ShelfLister

What is it?

ShelfLister is a Voyager [1] client for generating real-time shelf lists. ShelfLister is compatible with any networked computing platform having a browser, but it has been optimized for mobile computing via wireless-enabled hand-held devices such as Palm Pilots or Pocket PCs. Since it is a web-based application residing on the server, no software (other than a browser) needs to be installed on the client end.

How does it work?

As an application designed for mobile-computing, ShelfLister requires minimal data entry -- in fact, no manual data entry if used with an integrated barcode scanner. A user only needs to scan, or enter, the barcodes for two books on each end of a shelf, and ShelfLister generates a call-number sorted shelf list of all items between those two items. The user has a choice of including any or all of the following information:

• historical charge statistics,
• historical browse statistics,
• item status (e.g. Charged, Missing, Cat/Circ Review, etc.),
• enhanced call number info (call number plus item enumeration, chronology, year, and copy number).

For situations in which a collection isn't barcoded, an alternate entry form allows for inputting call numbers.

From the shelf list results page, clicking on an item brings up the title and author, all barcode numbers (active and inactive), and expanded item status information. The demo provides an in-depth look at the application.

Although somewhat cryptic without the commentary I provided at the presentation, you can also take a look at the EndUser 2005 session 40 powerpoint:
ShelfLister: Real-time Voyager Shelf Lists via Wireless PDA

Why use it?

It is anticipated that ShelfLister may be useful for stacks maintenance, collection development (e.g. weeding), or inventory purposes.

What are the requirements?

ShelfLister is a Perl [2] application that gets installed in the cgi-bin directory of your Voyager database server. For mobile computing, your library must have a wireless local area network (WLAN) [3]. Because ShelfLister is server-based, it is platform independent as far as the laptop/PDA [4] hardware or operating system -- the only client side requirements are a wireless network card and a web browser.

Using this program

Interested Voyager libraries are encouraged to use the ShelfLister program which is being distributed as free software under a license from the University of Texas at Arlington. To get started, just download the distribution tarball containing all the needed files and follow the installation instructions.

Future development

ShelfLister is still very much a beta product and your feedback will be important in determining future development.

On the "to do" list:

• Subroutines to handle normalization of Dewey Decimal and SuDoc call numbers (for call number entry form)
• Windows port
• Fine-tune browser detection (e.g. for slate/tablet PCs)
• Multilingual interface
• Zero configuration (via parsing of voyager.env)

Notes

1. "Voyager" is one of the Ex Libris integrated library management systems.
2. Prerequisites are Perl, and the DBI and DBD::Oracle modules. Perl is installed by default on Solaris and the Perl DBI and DBD::Oracle modules are installed by Endeavor staff since they are also required for WebAdmin.
3. The most common WLAN standard is IEEE 802.11g, although others standards exist. As long as your laptop/PDA wireless cards are compatible with your WLAN hubs, you are OK. Theoretically you could also use PDAs with "cellular" wireless, but that option has slower data transfer rates and requires a cellular account with attendant access charges.
4. Personal digital assistant (PDA) is a generic term for hand-held computing devices such as Palm Pilots or Pocket PCs.