Redefining Our OPAC Computers With GOOGLE'S CHROMEBOX

The OPAC has been available to patrons for many years. The library, like others, provided dedicated computers in the building just for the catalog. These traditional, single-purpose computers allowed patrons to browse their entire collection quickly and find the materials they wanted to check out. Today, the patrons are much more tech-savvy than they were when the idea of dedicated OPAC computers came to fruition. The patrons currently have the skills to use their valuable Internet-based services. During the author's extensive hunt for new devices, they ordered Google's Chromebox for their "techie toolbox." He was now hooked and became highly interested in the cloud-centric Chrome OS to run their OPAC due to its uncomplicated, browser-focused interface for the public. He discovered many advantages for using Chromeboxes as their public catalog computers. All the software, updates, anti-virus, and security issues are taken care of through the Google Cloud Platform.