Yikes! That's horrible. Speaking only for my ILS (SirsiDynix Unicorn),
I could easily generate a list of ISBNs.
Mack
Tim Spalding wrote:
> 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
--
Mack Lundy
Systems Librarian
College of William and Mary, Swem Library
malund_at_wm.edu
Office: 757-221-3114
Cell: 757-817-4069
Received on Fri Jun 16 2006 - 10:28:59 EDT