OCLC Research Releases New FAST Prototype User Interface and Invites Your Comments
The new user interface simplifies the process of heading selection, in a one-page design.
FAST subject headings were developed by adapting the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) with a simplified syntax, retaining the very rich vocabulary of LCSH while making the schema easier to understand, control, apply, and use.
The FAST interface allows you to investigate FAST authorities directly, or by using the Library of Congress Authorities from which they were derived.
The new interface design combines search box, brief results list, and full view of a selected record on a single page. Several indexes and the ability to restrict the result to a desired FAST facet increase searching accuracy. The default result ranking is by usage, giving the most likely candidate heading near the top of the result, although alphabetic and facet order options are easily available. An autosuggest makes the selection process even easier.
We are particularly interested in users’ experience with the new interface, so we encourage you to explore it and send us your comments and suggestions.
This application was developed primarily by JD Shipengrover, Senior Web & User Interface Designer, and Consulting Software Engineer Rick Bennett.
Direct to searchFast Prototype
Some Experiments, Cool Tools, and Research Reports from OCLC Research
1. ArchiveGrid
2. Demo Web App: LibraryFinder: A New Web App By OCLC Researchers
3. Demo Web App: WorldCat Identities Network
Awesome and full of potential not only in the library world.
4. iPhone App: mapFINDS
Great idea and again lots of potential. From OCLC Research Developer, Steven Huwig.
5. Report: Single Search: The Quest for the Holy Grail
6. Report: Seeking Synchronicity: Revelations and Recommendations for Virtual Reference
7. Report: Social Metadata for Libraries, Archives, and Museums Part 1: Site Reviews
Filed under: Archives and Special Collections, Libraries, Patrons and Users, Reports, Resources
About Gary Price
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com. Gary is also the co-founder of infoDJ an innovation research consultancy supporting corporate product and business model teams with just-in-time fact and insight finding.
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