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Object Oriented Librarian User Interface Tool

Objective

The aim is to develop an efficient and innovative tool kit to create a multiplatform GUI for libraries in a client-server architecture.

The tool kit will be developed using an object-oriented methodology and will consist of objects related to specific types of information and management functions used in library applications.

Care will be taken to comply with international bibliographic and search & retrieval standards. The toolset will be portable (i.e. multiplatform), will be suitable for a variety of library functions including interlibrary loan, document delivery and SDI, and will be based on an object-oriented approach.
Impact and expected results:

The development of an object-oriented user interface could have a considerable impact on library applications as the technology involved could significantly reduce software development and maintenance costs while coping with increasing complexity of services and functions. The approach is also ideally suited to dealing with multimedia. With some additional work, the prototype could become a commercial product for small and medium-sized libraries and for certain subject areas in larger libraries.

Deliverables will include state-of-the-art surveys, a user requirements analysis, technical specifications and a usability evaluation report. Following protoype testing, the implementation software will be developed together with user and installation manuals.

Deliverables

The OLUIT toolkit prototype will be the main deliverable of the project. Specifications, and test reports are restricted or confidential but in the public domain will be:

A survey of current GUIs;
A survey on formats and standards of documentation;
Library user requirements report ;
Usability evaluation;
User and installation manuals;
Final report.
Technical approach:

The project consists of nine separate workpackages:

Method definition to examine library user needs and evaluate existing object oriented methods;
Survey of projects connected with library GUIs and of international formats and standards;
Library user requirements analysis with in-depth analysis of user requirements, functions and search/retrieve criteria;
Prototype definition, including technological platform, usability characteristics and hypertext tool;
OLUIT requirements analysis to define functions for a new GUI based on preset classes of objects;
Prototype design, coding, testing;
Prototype and OLUIT installation and training;
System monitoring;
OLUIT design and coding for a library of classes, hypertext guidelines and user documents.

Key issues:

- examination of user requirements;
- development of a user-friendly interface which can be applied in a variety of library environments.

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

Data not available

Coordinator

Consorzio Auriga
EU contribution
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Address
Piazza Adriana 5
00100 Roma
Italy

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Total cost
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Participants (5)