The Evolution of Dewey

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The Evolution of Dewey WebDewey

• The Future is Now

Andrea Kappler Cataloging Manager Evansville
Vanderburgh Public Library Evansville, IN
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Brief Digital Dewey History

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

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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

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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

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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!

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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

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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

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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 ?

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Search History lets me revise or repeat a search
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Revise a search
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636.7083 searched in my OPAC
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Create local notes institutional or personal
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Cool Stuff I Wish Id 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

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Helpful links
Logon saved in a cookie
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Timer
More links
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Launch WebDewey from OCLCs Connexion Client
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Set user preferences
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Change DDC display options
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Mappings links to definitions
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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 dont 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

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The Future is Now

• Collaborative nature of the Web
• Consider changing WebDeweys name?
• Web2.0Dewey
• WikiDewey

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Questions, Comments
Andrea Kappler andreak_at_evpl.org