> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Mark Ockerbloom [mailto:[email protected]]
> Sent: Monday, March 04, 2013 7:42 PM
> To: Wikimedia & Libraries
> Subject: Re: [libraries] Linking from Wikipedia articles to local
> library resources
> 
> On 3/4/13 9:35 PM, Asaf Bartov wrote:
> > Hi, John.
> >
> > This is pretty nifty!  Thanks for creating it.
> >
> > I wonder: would it make sense to connect it to some of the open
> > resolvers out there? (or are those only useful at the item level,
> > whereas this produces searches?)
> 
> It depends on how the resolver is set up.  Most OpenURL resolvers are
> primarily designed to link to known items, whereas this is trying to
> link to groups of items by or about someone or something.  But the
> OpenURL 1.0 specification is pretty open-ended, and could encompass
> this sort of thing.   I decided not to use it to implement this
> particular service, but if someone's library would provide better
> results via their OpenURL resolver than via their catalog or other
> discovery system, I could link to it.
> 
> (If anyone would like me to try linking to their library that way,
>   you can let me know when you request service for the library at
>    http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/olbpcontact?type=library
>    Tell me about your wishes in the "Anything we should know ..."
>   comment space, and leave your contact details in case I have any
>    questions.)
> 
> Thanks,
> 
>    John

John,

What a fantastic idea! Conceptually this is the (ahem) missing link, to realign 
GWR (Google > Wikipedia > References) to GWL (Google > Wikipedia > Libraries). 
That's the party line we've been delivering for a long time but without 
software or practice to materialize the promise.

With that in mind, I quite agree with Asaf that your notion of Forward to 
Libraries could benefit from using preexisting linking technologies. With all 
necessary disclosure of my OCLC-partisanship I think that instead of 
registering libraries through this new UPenn database, it'd make more sense to 
use the already populated WorldCat Registry[1] . There thousands of libraries 
are already registered with ties into their Online Catalogs, OpenURL Resolvers, 
and Virtual References. Just look at the entry for UPenn [2].

This is a tremendous proposal which is theoretically complete. I'd really like 
to help volunteer time and code to make it work as best as possible.

[1] http://www.worldcat.org/registry/Institutions
[2] http://www.worldcat.org/registry/Institutions/2583

Max Klein
Wikipedia in Residence
[email protected]
+17074787023

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