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Hi Tristan, As the Technical Manager of the National Museums Online Learning Project I though it would be good to first clarify what exactly we are doing and hopefully answer your question at the same time. NMOLP is NOT just aggregating collection search results. We are using two separate web applications to allow users to first search for collection objects across 9 national museums then use these objects to create their own narratives. Artists for example are able to describe how certain collections have inspired their work by hand-picking and grouping objects. These notebooks can then be shared publicly and other users can comment on them. Plus we are developing various web 2.0-esque features such as tagging, finding popular items, linking friends etc. This project is not intended to expose the objects as a way of enriching their content (a la Powerhouse's OPAC) but as a way of locating relevant objects quickly to be used within different application. We are also using our federated search tool inside WebQuests to create educational activities for students. So online education would be an obvious use case here. It is also worth mentioning that the federated search engine is doing more than aggregating results from partner APIs. It is also intelligently ranking and returning objects based on relevance across all 9 museums. So the federated search engine itself could potentially have its own API to be used in different applications. Cheers, Giv Parvaneh Technical Manager National Museums Online Learning Project Email: [log in to unmask] Tel: 020 7942 2819 >>> [log in to unmask] 19/08/2008 11:11:50 >>> We are discussing the merit of adding an open API to the Online Collection part of one of our museum client's sites, and I am wondering if anyone can think of possible reasons to do this beyond "it just feels right"? Off the top of my head, systems that access an API can do various things: - aggregate information - provide alternative representations - provide alternative interfaces - syndicate information - other (please state) Of these, some examples I can think of are: - aggregators: e.g. National Museums Online Learning Project[1], ArtStor and others via OAI-PMH[2] - other representations: e.g. mashups (which?), creating tag clouds, etc. - alternative interfaces: e.g. more accessible versions, desktop application versions, iphone/mobile versions - syndicating information: blog 'widgets' (which?), ArtShare Facebook app.[3] However, all of these are fairly generic or fairly sparse! Can anybody think of other concrete examples of how information is being re-purposed from cultural institutions? Or, any ways in which an API could be used that I have missed from the list above? Thanks, -Tristan. [1] http://www.vam.ac.uk/about_va/online_learning/index.html [2] http://www.openarchives.org/pmh/ [3] http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=7723691927&ref=pr -- Tristan Roddis ~ Head of Web Development Cogapp Lees House, 21-33 Dyke Road. Brighton BN1 3FE d: +44 (0)1273 829970 t: +44 (0)1273 821600 f: +44 (0)1273 829988 www.cogapp.com <http://www.cogapp.com> blog.cogapp.com <http://blog.cogapp.com>/ -- "the art and science of engagement"/ ************************************************** For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk ************************************************** ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email ______________________________________________________________________ - -------------------------------------------------------------- The Story of The Supremes From the Mary Wilson Collection 13 May - 19 October 2008 at V&A South Kensington Book now on www.vam.ac.uk A Century of Olympic Posters 17 May - 7 September 2008 at V&A Museum of Childhood Admission free Keep in touch - visit www.vam.ac.uk and sign up for our regular e-newsletter - --------------------------------------------------------------- The information contained in this message is confidential and intended only for the individual named above. If you are not the intended recipient, or responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying, or disclosure of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us by telephone on 020 7942 2353. This message has been scanned for viruses by the MessageLabs Email Security System. ______________________________________________________________________ ************************************************** For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk **************************************************