Rachel "Ivy" Clarke

The Next Big Thing?:
An Analysis of LibraryThing in the Context
of the Next-Generation Library Catalog
 
Abstract

LibraryThing is a website that allows users to easily catalog and share their book collections. Its explosive popularity seems to indicate success. But how successful would LibraryThing be in a professional environment? When compared against suggestions and requirements for future online public access catalogs, LibraryThing shines in some respects while falling short in others. LibraryThing is not the next-generation OPAC, but it has the potential to be a precursor to the next breakthrough in library catalog software.
Overview of LibraryThing
One of the newest library-related websites is LibraryThing, Tim Spalding’s web-hosted cataloging service. LibraryThing helps people catalog and access their book collections simply and easily. LibraryThing is "genuine copy-cataloging," with book records retrieved from the Library of Congress, amazon.com, and other well-known sources (Williams 2006). LibraryThing also features a user-applied tagging system, where members can classify their books using keywords, as well as opportunities to network with other members in the form of book reviews and groups. From the website:
LibraryThing is an online service to help people catalog their books easily. You can access your catalog from anywhere--even on your mobile phone. Because everyone catalogs together, LibraryThing also connects people with the same books, comes up with suggestions for what to read next, and so forth (2006).
The copy-cataloging technology used by the site, the use of the tagging folksonomy, the social networking opportunities and the boom in popularity seem to point to LibraryThing as the next step in library cataloging. Some libraries and bookstores already use LibraryThing to catalog their collections and it has been recommended for OPAC use in small libraries (O’Hara 2005). In May of 2006 Spalding officially announced a new membership category for organizations, with promises of a "more thorough-going ‘pro’ version in the future." But is LibraryThing the next-generation online public access catalog (OPAC)? LibraryThing offers many features ideal to the future of the OPAC, however, in its current state it fails to address all of the recommendations for an improved library catalog system.

Characteristics of a Next-Generation OPAC
To determine whether or not LibraryThing would function well as a future OPAC, we first must determine the fundamental characteristics of an improved OPAC.
Definition and History. The Online Dictionary of Library and Information Science (ODLIS) defines OPAC as
            a database composed of bibliographic records describing the books and other materials owned by a library or library system, accessible via public terminals or workstations usually concentrated near the reference desk to make it easy for users to request the assistance of a trained reference librarian. Most online catalogs are searchable by author, title, subject, and keywords and allow users to print, download, or export records to an e-mail account (Reitz 2006).
The history of the OPAC is commonly divided into generations. The first-generation OPACs appeared in the early 1980s. The primitive technology at the time limited searches to author and title only; keyword searching and subject access were not available. This limited retrieval to known works only, rather than allowing for browsing. The early systems’ intolerance for mistakes allowed very high precision but poor recall, unable to harness features like alternate spelling or wildcard searches. (Husain & Ansari 2006).
     By the late 1980s, many of the failings of the first OPACs were corrected. Keyword and Boolean searching was integrated into the new catalog systems, allowing for more flexibility in searching, and both higher recall and precision (Husain & Ansari 2006). Expanded subject access points theoretically allowed users to browse topics in addition to searching for specific works. But while these improvements were a significant leap forward, the second-generation OPAC still had many shortcomings. A contemporary report cited user frustration due to failed searches, unfamiliar vocabulary and structure, and poorly organized search results as a few of the problems with the current OPAC systems (Hildreth 1995).
     Current reports propose suggestions and recommendations for improvements on the upcoming development of third-generation OPACs, of which LibraryThing may be one. What sets this next-generation OPAC apart from its predecessors? A recent outline highlights the idea that the next-generation library catalog should be less of an inventory of holdings and a "more effective means of finding and using data and information" (Morgan 2006).
Materials Access. The next-generation catalog should provide direct access to materials, be it full-text digital information, directly purchasing a work, or placing it on reserve at the library itself. It should avoid the necessity of making the user search multiple databases; rather, accessing a variety of databases with a single search.
Open Source and Access. Morgan also states that the future catalog should be "built using things open," meaning that the software used to run the catalog system is using standards and open content in order to "increase interoperability, modularity, and advocate the free sharing of ideas" (2006). The Library of Congress’ report on the Changing Nature of the Catalog indicates sharing and cooperative cataloging as a priority in new systems, further reflecting the "open" idea (2006).
Web Access. World Wide Web and internet accessibility via a graphical user interface for ease of use are crucial (Husain & Ansari 2006). Because many internet users are already familiar and have more success with search engine tools like Google, it is suggested that new library catalog searches function more along the lines of these web search tools, rather than the foreign, inflexible search tools of past library catalog systems (Calhoun 2006).
Integration. The next generation library catalog must be able to function within an integrated library system, coordinating with functions such as circulation.

Characteristics Supporting LibraryThing as a Next-Generation OPAC
     Now that we know what the future ideal library catalog looks like, we can see if LibraryThing holds up to any or all of these suggested requirements. LibraryThing has already been recommended for and put into use by some smaller libraries and organizations. There are a number of reasons these groups are flocking to LibraryThing, and quite a few of them do reflect the desires put forth in the previously mentioned suggestions for future catalogs.
     Popularity and Ease of Use. With over 58,000 registered users and 4 million books cataloged in the span of a mere year, LibraryThing is clearly popular (Spalding 2006). Why is LibraryThing so popular? Barely celebrating its first anniversary in August 2006, it could be sheer novelty: attraction to the newest thing. LibraryThing, via one simple url (http://www.librarything.com) is easily accessible on the internet, and there are compatible versions for PDAs and cellular phones, letting users access their book collections from virtually anywhere. Web access is a suggested requirement for future online catalogs (Husain & Ansari 2006). LibraryThing’s interface is closer to traditional established web pages, such as the book search on amazon.com, as opposed to the traditionally user-unfriendly library catalog interface of which patrons have complained. A user-friendly interface is key to a successful OPAC (Husain & Ansari 2006). LibraryThing’s graphical user interface is very user friendly. Directions are clear and it is easy to enter book information. By offering more accessibility via internet, PDA and phone access, as well as offering a familiar and easy-to-use interface, LibraryThing certainly seems to support the suggestions for future cataloging software.
     Cost. LibraryThing is free for personal users, up to the first 200 books, and a mere $10.00 per year after that. Low cost is an attraction. One of the largest concerns in the Library of Congress’ is cost. Implementing a new OPAC system could be extremely expensive (Calhoun 2006). Even though the LibraryThing usage fee for organizations is higher than the fee for individuals, it still pales in comparison to current cataloging software. LibraryThing is currently designed for use by smaller libraries and organizations, with a more in-depth version planned in the future to support larger organizations. There is no word yet on the projected cost for the "professional" version, but if it proportionally reflects the current price structure, LibraryThing could be a bargain.
     Shared and Open Cataloging. Another feature intrinsic to the next-generation library catalog is the idea of "shared" or cooperative cataloging. Sharing catalog records not only saves time by eliminating unnecessary repetition in record creation, but also increases consistency. Libraries can download and upload catalog records from a common database, such as OCLC Connexion. When multiple libraries use the same record for a resource, their records will be consistent, across the United States and even the world. Currently, libraries can share their catalog holdings through OCLC’s WorldCat, and any member library can find holdings in any other member library. LibraryThing does the same thing, sharing its users’ collections. The software uses Z39.50 protocol in order to retrieve catalog records from major databases such as amazon.com and the Library of Congress, as well as 43 other major libraries. Z39.50 dictates bibliographic information transfer standardization. It allows the LibraryThing catalog to "talk" to other bibliographic catalogs and translate the information for use in its own system and interface. But with LibraryThing, it doesn’t end there. Users can see other users’ holdings, allowing them to find others who hold their desired books. Users can see if the book is available for purchase through amazon.com--a step toward the direct access desired in a new catalog system. Users can also review or recommend books, adding personal comments. While this may be a more subjective feature than the traditional objective cataloging process, it has allowed more connection between users, opening more discussion and sharing of information--part of the "open" and "free sharing of ideas" that Morgan encourages as part of the next-generation catalog (2006). These social networking features are prevalent in other new web 2.0 and information-sharing developments, such as del.icio.us and Flickr, and LibraryThing belongs to that group.
     Folksonomy. Another interactive feature of LibraryThing is the use of tagging. Tagging is a type of folksonomy, or a user-created classification system. There is much current debate in the library science field about the pros and cons of tagging and folksonomy. However, the fact that LibraryThing allows users to label books with classifications they feel are applicable, memorable and searchable, seems significant in the context of a future catalog system. Users of current library catalog systems complain of confusing vocabularies and poor search results. More user-friendly vocabularies, such as tags, may help increase search success.
     Subscription. LibraryThing also allows for RSS subscriptions and feeds. This means users can "subscribe" to a search, and they will automatically be notified if new search results appear. This can be in the form of a title added to another user’s collection, a new review posted for a specific title, or any new records appearing with designated tags. If a user subscribed to a search for the tag "dogs," they would be notified anytime someone else added a book to the collection with the tag "dogs" assigned to it. This eliminates excessive search work and increases recall without necessarily decreasing precision.

Where LibraryThing Falls Short
     So far, it seems like every library should sing the praises of LibraryThing and adopt it for use in their organization. However, there are other points to take into consideration when considering LibraryThing as a next-generation catalog. Tim Spalding, creator of LibraryThing, acknowledges that the software is designed for personal and small organization use. A more professional version is in the works, but in the meantime, LibraryThing is not up to the functional capacity required for a standard size library.
ILS Management. LibraryThing currently has no connection to any sort of integrated library system. This means that there is no circulation management, a key function in most libraries.
Vocabulary Control. While proponents of the tagging folksonomies find the vocabulary user-friendly and interactive, there are also downsides to the tagging system that LibraryThing promotes. There is a great deal of inconsistency with which users tag books. Just looking at the Zeitgeist page, users have tagged works on the twentieth century with all of the following tags: 20th century; 20th cent.; 20th C. There is no vocabulary control in place. Also, while it seems obvious to use tags for subject access, tags are also often used as location devices. Tags such as “bedroom" or "third shelf on the right" are used as finding aids, a la call numbers, but lose meaning in the shared system. Tags are also subjective, and review-by-tag is common, with such tags as "unreadable." With the implementation of a software filter for vocabulary control, and tags specifically designated for classification call numbers (currently optional), the tagging system could be put to better use in a professional library catalog. But as it stands now, the mish-mash actually hinders search success. How many books about the twentieth century are left out of a search because the user only looked at books tagged "20th C."?
     Accommodation of Non-Book Resources. LibraryThing is self-admittedly "an easy way to catalog books" (Spalding 2006). Currently, LibraryThing only catalogs books: i.e., works with an ISBN. While the Library of Congress reports that future catalog systems will continue to focus mainly on books and related materials (Calhoun 2006), the inability to catalog electronic resources, sound recordings, maps, video recordings and other non-book resources severely limits LibraryThing’s use in most modern libraries.
Full Text Access. Especially absent is the ability to access journal articles, a staple of most libraries, academic, public or otherwise. Ideally, according to Morgan’s description of the next-generation OPAC, the catalog should be able to find articles without going through multiple database interfaces, and also retrieve the entire text of the article (2006). LibraryThing does not easily support cataloging the journals, much less the database of articles or the articles themselves. Morgan’s key purpose of a future catalog is to find and use the information. While LibraryThing allows some uses, such as access to book purchase, and social networking features, there is so much information needed to be harnessed that is currently incapable of being cataloged by LibraryThing that can’t be used if it can’t be found because it’s not cataloged in the first place. With such a key feature missing, LibraryThing still sits in the past with the current OPAC inability.

Conclusion
     The future of the library catalog could easily make or break an organization’s information access. As more and more users rely upon the internet and Google search for their information needs, the antiquated functions of the library catalog are left behind. Using some of the same technology and familiar interfaces as other current websites, LibraryThing offers a new, easy way to catalog a book collection. It is user-friendly, interoperable, searchable, and offers direct interaction with both materials and people. However, there are still issues of integration, vocabulary control, and diverse resource description and access that need to be addressed before LibraryThing is suitable for use in a professional environment as a catalog system. The basis for a next-generation OPAC is there; now only time will tell how it will develop.

 
References

Calhoun, K. (March 17, 2006). The changing nature of the catalog and its integration with other discovery tools. Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/catdir/calhoun-report-final.pdf on July 22, 2006.

Hildreth, B. (August 1995). Online catalog design models: Are we moving in the right direction? Retrieved from http://myweb.cwpost.liu.edu/childret/clr-opac.html on August 6, 2006.

Husain, R. & Ansari, M. (March 2006). From card catalogue to Web OPACs [electronic version]. DESIDOC Bulletin of Information Technology, 26, no. 2, 41-47.

Morgan, E. (2006). A "next-generation" library catalog. Retrieved from http://dewey.library.nd.edu/morgan/ngc on July 22, 2006.

O’Hara, R. (Nov. 28, 2005). LibraryThing for managing small libraries. Retrieved from http://collegiateway.org/news/2005-librarything on August 3, 2006.

Reitz, J. (2006). OPAC. In ODLIS-Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science. Retrieved from http://lu.com/odlis/odlis_o.cfm on August 3, 2006.

Spalding, T. (2006). LibraryThing. http://www.librarything.com

Williams, J. (August 1, 2006). Everyone’s a librarian. Retrieved from http://jonvw.com/articles/2006/08/01/everyones-a-librarian on August 3, 2006.