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Why not just build a decent cover flow UI over the existing call number browse in the catalog with Javascript? Just grab the cover images and display them using something like http://www.deensoft.com/lab/protoflow/ That way you could recreate the 'browsing' experience, not have to have the user learn a new tool and not have to worry about how you're going to implement browsing the call numbers (similar to what the Oakville Public Library is doing on that page). In the past I put together a quick demo of this (not for call numbers, just for regular search listings) in an evening: http://lib-bling.com/unr/unrdemo/unrcoverflowdemo.htm That's a very rough demo but implementing something similar using default call number browse in the catalog would probably be not much more difficult and would provide roughly the experience it seems you're looking for without having to worry about overly complex solutions. --Will Will Kurt Applications Development Librarian University of Nevada, Reno Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center phone: 775 682-5679 email: [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Emily Lynema Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 8:46 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]