Those reading library technology blogs, or attending conferences over the last couple of years, can not have failed to be aware of the pressure for Library System developers and vendors to open up those systems and provide API access.

Against this background, the Digital Library Federation (DLF) launched a working group to analyze the issues involved in integrating “integrated library systems” and discovery systems, and create a technical proposal for how such integration should be accomplished.

Following a survey of libraries, the working group produced a draft recommendation which was discussed at a meeting in Berkeley, California on March 6th attended by representatives of the DLF , academic libraries, and major library application vendors. Subsequent to this meeting participants agreed to the ‘Berkeley Accord’ supporting a set of essential functions for an API.

John Mark Ockerbloom Chair of the DLF Working Group is our guest this month. In conversation with the Gang members Talin Bingham, Oren Beit-Arie, Marshall Breeding, Andrew Nagy, and Dan Mullineux.

During the conversation we reference:

• The DLF ILS API Wiki
• Blog post by Innovative Interface’s Betsy Graham
• Project Jangle

 

 Library 2.0 Gang 05/08: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Google Book Search has created much interest since its appearance as Google Print back in 2004. Recently they released an API to enable the embedding of Google Book Search resources in to sites, not least library OPACs.

This month’s gang Oren Beit-Arie, Tim Spalding, Warwick Cathro, John Blyberg, and Carl Grant are joined by guest Google Product Manager, Frances Haugen who gives an interesting insight in to the thinking behind and application of the API. During the conversation Frances suggests that those who wish to offer comments about and suggestions for future API developments should contact her by mail - fhaugen@google.com.

The Gang also discuss how services such as Google Book Search, The Open Library, LibraryThing, and others may be indicators of how in the future library systems will increasingly use globally based services to handle resources traditionally held locally.

The conversation was made on Thursday 6th March using InterCall Europe audio conferencing and Skype. Recorded using Call Recorder for Skype, and edited on a Mac with Garageband - With a hat tip to Andrew Peterson for editing advice.

 

 Library 2.0 Gang - April 2008 [00:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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The Open Library, ILS APIs, and New Cataloguing Influences, are the subjects under discussion in this show. Gang Regulars John Blyberg, Nicole C Engard, Carl Grant, Char Booth, and Rob Styles are joined by Aaron Swartz from The Open Library.

The topics for this month’s show were drawn from the excellent Code4lib 2008 Conference February 25-28, in Portland, OR. - The Open Library, ILS APIs, and new influences on cataloging.

The following are referenced in the conversation:

• Open Library
• Internet Archive
• OCLC record sharing
• DLF ILS Discovery API Task Force - Draft Recommendation
• RDA
• RDF

The conversation was made on Thursday 6th March using InterCall Europe audio conferencing and Skype. Recorded using Call Recorder for Skype, and edited on a Mac with Garageband.

 

 Library 2.0 Gang - March 2008 [00:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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