More Library Mashups: Exploring New Ways to Deliver Library Data

Citation

Julie Sibthorpe (2015), "More Library Mashups: Exploring New Ways to Deliver Library Data", Library Management, Vol. 36 No. 6/7, pp. 553-554. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-06-2015-0047

This is a follow up to the 2009 book Library mashups by the same editor. Mashup is a music industry term meaning the mixing of two or more songs in various ways. In this book it refers to taking data from multiple channels and mixing the data to provide better services for library patrons. The vocabulary used in the techniques makes My Kitchen Rules come to mind, as the world of cooking provides some of the terms used. An example of a mashup from the first book was one in which the editor used Delicious.com to bookmark all the links found for the book.

In these days of fewer staff and greater customer expectations, the recipe approach to blending social media sources for greater efficiency is something that will help library staff without programming skills to create lively and timely communications.

Chapters cover case studies, tutorials and examples from contributors around the world showing how libraries are using mashups, from those requiring just small pieces of code, right through to more complex examples. The book is separated into five chapters. Part 1 covers IFTTT (If This Then That; ifttt.com), a free online service you can use to automate sharing of data and information from social networks, bookmarking sites, images, video and audio sites, document storage and e-mail services, as well as date, time and weather and stock alerts, etc. ArcGIS is a mapping application discussed in context with other map mashups. OPenRefine is for visualising library data and Umlaut is a front end link resolver which can also be used as a unified delivery programme.

In Part 2 we are shown how to enhance the library’s web site with outside data, by integrating useful tools such as calendars, maps, subject guides and social networks. Part 3 focuses on library catalogue data, and how to answer reference questions using Twitter while mashing up timelines, maps and pictures is covered in Part 4. In Part 5 various authors address value-added services, for example using Koha for integration to access Libki or MarcEdit data. Integrating web site data to include visual book cover thumbnails for book suggestion lists or merging news sources in a knowledge centre are all covered in case studies to demonstrate how CA feeds can be much less work to produce and disseminate using Yahoo! Pipes for example.

At first sight it could be thought that the programming skills needed may be advanced or for use by those with IT skills. Large libraries will already be providing data by mashup, but smaller libraries will benefit especially as the book provides step by step recipes, detailing the exact programming steps needed for each application, and for the mashup of two or more channels of social media communication.

This is a desirable read for sole charge and small scale libraries, to assist them in working smarter to obtain maximum impact. However, the book has many suggestions and ideas for large libraries and has a comprehensive supporting web site. The first book was a success and this one can provide more inspiration for library mashups.