Tim, I think I posted this here (or somewhere similar) recently, but we
need a "switching" database that goes from:
LCCN
ISBN
OCLC #
+ some amount of bib metadata
to: URLs for digital versions (Google, OCA, PG)
so that folks could link from their OPAC to the digitized text. I
wouldn't limit it to only full text -- someone might want to go and
search inside the book. And, yes, it has to be a "pre-search" and
cached, kind of like the book covers. But you want to let the user know
if it's full text or search only before they click on the link.
The reason I say a "switching" database is that it would 1) be great to
have it all in one place 2) this would reduce the automated hits on
sites that are primarily designed for search by humans. But if someone
can figure out another way to do it, I'm fine with that.
I'm a bit concerned about the user interface -- how to handle multiple
URLs (not sure how systems like Millennium webbridge handle multiple
links). I see this as similar to grabbing the book covers, and in that
case a single hit is all that is needed. We'd want to keep and show all
hits because different digitized books will have different features.
In terms of "does anyone want it?" Yes, I know of libraries that are
exploring this very function today. But it would be better for us to
solve the problem generally than have lots of people solving it for
their own catalogs.
kc
Tim Spalding wrote:
> What do people here think of the following idea, both personally and
> what how you think other library people would respond:
>
> Embedding links to Google Booksearch Books within the standard OPAC.
>
> 1. Only books with the full text would be linked to, not "limited
> preview books."
> 2. Other similar resources could be added too (PG, Open Library, etc.)
>
> It seems to me this would be a service—check out a book before you get
> it. But I could imagine it would also touch a nerve.
>
> --
> Check out my library at http://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding
>
>
--
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Karen Coyle / Digital Library Consultant
kcoyle@kcoyle.net http://www.kcoyle.net
ph.: 510-540-7596 skype: kcoylenet
fx.: 510-848-3913
mo.: 510-435-8234
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Received on Fri Sep 14 2007 - 10:38:55 EDT