Comments on: Library app for libraries http://www.semanticlibrary.net/2009/10/11/library-app-for-libraries/ Data, meaning, content Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:59:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Fiona http://www.semanticlibrary.net/2009/10/11/library-app-for-libraries/comment-page-1/#comment-8777 Fiona Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:03:05 +0000 http://www.semanticlibrary.net/?p=125#comment-8777 Jerilyn - I use Worldcat a lot. But it has many limitations. I use it to get to a very vague first level of holdings, but beyond that I go to individual catalogues, or <a href="http://www.copac.ac.uk" rel="nofollow">Copac</a>. Probably the most confusing thing for me is how the location search works. Worldcat attempts to list by postcode first, but interprets it incorrectly for the UK. Locations in Australia are also strangely formatted. If Worldcat could fix the location search and bring access information into Worldcat (at the moment you have to click out to the library's site and read through regulations there) that would be great. Jerilyn – I use Worldcat a lot. But it has many limitations. I use it to get to a very vague first level of holdings, but beyond that I go to individual catalogues, or Copac. Probably the most confusing thing for me is how the location search works. Worldcat attempts to list by postcode first, but interprets it incorrectly for the UK. Locations in Australia are also strangely formatted. If Worldcat could fix the location search and bring access information into Worldcat (at the moment you have to click out to the library’s site and read through regulations there) that would be great.

]]> By: Jerilyn http://www.semanticlibrary.net/2009/10/11/library-app-for-libraries/comment-page-1/#comment-8768 Jerilyn Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:27:58 +0000 http://www.semanticlibrary.net/?p=125#comment-8768 Worldcat is no so very different from what you describe. Worldcat is no so very different from what you describe.

]]> By: kate http://www.semanticlibrary.net/2009/10/11/library-app-for-libraries/comment-page-1/#comment-8649 kate Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:24:01 +0000 http://www.semanticlibrary.net/?p=125#comment-8649 ooh, i like it! i wonder what influence my (very eclectic) music collection would have on book suggestions? could be interesting. ooh, i like it! i wonder what influence my (very eclectic) music collection would have on book suggestions? could be interesting.

]]> By: Fiona http://www.semanticlibrary.net/2009/10/11/library-app-for-libraries/comment-page-1/#comment-8648 Fiona Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:11:15 +0000 http://www.semanticlibrary.net/?p=125#comment-8648 You make a good point Kate. For me, a lot of the apps are just new interfaces for websites that I use regularly - like Twitter, Facebook, and RSS apps to read Ask Metafilter. If the phones were better at offline caching, I wouldn't need all these separate applications. As it is, I click on each application, get the latest updates, disconnect and head out. That too, is inefficient since you can't update all apps at once, you have to select each one individually. When I only had my smartphone (a Nokia E65, which I still have) I didn't like any of the apps on that platform. I really only used the browser to access, you guessed it, all the sites that I now have separate apps for on my iPod. With you on the super catalogue idea. Or how about 'books you'd like' near you on the shelf, based on your music collection and ebooks on your iPod? A step too far perhaps, but could be fun. You make a good point Kate. For me, a lot of the apps are just new interfaces for websites that I use regularly – like Twitter, Facebook, and RSS apps to read Ask Metafilter. If the phones were better at offline caching, I wouldn’t need all these separate applications. As it is, I click on each application, get the latest updates, disconnect and head out. That too, is inefficient since you can’t update all apps at once, you have to select each one individually. When I only had my smartphone (a Nokia E65, which I still have) I didn’t like any of the apps on that platform. I really only used the browser to access, you guessed it, all the sites that I now have separate apps for on my iPod.

With you on the super catalogue idea. Or how about ‘books you’d like’ near you on the shelf, based on your music collection and ebooks on your iPod? A step too far perhaps, but could be fun.

]]> By: kate http://www.semanticlibrary.net/2009/10/11/library-app-for-libraries/comment-page-1/#comment-8598 kate Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:17:50 +0000 http://www.semanticlibrary.net/?p=125#comment-8598 i'm all for device / platform agnostic design, too, but i'm a bit intrigued about apps and their proliferation. not being an iphone user, i have to admit that some apps i hear people rave about have me a bit mystified, because they seem to do a lot of stuff that you could simply do online - stuff that lots of people already do online. i suspect i'm missing something (and maybe i'm just missing out!) but are apps just a wee bit gimmicky? at any rate, where i see apps working well is with aggregating access to the kind of data you're talking about - filling gaps where there aren't existing web-based services that could easily be accessed from a smart phone. how nice would it be to have a super catalogue that takes location-awareness to the next level by only showing you items available on the shelf in a library within a certain distance from your current location? i’m all for device / platform agnostic design, too, but i’m a bit intrigued about apps and their proliferation. not being an iphone user, i have to admit that some apps i hear people rave about have me a bit mystified, because they seem to do a lot of stuff that you could simply do online – stuff that lots of people already do online. i suspect i’m missing something (and maybe i’m just missing out!) but are apps just a wee bit gimmicky?

at any rate, where i see apps working well is with aggregating access to the kind of data you’re talking about – filling gaps where there aren’t existing web-based services that could easily be accessed from a smart phone. how nice would it be to have a super catalogue that takes location-awareness to the next level by only showing you items available on the shelf in a library within a certain distance from your current location?

]]> By: Fiona http://www.semanticlibrary.net/2009/10/11/library-app-for-libraries/comment-page-1/#comment-8026 Fiona Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:04:56 +0000 http://www.semanticlibrary.net/?p=125#comment-8026 That sounds great David, definitely something that could be extended internationally. That sounds great David, definitely something that could be extended internationally.

]]> By: David Bigwood http://www.semanticlibrary.net/2009/10/11/library-app-for-libraries/comment-page-1/#comment-7998 David Bigwood Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:07:35 +0000 http://www.semanticlibrary.net/?p=125#comment-7998 Something along those lines if you Text LIBRARY 12345 to 41411 (if your ZIP code is 12345) you will get a text with the name, address, and phone number of the nearest library. Not very visual but handy, maybe something to build on. Something along those lines if you Text LIBRARY 12345 to 41411 (if your ZIP code is 12345) you will get a text with the name, address, and phone number of the nearest library. Not very visual but handy, maybe something to build on.

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