Carlsbad, CA - March 18, 1993 - Data Trek's GoPAC (Graphical Online Public Access Catalog) is the winner of the 1993 Computers In Libraries "Innovative Product or Service" (CLIPS) Award. Data Trek's graphical OPAC provides rapid online access to catalog information through a Microsoft Windows compatible system.
The annual contest, sponsored by Meckler Corporation, honors the most innovative and effective information product or service contributing to library automation. Nancy Melin Nelson, [Vice President of Information and Technology at Meckler, made the announcement during the Computers In Libraries' General Session on March 1, 1993 at the Sheraton Washington in Washington, D.C. Mark Patterson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, accepted the award for Data Trek, Inc.
A panel of six technical librarians reviewed the entries. Judging criteria required each panelist to rank the new product or service based on how innovative it is and whether it is moving in the same direction as libraries are. One committee member described GoPAC as "a very nicely implemented graphically presented interface for an OPAC." Dan Marmion, committee chair and librarian at Oklahoma Slate University, said "to me it is the first available Windows-based product that represents the tend that library OPACs Will follow, i.e., a graphical user interface."
Data Trek has taken advantage of the new technological trend in computers by including a graphical user interface in its OPAC. GoPAC "distinguishes Data Trek from other library automation companies," says Data Trek's Chief Executive Officer, Scot Cheatham. "We wanted to help libraries keep a step ahead of standard library automation technology and to offer a visually innovative and powerful system. That is what we've done."
As the first Windows-compatible - OPAC, GoPAC is designed to bring Windows technology to online catalogs. Its straightforward screens, point-and-click searching, "Stan Over" functions, and full MARC compatibility accommodate both novice and expert users. GoPAC offers index searching, keyword searching, complete Boolean capabilities, truncated searches, and HyperSearch -- spontaneous searching of any word from within a retrieved record.
In April 1992, Data Trek's GoPAC met Microsoft's criteria to become an approved Microsoft Windows compatible product. GoPAC runs on a Windows 3.0 or 3.1 platform and integrates with Data Trek's Professional Series, Manager Series, and School Series products.
Data Trek will be demonstrating the award-winning GoPAC at upcoming national library conferences including: National Online, Medical Library Association, Special Libraries Association, American Libraries Association, and American Association of Law Libraries. Free "samplers" offering a guided tour through GoPAC will be available. For a personal demonstration, sampler disk, or more information, stop by Data Trek's booth at one of the conferences, or call a Data Trek Account Representative at 800-876-5484.
