[Web4lib] Microformats

[Keith D. Engwall]

Ok, I know this sounds like I'm being glib, but...

my understanding is that they're called "microformats" because they're intentionally small.


The whole point of the microformat is to make a standard that is very small and light so that it is easy to understand and implement.

Perhaps it's just to be catchy, or perhaps it's a reminder for those developing them (keep them focused), or maybe it's to disambiguate (thanks, Wikipedia) them from the rather overloaded term "format".

Besides (and now I am being glib), I looked for formats.org, and couldn't find a darn thing.

Keith

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] 
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 4:16 PM
To: web4lib
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Microformats

I took a look at some of this and still can't quite figure out what makes something a "microformat" as opposed to a "format." (Yes, I read the definition page on the wiki.) Can anyone articulate that? It just seems like an excuse to create YAF (yet another format).

kc

Ross Singer wrote:
> You'll also see librarians and their 'ilk' all over:
>
> http://microformats.org/wiki/citation
>
> and
>
> http://microformats.org/wiki/uid
>
> -Ross.
>
> On 7/27/06, Jeremy Frumkin <jeremy.frumkin at oregonstate.edu> wrote:
>> So, work related to microformats and libraries is already underway. 
>> Check
>> out the unAPI work (http://unapi.info/), which evolved from earlier 
>> work on
>> COinS (http://www.ocoins.info).
>>
>> -- jaf
>>
>>
>> On 7/27/06 12:03 PM, "Keith D. Engwall" <kengwall at catawba.edu> wrote:
>>
>> > I'm curious as to what interest there is among the library 
>> community for
>> > Microformats (http://microformats.org).
>> >
>> > I'm still getting my head wrapped around them, but I think there's
>> > potential for developing microformats for digital collections, brief
>> > catalog records, etc.
>> >
>> > For an excellent introduction to what Microformats are, check out:
>> >
>> > Digital Web Magazine: Microformats Primer by Garrett Dimon
>> > (http://www.digital-web.com/articles/microformats_primer/)
>> >
>> > Microformats Wiki: Introduction to Microformats
>> > (http://microformats.org/wiki/introduction)
>> >
>> > Keith
>> >
>> > ---------------------------------
>> > Keith Engwall
>> > Head of Library Systems and Technology
>> > Catawba College
>> > Salisbury, NC
>> > kengwall at catawba.edu
>> >
>> > "For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public
>> > relations, for nature cannot be fooled." - Richard P. Feynman
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Web4lib mailing list
>> > Web4lib at webjunction.org
>> > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
>> >
>>
>>
>> -- jaf
>>
>> ===============================================
>> Jeremy Frumkin
>> The Gray Chair for Innovative Library Services
>> 121 The Valley Library, Oregon State University
>> Corvallis OR 97331-4501
>>
>> Jeremy.Frumkin at oregonstate.edu
>>
>> 541.737.9928
>> 541.737.3453 (Fax)
>> 541.230.4483 (Cell)
>> ===============================================
>> " Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes 
>> nothing. "
>> - Emerson
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Web4lib mailing list
>> Web4lib at webjunction.org
>> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
>>
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
> Web4lib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
>
>

-- 
-----------------------------------
Karen Coyle / Digital Library Consultant
kcoyle at kcoyle.net http://www.kcoyle.net
ph.: 510-540-7596
fx.: 510-848-3913
mo.: 510-435-8234
------------------------------------


_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4lib at webjunction.org
http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/