[Web4lib] Make a shelf list searchable online?

[Sharon Nelson]

Dear Bruce,

This would be an entirely different approach, but LibraryThing could be used to create a web-searchable OPAC of the collection. If the library is non-profit the cost would be $15/year to catalog up to 5,000 books (for-profit would be $5/year for up to 5,000 books). You can create an OPAC search box to the collection that can be mounted on a Web page. (The search capabilities aren't terribly sophisticated, but it sounds like it would do the job if what they primarily want is keyword searching.) If their records include ISBNs you could use the "Universal Import" feature to load the records automatically.

One caveat you may want to consider is that the proposed revisions to OCLC's record use policy may have an impact down the road on LibraryThing's long-term viability, since part of the database is derived from library data  (tho Cambridge Information Group seemed to have felt confident enough in LT's future to purchase a minority stake in the company in January).  And you can always make a backup of your LibraryThing data (should the site ever actually go away). But it would let you build a searchable book database on the cheap without having to know any programming.

All best,
Sharon
(PS I have no stake in LibraryThing other than I ponied up $25 for a personal membership to catalog my home collection because I think it's darned nifty.) 


Sharon L. Nelson
Asst. Technical Services & Systems Librarian
David C. Shapiro Memorial Law Library
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
slnelson @ niu . edu / 815-753-2021 

>>> Bruce Jensen <flaco.jensen at gmail.com> 3/18/2009 1:58 AM >>>
Most of you can probably do this in your sleep, so I hope you might be
able to point me toward the right book or online tutorial:

The folks at a lending library with a couple thousand titles listed on
a five-column sheet in an Excel workbook, want to make their
collection visible & searchable on the Web.  Sorting the list by
title, by author, etc. and making a static HTML page of each did not
thrill them.  They wonder if a kind of keyword-searchable OPAC is
possible.

I moved the list to Access and have built some representative queries
but am clueless where to go from here.  We have an ASP.NET-capable
server available to use, but no real VBasic nor other programming
talents to go with it.  I'd like to see a source that could step me
through putting the database on the server, making the connection to
it, building the .aspx page with the search form, and whatever else is
needed.

Any tips or models or instructive sources would be gratefully
welcomed.  Thank you,

Bruce


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