Yes, me too. I take a great interest in that area of R&D and look forward to learning more.
Colin Wilder
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of McAulay, Lisa
> Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2016 12:49 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] viaf and the levenshtein algorithm
>
> Hi Eric,
>
> I really enjoyed this message. Thanks for sharing!
>
> Best,
> Lisa
>
> > On Jun 7, 2016, at 2:49 AM, Eric Lease Morgan <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
> >
> > In the past few weeks I have had some interesting experiences with
> WorldCat, VIAF, and the Levenshtein algorithm. [1, 2]
> >
> > In short, I was given a set of authority records with the goal of associating
> each name with a VIAF identifier. To accomplish this goal I first created a
> rudimentary database - an easily parsed list of MARC 1xx fields. I then
> looped through the database, and searched VIAF via the AutoSuggest
> interface looking for one-to-one matches. If found, I updated my database
> with the VIAF identifier. The AutoSuggest interface was fast but only able to
> associate 20% of my names with identifiers. (Moreover, I don't know how it
> works; AutoSuggest is a "black box" technology.)
> >
> > I then looped through the database again, but this time I queried VIAF using
> the SRU interface. Searches often returned many hits, not just one-to-one
> matches, but through the use of the Levenshtein algorithm I was able to
> intelligently select items from the search results and update my database
> accordingly. [3] Through the use of the SRU/Levenshtein combination, I was
> able to associate another 50-55 percent of my names with identifiers.
> >
> > Now that I have close to 75% of my names associated with VIAF identifiers,
> I can update my authority list's MARC 024 fields, in turn, I can then provide
> enhanced services against my catalog as well as pave the way for linked data
> implementations.
> >
> > Sometimes our library automation tasks can use a bit more computer
> science. Librarianship isn't all about service and the humanities. Librarianship
> is an arscient discipline. [4]
> >
> > [1] VIAF Finder - http://infomotions.com/blog/2016/05/viaf-finder/
> > [2] Almost perfection - http://infomotions.com/blog/2016/06/levenshtein/
> > [3] Levenshtein - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levenshtein_distance
> > [4] arscience - http://infomotions.com/blog/2008/07/arscience/
> >
> > -
> > Eric Lease Morgan
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