We have something like this running in a prototype form at
http://www.lib.umich.edu/virtual/

Rather than being a pure browse tool, it lets users view our collection by
category so that related items across 20 physical locations can be viewed as
if on one shelf.  Books that have been digitized and are searchable the
Google Book project (HathiTrust) include a search field.  It's built on an
API into our Aleph OPAC. This site is a proof of concept so still has some
bugs. 

The categories are sort of interesting in themselves -- each is manually
managed, pulling together LC call numbers that fit into that subject.  The
mapping of call numbers and searches is available at
http://www.lib.umich.edu/browse/categories/

Ken


-- 
Ken Varnum
Web Systems Manager
University Library                       E: [log in to unmask]
University of Michigan                   T: 734-615-3287
309 Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library      F: 734-647-6897
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1205                 http://www.lib.umich.edu/



> From: Emily Lynema <[log in to unmask]>
> Organization: NCSU Libraries
> Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:46:19 -0400
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: [CODE4LIB] creating call number browse
> 
> Hey all,
> 
> I would love to tackle the issue of creating a really cool call number
> browse tool that utilizes book covers, etc. However, I'd like to do this
> outside of my ILS/OPAC. What I don't know is whether there are any
> indexing / SQL / query techniques that could be used to browse forward
> and backword in an index like this.
> 
> Has anyone else worked on developing a tool like this outside of the
> OPAC? I guess I would be perfectly happy even if it was something I
> could build directly on top of the ILS database and its indexes (we use
> SirsiDynix Unicorn).
> 
> I wanted to throw a feeler out there before trying to dream up some wild
> scheme on my own.
> 
> -emily
> 
> P.S. The version of BiblioCommons released at Oakville Public Library
> has a sweet call number browse function accessible from the full record
> page. I would love to know know how that was accomplished.
> 
> http://opl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1413841_mars
> 
> -- 
> Emily Lynema
> Systems Librarian for Digital Projects
> Information Technology, NCSU Libraries
> 919-513-8031
> [log in to unmask]