Comments on: The Dead Ends Don’t Justify the Means http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/07/22/the-dead-ends-dont-justify-the-means.html shifting libraries at the speed of byte Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:26:02 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: jenny http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/07/22/the-dead-ends-dont-justify-the-means.html/comment-page-1#comment-11565 jenny Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:42:24 +0000 http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/07/22/the-dead-ends-dont-justify-the-means.html#comment-11565 Ilene, I think this is probably like the purchase request form on any library site - it just happens to be linked to from the "no results" page. I'm sure that the same guidelines apply as when someone stops at the circ desk and requests that the library purchase a book they couldn't find on the shelf. The key here is that ACPL has taken a service that is usually buried on a website, away from the catalog or only linked to from the home page or a help page, and surfaced it in a useful place. The service itself is still the same, and it now parallels the one that happens in the physical building in a more usable way. Ilene, I think this is probably like the purchase request form on any library site — it just happens to be linked to from the “no results” page. I’m sure that the same guidelines apply as when someone stops at the circ desk and requests that the library purchase a book they couldn’t find on the shelf.

The key here is that ACPL has taken a service that is usually buried on a website, away from the catalog or only linked to from the home page or a help page, and surfaced it in a useful place. The service itself is still the same, and it now parallels the one that happens in the physical building in a more usable way.

]]> By: Ilene Frank http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/07/22/the-dead-ends-dont-justify-the-means.html/comment-page-1#comment-11563 Ilene Frank Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:32:29 +0000 http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/07/22/the-dead-ends-dont-justify-the-means.html#comment-11563 So... these libraries actually have enough money to be able to fill those user-generated purchase requests? And the libraries automatically purchase based on individual user demand? Does this mean that an individual user could skew collection contents by generating a lot of requests? So… these libraries actually have enough money to be able to fill those user-generated purchase requests? And the libraries automatically purchase based on individual user demand? Does this mean that an individual user could skew collection contents by generating a lot of requests?

]]> By: Friday Link Round Up « ellie <3 libraries http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/07/22/the-dead-ends-dont-justify-the-means.html/comment-page-1#comment-11359 Friday Link Round Up « ellie <3 libraries Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:11:09 +0000 http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/07/22/the-dead-ends-dont-justify-the-means.html#comment-11359 [...] The Dead Ends Don’t Justify the Means - “So basically, Sean Robinson at ACPL added a purchase request form to the search results page of the catalog so that if the Library doesn’t own the title the patron is looking for, she can immediately submit a purchase request.” [...] […] The Dead Ends Don’t Justify the Means — “So basically, Sean Robinson at ACPL added a purchase request form to the search results page of the catalog so that if the Library doesn’t own the title the patron is looking for, she can immediately submit a purchase request.” […]

]]> By: Melissa Kiser http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/07/22/the-dead-ends-dont-justify-the-means.html/comment-page-1#comment-11286 Melissa Kiser Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:57:46 +0000 http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/07/22/the-dead-ends-dont-justify-the-means.html#comment-11286 Thanks for posting this, Jenny. Sean worked very hard on this and it has had great results. Thanks for posting this, Jenny. Sean worked very hard on this and it has had great results.

]]> By: Mick http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/07/22/the-dead-ends-dont-justify-the-means.html/comment-page-1#comment-11282 Mick Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:31:43 +0000 http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/07/22/the-dead-ends-dont-justify-the-means.html#comment-11282 Our rather outdated Sirsi/Dynix Web 2 OPAC does offer this abiltt with an automatically filled in patron identification form (as long as they are signed in) so we can inform the patron and place hold when the item is purchased... Our rather outdated Sirsi/Dynix Web 2 OPAC does offer this abiltt with an automatically filled in patron identification form (as long as they are signed in) so we can inform the patron and place hold when the item is purchased…

]]> By: Owen http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/07/22/the-dead-ends-dont-justify-the-means.html/comment-page-1#comment-11270 Owen Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:21:46 +0000 http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/07/22/the-dead-ends-dont-justify-the-means.html#comment-11270 ACPLs think alike. The inability to customize the search results page in just the same way was one of the many nagging frustrations that led us to switch to <a href="http://search.athenscounty.lib.oh.us/search?q=cryptonomicon" rel="nofollow">Koha</a>. ACPLs think alike. The inability to customize the search results page in just the same way was one of the many nagging frustrations that led us to switch to Koha.

]]> By: Mike http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/07/22/the-dead-ends-dont-justify-the-means.html/comment-page-1#comment-11268 Mike Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:47:58 +0000 http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/07/22/the-dead-ends-dont-justify-the-means.html#comment-11268 "Why our vendors can’t think of these things is beyond me" Indeed. “Why our vendors can’t think of these things is beyond me”

Indeed.

]]>