[Web4lib] Local Book iPhone application

[Kozlowski,Brendon]

Just for clarification, not all organizations are able to be pulled - or have been pulled - automatically by Google to be listed in Google Maps.  Until I registered a Google Local Business Center account for our library (http://www.google.com/local/add), we were not listed in the Google Map search results.  Shortly after having added our library, our business hours also showed up in standard Google search results.
 
There are employees of Google Maps that fill in as much data that they can, and automate as much as they can. For a short experimental period there were also people that worked as "Google Local Business Referral Representatives" (http://www.google.com/local/referral) who would go to local businesses to manually add them and their information as well as inform these businesses of the benefits of Google.
 
So, no.  Even Google in all of its might and power are unable to automatically list every organization without intervention and help from its users.  This is only the initial preview of the Local Book iPhone application, and critiques are generating great ideas.  We will just have to wait and see where it goes - hopefully the app will eventually allow for adding information of all sorts directly through the app.
 
In the meantime I'm going to try the WorldCat app since it supports 1st gen devices.  If nothing else, competition breeds advancement.
 
 
 
Brendon Kozlowski
Web Administrator
Saratoga Springs Public Library
49 Henry Street
Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
[518] 584-7860 x217

________________________________

From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org on behalf of Brian Gray
Sent: Wed 1/6/2010 11:30 PM
To: David Friggens
Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Local Book iPhone application



The original messages says "For starters, libraries should make sure they're
in the database. It is, of course, all user created. You'll probably find
you were put in by one of your most fervent patrons."

That means it is NOT pre-populated with everyone bookstore and library.

You also  do NOT need to register with Google Maps to be included. It pulls
from many existing sources. It does not require organization or individual
entering a library into a database to appear on a map.

Brian Gray
mindspiral at gmail.com
bcg8 at case.edu


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