Re: google onebox, "next generation" library catalogs, and interpreting queries

Hi Eric,

Thanks for passing this along. While I need to do a lot more testing to
see how well it works, on first glance it is very nice. I wouldn't mind
trying to do something similar here at some point. I don't see this as a
primary entry-way to the library catalog, but it certainly can be
another access point.

What are you using to return the catalog results?

Edward

Eric Lease Morgan wrote:
> On May 2, 2008, at 4:06 PM, Eric Lease Morgan wrote:
>
>> I have been thinking about Google Onebox technology, "next
>> generation" library catalogs, and interpreting user queries.
>> Specifically, I think the techniques behind Google Onebox
>> technology could easily be implemented in "next generation" library
>> catalogs.
>
>
> To illustrate some of the possibilities of Google Onebox technology
> and how a library catalog search can be integrated into "search this
> site" functionality, I created the following demonstration. Try
> searching for Walt Whitman at the following URL:
>
>   http://dewey.library.nd.edu/box/
>
> Remember, it is just an example -- a prototype!
>
> Here at Notre Dame the library manages the campus-wide search engine
> -- a Google Search Appliance. For the most part, it works pretty
> well. The Appliance allows us to create sub-collections, and in our
> case we created a sub-collection of simply library- and archive-
> related materials. It is then possible to insert sub-queries (called
> Onebox in Google parlance) into the Appliance interface such as
> queries against a campus-wide directory. Enter a query. The query
> gets sent to the sub-queries. The query gets sent to Google
> Appliance. Results are returned. Display. The whole thing sort of
> works like meta-search, sort of. Try these searches as well:
>
>   * jennifer younger
>   * plato and aristotle
>   * encyclopedia of philosophy
>
> In a world were the name of the game is "Put your content where the
> users are", integrating the searching of library content in "search
> this site" functionality makes a lot of sense.
>
> --
> Eric Lease Morgan
> Hesburgh Libraries, University of Notre Dame