YourLibrarySite Now Supports SOPAC 2
Josh Hadro -- Library Journal, 11/10/2008
- External support and installation options for SOPAC 2 now available
- Drupal-based OPAC interface offers feedback options
- Palos Verde Library District web site revamp
SOPAC 2, the latest rising star in the world of patron-friendly online catalogs, has new support and installation options provided by web development shop YourLibrarySite. The Eugene, OR-based company, part of CraftySpace, LLC, is now helping the Palos Verde Library District, CA, install the the new catalog interface and an updated content management system (CMS) back-end for the library's site, expected to be completed sometime in the next few months.
SOPAC 2 was originally designed by John Blyberg for the Darien Library, CT, and then released as an open source software suite (see previous coverage for more background). Built on top of the open source Drupal CMS, SOPAC aims to seamlessly integrate a library’s OPAC into the broader design of a library's site in order to prevent users from being shunted off into an isolated and frequently idiosyncratic online catalog. SOPAC 2 also gives patrons feedback tools like book reviews, ratings, and tagging as well as the ability to browse lists of popular items across dozens of categories (features similar to some of those found in other recent catalog interface enhancement products like BiblioCommons and LibraryThing for Libraries).
Since its debut in September, SOPAC 2 has garnered significant praise, and has also gathered a devoted following of developers interested in installing and extending the software. Even with this community support option available, however, not every library has the necessary tech resources at its disposal to undertake the transition to a SOPAC-driven catalog front end.
Adding expertise
Now libraries interested in exploring some of the cutting edge OPAC options can do so without relying purely on in-house expertise. In a recent comment on the announcement from YourLibrarySite, Blyberg discussed the benefit of having a support option available for installing the software: "While it's actually a fairly straightforward install process, you still need someone who knows how to use Linux and [open source] tools. Many libraries just don't have that. Having someone to manage that part of the process is a comfort."
Adding support and installation packages for SOPAC 2 was a natural fit for the team at YourLibrarySite, since they're already dedicated to development of web sites using the open source Drupal CMS. Drupal allows for the easy manipulation of content in various "modules" and supports a number of options for blog posts, events calendars, and content redistribution via dynamic RSS feed control.
Other examples of Drupal-based sites developed by YourLibrarySite include the Altadena Library District in Los Angeles County, and the Metropolitan Cooperative Library System, an association of 33 libraries in the Los Angeles area, though neither of these include the SOPAC 2 features expected with the Palos Verde Library District site redesign.
