Aquabrowser

After any interaction with a discovery tool that I particularly enjoyed using I cannot help but to ask myself whether I liked the experience's because I am a librarian who enjoys the search or if I liked it because it was a tool that helped me discover a resource I sought. This was the case with Aquabrowser.

After reading Aquabrowser: Search and information discovery for libraries found in Information Services and Use 27 (2007) 79-83, I was looking forward to playing with a tool the authors claimed would help me "find words for what [I] need, refine the available information, and offer connections to associated worlds of information."

One thing I really wanted to like (but couldn't) was the word web on the right side of the screen that was supposed to help me "discover" new veins of thought. As much as I like the Thinkmap Visual Thesaurus and encourage its use of the 5 searches I performed only one (starting with the broad term 'cooking') was positively information by the floating associations provided.

What I most appreciated about Aquabrowser was its ability to limit format and subject. I liked the fact that subject headings (something I wish all of our students cared more to consider) were brought to a place of higher prominence.

All said, I would be interested in hearing how searches react to the numerous visual cues on a site that struck me as very information "full" and visually busy. Perhaps it is familiarity, but I still lean towards Worldcat when considering presentation and positive experience.

WorldCat Local

As are so many other libraries in today's information laden environment the consortium the library I work in is exploring new means of discovering and delivering information. As part of the process we are all invited to read articles or view other media that elaborates on the qualities of some of the larger players in the discussion.

Today I looked over OCLC’s WorldCat Local: A Promising Development for Library Patrons by Barbara Quint. It is an older article and didn't necessarily break open any new concept or idea for me, but it did give me the opportunity to think about WorldCat, play around on the University of Washington's site, and revel in the enjoyment of searching and browsing and refining and reviewing...

I realize I am a librarian so I understand that searching excites me in a way most others do not experience. I understand that I think about and search for information differently than most other "professionals," but I am really interested in knowing, from a user's perspective, what is not to love about this interface! Grant it I can see technical problems including Inter library loan, etc.... but when I think about the patron I can't help but believe this is a better experience than what I currently ask them to use. But would a patron be as excited about the faceted searching and the ability to read reviews and preview as I am?! I would sure think so!

Unfortunately the use of WorldCat Local is still new to the academic setting and aside from Next Generation Library Catalogs: Jennifer Ward/ WorldCat Local there is little to be said. It is, however, an encouraging, user centered advancement in a more streamlined approach to information discovery.