A big wave of Next Generation Catalog - Its features and implementing into Japanese library systems -. (English)

The idea of "Web 2.0" is now involving various fields worldwide and the library world is as well. Libraries are trying to enhance the means to provide the information to their patrons more effectively, applying to the "Web 2.0' functions. Therefore, libraries are recently focusing on a new front-end system called "Next Generation Catalog (NGC)," which is not only discussed and developed actively but also already implemented into leading libraries in many countries. The NGC provides remarkable functions such as spell checking/keyword suggesting, faceted browsing, relevance sorting, user participating and integrating federated search engines. Especially, university libraries that own a variety of items from archives to digital format are needed to introduce such an interface immediately. Firstly, in this article problems of traditional library catalog in university libraries in Japan will be discussed. Secondly, six main features of the NGC will be evaluated in detail. Then, major NGC sources included both commercial and open source software will be reviewed. And finally, several ideas to introduce the sources to university libraries in Japan will be suggested as a conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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