[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Server-side OPAC development project: an introduction

[Bill Erickson]

On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 10:04 AM, Kathy Lussier <klussier at masslnc.org> wrote:

> Hi Bill,
>

Hi Kathy,


>
> I want to echo the kudos for the new catalog. It looks great, and the
> improved performance and easier customization of the templates should be a
> big plus for Evergreen. Thank you for sharing the work in progress so that
> we have an opportunity to take a close look at it.
>

Thanks!


>
> I have a couple of questions about the new catalog.
>
> I noticed the current Proof of Concept doesn't display any faceting with
> the
> search results.  Is faceting something that is planned to be incorporated
> at
> a future date or, if not, is it something that a library could easily
> incorporate when customizing these templates?
>


Yes, faceting will be included.


>
> Also, one of the KCLS development projects we have been highly interested
> in
> is an e-Commerce interface for the public catalog. I noticed on the KCLS
> web
> site that they are hoping to implement online fine payment in early spring.
> I was just wondering if the e-Commerce interface will be something that is
> only available under the new catalog or will it also be available for a
> library using a skin under the old architecture? I guess I'm leading to a
> larger question of what happens when a significant portion of the Evergreen
> community is using the new OPAC, but another significant portion is still
> using a customized default skin. As new functionality is developed for the
> new catalog, will it also be available for the old catalog? I imagine there
> will come a point when the old catalog is no longer supported, but I'm
> mostly thinking of enhancements that may be developed in the short-term
> future.
>

Yes, E-commerce will be included along with some other new features, like
payments history, on-the-fly record lists (for batch holds, moving to
bookbags, etc.), and patron checkouts and holds history.

Technically speaking, any of these features can be merged into the 2.x OPAC
with some skin work.  In some cases, it already has, but in an alternate
skin (e.g. KCLS).  At the moment, we (ESI) don't have any specific plans to
merge these features into the current Evergreen OPAC, but I would not be
surprised if some or most of them are eventually ported through community
efforts.

-b

-- 
Bill Erickson
| VP, Software Development & Integration
| Equinox Software, Inc. / Your Library's Guide to Open Source
| phone: 877-OPEN-ILS (673-6457)
| email: erickson at esilibrary.com
| web: http://esilibrary.com
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