At this point it might be worthwhile to point to:
http://librarygang.talis.com/2009/02/10/google-books-and-libraries/
(the emphasis here on the Google, and less on the Talis)
where the representative from Google Book Search brings up the notion
of an 'Open Catalog Crawling Format'.
When our collections become "part of the web", it becomes much easier
to figure out how to proceed.
-Ross.
On Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 2:02 PM, Jonathan Rochkind <rochkind_at_jhu.edu> wrote:
>> If most
>> people are using Amazon and other tools to find relevant materials and
>> then only using their library's catalog to see if the library has them,
>> does it make sense for each library to focus its efforts on going
>> against this tide and trying to beat Amazon, et. al at the resource
>> discovery game?
>
> Absolutely not, but it might make sense to think of what libraries can provide to _supplement_ Amazon et al. What needs do our users have (in the 'finding relevant materials' domain) that _aren't_ being met by Amazon et al, that we are uniquely situated to help them meet?
>
>> Or, should libraries focus their efforts more on
>> injecting themselves into users' existing workflows--supporting those
>> workflows and making it easier for people to use library tools in
>> tandem with non-library tools?
>
>
> Absolutely. My own current best idea for how to do this (using currently feasible technology) is:
>
> A) Make your 'link resolver' product fully featured enough to be an 'electronic front door' for a known item citation. (See Umlaut).
>
> B) Use a tool like LibX to inject links to your link resolver product on external non-library-controlled pages, everywhere your users are. This can potentially be done without the cooperation or permission of the actual external website (which may not be pleased that you are taking users off their cite, to yours, where you potentially give them things for free the initial site wanted to make them pay for).
>
> Jonathan
>
Received on Fri Feb 13 2009 - 14:18:27 EST