[Koha-devel] Default search options in the OPAC

[Fischer, Katrin]

Hi Owen,

I am not feeling comfortable with adding more search options to the masthead search bar too. As you wrote it should be simple to use and we already offer a lot of options there.

One of the bugs noted that the full functionality can not be achieved by using jQuery, so maybe we can find another compromise.

Perhaps this needs to be made configurable sometime in the future. Could we make it easy to use CSS to hide or even 'unhide' some of the options?

Katrin



> -----Original Message-----
> From: koha-devel-bounces at lists.koha-community.org [mailto:koha-devel-
> bounces at lists.koha-community.org] On Behalf Of Owen Leonard
> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 3:59 PM
> To: koha-devel at lists.koha-community.org
> Subject: [Koha-devel] Default search options in the OPAC
> 
> We've now got two patches pending which seek to add more options to the
> default OPAC search, the masthead search bar which currently includes
> options for Library catalog, title, author, subject, ISBN, series, and
> call number:
> 
> Add "Phrase" Searching to OPAC Search
> http://bugs.koha-community.org/bugzilla3/show_bug.cgi?id=8778
> 
> Add accesssion [barcode] number to the drop down list in OPAC Search
> http://bugs.koha-community.org/bugzilla3/show_bug.cgi?id=8302
> 
> I'll say right out that I'm opposed to these changes, but I want to
> bring it up here on the list so we can discuss.
> 
> I think the default search options which appear in this space need to be
> limited and simple. I come from the point of view of public libraries,
> so my goal is to make it easy for someone to walk up to the OPAC and
> start searching. In my opinion these options should be available only on
> the advanced search page. My concern is that when we add some of these
> more complex options we're catering not to the public but to librarians
> using the OPAC, and I think those librarians'
> needs are not our primary focus in this interface.
> 
> I also think that our search system needs to be so good that keyword +
> relevance wins over specific searches like "title phrase."
> 
> That said, I'm aware that the public library is only one of many types
> of libraries, and that other libraries have different needs.
> 
> Are these needs varied enough that we need to build an interface in the
> staff client for selecting which search options are shown in the OPAC?
> 
>  -- Owen
> 
> --
> Web Developer
> Athens County Public Libraries
> http://www.myacpl.org
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