Blog Thread for the Interface of the Houston Public Library ("HPL")
http://www.houstonlibrary.org/
The Houston Public Library is one of several members to a consortium called Houston Area Library
Automated Network ("HALAN").www.halan.lib.tx.us
This consortium serves the following:
Bellaire CityLibrary http://www.ci.bellaire.tx.us/index.aspx?NID=10
Hebert Public Library http://www.ptn.lib.tx.us/
Houston Public Library http://www.houstonlibrary.org/
Hughes Public Library http://www.ned.lib.tx.us/
Lee College Library http://www.lee.edu/library/
Pasadena Public Library http://www.ci.pasadena.tx.us/library/
Port Arthur Public Library http://www.pap.lib.tx.us/
Sterling Municipal Library http://baytownlibrary.org/
Old Techniques Still Work
Managing webpages and databases takes expertise and time, which means a lot of money. Farmers discovered long ago that cooperatives could save them money and bring expertise to their businesses. I am glad that librarians have followed suit.
Keeping Patrons in Mind
The consortium that the Houston Public Library (HPL) belongs to is“user-centered” in my opinion. Personally I do not see that the new interface is better than the old one. I do believe that a consortium significantly improves the quality of customer service. I do not know how long HPL has used HALAN, but it is hard to imagine most libraries doing this on their own.Keeping Patrons in Mind
The fact that a consortium is involved surely fits the bill for “value & usefulness.” I have no doubt that HALAN has reduced the internal costs and has allowed the library to use the saved funds for other services.
Biggest Bang for the Buck
HALANwww.halan.lib.tx.us can assist with customizing a library’s services so that they are flexible and available anytime and anywhere.
Working together the libraries in the consortium can afford the latest technology which they could not afford alone. This is a good example of “the whole being worth more than the sum of its parts.”
With the consortium the libraries can negotiate site licenses (including all types of software, not just ILS or database subscriptions). And it can improve operating processes, through consultation and sharing of experience with other members. It can also provide group training.
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good work, Charlie!
ReplyDeleteIt seems that HALAN adds a lot of value-added services to the consortium. I would consider this a user-centered service. I wish I knew in further detail how about the supposed savings in money and time that HALAN provides. This definitely would be a benefit for smaller cities such as Port Arthur and Baytown where they may not have an extensive tax base to update frequently library services.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the consortium is in the patron's best interest. Good information. Laura
ReplyDeleteHALAN is obviously very good thing that happen to the libraries in the Houston area. The WebBridge that is offered in the library catalog is a great feature that suggests related Web resources based on a user's search. The Syndetic Solutions feature that is available enriches the library catalog with added content (cover images, book reviews, summaries, first chapters, table of contents etc.)
ReplyDeleteLooks very interesting an easy to navigate through. I like it!
I like the thought of libraries using consortiums to increase the resources for their patrons. I like to think of it as a win-win situation for both the patron and the library.
ReplyDeleteI think consortiums are important for libraries in that they greatly increase available resources at a minimum cost. It sounds like HPL has really benefited from the consortium, even if, as you note, the user interface isn’t all that much improved.
ReplyDeleteConsortiums are very important to public libraries and Houston—simply because if its size-- probably has more to offer than most other members. The comparison of consortiums to farmer coops is a valid concept.
ReplyDelete---Robin Robinson
Charlie mentions some advantages of the consortium I think are significant also--all types of software (not just databases), improved operation processes and group training. The consortium benefits the library staff as much as the patrons.
ReplyDeleteInteresting information about HALAN. I had noticed some changes to the HPL site and had not been aware of the consortium. Sometimes HPL's resources seem meager compared to those of other large cities, and the HALAN services are a good addition for that reason.
ReplyDeleteAlso, as Cassandra points out, there are plenty of nearby cities that would benefit greatly from taking part in a consortium such as this.
Charlie,
ReplyDeleteUseful links and summary of consortiums. They seem to provide a lot of benefit for the user and they also demonstrate a type of successful collaboration that the new design for libraries is trying to accomplish.
My thoughts on how this blog benefits users:
ReplyDeleteThe benefit has little to do with my original purpose in starting this blog. The initial subject was the new interface of the Houston Public Library. Once I got into it, I realized that the story is the consortium, Houston Area Library Automated Network ("HALAN").
Until I began this blog, I had no idea that HALAN existed. This all gave me a better understanding of the library services. It is difficult to pinpoint how this benefits users. But the more one knows about the aspects of the library, the better one can take advantage of the services offered.
The above post was from me.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to add my name.