[524] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
E-3-OPAC
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Charles Hildreth)
Thu Jun 18 16:51:13 1992
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1992 13:21:30 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
From: Charles Hildreth <hildreth@eagle.sangamon.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
In various presentations and workshops I have used the mnemonic "E3OPAC"
(spoken as "E-cubed" or "E-three") to introduce the concept of a 3rd-generation
OPAC, an Enhanced, Expanded, and Extended OPAC. It would be *Enhanced* in
functionality and usability, *Expanded* in indexing (in-depth collection
coverage) and data files, and *Extended* through linkages, networks, and
gateways to additional library collections, information systems and resources.
Developments of the expanded, extended OPAC continue to proceed at a mind-
boggling pace. Yet, development of enhanced search, browse, and retrieval
functionality has remained essentially stagnant, at least in the camps of the
major suppliers of library systems and software. At the same time there is a
growing body of research-based evidence which demonstrates that present-day,
2nd-generation OPACs are not very effective in meeting the information access
needs of library users.
My CLR-sponsored study will focus on identifying needed improvements in
functionality and usability. I have received several excellent direct
responses from PACS-L members, but there has been little public discussion
of these issues on the Forum.
For your consideration, I propose the following tentative list of functional
criteria for 3rd-generation OPAC/information retrieval systems (Yes, the name
"OPAC" has probably outlived its usefulness):
1. Natural language query expressions/search input
(In your own language, what it is you are looking for)
2. Automatic search term interpretation, index matching aids
(Spelling correction, Soundex, Intelligent stemming, Synonym tables, etc.)
3. Closest, "best-match" retrieval
(Unlike Boolean queries, doesn't require exact match with query
specifications to be retrieved as possibly relevant)
4. Ranked retrieval output
(Many ranking criteria: most likely to be relevant first, most recent,
most cited, most circulated, etc.)
5. Relevance feedback methods
("Give me more like this one." "What else do you have on this topic?"
"This book is not at all what I want!")
6. Hypertext, related-record searching, browsing, and navigating
7. Integration/coordination of keyword, controlled-vocabulary, and
classification-based search approaches
And, of course, the 3rd-generation OPAC will be expanded in coverage, scope,
and depth (the "full-collection access tool"), and will provide an extended
access range via linkages, networks, and gateways. It should go without
saying that 3rd-generation OPACs will present themselves to the users
through graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
Let's talk about it. Regards,
Charles Hildreth
READ Ltd.
127 Springbrook Drive
Springfield, IL 62702 (USA)
(hildreth@eagle.sangamon.edu)
