A Social OPAC!

If Library 2.0 is all about encouraging patron collaboration, feedback, and participation in library services, and fostering connections between people, then Ann Arbor District Library’s newly-enhanced OPAC is a true embodiment of this philosophy! 

In a January 21 post to his blog, John Blyberg, System Administrator and Lead Developer at the Ann Arbor District Library, writes about implementing "The SOPAC" (short for Social OPAC) at his library.  Blyberg describes the SOPAC as " a set of social networking tools integrated into the AADL catalog.  It gives users the ability to rate, review, comment on, and tag items." 

If you’d like to take a closer look at his innovation, Blyberg invites readers to visit the AADL catalog.  Once you get there, scroll down the page to view the "Top Ten Tags," "10 Most Recent Tags," "10 Random Tags," "Last 10 Reviews," and "10 Random Reviews." 

You need an account to create content (e.g., add tags, write reviews, etc.), but you don’t need to be a cardholder or Ann Arbor resident to get one – just click on "My Account" and follow the on-screen instructions.  Then, look up a book you’ve recently read, and "[b]e the first to write a review" or add a tag! 

For fun, make sure you click on the "Card catalog image" link associated with your title.  If you’ve created an account you can add marginalia to the card and save it to your "Personal Card Catalog."

Is this cool, or what?

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