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My Library: A Model for Implementing a User-centered, Customizable Interface to a Library's Collection of Information Resources

Eric Lease Morgan

NCSU Libraries

Friday, 18 February 2000

8:30-9:00 Coffee and Doughnuts
9:00-10:30 Presentation

OCLC Auditorium
6565 Frantz Road
Dublin, OH 43017

Mr. Morgan's presentation will describe, demonstrate, and illustrate an extensible model for implementing a user-centered, customizable interface to a library's collection of information resources. This model, called My Library, integrates principles of librarianship (collection, organization, dissemination, and evaluation) with globally networked computing resources creating a dynamic, customer-driven front-end to any library's set of materials. The model supports a framework for libraries to provide enhanced access to local and remote sets of data, information, and knowledge. At the same time, the model does not overwhelm its users with too much information because the users control exactly how much information is displayed to them at any given time. The model is active and not passive; direct human interaction, computer mediated guidance and communication technologies, as well as current awareness services, all play indispensable roles in this system.

Eric has been a librarian at NCSU Libraries since the summer of 1991. Previously he was a medical librarian at the Catawba-Wateree AHEC Library in Lancaster, SC, for three years. He has a B.A. in Philosophy from Bethany College, Bethany, WV (1982) and an M.I.S. from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (1987).

Eric considers himself a librarian first and a computer user second. His professional goal is to discover new ways to use computers to improve library and knowledge services. To these ends, he has created many information services using the popular (and even less popular) Internet and computing protocols. Applied research and development has included investigations in traditional library science, digital libraries, information retrieval, and human-computer interaction. Some of his more successful implantations have been the Mr. Serials Process, the Alex Catalogue of Electronic Texts, email.cgi, and MyLibrary@NCState. In his spare time, he has been seen folding defective floppy disks into intricate origami flora and fauna.