What should we do with our WebPAC? Can we make it relevant in a 2.0 World?

John Wenzler, Electronic Resources Coordinator, San Fransisco State University

• link to presentation in program...on IUG site...will be updated next week (TODO add link)
  
• jwenzler@sfsu.edu
• previously worked at III, working on the opac
• lots of change recently in opac philosophy / ideas...wanted to keep tabs on
• why John thinks things are changing...history:
• card catalogue...digitized card cat...same info / indexes / purpose
• responsibilities for webpac / card cat similar: help people use it easily
• anxiety of freedom!
• tons of design choices with webpacPRO..."paradox of choice" book (check it out)...more choices = less satisfaction with your choice...you wonder about the other options you didn't choose
• libs also social environment -- group process to decide how it's going to look...personal opinions...conflict w/in library
• "opac sucks" meme...(to do, check out opac sucks YouTube video!)
• look at annoyedlibrarian's take on opac sucks
• David Walker's "OPAC sucks" demo (link in handout)
• specific complaints:
• it's not as good as the old card cat!
• digital immigrant
• lack of context (esp if searching from home)
• less access to experts (ie libs)
• interface manages expectations...if it looks hard, probably will be and you'll need help
• "deceptively non-intimidating user interface"
• it's not as good as amazoogle!
• relevancy ranking ineffective
• too many complex search options
• poor integration with online virtual collection
• no suggestions / recommendations
  
• lacks user-generated content