Libraryman
Aug 7th, 2006
Aug 7th, 2006
Open WorldCat Search
Oh boy, oh boy! A very cool step towards getting it “more right” is now public in beta format. You can add the WorldCat search box to your site too if you like! It’ll look like this:
6 Responses to “Open WorldCat Search”
Already added to my new blog. Also provided a very quick review.
Slightly disturbed at having to obtain a user license for a search box, but not enough to not get the search box. Still, I think just having a licensing agreement will slow the adoption of this fantastic tool.
but what happens when someone finds it, drives to get it (35 miles? that’s not too bad)… and then can’t check it out?
As others have said… this could backfire.
This sight NEEDS something that help everyday people easily discover whether or not checking something out is an option.
Daniel: To be honest, I hadn’t given that idea much thought. An interesting point though.
Nathan: An interesting point also! Adding shelf status and item availability info to the main results page could have potential here perhaps? One problem here is that not all ILS (library cataloging and circulation systems) have that deep level item info linked into Open WorldCat. This means that sort of result just wouldn’t be there for every library. Perhaps a phone number for the library could be listed if the shelf status info for an item weren’t available?
Cool! I tried it and it recognized my public library without entering
a ZIP code or anything. Excellent!
But I don’t understand why OCLC forces registration to use the code -
and therefore promote their service! - to
Put the WorldCat search box on your site. Why not just let that
code live free? They would probably see more use and less consternation
from grumpy people like me.
Did Nathan not realize that by clicking on the library name in a results list you are directed to that library’s site where at most I was clicking on you could immediately see if the book was in and reserve it?
I think that the potential benefits outweigh the kinks that will be worked out…Now people gotta spread the word and use it…