Libraries : Project FLOW. Some interesting ideas about adding functions to the OPAC in Project FLOW.

Web-based library catalogues, or WebCats, have often seemed to be clunky in comparison to other bibliographic-centric systems like Amazon, although much of the underlying metadata-based activities and processes are more intensive in the library world. Most library systems have support for advanced constructs like authority control and classification, but are typically constrained in the amount of options they offer for customization and the creation of new functions. Fortunately, it is often possible to bypass the in-built mechanisms of the web display to augment the WebCat with a judicious amount of javascript if the web interface allows even a small amount of control in adding custom HTML.

Maps to the item selected, spelling corrections from Google, the Bookmarklet helper, RSS feeds and more are mentioned. Looking forward to the product release. [Catalogablog]  8:32:08 AM   [Feedback ]  

Scholarly Communication : Open Access : Harold Varmus has created a furore with the launch of his open-access online science journal. But as former he. New Scientist Oct 29 2003 4:43PM ET [Moreover - Online content news]  8:29:05 AM   [Feedback ]  

Metadata : RSS : Scholarly Communication : Journals via RSS.

Anna writes:

"Another idea that occurred to me this evening is publication through subscription RSS feeds (or even open-access models). For instance, the PLoS Biology journal recently released to the world could announce new articles or issues by making them available through an RSS feed, instead of or in addition to their current method of email announcements. Similarly, if I have an online subscription to Serials Review, I could get articles sent to me through some sort of secure RSS feed available only to subscribers. This method could come in handy for those publications that post articles online before they are published in the print editions, which mainly occurs in the sciences"

RSS minds think alike!! We were talking about this exact topic this morning during my presentation at Maryland SLA Technology Day. I mentioned that one feature that I would love to see by the publishers of professional journals (like Haworthwould be to provide the table of contents for each of their journals via RSS. Now, I understand that they couldn't (aka wouldn't) provide full text articles, but the TOC would be just as fine for me.

Full text is not fully out of the question, however. As Anna mentions, she would like articles for content that she pays for via RSS. I don't see why the publisher would have issues with that request. Also, how about vendors providing RSS Feeds for new content via customizes searches on their database...

[Library Stuff]  8:26:30 AM   [Feedback ]