.html.
Bridgeport
Public Library Retrieved April 12, 2009 from http://www.libdex.com/country/usa/connecticut/bridgeport/library_21757.html.
Silas
Bronson Library, Waterbury, Connecticut. Retrieved April 12, 2009 from http://www.libdex.com/country/usa/connecticut/waterbury/library_20403.html.
New
Haven Free Public Library. (2003). OPAC. Retrieved April 1, 2009 from http://216.47.177.50/.
Online Highways website. (2008) New Haven Free Public
Library. Retrieved April 1, 2009 from http://www.ohwy.com/ct/p/plct0103.htm.
San Francisco Public Library. (2008) Library
Administration Statistics and Reports Collection Size. Retrieved April 1, 2009
from http://sfpl.lib.ca.us/librarylocations/administration/pdf/collection_size_0708.pdf.
Silas Bronson Library. (2009) History and Mission. Retrieved April 1,
2009 from http://www.bronsonlibrary.org/content/36/39/default.aspx.