Toronto Public Library

As for my first Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) website, I chose to examine Toronto Public Library website. The overall website design in the main home page appears consistent, simple and easy to navigate: The left menu column displays the information on the library catalogue for general use, patrons library services such as checking the account & renewing items, the specific site for kids only named "KidsSpace," the one for teens "ramp," good websites of the library choices, picture/local history, and even small business, job-hunting, and more. Hovering over each menu bar, the user can have more clear information on what it says: For example, the menu "Find Books & Materials Library Catalogue" displays "Use the website catalogues to find and place holds on books, CDs, DVDs, and other library materials." On the main page, users see a variety of community driven activities information such as Programs and Events, Multicultural Resources, Book Clubs, and Services. Besides, users can interact with a librarian directly through phone, email, in person or online. As for email reference, "Ask a librarian" is categorized into adults & teens email, and kids email, in order to meet each users' specific needs. Should users still be in a maze, there's the specific link that can help out library patrons: "Help." Clicking upon "help" directs the users to the most essential information on how to manage the users account as to check due dates, renew, place & view holds, manage holds, check fines, check & change personal info, finding books & articles & other numerous library items by searching the library catalogue. As the users see from the menu bars, Toronto Public Library seems to actively be involved in its community providing information that its community users can easily make use of and enrich their lives on a daily basis.

In terms of the library catalogue search, there are five different approaches the library site suggests: a. Basic Search/ b. Advanced search/ c. Call Number Search/ d. Starts with Search/ e. Find it Fast! Right below that information has the guideline to educate users and clarify what it means by each approach to the library catalogue, which I find very helpful. I clicked "Basic Search" to see how the library facilitates its usage. It's divided by two different ways to search the item: one is searching with title or author; the other is searching with keyword by branch, language, and format meaning here informational objects such as audio, dvd, books, magazines that contain specific information a propos. What surprised me is the language selection that meets users with different language other than English while browsing, identifying, selecting, and finding the item users want.

First, I typed in "Native Speaker" by Chang Rae Lee in title/author search and keyword respectively to see how the library catalogue pulls the requested information. The search result from title search was a bit surprising because it pulled up all the titles that begins with native and the first letter in the second word "speaker" in alphabetical order. The first title was "Native space and Roman invaders," and the next one "Native speaker" which I requested, and more than ten other titles that start with native. For keyword search for "Native speaker," the catalogue system pulled up either the title containing "native speaker" as a part of the title or something to do with the second language usage or language in nature itself. I didn't see any relevancy difference as far as the search results are concerned, either from author/title search or keyword search. For advanced search (Boolean Search), there are several other limitations on search users can select such as Author, Title, Subject, Series, and Periodical Titles. I typed Chang Rae Lee for author and "Native Speaker" for title. It pulled up exactly what I requested. There are two information users can choose. Either you can place the item on hold or check details. Clicking upon details icon, I gleaned all the metadata pertaining to the requested item from publisher to pub. year and page #'s. Its relevancy in search results was satisfactory.

Symbols such as icons, signs, and labels are intuitive and the catalogue record display is made up of brief bibliographic information.

I found Toronto Public Library online public access catalogue well organized in displaying records, easy to navigate, and well accommodating users needs.