OPACs (Online Public Access Catalogues) are online catalogues of libraries and information centers designed for easier and quicker access to the library holdings. OPACs require familiarity with basic information literacy concepts to some extent: It means that the more a person knows the concepts of a subject, the better he/ she can access and retrieve needed information through OPACs. Online catalogues of libraries have separate functions as bibliographic databases, data entry and as a method for introducing a library and its services. This research aims to evaluate the functionality of OPACs and their problems. Furthermore in this paper the OPAC has been surveyed from the perspective of communication theory and effective factors concerning communication process have been identified. Weakness in classification and cataloguing rules, gradual evolution of library classifications and subject headings and also the complexity of cataloguing rules are some of the factors considered. Also the present ambiguity in key words, relational code and language symptoms are the main causes of the numerous problems which OPACs are faced with.
Biranvand, A., & Sharifmoghadam, H. (2009). OPACs and present ambiguities in information transfer. Librarianship and Information Organization Studies, 20(3), 23-36.
MLA
A. Biranvand; H. Sharifmoghadam. "OPACs and present ambiguities in information transfer". Librarianship and Information Organization Studies, 20, 3, 2009, 23-36.
HARVARD
Biranvand, A., Sharifmoghadam, H. (2009). 'OPACs and present ambiguities in information transfer', Librarianship and Information Organization Studies, 20(3), pp. 23-36.
VANCOUVER
Biranvand, A., Sharifmoghadam, H. OPACs and present ambiguities in information transfer. Librarianship and Information Organization Studies, 2009; 20(3): 23-36.
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