[11825] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
traditional catalog vs. GUI
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (G. Gamboa)
Mon Nov 17 20:44:00 1997
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 1997 15:48:38 -0600
From: "G. Gamboa" <gsoft@usinc.net>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Hi all!
We've been developing an automated library system for clients for more than
3 years now. I am no librarian. And I always got the same question from
librarians all over everytime as we introduce an automated system to them.
FAQ: Is it possible to have the bibliographic information displayed on the
screen just as it has been formatted and written in an index card (card
catalog)?
ANSWER: Yes!
Now .. our development team has brain stormed on this matter to have a
decision whether to provide such functionality to their system or not. We
immediately came up with a decision to include it 'AS AN OPTION'. Now ..
why an option? It is because we designed every system (especially the
online public access modules) we had with the library USERS in mind and not
usually the librarians. We used a commonly used GUI on our systems like the
ones that are usually found on popular softwares such as Windows 95 & MS
Office 97.
I recalled that the reason why we choose a GUI over a traditional format is
because the traditional format was a bit cryptic. Kids usually have a hard
time using the catalog card if they are not properly exposed to libraries
and its usage. Adults sometime who are seldom to the library seem to forget
how to interpret the contents of a catalog card. Only librarians and
library personnel and frequent and deligent users often are familiar with
those catalog cards.
Those old formats has been designed with restrictive factors like space &
its ability to be easily replicated. One flaw we find with the old format
is the inconsistency of the information being written on the same position
within a catalog card. It would be easy for a human eye to spot an
information which is on a constant position within a display medium.
Though we have voted in favor of a GUI ... we might have missed some
important points why catalog cards should be NOT AN OPTION. We would
welcome any views regarding this from anyone who has encountered the same
situation or who might want to critique our decision. We are also embarking
on a research on some types of user interfaces like SUIs and System Agents
to be used in online public access systems.
Thanks in advance!
G. Gamboa
Gsoft Consulting House
gsoft@usinc.net
