INFOhio automated schools testing New CAT

Background - For the last couple years, INFOhio has been migrating its 2,000+ automated buildings from MultiLIS software to a newer, graphical software suite from the SirsiDynix Corporation. By the fall of 2007, almost all installed buildings, and several new sites, have been using one of the two WorkFlows clients available for the library staff component.

Next up: Evaluation of a new online public access catalog (OPAC) for older users. New CAT. INFOhio is using the 2007-2008 school year to evaluate a production version of New CAT, available for all schools currently automated with INFOhio. New CAT searches the same building and district holdings that are searched with CAT and CAT Jr.; results lists should be the same.

Locating New CAT - Just use your online catalog as you always do. (Or, visit any of the 2,000+ buildings automated with INFOhio.)

Click on the Search the new CAT! link near the top of the welcome screen, just below the school's name.

During this evaluation year, schools can continue to use CAT and CAT Jr. or start using New CAT. Even if you don’t use New CAT as your main OPAC this year, INFOhio asks that librarians use the product to provide feedback to INFOhio. You are welcome to teach students and colleagues about New CAT; we would like their opinions, too. This new interface will eventually replace the existing CAT OPAC, so make sure you tell us what’s good about it, what’s missing, what needs to be improved, etc.

Performing a Quick Search in New CAT -  Just type in a search term and click the Search button (or press Enter). The Words or phrase default is by keyword; use the dropdown to narrow searches by Author, Title, Subject or Series.

Use the library dropdown to search any individual building in the district or all the buildings in the district.

The Quick Search box provides six sort fields and includes a spell checker that works much the same as in CAT and CAT Jr. Additional search options are available from both the top and side menus.

Costs - There are no costs associated with the New CAT interface; it will simply be an upgrade by INFOhio as part of our ongoing library automation service to schools.

Feedback - A special Web site to collect comments and suggestions is linked from the Suggestion Box link in the main menu at the top of every New CAT page. Test out the new OPAC. Then use the site to report problems, check on known issues, tell the New CAT what you like and don't like, suggest additional features be added to the product.