EDITOR'S NOTES
Platforms for Delivering Services, 21st-Century Style
by Dick Kaser
There was a time when most information systems were proprietary, and if you wanted something other than what came out of the box, you had to pay to have it developed. That’s still often true, but these days, there are many more options to tailor systems, especially if the systems are built on open source software. In this issue, we hear from several librarians who have improved services to their users by tinkering with standard platforms.
Amanda Goodman (Darien Library) shares details about how she refined ByWater Solutions’ Aspen Discovery by using various CSS scripts to customize the user experience with the library’s catalog. In Goodman’s case study, she discusses dozens of modifications and shares some code with you.
Katy Miller and Athena Hoeppner (University of Central Florida) conducted usability studies with Alma Primo as part of a system migration. Based on the results, they made changes to improve Primo for their users in areas such as search, requesting books locally, interlibrary loan, and finding specific research articles. They share their methodology and conclusions.
A team of librarians from Deerfield Public Library report on their experience using the streaming platform Twitch for outreach activities, including gaming, readalouds, and other library programming. They discuss how they branded and customized the platform and share tips for dealing with issues that may arise.
Brian Pichman, of the Evolve Project and program coordinator for Internet Librarian Connect, discusses AI tools for schools in the context of technology hype. Kathy Dempsey, editor of Marketing Library Services and a former editor of CIL, shares her take on standalone equipment that may solve a single workflow or library need without having to customize it. And columnist Jessamyn West reminds us that quaint RSS still works as a way of personalizing the information you or your patrons receive.
To learn more, please join us later this month for Internet Librarian Connect, Information Today, Inc.’s virtual conference for librarians working with technology.
Dick Kaser, Executive Editor
kaser@infotoday.com
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