People

Here we will describe the various types of people who should be involved in creating a next-generation catalog, how they might fit into a project, what perspective they might approach the project from, and how they might be motivated to contribute.

People (cooked)

 

 

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People (raw)

 

• Users (for lack of a better term)

 

• Librarians

 

• Computer programmers

 

• Graphic designers

 

• Marketers

 

• Anthropologists

 

• HCI, usability, and interface experts

 

• Vendors: Creatures of profit who respond to demonstrable market interest. More than a few of them are earnestly interested in delivering great tools at an affordable price to their customers - within the realm of "what's possible." Vendor support might make the difference between success and failure for a next-generation catalog. To have a serious conversation with a vendor, come with:
  • a clear understanding of what I want, what I need, what I have and what I am and am not getting from my vendor.
  • a list of alternatives, if necessary.
  • an understanding of what my users - my customers need - first, and then an understanding of what staff need, first from the bottom-up, and then from the top down.
  • explicit backing from management, from me all the way up the org chart.
  • clear authority to negotiate.
  • and if I can get it, money. Maybe it's just clarity about what I've paid and spent so far.