Cool examples, all. This is indeed the sort of thing I was thinking
about. (Not this specific one, of course :> )

Karen G. Schneider

On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 06:30:03 -0400, "jean rainwater"
<[log in to unmask]> said:
> Karen,
> We recently launched an application that provides a single user
> interface for requesting returnable items from our 4 shared resource
> systems.  We use the WorldCat search box as our starting point.
> Instead of passing the OpenURL from WorldCat directly to our link
> resolver, we intercept it and use the ISBN to 1) do a look-up in our
> catalog (we redirect if a circulating copy is available), 2) query our
> III INNReach catalog, 3) query two Sirsi-Dynix URSA consortium
> catalogs, and 4) default to our ILLiad system if the request can't be
> placed in one of the direct borrow systems. Instead of having to
> navigate different proprietary systems, each with its own search
> interface and login method, the user now searches once in WorldCat,
> authenticates once, and our application goes to work behind the
> scenes.
>
> The public description of the system is at:
> http://dl.lib.brown.edu/libweb/services/easyBorrow.php
>
> We're in the process of creating a site with technical details and
> code. The architecture is quite modular and webservice based and could
> be adapted/expanded by others. (We're currently using java, python,
> and php.)
>
> Two of our project team members will be signing up for
> "lightning/5-minute madness" talks at the upcoming Access (Birkin
> Diana) and LITA (Bonnie Buzzell) conferences.
>
> Jean Rainwater
> Co-leader, Integrated Technology Services
> Brown University Library
> [log in to unmask]
> 401.863.9031
>
> On 9/26/07, K.G. Schneider <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > Originally posted elsewhere. Despite the direction of my original
> > request, I'm getting such good developer-level responses to this
> > question that I'm reposting to code4lib to say if you are doing
> > something interesting, I'm interested.
> >
> > Karen G. Schneider
> >
> > On Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:13:32 -0400, "K.G. Schneider"
> > <[log in to unmask]> said:
> > > For a report I'm writing, I'm hunting around for interesting and
> > > successful uses of end-user-oriented WorldCat affiliate tools and search
> > > extensions (or interesting and UNsuccessful deployments...), such as:
> > >
> > > * WorldCat Search Box. Creates a WorldCat search box on home pages,
> > > blogs, and other websites; available preconfigured in two sizes, but (I
> > > think) can be tweaked for other configurations. Requires (free) WorldCat
> > > registration.
> > >
> > > * WorldCat links with embedded search terms. OCLC provides syntaxes for
> > > deeplinking to WorldCat results, suitable for embedding in courseware,
> > > etc.
> > >
> > > * Other things: a Firefox browser search extension and a Yahoo! toolbar
> > > for Internet Explorer that allow WorldCat searches from browser
> > > toolbars, and a Google toolbar for either Internet Explorer or Firefox
> > > that links directly to WorldCat results when it detects ISBNs on web
> > > pages.
> > >
> > > (Interesting uses of xISBN, WorldCat registry search/detail, or the
> > > OpenURL Gateway also welcome, but not as central.)
> > >
> > > I see some of these tools on various library websites, and use a couple
> > > of them myself, but I'm looking more carefully for the benefits/payback
> > > of these tools beyond "yup, it's on our website" or "I use it myself."
> > >
> > > Writing under the umbrella of biblio-officialdom I am --
> > >
> > > Karen G. Schneider
> > > Research & Development
> > > College Center for Library Automation
> > > http://www.cclaflorida.org
> > > Voice: 850-922-3159
> > > AIM/Email: [log in to unmask]
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Web4lib mailing list
> > > [log in to unmask]
> > > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> >