Hi I have a naive question a propos mashups. LibraryThing is starting
to look at "hooking up" to libraries, for example providing its
recommendations to libraries that want to show them.
So, I'm talking to the tech guy at a library, and I want to get a
complete list of all their ISBNs. And he tells me that their current
OPAC doesn't really GIVE them access to that sort of data. With their
"old" OPAC they could issue a standard SQL command. But now the system
is locked up, and getting that data requires "buying an XML server."
To get what I wanted--a list of all their ISBNs--I had to essentially
*spider* their site.
How common is this scenario?
I'm guessing any discussion of "next generation" OPACs must include an
open database engine. Am I crazy?
Tim Spalding
LibraryThing.com
Received on Fri Jun 16 2006 - 10:20:31 EDT