I've done some work this. " 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." Depending on what you want to do exactly, yes. Look at Querying Ontologies in Relational Database Systems - ►hu-berlin.de [PDF] S Trissl, U Leser - LECTURE NOTES IN COMPUTER SCIENCE, 2005 - Springer If you need more you're looking at CS literature concerning treatment of graphs, directed graphs, cyclical, transitive closure, etc. This can all be done without to much difficulty but as Nate pointed out updating the data is a problem...I've not tackled that part but there is much literature on dynamic graphs and I'm assuming this could also be adequately solved. > a decent UI is probably going to be a bigger job Yes, that's the real issue. Could call numbers be placed within a hierarchy? Then display this in an outline view (Windows Explorer) that is also item searchable? Seems to me there is structure in the call numbers that is hidden in current UIs. I also think the actual "Call number" should disappear and replaced by a textual label describing what the numbers mean. Fun stuff to think about... Charles-Antoine -----Original Message----- From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Emily Lynema Sent: September 17, 2008 11:46 AM 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] No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.6.21/1674 - Release Date: 17/09/2008 9:33 AM