Hi all, I actually raised the same question on the NGC4lib list a few months ago, and received this response:
"Also, re: Z39.50 on the Open Library - I think this is a profoundly bad idea. We would be talking about an entirely new service/ecosystem, why build it on top of a protocol that 99% of the world knows nothing about and cares to know nothing about? Libraries need to think more about how to integrate better with the rest of the world: Z39.50 isn't exactly going to get us there." Now, I disagree with this view, and I happen to think that a Z39.50 interface to OL would be potentially useful as an open, alternative source of cataloguing information. However, it seems to me the gap that needs to be addressed is providing responses in a standard that libraries can use. For drop-in interoperation with most systems, this would be MARC or MARCXML, so it would require mapping the internal OL schema to MARC, and then putting Z39.50 in front of that. I doubt that's on the roadmap, but as the saying goes, the code *is* open source. :-) Also, as a related follow-up on this point, there is a feature request filed to export Dublin Core: https://bugs.launchpad.net/openlibrary/+bug/277509 I have to offer a *very* strong second to this request — DC export is critical for OL interoperability, and the very minimum that the API should be able to export (even just by setting a parameter). If someone who knows Python could implement this crosswalk (which Karen has already done), that would be a huge step forward. MJ On 2010-05-07, at 3:38 PM, Christensen, David A. (CHT) wrote: > Hi all - new to the list, and exploring the tech behind the Open > Library... :-) > > Is the Open Library searchable via z39.50? > > Thanks, > -- > David A. Christensen Phone: (204) 726-6870 > Technnology Consultant Toll-free MB: 1-888-226-8014 > Manitoba Public Library Services FAX: (204) 726-6868 > http://library.gov.mb.ca Email: [email protected] > _______________________________________________ > Ol-tech mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.archive.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ol-tech > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send email to > [email protected] _______________________________________________ Ol-tech mailing list [email protected] http://mail.archive.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ol-tech To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send email to [email protected]
