Web Services: An Overview for Librarians (once again, Frank Cervone)
Architecture for application-oriented services over the web:
Technologies
Standards
Business Models
Defined as
Self-contained
Self-describing
Modular
Published, located, invoked across the web
Runs on XML and http, implemented in layers
UDDI
Service discovery
WSDL
Service description
SOAP
XML-RPC
Messaging
HTTP
Services transport
SRU/SRW
SRW (Search and Retrieve Web Service) – uses SOAP, application to application, like SFX and the OPAC talking
SRU (Search and Retrieve URL Service) – uses REST, parameters passed through the URL itself, kind of like Open URL to an extent
3 basic operations
Explain – what the database contains, what fields can be searched, what metadata schemes are supported
Scan
SearchRetrieve
All of this allows for dynamic discovery of services, allows for flexibility, reliability
Introduction to Amazon E-Commerce Services: Applications for Libraries
Larry Mrazek (http://www.lcm-res.com/)
Online searching for books in the OPAC you lose serendipity. He then started to use Amazon because it has reviews and recommendations, readers advisory, almost, and then he finds a copy to read in the OPAC.
Yes, ILS systems now have modules you can purchase for this, but you can add in Amazon’s stuff for free.
Library uses:
Use Amazon for ILL verification? – don’t we already?
Friends of the Library – can be an associate and can get donations for purchases from link-throughs from the library web site
Book cover images
Recommendations
Using the web services you have access to more indexes than you do via Amazon’s interface.
Problems:
One request per second per IP address
Privacy
No contract – can’t say it will exist and be free tomorrow
Getting Started
1) get a developer token (free, like API key for Google)
2) download and read developers guide, code samples
3) locate “browse mode” subject headings
4) go to the scratch pad (it automatically creates the XML for you)
5) fill out all the stuff
6) hit the button, copy url (preview first)
7) embed the information into your web page (you could write a script that does this once per day)
CIL2005
conferences
¶ 11:30 AM| |cites (technorati) |
