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September 29, 2004
OCLC/Google Bookmarklet
Let's say you're browsing Amazon and find a book you'd like to read. But why not borrow instead of buy? After all, maybe your local library has it. There's a way to quickly find out if they do without going to the library's web site and running a search. Instead, install this handy bookmarklet, click whenever you're on a page that includes a ISBN number, and it will search your library's catalog automatically and let you know if they own it, assuming they are using one of the supported online catalogs. But there's more.
The original version, called LibraryLookup, is designed to work with specific library catalogs. I wanted to use it with the Los Angeles Public Library catalog, which isn't one that's available. As the creator, John Udell says, I could write my own, but I'm just not THAT motivated.
But this week, in an act of online collaboration, several librarians worked together to product one that searches Worldcat records available on Google. Michael Fagan, at the suggestion of Steve Cohen, added the final fix.
Very cool! If it finds the title, you can pop in your zip code and get a list of local libraries who own it. Just be aware that the Worldcat records available on Google are limited and don't represent everything available in Worldcat.
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