[Web4lib] Google Base, any libraries starting to use this service

Tue Nov 22 01:13:23 EST 2005

D.H. Mattison wrote:

>Nov 21, 2005
>
>WEB4LIBBERS:
>
>I came across the new Google Base (
>beta; http://base.google.com/) service
>today, checked the WEB4LIB Archives, 
>saw no mention, so am now wondering if
>any libraries have started using this 
>service. It was only launched on
>November 17, so can't blame you if 
>your attention's been diverted by the
>Google Print/Google Book Search thread.
>  
>
. . .
Google has just recently "patched a security problem
with its Google Base that allowed attackers to steal
sensitive information from users of  the new content-
hosting service."
http://news.google.com/news?q=google+base&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=nn&oi=newsr

I note David Bigwood states:: "I've loaded 425
items into Google Base.  That is the limit they
currently impose."
http://catalogablog.blogspot.com/

It is also a New Way to put credible genealogy
and family history data on the Internet.

For those who may be interested in a fabulous new
addition to the Internet, please visit The Marketplace:
Genealogy - Family History related materials.
http://www.academic-genealogy.com/bookspublicationsgenealogical.htm#Marketplace 

LOOK FOR: Google ^(TM) Base
Add all types of information and make searchable online.
Describe any item with attributes, which will help people
find it when they search Google^(TM) Base.  Based on the
relevance of your items, they may also be included in the
main Google^(TM) search index and other Google^(TM) products
like Froogle^(TM) and Google^(TM) Local.

Current sections deal with such items as:
Course Schedules - CAN BE USED to post genealogy
and family history courses on the Internet.
Events and Activities - CAN BE USED to post genealogy
and family history events and activities on the Internet.
Jobs - CAN BE USED to post genealogy
and family history jobs (also nonprofit jobs) on the Internet.
News and Articles - CAN BE USED to post genealogy
and family history News and Articles on the Internet.
People Profiles - CAN BE USED to post genealogy
and family history People Profiles on the Internet.
Products - CAN BE USED to post genealogy
and family history Products on the Internet.
Recipes - CAN BE USED to post family
recipes on the Internet.
Reference Articles - CAN BE USED to post genealogy
and family history Reference Articles on the Internet.
Reviews - CAN BE USED to post genealogy
and family history Reviews on the Internet.
Services - CAN BE USED to post genealogy
and family history Services on the Internet.
. . .
Wanted Ads - CAN BE USED to post genealogy
and family history Wanted Ads on the Internet.
[Other categories, such as "Blogs", can be selectively
created if  the item of interest does not fall in the above areas.
"Blogs" - CAN BE USED to post genealogy
and family history Blogs on the Internet. ]

IMPORTANT:
If a genealogy or family history item is mislabeled
or misleading, considered spam, duplicate of another
item, adult content or not labeled correctly, violates
copyright or legal protection laws, Etc.; in Google^(TM)
Base it can be reported for removal.

About Google^(TM) Base:
http://base.google.com/base/about.html
How to post an item.
http://base.google.com/base/howtosingleitem.html

The speed of turnaround: "Shortly after you click 'Publish'
your entry will appear on its own publicly viewable web
page with a unique web address (URL).  This usually
happens within 10 - 15 minutes, though it may take up
to an hour."

This resource: "We'll host your item if you
don't already have a website, and make
it visible to anyone who searches for your
item's unique web address or to anyone who
finds it while searching for related topics."

In my opinion, this will open up the Internet,
as it has never been opened before, to the
novice or experienced researcher, with little
or no computer expertise needed; thus, making
available worldwide, collaborative genealogy
and family history content, even in Third
World Areas.  It will promote the individual
freedom of expression and democracy, across
currently established national borders, into
the darkest corners of the uncivilized world.

This is a CONVERSION of the Marketplace from
its standard features, allowing an essential
"wiki" environment, in which the posting
party becomes the primary person of interest
and control of the information being offered.

"Google" . . .[will] "maintain high standards
for items accepted into the Google Base program"
http://base.google.com/base/base_policies.html
"Editorial Guidelines" will require all family
historians and genealogists to "Be honest,
accurate, and factual", as well as to "Clearly
and accurately describe" [their] "message."
http://base.google.com/base/guidelines.html

I see this as a potential revolutionary
CONTROL change from past activities allowed
on the Internet, within the online genealogical
communities, ROOTS sites, the LDS IGI and other
GEDCOM ancestral file related programs.

If anyone on this list wishes to use or post
elsewhere, my response in this report,
I hereby grant this permission willingly.

Respectfully yours,

Tom Tinney, Sr.
Who's Who in America, Millennium Edition [54th] - 2004
Who's Who In Genealogy and Heraldry, {both editions]
Genealogy and Family History Internet Web Directory
http://www.academic-genealogy.com/