REENGINEERING THE OPAC USING TRANSACTION LOGS

This paper describes an effort at the University of Illinois at Chicag o (UIC) Library to respond to user needs as they are revealed in trans action logs of catalog use. It illustrates success in improving access to catalog records through a re-engineering process. The UIC Library Re-engineering Project, the administrative structure to study transact ion logs, and the resultant managerial decisions are outlined. Changes made to screen displays and to the OPAC are detailed. Focusing on cus tomer satisfaction, UIC catalog librarians joined forces with colleagu es to identify users' unmet needs and preferences through transaction log analysis. In order to minimize mismatches between users' expectati ons and services actually provided, UIC catalog librarians studied tra nsaction logs and adjusted the OPAC. Specific efforts to increase acce ss to the library's collections and the steps taken to enhance and cus tomize bibliographic and authority records are detailed. Transaction l og analysis has enabled UIC to alter the form and content of its OPAC to fit the changing needs of diverse and widely dispersed users. While maximizing dwindling resources, we have been able to deliver an impro ved, reengineered product to our customers. UIC catalog librarians wil l continue to be mindful of user needs as we create, modify and mainta in data in the constantly evolving OPAC.