LibraryLookUp Simplifies Searches

Jon Udell, lead analyst for InfoWorld, a weekly publication that evaluates new technology, has developed a JavaScript bookmarklet that will assist librarians in their daily operations. LibraryLookUp extracts the ISBN from the bookseller's web page, or any other site that uses an ISBN in its address, then goes to a library catalog and searches by that code. If the library owns the book, the record pops up. It works with any site that uses an ISBN in its URL and any vendor that allows searching by ISBN. LibraryLookUp also can work in reverse, extracting the ISBN from a library's web page and searching a bookseller. If users discover that their library doesn't own a title, or it is heavily reserved, they can click on an Amazon bookmarklet and purchase it.

Not every vendor system incorporate ISBNs, but several have begun using them, and since vendors tend to be competitive, those that don't no doubt will adopt it in the future. Udell's web log includes lists of hundreds of bookmarklets already created for libraries that are customers of vendors such as Innovative, Endeavor, epixtech, DRA, and UK's Talis. To add LibraryLookUp to a browser, libraries need only drag the bookmarklet to their toolbar. Librarian response has been overwhelmingly positive: "It's smart, simple, and incredibly slick," gushed Jenny Levine, Internet development specialist at the Suburban Library System, Burr Ridge, IL.

In addition to simplifying searching, LibraryLookUp "is a fantastic opportunity for libraries to promote themselves," said Levine. Andrew Mutch, library systems technician for the Waterford Township Public Library, MI, agrees, saying that this is a way for libraries to make their catalogs more visible and "leverage our information to our advantage."

Librarians on Udell's web log (weblog.infoworld.com/udell/stories/2002/12/11/librarylookup.html) were quick to point out that searching by ISBN—which is different for a hardcover and its paper editions—can be problematic. Udell's web site now recommends searching for the hardcover edition, which libraries are more likely to own. Levine suggests that the library community find a way to group ISBNs, "something we have the expertise for." Udell is looking at creating a bookmarklet using author and title, avoiding the problem of differing editions. "But Amazon has already resolved this problem of grouping ISBNs," Udell says.

LibraryLookUp has other implications for librarians as well. For instance, it gives reference librarians a way to do "quick-and-dirty" searches of holdings in other libraries or lets acquisition staff quickly check a vendor's records. "We're just seeing the potential of this type of web service," says Mutch.