[WEB4LIB] re: web services (was: Re: library marketing was RE: Google

[Larry Campbell]

I'm wondering if anyone knows of libraries that link directly to Amazon 
(and/or B&N, Powell's, isbn.nu, other catalogs, etc.) from their own 
catalog, using an ISBN (sort of the reverse of Udell's LibraryLookUp 
bookmarklet)? A reason for doing so would be to take advantage of the 
increasingly rich supply of additional item information that such sites 
present -- e.g., reviews, "search inside" features, direct links to 
other works that cite this book, etc. (not to mention the possibility of 
additional revenue through referrals).

Larry Campbell
Librarian, Information Technology Services
UBC Library
Email: larry.campbell at ubc.ca
Telephone: (604) 822-2076


Fiona Bradley wrote:
>>>>"K.G. Schneider" <kgs at bluehighways.com> 15/02/2005 4:03:38 pm >>>
>>
>>To start with, Amazon, among other things, has made it ridiculously
> 
> easy for
> 
>>sites to link to them. It took me only part of an evening and two
> 
> free
> 
>>Movable Type plugins (plus signing up for the free Amazon developer's
> 
> id) to
> 
>>add a feature to Free Range Librarian that enables me to search
> 
> Amazon, tag
> 
>>whether a book links to Amazon, whether it is read, unread, or in
> 
> process,
> 
>>etc., display a cute icon, etc. etc. 
> 
> 
> Speaking of Amazon APIs, what Web Services are out there for library
> OPACs and sites? 
> 
> Recently, we've seen that many advancements in library site
> functionality come from those outside the profession, like Jon Udell's
> Library Lookup, and even Koha. The desire to improve functionality for
> end users is there. Hundreds of developers have created functionality
> for Amazon.com, imagine if we could make it easier for them to do the
> same for us!
> 
> cheers,
> Fiona
> 
> Librarian
> SBS Radio Resource Centre
> Locked Bag 028 
> Crows Nest NSW 2065
> Australia
> 
> Ph: (02) 9430 2862
> Email: fiona.bradley at sbs.com.au
> 
>