Folks from the Digital Library Federation have proposed an API for
providing basic services against integrated library systems, and a
number of vendors have signed on to implement it. This has been
called the "Berkeley Accord". From the announcement [1]:
...participants agreed to support a set of essential
functions through open protocols and technologies by deploying
specific recommended standards.
These functions are:
1. Harvesting
2. Availability
3. Linking
For more specifics, see the draft recommendation and its home page
[2, 3]
All of this is definitely a step in the right direction. If our
community's software were to implement the API as described, then
various user interfaces could be written against the underlying
software making the back-ends more modular. It will also pave the way
for easier syndication of library content to other venues.
Two more things. First, I hope the implementors of the APIs do not
"embrace and extend" them. Such things are not features. Second, the
sort of activity done by the DLF in this regard represents what a
community of people can do to shape their own environment. We have
the ability to choose our own fate.
[1] http://tinyurl.com/5qpr58
[2] http://tinyurl.com/2bzrje
[3] http://tinyurl.com/2y5wor
--
Eric Lease Morgan
University Libraries of Notre Dame
Received on Thu Apr 10 2008 - 08:49:36 EDT