[Web4lib] google & library catalogs

[HAZEL Margaret E]

In a bit of a pre-coffee haze, but wondering....is there a way to save
this kind of search on Google, so it's available when you need it, so
you don't have to remember the secret handshake phrase?  I'm not likely
to use this often, so won't remember it, I'm sure.

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Jim Cody
Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 5:13 PM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] google & library catalogs

I already replied off-list to Chris but maybe other people are not aware
of this.

If you search Google using the bound phrase "find in a library" (in
quotes) and a title or author, it will bring the Open WorldCat results
close to the top. 
Then   if you click on one of those results you go
into Open WorldCat, where you can enter your zip code and get a list of
the closest libraries holding that item.

It's easy to use, except for the part about the "find in a library"
bound phrase, which only a librarian would know.  I use this all the
time at my public library job to refer people to other libraries when we
don't have something.

Here's OCLC's explanation page:
http://www.oclc.org/worldcat/open/how/default.htm

But it's easier just to try it yourself.

Jim Cody, Burbank PL

--- Chris Stearns <stearcs at auburn.edu> wrote:

> Yeah, that would suck if everyone did it because the world's Googlers 
> are looking for the info itself. For the most part, they want the text

> of Hamlet, not a record for my library's Hamlet holdings (much less 
> 20,000!).
> 
> If there were a way to specify via Google that you're searching for 
> Hamlet holdings at any library within 30 miles of you, then let 
> Google, Google Maps, etc. find it all for you then spit out directions

> and the reference librarian's name, that might be kinda cool, but it 
> would have to be one of those "tucked-away" Google features that you 
> have to specifically call and which isn't enabled by default, else the

> 20,000 Hamlets (and having studied Hamlet for an entire semester in 
> grad school, 1 hamlet is definitely enough :-)
> 
> 
> --
> Chris Stearns
> Software/Programming
> Auburn University Libraries
> http://www.lib.auburn.edu
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
> Web4lib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> 


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