1. 1. The Importance of Union Catalogs in Retrieving Convenient Information and Enhancing Users Satisfaction Joseph Mhanna
2. 2. Outline What is a Union Catalog The Initiative of a Local Union Catalog The Transaction: Students Request step-by-step Discussion and Interpretation Conclusion 4/21/2015 Observation Presentation LIS 6120 2
3. 3. What is a Union Catalog 4/21/2015 Observation Presentation LIS 6120 3 A union catalog is a combined library catalog describing the collections of a number of libraries. (Wikipedia) A catalog containing bibliographic records that indicate locations of materials in more than one library or in several units of one library. (Dictionary.com)
4. 4. The Initiative of a Local Union Catalog The discussions of the Lebanese Academic Libraries Consortium (LALC) to improve records visibility. The meeting with ProQuest at Special Libraries Association (SLA) conference in Abu Dhabi, March 2015. 4/21/2015 Observation Presentation LIS 6120 4
5. 5. The Transaction: Students Request step-by-step 4/21/2015 Observation Presentation LIS 6120 5 Graduate Student asking for the book New Media, Old News: Journalism & Democracy in the Digital Age published by SAGE. Book Available electronically via EBSCO eBooks Collection only. Two (2) options: Read it online. Download it offline (check out) for 21 days (Adobe Digital Edition is a requirement).
6. 6. The Transaction: Students Request step-by-step (Continued) 4/21/2015 Observation Presentation LIS 6120 6 Students request was not totally met. He needs to use the book offline for more that 21 days. I knew that the books is published by SAGE. My workplace library holds the full collection of SAGE Knowledge (eBook Platform of SAGE). Book can be downloaded in pdf format for future offline use for unlimited time.
7. 7. The Transaction: Students Request Step-By-Step (Continued) 4/21/2015 Observation Presentation LIS 6120 7 I notified the Reference Librarian who in his turn notified the user. The eBooks was requested through ILL/DDS. Maximum user satisfaction.
8. 8. Discussion and Interpretation 4/21/2015 Observation Presentation LIS 6120 8 1. When answering questions, librarians have to maintain awareness of community resources and optional delivery services through interlibrary loan, consortial agreements, fax, and full-text services (Bopp, Smith 2011). 2. Searching LALC members OPACs is time consuming for the librarian and might be frustrating for the user. 3. Why a union catalog? a) Time saver b) Allow searches/access to wider collections c) User satisfaction d) Higher statistics
9. 9. Conclusion Resource Sharing had been the solution on many libraries in Lebanon in facing budget cuts and economic conditions. This experience answered all questions and hesitations I had prior to the implementation of a local union catalog similar to WorldCat. 4/21/2015 Observation Presentation LIS 6120 9