[297] in ad-lib
advance issues/problems
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (patf@MIT.EDU)
Thu Apr 6 12:11:55 1995
From: patf@MIT.EDU
To: opac-lib@MIT.EDU, gyoung@MIT.EDU
Date: Thu, 06 Apr 1995 12:09:27 EDT
The Rotch testers met this morning to discuss testing progress. We have
(are sending) bug reports, but, in addition, we've run across a number
of questions, problematic issues, etc., so I decided to present them to
the group for discussion purposes.
For one, there were several issues about moving around in Advance.
1-the system seems to time-out too quickly and bounce you back
to the initial screen. Can we slow this down?
2-The opac parameter qualifications also time-out. When we get
the new initial search screen ready there will be a warning
onscreen that the params. have been changed. However, maybe we
want to slow down this time-out also. I can't really tell how
long it takes now.
3-There are some screens that you get to in Advance that don't
offer an easy way out. Some testers here found it was easier
to just do a new search than to figure out how to get out of a
screen.
Searching issues.
1-We are wondering when we will be able to search for series
numbers. Will this not be until the 2nd migration?
2-Why is it that when you want to change qualifiers or enter
material type codes sometimes you can enter the term and it
works? Other times, you have to put in the question marks,
call up the list of possibilities, and select one - a time-
consuming bunch of steps when you already know which one you
want.
3-how will call number SUFFIXES be searchable? RVC's video-
cassettes have videocassette as a suffix, where Music has it
as a prefix. Will either work as an opac parameter qualifier?
4-will it be possible to chain any commands in Advance as you
can with the present GEAC system?
Display issues.
1-This database, because it is all one database, includes a lot
more in-house type information than the present Geac Barton.
Again, we wonder why the system defaults to Circulation/HOldings
Displays rather than to Full Displays from the Brief record.
We think this screen provides lots of information the reader
doesn't need or want. However, we as staff might need or want
this info so would like to have it accessible somewhere in the opac.
2-why do the terms "title" or "series" show up in the title
summary list? We find these are more confusing than helpful.
When you search for a periodical, you tend to expect that to be
the title choice that says series - but no - instead this is one
(often) of several "titles" of the same name. (Try Architectural
Record). "Series" instead would be one title of a monographic
set. These variations may be defineable in terms of
cataloging practice, but we don't think they help the reader.
Can they be removed from the display?
3-Serial holdings/check-in
This is the big one. As we understand it, check-in records will
BEGIN to be added once the system is live. Until then, serial
records will have blank displays where location, circ status,
etc. would normally be found. When the check-in does start to
appear, it will only be for current issues - no retrospective
lists are planned. So, the reader will need to rely heavily on
the holdings statement to understand what the library owns.
We feel that the holdings statement a)doesn't visually draw the
eye, b)has never been especially clear to the reader anyway, and
c) will be confusing in combination with the check-in info
below. We would like to know (crazy as it might sound) if there
is a way to add the words "to date" or "Present" to open
holdings info. (ie. 1972- becomes 1972 to date, or 1972-present)
Readers invariably assume 1972- means you have 1972 issues -
period. Also, if there is ANY way to indicate the check-in
information is *recent issues received.* Without this added
information we have a big education issue on our hands.
Won't we have enough without this one?
4-Finally, why do those Circ loan period codes keep showing up
everywhere? We understood the public would not see them - they
are misleading, but they are in holdings display screens and in
periodical holdings information. The public will never get that
Hourly3 really means a 2-hour loan...
Food for thought...
Pat, et. al.
