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Sarah Ormes' article refers mainly to comments from user/readers - and I am all in favour ot that. There is another dimension however, i.e. bringing together published reviews from newspapers, journals and magazines onto a website so that the prospective reader - and library book selector - can conveniently look at all the (main) reviews of a particular book. It would be a splendid use of the web to effect such an improvement. It would be just as pertinent for academic books. The main obstacle is likely to be from the publishers of such reviews who might not agree to such 'copying' of their text. Or they might! An interim step might be to assemble website references to get at those reviews that were on the Internet. Does anyone know of any research or steps in either of these directions? At 11:31 am +0100 9/8/0, Sarah Ormes wrote: >The idea of the 'enhanced OPAC' which integrates some of the features found >at online bookstores is one that we've been interested in at UKOLN for a few >years. Myself and Sally Criddle wrote an article for the Library Record a >while ago which discussed how libraries could use the web to deliver reader >development services. We envisioned a catalogue that enabled you to read >reviews, contribute your opinions and effectively 'browse' the library's >stock online as crucial to the development of these kind of services. > >The full text of this article 'Putting Imagination Online' is available at > >http://www.la-hq.org.uk/record/r199809/litdev.htm > >Sarah Ormes >Public Library Networking Focus >UKOLN, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY > >Visit 'Stories from the Web' at http://www.storiesfromtheweb.org/ > >Tel. 01225 826711 >Fax. 01225 826838 >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Gerry Mckiernan" <[log in to unmask]> >To: <[log in to unmask]> >Sent: 08 August 2000 21:48 >Subject: Amazon.com Added Value Features and Functionalities for theOPAC > > >> _Amazon.com Added Value Features and Functionalities for the OPAC_ >> >> In response to my posting titled "The 'Commercialized' Library" >> which addressed the issue of linking to Amazon.com (or barnesandnoble.com) >records from a user guide that I currently am preparing, a list member >raised the issue of the backlash that may come from local businesses if a >library did in fact link to such records within its OPAC. >> >> I responded to the list member indicating that I believe that there >*might* be a beneficial effect in that the additional descriptive and >evaluative information might encourage the individual to borrow the item >from the local library or to buy it from the local book store, music store, >etc. >> >> On the other hand, I think that the 'value-added' features and >functionalities found in such services as Amazon.com should cause >> libraries to consider the effectiveness of their OPACs in addressing user >needs. Access to descriptive and user reviews is just one function that >could significantly improve OPACs. Other helpful features that the >'Value-Added OPAC 'could have would be such Amazon.com 'commercialized' >features as >> >> an initial ranked list of the most heavily borrowed books, >> a chronological listing of results >> the option of displaying books by user rating >> a 'patrons who borrowed this book also borrowed ....' >feature >> a 'patrons who borrowed titles by Author A also bought >titles by >> Authors X, Y, and Z >> a 'Look for similar books by subject' / Browse for Books in >> [Full listing of associates subject headings] >> a Search for books by subject with a listings of headings >and >> associated check-off boxes >> >> Impossible? Perhaps, but .... >> [If there are OPACs that have such functionality, I'd liike to include >them in >> Onion Patch(sm), my clearinghouse devoted to New Age OPACs >> http://www.public.iastate.edu/~CYBERSTACKS/Onion.htm ] >> >> As Always, Any and All reactions, comments, criticisms, cosmic >insights, contributions, etc. etc. are Most Welcome! >> >> /Gerry McKiernan >> Commercialized Librarian >> Iowa State University >> Ames IA 50011 >> >> [log in to unmask] >> >> "The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Duplicate the Functionality of >> Sites Like Amazon.com" >> With Apologies (Again) to Alan >Kay >> >> John Sumsion - Senior Fellow, Department of Information Science, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leics. LE11 3TU, (UK). Tel +44 (0) 1509 223082/223052. Fax: 223053. HOME ADDRESS (preferred): The Granary, 29 Main Street, Rotherby, Melton Mowbray, Leics. LE14 2LP. Tel: +44 (0) 1664 434485. Fax: 434918 [same e-mail] %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%