Michael,

As I've been saying at conferences, anyone who wants to build an
open-source repository of MARC records, with or without wiki-like
access, will get my (and LibraryThing's) direct support. I think it's
going to happen. I only we had the time to do it directly. Maybe we'll
get to it if no one else does.

The starter-material would be the large amount of MARC data produced
by the Library of Congress and other institutions that cannot—rightly
cannot—assert most IP over their work. The list goes well past the LC
into other national collections and (I think) some state collections.
Then would come libraries willing to contribute their data—either
ones, mostly foreign, outside OCLC or who are willing to assert (ie.,
test) their legal rights over the records created by the sweat of
their brow, but now circulating in a licensed system. Publishers would
get on board with contributing data from their ONIX feeds.
LibraryThing has made *great* progress there—Publishers want their
data out there. Sites like Google would rather get their data for free
than have it sold to them at a premium. (Ditto small, non-contributing
libraries who currently pay what ammounts to a book tax  for every
MARC record.) Sites like LibraryThing would contribute data, or at
least key it to the new system. And that's without any social
contributions!

An open-source alternative to the current system is going to happen.
The only question is when. The project is doable, and would be of
enormous importance.

Who wants to be the Fred Kilgour of the 21st century?

Tim
LibraryThing.com
On 11/9/06, Michael McCulley <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> As an aside thought, it occurred to me during this discussion that an open-sourced IBDB (International Book Database) - a la IMDB, would be grand Web 2.0 and 21st Century project. Has Amazon and Open WorldCat and other similar services made an "open" IBDB an impossible dream?
>
> What if you could add your records to [insert catalog system or service here] *and* at the same time, populate an open-source book database with the records? Contribute to a "home" system, and a "global" one at the same time?
>
> I see that there's already a IDBD (Internet Broadway Database), but that issue aside..
>
> Without building a "new" core data collection - beyond MARC, meets or exceeds FRBR needs and goals - how else can we envision "getting there" (next generation OPAC heaven)?
>
> Best,
> Michael
> [log in to unmask]
> (speaking only for himself)
>
>
> Michael McCulley, Collection Analysis & Online Services (CAOS)
> San Diego Public Library, 820 E Street, San Diego, CA 92101
> Phone: 619-702-8731 / FAX: 619-233-1892
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>