[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] browser client update 2014-05-01 / feedback requested on catalog integration

[Bill Erickson]

On Thu, May 1, 2014 at 12:48 PM, Boyer, Jason A <JBoyer1 at library.in.gov>wrote:

>  I don't have any specific feedback yet, but I'm curious about the
> history of this aspect of the client and I've been having lousy luck trying
> to find anything about it.
>
>
>
> Can anyone point me to any discussion about making the staff client search
> interface a modified version of the public opac? I know several other
> systems have a slimmed down staff search in their clients and their opac is
> completely separate. I'm not suggesting we move that way but it would
> certainly solve the problem of keeping angular and dojo from interfering
> with each other. Knowing more about the motivations behind it would help me
> understand why it's worth keeping them together.
>
>
>
Good question...  Maybe we need to *cough* rebase or assumptions and
requirements on catalog integration.

As I recall, the primary impetus for absorbing the catalog into the staff
client was that it allows staff to see what patrons see.  This makes
communication between staff and patrons more efficient, etc.  The catalog
is a good discovery tool, too, so why not use it?

Of course, if you are in a browser, seeing what patrons see is as simple as
opening a new browser tab and *voila* there's the catalog.  Perhaps such
tight integration is no longer necessary.

Anyone have any other reasons why tight integration with the catalog and
client are necessary?

It seems we have a rainbow of options here, from having the staff absorb
the catalog (w/ embedded navbar, menus, etc.) to having a few essential
integration points, which mostly consist of links directing staff back to
the staff UI, to leaving the catalog alone and building inline search and
holds placement interfaces.  Regardless of which path we take, access to
the patron catalog is always a click away.

-b

-- 
Bill Erickson
| Senior Software Developer
| phone: 877-OPEN-ILS (673-6457)
| email: berick at esilibrary.com
| web: http://esilibrary.com
| Equinox Software, Inc. / The Open Source Experts
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