The Evolution of Dewey &

WebDeweyThe Future is Now

Andrea Kappler

Cataloging Manager

Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

Evansville, IN

Brief “Digital” Dewey History

DOS (Electronic Dewey) Windows (Dewey for Windows) Web (WebDewey)

1993 – Electronic Dewey

Unveiled at Midwinter 1993 DDC 20 MS DOS CD-ROM product Keyboard commands Screen displays very different from print Dewey Limited local notes capability Hard to “window” in a DOS environment Hard to update More of a cataloging curiosity than a cataloging tool

1996 – Dewey for Windows

DDC 21 Windows CD-ROM product Mouse friendly – select windows, scroll, drag

& drop, expand/minimize windows Screen displays include “Show Page” view Local notes capability All documentation online Hard to update Becoming a cataloging tool

2000 – WebDewey

DDC 21 Subscription Web product (available through CORC) Internet connection & mouse needed Screen displays show hierarchical structure of

numbers No local notes Much improved online help Browser environment– lots of windows! Kept up-to-date by OCLC/Forest Press Cataloging power tool!

Favorite Features in 2001

Separate Browse and Search screens Boolean searching Hierarchical display of numbers Hypertext links

Dewey class numbers LCSH authority records

Buttons for Tables, Browse, Notes, Terms, & a new search box always visible

Timer Updated by OCLC/Forest Press

Wish List from 2001

Search history button Option to revise a Boolean search Link to OPAC Work area (for building numbers) Larger timer; maybe flashing when time down to 5

minutes Local notes, local notes, local notes! More built numbers Links back to older editions, especially when

numbers are discontinued

Wishes Granted

Search history button Revise Boolean searches Link to OPAC Work area Timer flashes when time remaining is down to 5

minutes Local notes!! More built numbers Links back to discontinued numbers in older editions

Search History lets me revise or repeat a search

Revise a search

636.7083 searched in my OPAC

Create local notes: institutional or personal

Cool Stuff I Wish I’d Wished For… Logon saved in a cookie Related links Quick tips (on the Search screen) Launch WebDewey from Connexion Client Really long WebDewey session (2 hrs. vs. 40 min.

from within Connexion Browser session) Collapsible hierarchy & other user preferences Improved mappings:

Subject headings for children SM – Statistical Mappings PPT (People Places & Things) mappings EM – Editorial mappings – most authoritative

Helpful links

Logon saved in a cookie

Timer

More links

Launch WebDewey from OCLC’s Connexion Client

Set user preferences

Change DDC display options

Mappings & links to definitions

For 2006– I Challenge Dewey to… Provide more frequent updating (monthly, weekly, daily, hourly?) Incorporate the Dewey Blog

Provide a link to the Dewey Blog on opening screen Link numbers in Blog discussions to WebDewey

Integrate local notes with schedules & tables Link back to older editions for discontinued numbers (I don’t like

the Excel spreadsheet) Provide links to Relative Index terms Allow more user feedback:

Contributions of built numbers Tagging/Folksonomies for Relative Index term suggestions Direct line to EPC members

Add Dewey class numbers to LCSH authority records

The Future is Now…

Collaborative nature of the Web Consider changing WebDewey’s name?

Web2.0Dewey WikiDewey

Questions, Comments

Andrea Kappler

andreak@evpl.org