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Thanks to all the documentationalistarians who provided hints and
comments about bookbags. I am not surprised that the question surfaced
some interesting observations and comments, and some feature ideas. I
will be pulling together a blog post though probably not until early
tomorrow, at this point. <br>
<br>
Susan Halbedel, Byron Branch Manager of Peach Public Libraries, shared
a nice half-page tip sheet they use. <font face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></font>As several of
you pointed out, one key feature of bookbags is how easy they are to
share, with their permanent web addresses and also (more of a power
feature, though it could be used in simple ways) their Atom feeds. <br>
<br>
For example, I have a "localvore" reading list here:<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://gapines.org/opac/extras/feed/bookbag/html-full/12933">http://gapines.org/opac/extras/feed/bookbag/html-full/12933</a> <br>
<br>
This can be used for recommended reading, wishlists, reference, etc. --
there's some untapped power here. <br>
<br>
Plus I subscribe to the Atom feed in my feed reader (Bloglines), which
updates whenever the status for the items change, and when I click on
one of the item links, I get a really nifty display:<br>
<br>
<b><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://tinyurl.com/5axkvo">http://tinyurl.com/5axkvo</a> </b><br>
<br>
One major drawback of how bookbags are currently implemented is that
nobody knows they exist; they are fairly well buried. Just to clarify,
this isn't a "bookbag" issue -- it's a local decision issue. The
bookbag feature could be surfaced more visibly. But they do exist and a
few folks make use of them, when they are pointed out.<br>
<br>
Some issues with bookbags arose in discussion and as I played with them
myself. <br>
<br>
* I was able to add the same item over and over.<br>
* The list isn't in any kind of human-meaningful order. Even just
author or title would be good.<br>
* Someone mentioned that the bookbag (as opposed to the bookbag item
display) doesn't include call numbers. This might work for
single-Evergreen sites, but for PINES or any consortial setting, since
these lists are generated from the consortial catalog, I think that
would be hard to do (given that with 200+ libraries, there are 200+
versions of basically the same call #), though I keep mulling that over.<br>
* Someone mentioned it would be nice to be able to pick multiple items
from search results (or heck, the shelf browser?) to add to bookbags. I
agree, though I think that's more of a "basket" feature for the catalog
than a bookbag-specific feature. <br>
* I'd like the option to put some identifying info on a bookbag, such
as a personal or institutional name. This would enhance the "vanity"
aspect of sharing an item (the way when someone shares a link with me
in Delicious, I know it's from them, or the way Amazon uses member
names on lists). <br>
<br>
There are also a few minor design/labeling/user-experience issues...
for example, the "search" box at the top of my booklist is puzzling. I
assumed it would search the list (however marginally useful that might
be). Instead, it searches PINES. A little user testing might help
here--what do users expect? Do we even need a search box there? Could
we relabel the search button, "Search PINES"? But that's a small nit. <br>
<br>
Basically, a nifty feature with a lot of potential, and its light under
a bushel. I think if bookbags were more visible, we'd push them to be
better. They're a small feature but a neat one. A little Google juice
tomorrow won't hurt. ;)<br>
<br>
Thanks again -- still ruminating on documentation and Evergreen. <br>
<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
| Karen G. Schneider
| Community Librarian
| Equinox Software Inc. "The Evergreen Experts"
| Toll-free: 1.877.Open.ILS (1.877.673.6457) x712
| E-Mail/AIM: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:kgs@esilibrary.com">kgs@esilibrary.com</a>
| Web: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.esilibrary.com">http://www.esilibrary.com</a></pre>
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