Creating Synergy between your Website
and Catalog
Internet Librarian 2006
Glenn Peterson, Hennepin (MN) County Library
OPAC developments: 2006
• “ILS Customer Bill-of-Rights” (blyberg.net)
• Greasemonkey scripts (userscripts.org – “library”)
• NCSU/Endeca catalog
• Catalog search everywhere!
Synergy
How can your website and catalog work together to
• add value to the user’s experience
• save the time of the user(Ranganathan’s Fourth Law)
Two approaches
• Bring library’s content into the catalog interface
• Integrate the catalog as one of many web-based resources
Opportunities
•Links to titles•Links to catalog searches•Make your links “smarter”•Single login
Link to titles
Link to titles in the catalog from:
•Booklists
Link to titles
Link to titles in the catalog from:
•Booklists•Newsletters
Link to titles
Link to titles in the catalog from:
•Booklists•Newsletters•New Book Alerts
Link to titles
Link to titles in the catalog from:
•Booklists•Newsletters•New Book Alerts•Events listings
Links to catalog searches
Pre-selected searches from:
• subject guides
Links to catalog searches
Pre-selected searches from:
• subject guides• pathfinders
Links to catalog searches
Pre-selected searches from:
• subject guides• pathfinders• reader’s advisory
Links to catalog searches
Pre-selected searches from:
• subject guides• pathfinders• reader’s advisory• new book arrivals
Make your links “smarter”
Keeping your patrons logged in as they move around your site, including into and out of the catalog.
http://www.imcpl.org/cgi-bin/translator.pl?.IB858055
http://www.../link2ipac.cfm?index=BIB&term=1137198
Scripting example
•Sets profile based on user’s IP address
•Logs in user •Passes session credentials•Redirects user to catalog
Single login
Takeaways!• Look for opportunities to link
from your website into the catalog
• Explore ways to keep patrons logged in across your site(s)
• Consider “mobilizing” your catalog via RSS/email, Google gadgets, MySpace
