MyLibrary Project: earlier work
October 2008
Update for 10/28/08
Currently preparing presentation for local library professionals group, to be given Nov. 5th, 2008. Download slide show.
Update for 10/10/08
- Work continues on mock-up of MyLibrary demo:
- Creating paper prototypes for usability testing with student assistants.
- Flowchart of processes (click image to enlarge).
Update for 10/3/08
- Work continues on programming for MyLibrary demo:
- Entry point diagrammed, and entity-relationships developed
September 2008
Update for 9/26/08
- Revision of MyLibrary demo
- Using wiki to detail desired contents
Update for 9/19/08
- Revised demo of MyLibrary up that includes authentication.
- Will ultimately be easier to create from scratch than to make ND's version work for us.
- Robert & I have had multiple conversations about how to implement, will use PHP & MySQL. This will also allow us to add a spell checker more easily.
- Working with LibGuides to have direct access to database for feeds from content.
Update for 9/12/08
MyLibrary prototype
Revised system diagram
Revised low-fidelity demonstration page (opens in new window).
Course Resources and Reserves at U.R. page.Library demo
Update for 8/29/08: summary of findings
- MyLibrary@NCState created in 1998; several dozen implementations followed.
- Adoption rates rarely exceeded 10%, & it did not do well in usability testing
- Customizable interfaces less popular now than previously.
- Three models currently remain:
- Original, text-based version
- CoURse Resources @ University of Rochester
- MyLibrary at Notre Dame
CoURse Resources @ University of Rochester
- A “web-based interface that brings together the best resources the Libraries have to offer at a course-specific level.” (Started with courses that have reserves.)
- Libraries need ability to push resources to users.
- Organizing resources based on courses students are taking avoids silo effect of a single-discipline focus
- Includes digital and paper resources that are linked to course syllabus
- Does not require any HTML coding for subject specialist librarian
- Allows for both broad and narrow associations
- Allows subject specialists to assign sort order, if desired
- Resource descriptions customizable at course level
- Links to their version of Blackboard
- Programmed in ColdFusion + SQL database, available via open source (sourceforge.net)
- Not user-customizable
MyLibrary @ Notre Dame
- It is "intended to provide a framework for creating relationships between information resources and people."
- Resources: books, journals, indexes, catalogs, music, etc.
- People: patrons and librarians
- Uses facet/term combinations: “a locally defined and institution-specific controlled vocabulary.” These describe and create relationships between MyLibrary objects (information resources and people).
- Made of a set of object-oriented Perl modules, not a turn-key application. It is “a digital library framework and toolbox. It allows you to create all sorts of digital library applications by building relationships between people and resources through a set of your locally-designed facet/term combinations.”
- Not currently allowing user-customization.
- Offers a Facebook application version
- Staff to implement:
- systems administrator
- Perl programmer
- graphic designer
- subject specialist
- To browse:
- Overview
- Example of personalized page
- Programmed in Perl
- Previous, turnkey version available, but it is text-based.
Proposed MyLibrary System
