From static to dynamic: Using the OPAC to generate real‐time lists of departmental acquisitions for library current awareness service

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to report on a successful implementation of a current awareness service designed to inform teaching faculty and liaison librarians as to the status of library materials they have ordered.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper looks at the methods employed by the authors, which simplify maintenance of lists of new titles by providing a single, consistent access point to new resources. The dynamic pages are compiled by using the OPAC as a platform: connecting with a Z39.50 protocol, passing keywords and phrases along via the URL query string, parsing the data with PHP, and rendering the data on the web with a combination of PHP and JavaScript.

Findings

The OPAC‐as‐platform method of rendering the departmental acquisitions pages has solved every problem that had existed up to this point. With very minor changes to cataloguing workflow, the technical services department now has a low‐maintenance system in place for notifying teaching faculty and liaison librarians of new arrivals.

Originality/value

The project demonstrates cooperation between public services, systems, IT, and technical services to enhance library services to users. It also demonstrates the value of and potential for cataloguing as a means to deliver innovative services.

Citation

McMullen, A. and Gray, B. (2012), "From static to dynamic: Using the OPAC to generate real‐time lists of departmental acquisitions for library current awareness service", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 30 No. 4, pp. 673-682. https://doi.org/10.1108/07378831211285121