1. The Importance of Union Catalogs in Retrieving Convenient
Information and Enhancing Users Satisfaction Joseph Mhanna
2. Outline What is a Union Catalog The Initiative of a Local
Union Catalog The Transaction: Students Request step-by-step
Discussion and Interpretation Conclusion 4/21/2015 Observation
Presentation LIS 6120 2
3. What is a Union Catalog 4/21/2015 Observation Presentation
LIS 6120 3 A union catalog is a combined library catalog describing
the collections of a number of libraries. (Wikipedia) A catalog
containing bibliographic records that indicate locations of
materials in more than one library or in several units of one
library. (Dictionary.com)
4. The Initiative of a Local Union Catalog The discussions of
the Lebanese Academic Libraries Consortium (LALC) to improve
records visibility. The meeting with ProQuest at Special Libraries
Association (SLA) conference in Abu Dhabi, March 2015. 4/21/2015
Observation Presentation LIS 6120 4
5. The Transaction: Students Request step-by-step 4/21/2015
Observation Presentation LIS 6120 5 Graduate Student asking for the
book New Media, Old News: Journalism & Democracy in the Digital
Age published by SAGE. Book Available electronically via EBSCO
eBooks Collection only. Two (2) options: Read it online. Download
it offline (check out) for 21 days (Adobe Digital Edition is a
requirement).
6. The Transaction: Students Request step-by-step (Continued)
4/21/2015 Observation Presentation LIS 6120 6 Students request was
not totally met. He needs to use the book offline for more that 21
days. I knew that the books is published by SAGE. My workplace
library holds the full collection of SAGE Knowledge (eBook Platform
of SAGE). Book can be downloaded in pdf format for future offline
use for unlimited time.
7. The Transaction: Students Request Step-By-Step (Continued)
4/21/2015 Observation Presentation LIS 6120 7 I notified the
Reference Librarian who in his turn notified the user. The eBooks
was requested through ILL/DDS. Maximum user satisfaction.
8. Discussion and Interpretation 4/21/2015 Observation
Presentation LIS 6120 8 1. When answering questions, librarians
have to maintain awareness of community resources and optional
delivery services through interlibrary loan, consortial agreements,
fax, and full-text services (Bopp, Smith 2011). 2. Searching LALC
members OPACs is time consuming for the librarian and might be
frustrating for the user. 3. Why a union catalog? a) Time saver b)
Allow searches/access to wider collections c) User satisfaction d)
Higher statistics
9. Conclusion Resource Sharing had been the solution on many
libraries in Lebanon in facing budget cuts and economic conditions.
This experience answered all questions and hesitations I had prior
to the implementation of a local union catalog similar to WorldCat.
4/21/2015 Observation Presentation LIS 6120 9