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----------------------------Original message---------------------------- ------------------ The ARLIS/NY Cataloguers Discussion Group will meet at the Pierpont Morgan Library on Monday, Sept. 22, from 3:00 to 5:00. The topic of the meeting is =22The Perfect Library System--and the IOLS from Hell.=22 In order to give us an idea of how many people to expect, please send an = email RSVP by Sept. 19 to: Liz O'Keefe eokeefe=40morganlibrary.org Please enter the Library by the 36th St. entrance (that is at 29 E. 36th = Street, just off Madison), which has finally been reopened. Tell the guard that you= are here to attend a meeting of the Cataloguers Discussion Group=3B someone from= the Cataloguing Dept. will be standing by to escort visitors to the room where = we will be meeting. As promised, we have come up with some talking points in advance=3B please = come armed with your own wish-lists, grievances, and cautionary tales. POINTS FOR DISCUSSION 1. Which system does your library use? (or which system(s) are you = seriously considering, if you are in the market) 2. Indexes and searching If you could add just one index to the ones you have, which would it be? = (It can be a composite taking in several fields, or an index for just one field,= or even subfield.) Which index have you found least useful in your work? What limit to searches do you find most useful? The perfect system provides vastly enhanced search features. But it can = find only what is in the records. What sort of information do you now wish you = had always included in your records, so that you could retrieve a given set of records. Exx: names of collections, records from a common source (e.g. a = recon vendor), odd formats, items of a certain size, genres, topics in fiction? (If you use RLIN): Which RLIN searching features do you miss not having in = your own system? Which searching features provided by your local system do you = most wish that RLIN had? 3. Output (records, reports, cards...) How important is printed output to you? Do you find you under- or over-estimated how important printed output would be be when planning for = your system? The perfect system should function as a electronic shelflist-do you agree or disagree? Does it function that way in your library? 4. Impact on local practices The perfect system would take in stride all your institution's little quirks= and special practices-or would it? To what extent have you made changes in = local cataloguing practices as a result of getting an IOLS? For example, dropping local headings, standardizing abbreviations, making changes in your classification practices or your local classification scheme, decisions on tracings? Are you happy or unhappy at the changes you've had to make? 5. Diabolical diacritics How well does your system handle diacritics? How annoyed are your cataloguers/librarians/users by the way it handles diacritics? 6. Editing/Input features What editing feature do you like best in your system (cut and paste/global update/macros easy to write)? Which would you most like to have that you = don't have now? 7. OPAC Which feature of your OPAC do your users find most confusing? Which feature of your OPAC do people complain about most with respect to: Displays Search features Moving around among records Moving around among functions (from OPAC to reserves to acquisitions to = Internet access to RLIN to?) Documentation/instructions Limitations of what is in the OPAC/not in the OPAC Name one (or more) useless bell and whistle =22enhancement=22 that is more = trouble than it is worth. Which feature of your OPAC do people like the most? 8. Authority control How would the perfect system maintain authority control? How does your = system? Are you happy with it? 9. Wisdom of hindsight Five top mistakes made by buyers of library systems Five top mistakes made by implementers of library systems