[OPLINLIST] New Name for MORE
Eric Anderson
eric at wiredlibrarian.com
Fri Aug 25 21:24:19 EDT 2006
As a long time lurker, allow me to share a couple of thoughts about "names"
and "interlibrary loan".
While at the State Library of Iowa in 1984 I was tasked with creating a
union "catalog" (albeit title/author/ subject) interlibrary loan tool to be
used with a communication tool (intended to replace the teletype system in
place) to expedite the process of interloan between the 17 "resource"
libraries and the vibrant library systems which filtered loans to their
members. The State Librarian at the time, Claudya (I survived five years in
Cleveland) Mueller was thrilled I chose CD-ROM (when the only drivers were
Brower Murphy's shareware) as the data format and a Mac based communications
tool with an Apple Works (hey Excel hadn't even come out for the Mac yet)
data base to be used with modems.
Working on the project drafts late at night, I had the tube on and an "I
Love Lucy" rerun came on. Immediately the tools were named "Fred" and
"Ethel". Ethel always told Fred to go to the basement to find something,
and Fred always knew where it was and returned with same. God or Allah (or
insert any deity you choose) couldn't have created a more beautiful name.
The rest of the office staff immediately took to it, and most of the
statewide committee (can librarians do anything without a committee?) warmed
to it. We trucked (due respect to the Dead) right along with it until CM
became aware of the moniker we chose. In less than an hour the name was
changed to the "Iowa Locator". Only with a long time in recovery have I
learned to accept this crushing turn of events. I guess I should have been
happy that it wasn't "The Iowa Locator".
"More" or "Less"; "Borrow" or "Steal" or "Beg" if you have to, but for
whoever's sake pour your efforts into building a user friendly tool because
it is all too apparent that many of you continue to ignore Thomas Ballard's
brilliant tome "The Failure of Resources Sharing" (ALA, 1986). Perhaps that
should be required reading of anyone suggesting a name?
Shanti, from the bomb plant
Eric S. Anderson
Micro Libraries
297 Hammertown Road, Jackson OH 45640
www.wiredlibrarian.com
eric at wiredlibrarian.com
-----Original Message-----
From: oplinlist-bounces at oplin.org [mailto:oplinlist-bounces at oplin.org] On
Behalf Of Michael Penrod
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 1:18 PM
To: 'Angela Thomas'; morelist at winslo.state.oh.us; oplinlist at oplin.org
Subject: Re: [OPLINLIST] New Name for MORE
I'm not intending to upset anyone or "stir the pot" any more, but...
So many names, so many organizations, so many levels to navigate... No
wonder our patrons don't know what is going on, we are too busy
complicating the system.
What if we merged the SEO Consortia, ClevNet, OhioLink, InfoOhio, and all
of the other catalogs of Ohio's publicly-funded libraries into one source?
It
worked for the colleges (when everyone said it would not work - I was
working at Ohio University at the time and recall sensing a lot of doubt and
some fear) and now college grads come to us and wonder why we can't
easily do the same thing. Sure, it would take years to implement. But in
the
end, it would be an amazing accomplishment and service to our public.
Just imagine... One place for Ohio's taxpayers/voters (or children of
Ohio's
taxpayers/voters) to locate and easily access/borrow all of the materials
across the state. One source, one card, one Ohio.
In the beginning of MORE, this was the eventual goal. We should keep our
eyes on this goal and not let ourselves get permanently lost in the details.
Naively, yet idealistically,
Michael
> Think about patrons - MORE never was a very good name - what exactly
> did
> it mean??? Only the library world knew, and many times we've shaken
> our
> heads and said, "Now what does that stand for?" The name should be
> one
> that simply represents the product for what it is - BORROW OHIO! It
> is
> for patrons to borrow materials. How much simpler could that be?
> MORE
> truly DID represent MORE work for our library staff - eight steps
> to
> interlibrary loan, rather than two! It has created bad press from
> the
> get go - let's change the name to BORROW OHIO - something the patron
> can
> readily grasp!
>
> Toni Whitney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Morgan Paul [mailto:paulmo at oplin.org]
> Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 6:57 AM
> To: Angela Thomas; morelist at winslo.state.oh.us;
> oplinlist at oplin.org
> Cc: Jo Budler
> Subject: RE: [morelist] New Name for MORE
>
>
>
>
>
> I totally disagree that the name change is necessary or even a good
> idea. I think this is only going to confuse the patrons. I also
> think that this is a decision that ought to be on the OPLIN
> list. Not every person dealing with MORE is on the MORE list.
>
> Please rethink this decision.
>
> The negativity for this product is fromthe staff. I too have been
> frustrated many times with MORE, but the patrons of my libraries
> love
> it.
>
> Having a MORE link in all of our catalog webpages has opened a
> whole
> new world for them.
>
> I truly think that changing the name from MORE to something else
> will
> cause more patron confusion. Patrons don't seem to really care what
> software is behind the name, they just want to locate new items that
> they can't find in their local libraries.
>
> Please rethink the idea of changing the name of MORE. We are here
> to
> serve the needs of the patrons in the state of Ohio.
>
> Morgan Paul
>
> Technology Coordinator
> Council of Ashtabula County Libraries.
>
>
>
>
> At 11:29 AM 8/23/2006, Angela Thomas wrote:
> >Morgan,
> >Thanks for your input. What we've discussed is with the name change
> >referencing it as 'Formally Known as MORE'. By doing this there can
> be
> >name recognition for the existing patrons.
> >
> >Some of the reasons we're changing the name is: 1) It's just too
> darn
> >hard to say in some sentences when referencing MORE, since this
> word
> >means something else. 2) For some libraries there is a bad
> connotation
>
> >with the name, it equates to MORE work. 3) With the new features we
> >feel we can increase membership and it will help to do away with
> the
> >negative connotations that come along with the name. This mean MORE
> >options for your patrons (sorry I couldn't resist) 4) We will
> provide
> >you some material to be able to announce this to your patrons when
> the
> >time comes, so we won't leave you hanging.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Angela
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Morgan Paul [mailto:paulmo at oplin.org]
> >Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 5:17 PM
> >To: morelist at winslo.state.oh.us
> >Subject: Re: [morelist] New Name for MORE
> >
> >
> >Personally, I don't think we should change the name. I think that
> >might confuse the patrons in the long run.
> >
> >
> >Patrons see too much change. It might seem a long time to the
> techies,
>
> >but not to the patrons.
> >
> >MORE is fine with me.
> >
> >
> >Morgan Paul
> >
> >
> >At 04:14 PM 8/22/2006, Angela Thomas wrote:
> > >Hello,
> > >
> > >As you have heard, a new upgrade is coming for MORE. This
> upgrade
> > >will bring some substantial benefits for staff, like: for those
> of
> > >you who have the UPC code cataloged, the rota for AV will be
> built
> > >unmediated. There will be NCIP for SirsiDynix Unicorn users and
> then
> > >soon afterward TLC, Horizon and Polaris.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >We are currently testing the upgraded software as we speak. We
> still
>
> > >have some bugs to work out of it, but it is progressing.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >This will help to change all the bad baggage that come with MORE
> so
> > >we think the name should change and would like your input. There
> are
>
> > >a couple of names that we've already come up with, vote on those
> or
> > >suggest one! Please access the link to vote. This survey will
> close
>
> > >Wednesday, September 6th
> >http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=65122496849
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Angela Thomas
> > >
> > >Project Manager Statewide Resource Sharing
> > >
> > >State Library of Ohio
> > >
> > >274 E. 1st Ave
> > >
> > >Columbus, OH 43201
> > >
> > >office: 614-995-9360
> > >
> > >fax: 614-387-0600
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >Morgan Paul
> >
> >Technology Coordinator
> >Council of Ashtabula County Libraries
> >Ashtabula, Ohio
> >
> >
> >AIM: CaclTech
> >
> >www.cacl.info
> >
> >paulmo at oplin.org
> >
> >
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Michael L. Penrod
Adult Services Coordinator
Wood County District Public Library
251 North Main Street
Bowling Green, Ohio 43402
v: (419) 352-5104
f: (419) 354-0405
e: penrodmi at oplin.org
wcdpl.lib.oh.us
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