[CODE4LIB] Examples of Web Service APIs in Academic Public Libraries
Hello all, I'm a lurker on this listserv and am interested in gaining some insight into your experiences of utilizing web service APIs in either an academic library or public library setting. I'm writing a book for ALA Editions on the use of Web Service APIs in libraries. Each chapter covers a specific API by delineating the technicalities of the API, discussing potential uses of the API in library settings, and step-by-step tutorials. I'm already including examples of how my library (Miami University in Oxford, Ohio) are utilizing these APIs but would like to give the reader more examples from a variety of settings. APIs covered in the book: Flickr, Vimeo, Google Charts, Twitter, Open Library, LibraryThing, Goodreads, OCLC. So, what are you folks doing with APIs? Thanks for any insight! Kind regards, Jason -- Jason Paul Michel User Experience Librarian Miami University Libraries Oxford, Ohio 45044 twitter:jpmichel
Re: [CODE4LIB] Examples of Web Service APIs in Academic Public Libraries
We're (CSU, Chico) using http://code.google.com/p/googlebooks/ to provide easy access to partial and full text books. On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 10:33 AM, Michel, Jason Paul miche...@muohio.eduwrote: Hello all, I'm a lurker on this listserv and am interested in gaining some insight into your experiences of utilizing web service APIs in either an academic library or public library setting. I'm writing a book for ALA Editions on the use of Web Service APIs in libraries. Each chapter covers a specific API by delineating the technicalities of the API, discussing potential uses of the API in library settings, and step-by-step tutorials. I'm already including examples of how my library (Miami University in Oxford, Ohio) are utilizing these APIs but would like to give the reader more examples from a variety of settings. APIs covered in the book: Flickr, Vimeo, Google Charts, Twitter, Open Library, LibraryThing, Goodreads, OCLC. So, what are you folks doing with APIs? Thanks for any insight! Kind regards, Jason -- Jason Paul Michel User Experience Librarian Miami University Libraries Oxford, Ohio 45044 twitter:jpmichel
Re: [CODE4LIB] Examples of Web Service APIs in Academic Public Libraries
I'll take a look. Thanks so much, Patrick. On 10/8/11 1:40 PM, Patrick Berry pbe...@gmail.com wrote: We're (CSU, Chico) using http://code.google.com/p/googlebooks/ to provide easy access to partial and full text books. On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 10:33 AM, Michel, Jason Paul miche...@muohio.eduwrote: Hello all, I'm a lurker on this listserv and am interested in gaining some insight into your experiences of utilizing web service APIs in either an academic library or public library setting. I'm writing a book for ALA Editions on the use of Web Service APIs in libraries. Each chapter covers a specific API by delineating the technicalities of the API, discussing potential uses of the API in library settings, and step-by-step tutorials. I'm already including examples of how my library (Miami University in Oxford, Ohio) are utilizing these APIs but would like to give the reader more examples from a variety of settings. APIs covered in the book: Flickr, Vimeo, Google Charts, Twitter, Open Library, LibraryThing, Goodreads, OCLC. So, what are you folks doing with APIs? Thanks for any insight! Kind regards, Jason -- Jason Paul Michel User Experience Librarian Miami University Libraries Oxford, Ohio 45044 twitter:jpmichel
Re: [CODE4LIB] Examples of Web Service APIs in Academic Public Libraries
Patrick - What ILS are you using? On 10/8/11 1:40 PM, Patrick Berry pbe...@gmail.com wrote: We're (CSU, Chico) using http://code.google.com/p/googlebooks/ to provide easy access to partial and full text books. On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 10:33 AM, Michel, Jason Paul miche...@muohio.eduwrote: Hello all, I'm a lurker on this listserv and am interested in gaining some insight into your experiences of utilizing web service APIs in either an academic library or public library setting. I'm writing a book for ALA Editions on the use of Web Service APIs in libraries. Each chapter covers a specific API by delineating the technicalities of the API, discussing potential uses of the API in library settings, and step-by-step tutorials. I'm already including examples of how my library (Miami University in Oxford, Ohio) are utilizing these APIs but would like to give the reader more examples from a variety of settings. APIs covered in the book: Flickr, Vimeo, Google Charts, Twitter, Open Library, LibraryThing, Goodreads, OCLC. So, what are you folks doing with APIs? Thanks for any insight! Kind regards, Jason -- Jason Paul Michel User Experience Librarian Miami University Libraries Oxford, Ohio 45044 twitter:jpmichel
Re: [CODE4LIB] Examples of Web Service APIs in Academic Public Libraries
On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 1:40 PM, Patrick Berry pbe...@gmail.com wrote: We're (CSU, Chico) using http://code.google.com/p/googlebooks/ to provide easy access to partial and full text books. Good to hear. As an aside, we wrote up some background on how to use widgets and webservices in a 2010 article published in LITA's ITAL magazine: http://www.lita.org/ala/mgrps/divs/lita/publications/ital/29/2/back.pdf - Godmar On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 10:33 AM, Michel, Jason Paul miche...@muohio.edu wrote: Hello all, I'm a lurker on this listserv and am interested in gaining some insight into your experiences of utilizing web service APIs in either an academic library or public library setting. I'm writing a book for ALA Editions on the use of Web Service APIs in libraries. Each chapter covers a specific API by delineating the technicalities of the API, discussing potential uses of the API in library settings, and step-by-step tutorials. I'm already including examples of how my library (Miami University in Oxford, Ohio) are utilizing these APIs but would like to give the reader more examples from a variety of settings. APIs covered in the book: Flickr, Vimeo, Google Charts, Twitter, Open Library, LibraryThing, Goodreads, OCLC. So, what are you folks doing with APIs? Thanks for any insight! Kind regards, Jason -- Jason Paul Michel User Experience Librarian Miami University Libraries Oxford, Ohio 45044 twitter:jpmichel
Re: [CODE4LIB] Can a library automate without a computer yet?
So it is! It needs an external monitor that also needs power, but definitely one to keep in mind. Thanks Ross. On 7 October 2011 20:43, Ross Singer rossfsin...@gmail.com wrote: By the time you're up and running, this http://www.raspberrypi.org/ may be an option for you, as well. A lot cheaper than an iPhone... -Ross. On Fri, Oct 7, 2011 at 5:36 PM, rowan eisner rowaneis...@gmail.com wrote: Well I thought that we could plug either an iphone or computer (eg netbook or your dev. board) into an UPS and extend the battery life that way. It would be on standby most of the time. The longest it would have to last would be a week because any on the committee could plug it in while they are in the library. And maybe other people could plug it in but it would have more chance of being left plugged in. Whatever we had would have to be secured and yes, it will be difficult to do and one of the reasons we do everything manually - nothing to steal. I used to run an undergrad computer lab in the 80s that was unstaffed and everything tied down. People used to nick the cables. I suppose the choice between an iphone and a computer would be price and running time on an UPS. At the moment the only access to the internet from the library is over the mobile phone net so whether we use computer or iphone the cost will be the same. They have just put up poles for fibre optic, but I've learnt not to hold me breath over things like that. I have to say, it seems like the librarian is starting to consider it. When I first brought it up 2 years ago the reaction was, we could never automate here! I said something the other day about it taking 3 years and she said, oh way longer than that. By then, who knows what there will be? On 7 October 2011 12:35, David Mayo pobo...@gmail.com wrote: One other thing to consider with the iPhone is that it's going to be a recurrent monthly fee, and that cellular internet tends to run more expensive than regular internet collections. This could easily run over replacement costs for a wired computer, for instance. Also, that while a regular computer might be a theft risk, an iPhone is a giant, gold-plated theft risk, in a super-portable size. Also, there's no way you're going to get a week's worth of service per charge out of it, while using it as a terminal. - Dave Mayo On Fri, Oct 7, 2011 at 11:41 AM, rowan eisner rowaneis...@gmail.com wrote: Hi Nicole, people here tell me that computers get zapped even with surge protectors here, or even with lightning protectors. Then someone told me the other day that they need to be properly earthed and almost nothing is here. One problem is I don't even know if there is such a thing as a real electrician here who understands how do do these things. At the moment we're looking at the WSSL trial because it would be a big overhead to us to run our own software when we know nothing about it, but we'll still need something to connect to it. I'm thinking that we cut our losses by doing it as cheaply as possible and accept that that we'll lose it occasionally - make it less worth stealing. The library is open and unstaffed 24hrs and people say nothing keeps thieves out. But Dave Mayo pointed out you can get a kind of computer in a power plug now. Or we could use an iphone. Then they could be plugged into an UPS and charged once a week. That could work. We'd still need a cage and I don't really want to encourage thieves to bring welding gear into the library! I don't know if we're going to be able to afford the WSSL system. They don't know how much it will cost yet. So we could end up having to run our own system anyway. Even the WSSL system is more sophisticated than we need. We don't need a web site or to be able to place holds on books. All we really need is a db with 2 tables - users and collection and queries to do loans, returns and overdues. Hey, I could write it! But surely I don't have to. If we went with your suggestion, what software would you suggest? Thanks Rowan On 7 October 2011 08:45, Nicole Miller nikludesi...@gmail.com wrote: Rowan, you mentioned that a computer might be stolen or fried by lightning. The more I read, the more I think a computer is the way to go, at the very least to set up the database. Is there a way you can use surge protectors and create a cage to go around the computer with it's scanner? Nicole MLS Student Southern Connecticut State University On Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 11:50 AM, rowan eisner rowaneis...@gmail.com wrote: Yes, I'm betting WSSL will be what we're looking for. It's whether we can afford it and whether we can set up a secure self check point in an unstaffed library that doesn't have to be plugged into power.
Re: [CODE4LIB] Examples of Web Service APIs in Academic Public Libraries
Thanks, Godmar. I'll take a look at that... On Oct 8, 2011, at 3:09 PM, Godmar Back god...@gmail.com wrote: On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 1:40 PM, Patrick Berry pbe...@gmail.com wrote: We're (CSU, Chico) using http://code.google.com/p/googlebooks/ to provide easy access to partial and full text books. Good to hear. As an aside, we wrote up some background on how to use widgets and webservices in a 2010 article published in LITA's ITAL magazine: http://www.lita.org/ala/mgrps/divs/lita/publications/ital/29/2/back.pdf - Godmar On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 10:33 AM, Michel, Jason Paul miche...@muohio.edu wrote: Hello all, I'm a lurker on this listserv and am interested in gaining some insight into your experiences of utilizing web service APIs in either an academic library or public library setting. I'm writing a book for ALA Editions on the use of Web Service APIs in libraries. Each chapter covers a specific API by delineating the technicalities of the API, discussing potential uses of the API in library settings, and step-by-step tutorials. I'm already including examples of how my library (Miami University in Oxford, Ohio) are utilizing these APIs but would like to give the reader more examples from a variety of settings. APIs covered in the book: Flickr, Vimeo, Google Charts, Twitter, Open Library, LibraryThing, Goodreads, OCLC. So, what are you folks doing with APIs? Thanks for any insight! Kind regards, Jason -- Jason Paul Michel User Experience Librarian Miami University Libraries Oxford, Ohio 45044 twitter:jpmichel
Re: [CODE4LIB] Can a library automate without a computer yet?
Rowan, I think a caged computer is the best way to go to house the software. As far as software goes, I've been looking into some open source library systems. I wonder if perhaps NewGenLib might work for you. http://www.verussolutions.biz/web/ They state that they system will fully automate within 4 days, but that seems to be a bit of a hefty claim, in my opinion. Nicole On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 3:12 PM, rowan eisner rowaneis...@gmail.com wrote: So it is! It needs an external monitor that also needs power, but definitely one to keep in mind. Thanks Ross. On 7 October 2011 20:43, Ross Singer rossfsin...@gmail.com wrote: By the time you're up and running, this http://www.raspberrypi.org/ may be an option for you, as well. A lot cheaper than an iPhone... -Ross. On Fri, Oct 7, 2011 at 5:36 PM, rowan eisner rowaneis...@gmail.com wrote: Well I thought that we could plug either an iphone or computer (eg netbook or your dev. board) into an UPS and extend the battery life that way. It would be on standby most of the time. The longest it would have to last would be a week because any on the committee could plug it in while they are in the library. And maybe other people could plug it in but it would have more chance of being left plugged in. Whatever we had would have to be secured and yes, it will be difficult to do and one of the reasons we do everything manually - nothing to steal. I used to run an undergrad computer lab in the 80s that was unstaffed and everything tied down. People used to nick the cables. I suppose the choice between an iphone and a computer would be price and running time on an UPS. At the moment the only access to the internet from the library is over the mobile phone net so whether we use computer or iphone the cost will be the same. They have just put up poles for fibre optic, but I've learnt not to hold me breath over things like that. I have to say, it seems like the librarian is starting to consider it. When I first brought it up 2 years ago the reaction was, we could never automate here! I said something the other day about it taking 3 years and she said, oh way longer than that. By then, who knows what there will be? On 7 October 2011 12:35, David Mayo pobo...@gmail.com wrote: One other thing to consider with the iPhone is that it's going to be a recurrent monthly fee, and that cellular internet tends to run more expensive than regular internet collections. This could easily run over replacement costs for a wired computer, for instance. Also, that while a regular computer might be a theft risk, an iPhone is a giant, gold-plated theft risk, in a super-portable size. Also, there's no way you're going to get a week's worth of service per charge out of it, while using it as a terminal. - Dave Mayo On Fri, Oct 7, 2011 at 11:41 AM, rowan eisner rowaneis...@gmail.com wrote: Hi Nicole, people here tell me that computers get zapped even with surge protectors here, or even with lightning protectors. Then someone told me the other day that they need to be properly earthed and almost nothing is here. One problem is I don't even know if there is such a thing as a real electrician here who understands how do do these things. At the moment we're looking at the WSSL trial because it would be a big overhead to us to run our own software when we know nothing about it, but we'll still need something to connect to it. I'm thinking that we cut our losses by doing it as cheaply as possible and accept that that we'll lose it occasionally - make it less worth stealing. The library is open and unstaffed 24hrs and people say nothing keeps thieves out. But Dave Mayo pointed out you can get a kind of computer in a power plug now. Or we could use an iphone. Then they could be plugged into an UPS and charged once a week. That could work. We'd still need a cage and I don't really want to encourage thieves to bring welding gear into the library! I don't know if we're going to be able to afford the WSSL system. They don't know how much it will cost yet. So we could end up having to run our own system anyway. Even the WSSL system is more sophisticated than we need. We don't need a web site or to be able to place holds on books. All we really need is a db with 2 tables - users and collection and queries to do loans, returns and overdues. Hey, I could write it! But surely I don't have to. If we went with your suggestion, what software would you suggest? Thanks Rowan On 7 October 2011 08:45, Nicole Miller nikludesi...@gmail.com wrote: Rowan, you mentioned that a computer might be stolen or fried by lightning. The more I read, the more I think a computer
Re: [CODE4LIB] Examples of Web Service APIs in Academic Public Libraries
The HathiTrust BibAPI and DataAPIs are being used by several on this list (and by me behind the scenes on occasion, although I sometimes cheat because the data are local). Based on our logs, the most common use is to use the BibAPI to check HT availability of an item already in someone's local catalog. http://www.hathitrust.org/data On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 1:33 PM, Michel, Jason Paul miche...@muohio.eduwrote: Hello all, I'm a lurker on this listserv and am interested in gaining some insight into your experiences of utilizing web service APIs in either an academic library or public library setting. I'm writing a book for ALA Editions on the use of Web Service APIs in libraries. Each chapter covers a specific API by delineating the technicalities of the API, discussing potential uses of the API in library settings, and step-by-step tutorials. I'm already including examples of how my library (Miami University in Oxford, Ohio) are utilizing these APIs but would like to give the reader more examples from a variety of settings. APIs covered in the book: Flickr, Vimeo, Google Charts, Twitter, Open Library, LibraryThing, Goodreads, OCLC. So, what are you folks doing with APIs? Thanks for any insight! Kind regards, Jason -- Jason Paul Michel User Experience Librarian Miami University Libraries Oxford, Ohio 45044 twitter:jpmichel -- Bill Dueber Library Systems Programmer University of Michigan Library
Re: [CODE4LIB] Examples of Web Service APIs in Academic Public Libraries
Via mobile keyboard On Oct 8, 2011, at 10:58 AM, Michel, Jason Paul miche...@muohio.edu wrote: Patrick - What ILS are you using? On 10/8/11 1:40 PM, Patrick Berry pbe...@gmail.com wrote: We're (CSU, Chico) using http://code.google.com/p/googlebooks/ to provide easy access to partial and full text books. On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 10:33 AM, Michel, Jason Paul miche...@muohio.eduwrote: Hello all, I'm a lurker on this listserv and am interested in gaining some insight into your experiences of utilizing web service APIs in either an academic library or public library setting. I'm writing a book for ALA Editions on the use of Web Service APIs in libraries. Each chapter covers a specific API by delineating the technicalities of the API, discussing potential uses of the API in library settings, and step-by-step tutorials. I'm already including examples of how my library (Miami University in Oxford, Ohio) are utilizing these APIs but would like to give the reader more examples from a variety of settings. APIs covered in the book: Flickr, Vimeo, Google Charts, Twitter, Open Library, LibraryThing, Goodreads, OCLC. So, what are you folks doing with APIs? Thanks for any insight! Kind regards, Jason -- Jason Paul Michel User Experience Librarian Miami University Libraries Oxford, Ohio 45044 twitter:jpmichel
Re: [CODE4LIB] Can a library automate without a computer yet?
Thanks Nicole, I'll check it out. Of course I have to add on the 3 years it will take to create a db of the collection, or so I'm told. Cheers Rowan On 8 October 2011 15:53, Nicole Miller nikludesi...@gmail.com wrote: Rowan, I think a caged computer is the best way to go to house the software. As far as software goes, I've been looking into some open source library systems. I wonder if perhaps NewGenLib might work for you. http://www.verussolutions.biz/web/ They state that they system will fully automate within 4 days, but that seems to be a bit of a hefty claim, in my opinion. Nicole On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 3:12 PM, rowan eisner rowaneis...@gmail.com wrote: So it is! It needs an external monitor that also needs power, but definitely one to keep in mind. Thanks Ross. On 7 October 2011 20:43, Ross Singer rossfsin...@gmail.com wrote: By the time you're up and running, this http://www.raspberrypi.org/ may be an option for you, as well. A lot cheaper than an iPhone... -Ross. On Fri, Oct 7, 2011 at 5:36 PM, rowan eisner rowaneis...@gmail.com wrote: Well I thought that we could plug either an iphone or computer (eg netbook or your dev. board) into an UPS and extend the battery life that way. It would be on standby most of the time. The longest it would have to last would be a week because any on the committee could plug it in while they are in the library. And maybe other people could plug it in but it would have more chance of being left plugged in. Whatever we had would have to be secured and yes, it will be difficult to do and one of the reasons we do everything manually - nothing to steal. I used to run an undergrad computer lab in the 80s that was unstaffed and everything tied down. People used to nick the cables. I suppose the choice between an iphone and a computer would be price and running time on an UPS. At the moment the only access to the internet from the library is over the mobile phone net so whether we use computer or iphone the cost will be the same. They have just put up poles for fibre optic, but I've learnt not to hold me breath over things like that. I have to say, it seems like the librarian is starting to consider it. When I first brought it up 2 years ago the reaction was, we could never automate here! I said something the other day about it taking 3 years and she said, oh way longer than that. By then, who knows what there will be? On 7 October 2011 12:35, David Mayo pobo...@gmail.com wrote: One other thing to consider with the iPhone is that it's going to be a recurrent monthly fee, and that cellular internet tends to run more expensive than regular internet collections. This could easily run over replacement costs for a wired computer, for instance. Also, that while a regular computer might be a theft risk, an iPhone is a giant, gold-plated theft risk, in a super-portable size. Also, there's no way you're going to get a week's worth of service per charge out of it, while using it as a terminal. - Dave Mayo On Fri, Oct 7, 2011 at 11:41 AM, rowan eisner rowaneis...@gmail.com wrote: Hi Nicole, people here tell me that computers get zapped even with surge protectors here, or even with lightning protectors. Then someone told me the other day that they need to be properly earthed and almost nothing is here. One problem is I don't even know if there is such a thing as a real electrician here who understands how do do these things. At the moment we're looking at the WSSL trial because it would be a big overhead to us to run our own software when we know nothing about it, but we'll still need something to connect to it. I'm thinking that we cut our losses by doing it as cheaply as possible and accept that that we'll lose it occasionally - make it less worth stealing. The library is open and unstaffed 24hrs and people say nothing keeps thieves out. But Dave Mayo pointed out you can get a kind of computer in a power plug now. Or we could use an iphone. Then they could be plugged into an UPS and charged once a week. That could work. We'd still need a cage and I don't really want to encourage thieves to bring welding gear into the library! I don't know if we're going to be able to afford the WSSL system. They don't know how much it will cost yet. So we could end up having to run our own system anyway. Even the WSSL system is more sophisticated than we need. We don't need a web site or to be able to place holds on books. All we really need is a db with 2 tables - users and collection and queries to do loans, returns and
